Ch 24: Guide to Feeding a Villainous Husband

Setting Up a Stall at the Banqiao Street Night Market

After deciding to set up a stall at the Banqiao Street Night Market, Qin Xia wasted no time and immediately put his plan into action.

The days leading up to the New Year are when everyone’s pockets are full, making it the best time for business. Missing this opportunity would make earning money much harder.

Following the noodle stall owner’s suggestion, Qin Xia spent several nights at the night market looking for a suitable stall for subletting. His efforts finally paid off, and he found a spot.

Coincidentally, it was the same stall where he had previously bought grilled pork.

“In previous years, I wouldn’t have closed up so early. Who would give up easy money like this?” said the man selling grilled pork as he fanned the charcoal stove, his face reddened from the heat.

“This year, my wife gave birth to a healthy baby boy. My great-grandmother is getting on in years and isn’t in good health. The family sent word asking me to come home early so we can all be together.”

Qin Xia quickly calculated the generations in his head and smiled. “Five generations under one roof—that’s a clear sign that your family is blessed with good fortune and is a house of accumulated virtue.”

Everyone likes hearing compliments, especially when they’re as flattering as Qin Xia’s.

The man grinned widely. “Oh, we’re just ordinary farmers. But my great-grandfather did study when he was young and left us some family teachings. He always said, ‘Good deeds bring a hundred blessings, while bad deeds bring a hundred calamities.’ When I was a kid, I found the saying hard to understand, but now it makes sense. Just as you said, accumulating virtue brings blessings, and heaven is never blind to that.”

In addition to praising the man’s grilling skills as a fellow food vendor, Qin Xia successfully convinced him to write up a subletting agreement for the stall.

The sublease would start from the sixteenth day of the twelfth lunar month and last until the fifteenth day of the first lunar month.

After both parties pressed their thumbprints on the agreement, they took it to the street office the next day to get it stamped, making it official.

With this matter settled, Qin Xia walked home with a spring in his step, planning to make a big meal that evening.

As he pondered what dishes to prepare, a hunter selling wild game caught his eye.

“You hunted all of these yourself?” Qin Xia asked, squatting down with interest to examine the few mottled rabbits in the grass cages.

It had been a long time since he had eaten rabbit, and seeing them made his mouth water.

The wild rabbits weren’t as plump as the farmed ones he had seen in modern times, but their meat would undoubtedly be more flavorful.

The hunter, who looked to be only fifteen or sixteen years old, wore a fur vest and had a rugged, untamed aura that reminded Qin Xia of the saying, “Heroes emerge from the youth.”

“Yes, I hunted them myself. I kept them at home for two days to gather a few before bringing them to town to sell. If you want one, I can slaughter it for you on the spot to guarantee it’s fresh,” the young hunter offered.

Qin Xia asked about the price, whether it was sold by weight or by the piece. The hunter gestured and said, “The larger ones are 80 wen, and the smaller ones are 60 wen, without the fur.”

He then lifted the cage and showed the rabbits to Qin Xia. The larger ones were male rabbits, long and lean when held by the ears.

Qin Xia pointed and said, “I’ll take this one.”

He also asked the hunter to clean it, saving him the trouble of dealing with the blood at home.

The hunter skillfully handled the rabbit, wrapping it in a large, unidentified leaf and tying it with a grass rope before handing it to Qin Xia.

Qin Xia paid, holding the heavy bundle in his hand.

Regarding rabbit meat, a famous dish called “Pixa Gong” (Clouded Glory Offering) was once popular in a past dynasty. It was essentially a rabbit stew. The dish was said to resemble a clouded sky in its appearance, inspiring many poets to immortalize it in verse.

However, that method of preparation was too bland for Qin Xia’s taste. This rabbit wouldn’t be dry-fried with chili peppers, but it could still be braised in a rich sauce.

Still, rabbit alone wouldn’t be enough, so he stopped by a vegetable stall and picked up a few potatoes and red onions.

When he arrived home, Yu Jiuque came out of the kitchen to greet him.

“Did everything go well?”

He took the bundle wrapped in leaves from Qin Xia’s hand and asked, “What’s this?”

Qin Xia, shaking off the numbness in his fingers from the cold, nudged Yu Jiuque back into the kitchen.

“Shut the door. It’s warmer in here.”

“It’s a rabbit I bought. We’re having rabbit for dinner.”

Feeling a bit thirsty, Qin Xia looked around for water. Yu Jiuque quickly poured him a bowl of warm water. After gulping it down, Qin Xia wiped his mouth and pulled out a paper contract from his robe.

“I also settled the night market stall. We’ve got it for thirty days, totaling 120 wen.”

Yu Jiuque’s eyes widened slightly in surprise. “That’s nearly double the usual price.”

Qin Xia chuckled helplessly and said, “Renting a spot at the night market is naturally more expensive, usually around seventy or eighty wen. This spot is in a prime location and is being subleased, so a higher price is expected. Plus, ten wen goes to the street office.”

Yu Jiuque understood the reasoning and carefully folded the contract. However, he paused halfway through.

Qin Xia, in the middle of pouring himself a second cup of water, noticed and asked, “Is something missing?”

Yu Jiuque pressed his lips together, a faint, slightly troubled smile on his face. “It’s nothing. Sometimes, I just suddenly think about how I can read and write, yet I have no idea what my past was like.”

In these times, many people from humble backgrounds, such as peddlers and laborers, were illiterate. Recognizing one’s name was already considered fortunate. But Yu Jiuque was literate and well-mannered.

His remark was also a way to subtly probe whether Qin Xia had ever questioned his background.

Qin Xia didn’t need to guess. If the author of the story hadn’t withheld some details, he might have even known Yu Jiuque’s exact birth date.

However, he didn’t expect Yu Jiuque to bring this up so suddenly.

Yu Jiuque wasn’t an ordinary person; he was intelligent and capable, with the ability to manipulate situations with ease. Qin Xia wouldn’t be so naive as to think Yu Jiuque mentioned this in passing.

Could it be that his memory was beginning to return?

This thought brought a sense of melancholy, though Qin Xia didn’t show it outwardly.

With a light tone, he said, “What does it matter? Whether your past was good or bad, it’s all in the past. They say that the past cannot be pursued.”

Yu Jiuque finished folding the contract, his fingers smoothing over the creases as he replied with a smile, “You’re right. In fact, I’d rather never remember my past. It’s probably not filled with happy memories anyway.”

After all, being sold into servitude and suffering from a chronic illness hinted at a troubled history. In peaceful times like these, it’s understandable that one might prefer to forget.

Qin Xia sighed inwardly.

In truth, given his current feelings, if Yu Jiuque’s memory never returned, Qin Xia would no longer resist solidifying their relationship as a couple.

He couldn’t deny that he had developed feelings for Yu Jiuque.

But the plot of the book felt like a spider’s web, waiting for them to get caught, with no escape.

Better not to dwell on it, Qin Xia thought, to avoid unnecessary worries.

Yu Jiuque placed the contract in a box in the room, where he once again saw his indenture contract. Qin Xia had always left it out in the open, and Yu Jiuque pretended not to notice, carefully placing the papers together and closing the box.

He considered himself unworthy of Qin Xia. Their only bond was the contract and the five taels of silver it represented.

With this in mind, when they returned to their chores, the cryptic conversation from before was left unmentioned.

After preparing the sausage for the next day, they started working on that evening’s meal.

As Qin Xia cut the rabbit meat into pieces, rinsed it, and marinated it with ginger, rice wine, salt, and a bit of oil, he recounted the story of “Pixa Gong” to Yu Jiuque. The latter tilted his head and remarked, “It sounds like boiled meat slices in plain water—healthy but bland. No wonder the scholars liked it.”

Clearly, Qin Xia had spoiled his palate.

While Qin Xia prepped the rabbit meat, he added, “If the meat is fresh, it probably tastes quite good. But since winter rabbits are usually lean from hunger, we’ll save this dish for summer.”

He’d much rather make a rich, flavorful hot pot at home.

They decided on a braised rabbit dish, with potatoes and red onions as sides. Qin Xia peeled the potatoes and cut them into chunks, while the red onions, peeled and sliced, were causing him to tear up. By the time he finished, his eyes were watering so much that Yu Jiuque was startled when he turned around.

But at least the tears washed away the irritating compounds that had gotten into his eyes.

Seeing a man in the kitchen dabbing his eyes with a handkerchief was quite the comical sight.

Sniffling, Qin Xia picked up two cucumbers that Yu Jiuque had washed.

“Last time we had smashed cucumbers, this time I’ll show you something new.”

As he spoke, Qin Xia’s knife moved swiftly. At first glance, the cucumber seemed completely untouched, as if it were still whole.

It was only when Yu Jiuque gently pulled it apart, as Qin Xia suggested, that the trick was revealed.

The cucumber, though still connected, looked like a string of decorative paper flowers hung on bamboo poles during the New Year—except those were red, and this was green.

“It’s beautiful.”

Yu Jiuque’s eyes sparkled with delight. He pulled on it slightly but didn’t dare to tug too hard.

Following Qin Xia’s instructions, he carefully transferred the crinkled cucumber onto a large plate, coiling it into a circle. The final step was to drizzle a hot oil dressing over it, and it would be ready to serve.

To him, this dish was something that could easily be served at a fancy restaurant, while to Qin Xia, it was just an ordinary homemade dish.

His husband’s culinary skills were indeed extraordinary.

Once the rabbit meat was done marinating, Qin Xia heated the pan, added oil, and sautéed the ginger, garlic, and green onions until fragrant. He then added the rabbit meat, stirring until it changed color before adding the potatoes and red onions, and finally poured in enough boiling water to cover the ingredients for simmering.

After a little over fifteen minutes, the liquid reduced, and the rabbit meat was tender, the potatoes soft and creamy, and the red onions sweet.

Dinner was served after dark.

In addition to the rich rabbit dish and the cucumber salad, there was also a stir-fried green bean dish and a simple stir-fry of green peppers and eggs.

Tonight’s rice was cooked directly in the iron pot, resulting in a crispy layer of scorched rice at the bottom, which they both broke off and tasted, finding it pleasantly novel.

Qin Xia picked up a piece of potato with his chopsticks, savoring the sandy texture in his mouth, followed by a bite of rice—a double dose of carbs that brought deep satisfaction.

For a while, the only sounds in the room were the clatter of utensils and the occasional small talk. Even Da Fu had learned to circle the table during meals, occasionally rewarded with a few grains of rice, which it gobbled up with happy quacks.

The little goose had grown significantly in just a month, its yellow fluff gradually turning white. It was no longer the tiny fluff ball that fit in the palm of a hand.

Half of the rabbit meat in the large bowl was gone, but there were still plenty of green peppers left in the egg stir-fry. Yu Jiuque clearly wasn’t fond of them, but knowing not to waste food, he forced himself to chew and swallow, even though it made him look rather serious, which brought a smile to Qin Xia’s lips.

However, Qin Xia didn’t go out of his way to help him finish the dish. Green peppers are nutritious, after all, and it’s good to eat more of them.

After finishing their meal and completing their chores, the two didn’t go to bed right away.

They lit an oil lamp and sat at the table. Qin Xia laid out paper and pen, ready to plan the dishes they would sell at the night market, while Yu Jiuque deftly worked with colorful threads.

He was almost done making a decorative knot, using a dark blue thread for a square flower pattern. He planned to tie it to Qin Xia’s waist, where it would serve as a lovely ornament, even if there wasn’t anything to put inside.

He planned to make another one for himself in crimson red, so they would have a matching pair.

He wasn’t very skilled at making these yet and had to get help from their neighbor, Cao A’shuang. At first, he kept making mistakes, but he was getting the hang of it now.

Meanwhile, across from him, Qin Xia was busy dipping his brush in ink and writing on the paper, paying no mind to the fact that his handwriting looked like messy scrawls.

After a while, the entire sheet looked as if it had been randomly smeared with ink, and to Yu Jiuque, it was almost painful to look at.

But he saw one advantage: if anyone were to find this recipe, the secrets of their food stall would likely remain safe.

Because most people wouldn’t be able to decipher it.

He thought of this and suppressed his laughter with a light cough.

Qin Xia looked up at him because of the cough and asked, “Why are you coughing out of nowhere?”

Yu Jiuque cleared his throat and replied, “The air in here is a bit dry, that’s all. It’s nothing serious. You’ve written so much; have you made any progress?”

Qin Xia shook off the ink from the paper, feeling quite pleased with himself. “Almost there. Since we need to make as much money as possible this month, I plan to sell a variety of items—sweet, salty, and spicy.”

This way, every passerby at the Qin family food stall would find it hard to walk past without stopping to buy something.

Yu Jiuque, however, had some concerns.

“With so many items, can we manage?”

Although Qin Xia hadn’t shown any signs of overexertion so far, he was only human, and overworking could eventually take its toll.

Qin Xia reassured him, “Don’t worry, I’m not the type to risk my life for money. Among the items we’ll sell, the pudding can be made at home and brought over, the spicy noodles are semi-prepared, so the only thing that needs to be freshly cooked on the spot is the Shengjian buns. Plus, we’ll have Douzi’s iron plate tofu. It will be busy, but manageable. And I was thinking, the most tiring part isn’t actually running the stall, but preparing everything at home. Why don’t we hire someone to help? We can afford the extra cost, and it will save us some effort. What do you think?”

Yu Jiuque was fully supportive of hiring extra help, though the sudden mention of so many unfamiliar dishes left him a bit confused.

“What is this ‘pudding’?”

Qin Xia smiled as he explained to Yu Jiuque.

“The pudding is a steamed rice cake made in small earthenware pots. There are different types—white rice, black rice, red bean—so the colors vary, and the toppings are different too. It’s all about looking attractive and festive. They’re small, just the right size for a snack.”

With the night market opening on the sixteenth of the twelfth month, they didn’t have much time left to prepare.

Before bed, the two of them agreed to start informing their regular customers the next day that the morning food stall would be closing, but they could find the Qin family stall at the night market on Banqiao Street instead.

As for hiring help, they decided to ask Fang Rong to recommend some trustworthy locals.

…

As the New Year approached, and with Liu Douzi’s iron plate tofu stall making solid profits, Fang Rong was in high spirits. She bought a lot of good cotton fabric and planned to make new clothes for her children as well as a pair of shoes each for Qin Xia and Yu Jiuque.

These two children had no elders to look after them, and since they respected her as an elder, she felt it was her duty to do what needed to be done. That way, when she eventually passed on, she could face Qin Xia’s parents in the afterlife without regret.

“I was just about to go look for you two, and here you are, right on time.”

Fang Rong welcomed them in, and without asking why they had come, she immediately took out some paper patterns from her sewing basket.

“I’m making you two a pair of new shoes to wear for the New Year.”

Qin Xia instinctively pulled his feet back.

“There’s no need to trouble you, Godmother. Making shoe soles is hard on the eyes. Besides, we already have shoes.”

Fang Rong replied, “You had lunch today, so why do you need to eat again tonight? This isn’t the first time you’re wearing shoes made by your godmother, so stop talking so much.”

She already had Qin Xia’s shoe size, but young men tend to grow, and she was concerned they might be too small. After measuring again, she found that the size was just about right.

She then picked up another paper pattern and said, “Let me tell you, you’re benefiting from Jiu Ge’er this time. I’m only doing this because I’m making shoes for my godson’s husband.”

This made Yu Jiuque even more embarrassed. “Godmother, please teach me how to make shoes. I’ll make a pair for you to show my respect, and from now on, I’ll make Qin Xia’s shoes as well, so you don’t have to tire yourself out.”

Qin Xia smiled and said, “It seems like I’m getting the best of both worlds—first benefiting from Ah Jiu, then from Godmother. But that’s fine; either way, I’m getting an extra pair of shoes, so I’m the one who wins in the end.”

Fang Rong playfully scolded him, “You’re getting thicker-skinned by the day!”

A moment later, she drew Yu Jiuque’s shoe pattern on the paper. Yu Jiuque, being taller than most Ge’er, had larger feet, so the shoe size was a bit bigger.

Using the paper pattern in her hand, she explained the steps of making shoes to Yu Jiuque. First, you make the shoe upper, then the sole. For the sole, you have to apply paste to the fabric layers, press them together, and then punch holes to thread the stitches.

“New shoes for a new path,” Fang Rong said enthusiastically. “I’ll hurry and make sure you two have them to wear on the first day of the New Year!”

Seeing her so full of energy, Qin Xia and Yu Jiuque urged her to take it easy, especially at night, so as not to strain her eyes.

After chatting over some tea, they finally brought up the real reason for their visit. Fang Rong nodded after hearing them out and said, “You’re right to think about hiring help. Otherwise, if you wear yourselves out, it won’t be worth it. Leave the hiring to me. I’ll make sure to find someone who works quickly and doesn’t have any bad intentions. As for Douzi, feel free to ask for his help whenever you need it. He should help out without expecting any pay.”

She also mentioned the shop they saw on Banqiao Street, genuinely happy for the two of them. “That’s wonderful! After the New Year, you two will be shop owners and storekeepers.”

She clasped her hands together and said a quick prayer, “The ancestors of the Qin family must be watching over you!”

With the hiring settled, Qin Xia began focusing on buying ingredients and tools.

First up was the pudding. In modern times, the colorful puddings were mostly made with tapioca starch, but Qin Xia wanted to make traditional old-fashioned pudding, which required a lot of glutinous rice flour.

Buying directly from the grain shop would be too expensive, so he used Xing Yiming’s connections.

Ganyuan zhai, which specializes in pastries, often used glutinous rice flour and even had its own small mill. Not only was the quality guaranteed, but Qin Xia could also buy it at a lower price.

Xing Yiming, as the owner of this renowned pastry shop, had never heard of pudding before and was eager to try it. He also helped Qin Xia brainstorm some flavor ideas.

“Glutinous rice is white, black rice is black, and red beans are red… How about making a green one with mung beans and a yellow one with cornmeal? That way, you’ll have all five colors!”

The “five colors” refer to green, red, yellow, white, and black, corresponding to the five elements in Chinese philosophy.

Hearing this, Qin Xia had a sudden inspiration. “In that case, why not give it an auspicious name and call it ‘Five Elements Cake’?”

In ancient times, people valued the harmony of yin and yang and the balance of the five elements. Who wouldn’t be tempted by such a name?

Xing Yiming patted Qin Xia on the shoulder and sighed, “If you were born into my family, Ganyuan zhai’s branches would probably have spread throughout Dayong by now.”

He admitted that his mind wasn’t as quick as Qin Xia’s.

Qin Xia modestly replied, “If it weren’t for you mentioning the five colors, I wouldn’t have made the connection.”

With the “pudding” now transformed into the “Five Elements Cake” for the Dayong dynasty, Qin Xia finalized the order for glutinous rice flour with Xing Yiming and then went to several other places.

Meanwhile, Yu Jiuque was busy on his end, visiting a ceramics shop to buy bowls and plates for their night market stall. The Liu family would help by lending a couple of tables and benches to create a small seating area where customers could eat before leaving.

They also needed a batch of suitable small bowls to serve as molds for the cakes.

“They don’t need to be too fancy, just simple molds for the cakes. Something with a rustic design would be fine.”

The shopkeeper listened to his description, then had his assistant fetch a large bamboo box from the storeroom. He pulled out a batch of small bowls.

“See if these meet your needs. This batch came from the south a few years ago. We don’t use such small items up north, so we’ve sold some here and there, but there are still about a hundred left. If you want them, I’ll give you a good price.”

It must be said, the price was indeed quite reasonable.

“They were originally sold at ten wen for three, but now it’s five wen for two.”

Still, Yu Jiuque shook his head. “I can’t use that many, I’ll take fifty.”

The shopkeeper, sensing the loss of a potential bulk sale, grew a bit anxious. These small bowls had been gathering dust in his storeroom for quite a while, and he had finally found a customer interested in them.

After some haggling, Yu Jiuque agreed to purchase them at a rate of five wen for three bowls. After calculating and accounting for any chipped or flawed bowls given for free, the total cost came to just under two taels of silver.

The items weren’t heavy, but they were fragile. Instead of carrying them himself, Yu Jiuque left the address of Furong Alley with the shop assistant, asking for them to be delivered later.

Having accomplished this task, he walked out feeling quite refreshed and unexpectedly ran into old Dr. Xu from Chengyi Hall, who was accompanied by a familiar-looking child. It was none other than the mute beggar boy.

“Dr. Xu,” Yu Jiuque greeted him, and Dr. Xu recognized him as well.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, it turned out that Dr. Xu was on his way home from the clinic, stopping by the shop to purchase a mortar for grinding medicine. The shop assistant recognized him and promptly brought out a new one, carefully wrapped it up, and handed it over.

Dr. Xu passed the mortar to the little beggar boy, instructing him to hold it securely. Standing under the shop’s eaves, he then had a few words with Yu Jiuque. The doctor, with his compassionate heart, noticed that Yu Jiuque hadn’t been to the clinic for some time and, upon closer inspection, saw that his recovery wasn’t as complete as he had hoped.

After a quick pulse check, Dr. Xu mused, “You must be careful not to overthink things. Has the situation with your nightmares improved?”

Yu Jiuque smiled a bit stiffly, “It’s somewhat better, but I still have dreams every other night.”

Dr. Xu frowned deeply. “Do you still experience headaches or chest tightness upon waking?”

Yu Jiuque nodded slightly.

Dr. Xu stroked his beard, seemingly about to say something, but then decided against it. Given that Yu Jiuque now led the life of an ordinary citizen, what good would it do to tell him that he might have once practiced martial arts? It might even cause him more harm.

In the end, he simply advised, “Try not to overwork yourself and keep a peaceful mind. Your husband is a caring man who also knows how to earn money. What kind of good life can’t you enjoy? Drink your medicine on time and come back in a couple of days for a follow-up.”

Seizing the rare opportunity of meeting the doctor without Qin Xia around, Yu Jiuque hesitated for a moment before stopping Dr. Xu and the little beggar as they were about to leave. Taking a few steps closer, he asked, “May I trouble you with one more question, sir? If my internal injuries heal, will my memory return?”

Dr. Xu didn’t give a definitive answer. “It’s hard to say. Memory loss isn’t always solely due to external injuries.”

He naturally assumed that Yu Jiuque was eager to regain his memory and offered some counsel. “When you seek something, you may inevitably lose something else. If you overthink this matter, it won’t help your recovery.”

Yu Jiuque forced a smile and didn’t elaborate further. He simply thanked Dr. Xu and watched as he and the little beggar disappeared into the bustling street.

Judging by their interaction, it seemed that Dr. Xu had taken the boy in, which was a good deed indeed.

By evening, the ceramic shop’s assistant delivered a box of small bowls. The sweet potato noodles, flour, various types of rice and beans, vegetables, and other items Qin Xia had ordered from the grain shop were also brought into the Qin family’s courtyard, each in its own cloth bag.

A while later, someone from the general store hurriedly delivered a bundle of assorted spices. This errand had cost them quite a bit of silver.

Wei Chao from next door had been keeping an eye on the activity. Seeing that people had come and gone and that the Qin family had finally closed their door, he guessed they had finished their business and brought over a bowl of salted soybeans that his mother had fried, knocking on the Qin family’s door.

“Wei Da-ge (big brother Wei), what brings you here? Please come in.”

Qin Xia made way for Wei Chao and, with a hint of apology in his voice, said, “The courtyard is a bit of a mess, there’s hardly any room to step. Why don’t we sit inside?”

Wei Chao casually handed the bowl of soybeans to him.

“Just some homemade snacks, take them and try them when you have some free time. Don’t feel bad about it,” Wei Chao said with a smile.

Qin Xia grinned, “How could I? I’ve always loved Auntie’s fried soybeans. Since you’ve thought of me, I’m grateful; I could never feel bad about it.”

Wei Chao laughed too. “You loved these even when you were a kid, and it seems that hasn’t changed.”

Wei Chao’s impression of Qin Xia had improved greatly. A reformed man, especially one who had been a neighbor for so many years, was indeed someone worth befriending.

After they sat down inside, Yu Jiuque brought out tea for their guest. Wei Chao shifted in his chair before getting straight to the point. “The reason I came over today is that I’ve encountered a bit of a problem, and I wanted to see if you might have a solution.”

Qin Xia was genuinely curious. Wei Chao worked at a warehouse in the city, known locally as a “tavern house,” which was a type of broker that provided lodging and storage for merchants. It was a hub for traders from all over, where deals were often made. The place was always bustling with shopkeepers, stewards from wealthy families, and other significant figures.

Working in such an environment, Wei Chao was knowledgeable and well-connected. Qin Xia couldn’t imagine what kind of problem he might be able to help with.

“I’m not sure what kind of problem Wei Da-ge has encountered, but while I may not have great skills, I’ll certainly help in any way I can.”

Wei Chao smiled modestly. “It’s not a huge issue, really. The situation is like this…”

In short, Wei Chao explained that because of his work at the warehouse, he had come to know a young steward in charge of purchasing for the kitchen of the Song family in the city.

“The Song family is a wealthy household, with over a hundred people including masters and servants. The family has been dedicated to healthy living since the days of the old master and madam, so they only eat white meat, not red meat. Just think about how much meat is needed for so many people every day! They have to kill dozens of chickens daily! The kitchen staff benefit from this, as they can take some of the leftover good bits. These chicken carcasses, after the meat is removed for dishes, are one of those benefits.”

“In the past, each chicken carcass was sold for five wen to a noodle shop in the city. That shop was famous for its chicken soup noodles, with the broth made from these carcasses. I knew the shop owner well, and I was the one who connected the two sides. But then, fortune smiled on that family. Their son passed the imperial examination this spring and was appointed as a county magistrate in another district. The whole family has moved with him, and the noodle shop has closed, so they no longer need the chicken carcasses.”

Qin Xia quickly calculated in his mind. Just based on fifty carcasses a day at five wen each, that would be 250 wen daily, which could amount to six or seven taels of silver a month. Even if the number fluctuated, it would still easily bring in at least five taels a month.

Handling this could easily double his monthly earnings, making it a golden opportunity that would be hard to pass up.

Unable to find another buyer, Wei Chao didn’t want to offend anyone over it. He scratched his head and thought of Qin Xia, who always seemed to have fresh ideas when it came to food.

“So if I understand correctly, Wei Da-ge, you’re asking if I could find a way to use these chicken carcasses and maybe start buying them from the Song family in the future, right?”

Wei Chao smiled sheepishly. “That’s right, but I don’t want to put any pressure on you. If it’s possible, great. If not, that’s fine too. I wouldn’t want to trouble you.”

Qin Xia tapped his fingers on the table a few times, then stopped suddenly.

Noticing this, Yu Jiuque instinctively looked over, just in time to hear Qin Xia say, “If there’s still some meat left on the bones, I actually do have a recipe that could work.”

Wei Chao immediately sat up straighter.

“Don’t worry about that, little brother. When I say carcasses, there’s still plenty of meat left on them. To be honest, since I’ve been handling this, I’ve often brought some home. They’re perfect for making soup or noodles. It’s not like they’re leftovers—just pieces the chef didn’t need.”

For Qin Xia, it was an opportunity to add another dish to his food stall while helping Wei Chao solve a problem. Why not take it?

Without delay, Wei Chao immediately got up and left, saying he would go to the Song residence to get some chicken carcasses for Qin Xia to try out new dishes.

After Wei Chao left, the couple continued their work. Yu Jiuque bent down to lift a bag of beans, intending to carry it to the woodshed, but Qin Xia quickly stepped forward and took it from him.

“This one’s too heavy. Take the one over there; it’s lighter,” he said, not waiting for Yu Jiuque to respond before walking off with two large bags.

Yu Jiuque watched Qin Xia’s back, feeling a warm, sweet sensation in his heart.

They had a lot of miscellaneous items, and they filled the kitchen and woodshed to the brim. After finishing up, they each drank a bowl of water and wiped away the sweat from their hard work.

Qin Xia folded the cloth in his hand into a neat square. “Everything’s pretty much ready. Now we just need to wait for Auntie to introduce someone to start working in the next couple of days.”

Before they left that day, they had agreed to hire either a woman or a Ge’er, preferably someone a bit older. The idea was that Yu Jiuque would likely spend more time alone with the helper, so having a man around wouldn’t be appropriate. Someone older would also avoid any awkwardness when Qin Xia was present.

As they were discussing this, someone arrived at the courtyard gate.

“Auntie!” Qin Xia and Yu Jiuque perked up and went forward to greet her when they saw that it was Fang Rong. Behind her was a woman who looked to be in her thirties, with a gentle face, wearing a blouse that had faded from washing and cloth shoes. She seemed to be living a hard life, but her appearance was tidy and neat.

“This is my old neighbor’s daughter-in-law. She’s older than you, so just call her Sister Zheng,” Fang Rong introduced.

The woman’s name was Zheng Xinghua. Unlike Fang Rong, who lost her husband after having two children, Zheng Xinghua was a widow before she even got married. Her childhood sweetheart passed away from an illness before she could officially become his wife, but she still married into the his family in Ziteng Lane, holding onto his memorial tablet.

Over the years, she took care of her in-laws and younger sister-in-law and did extra work to support the household. She used to help others with laundry and sewing, but her hands would develop chilblains every year that never fully healed. However, as a widow, she had few other job options.

Fang Rong had a lot of contact with her, and when Qin Xia mentioned needing help yesterday, Zheng Xinghua was the first person who came to mind.

“Xinghua is diligent and honest. You can count on her to do the work properly without any ulterior motives.”

Since Qin Xia’s business involved food, the biggest concern was someone stealing his recipes. That’s why Fang Rong recommended Zheng Xinghua, knowing she could vouch for her integrity.

With Fang Rong’s assurance, both Qin Xia and Yu Jiuque were satisfied and immediately agreed on the wages, setting it at twenty wen per day.

“Each day, just come in the afternoon and work for about two and a half hours, no more than three hours. All you’ll need to do is help prepare the ingredients. You won’t have to worry about anything else.”

For just two or three hours of work, getting twenty wen seemed too much for Zheng Xinghua, but Qin Xia, knowing that twenty wen wouldn’t even cover a luxury grilled cold noodle, didn’t want to seem stingy.

Fang Rong knew Qin Xia was being generous, likely treating Zheng Xinghua kindly because of her, so she persuaded Zheng Xinghua to accept the offer.

“My godson’s family will never mistreat anyone. If you’re feeling uneasy, just work hard and prove yourself. Workers want to find a good employer, and employers want to hire someone who is capable and can stay long-term.”

These words were certainly true.

With this reassurance, Zheng Xinghua finally nodded, feeling a bit shy, and bowed to Qin Xia and Yu Jiuque.

To put everyone at ease, Qin Xia decided to write a simple contract. Knowing his handwriting skills weren’t the best, he handed the task to Yu Jiuque.

Yu Jiuque had learned to write at the Imperial Academy within the palace. The Dayong dynasty had set up this academy within the palace specifically to educate well-mannered and intelligent eunuchs around the age of ten. After their training, they would be assigned to the twenty-four departments of the palace.

The teachers at the academy were all scholars from the Hanlin Academy, all of whom had passed the imperial examination. Under their guidance, Yu Jiuque had developed excellent calligraphy skills.

As Qin Xia watched him grind the ink and write, he couldn’t help but marvel that such handwriting should be kept hidden; otherwise, anyone who knew about such things could easily guess that Yu Jiuque came from an extraordinary background.

Even Fang Rong was left speechless by his skill.

As Yu Jiuque focused on getting Zheng Xinghua’s fingerprint on the contract, Fang Rong quietly pulled Qin Xia aside and whispered, “Jiu ge’er has such beautiful handwriting. He must have come from a scholar’s family.”

Qin Xia touched his nose, feigning ignorance. “Is that so?”

Fang Rong wasn’t having it and continued to remind him, “Whether he is or isn’t, I think it’s likely. If someone from that kind of background has fallen on hard times, it must be for a good reason. Now that he’s with you, you need to treat him well. Who knows, you might have a son in the future, and you could send him to study and change your family’s fortunes.”

Qin Xia nodded repeatedly, and Fang Rong hoped he genuinely took her advice to heart.

Once the contract was signed, with one copy for each side, even though it hadn’t gone through official channels, Fang Rong’s fingerprint as a witness made it a valid private contract. If any disputes arose, they could still present it to the local elder for resolution.

They arranged for Zheng Xinghua to start work the next afternoon, and then Fang Rong took her back to Ziteng Lane.

The next day.

At lunchtime, as usual, they sold food, and many customers were already aware that they would be setting up a stall at the Bianqiao Street night market starting on the sixteenth day of the twelfth lunar month.

Knowing that the daytime and nighttime offerings would be different only piqued their curiosity even more.

That day, someone asked about the location of the night market stall, worried they might miss it if they arrived late.

Yu Jiuque, busy packing the oiled paper boxes, responded, “The stall will be where Zhang’s roasted pork used to be on Bianqiao Street. We’ve rented their spot for a month. Across from us is Zhang’s southern goods store, so you’ll see us when you get there.”

When asked what food would be available, Yu Jiuque smiled as he handed over a paper box, saying, “We’ve already decided on three items: thumb-sized pan-fried buns, spicy and sour noodles, and ‘bo zai gao’ (steamed rice pudding). We’ll also be selling tofu on the iron plate. The ‘bo zai gao’ is soft and sweet, suitable for the elderly or young children who haven’t grown all their teeth yet. It’s affordable, just like everything else, so you can feel free to come by.”

The customer, curious, asked, “What do you mean by ‘already decided’? Are there still items that haven’t been decided yet?”

Qin Xia, who was nearby, replied, “There’s one more item: grilled chicken racks. But since we don’t know if we can get suitable chicken bones, we haven’t finalized it yet.”

“Chicken racks? Those are just bones. Unless you’re making soup, what’s there to eat?”

The man smacked his lips, feeling skeptical but also intrigued. If Qin Xia could turn a tasteless chicken rack into something delicious, it might just be worth trying.

After all, if someone could make dough taste like meat, then turning a chicken rack into something tasty didn’t seem so far-fetched.

Thinking it over, he decided he had to try it. Otherwise, if he arrived late and it was sold out, he’d regret it!

“If I have the time, I’ll come by to support you.”

He said this as if he were doing Qin Xia a favor, but Qin Xia was used to such talk and thanked him with a smile.

That very night, the “grilled chicken racks,” which hadn’t been finalized during the day, were officially prepared in Qin Xia’s kitchen.