Ch 26: Guide to Feeding a Villainous Husband

Running a small food stall that sells four different items may seem complicated, but as long as things are well-organized, it won’t be chaotic.

The five different batters for the five elements cakes were prepared first, then placed in the steamer to cook. Since it was the first day selling, and it was uncertain how many would sell, they only made about eleven or twelve of each flavor. This added up to fifty in total for selling, with any extras kept for themselves.

The grilled chicken racks were coated in marinade and stacked neatly in a clean wooden barrel, timed so that by the time they left, the chicken would be perfectly marinated and ready for grilling.

The most time-consuming item was the thumb-sized shengjian.

“Each order of shengjian includes ten pieces. If we prepare for ten orders, that’s one hundred pieces. Sister Zheng, let’s prepare three hundred dough wrappers for the shengjian,” Qin Xia instructed.

Three hundred sounded like a lot, but Zheng Xinghua, noting the small size of the wrappers Qin Xia had demonstrated, realized that even children could eat one in a single bite. With that in mind, it seemed likely they would sell out.

While Zheng Xinghua was worried about preparing too much, Yu Jiuque was concerned they might not prepare enough.

“We’ve prepared fifty portions of chicken racks, fifty bowl cakes, thirty orders of shengjian, and not a lot of spicy and sour noodles. Will that be enough?” he asked.

He was well aware of their regular customers at the stall; they were the type who, when they saw new items on the menu, would often order one of everything without asking questions.

Qin Xia reassured him, “I’ve got it under control. Tonight’s our first time at the night market. On one hand, we need to figure out the lay of the land. It’s true that business should be better at night, but how much better remains to be seen. On the other hand, I’m intentionally preparing less to create a sense of scarcity.”

Yu Jiuque pondered the idea of scarcity and seemed to grasp the concept.

Seeing his expression, Qin Xia elaborated further. “By preparing fewer portions, if the turnout is less than expected, we won’t have to worry about waste. If it exceeds expectations, we won’t have to panic. We’re confident in the taste of our food, so those who miss out will likely think about it at home and be sure to come back early the next day. This will naturally create more buzz around our stall.”

Yu Jiuque finally understood and smiled. “That makes sense.”

People who go out shopping tend to follow the crowd, gravitating towards where there are more people because it usually means the items are good or there’s a bargain to be had.

Qin Xia raised an eyebrow slightly.

These strategies weren’t necessarily modern wisdom; merchants throughout history had used various tactics to create demand for their businesses. Qin Xia considered his approach more honest compared to some merchants who might hire people to pose as customers or deliberately slow down service to make lines look longer, thereby attracting more buyers.

To prevent any delays during the night market, Qin Xia pre-wrapped a good number of shengjian, placing them in baskets with a dusting of flour to prevent sticking.

Under his direction, Zheng Xinghua rolled the dough wrappers very thin. With such wrappers, Qin Xia could swiftly shape them into small, delicate, flower-like shengjian. The filling wasn’t just meat; it also included meat aspic made from chicken broth, ensuring these buns could stand proudly even if served in a high-end restaurant.

“No wonder they’re called thumb-sized shengjian. The master has some real skills.”

Even though Zheng Xinghua was no stranger to tasks like kneading dough and rolling wrappers—basic kitchen skills every household wife needed to know lest she be mocked—she had never seen anyone make food with such precision and craftsmanship. Just watching was a learning experience, even if she couldn’t afford to eat it.

As she was busy working, Liu Douzi, who had agreed to meet at Qin Xia’s house before heading to the night market after dark, arrived.

“Xia ge, if there’s anything I can help with, just let me know!”

Liu Douzi was eager to find something to do as soon as he arrived. Qin Xia had him roll out a few wrappers for the shengjian, but they were either too thick or too thin, not quite matching up to Zheng Xinghua’s standards. So, Qin Xia had him mix the spices for the spicy and sour noodles instead.

This task wasn’t as delicate, and the spices were strong enough that Qin Xia preferred not to have Yu Jiuque handle them.

With his experience of making the sauce for his iron plate tofu every day, Liu Douzi was more than happy to take on this task. As he checked the contents of the jars and poured them into a large bowl, he even started humming a little tune.

Yu Jiuque, who was checking whether the five element cakes were ready, had become more familiar with Liu Douzi and couldn’t help but tease, “Liu ge, what’s got you in such a good mood?”

His words caught Qin Xia’s attention, and even Zheng Xinghua glanced over curiously.

Liu Douzi chuckled bashfully, “Oh, nothing, Jiu Ge’er, you’re just teasing me.”

While wrapping the shengjian with a smooth rhythm, Qin Xia joined in the teasing, “Let me guess, has someone been matchmaking for you?”

With a clatter, the small spoon Liu Douzi was using to scoop the spices hit the side of the bowl.

Yu Jiuque instinctively glanced at Qin Xia, and the two exchanged knowing smiles.

Could it be… they guessed right?

After some more questions, Liu Douzi finally admitted the truth, albeit hesitantly.

“Well, it’s not exactly an official matchmaking, but my aunt mentioned it when she came by. It’s a little Ge’er.”

Qin Xia knew Liu Douzi’s aunt was actually Fang Rong’s elder sister-in-law, making them part of the same close-knit family circle.

The Liu family was headed by Fang Rong, a widow with limited means, so finding a match with someone of equal standing was quite fortunate.

In the eyes of the people at the time, little brothers weren’t seen as valuable as daughters due to the latter’s higher potential for childbearing, so their families typically had lower demands for dowry and bride price.

It was clear that both Liu Douzi’s aunt and Fang Rong had similar plans in mind.

“The fact that your aunt introduced him means he must be a good match. When the time comes for you to meet him, make sure you put your best foot forward,” Qin Xia advised.

Blushing, Liu Douzi replied, “I know. It’s rare for a little ge’er to be interested in me. My mother told me to make a good impression.”

Although Qin Xia’s original body wasn’t much older than Liu Douzi, his actual age made him feel like Liu Douzi was just a teenager.

However, considering the customs of the time—where betrothals at fifteen or sixteen and children running around by seventeen or eighteen were common—he had to learn to adapt.

After that conversation, Liu Douzi seemed even more motivated.

He understood that his aunt’s willingness to arrange a match was likely because she noticed he had found a way to make a living selling iron plate tofu.

Determined to marry a good partner and put his mother’s mind at ease, Liu Douzi resolved to learn as much as possible from Qin Xia. With a secure livelihood, he could treat his future spouse well and not disappoint his aunt’s efforts.

Preparing the spices involved grinding many of them into powder with a pestle and mortar. Seeing how energetically Liu Douzi was working, Qin Xia knew he didn’t have to worry about the boy.

Liu Douzi was sincere and hardworking, and his future looked bright.

“Dear, the Five Elements Cakes are ready.”

To avoid any mistakes while selling, they all started calling the steamed rice cakes “Five Elements Cakes” at home.

“Alright, let me take a look,” Qin Xia said, patting the flour off his hands and lifting the lid of the pot.

A cloud of steam rushed out and quickly dissipated. The three-tiered steamer was just the right size to hold over fifty small bowls, each filled with a vibrant, colorful mixture that looked delightful. The slight indentation in the middle indicated that they were perfectly cooked.

After letting two of each flavor cool, Yu Jiuque carefully removed them from the bowls, skewered them on bamboo sticks, and asked the others who were busy with their tasks, “Husband, Liu ge, Sister Zheng, which flavor would you like?”

Aside from Qin Xia, the others shook their heads, saying they didn’t want any, as each cake would be sold for five coins.

Qin Xia, who had just finished wrapping the shengjian buns and was cleaning the chopping board, replied, “The extra ones were made for us to eat. If you don’t choose, Ah jiu will have to decide for you.”

He added, “I’ll take a glutinous rice one.”

Since Qin Xia had put it that way, Liu Douzi and Zheng Xinghua also chose their flavors—black rice for Liu Douzi and red bean for Zheng Xinghua.

Yu Jiuque, who had been curious about the corn flavor, reached for it, thinking it smelled the best. It even had small bits of corn inside, and he wondered how it would taste.

Unlike when they were fresh out of the steamer and soft, once fully cooled, the cakes on the bamboo sticks became slightly springy. A slight movement would make them jiggle.

Qin Xia ate the glutinous rice cake, which had honeyed red beans inside, giving it a beautiful white-and-red appearance.

He finished it in two or three bites, placed the bamboo stick aside, and said, “The taste is just as I imagined; it should sell well.”

Liu Douzi, intrigued by the new treat, asked, “Xia ge, how are we selling these? Do we remove them from the bowls and then skewer them?”

Qin Xia shook his head.

“No, we’ll bring the bowls along. We’ll skewer them on the spot as customers choose.”

Liu Douzi nodded. “That makes sense—looks clean and adds a bit of fun. There are some stalls selling rice cakes like this, but none as varied as ours. They just cut them into strips and skewer them.”

Yu Jiuque then asked Zheng Xinghua, who was closest to him, “How does it taste, Sister Zheng?”

Zheng Xinghua, who had been eating delicately and had only taken a few small bites, answered shyly, “With such good rice, how could it not taste good?”

For her, it had been many years since she had tasted such a sweet and delicious treat. The last time she had something like this was before she got married when her late husband was still alive.

As the second child in her family, with an older brother and a younger one, good things rarely came her way. Only Ma Lei, her childhood sweetheart, would sneakily buy her small treats like sesame candy with the money he earned from odd jobs.

So, when Ma Lei suddenly passed away from illness just before their wedding, she insisted on marrying his spirit, despite her parents’ and brothers’ objections.

For her, there was nothing worth staying for in her maiden home. Marrying into the Ma family as a widow was still better than being sold off by her parents to some unknown man in the countryside for a dowry.

Moreover, even after losing their son, her in-laws were kind-hearted, and her sister-in-law was obedient and respectful of her.

Yu Jiuque had heard a little about Zheng Xinghua’s story from Fang Rong and felt some sympathy for her. He quietly whispered something to Qin Xia and then returned with two more cooled cakes, wrapped in oil paper. Casually, he said to Zheng Xinghua, “Sister Zheng, take these two home with you today.”

Zheng Xinghua immediately looked up, her eyes welling with tears.

“Master, this…”

Yu Jiuque smiled gently. “Sister Zheng, don’t be so formal. While we do plan to sell these, at home they’re just ordinary food. Besides, the Five Elements Cakes are meant for the elderly and children, and since we don’t have either at home, you can take these back for your in-laws and little sister-in-law to try. If there’s anything lacking, you can tell us, and that would be a big help.”

Zheng Xinghua understood that these words were meant to make her feel comfortable accepting the gift. Grateful, she thanked them repeatedly, feeling fortunate to have found such good employers. She thought she should bring something over to the Liu family later to thank Sister Fang for introducing her to this job.

Half an hour passed in a blur, and the night had already deepened outside the window.

In the alley, those waiting for someone to return home late were each standing on stools, lighting the lanterns on their doors, which also illuminated the path for passersby.

Among them was Yu Jiuque, though the lanterns he was preparing weren’t for hanging on doors but for illuminating their cart.

The two large lanterns were originally owned by the Qin family, slightly worn out, but with some fresh paper repairs and a bit of cleaning, they were still usable. Additionally, there were two smaller lanterns with the character “Qin” written on them, which Qin Xia had specially ordered from a lantern shop. These were festive red with tassels hanging below, intended to be hung on the stall at night, replacing the wooden sign used during the day.

Two carts were parked in the courtyard, with Qin Xia and Liu Douzi loading them up. Zheng Xinghua had left an hour earlier after finishing her work. After setting up the lanterns, Yu Jiuque stepped forward to help Qin Xia secure the other end of the rope, pulling it tightly and tying it securely.

There were so many items on the carts that they would be jostled around on the road. If not properly tied down, they could easily fall off. It wouldn’t be much of an issue during the day, but at night, in the dark, it would be hard to find them again, and since these were food items, they would be wasted if they got dirty.

“Looks like we’re ready. Let’s head out,” Qin Xia said after circling the carts to ensure nothing was left behind.

Before leaving, Yu Jiuque went back inside to put Da Fu back in its cage, grabbed scarves and earmuffs for them, and then closed the door.

Bundled up warmly, the three of them pushed the lantern-adorned carts out of Furong Alley, heading towards Banqiao Street.

“Fried crispy fish! Fried gluten!”

“Freshly made hot tea soup!”

“Come and see! Mixed fruits, sunflower seeds, peanuts, iron peas, dried apricots, dried pears, dried persimmons!”

“Sugar-coated hawthorns! Sugar-coated hawthorns with plenty of sugar!”

Banqiao Street was bustling with noise, the shouts of vendors never ceasing. With the lunar new year halfway through, the street was even more lively than when Qin Xia and Yu Jiuque had last visited, if not more so.

The difference was that last time they were just there to browse, but this time, they had their own stall.

When they reached their spot, the two carts were parked side by side. Once they were steady, the first thing they did was hang up the lanterns.

Unexpectedly, before they had even finished unloading, a familiar customer showed up.

“Boss Qin, I’ve been waiting for you!”

Qin Xia looked up and saw a middle-aged man who frequently bought food from his stall. He recalled that the very first grilled cold noodles he sold had been bought by this man.

After dealing with him for so long, Qin Xia had learned that the man was the manager of a distillery in the county. The jar of Huadiao wine Qin Xia used for cooking had been purchased from his shop.

“Manager Peng, you came early! You’ve made me feel bad. I’ll get started on yours first.”

In the freezing cold, the man tucked his hands into his sleeves, his nose turned bright red from the chilly wind, yet his enthusiasm for buying food remained undiminished.

“With nothing else to do, I figured I better come early so I don’t miss out. Hey, you even got places to sit today?”

He noticed Liu Douzi unloading tables and chairs—two tables and eight stools—and was genuinely surprised.

Qin Xia responded, “The night market is different from the midday market. Even though it’s cold, it’s better than not having a place to sit.”

The man nodded, “That’s true.”

Without further ado, he brushed off a stool, picked a spot, and sat down. With a wave of his hand, he declared, “Give me one of everything! And for the ones that can be spicy, add extra chili!”

That loud order immediately attracted a few more customers.

“Wasn’t this the stall that used to sell grilled pork? Did they change owners?”

“The Qin family food stall… hey, why does that sound so familiar?”

The man who was already seated loudly replied on Qin Xia’s behalf, “It’s the same one that sells jianbing guozi on Liubao Street, remember?”

The other man immediately slapped his forehead, “That’s right!”

With that realization, his interest was piqued, and he began to inquire about what was on the menu tonight.

“Ladies and gentlemen, our stall is offering five different foods at the night market: Iron Plate Tofu for five coins a serving, Grilled Chicken Racks at thirteen coins for one or twenty-five coins for two, Thumb-Sized Shengjian Bao at fifteen coins per serving—thin-skinned with a pure meat filling. For those who can handle spice, you must try our Sour and Spicy Noodles, eight coins for a hot bowl, with an additional five coins for a sizzling fried egg on top. Finally, if you’d like to bring something home for your family, you can buy a few pieces of our Five Elements Cakes, available in five different flavors for five coins each—sweet, soft, and perfect for both the elderly and children.”

After Yu Jiuque finished the introduction, the crowd was left stunned.

Aside from the Iron Plate Tofu, the idea of grilling chicken racks on an iron plate instead of using them for soup was surprising. And what on earth was Thumb-Sized Shengjian Bao? Some of these people from the northern regions had never even had regular shengjian bao, let alone this version!

Sour and Spicy Noodles were easier to understand—either you couldn’t handle it or the mere thought of it made your mouth water.

As for the Five Elements Cakes, the men generally weren’t too interested, thinking they would be sticky and hard to chew. But when they heard that they could bring some home for their wives or children, those who cared for their families couldn’t help but feel tempted.

And so, deciding what to order and what to try became a real challenge for the gathered crowd.

Meanwhile, Manager Peng from the distillery felt particularly lucky that he had arrived early and secured a seat. Just listen to all these offerings—there’s no way to try them all at once!

Plus, that Sour and Spicy Noodles sounded like it was right up his alley!

Since orders were already being placed, Qin Xia got to work right away after everything was set up.

As soon as the fire was lit, the area around the stall became noticeably warmer.

Qin Xia had taught Liu Douzi how to prepare the Grilled Chicken Racks at home, so he handed that task over to him while he himself took out the basket filled with Thumb-Sized Shengjian Bao.

“These buns are so tiny, they wouldn’t even fill a tooth gap!”

Someone who had come over just to watch the commotion scoffed dismissively when they saw the prepared Thumb-Sized Shengjian Bao.

Then, noticing the marinated chicken racks Liu Douzi was handling, they added, “There’s barely two ounces of meat on those chicken racks, and they’re charging over ten coins each!”

People who complained like this were often the ones without much money in their pockets. Those who could actually afford to buy food at the night market would either eat or not; they wouldn’t waste time making unnecessary comments.

Qin Xia simply smiled calmly in response.

“Our thumb-sized shengjian is filled with rich meat stuffing and broth, and the chicken racks are marinated with over ten different spices. I guarantee you won’t find this taste anywhere else but here.”

By mentioning high-quality meat, broth, and a variety of spices, Qin Xia was essentially telling others that his food stall not only offered something unique but also wasn’t stingy with ingredients.

Is ten coins expensive? Compared to two-coin flatbreads or three-to-four-coin meat buns, it certainly is. But some things can’t be judged solely by the cost of the ingredients. If that were the case, a dish at a restaurant, which might cost over a hundred coins, could be made at home for just a few dozen coins or even less. So why do people still go to restaurants?

It’s simply because they can’t replicate that flavor at home, or perhaps they’re seeking a refined and elegant dining experience.

The person nitpicking wanted to say more, but was quickly shoved aside by the crowd that had arrived. He was about to curse when he realized it wasn’t just one person but a whole group!

He widened his eyes in disbelief, almost dropping his eyeballs. What were these people doing, rushing over as if they’d been starved?

These were, of course, returning customers who knew how good the Qin family’s food was. They weren’t taking any chances, having calculated the time and been wandering around the night market, just waiting for the stall to open. As soon as it did, they all flocked over, drawn by the delicious aroma.

“Good thing I came early. Looks like there’s still plenty left. I’ll take one grilled chicken rack, a bowl of sour and spicy noodles with a fried egg, and could you give me an extra scoop of fried soybeans?”

“I want a serving of the thumb-sized shengjian. No, make that two. And I’ll take two servings of the iron plate tofu as well. Ever since you moved, I haven’t had a chance to eat your tofu.”

“Boss, what’s this cake called? I’ll take one of each flavor. Can you give me a discount if I buy all five?”

In no time, Yu Jiuque was busy handling the money, answering questions, and negotiating prices without a moment’s rest. Qin Xia and Liu Douzi were equally occupied, with both iron plates sizzling and smoking as they worked nonstop.

Making the shengjian involved an extra step of pouring starch water to steam them. Qin Xia had a small pot lid ready, which he placed directly on the iron plate to save from using another pot.

In Qinan County, shengjian buns were rare, and this scene, much like when he first introduced grilled cold noodles, attracted quite a crowd.

By the time Xing Yiming arrived, over a dozen servings of food had already been sold.

“Shopkeeper Xing,” Yu Jiuque was the first to notice him and greeted him politely. He then saw that a radiant woman and little Xingyuan were with him. It was easy to guess that this must be Xing Yiming’s wife.

When Xingyuan saw Yu Jiuque, she ran over, looking up with a bright face as she asked, “Jiu Ge’er, where’s the little goose?”

Yu Jiuque smiled, “The little goose is at home.”

“Oh, I see.” Xingyuan seemed a bit disappointed but quickly perked up again, asking, “Can I go to your house to see the little goose?”

Her mother, Cui Rao, gently reminded her, “Mind your manners, child.”

Then she greeted Qin Xia and Yu Jiuque with a radiant smile, saying, “I’ve heard my husband and Yuan Yuan talk about you often.”

Along with Liu Douzi, they all greeted the wife of the Shopkeeper of Ganyuan Zhai with respect. Meanwhile, Xing Yiming had already begun reaching into his purse to pull out money. After waiting so long, he finally got his chance today!

Translator has something to say: NEXT CHAPTER IS PASSWORD LOCKED. Password is in the image below.