Ch 29: Guide to Feeding a Villainous Husband

“In any case, it wouldn’t hurt to pay more attention. If it really comes down to it, find an opportunity to test him!”

Yu Jiuque furrowed his brows. “How do I test him?”

Cao A’shuang cleared her throat, her gaze flickering.

“If he doesn’t take the initiative, then you should be a bit more proactive. See whether it’s because his mind isn’t in it or if there’s something… well, something he finds hard to talk about.”

Yu Jiuque belatedly realized that this could indeed be a possibility, and his face grew even hotter.

But exactly how to be proactive or how to test him—he truly had no idea.

“I’ll talk to Qin Xia about going to the temple on New Year’s Day to pray for a child.”

He thought this could be a way to gauge Qin Xia’s feelings.

If Qin Xia showed interest in praying for a child, it would at least indicate that he genuinely wanted to have children with him.

Perhaps it was just not the right time yet.

That evening, Cao A’shuang didn’t end up stitching much on her handkerchief. After giving Yu Jiuque some more advice, she left with her needlework basket and the braised goods she had taken out of the pot.

As she was leaving, Da Fu flapped its wings, wanting her to give it a hug. When Yu Jiuque closed the door and led it back inside, he playfully scolded, “You little rascal.”

…

“Xia ge, we’ll be heading off now!”

At the street corner, Liu Douzi turned around and called out to Qin Xia while pushing the cart.

Fang Rong, standing beside him, waved as well. “Be careful on your way home!”

Tonight, Qin Xia and Liu Douzi ran the stall alone, missing one person to handle the money and packaging, so Fang Rong had volunteered to help out.

“You were right to let Jiu Ge’er rest at home. He’s still taking medicine and can’t stand out here in the cold every day. I’m used to working hard my whole life, and I don’t feel comfortable staying idle at home. Plus, I get to see the excitement of Bianqiao Street.”

Since she said this, Qin Xia asked her to stay. Just like before, they wrapped up after a little over two hours.

With Fang Rong’s help, they didn’t encounter the chaos they had anticipated.

“Godmother, Douzi, you two be careful on your way home!”

After watching the Liu family mother and son leave, Qin Xia bent down to push his cart again.

Another evening of earning nearly two taels of silver, the weight of it in his pocket made him feel particularly secure.

He couldn’t help but quicken his pace, eager to get home and count the copper coins with Yu Jiuque.

He also wanted to give him a little something he had bought; he was sure the young man would be delighted.

The smile never left his face the entire way back. Even when he reached the front door, it remained.

He knocked on the door, and in the moonlight, there stood the person he hadn’t seen for a few hours.

“You’re finally back. I’ve boiled some water for you to soak in and relax.”

Yu Jiuque secured the door behind Qin Xia and stepped forward to help unload the cart.

“Looks like everything sold out.”

With the ingredients gone, the containers for holding them were much lighter. As Yu Jiuque unloaded each item, there was a smile on his face.

“Everything sold out, and some people came late and missed out.”

Having someone at home really made a difference. Once he was back, everything was ready. He just had to toss the things into the basin, pour some lye over them, and then he could leave them. After Qin Xia went inside and changed his clothes, Yu Jiuque had already brought in a large bucket of hot water, ready to pour into the wooden tub that had been moved into the room.

Nearby, a brazier crackled with burning coals.

The wooden tub was heavy to begin with, and even more so when filled with hot water. Yu Jiuque carried the bucket steadily, but Qin Xia still felt his heart skip a beat as he watched.

“Why didn’t you call me over? Be careful not to burn yourself.”

Yu Jiuque emptied the last few drops from the bucket and held it again, smiling. “I’m not made of paper. I can handle a bucket of water.”

As he spoke, he also picked up the clothes Qin Xia had taken off. Qin Xia liked cleanliness and didn’t want to wear clothes with the smell of oil and smoke the next day. However, the fabric was already worn, and frequent washing would likely cause it to tear soon. So now, he just hung the clothes outside at night to air out, and by the next day, most of the smell would have dissipated.

“You go ahead and bathe first. I’ve still got some medicine brewing on the stove. By the way, Sister Shuang came by earlier, and I let her take all of Wei ge’s portion of the duck. The rest is still in the pot—do you want to try some?”

Qin Xia was bending over to test the water temperature. When he heard this, he turned his head and asked, “You didn’t taste it first?”

Yu Jiuque couldn’t exactly say that he had been preoccupied with his thoughts all evening and hadn’t even considered eating the braised duck.

“I was busy unraveling the quilt cover and didn’t get around to it.”

Qin Xia smiled and said, “Then let’s give it a try. Scoop out a bit of each; it’ll be a nice little treat before bed.”

The duck smelled delicious, and if Yu Jiuque ate just a little, he wouldn’t have to worry about it upsetting his stomach.

“Oh, and don’t leave just yet. I have something for you.”

Qin Xia wiped his hands and called out to Yu Jiuque, who was about to head outside with the clothes. He picked up a small cloth bundle from a nearby table.

“I bought this for you—open it and see.”

“Why are you spending money on me again?” Yu Jiuque said with a smile as he took the bundle, his lips curling up involuntarily.

Unwrapping the cloth, he found a small, palm-sized copper hand warmer inside.

Yu Jiuque’s face lit up with surprise, and he immediately looked up. “Why did you think to buy this? It’s made of pure copper, so it must’ve been expensive.”

Qin Xia replied, “I’ve wanted to get you one for a while now. This way, when you’re out at the stall during the day, your hands won’t get cold. Everyone says it’s expensive, but I thought, ‘How much could something this small really cost?’ As it happens, a peddler passed by, and I saw he had a few hanging on his cart. I called him over and asked about them. Honestly, I have to thank Godmother; the peddler wanted seven taels, but she haggled him down to five, saying that the ones he sells on the street aren’t as perfect as those in the shops, though they work just as well.”

Yu Jiuque examined the hand warmer closely, lifting the lid where charcoal could be placed. Some people even liked to add incense for fragrance.

“Five taels is still a lot.”

Seeing how much he liked it, Qin Xia knew the purchase had been worth it.

“It’s like the bed warmer; it’s something you can’t do without in winter. You can use it from the twelfth month to the end of the first month, and since it’s durable, it’s worth the price. From tomorrow on, you should carry it with you.”

Yu Jiuque was already looking forward to it, carefully placing the hand warmer back into the cloth wrap.

As soon as Yu Jiuque stepped out, Qin Xia undressed, slipping out of his undershirt and trousers, and got into the wooden tub.

The moment he submerged himself in the hot water, he couldn’t help but let out a comfortable sigh.

The tub seemed large, but it still felt a bit cramped for an adult man. He thought to himself that when they had more money, he would have a bigger bath made by a carpenter. Better yet, they could build a proper bathroom with heated walls, so they could bathe comfortably all year round.

Outside, Yu Jiuque finished hanging the clothes and then headed to the kitchen.

He poured his medicine out into a bowl and set it aside, then lifted the pot lid and used chopsticks to fish out the braised duck pieces. He took out two duck necks, a pair of duck wings, some duck hearts, gizzards, intestines, and a duck head, filling a plate with these assorted parts.

Before they went into the pot, the duck pieces were clean and had a fresh, reddish-white color. Now, they had been soaked in the braising sauce, taking on a beautiful reddish-brown hue.

Carrying the bowl of medicine and the plate of duck back to the room, Yu Jiuque sat down and continued fiddling with the hand warmer, waiting for Qin Xia to finish his bath.

After a while, when the medicine had cooled down, he pinched his nose and drank it all in one gulp, then quickly popped a piece of candied fruit into his mouth.

Time passed, and still, Qin Xia hadn’t come out.

Could it be that he had fallen asleep again?

Dozing off during a bath could lead to catching a cold. After pondering for a moment, Yu Jiuque decided to get up and check, walking toward the door.

“Creaaak…”

The door made a soft noise as it opened, and Qin Xia snapped out of his half-asleep state.

Rubbing his forehead, he realized he had almost dozed off.

A slight breeze blew in from the side, but his still-groggy mind didn’t fully register what was happening until…

“Ah Jiu?!”

Qin Xia didn’t even know what he was thinking—his first reaction was to grab the towel hanging on the edge of the tub and quickly cover his lower half.

Yu Jiuque was also momentarily stunned.

“I heard nothing from your room for a while and was worried you might fall asleep and catch a cold.”

As he spoke, his gaze involuntarily swept over Qin Xia’s upper body.

This was the first time he had seen Qin Xia without clothes on, and the figure was even broader and more muscular than he had imagined.

So this is what a man’s body looks like beneath the clothes…

His heart seemed to beat a little faster at the sight.

Cao Ashuang’s words echoed in his mind.

Yu Jiuque slowly exhaled and made a decision.

He should have stepped back out of the room, but instead, he took a step forward, his mind racing as he quickly came up with something to say.

“Husband, would you like me to help you wash your back?”

…

In the small, steamy room, Qin Xia wanted to refuse but couldn’t find a reason to.

Avoiding consummation could be blamed on Dr. Xu’s advice, but he couldn’t very well say that he wouldn’t let his spouse touch him at all after they had been married. He wasn’t some delicate maiden.

“Alright, I’ll trouble you then.”

He tried to appear calm and composed, though inside, he felt far from it.

But then something even more awkward happened.

There was only one towel in the room, and in his haste, Qin Xia had thrown it into the water.

Yu Jiuque noticed where Qin Xia was trying to cover and understood immediately.

He felt the urge to laugh but quickly held it back, hurriedly changing the subject.

“There’s a freshly dried towel outside. Let me go get it.”

He returned with the towel a moment later, soaked it in water, and carefully washed Qin Xia’s back.

During the process, he also brought up the matter of visiting Wenhua Temple.

“Sister Shuang said that on the first day of the Lunar New Year, she and Brother Wei are planning to go to Wenhua Temple to pray for blessings, saying that it’s especially effective for those seeking children. She asked if we wanted to go together,” Yu Jiuque said, his voice calm despite his ongoing task, while Qin Xia, who was holding his breath, felt even more conflicted when he heard the words “seeking children.”

After a moment of silence, Qin Xia forced a smile and said, “If you’d like to go, then let’s go. We can also pray for health and safety throughout the year, which would be good.”

With this response, the idea of “seeking children” seemed to become an afterthought. Yu Jiuque, sensing the underlying meaning, felt a twinge of sadness but maintained his usual tone as he replied, “Alright, I’ll let Sister Shuang know tomorrow that we’ll go together with them.”

The matter was settled, and it seemed that the probe had yielded some results, though not the outcome Yu Jiuque had hoped for.

The bath, which should have been relaxing, ended up stirring mixed emotions. After finishing his bath and dressing, Qin Xia finally managed to shake off the awkwardness of earlier when he saw the delicious-looking plate of braised duck on the table.

Though it was getting late, having prepared the food, it felt impossible to sleep peacefully without at least tasting it. As someone who loves cooking, one needs to have a heart that craves good food.

Qin Xia dipped the tip of his chopsticks into the braising sauce to taste it. By his standards, it was an eighty out of a hundred.

“Let it soak overnight to absorb more flavor, and tomorrow we’ll wrap some up to give to Shopkeeper Xing and Godmother.”

After saying this, he urged Yu Jiuque to start eating.

“No need for chopsticks, just use your hands.”

Qin Xia grabbed a duck head first. He had always loved gnawing on duck heads, even though they had the least meat—they were the most flavorful.

Da Fu, attracted by the aroma, came over and circled the table. But the heavy spices were not to its liking, so after sniffing around, it wandered off.

Holding the split duck skull in his hand, Qin Xia remarked, “Ever since we got Da Fu, I doubt I’ll be able to bring myself to eat goose again.”

But duck was still fair game.

Yu Jiuque, on the other hand, hesitated at the sight of the duck head, so he picked up his chopsticks and selected a piece of duck neck from the plate.

The duck neck had been cut into just the right size to pop into his mouth. The flavor was a perfect balance of salty and sweet. Since it was braised in the same pot, the taste was more complex and rich than the grilled chicken wings or other meat dishes Qin Xia had made before. It was so flavorful that you wanted to suck the bones dry before finally setting them aside.

After finishing the duck neck and moving on to the duck wings, Qin Xia noticed Yu Jiuque sticking to the more “conventional” parts, so he picked up a piece of duck intestine and placed it in Yu Jiuque’s small bowl.

“Try this—it’s really good.”

The duck intestine was long and thin, looking a bit like noodles. Yu Jiuque couldn’t quite imagine what it would taste like, but he gathered his courage and took a bite.

“It’s crispy?”

Upon closer tasting, he noticed the distinctive flavor of duck.

“Exactly. I added the duck intestine to the pot last. If it cooks too long, it becomes tough. The best texture is just as it is now—crispy and easy to chew. If you’re using duck intestine in hotpot, you need to hold it with your chopsticks and pull it out as soon as it’s done. If it sinks to the bottom, it’s overcooked and will definitely turn tough.”

After trying the duck intestine, there was no reason not to taste the duck heart and gizzard as well. In the end, the gizzard turned out to be the least flavorful but was still crispy and had a satisfying chewiness, which Yu Jiuque seemed to particularly enjoy.

“This one will last quite a while, and it’s also great as a snack with some wine,” Qin Xia said, winding the duck intestine around his chopsticks and popping it into his mouth. After swallowing it, he added, “We’ll go to Manager Peng’s tavern again and buy a good jar of wine. If they have rice wine, I’ll get some for you next time. It’s barely even alcohol, so you should be able to drink it.”

Qin Xia remembered reading that in ancient times, the earliest methods of brewing were quite primitive. The wine not only had many impurities but was also low in alcohol content. Back then, the wine was closer to “rice wine,” sweet, low in alcohol, and not very intoxicating.

Li Bai wrote lines like “Gold goblet with clear wine worth ten thousand,” “Must drink three hundred cups in one go,” but if he had modern-day craft beer, he might not even make it through thirty cups.

Some people have even speculated that the “Poet Immortal” might have had a drinking capacity equivalent to about four or five bottles of beer by today’s standards.

The Da Yong dynasty, however, was different. Their brewing techniques had greatly improved compared to previous dynasties. The high-quality white liquor that Qin Xia saw in the tavern was crystal clear, with a rich aroma that was intoxicating even from a distance, and was at least 30-40% alcohol by volume.

The original Qin Xia had consumed quite a bit, but since coming here, he hadn’t properly tried it yet.

Yu Jiuque’s mention of it had stirred the “alcohol bug” in his stomach again.

The duck dishes were delicate to eat, and it took them a good while to finish the plate of braised delicacies.

As they were cleaning up, Qin Xia thought of a saying: “The taste of ordinary life soothes the human heart.”

When you eat something delicious, all your worries and sorrows seem to dissipate.

Unfortunately, not everyone’s joys and sorrows are the same.

Late at night.

Qin Xia was sound asleep, soft snores emanating from the pillow next to him.

Yu Jiuque lay on his pillow, staring at the beams illuminated by the moonlight, unable to close his eyes for a long time.

…

“Ah Jiu, are you ready?”

When Qin Xia entered the room, Yu Jiuque had just finished grooming himself in front of the mirror. Hearing the question, he looked up and smoothed a stray lock of hair near his temples.

“I’m ready, and I’ve packed the money. Do you think it’s enough?”

Qin Xia wasn’t in a hurry to check the coins on the table.

Today, Yu Jiuque had styled his hair differently than usual, and it was hard for Qin Xia to take his eyes off him.

Noticing Qin Xia’s gaze, Yu Jiuque, a bit self-conscious, adjusted the silver hairpin on his head.

“I saw someone else with this hairstyle on the street the other day and thought I’d try it. Does it look strange?”

“Strange? Not at all. I think it looks great.”

Qin Xia’s sincere compliment brought a soft blush to Yu Jiuque’s cheeks.

Returning to the table, Qin Xia picked up the money pouch and weighed it in his hand.

Two days ago, their home money jar had filled up completely. Even though Qin Xia was reluctant to exchange it for silver, he couldn’t delay any longer. So he and Yu Jiuque spent a morning when they weren’t out working, carrying the ten or so strings of cash to the bank, exchanging it for about eighteen taels of silver—two five-tael ingots and eight taels in smaller pieces.

Yu Jiuque hadn’t touched the two ingots, and the pouch seemed to hold just a modest amount.

“Let’s add a bit more. Better to have too much than too little.”

Today was the 23rd day of the twelfth lunar month, known as “Little New Year” in the north.

The old custom of “busy year” generally began from this day.

Qin Xia had given his stall a day off and informed Sister Zheng that she didn’t need to come over, as he and Yu Jiuque planned to go shopping for New Year’s supplies.

Even though they were saving up to open a restaurant, the New Year had to be celebrated joyfully and festively.

Yu Jiuque, hearing that Qin Xia thought the money might not be enough, felt a bit uncertain. He had prepared enough for any New Year purchases.

But since Qin Xia said it wasn’t enough, Yu Jiuque wasn’t about to argue. He turned, opened the money jar that hadn’t yet been put away, and took out two more pieces of silver.

“How about adding these?”

Qin Xia glanced at the silver but didn’t have a clear idea of the exact amount. He then took out the family’s balance scale and weighed it. Together with the previous amount, it came to just about five taels.

“This should be enough.”

Satisfied, Qin Xia tucked the money pouch into his jacket. The two of them wrapped themselves tightly in their cotton-padded coats, one carrying a basket on his back and the other holding a smaller basket, as they set out together.

“Candied melons! Get your candied melons here!”

As soon as they reached the street, they heard several vendors loudly hawking their candied melons.

The Little New Year was also the day for offering sacrifices to the Kitchen God, and candied melons were a must-have in every household. Even those who didn’t usually deal in sweets would stock up on some to sell, hoping to make an extra coin or two.

Yu Jiuque glanced at the piles of white candied melons.

“Husband, should we buy some?”

“No rush. Buying food now would make it difficult to carry. Let’s check out the shops first.”

Qin Xia scanned the signs along the street and then, under Yu Jiuque’s curious gaze, led him into a bustling fabric store.

“Welcome, gentlemen! Are you here to buy new fabric for clothes? We have nothing but the best materials, all sourced from the south. Please, take a look inside!”

Fabric shops did well year-round, but business was especially good before the New Year. After working hard all year, people’s purses were full. Unless they were so poor that they couldn’t afford to eat, they would at least buy two feet of cloth, even if it was the cheapest, to make a new outfit or two.

It was Yu Jiuque’s first time coming to such a place with Qin Xia. He tightened his grip on the bamboo basket he was carrying and quietly looked around.

The fabric shop’s decor wasn’t particularly lavish, but the shelves were packed with all sorts of fabric that drew the eye. From inexpensive hemp and cotton to luxurious brocade, the materials were lined up in neat rows, creating a dazzling display.

On the walls, there were also many ready-made garments, all of which looked quite expensive and stylish.

“We’re looking to buy two cotton-padded coats and some fabric.”

Qin Xia’s words made the attendant who was serving them inwardly rejoice.

Cotton-padded coats—now that was a good sale. Cotton-padded coats weren’t cheap.

“You’ve come to the right place. The cotton-padded coats in our shop are of the highest quality. The stitching is tight, the cotton won’t bunch up, and we use only the finest cotton.”

The attendant led them further inside, and Yu Jiuque gently tugged at Qin Xia’s sleeve.

“The one I’m wearing is still in good condition; there’s no need to buy a new one.”

Qin Xia replied helplessly, “It’s not in good condition. The one you’re wearing was originally… I mean, it originally belonged to my mother. Even though it’s been well-preserved, it’s still old, and old cotton isn’t as warm. It’s the New Year, so we should each have a new one. I’ve been planning this for a while.”

Yu Jiuque still wasn’t fully convinced.

“In that case, we could buy fabric and cotton and make it ourselves. It would be more economical than buying ready-made.”

Qin Xia smiled softly and whispered, “Do you know how to make one?”

Yu Jiuque fell silent, touching his nose before responding, “I can learn.”

Qin Xia gently put his arm around his shoulder.

“If you don’t know how, you don’t know how. Sewing is hard on the eyes and hands, and it’s not like we can’t afford ready-made clothes.”

As they talked, they arrived at their destination, and the attendant brought out a few cotton-padded coats for them to choose from.

The coats felt solid and thick, with durable, wind-resistant fabric on the outside.

As for the colors, there wasn’t much variety.

Most common folks wore blue or gray; even if they wanted to buy something in a nicer color, they would hesitate because it would get dirty quickly, and cotton-padded coats weren’t meant to be washed frequently.

Qin Xia didn’t mind and casually pointed to a plain, blue coat. But Yu Jiuque wasn’t willing to settle for something so plain.

“Apart from these, do you have anything a bit more vibrant?”

The attendant glanced at Yu Jiuque, silently admiring how well he could pull off any color, and quickly responded, “Yes, of course, we do!”

With that, he went off and returned a moment later with a dark blue cotton-padded coat.

It was definitely more vibrant compared to the usual blue, gray, or brown.

Qin Xia took the coat and held it up against Yu Jiuque.

“Do you like this one?”

The new cotton felt different—soft and fluffy to the touch.

Suspecting this one might be more expensive, he asked the attendant, but upon hearing that the price was the same, he was relieved.

“Then I’ll go with this one.”

Qin Xia had a good eye; compared to the other colors, Yu Jiuque indeed preferred the dark blue one.

They settled on the style and size.

The ready-made clothes came in different sizes, with adjustable waistbands.

Both Qin Xia and Yu Jiuque tried on their coats on the spot; they were a decent fit, so there was no need to have the tailor at the fabric store make any alterations.

“We’ll take these two coats, and we’d like to look at some fabric as well,” Qin Xia told the attendant, pointing to the two coats.

In the past, Qin Xia was the type who couldn’t stand shopping, and once online shopping became popular, he would avoid going out if he could.

But to his surprise, he found himself enjoying this outing. He soon followed the attendant, pulling Yu Jiuque along, towards the crowded counter.

Compared to the area where they picked out the coats, the counter was much more chaotic.

A crowd of women and young men surrounded the counter, reaching out to flip through the bolts of fabric. Occasionally, two people would reach for the same piece, leading to a bit of a tussle.

Qin Xia, a tall and sturdy man, felt out of place in the crowd, especially as he had to keep an eye on Yu Jiuque to make sure he didn’t get jostled.

Fortunately, they had a clear goal in mind and quickly selected a bolt of fine white cotton. They purchased enough to make undergarments at home.

These would be simpler to make compared to the cotton-padded coats, and Yu Jiuque planned to ask Fang Rong for some guidance so he could learn to make them himself.

They also selected a piece of chrysanthemum green and a piece of brown fabric, each for making a set of everyday clothes. This should have been the end of it, but Qin Xia happened to catch sight of a wooden red fabric that a young man had been eyeing.

The fabric was a reddish-orange color, known as “wood red,” derived from dyeing with sappanwood, making it a shade that was very particular about complementing one’s complexion. The young man who had initially picked it up held it against his face, only to find that it made his already not-so-fair complexion look even more sallow. He quickly put it down.

That’s when it caught Qin Xia’s eye.

He casually picked up the discarded fabric and motioned for Yu Jiuque to come closer.

“I think this looks nice. What do you think?”

Yu Jiuque glanced at the fabric, then at his own dusty but durable winter clothes, and decisively shook his head.

As for personal preference, he did like it.

But in terms of practicality, he thought it would be a waste of money.

However, such thoughts could never fool Qin Xia.

Without a word, Qin Xia picked up the fabric and held it against Yu Jiuque’s chin to compare.

The attendant nearby noticed this and immediately chimed in, “Oh my, look how this color makes you glow! Perfect for the New Year—wearing red will bring prosperity in the coming year!”

The flattery made Qin Xia chuckle, and seeing that he was clearly tempted, Yu Jiuque quickly tried to persuade him, “Let’s buy less. This color is too flashy.”

“Not flashy, just festive. Didn’t you hear what he said? Wearing red in the new year brings prosperity, and if you wear it, our business at the stall will also do better.”

This time, it was Yu Jiuque’s turn to smile wryly and mutter, “What kind of twisted logic is that?”

But it seemed that the more Yu Jiuque tried to dissuade him, the more Qin Xia wanted to buy it.

Seeing that he couldn’t stop him, Yu Jiuque could only stand by and resign himself to watching the attendant measure and cut the fabric to the appropriate length, folding it neatly and placing it with the other materials they had selected.

After that, Qin Xia still wanted to look around some more, but Yu Jiuque promptly pulled him away.

“No more shopping. If we keep going, we’ll have spent all our money before we even leave this place.”

The two cotton-padded coats were the most expensive, each costing seven qian without any bargaining, totaling one tael and two qian.

The various fabrics they bought were of different lengths and prices, adding up to one tael and five qian.

Yu Jiuque wasn’t wrong—their five taels were more than halfway gone after just this one store.

It was the first time Qin Xia had been yanked so abruptly by Yu Jiuque, and when he looked at the young man with a face full of concern for their money, he couldn’t help but reassure him, “We only make new clothes twice a year—once in summer and once in winter. Besides, clothes aren’t something you wear for just a few days and then throw away. If we buy good material, we can wear it for two or three years, so it’s not expensive at all when you think about it. Don’t you agree?”

Actually, that estimate was quite conservative. A good cotton-padded coat wouldn’t just last two or three years. With careful wear and regular mending, it’s not uncommon for a father to pass it down to his son.

Yu Jiuque wasn’t the type to hoard money; it’s just that money is always hard to come by and easy to spend.

When a bulging purse suddenly deflates, it’s hard not to feel a bit of a pang.

He soon came around and asked Qin Xia, “So, what’s next on our shopping list?”

Qin Xia already had a plan.

“Aside from fresh produce and meat, we’ll get everything else today. We’ll pick up some sugar figurines, a new picture of the Kitchen God, fortune characters, couplets, door guardians, firecrackers… Oh, and we need to buy incense and paper money for ancestor worship. We’ll also get some candies and seeds that keep well, to have as snacks during the New Year.”

The customs of the Spring Festival in the Dayong Dynasty were almost identical to those of later generations. On New Year’s Eve, it was essential to have a reunion dinner, worship ancestors, set off firecrackers, and stay up late. These traditions were necessary regardless of whether the family had many members or few.

Gathering these New Year goods was straightforward. The streets were brightly decorated, and everywhere you looked, there were festive red decorations. The Kitchen God and door god portraits were woodblock prints, with the cheapest ones costing only a few coins. The more expensive ones, with multiple colors printed, were still only about ten coins.

Spring couplets and fortune characters could be commissioned from poor scholars at street stalls. Qin Xia watched one such scholar for a while and thought that his writing wasn’t as good as Yu Jiuque’s. So he went up and bought a few sheets of square paper and couplet paper, rolled them up, and put them in his basket, leaving Yu Jiuque a bit puzzled.

“Why not just buy the pre-written ones?”

Qin Xia raised an eyebrow. “Your writing is nice too. We can do it ourselves at home and save some money.”

Now he was thinking about saving money!

Spring couplets and square fortune characters were meant to be displayed at the front door. The thought of his own writing being seen by passersby made Yu Jiuque want to crawl into a hole out of embarrassment.

“My handwriting is just fine for simple things, but for this? It would be too embarrassing!”

What he didn’t know was that in the past, people would scramble to offer money just to get one of his written pieces.

“It’s not embarrassing at all. You go ahead and write it. If anyone dares to say anything bad, I’ll take it up with them.”

Yu Jiuque asked if Qin Xia was really set on him writing the couplets, and when Qin Xia affirmed it, Yu Jiuque reluctantly said, “Then we’ll need to buy a new brush.”

They only had a small, fine brush at home, which was good for writing documents and ledgers but utterly unsuitable for writing large characters.

So the two of them made a detour to the stationery shop and bought a brush.

Yu Jiuque held up the brush and showed it to Qin Xia. “Didn’t you just spend the money you saved on this?”

Qin Xia, unfazed, smiled slightly. “It’s different.”

As for how it was different, perhaps only he knew.

After walking for over half an hour, they found a sheltered corner of the street to take a break, setting down their basket and basket. The spot was conveniently next to an old man selling candied hawthorns. Qin Xia took out five coins and bought a skewer with the largest, roundest hawthorns.

“Here.”

He handed the skewer to Yu Jiuque, who almost dropped it because the hawthorns were so many that the bamboo stick was nearly bending under their weight.

A passing child was whining to his impatient mother about wanting a sugar ball, but she dragged him forward, and he kept turning his head, enviously staring at the bright red hawthorns in Yu Jiuque’s hand.

Yu Jiuque, oblivious to all this, carefully examined the skewer for a while before finally taking the first bite.

“Crunch.”

The slightly yellow sugar coating cracked, and half of a hawthorn rolled between his lips and teeth.

“Is it sour?”

Qin Xia asked, but Yu Jiuque, with his mouth full, couldn’t speak, so he simply shook his head.

As Yu Jiuque ate, Qin Xia chatted with the old man selling the hawthorns. Noticing the clean preparation, Qin Xia saw the old man was an honest businessman and couldn’t help but suggest, “Sir, you could try selling candied yams too. Sell them for two or three coins a skewer; they’re cheaper than hawthorns and taste great.”

The old man looked doubtful.

“Yam beans? You can make candied treats with those?”

Yam beans were considered cheap, almost worthless, with a single coin buying several handfuls!

Qin Xia smiled and said, “Just give it a try, and you’ll see.”

The old man, hearing Qin Xia speak so convincingly, figured that yam beans weren’t expensive, so it might be worth a shot. He tucked his hands into his sleeves, sniffed his nose red from the cold, and said, “I’ll give it a try when I get home. If it turns out people like them, next time I see you and your wife, I’ll treat you to some candied treats for free!”

“I’ll hold you to that!”

After chatting for a while, Yu Jiuque had already eaten half of the skewer of candied hawthorns. Qin Xia took out a handkerchief, motioning for him to wipe the sugar residue off the corners of his mouth, then leaned forward a bit.

“Let me have one too.”

Yu Jiuque handed the skewer over, expecting Qin Xia to take it, but instead, Qin Xia just took a bite directly.

“Careful, don’t let it fall!”

Yu Jiuque quickly cupped his hands under it, while Qin Xia bit off a hawthorn, his cheeks puffing up as he chewed.

“It’s really sweet.”

The remaining four hawthorns were split evenly between the two, two each. As they were about to leave, Qin Xia reminded the old man, “Don’t forget my yam bean candied treats!”

Yu Jiuque was impressed by Qin Xia’s ability to strike up a conversation with complete strangers, chatting about anything and everything.

Compared to that, Yu Jiuque didn’t really enjoy mingling with crowds. What some people found lively, he found noisy. If Qin Xia weren’t with him, he probably wouldn’t want to stay in such a bustling place for long.

But with Qin Xia around, everything seemed more interesting.

“Congratulations on your wealth… Congratulations on your wealth…”

A street vendor selling birds had a mynah bird in a cage, diligently mimicking human speech. Looking closely, there was even a small bowl in front of the birdcage with a few scattered coins inside.

“This vendor really knows how to do business.”

Qin Xia went up and dropped a coin into the bowl, believing it would bring good luck during the New Year.

They quickly finished their shopping, with the baskets they brought completely filled. The last item, a box of dried fruits, was tied with a string and carried by hand.

The fruit box they bought was mostly for their own use or to serve guests. When visiting relatives during the New Year, they would buy a “Hundred Blessings Box” or a “Ten Fruits Pastry Box.” These types of boxes came in many styles, sealed with red paper, making them perfect for giving as New Year’s gifts, and they were very presentable.

For their final stop, the two of them went to a meat stall.

At the end of the year, families that raised pigs would slaughter them for the New Year, and butchers would have no shortage of pork to sell. Although the supply was abundant, prices still rose with the season.

When Qin Xia and Yu Jiuque arrived, a woman in front of them was haggling with the butcher.

“Yesterday, the pork belly was 23 coins a pound, and today it’s already 28!”

The butcher, not even looking up as he continued cutting the meat, didn’t seem worried about not having business.

“Sister, why don’t you go and ask around the other butchers in town? See if anyone still sells good pork belly for 25 coins. If you find any, bring it here, and I’ll pay you the difference!”

The woman pursed her lips in dissatisfaction, muttering about how the price had increased too much. In the end, she reluctantly chose a cheaper cut of pork shoulder and left, grumbling all the while.

“Oh, Boss Qin!”

After wrapping up the meat and sending the woman off, the butcher looked up and recognized Qin Xia. This butcher’s surname was Guo, and Qin Xia often bought meat from him. He had also purchased snacks from Qin Xia’s food stall a few times, and over time, they had become familiar with each other.

Yu Jiuque followed closely behind and also greeted Butcher Guo.

Qin Xia glanced around the cutting board. “Looks like I came a bit late today.”

Butcher Guo replied, “It’s getting close to the New Year, and everyone is willing to splurge on meat. Normally, I wouldn’t have sold this much by this time.”

Although there wasn’t much left, some of the more expensive cuts, which were still on the counter, hadn’t been sold yet.

“I’ll take this piece of tenderloin.”

Qin Xia immediately chose the pork tenderloin. This cut is all lean meat, with no fat, and is usually sold at a higher price because of its limited quantity and the fact that not everyone knows how to cook it.

Ordinary households prefer buying pork shoulder with a 70-30 meat-to-fat ratio, or, at the very least, they choose pork leg with some fat.

“Butcher Guo weighed the tenderloin, already pre-cut, on the scale. The tenderloin is split into large and small pieces, and the one Qin Xia chose was a large piece, perfect for stir-frying.

It weighed about three pounds, costing 25 coins per pound, totaling 75 coins.

This piece of meat could last other households for four or five meals, or at least two or three. But Qin Xia had already planned to use it all in one meal.

Having a big eater at home is both good and bad.

The downside is that it can be quite costly, though Qin Xia could afford it.

The upside is that it allows him to showcase his culinary skills; he can make several dishes without worrying about leftovers.

“Quack quack!”

Before they even opened the door upon returning home, they could hear Da Fu, the goose, squawking anxiously behind it.

As soon as the door opened, Da Fu flapped its wings and rushed out.

It had grown a bit bigger now and wasn’t as afraid of the cold. It couldn’t be kept in the cage while they were away.

So, starting a few days ago, whenever they went out, they would leave Da Fu in the woodshed, with the door slightly ajar.

If Da Fu felt cold outside, it could wander around the woodshed, or if it felt restless, it could roam the courtyard.

Yu Jiuque had even decorated Da Fu’s neck with a colorful plum blossom knot, making the goose look quite proud as it strutted around.

After petting Da Fu for a while, the two of them unloaded the baskets, putting away the things they had bought. The deity image and sugar cakes they needed for the evening’s Kitchen God worship were placed separately.

“Da Fu, come here!”

Qin Xia planned to make fish-flavored shredded pork and crispy fried tenderloin for lunch. While washing vegetables, he pulled off some greens for Da Fu and handed them to Yu Jiuque, asking him to feed the goose.

Usually, when someone called Da Fu’s name, it would immediately respond with a loud “quack” and come running. But today, even after Yu Jiuque called several times, the goose was nowhere to be seen, even though it had been at his feet just moments ago.

“Da Fu?”

Feeling a bit uneasy, Yu Jiuque set the bowl aside and began searching from the front courtyard to the back.

“Calling you so many times and you didn’t respond. So you’re here playing!”

Seeing Da Fu in the backyard with its neck stretched out, Yu Jiuque sighed in relief, thinking it had come to play with the hens. But as he turned to leave, he suddenly heard a faint meow.

“Is there a cat?”

Yu Jiuque murmured to himself, looking in the direction Da Fu was staring. After a moment, he noticed a calico mother cat hiding behind a clump of dried grass on the wall.

There really was one!

As soon as their eyes met, the cat jumped up and ran off.

Yu Jiuque returned to the kitchen with Da Fu, feeding it the greens while telling Qin Xia about the cat, with a hint of regret in his voice.

“Maybe I startled it, and it ran off. I was thinking of giving it something to eat. Its belly looked a bit swollen—could it be expecting kittens?”

Qin Xia had a fondness for animals. Hearing this, he said, “Why not leave some food on the wall? If that cat is smart, it might come back.”

In ancient times, many households kept cats to catch mice, but since cats came and went as they pleased, it was hard to tell if a cat was wild or domesticated. However, giving some food to a stray cat wasn’t a bad idea.

With this in mind, Qin Xia took out some of the cut meat, planning to cook it and mix it with rice for the cat.

He then divided the remaining meat into two portions: one cut into thin strips and the other into longer pieces, with the latter being marinated in seasonings.

While waiting for the meat to marinate, he began preparing the other ingredients for the fish-flavored shredded pork.