Ch 36: Guide to Feeding a Villainous Husband

The fifth day of the Lunar New Year, also known as “Po Wu,” is a day when people in the North traditionally set off firecrackers and eat dumplings to send off the God of Poverty and welcome the God of Wealth. It’s also a day when markets reopen, and everyone wishes for a prosperous year ahead.

Naturally, Qin Xia’s food stall was part of this tradition.

The post-holiday business did not disappoint Qin Xia. Despite only being closed for five days, the customers in front of the stall seemed as if they had been starving for ages, eagerly paying and ordering food.

As a result, they prepared more ingredients for the lunch rush, stayed open later, and for the first time, the night market kept them busy until nearly the end of the Hour of the Pig (around 10 p.m.).

When the last portion of pan-fried buns was sold, even Qin Xia couldn’t help but let out a long sigh of exhaustion.

“Let’s just prepare extra for these first three days to avoid disappointing our regulars. After that, we’ll return to our normal routine, head home earlier, and get some rest. Making money is endless, but as long as we have enough, it’s fine.”

Yu Jiuque, tired to the point where his eyes were bloodshot, had just cleaned his hands and quickly rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand. An hour ago, Qin Xia had suggested that he go home early, but Yu Jiuque refused, stubbornly staying with him until the very end.

In contrast, Liu Douzi seemed the most energetic, even though he usually woke up early to grind beans and should have been more sleep-deprived.

However, Qin Xia and Yu Jiuque didn’t say anything, knowing that they had been present when Liu Douzi’s aunt and Fang Rong had set the date for his matchmaking meeting.

With only eight or nine days left, Liu Douzi was bound to be both excited and nervous. This nervous energy had nowhere to go, so it all turned into enthusiasm.

Despite it being late at night, he was still full of energy, even humming a little tune while cleaning the iron griddle.

But halfway through his humming, Liu Douzi suddenly realized that others were around. He froze, then quickly turned around and nonchalantly grabbed a rag to wipe down the cart.

Qin Xia and Yu Jiuque stifled their laughter, not wanting to tease him.

Before leaving, Yu Jiuque organized the money bag, glanced at the large amount of copper coins inside, and couldn’t help but smile.

From reopening on the fifth day of the Lunar New Year to the tenth day, business had been booming.

On the best day, they made a full one tael and five qian, with an average daily net profit of around eight to nine qian.

The money jar, which had been nearly emptied after exchanging most of the copper coins for silver before the New Year, was quickly filling up again.

Later that evening, Qin Xia and Yu Jiuque both took a bath, including washing their hair. After wiping themselves dry several times with a cloth, they sat by the brazier, waiting for their hair to dry.

Da Fu was quite busy, grooming its feathers one moment and helping its two owners groom their hair the next.

Qin Xia, for the umpteenth time, wrested his hair out of Da Fu’s beak and tossed it over his other shoulder, sighing in exasperation, “I really feel like cutting my hair short.”

Long hair was such a hassle—difficult to wash, even more so to dry.

Yu Jiuque nearly faltered with his writing brush.

In traditional Chinese culture, cutting one’s hair was considered a serious act of disrespect to one’s parents. Qin Xia’s words could be seen as “blasphemous.”

Guessing that Qin Xia was just frustrated with how long his hair was taking to dry, Yu Jiuque offered, “Should I wipe it again for you with the cloth?”

Qin Xia yawned and shook his head.

He was just venting. He had already wiped it for half a day; doing it more wouldn’t make much difference.

When Yu Jiuque finished writing, Qin Xia took the account book to review it.

Since Yu Jiuque had become proficient with Arabic numerals, the ledger had become much simpler and clearer.

In fact, it almost seemed like it was encrypted. If a third person were to look at it, they probably wouldn’t understand a thing.

Apart from the daily income and expenses, a few significant sums stood out on the paper, all from the sales of food recipes.

On the first day after reopening for business, You Ge’er had proactively offered to pay the remaining ten taels of “balance” and had gone with Qin Xia to the Street Administration Office to have the signed contract stamped with the official seal.

As they left the office, they ran into Hu Laosi, who worked there. When Hu Laosi saw Qin Xia, his first thought was that the Qin family food stall had gotten into some trouble again. However, when he learned that Qin Xia was there to sign a contract with another vendor, having sold his food recipes, he became interested.

That evening, after his shift, Hu Laosi changed into casual clothes and came to Banqiao Street to discuss the matter with Qin Xia.

Qin Xia, for this reason, left the food stall in the care of Yu Jiuque and Liu Douzi and invited Hu Laosi to sit at a nearby small tavern.

Hu Laosi was straightforward, stating right away that he was buying the recipes for his younger sister.

It turned out that his sister, married for five years with only one daughter, had been divorced by her husband’s family for “failing to produce a son,” one of the Seven Grounds for Divorce. After returning to her parents’ home, she had been depressed day after day.

“My sister got married at sixteen and is only twenty-one now. If she wanted to remarry, I would find her a better husband, but she says she has given up on that idea and just wants to stay home and care for our parents.”

But Hu Laosi didn’t want to see her moping around the house every day, fearing that she would eventually fall ill from it. He remembered that before she got married, his sister had been a lively and cheerful person, not at all like the withered shell she had become.

“My sister was good at cooking even when she was still at home. As a child, she even said she wanted to be a chef when she grew up. If I give her these two recipes, she’ll have a way to make her own living. With me protecting her, her stall will certainly be able to operate steadily.”

One had to admit, Hu Laosi’s considerations were thorough.

Doing business with an official from the Street Administration was an opportunity Qin Xia couldn’t pass up.

The recipes for grilled cold noodles and steamed pudding, which should have fetched a total of twenty-three taels, were discounted to twenty taels, a price significantly lower than what Hu Laosi had expected.

“I thought it would be at least thirty taels,” he said, hesitating with his money.

Qin Xia smiled. “It’s just street food. It wouldn’t fetch thirty taels of silver.”

He was telling the truth, but Hu Laosi, feeling that he had gotten a good deal because of his official status, not only insisted on paying for the drinks but also asked Qin Xia about his future plans.

“If you want to continue operating at the Banqiao Street night market, I can help you find a good spot.”

This was the benefit of having connections in the government. The stalls on Banqiao Street were in high demand; on crowded days, there wasn’t even space to stand, let alone set up a food stall.

However, Qin Xia politely declined Hu Laosi’s offer and shared his plan to rent a storefront and open a restaurant.

Hu Laosi was pleased to hear this.

Qin Xia’s cooking skills were excellent, and Hu Laosi was confident that the recipes he bought were like a treasure chest, capable of generating money continuously.

Qin Xia opening a restaurant meant that as business thrived, those who had bought his recipes and operated under the Qin family name would also benefit.

“In that case, there will inevitably be some paperwork involved. When you come to the Administration Office, I’ll help you coordinate with the household registration department.”

As a result, Qin Xia not only sold two recipes but also gained Hu Laosi’s promise of assistance.

By tonight, three of the seven food recipes had been sold, bringing in a total of thirty-five taels of silver.

The remaining recipes also had potential buyers.

For instance, Manager Peng from the liquor shop, who had a strong tolerance for spicy food, was very interested in buying the recipe for spicy sour noodles. He claimed that he could afford eight taels of silver for it but hadn’t yet figured out how to sell it or to whom.

“But even if it’s just for eight taels, can’t I buy it just to make it for myself?”

Technically, yes.

However, Qin Xia wasn’t selling his recipes just to make a few extra taels of silver. He hoped that once he shifted his focus to running the restaurant, these foods that had once brought satisfaction and happiness to customers could continue to be enjoyed on the streets and alleys of the town.

After hearing Qin Xia’s heartfelt intentions, Manager Peng realized he had been a bit presumptuous but still didn’t give up.

“I’ll go home and discuss it with my wife. In the meantime, Boss Qin, don’t sell that recipe to anyone else!”

Qin Xia was even forced to accept a deposit of one tael of silver from Manager Peng, as if he was afraid that the recipe for spicy sour noodles would grow legs and run away overnight.

As he recalled these events, his fingers paused on a page, tracing down the neatly written numbers with a brush until he reached the total—sixty-five taels—a very gratifying result.

Especially knowing that this sum would soon be converted into a restaurant, where Yu Jiuque could comfortably sit behind the counter, counting money and keeping the books. No longer would they have to endure the harsh winds of winter or the scorching sun of summer.

This thought filled Qin Xia with even more satisfaction.

However, as this thought crossed his mind, he couldn’t help but recall the plot of the original story. His mood slightly dampened, though he didn’t show it outwardly.

Turning his head, he saw Yu Jiuque absentmindedly running his fingers through his still-damp hair.

Qin Xia picked up the wooden comb from the table and began gently combing Yu Jiuque’s hair. In this peaceful and comfortable atmosphere, they started discussing the remaining recipes that had yet to find a buyer.

“Let’s go with Douzi’s suggestion and give him the recipes for the egg burgers and the sausage.”

This was a decision Liu Douzi had already made, and Qin Xia thought it was a very smart choice.

First, the filling for the egg burgers contained tofu, which Liu Douzi was already familiar with, so he wouldn’t have to worry about sourcing other ingredients. Second, both the pancakes and the grilled cold noodles used sausage, so when You Ge’er and Hu Laosi needed to buy sausage, they’d have to source it from the Liu family. Although the profit margin was small, it would add up over time.

What should have been a straightforward agreement, however, hit a snag over the price.

Qin Xia had initially set the price at twelve taels for the egg burger recipe and eight taels for the sausage recipe, totaling twenty taels. This information couldn’t be hidden from Liu Douzi. But since this was the price set for outsiders, he didn’t intend to actually charge the Liu family that much.

The result was a tug-of-war, with one side refusing to pay and the other insisting on it, dragging on for several days.

Qin Xia eventually realized just how determined Fang Rong was. As he was bathing that night, he thought it over and decided to go along with her and Liu Douzi’s wishes.

“Clear accounts between close friends; we didn’t charge for the iron plate tofu or the chicken soup tofu skewers before, and if we don’t take payment this time, I’m afraid Aunt Fang won’t be able to sleep at night.”

Yu Jiuque nodded thoughtfully, resting his hand on the cover of the account book, absentmindedly rubbing it.

“Then that just leaves the recipe for the iron-griddle chicken frame.”

The supply of chicken frames came from the Song family estate, currently procured through Wei Chao’s connections. If someone else took over, Qin Xia was worried about potential issues that could arise, which might hinder their business. So although several people had inquired about the recipe, Qin Xia had been hesitant to sell it.

However, this concern was resolved the next day.

Because Wei Chao came to deliver a message, saying that a steward from the Song family estate, with whom he had regular dealings, wanted to meet Qin Xia.

In the county town, at Changyue Restaurant.

This was Qin Xia’s first time entering such a luxurious establishment since arriving in this world.

The original Qin Xia had visited a few times in the past, but only in the first-floor hall, never in the private rooms on the second floor.

Following Wei Chao through the corridors, they arrived at a private room, where a bearded man was seated.

Qin Xia had already heard some information about this man from Wei Chao. His name was Yu Shun, a servant born into the Song family estate. Both of his parents had served the Song family in respected positions.

In the past, Yu Shun’s father had managed the kitchen supplies, but after falling ill and being unable to continue working, he had pulled some strings to secure the position for his son.

Yu Shun’s mother was even more influential; she had been the wet nurse of the Song family’s most favored second young master.

Master Song had lost his wife early, and although his second son was born of a concubine, the boy’s mother was deeply favored. Over the years, Master Song had been contemplating elevating this concubine to the status of his official wife, making the second son his legitimate successor.

Meanwhile, the legitimate first son of the Song family was a frail, sickly man who rarely ventured out, and it was clear to everyone that the second son was the more likely heir to the family fortune.

With such influential parents, it was no surprise that the tasks handled by Yu Shun were lucrative.

Qin Xia glanced at Yu Shun, who, after their initial meeting, made no effort to rise in greeting. Qin Xia couldn’t help but think to himself: no wonder they say, “Even a seventh-rank official at the prime minister’s gate,” because Yu Shun’s eyes seemed to be almost growing on top of his head.

However, Qin Xia was here to discuss business. As long as the money was right and the formalities were in order, he could overlook Yu Shun’s somewhat arrogant attitude.

Yu Shun hadn’t originally come to Changyue Restaurant to meet Qin Xia. His primary purpose was to hire a chef for his master’s birthday banquet in two months. Now that the main business was settled, he was eager to return home, so he quickly got to the point when Qin Xia arrived.

“Boss Qin, I assume Wei Da has already conveyed my intentions to you, so let’s not beat around the bush.”

He picked up his teacup, took a deliberate sip, and cleared his throat before continuing, “I recently had the idea of opening a deli in town. I remembered the grilled chicken racks and braised duck that Wei Chao brought over a few times. The taste was decent, so I asked him, and he told me you were looking to sell some food recipes to raise funds.”

At this point, Yu Shun finally managed a smile that was less dismissive.

“I thought, isn’t this a perfect coincidence? So I had Wei Chao invite you over. Rest assured, I’ve brought the money with me. Once we agree on a price, I’ll pay immediately, so you won’t miss out on your evening business.”

Yu Shun spoke as if he was certain of the outcome, but he didn’t expect Qin Xia to frown after hearing him out.

“That’s odd. Before I came, Wei ge only mentioned that you were interested in the grilled chicken racks recipe. Why is there suddenly talk of braised dishes as well?”

Qin Xia immediately turned to Wei Chao with an unhappy expression.

“Wei ge, this is really underhanded of you. You know that the braised recipe has been passed down from my great-grandfather’s generation. My great-grandmother was a chef in a prime minister’s household during the previous dynasty. Such a recipe is so secret that not even my husband knows it! If I were to sell it, wouldn’t I be going against my ancestors’ teachings and become a despised and unfilial descendant?”

His impassioned speech startled even Yu Shun, who hadn’t initially taken Qin Xia seriously. Wei Chao turned pale and began apologizing profusely to both sides.

Qin Xia, clearly unwilling to continue the conversation, lowered his head and silently drank his tea.

With no other choice, Wei Chao stood up and bowed to Yu Shun. “Master Yu, my brother here just needs some time to come around. Give me a moment to talk some sense into him, and I’ll make sure you get a satisfactory answer.”

With that, he forcibly dragged Qin Xia out of the private room, heading to the far end of the second-floor corridor.

The distance between the two locations was far enough that it was hard to overhear their conversation.

Yu Shun paced around the room before decisively calling over a waiter who had just finished delivering drinks to the neighboring room.

“You there, come over!”

The waiter, wiping his sweat with a towel slung over his shoulder, quickly stepped forward. After receiving his instructions and a generous tip, he promptly left with two empty plates in hand.

A short while later, the waiter returned to Yu Shun.

“What did you hear?” Yu Shun asked urgently.

The waiter, no stranger to such tasks, quickly relayed the bits and pieces he had overheard.

“Well, those two gentlemen seemed to be arguing quite heatedly. The taller one almost walked out, but the other pulled him back, saying something like, ‘Think it over. Recipes are fixed, but the money you earn is real.’”

Hearing this, Yu Shun understood the situation. He rewarded the waiter and dismissed him.

After the waiter left, Yu Shun walked to the window, stroked his short beard, and fell into deep thought.

His original plan was to collude with Wei Chao to buy both recipes from Qin Xia at a low price.

The taste of those grilled chicken racks and braised duck was so unforgettable that just thinking about them made his mouth water as if something was scratching at his heart.

It was only after trying Qin Xia’s cooking that Yu Shun realized those duck offal pieces, which used to be discarded as dog food, and the chicken bones, which were thought only good for making broth, could be transformed into something so irresistible.

Sure, there were other shops and stalls selling marinated meats in town, but compared to Qin Xia’s creations, the difference was like comparing a servant girl from the back kitchen to the top courtesan of the renowned Tianxiang Pavilion.

Yu Shun had even secretly observed Qin Xia’s stall at the night market. The grilled chicken racks, which he had sold to Qin Xia for five copper coins each, were resold for double the price.

Bear in mind that Qin Xia had to spend five copper coins to buy each chicken rack from the Song family estate. If Yu Shun took over, those chicken racks would be essentially free, without costing him a single cent.

Selling each rack for thirteen coins, with the other costs barely amounting to three coins, meant that selling fifty frames in one night would net him five taels of silver. If he opened a shop and sold them all day long, what then?

Selling a hundred grilled chicken racks a day would earn him one tael of silver, and thirty taels in a month!

Yu Shun’s heart burned with both envy and desire.

His mother once said that it was only a matter of time before the concubine of the estate would be officially elevated to the status of the Lady of the House. When that happens, she will rightfully manage the household affairs, no longer needing to tiptoe around. She has decided to set aside her pride and ask for the Lady’s favor to release Yu Shun’s indenture. It is for this reason that Yu Shun wants to establish a business outside the estate as soon as possible.

The ready-made grilled chicken racks business is right in front of him, and the braised duck, which is exquisitely delicious and equally profitable, immediately caught his attention. He devised a plan to cut off the supply of chicken racks and forced Wei Chao to act on his behalf to pressure Qin Xia into selling the recipe at a low price.

From Yu Shun’s perspective, Qin Xia had no other choice. Selling the recipe would be a win-win situation: Yu Shun would get the recipe, and Qin Xia could pocket a sum of silver. But if Qin Xia refused, Yu Shun would ensure that he couldn’t find another supplier for chicken racks in Qinan County.

In other words, if Yu Shun couldn’t make money from it, then Qin Xia wouldn’t be allowed to either!

Initially, Wei Chao refused to betray his friend, but when Yu Shun promised him a share of the profits, his brotherly loyalty became less steadfast.

Wei Chao did some digging and found out that Qin Xia’s recipe was indeed a family secret, reportedly worth hundreds of silver taels. Yu Shun didn’t believe it at first, but after sending someone to discreetly inquire in Furong Alley and learning that Qin Xia’s grandmother had indeed been a cook, the story suddenly became plausible.

And with Qin Xia’s reaction just now seeming genuine, Yu Shun’s desire for the recipe only grew stronger.

He wasn’t short of money—his family had been serving the Song estate for years, and they had received no small amount of tributes from those who wanted to curry favor with them. Dozens of silver taels were nothing to him.

Now, the only question left was whether Wei Chao could persuade Qin Xia to hand over the recipe.

After waiting for nearly a quarter of an hour, the door to the private room finally opened again. Wei Chao forcibly pushed Qin Xia back into his seat.

Yu Shun glanced over and saw that Qin Xia still wore a look of dissatisfaction. He shot a glare at Wei Chao, who was frantically signaling with his eyes.

Taking a deep breath, Yu Shun told himself to stay calm. If he provoked Qin Xia too much and he refused to sell the recipe no matter the price, then this trip would have been in vain.

“Boss Qin, have you given it some thought?” Yu Shun asked patiently, putting on a much warmer expression than before.

Qin Xia picked up his teacup and set it down again, his gaze shifting between Wei Chao and Yu Shun as if he had been agonizing over the decision. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, Yu Shun got his answer.

“Wei ge just gave me a thorough talking to, and I’ve thought it over. Whether it’s the grilled chicken racks or the braised duck, the ingredients for both ultimately depend on you, Master Yu, for a steady supply. If I were to upset you and lose access to those ingredients, the recipe in my hands would be as good as dead. It would be better to sell it to you—maybe in your hands, it could thrive and become a renowned brand, fulfilling my ancestors’ wishes rather than disgracing them.”

Hearing this, Yu Shun straightened up, feeling hopeful. He had known all along that Qin Xia, a mere commoner and former street loafer, wouldn’t have much foresight.

Now, Qin Xia was getting up early and working late just to make ends meet. He had heard that Qin Xia’s husband was often sick, and the money they earned barely lasted before being spent on medical bills.

Surely, with a seemingly generous sum of silver in front of him, Qin Xia’s innate laziness would resurface, and all he would want to do was go home and count his money.

And when Yu Shun made a fortune from these recipes, Qin Xia would regret it, but it would be too late!

Feeling more optimistic, Yu Shun’s tone became friendlier.

“Exactly, you’ve hit the nail on the head, Boss Qin. Rest assured, even though I can’t publicly run the shop due to my position in the estate, the person I put in charge will be someone I trust completely. The recipe will be handled with the utmost care, just as you said, preserving the legacy of your ancestors and building a good reputation. After all, a recipe is only meaningful if people enjoy the food it produces, don’t you agree?”

Qin Xia nodded in agreement, then offered an apologetic smile.

“It’s clear, Master Yu, that you’re a man of character. I must apologize for my earlier stubbornness and any offense I may have caused.”

After saying this, Qin Xia raised his teacup, using the tea as a substitute for wine, and offered a toast to Yu Shun.

Seeing the atmosphere becoming so harmonious, Yu Shun discreetly glanced at Wei Chao, who gave a knowing look in return. Clearing his throat, Wei Chao then said to Qin Xia, “Qin ge, since things have come to this, why don’t you just tell Master Yu the price you have in mind?”

Qin Xia immediately gripped his teacup tightly, and Yu Shun’s heart tensed in response. Fortunately, Qin Xia soon let out a heavy sigh and placed the cup down on the table.

“Very well, it’s fate that I have the opportunity to meet Master Yu today. As for the price…” He gritted his teeth. “The grilled chicken racks may not be much, but including the secret recipe for braised duck… eighty taels of silver, not a coin less!”

“Eighty taels?!”

This time, it wasn’t Yu Shun who spoke, but Wei Chao who jumped up.

“Qin ge, that price is too high! Didn’t you say you’d give Master Yu some leeway?”

Qin Xia turned his head. “This is already the discounted price, Wei ge. Don’t you know that just the recipe for the grilled chicken racks alone had someone offering twenty-five taels for it? As for the secret braised recipe, my grandmother said that someone once offered a hundred taels for it!”

Wei Chao scratched the back of his head, looking troubled, and glanced at Yu Shun before bending down to lower his voice. “I know that, but you’re well aware too, aren’t you? Aside from the Song estate, aside from Master Yu, where else can you find someone who can supply dozens of meaty chicken frames daily? If you don’t give the recipe to Master Yu, it’s worth nothing! In truth, the only thing you had before was the marinated recipe; you’d best stop dreaming about the chicken frames.”

Yu Shun perked up his ears, catching Wei Chao’s words clearly. His sleeve discreetly covered his fingers as he silently counted.

Eighty taels was indeed a bit steep, but it was still within his budget. However, if he could get it cheaper, he would part with his money more readily.

“Fine, Wei ge, I’ll knock off ten taels for your sake. Seventy taels, not a coin less. Even at this price, I’ll still need to burn a lot of incense and make offerings to my ancestors tonight!”

Wei Chao wanted to continue persuading him, but Yu Shun raised his hand to stop him.

Seventy taels was already a good deal. Even accounting for the cost of renting a storefront, he was confident he’d turn a profit within a few months.

“Agreed, seventy taels. If you’re willing, we can sign the contract right now.”

Qin Xia bit his lip, then replied, “Seventy taels, no more haggling. But I want the full amount in cash, and I need it written in the contract that the shop will display the Qin family name so our regular customers won’t be left in the dark.”

Yu Shun had already heard about this request from Wei Chao and found it harmless. In fact, he considered it a good way to attract Qin Xia’s regular customers. Even if Qin Xia hadn’t mentioned it, Yu Shun would have found a way to do it.

“Agreed, as you wish.”

Feeling that too much time had already been spent on this matter, Yu Shun hurriedly sent Wei Chao to borrow pen and ink from the restaurant. After quickly drafting two copies of the contract and verifying them, they pressed their fingerprints to seal the deal.

By the time they emerged from the street office, it was nearing dusk.

The setting sun cast a golden hue on the two ginkgo trees at the entrance, their leaves long fallen.

Yu Shun, having obtained the contract as he desired, set a date for the handover of the recipe. Qin Xia, naturally, now had a substantial sum of money in his pocket.

He carried both a fifty-tael banknote and twenty-five taels in cash.

Fresh from the money exchange, the silver felt warm against his chest.

“Safe travels, Master Yu!”

Behind Yu Shun, Qin Xia and Wei Chao cupped their hands in a respectful farewell. After Yu Shun had walked a fair distance away, they exchanged a glance and ducked into a nearby alley.

Once certain they were alone, Wei Chao let out a long breath, wiped the sweat from the back of his neck, and grinned at the silver notes in Qin Xia’s hand. “Finally, it’s done!”