Ch 39: Guide to Feeding a Villainous Husband

Fried foods, sizzling in oil, have always been among the most popular snacks, a timeless favorite across the ages.

Once dipped in oil, even the most bland and plain ingredients seem to gain a deliciously enticing appeal.

In ancient times, with less developed productivity, even stir-frying only became widely practiced in the previous dynasty, let alone extravagant practices like Qin Xia’s, where he boldly fills an entire pot with oil.

And here he is, setting up such a scene to fry an ingredient that every household traditionally only boils in water: yuanxiao.

Word spread quickly, from one to ten, from ten to a hundred, and soon enough, with Qin Xia and Liu Douzi’s occasional shouts, many people came “attracted by the fame” to witness what fried yuanxiao would taste like.

“Ah Jiu, lower the flame for me,”

Qin Xia gently stirred the yuanxiao in the pot with a metal spoon to prevent them from sticking to the bottom while reminding Yu Jiuque, who was helping with the fire, to adjust the heat.

Unlike modern gas stoves, controlling the temperature on ancient wood-fired stoves wasn’t as easy, and frying, which requires precise temperature control, was a challenge.

Fortunately, he and Yu Jiuque had developed enough of a rapport for such tasks. Yu Jiuque responded, donned thick gloves, and deftly used tongs to remove a few burning logs, quickly extinguishing them.

The vegetable oil in the pot began bubbling from the bottom up, and when Qin Xia saw that it was about right, he used a large strainer to scoop up the yuanxiao and then tapped each one with a metal spoon.

The shells of the yuanxiao were still white, but as soon as the metal spoon touched them, they emitted a “cracking” sound, indicating that the outer layer had already hardened.

“Boss, aren’t you supposed to be frying the yuanxiao? What’s the point of tapping them? We’re all waiting to eat!”

“Yeah, boss, hurry up and fry them already!”

Some of the onlookers were puzzled, feeling that Qin Xia was just stalling.

Qin Xia calmly finished tapping the yuanxiao and placed them back in the oil pot before explaining, “This step is to release the air from inside the yuanxiao; otherwise, they’ll splatter oil everywhere when fried.”

He added, “If you’re thinking of trying this at home, remember this step. Otherwise, cleaning up oil splatters is a small problem, but someone getting hurt is a big one.”

He recalled from his previous life that around the New Year, there would often be news reports of accidents caused by frying yuanxiao, usually due to not defrosting them or not releasing the air inside.

After he finished speaking, someone in the crowd laughed and said, “The New Year’s already over. Who else would be extravagant enough to fry a few yuanxiao in a whole pot of oil?”

“That’s right, it’s only when you’re out that you’d splurge to try something like this.”

Although there were many people waiting, they gradually became more patient after hearing Qin Xia’s explanation.

After tapping the yuanxiao a few more times to ensure they were cooked through, Qin Xia had Yu Jiuque stoke the fire. The yuanxiao turned golden brown before their eyes as they fried in the oil.

Seeing that they were almost ready, and knowing that the number of yuanxiao in the pot was limited, the crowd started to clamor for their share.

“I was here first, give me mine first!”

“Give me two servings!”

“You’re alone, why do you need two servings? If you buy them all, I’ll have to wait for the next batch!”

“My spouse and I each get one serving; what’s wrong with that?”

With the pan frying and the crowd getting impatient, Qin Xia had to raise his voice and say, “Please line up. Each person is limited to two servings. Everyone will get their share!”

Liu Douzi, who had just finished preparing two servings of iron plate tofu, stepped out to help manage the crowd, while Yu Jiuque didn’t stop taking payments.

“Two chicken racks, three five-element cakes, and two servings of fried yuanxiao, right? That’ll be fifty-six coins.”

“No spicy sour noodles tonight, why not try something else?”

“If you want something vegetarian, we have iron plate tofu and chicken broth tofu skewers; both are excellent. Just pay and line up to the right.”

The variety of food at the stall was overwhelming, so much so that Yu Jiuque had to manage the money for both sides, dividing the takings into two money bags. It was a test of both mental agility and verbal dexterity.

Amid the clinking of coins, the first batch of yuanxiao was finally served to the customers.

The two tables at the stall were quickly filled, and some people took their food to go, while others found a spot nearby to eat standing up.

“Be careful, it’s hot. Let me blow on it first,”

A woman took the box of fried yuanxiao her husband bought, five golden brown pieces in total.

At first, she thought they were expensive. After all, ten coins could get you a bowl of boiled yuanxiao elsewhere, with more pieces and soup. But when she saw the actual product, she changed her mind.

The yuanxiao in the paper box were larger than the ones she’d seen elsewhere, with each piece about the size of two.

Not only that, but when she pricked one with a bamboo skewer to let it cool for her child, she immediately smelled the rich aroma of black sesame.

“Mom! Mom!”

The little one in her husband’s arms waved excitedly, and the woman, after testing the temperature herself, found it wasn’t too hot and brought it to her child’s lips.

“It’s ready to eat, but take small bites, okay?”

After feeding her child one, the woman offered another to her husband.

“Try one too.”

The man shook his head with a smile and said, “I don’t like sweets. You and the little one enjoy them.”

A ten-coin serving of food was not something their family would normally buy, but since it was a festival, they decided to splurge.

With only five pieces in the box, he didn’t want to compete with his family for a bite. However, moments later, half a yuanxiao was still pressed to his lips by the woman.

He smiled helplessly yet affectionately and finally opened his mouth to take a bite.

On the other side, Qin Xia had already started frying the second batch of yuanxiao.

Liu Douzi was handling thegrilled chicken racks, while Yu Jiuque, in between counting money, was unmolding the five-element cakes and inserting bamboo skewers into them.

During this time, Xing Yiming and his family of three also visited the stall, buying one of each dish and happily settling down at a small table beside the stall to enjoy their food.

“Maybe it’s because of all the lanterns lighting up the streets, but it feels like the night market isn’t as cold tonight,” Xing Yiming remarked while waiting for the fried yuanxiao to finish.

“The weather is great tonight—clear skies and no wind, perfect for lantern viewing,” Yu Jiuque chimed in, to which Cui Rao responded with a smile, “Our Qinan County is becoming more prosperous every year. As we walked over, I noticed quite a few new and interesting styles of lanterns.”

“Uncle, look at my fairy lantern!” Xing Yuan raised her hand, showing off her lantern. It had a red-painted wooden handle with a string attached to a figure made of bamboo, resembling a fairy with flowing robes, gracefully dancing in the wind—a truly delicate creation.

“It’s beautiful,” Yu Jiuque praised with a smile, but just as he finished speaking, Xing Yuan handed him another lantern.

“I also really like this vase lantern, so I’m giving it to you, Uncle!”

The vase was a common symbol of good fortune, so it wasn’t unusual to see it made into a lantern. The Xing couple clearly spared no expense, as Xing Yuan’s lanterns were among the best available. The flowers on it were vivid, and even the dew on the leaves was depicted in lifelike detail.

As the lantern swayed gently in the breeze, it cast delicate plant-like shadows on the ground, mesmerizing anyone who saw it.

Feeling embarrassed, Yu Jiuque said, “Since you like it so much, how can I accept it?”

But Xing Yuan insisted on giving it to him. “Uncle Qin and you are busy selling food, so you can’t visit the lantern festival. I’ll give this lantern to you, so when you hang it up at home, it will feel like you went.”

Qin Xia hadn’t paid much attention to their conversation until this moment. The child’s words struck a chord with him.

If it weren’t for the need to make a living, he would have preferred to take Yu Jiuque to enjoy the lanterns together, perhaps indulging in the romantic idea of “meeting after dusk, under the moonlit willows.”

Glancing at the vase lantern, Qin Xia silently resolved that as long as they closed the stall before midnight, the festival wouldn’t be over yet. He decided he would buy a lantern for the person beside him.

Yu Jiuque eventually accepted the lantern, carefully placing it on the cart behind them to avoid getting it stained with oil smoke. He promised Xing Yuan that he would hang it up at home.

“Mom, can I go to Uncle Qin’s house to see the lanterns next time?” Cui Rao playfully tapped her daughter’s forehead.

“You don’t really want to see the lanterns; you just want to see the goose.”

Earlier today, when Xing Yiming visited the Qin household to deliver a message, he came back talking about how the little goose had grown into a big one, how smart it was, and how it even guarded the house. This reignited Xing Yuan’s curiosity about Da Fu, which had almost faded.

Faced with her daughter’s pleading, Cui Rao had no choice but to compromise. “Once your two uncles aren’t busy anymore, I’ll have your father take you to visit.”

Satisfied with this promise, Xing Yuan smiled, revealing dimples on both sides of her cheeks.

At that moment, Yu Jiuque arrived with dishes.

Besides the usual dishes like thegrilled chicken racks and the star of the night, the fried yuanxiao, he also brought out two cups of milk tea, which had been reheated on the stove.

The milk tea was served in specially purchased bamboo cups, and wisps of steam carrying the fragrant scent of milk and tea wafted into the air.

“This is the milk tea you mentioned earlier?” Xing Yiming was the first to reach out and take a cup, immediately feeling the warmth through the bamboo.

It wasn’t too hot to hold, just the right temperature to drink.

Cui Rao and Xing Yuan shared a cup, as Qin Xia had specifically warned them that while the milk tea was brewed with black tea, drinking it at night might keep adults awake, and it would likely have the same effect on children.

“Hmm… this taste…” Xing Yiming, who always prided himself on being the first to try anything new, quickly took a sip.

It was completely different from what he had imagined!

In the previous dynasty, when tea appreciation and tea competitions were popular, there was also a drink called “milk tea,” though back then it was known as “tea milk.” It involved brewing tea and then adding milk, with skilled tea masters even able to create patterns in the milk foam using tea powder.

Xing Yiming had tasted that kind of “tea milk” before. The tea and milk didn’t blend well together; each flavor remained distinct, which, compared to the pure tea typically enjoyed in the current dynasty, resulted in a strange taste that he couldn’t quite get used to.

But Qin Xia’s milk tea achieved a seamless blend between the two, with a smooth, residue-free texture and a unique richness that lingered on the palate.

After a sip of milk tea, Xing Yiming followed it with a bite of fried yuanxiao, and then a few bites of savory iron plate tofu and chicken rack to cleanse his palate. He had originally intended to go get a jug of wine, but he decided against it—milk tea was just perfect!

He loved it, and Cui Rao and Xing Yuan loved it even more.

Mother and daughter quickly drank down most of the cup, and their expressions clearly showed that they wanted more.

Even so, Cui Rao didn’t dare drink any more; dealing with insomnia at night was no joke.

…

Over an hour had passed since they set up the stall. The fried yuanxiao was almost sold out, but they had only sold half a pot of milk tea, mostly thanks to Xing Yiming’s family serving as live advertisements while they enjoyed their food at the stall.

After the initial rush, where it felt like he needed eight hands to keep up with the orders, Qin Xia finally had a moment to catch his breath and think about how to promote the milk tea.

Many people weren’t as open to trying new things as Xing Yiming was. Unlike the previous dynasty, where adding milk to tea was a trend, the current dynasty favored clear, unadulterated tea among both the upper and lower classes. To them, milk tea either reminded them of flashy tea house tricks that weren’t worth drinking, or it was associated with the coarse, gamey flavors of northern tribes.

After some thought, Qin Xia made a decision.

“Let’s offer some free samples to the customers.”

Yu Jiuque and Liu Douzi both agreed with the idea. They had used free samples to introduce new dishes before, and there was no reason it wouldn’t work with milk tea.

“But what should we use as sample cups?” Qin Xia asked. Food could be served on bamboo skewers, but milk tea needed something to hold it.

They had prepared bamboo cups, but there wasn’t enough time to wash and reuse them.

Then Liu Douzi had a flash of inspiration.

“Xia ge and Sister-in-law, how about using the molds from the five-element cakes?”

The molds from the five-element cakes?

Qin Xia followed Liu Douzi’s suggestion and looked in the direction he pointed, then suddenly smiled.

“Douzi, you’re clever. How did we forget about this?”

The five-element cake molds were perfect little bowls, and since Yu Jiuque had carefully unmolded the cakes directly from them to sell, they were all clean. Now that about forty of them were empty, they could be used right away.

Since the molds were small, they could be filled with just a few sips of milk tea, making them ideal for giving people a taste.

Qin Xia was confident that once people tried the milk tea, at least one or two out of every ten would end up buying it.

Even though they used good tea leaves, specifically red tea from Ningzhou, the amount needed wasn’t much. As long as they could sell just one of the two pots of milk tea, they would break even, and any additional sales would be pure profit.

To keep the milk tea warm, they didn’t pour it out in advance. Instead, they offered it to passersby or to those buying other foods, casually suggesting they try it.

They especially focused on offering it to women, young men, or families with children, using an even more enthusiastic tone.

“Would you like to try some hot milk tea? It’s free to sample, and if you like it, you can buy more.”

As it turned out, few people could resist the lure of something free.

“Is it really free? What does it taste like?”

Three young ladies traveling together stopped by the food stall. It was clear they came from ordinary families, but they had made an effort to dress up for the evening. Under the light, the rouge on their cheeks glowed prettily, and their eyes sparkled with anticipation as they looked at the stall.

None of them were married yet, and they usually helped out with household chores. Coming from modest backgrounds, they rarely had the chance to go out with pocket money to spend. Even when they did, they were very careful with the few coins they had, not wanting to spend them too freely.

“It really is free. I’ll pour you each a small cup,” Yu Jiuque said, lifting the lid of the clay pot and using a bamboo ladle to fill four small bowls.

“This is made with red tea, milk, and sugar. It’s sweet and fragrant—just try it.”

The young lady in the green dress on the right was the first to take a cup. She frowned slightly, bringing it to her nose to sniff it.

“It does smell like tea, and I can smell the milk too.”

The other two, still a bit skeptical, also picked up their bowls and sniffed a couple of times before taking small sips.

Before long, the three of them agreed—this milk tea was delicious!

When they learned that five coins would buy them a bamboo cup of the tea, which they could also keep, they each counted out five coins, bought a cup, and walked away happily with their purchase.

The free samples turned out to be a good strategy, and they quickly sold over a dozen cups of milk tea this way.

As the night deepened, the street market was still brightly lit, as if it were a perpetual day.

Yu Jiuque took stock of the remaining food.

“There are two trays of five-element cakes left, eight servings of mini pan-fried buns, fewer than twenty chicken racks, and about ten or so portions of yuanxiao…” He kept these in mind and then asked Liu Douzi, “How about you, Liu ge?”

Liu Douzi glanced at his stock and replied, “I’ve got one slab of tofu left, and about a third of the chicken soup tofu skewers.”

He smiled and added, “Tonight’s business has been really good.”

He had brought a full three slabs of tofu, and it had never sold out this quickly before!

The three of them were quite exhausted. As the crowd thinned out a bit, they took turns sitting on the stool to rest their legs.

Qin Xia reached into the cloth bag to feel Yu Jiuque’s hand warmer, noticing it wasn’t as warm as it should be. He adjusted it for him.

The dying embers on the charcoal fire reignited, and Yu Jiuque handed the warmer to Qin Xia, suggesting he warm his hands too.

“I don’t need it,” Qin Xia replied, smiling as he quickly grasped the young man’s hand. Yu Jiuque noticed that Qin Xia’s palm was warm and dry, almost like a personal heater.

Unable to resist, Yu Jiuque curled his fingers, letting Qin Xia’s hands envelop his own, finding it far more comforting than the hand warmer.

Meanwhile, at the far end of Banqiao Street, near the bridgehead, stood a few well-dressed young gentlemen and ladies. The leading gentleman, draped in a cloud-white cloak, had a rather handsome appearance and an air of refinement that caught the attention of many passersby. He was smiling as he spoke to a woman beside him, whose cool demeanor and radiant beauty were striking.

“Third Sister, are you really not joining us at Changyue Pavilion? The top floor’s private room is hard to come by, and from there, you can see the entire city illuminated by lanterns. It only happens once a year—wouldn’t it be a pity to miss it?”

The woman, known as the third young lady of the Song family, Song Dongling, casually adjusted the collar of her embroidered satin cloak with her delicately painted fingers and responded with a faint, polite smile.

“Thank you for the offer, Second Brother, but I’m feeling a bit tired and think it would be better to return home early. I’d rather not force myself to go and then have to leave early, which would only spoil your and Fourth Sister’s, as well as Brother Qi’s, enjoyment.”

The man seemed a bit disappointed but eventually agreed. “In that case, I won’t insist. We’ll head to Changyue Pavilion then.”

As they prepared to leave, the woman standing next to him turned back to Song Dongling and smiled faintly. “Third Sister, you’ll probably visit the Eldest Brother when you return, so do send our regards. It’s a shame that Eldest Brother can’t leave the residence; otherwise, the five of us could all be together.”

Song Dongling gave her a cursory, rather cold smile, raising the corners of her lips slightly without saying a word.

After watching the three of them get back into the carriage and leave, Song Dongling’s expression changed to one of disdain.

“What a nuisance. A perfectly good Lantern Festival, and I had to spend it with those people.”

The Song family was wealthy but not overly bound by strict rules. After the family’s New Year’s Eve feast, Old Master Song happily allowed his children to go out and enjoy the festivities.

Song Dongling had initially used the excuse of staying at home to accompany Song Yunmu, her sickly elder brother. Her father had agreed, but then Guo Yiniang, one of the concubines, had chimed in, leading Old Master Song to decide that it wasn’t good for his third daughter to spend all her time around her sickly brother. He ended up “forcing” her to go out.

Song Dongling endured their company for half an hour before finally seizing an opportunity to part ways with the trio.

Guo Yiniang, despite being just a concubine, wielded significant influence. Like many other concubines, she was beautiful but came from a humble background. Yet, ever since Song Dongling’s mother passed away and her elder brother fell ill, Guo Yiniang had set her sights on becoming the official wife, wrapping Old Master Song around her finger.

She bore him a son, then later added a daughter and a young son to the family, and even after a miscarriage, she remained highly favored.

Song Dongling disapproved of her father’s favoritism towards his concubine, even though her mother, the official wife, had passed away years ago. In her eyes, the death of the official wife was no justification for a concubine to rise in status! This favoritism also meant that the siblings from the two branches of the family were far less cordial and harmonious with each other than they appeared to be in front of their father.

Song Dongling’s personal maid, Xiao Lian, rubbed her wind-chilled hands and glanced at the warm sedan chair waiting a short distance behind them. She asked, “Miss, shall we return to the mansion now?”

Just as Song Dongling was about to nod, Xiao Lian couldn’t help but persuade her, “Miss, we haven’t been out for long. If we return now, I’m afraid the Master will start lecturing you again.”

Song Dongling understood the underlying message. Her father was indeed busy with his business and didn’t have much time to spare, but what Xiao Lian feared was that Guo Yiniang, the troublemaker concubine, would seize the opportunity to badmouth her while whispering in his ear.

After all, over the years, Guo Yiniang had often spread rumors behind their backs about her and her elder brother, saying that Song Dongling’s personality had become increasingly withdrawn and strange, and that she was only focused on getting herself married off as soon as possible.

She hesitated for a moment, not wanting to stir up trouble and cause unnecessary complications. Song Dongling wasn’t afraid of that long-tongued Guo Yiniang, but she did worry that any incident might eventually reach her brother and needlessly cause him concern.

“Let’s just stroll around nearby,” she finally said.

Xiao Lian, noticing her agreement, scanned the surroundings and suggested, “Miss, if we walk a bit further ahead, we’ll reach Banqiao Street. Why don’t we take a look around there?”

Song Dongling used to be playful and adventurous, frequently leaving the mansion and even pestering her father to take her along when he visited his shops. But after her elder brother fell ill for several years, she spent most of her time attending to him by his sickbed, and outings became rare. Nevertheless, she was well aware that Banqiao Street was one of the most bustling areas in the county.

“Why not? Since we’re already here. Keep an eye out, too—if there’s anything new and interesting, we can bring it back for Brother to see.”

The two of them turned towards the warm sedan chair, and Xiao Lian helped her inside. After making sure the windscreen was securely fastened, she instructed the porters to proceed.

Before long, the warm sedan chair merged into the flow of people on Banqiao Street. Although it didn’t move as quickly as those on foot, Song Dongling didn’t mind since she was only here to pass the time.

As the chair gently swayed, occasional snippets of conversation drifted in.

“I told you we should come earlier—now see, we missed out on the corn-flavored five element cake by just a moment!”

“It’s all my fault. Next time, I’ll listen to you and come earlier, alright?”

“There won’t be a next time! Didn’t you hear the owner say? Tonight’s the last time their food stall will be open in the evening. After this, they’ll only operate during the day, and they won’t be selling these things anymore!”

“As long as they’re still in the food business, there’ll be another chance. Here, let me hold the fried yuanxiao for you. Have a sip of the milk tea and try it…”

It sounded like a playful argument between a couple, but the mention of these food items caught Song Dongling’s attention.

She raised her hand to lift the curtain slightly and peered outside.

“Xiao Lian, go find out what those round cakes on bamboo skewers that people are holding, as well as the fried yuanxiao and milk tea that were mentioned earlier, actually are.”