Ch 41: Guide to Feeding a Villainous Husband

“Who’s speaking?” Qin Xia and Yu Jiuque turned around in confusion, only to see a man wearing a scholar’s cap approaching. Clearly a scholar, the man made a respectful bow towards Qin Xia.

“May I ask, brother, who composed the verse you just recited? It truly expresses endless meaning with limited words! I have spent many years studying in solitude, reading countless works by famous authors, yet I have never come across such a fine piece!”

Qin Xia was momentarily speechless. That verse was a famous work by Li Yi Shan from the late Tang dynasty, so naturally, the scholar wouldn’t have encountered it. He could only return the bow and improvise on the spot, “I’m afraid I must disappoint you. I happened to hear this verse several years ago while gathering with friends at a tavern. Someone in the establishment recited it, and I remembered it from then on. Unfortunately, I don’t know who the original author is.”

The scholar’s face showed disappointment upon hearing this, but he still thanked Qin Xia. Gazing at the withered lotus, he sighed, “If I had such talent, I wouldn’t be facing repeated failures in the imperial exams as I am today.”

He shook his head self-deprecatingly and added, “It seems I fit the saying, ‘a scholar is of no practical use.’ Despite having the title of a Xiucai, I haven’t managed to pass the higher exams and enter officialdom. Even running the family shop, I’m finding it hard to make ends meet…”

His melancholic tone made Qin Xia and Yu Jiuque hesitate to leave. Qin Xia noticed the scholar slowly walking towards the water, his heart pounding with concern, and he couldn’t help but offer some comfort.

“Achieving the title of Xiucai is no small feat, which shows you have true talent and learning. It’s just that your luck hasn’t turned yet.”

The scholar then realized his lapse in composure, stopping in his tracks and bowing apologetically once more. “I must apologize for my behavior. I’ve just been overwhelmed with worries lately.”

Having started the conversation, Qin Xia, being the kind of person who couldn’t bear to leave it unresolved, engaged in some small talk. He then looked at the scholar with interest. “Did you say you’re considering leasing out your family’s shop to gather funds for studying at the academy in the provincial capital?”

Having had no luck finding a suitable storefront, Qin Xia couldn’t help but pay close attention when he heard the words “lease” and “shop.”

“May I ask, brother, what kind of business was conducted in your family’s shop, and where is it located?”

Qin Xia thought to himself that he should be grateful to Li Yi Shan. Who would have thought that a casual remark while strolling through the streets would unexpectedly lead him to a good storefront that hadn’t yet been listed with the brokers?

The storefront before him had white walls and black tiles, just one story, with a layout of a front shop and a rear dwelling. It was originally a bun shop, with a third of it rented out to a business selling preserved meats.

The shop was eventually passed down to He Qing, the scholar standing before them. Not being skilled in the culinary arts himself, he hired a bun chef who took advantage of his lack of knowledge. The chef, along with the other staff, began to cut corners on ingredient quality, leading to a decline in the taste of the buns day by day.

After dragging on for a year, the business finally failed, especially when the cured meat shop also ended its lease. Fortunately, the shop was a family inheritance, so despite the losses, they weren’t too severe.

“I’ve realized I’m not cut out for business, so I thought I’d take advantage of my youth and make one last attempt at the imperial exams,” He Qing explained.

Qin Xia couldn’t help but think that He Qing’s decision was the right one. Running a small food business and relying on an external chef was a big mistake. Once the key person held the power and the owner couldn’t manage them, it was the shop’s reputation that would suffer.

Having learned from this mistake, He Qing now understood the risks involved. As he still owned the shop, he could comfortably live off the rent.

“Today, I feel a connection with you, brother. If you’re willing to lease this shop and pay the rent for an entire year upfront, I’ll waive one month’s rent,” He Qing offered.

His request was straightforward: he wanted to receive a year’s rent in advance to fund his studies. However, this was uncommon, as most leases were paid monthly, despite long-term contracts. To make the offer more appealing, he was willing to give a discount, knowing that if he rented it through a broker, that month’s rent would go into the broker’s pocket anyway.

Although Qin Xia and Yu Jiuque were quite satisfied with the shop, they didn’t immediately agree. They took a closer look around and discussed it in private.

Yu Jiuque noted, “It looks suitable overall, but the only downside is that there’s no space to set up a private dining room.”

Qin Xia had previously mentioned that even having just one private room would be beneficial, but it was essential to have at least one. Most small eateries didn’t have private rooms, leaving banquet seating to larger restaurants, as it was generally assumed that small eateries wouldn’t serve anything worthy of a formal setting.

However, Qin Xia didn’t want to be restricted by this assumption. He aimed to create a “private dining” experience, offering not only quality small dishes for walk-in customers but also catering services for those with higher demands. This way, even though the Qin family eatery would be small, it could still stand out as a unique establishment in the town of Qinan County.

After pondering for a moment while gazing at the backyard, Qin Xia walked over, with Yu Jiuque and He Qing quickly following. The three of them stopped in front of a small building in the backyard.

This building, adjacent to the front shop, faced the backyard, water well, and stables. Earlier, He Qing mentioned that it used to be his family’s living quarters when he was young.

“At that time, I was still a child, and since this shop was far from our main residence, my parents brought me here to live for a while. When I reached school age and the family became more prosperous, we bought a new house near the county school,” He Qing explained.

After the family moved out, the layout of the building remained unchanged, though the furniture was removed and the space was used as storage for various items. As for the shop staff, they all lived in another rear building.

Qin Xia noticed that the building still contained some broken tables and chairs, likely removed from the shop, though it was unclear why they were kept. Not only did they take up space, but these wooden items were haphazardly piled up, creating a fire hazard and attracting dust and pests.

After confirming with He Qing that these items could be “disposed of,” Qin Xia proposed a bold idea.

“Mr. He, would you allow us to hire craftsmen to tear down the original layout of this building and convert it into two independent rooms?” Qin Xia asked.

He then stepped in front of the building, measuring with his steps and gesturing as he explained, “I also want to build a wall here, with a door in the middle, to separate it from the backyard.”

This would create a distinct, independent area within the space. Qin Xia pointed to the ground and added, “We could pave the floor with bluestone tiles, and at the end of the corridor, we could create a small ‘scenic spot’ with, say, a piece of artificial rock and a few bamboo stalks.”

He Qing was astonished. In just two rounds of walking around his family’s bun shop, Qin Xia had already come up with so many ideas. Following Qin Xia’s train of thought, He Qing could only marvel at the genius of it all.

“Can my shop really be transformed into such an elegant place?” He Qing asked in amazement.

Qin Xia smiled and replied, “It’s just a humble suggestion from me. Of course, it all depends on whether you, Mr. He, agree. I’m also considering the future of my own business.”

Since the shop wasn’t his own, any major renovations had to be approved by the original owner.

After pondering for a moment, He Qing agreed. The reason was simple: first, he wouldn’t have to spend any money on these renovations, and second, if Qin Xia decided not to renew the lease in the future, He Qing would still benefit from the improvements made to the shop.

Qin Xia then cautiously added, “However, these renovations will require a considerable investment. If you agree, Mr. He, I hope we can sign a long-term lease.”

He Qing quickly responded, “Of course, of course.”

With this assurance, Qin Xia felt more at ease. However, he still had another concern: the location.

The previous shop location on Banqiao Street had a high foot traffic, so it was clear that once it opened, it would attract plenty of customers. Even if they stayed on Liubao Street, it wouldn’t be much different, and the rent would be cheaper.

But here…

Even after recalling the original owner’s memories, Qin Xia wasn’t too familiar with the surrounding area. He remained cautious and suggested to Mr. He that they both take a couple of days to consider their options. After agreeing on a time to meet again, Qin Xia and Yu Jiuque left.

For the next two days, after closing his stall, Qin Xia wandered around the area. He mentally noted the general flow of people on the street and occasionally stepped into nearby shops. With his excellent social skills, he inquired about how business was doing in the area.

Soon, he discovered that the location of the shop was at the entrance of a street. If a shop sign were hung horizontally, it would be visible to people coming from three different directions. It was said that in the summer, boats and pleasure barges would pass by the lotus-filled waters in front of the shop, though it was somewhat desolate in autumn and winter.

There weren’t many eateries nearby, and those that were open mostly sold a single type of food, much like the old He family bun shop. The ones that were still open included a wonton shop, a fish soup store, a mutton soup house, and an oil cake stall. However, to have a proper meal with wine and dishes, one would have to walk at least a quarter of an hour.

What ultimately convinced Qin Xia to rent the shop, however, was a reason that seemed unrelated to “food.”

Yu Jiuque was puzzled when Qin Xia led him to a bookstore on the other side of the river.

“What does a bookstore have to do with selling food?” he asked.

Qin Xia, with a knowing smile, replied, “Don’t rush. You’ll see after we spend some time here.”

As they waited, Qin Xia flagged down a passing orange vendor and bought a few to snack on.

“They’re pretty sweet, but a bit too cold,” Qin Xia noted as he skillfully tucked two oranges into his coat. “I’ll warm these up and peel them for you later.”

During this short time, Yu Jiuque noticed that two groups of people had entered the bookstore. They were all dressed in similar square caps and green, round-collared scholar robes under their large coats.

He hesitated and speculated, “Could there be a private school nearby?”

“Not just that,” Qin Xia replied, pointing toward a distant building with upturned eaves.

“That over there is the county school that Mr. He mentioned, the Qinan County School.”

Yu Jiuque was surprised, his mouth slightly agape.

“So, these are all county school students?” he asked.

But he gestured at the distance between the two locations, still puzzled.

“It doesn’t seem very convenient for them to come from the county school. Why do these scholars detour here to buy books?”

Qin Xia patiently explained to him.

It turned out that this unremarkable bookstore was owned by a retired official from the capital.

“I heard that they have access to strategy collections and new works by great scholars that are only available in the capital. These are invaluable for the imperial examinations. So, not just county school students, but also scholars and literati from other parts of the county often come here.”

The Da Yong dynasty placed great importance on the imperial examinations. Anyone who could attain the title of “xiucai” (a successful candidate at the provincial level) was known as a “shengyuan.” They were exempt from kneeling before officials, owned state-allotted land, received monthly stipends, and were provided with free clothing, writing materials, and winter heating subsidies every season.

Even when they married, the government would bestow gifts to support their families.

In other words, “shengyuan” were a highly significant consumer group—cultured, with money to spend.

“Because of the scholarly atmosphere around the county school, there are also many private schools nearby, including elementary schools for young children.”

Yu Jiuque thought for a moment.

“Perhaps adult scholars might patronize our eatery, but what about the children?”

Qin Xia didn’t rush to answer, and sure enough, Yu Jiuque soon came to a realization on his own.

“I get it—their parents will come!”

“Exactly!”

The parents picking up their children from school are a formidable force not to be underestimated.

“And besides them, there’s also the nearby residential area.”

He listed several alleyways by name, clearly having thoroughly researched the surroundings.

“In short, although Hèlin Street doesn’t have the concentration of shops like Liubao Street or the renowned night market of Banqiao Street, the potential customer flow passing by the shop is enough to sustain a restaurant business.”

Yu Jiuque listened carefully, adding another layer of admiration for his husband.

“You’re truly gifted in both culinary arts and business management.”

Qin Xia, with a smile, pulled out the now-warmed oranges from his pocket and began to peel them.

“I’m just trying to make a living—nothing worth praising.”

He paused, then suddenly said, “But those who can govern and bring order to the nation are the ones truly worthy of being called ‘talented.'”

“Govern and bring order to the nation?”

Qin Xia’s sudden elevation of the topic was so lofty that it left Yu Jiuque momentarily stunned.

“You once said that those born with great talent will find their use. Those who can govern the nation and maintain order have the wisdom and ability to navigate the world. Why should we ordinary folks compare ourselves to them?”

You’re not just an ordinary person.

The orange peel in his hand unfolded like petals, revealing the golden flesh of the fruit, resembling the core of a lotus flower.

Qin Xia placed the orange into Yu Jiuque’s palm.

His words stemmed from his knowledge that, in the original story, Yu Jiuque indeed possessed such abilities, though he had gone down the wrong path.

The Da Yong dynasty, though appearing strong, was like an aging, faltering tiger as the emperor grew older.

He just didn’t know if, after the story’s direction has shifted, the person in front of him will still end up in the position of a trusted inner court official.

“Maybe it’s because we visited the bookstore yesterday, flipped through a couple of books, and that brought these thoughts to mind.”

He successfully found a reason to explain his thoughts and then casually asked Yu Jiuque, “By the way, would you like to visit the bookstore as well?”

…

The next morning was the time Qin Xia had agreed with He Qing to give his final answer.

Upon learning that Qin Xia had decided to rent the shop, He Qing breathed a huge sigh of relief.

“Knowing that the shop is in your hands, Shopkeeper Qin, I can go to the capital with no worries.”

If he were dealing with purely merchants, He Qing might have been concerned about being taken advantage of. But both Qin Xia and Yu Jiuque were literate and courteous, which made him instinctively trust them.

They finally agreed on a monthly rent of seven taels of silver. Initially, He Qing had asked for eight, but after some negotiation, Qin Xia managed to bring it down to seven.

He Qing agreed readily, considering that Qin Xia would pay a year’s rent upfront.

The shop, including the backyard, was significantly larger than the teahouse on Banqiao Street, but the location played a significant role in the business. Moreover, the shop, previously a bun shop, was old and simply decorated, which gave Qin Xia leverage to negotiate a fair deal.

“As discussed earlier, I’ll only charge you for eleven months of rent, totaling seventy-seven taels.”

With the silver they had, including the money Qin Xia had previously received from Yu Shun, they had nearly one hundred and fifty taels in hand, so paying the seventy-seven taels was not a burden.

He Qing, being a scholar, had no problem drafting a lease agreement based on the format used by official brokers. The agreement stated that the lease would last three years, with the rent remaining the same and one month of rent-free in the first year. In the following two years, the rent would revert to the original amount.

After writing and drying the ink, He Qing made two copies, and they both signed their names. Then, they went together to the county office to have the contract sealed.

After parting ways with He Qing at the county office, Qin Xia and Yu Jiuque looked down at the lease once more and couldn’t help but smile at each other.

From today onwards, they were officially shop owners in the county!

…

That same afternoon, after the lease was signed, He Qing took his servant to clear out some of the useful items from the shop and formally handed the keys over to Qin Xia.

Qin Xia and Yu Jiuque wasted no time. The first thing they did was thoroughly clean the entire shop inside and out.

They knew that the rent was already paid, and every day the eatery wasn’t open was a day of lost earnings.

The unwanted junk in the backyard and the storeroom that could be split and used for firewood was temporarily thrown into the yard. It could save them some firewood expenses later.

Everything else was discarded without hesitation.

After a thorough cleaning, only the solid wood counter in the front hall, a large cabinet against the wall, and some existing furniture in the kitchen and back room were kept.

As evening approached, the two of them sat down for a short rest behind the cleaned counter, their clothes stained with dust and sweat, making them look rather disheveled.

After each drinking a bowl of plain water to soothe their throats, Yu Jiuque glanced out from where he was sitting and couldn’t help but smile.

“So, this is what it feels like to be a shopkeeper.”

Behind the counter was a high stool, allowing a clear view of everything happening inside the shop.

Qin Xia said, “In the future, I’ll be cooking in the back, and you’ll be here managing the accounts. I’ll set up a writing desk for you, buy a good abacus, and get a heavy cash box.”

He described it so vividly that Yu Jiuque couldn’t help but smile.

After a pause, Qin Xia added, “But with just the two of us, we definitely won’t be able to handle everything.”

The kitchen would need a helper, likely Zheng Xinghua, whom Qin Xia was considering. Although he hadn’t officially tested her cooking skills, her knife work and dough handling were good enough to assist.

However, the front hall could accommodate nearly ten tables, and with the private rooms in the back, they’d need at least one or two servers.

After some thought, they decided to write a help-wanted notice and post it outside. Even if not everyone could read, those looking for work would likely come in to inquire if they saw a paper posted outside.

On the way home, they bought several sheets of wide Xuan paper for this purpose. In addition to Yu Jiuque using it to write the job notice, Qin Xia planned to use some sheets to draft a simple “renovation plan.”

That night, they had soy sauce and minced meat fried rice for dinner, with added eggs and diced cucumber. The rice was fried in lard, leaving a lingering savory taste in their mouths.

Following the principle of “a hundred steps after a meal keep you healthy,” Qin Xia took a few laps around the house after dinner. Instead of sitting down immediately, he spread out the paper, grabbed a small wooden stick as a ruler, and started drawing with great focus.

Yu Jiuque quickly finished his task, draping the paper over the back of a chair to dry. Then he walked over to see what his partner was up to, curious about what Qin Xia was working on.

He expected to see Qin Xia’s distinctively unique “calligraphy” but was surprised to find a series of “little boxes” drawn on the paper.

“What’s this, my dear?” Yu Jiuque asked.

Without pausing, Qin Xia explained, “This is a floor plan. I’m planning to use it to show the craftsmen how we want to remodel the shop.”

Though he wasn’t a professional, Qin Xia aimed to make the drawings as simple and clear as possible.

He started with the front hall, drawing a large rectangular blank space, marking the cardinal directions and the location of the main entrance on the paper.

Next, he indicated where the various pieces of furniture would go.

The counter would remain in place, and in the remaining space, he drew eight tables. On either side of the main entrance, he also drew two large windows and added two “long tables” near the windows.

It was these long tables that puzzled Yu Jiuque.

Qin Xia explained, “I initially planned to have ten tables, but that would have been too crowded, so I reduced it to eight and added two long tables here. Each can seat three people, making them ideal for solo diners.”

Yu Jiuque glanced at the layout and suddenly understood.

“If the windows are open, people dining here will be able to enjoy the view outside while they eat.”

Qin Xia nodded. “Exactly.”

Yu Jiuque smiled softly. “In spring, we’ll have willow trees outside our shop, in summer, lotus flowers, in autumn, the falling leaves of the wutong tree… Even in the bleakness of winter, the windows will be covered with cotton curtains for warmth, so it won’t be much of an issue.”

Imagining it this way, even Yu Jiuque thought that dining at these spots would be quite enjoyable.

On the next sheet of paper, Qin Xia had drawn another large rectangle, which seemed to outline the layout of the private rooms.

This time, he had drawn it with even more detail, marking where to place flower vases and hang scrolls.

In his view, these two private rooms should have different themes, and the interior decor could be selected accordingly.

However, he hadn’t yet decided on the specific themes.

As they discussed and put their ideas on paper, time slipped by, and before they knew it, it was late at night.

The rent on Liubao Street was paid until the end of the month, so they still had to go out and set up their stall the next morning. Reluctantly, they put away the ink and brushes, washed up, and went to bed.

A few days later, on the last day of the Qin family’s food stall on Liubao Street, neighbors and nearby vendors expressed their reluctance to see them go.

After getting along for so long, they had all become friendly, and the Qin family’s stall had genuinely helped attract business for them.

So, when they left that day, the cart wasn’t just loaded with their pots, pans, and bowls but also with gifts from many of the neighbors.

For example, there were You Ge’er’s sweet rice cakes, a stack of baked flatbreads from the man next door, a bundle of freshly made wontons from the stall across the street, and a bottle of fruit drink from the stand diagonally opposite…

And so, amid heartfelt congratulations, the small cart with the “Qin’s” wooden sign disappeared from Liubao Street.

Soon, however, the Qin family’s eatery on Helin Street would be opening its doors.