Ch 64: Guide to Feeding a Villainous Husband

The fire burned brightly all night.

By morning, Yu Jiuque still hadn’t fully processed everything that had happened the previous evening.

At that moment, Qin Xia got out of bed, revealing his bare upper body as he tossed aside the covers.

Yu Jiuque, still lying down, happened to have the perfect view of Qin Xia’s back from his angle.

As Qin Xia reached for his shirt that had been discarded at the foot of the bed, he suddenly felt a cool sensation on his back.

Realizing that the cool touch came from Yu Jiuque’s fingertips, Qin Xia’s composure faltered.

Before the young man’s wandering hand could continue, Qin Xia caught his wrist and turned back, his gaze deep.

“The restaurant doesn’t open until the day after tomorrow. I wouldn’t mind a few more rounds.”

Yu Jiuque quickly withdrew his hand.

Still feeling exhausted from the night before, he knew that if they kept going, he wouldn’t be able to get out of bed before heading to the restaurant.

“I was just looking at your back,” Yu Jiuque said, glancing at the red marks.

“When I scratched you, why didn’t you say something? Some places are even a bit broken.”

Realizing this, he sat up and said seriously, “Don’t put your shirt on yet. Let me apply some medicine.”

Qin Xia finally understood what Yu Jiuque had been doing just now.

“It’s nothing. Putting on medicine would only make it sticky. I didn’t even notice.”

Yu Jiuque wasn’t convinced.

“Didn’t it hurt at all?”

He hadn’t realized his own strength until he saw the marks. It seemed like he would need to trim his nails properly.

“At that moment, who would have cared about pain?”

At those words, Yu Jiuque immediately looked away, his ears turning bright red.

Qin Xia laughed for a while, only stopping when he worried Yu Jiuque might get annoyed.

He put on his shirt, covering all the marks on his body.

Having spent too much time lying in bed the previous day, Yu Jiuque now just wanted to get up and move around.

After washing up, one went to the backyard to water the plants and feed the chickens, while the other prepared breakfast.

The cats, noticing the people were awake, gathered around, meowing for food. Qin Xia counted the cats and boiled two extra eggs, which he crushed and mixed with mantou crumbs for them to eat.

At the Qin household, the cats were always well-fed and could even catch a mouse as a treat when bored. Now, each of them was plump, shiny, and sleek.

After breakfast, Yu Jiuque changed into his outdoor clothes and stepped out of the house. He said to Qin Xia, who had just returned from fetching water, “Husband, I need to go out today.”

He didn’t explain much, but Qin Xia had a good idea of where he was going.

After they had talked things through last night, Yu Jiuque had shared his plans for the future.

“I’ll have to return to Shengjing sooner or later. During my absence, you can just tell people that my old family came looking for me. Whether it’s to attend a funeral or visit relatives, we’ll come up with a story.”

After all, everyone they knew, including the neighbors in this alley, was aware that Yu Jiuque wasn’t a local and likely came from a noble background.

“But once I return, it might be difficult to leave again. The next time we reunite may only be in Shengjing.”

Even though Yu Jiuque knew the truth about Qin Xia’s identity, he was still anxious—what if Qin Xia didn’t want to leave?

Qin Xia had invested so much into their restaurant, and with the banquets he had hosted for the Sang and Song families, he was already making a name for himself in the culinary world of the county.

To Yu Jiuque’s surprise, Qin Xia didn’t hesitate for long before asking, “If I go to Shengjing, would it cause any trouble for you?”

Yu Jiuque’s breath caught for a moment.

“You’re willing to go to Shengjing?”

Qin Xia responded, “Why wouldn’t I go? You already said that if we want to be together, it’ll likely have to be in Shengjing. If we live apart for long periods, how could we call ourselves a married couple?”

“Besides,” he added, “that’s Shengjing, the grand capital of Dayong, the emperor’s city. Now that I’ve come to this world, why would I be content to spend my life confined to a single county or province?”

He smiled and said, “Don’t underestimate me just because I’m a chef.”

Even if his husband never became the mighty Regent of Nine Thousand Years, his status wouldn’t be too low either.

As his husband, Qin Xia wasn’t going to lag behind.

However, being a chef, dreaming of titles and honors might be asking for too much.

“Are there many restaurants in Shengjing?” Qin Xia asked.

Now that Yu Jiuque’s memory had returned, he could easily answer this.

“Shengjing is a bustling city, with countless restaurants and eateries. But among them, only three are truly famous: Jixian Tower, Dongfu Ju, and Taiping Pavilion.”

“These three are large establishments. Not only do they operate as restaurants, but they also run inns, featuring stages for performances, gardens, pavilions, and lights that shine throughout the night.”

As a palace eunuch allowed to walk outside, Yu Jiuque had undoubtedly attended many such banquets, and Qin Xia was sure he had visited these restaurants before.

“How do you think their chefs compare to me?”

Yu Jiuque shook his head.

“These three places charge high prices, but they focus more on gimmicks. Their dishes are often overly adorned with gold and jade, but in reality, there’s little substance. That’s the trend in Shengjing’s dining scene—rather than perfecting the taste of their food, they’d rather debate whether to lay a new carpet from the Western Regions in the main hall or to add a new porcelain lantern from the imperial kilns in the private rooms.”

Qin Xia pondered this thoughtfully.

“It seems I might have a chance after all,” Qin Xia said with a smile.

Yu Jiuque had already anticipated that if his husband went to Shengjing, he wouldn’t be content with just running a small restaurant. That’s why he only mentioned the largest and most prestigious establishments, ignoring the others that wouldn’t catch Qin Xia’s interest.

Thinking of the day they would reunite in Shengjing, Yu Jiuque continued, “Of those three, you only really need to pay attention to Taiping Pavilion.”

“Why is that?”

Yu Jiuque touched his nose. “Because the true owner of Taiping Pavilion is the Marquis of Changle’s household.”

Qin Xia understood—so there was strong backing behind it.

Then he saw Yu Jiuque squint slightly, his expression hinting at disdain.

Though it was a marquis household, it was just a group of pampered nobles, living off the legacy of their ancestors and behaving recklessly in the capital. The Marquis of Changle’s household had once been an honored Duke’s estate, with a title that was meant to be inherited indefinitely. However, the current generation had been especially disappointing, and the current Marquis was even worse. He had led troops into battle and lost disastrously, angering the emperor, who stripped him of his duke title, demoting him to a marquis, and took away the hereditary “iron cap” privilege of the ducal rank.

This meant that the heir of the Marquis of Changle would only inherit the title of Baron, and in another two generations, the family’s glory would likely fade entirely.

To Yu Jiuque, these aristocrats were leeches on the empire, causing much of the corruption hidden beneath the prosperous surface of Dayong. The Crown Prince had once declared that if he ascended to the throne, he would make it his mission to root out these corrupt elements, lest the empire, much like a weakened dam, collapse from within.

Yu Jiuque had learned these principles from the Crown Prince’s ministers in the Eastern Palace. It was precisely because the Crown Prince had such resolve that his followers remained fiercely loyal to him.

In the past, Yu Jiuque saw his loyalty to the Eastern Palace as a way to repay favors and climb the ranks. But now, with Qin Xia in his life…

He wasn’t alone anymore. He had a husband, and one day, he might even have children.

Suddenly, he had an even stronger desire to see the Crown Prince ascend the throne and secure a lasting golden age for Dayong.

“When will you be back? Will you be home for lunch?”

Yu Jiuque glanced at the sky. “I’ll be back in about an hour and a half. I’ll buy the ingredients for lunch on my way home.”

He was going to meet Liang Tianqi, of course. The county magistrate had many daily duties, and Yu Jiuque only hoped to meet him briefly, with no intention of sharing a meal.

“Alright, I’ll wait for you at home. Be careful on the way.”

Knowing that there were secret guards protecting Yu Jiuque, Qin Xia no longer had to worry about his safety.

When Yu Jiuque left the house, he carried the family’s shopping basket, strolling casually along the street as if he were just an ordinary young man out to buy groceries. He passed by the Liu family’s tofu stall and bought a large block of tofu.

Following the directions Liang Tianqi had given him, Yu Jiuque’s figure soon disappeared into an inconspicuous residence. The hidden passage from this house led directly to the county office. He entered the secret chamber, lit a lamp, and quietly waited for Liang Tianqi.

When Liang Tianqi arrived in haste, he saw a figure seated calmly in the chamber. After they greeted each other, Liang Tianqi got straight to the point, asking, “What brings you here today, Lord Yu? What matter do we need to discuss?”

Yu Jiuque didn’t beat around the bush and explained his plan to return to the capital.

Liang Tianqi asked a pointed question.

“Are you willing to part with him?”

The question was clear in its intent. Yu Jiuque glanced at him.

“Of course not.”

Before Liang Tianqi could respond, Yu Jiuque continued, “It’s precisely because I’m not willing that once everything is settled, I will ask for the prince’s favor to bring Qin Xia to the capital.”

Liang Tianqi’s head shot up in surprise.

He understood what Yu Jiuque meant. Using the word “favor” was significant because, like palace eunuchs and maids, eunuchs were not allowed to marry or have children before leaving the palace, otherwise, it would disrupt the established order.

“The dynasty of Dayong has never set such a precedent,” Liang Tianqi said hesitantly.

“Where there’s a will, there’s a way,” Yu Jiuque replied concisely.

Liang Tianqi, who had a beloved wife of his own, could understand Yu Jiuque’s determination.

“You two truly have a deep bond,” Liang Tianqi remarked.

Yu Jiuque couldn’t help but smile at the comment.

With that settled, they now had to wait for orders from the capital. Liang Tianqi reminded Yu Jiuque, “The master’s health has been declining for some time, and both the second and fourth sons have been showing unusual activity in their households.”

The implication was clear: once news of Yu Jiuque regaining his memory reached the capital, his time in Qinan County might be cut short.

Yu Jiuque thanked Liang Tianqi for the reminder. After addressing that issue, Yu Jiuque asked Liang Tianqi for one more favor.

Liang Tianqi was stunned after hearing the request.

“Sir, you want a high-quality steel kitchen knife?”

Yu Jiuque nodded.

Dayong already had blacksmiths skilled in refining steel, but good steel was scarce, and most of it was reserved for the military. Even common households with too many iron tools would attract suspicion, let alone having steel.

However, just a single kitchen knife? Yu Jiuque believed that with his backing, it could be arranged.

“Master Liang, you know that Qin Xia is a chef, so I want to give him a good kitchen knife.”

Liang Tianqi was at a loss for words…

Due to the sincerity in Yu Jiuque’s voice, he wasn’t sure how to respond.

“I will see what I can do,” Liang Tianqi finally said.

They hadn’t discussed money yet. After all, a steel kitchen knife wasn’t something money could easily buy. Moreover, Yu Jiuque’s money was stored in a bank in Shengjing, and now that he was “Ah Jiu,” even though those banks were spread across Dayong, he couldn’t access the funds.

It would be best to settle the details after the task was done.

Having settled the matter of the knife, Yu Jiuque left the residence and quickly blended into the crowd on the main street.

Soon, he faced a more difficult question—what to have for lunch?

“Hey there, young man, take a look at these fresh green beans from my field! They’re so tender that they snap with just a pinch. Cook them with some meat, and they’ll be delicious!”

Drawn by the woman’s enthusiastic call, Yu Jiuque stopped at a vegetable stall.

He crouched down to inspect the basket of green beans. “Auntie, are green beans ready for picking already?”

The woman smiled brightly. “Yes, they’re ready. This is the first batch of the season. After Lixia (the start of summer), there will be plenty more.”

Yu Jiuque asked for the price, and the woman said it was five coins per jin (about 500 grams), which made him raise his eyebrows in surprise.

“Auntie, that price seems a bit steep.”

The woman wasn’t offended, knowing that bargaining was part of doing business.

“Ah, but young man, these are the first green beans of the season. If you wait a few more days, sure, they’ll be cheaper, but they won’t taste as good as this first batch.”

Yu Jiuque didn’t rush to buy. He put down the beans and continued browsing the market.

Just like the green beans, this year’s early warm weather had brought out some early summer vegetables, like eggplants and green peppers. The prices were a bit high, and thrifty families would avoid buying them.

Yu Jiuque knew the green beans were unlikely to drop in price, so he first bought some eggplants and green peppers, then returned to the woman’s stall to pick up the green beans.

He bought enough for two meals, about a jin and a half, and handed the woman seven coins.

After walking a bit further, he came across a fruit stall.

“How much for the pears?”

“Eight coins per jin! I guarantee they’re crisp and sweet!”

The vendor called out to Yu Jiuque while bending down to weigh cherries for another customer.

Yu Jiuque casually picked up a cherry to taste, and the sourness made him wince. It seemed that although cherries were available for sale, they weren’t quite in season yet.

Finding the pears too expensive, Yu Jiuque negotiated the price down to seven coins per jin and then said, “Pick out six for me.”

The vendor complied and soon started selecting the pears.

“All big, flawless ones—take a look for yourself,” the vendor said.

The pears were heavy, and six of them weighed over two jin. Yu Jiuque paid the vendor with copper coins.

Having bought enough fruits and vegetables, Yu Jiuque remembered they still had bone broth at home, so he skipped buying meat and instead picked up a fish. The fishmonger also had some small, inexpensive fish, so Yu Jiuque bought those as well, intending to feed them to Da Fu and the cats.

The shadow guard, who had been silently following Yu Jiuque, observed everything. He had grown accustomed to such mundane scenes of everyday life during his time watching over Yu Jiuque, but what impressed him was how, even after regaining his former identity, Yu Jiuque still carried on as usual. It truly was remarkable.

“Husband, I’m back,” Yu Jiuque called out, smiling as he spoke to Qin Xia inside the house, before turning to close the door.

The shadow guard quickly used his light-foot technique, disappearing without a trace.

“I bought green beans and eggplant, and I even saw some lotus root for sale,” Yu Jiuque said, following Qin Xia into the kitchen, pulling each item from his basket one by one, eventually revealing the tofu at the bottom.

“Lotus root already?” Qin Xia raised an eyebrow, asking where Yu Jiuque had seen it.

“Let’s go check it out later. If it’s good, we can buy a batch for the restaurant and add two new dishes.”

The fish, tied by the mouth with a straw string, was temporarily set aside by Qin Xia.

After organizing all the ingredients, Qin Xia instinctively glanced outside the kitchen before asking, “Did everything go smoothly today?”

Yu Jiuque nodded lightly.

“Now, we just wait for the news to come.”

He didn’t mention his plan to get Qin Xia a high-quality knife, intending to save it as a surprise.

Qin Xia didn’t pry further, knowing that what Yu Jiuque was dealing with was confidential. Even as his husband, he understood the boundaries.

For lunch, they used the fresh seasonal ingredients—eggplant, green peppers, and potatoes—just right for making di san xian (a stir-fry of three vegetables).

Since coming to Dayong, the thing Qin Xia found hardest to adjust to was the limited availability of ingredients. It wasn’t that many ingredients didn’t exist, but rather, if it wasn’t the right season, they simply weren’t available. Unlike the modern world, ancient times lacked greenhouse technology.

As Yu Jiuque helped wash and chop the vegetables, he commented, “Once we’re in Shengjing, it’ll be easier. Because there are so many officials and nobles there, not only do their estates build greenhouses, but even the surrounding farmers have learned to build them. Out-of-season vegetables may be expensive, but those large restaurants can always afford them.”

After a moment, he couldn’t resist asking, “In the place where you’re from, can you really get all kinds of vegetables and fruits year-round?”

Qin Xia nodded. “That’s right. Back where I’m from, you can get almost any ingredient year-round. Some are grown in greenhouses, like you mentioned, while others are kept fresh through long-term storage. Since there’s so much supply, the prices aren’t that high, and even regular people can afford to eat well.”

Yu Jiuque thought for a moment. “Is it like a cellar for storing vegetables?”

Qin Xia smiled. “Something like that, but we also have cold storage.”

Yu Jiuque placed the peeled potatoes in water to keep them fresh.

“You must have come from a dynasty far wealthier than Dayong,” Yu Jiuque mused.

Qin Xia responded calmly, “If I were to compare it to Dayong, I could say the place I came from was much more prosperous and advanced. But here, I have you.”

There were moments when Qin Xia missed his modern life, but all those regrets paled in comparison to meeting Yu Jiuque.

With a soft “plop,” an unpeeled potato slipped into the water, splashing Yu Jiuque.

Qin Xia quickly grabbed a clean cloth and helped him dry off, and the two exchanged a smile, the tension from their earlier conversation dissipating.

Qin Xia took the potato and knife from him, saying, “You’re distracted—be careful not to cut yourself.”

He took over the task and sent Yu Jiuque to prepare the green beans.

Once the potatoes were peeled, Qin Xia began cooking. He cut the potatoes and eggplant into irregular chunks and sliced the green peppers to a similar size, then fried them in oil.

He coated the eggplant with a thin layer of cornstarch to prevent it from absorbing too much oil, which would make it greasy. Once fried, the eggplant held its shape, the potatoes turned golden, and the green peppers blistered beautifully.

Using the remaining oil, he sautéed some minced garlic, tossed in the fried vegetables, added seasonings, and finished the dish with a light sauce. The result was di san xian, a popular vegetable stir-fry.

To go with the dish, Qin Xia steamed a pot of rice. Along with the di san xian, they had a pot of radish and bone soup and a plate of steamed yellow croaker with scallion oil.

By the end of the meal, they were both lightly sweating.

“Summer is definitely coming,” Qin Xia remarked.

Evening bathwater had felt cold, but by midday, with the sun high in the sky, eating hot food made them feel the heat. Thinking of the lotus root he had seen at the market today, Qin Xia considered adding some refreshing summer dishes to the restaurant’s menu.

…

“You’ve kept your restaurant closed for three days, and it nearly drove me crazy with worry! Your employee said it was because Jiu Ge’er was sick. Is he fully recovered now?”

It wasn’t even lunchtime when Xing Yiming came by as soon as the restaurant reopened.

Yu Jiuque happened to walk in from the backyard and smiled upon hearing this, “Thank you, Shopkeeper Xing, for your concern. It was just an old ailment flaring up, but after two days of medicine, I’m completely fine now.”

Xing Yiming said, “You’re so young; you must be careful not to let it become a chronic condition. I’d suggest seeing a doctor in the provincial capital. The ones here in the county aren’t as skilled.”

Qin Xia and Yu Jiuque thanked him for his kind advice and asked what he wanted to eat for lunch.

Waving his hand, Xing Yiming declined, “I’m not eating today. I was just passing by and wanted to check on you. It’s enough to know you’re both well. Once I’m less busy, I’ll bring my wife and Yuan Yuan over.”

As he was about to leave, Qin Xia remembered something and called him back.

“Don’t go just yet. I’ve been working on a new dish at home these past two days and was thinking of sending it to you and your family at Ganyuan Zhai to try.”

Xing Yiming stopped in his tracks, his ears perking up. “A new dish, you say?”

Clicking his tongue, he added, “How do you come up with these things? You’ve been taking care of your husband for two days and still managed to invent something new. Let me tell you, your reputation in this county is really growing. Everyone’s been talking about the banquet you did at the Song residence.”

Qin Xia was surprised. “So soon?”

Xing Yiming nodded. “It spread fast. After all, it was THE Song residence! A single meal costing eight hundred silver taels—people will be talking about it for months.”

Lowering his voice, he asked, “I hear you’ve turned down quite a few invitations?”

Qin Xia didn’t deny it.

“For one, it’s exhausting. And second, I want to focus on running the restaurant. Exclusively cooking for wealthy families isn’t really my goal.”

Xing Yiming nodded thoughtfully.

“Understood. Honestly, quite a few people have been coming to me for information these past few days since they know we’re close. They’ve been asking what happened while you were closed.”

Qin Xia cupped his hands in thanks.

“Thank you, Shopkeeper Xing, for all your effort.”

“We’re like family, no need for formalities.”

Xing Yiming, not one to stand on ceremony, pointed at the jar in Qin Xia’s hand and asked, “So, tell me, what does this taste like, and how do you eat it?”

A while later, after tasting the condensed milk and milk candies, Xing Yiming, still savoring the flavors, popped another piece into his mouth and began chewing contentedly.

Qin Xia: …

He knew how sweet the condensed milk was, yet Xing Yiming had not only eaten it plain but also followed up with two pieces of candy. Should he expect anything less from someone who runs a dessert shop?

“Who would’ve thought cow’s milk could be boiled down into a sauce like this? One bite, and the flavor lingers as if it’ll stay with you for three days,” Xing Yiming said, washing down the sweetness with some tea. “It takes two jars of milk to make just this little bit. If you plan to sell this at the restaurant, you can’t sell it cheap.”

Qin Xia agreed. “Exactly. Offering a small dish of condensed milk as a dipping sauce for some desserts might work, but if we sell it at the counter, it’d be too expensive. Most of the people who come to Qin Family Eatery wouldn’t be willing to pay for it, and the same goes for the milk candies.”

Seeing Qin Xia’s perspective, Xing Yiming guessed he already had an alternative in mind.

“So, what’s your plan?”

Qin Xia raised the small jar. “I was hoping to discuss a business venture for selling these milk candies with you.”

Xing Yiming thought for a moment.

“How long can these candies last once they’re made?”

Qin Xia replied cautiously, “About ten days. During the hottest part of summer, they’d be hard to sell because they might melt easily. But right now, in April, this business should be good for at least two months. In winter, they’ll last even longer—up to a month without any issue.”

“If you can build up a customer base, skipping one season out of the year isn’t much of a problem.”

It was common for many seasonal foods to be sold for only a short time before being taken off the menu, only to return the following year during the same season.

“And I assume the condensed milk doesn’t keep as well?” Xing Yiming asked.

Qin Xia nodded. This was why he hadn’t suggested selling the condensed milk itself. Solid milk candies were far more shelf-stable than the semi-solid condensed milk.

Plus, people who buy a few pieces of candy tend to finish them quickly, whereas condensed milk might go bad if not used up soon enough.

After some thought, Xing Yiming said, “I think this business idea has potential. How about this: I’ll take some home for my wife to try, and after we discuss it, I’ll get back to you with an answer.”

Hearing this, Qin Xia wrapped up the jar of condensed milk and the milk candies and handed them to Xing Yiming, sending him off at the door and watching as he got into his small sedan chair.

Afterward, Qin Xia hurried back to the kitchen.

That morning, the restaurant had bought a lot of lotus root, and he needed to teach the two assistant chefs how to prepare the new dishes before the lunchtime rush.