Ch 69: Guide to Feeding a Villainous Husband

“Boss, Mrs. Zhu in the private room today wants to order a dish called ‘Kou San Si.’ She’s asking if you know how to make it?”

“Boss?”

Seeing that Qin Xia didn’t respond right away, Qiu Chuan asked again, puzzled.

Ever since Qin Xia received the news in the afternoon that Yu Jiuque was leaving, he had been distracted.

He suddenly snapped back to reality, and after a moment, briefly explained how to make Kou San Si.

“Go tell them and ask if this is the same Kou San Si Mrs. Zhu wants. If so, let her know I can make it.”

Qiu Chuan acknowledged the request and left, exchanging a worried glance with Zhuang Xing in the kitchen as he left. Both of them shared a look of concern.

The boss had been in this odd state ever since he and the little boss ame out of the back room that afternoon. They weren’t sure if they had an argument, but it didn’t seem like it.

As employees, they couldn’t do much to help, so they just focused on doing their jobs well.

Lost in thought by the stove, Qin Xia received Qiu Chuan’s reply.

Still distracted, he wiped his usual kitchen knife with a cloth, trying to recall the specific method for making Kou San Si from memory.

Kou San Si originated from Huaiyang cuisine, with a fresh and light flavor. The preparation wasn’t particularly difficult, but it tested one’s knife skills.

The “three shreds” (san si) referred to finely shredded Jinhua ham, chicken, and bamboo shoots, with shiitake mushrooms as garnish.

Qin Xia had stored two good hams in the restaurant, and he cut a piece, cleaned it, then steamed it with ginger, scallions, and rice wine to remove excess salt.

He used only the chicken breast and bamboo shoots, blanching them in boiling water before cutting them into fine shreds.

The reason this dish tested knife skills was that, except for the chicken breast, which had to be hand-pulled, the other two shreds needed to be cut to uniform length and thickness, or the presentation would look messy.

For Qin Xia, this usually wouldn’t be a problem.

However, perhaps because his mind was elsewhere today, while cutting the bamboo shoots after the ham, he felt a sudden sharp pain in his fingertip.

Qin Xia couldn’t remember the last time he had cut himself while cooking—maybe back when he was still in elementary school.

He lifted his hand, and with a little pressure, a bead of blood emerged from the cut. Instinctively, he pressed his lips to the wound, barely avoiding getting blood on the cutting board.

Turning around, he saw Zhuang Xing busy, and just as Qiu Yao came in to deliver some empty plates, he said, “Xiao Yao, can you find me a clean cloth strip?”

Guessing what had happened, Qiu Yao obediently nodded and hurried out.

Qin Xia didn’t think much of it, waiting for her to return. However, instead of Qiu Yao, it was Yu Jiuque who came in.

“I heard from Xiao Yao that you cut yourself?”

Yu Jiuque rushed in, looking serious.

“Let me see, is it bad?”

Qin Xia hadn’t expected Qiu Yao to alert Yu Jiuque.

He pretended to be casual, saying, “It’s just a small cut. If you had come a little later, it would have healed by now.”

He finished speaking, only to receive a sharp look from Yu Jiuque.

“Aren’t you the one who always boasts about being able to chop vegetables with your eyes closed? How come you managed to cut your finger today?”

Yu Jiuque sighed inwardly. Though he spoke those words, he knew very well why Qin Xia had cut himself.

“Are there more dishes to prepare?”

Qin Xia pointed to the vegetables on the cutting board.

“Just finish cutting these, they’re for the extra dish that Mrs. Zhu ordered.”

It was getting late, and after these customers finished, it would be time to close up.

Yu Jiuque pulled Qin Xia aside to tend to his wound.

Since Zhuang Xing had cut himself practicing knife skills before, and with three workers living in the shop, occasional injuries were inevitable. Yu Jiuque, being thoughtful, had stocked a small first aid kit at the restaurant.

As Qin Xia mentioned, the cut wasn’t severe enough to need medicine—it would heal best if left uncovered. However, since he still needed to cook and to avoid contaminating the ingredients, it needed to be bandaged.

Yu Jiuque took a clean cloth from the first aid kit, dried Qin Xia’s finger, and carefully wrapped it.

“All set. You go ahead to the front. I’ll finish this dish and then come find you.”

Qin Xia’s gaze followed Yu Jiuque, as if reluctant to look away for even a second.

Yu Jiuque hesitated to say something but, mindful of the staff nearby, chose to remain silent.

“I’ll be waiting for you at the counter.”

After Yu Jiuque left, Qin Xia glanced down at his finger, now sporting a “butterfly knot” bandage. He smiled slightly but quickly returned to his usual serious demeanor.

It was strange—he had known since the first day he entered this world that he and Yu Jiuque were destined to part ways eventually, yet he still couldn’t let go.

Better to focus on cooking.

Zhuang Xing glanced at the fine shreds on the cutting board, realizing that this dish wasn’t something he or Mrs. Zheng could help with. After asking Qin Xia, he carefully picked a large, plump shiitake mushroom and found a clean porcelain bowl to prepare it.

Qin Xia collected himself, finished slicing the three types of shreds, and arranged them into separate piles.

He placed the shiitake mushroom in the center of the bowl, belly side up, and carefully layered the shreds around the edges of the bowl, ensuring that the three colors alternated for both visual appeal and taste.

Precision was key. Once the bowl was filled with the shreds, he poured in a broth made from the juices left over from steaming the ham and cooking the chicken. The ham made the broth salty enough, so there was no need to add extra salt.

“Steam for fifteen minutes,” Qin Xia instructed.

Zhuang Xing placed the bowl in the steamer and lit an incense stick to time it.

Meanwhile, Qin Xia prepared a garlic-flavored spare rib dish with the ingredients already on hand, which Qiu Yao carried out to serve the customers in the main hall.

When the time was up, the Kou San Si was ready.

Zhuang Xing carefully overturned the porcelain bowl onto a plate, removing it to reveal a small mound of finely sliced shreds, topped with the shiitake mushroom, which emitted a fragrant mushroom scent.

He poured the clear broth over the dish, and it was complete.

Mrs. Zhu, delighted to taste a dish reminiscent of home, grew even fonder of Qin Ji, rewarding both Qiu Yao and Qiu Chuan for their service.

“Mrs. Zheng, Xing Ge’er, no one is likely to order anything else at this hour. Clean up the kitchen, and we’ll call it a day.”

Currently, Qin Ji Dining Hall primarily focuses on lunch business. Although it sells set meals in the evening, it stops around the hour of Xu (7-9 PM) because there are fewer people eating late, and keeping the place open after dark just wastes lamp oil.

After closing, the rest of the staff heads home, but Zheng Xinghua still comes to Qin Ji Eatery to help with some kitchen tasks.

After giving instructions, Qin Xia took off his apron and headed to the main hall.

Yu Jiuque was busy stringing together some loose copper coins with a cord. When he saw Qin Xia approaching, he cleared some space on the table and moved another stool over.

The two of them sat close together behind the counter, creating a peaceful and private moment.

“Does your hand still hurt? Let me check. If the bleeding has stopped, we should remove the bandage—keeping it covered isn’t good.”

Yu Jiuque took Qin Xia’s hand, carefully unwrapping the cloth. The cut was narrow but deep, and while it had indeed stopped bleeding, the bandage was stained with blood, which made Yu Jiuque frown.

Qin Xia raised his hand and gently rubbed Yu Jiuque’s furrowed brow.
“As a cook, cutting your hand or getting a burn is just part of the job. It’s no big deal.”

Compared to the injuries Yu Jiuque had endured before, this was nothing—a minor incident.

As they spoke, they drank two cups of herbal tea.

When the guests in the private room, including Mrs. Zhu, finished their meal, the two of them got up together and politely saw them off to their carriage.

With their honored guests gone, it was finally time for them to head home.

“Lock up the doors and windows tonight, and be mindful of the candles,” Yu Jiuque reminded out of habit as they left through the back door together.

Once they were out on the street, they naturally held hands.

Yu Jiuque glanced down and carefully avoided Qin Xia’s injured finger.

Noticing his concern, Qin Xia squeezed his hand even tighter.

On their walk home, neither of them wanted to mention what would happen in five days, so they focused on talking about the business of their two shops.

As long as the two stores operated steadily, Qin Xia could take on a few catering events here and there throughout the year, easily earning several hundred taels of silver annually.

But no matter how much they tried to avoid it, some topics were inevitable.

“How much does a house in Shengjing cost?” Qin Xia asked.

Hearing this question made Yu Jiuque feel both sour and sweet.

He had wanted to mention that he already had a house in Shengjing, but then he remembered it was rented, not purchased.

“It depends on the location. In a good area, even a tiny house can cost four or five hundred taels, while a larger three-courtyard house would be at least a thousand taels, and prices just go up from there.”

Shengjing was never a city where just anyone could settle. Even officials serving in the court often found that unless their families could support them, they were still renting homes when they retired, living tight lives to support their families.

Compared to them, Yu Jiuque, as an inner court eunuch, had it much easier.

For one, they could come and go from the palace freely, with plenty of ways to make money.

Secondly, being single and without family to support, it was easier to save up silver.

Qin Xia quietly began to calculate in his head.

It seemed that if he wanted to buy a house and open a shop in Shengjing, it would likely cost at least one or two thousand taels.

A thousand taels.

Qin Xia silently clicked his tongue, remembering how when he first arrived, he had to visit the pawnshop just to buy a cart. Now, he was daring to dream of such grand things.

But that wasn’t a bad thing.

Yu Jiuque was returning to the capital to work on his career, and Qin Xia staying in Qinan County would also be focusing on his career.

As long as one has something to look forward to, parting wouldn’t feel so difficult.

All the way home, they didn’t let go of each other’s hands.

Once they got home, Qin Xia fed Da Fu and mixed some leftovers from the restaurant, setting it out in the yard for the stray cats.

Yu Jiuque came out from inside, having just gone in to store the money in the cash box.

“Ah Jiu, do you want to take a bath?”

“Sure. You go rest inside, I’ll heat the water.”

“Let’s do it together.”

Right now, Qin Xia couldn’t help but want to keep Yu Jiuque close to him at all times.

Yu Jiuque smiled, allowing him to have his way.

They carried two buckets of water inside, pouring them into the stove. The young man sat down to add firewood to the hearth.

The flames rose, bringing a touch of warmth to the kitchen.

“It’s getting hot soon. When you have time, remember to call someone over to build the bathroom. It’ll make it easier to bathe when we come home at night.”

According to Qin Xia’s earlier plans, he was thinking of using bamboo pipes to create something that could lift water to a higher place. The water would then spray down from above, allowing for an easy shower. The floor would be paved with drainage stones and pebbles so the water could flow away, saving a lot of trouble.

“Even if we build it, only I’ll be the one using it.”

Qin Xia petted Da Fu’s head. The silly goose still didn’t know that its “little father” was going to leave.

He wondered if the goose’s brain was sharp enough to notice when a person was missing from the house, and whether it would search around.

Suddenly, warmth spread across his back, and Qin Xia knew that the young man had hugged him from behind.

“I didn’t expect it to happen so suddenly either.”

The young man’s voice was low, tired, and lacking energy.

Qin Xia patted the back of Yu Jiuque’s hand, which was wrapped around his waist, then turned around and pulled him into his embrace.

“These things aren’t something we can decide. We just have to take it one step at a time.”

In truth, Qin Xia wasn’t worried about the Eastern Palace failing. The original storyline had made it clear that the throne was destined for the Crown Prince’s lineage.

He had already thought about which clues to organize and give to Yu Jiuque. As long as they could ensure the Crown Prince’s safety, they could eventually live a peaceful life sooner.

“Can you tell anyone about your departure?”

The answer was no. Qin Xia nodded. “I understand.”

He pulled Yu Jiuque back into his arms and held him close again.

That night, Qin Xia got up once more to fetch water.

Yu Jiuque lay on the pillow, too exhausted to even move a finger, merely lifting his eyelids to watch his husband busying himself around the room.

“That bath we took tonight was a waste,” he muttered, making Qin Xia chuckle.

“Thirsty?”

Hearing Yu Jiuque’s hoarse voice, the reason was obvious without needing to be said.

The young man coughed twice, looking pitiful.

Qin Xia went to pour a glass of water, giving him half of it to drink.

Afterward, the two lay close together under a thin blanket, not minding the warmth, and fell asleep nestled next to each other.

…

At the crack of dawn, Qin Xia awoke.

His mind was preoccupied, making it hard to sleep soundly, and with Yu Jiuque’s upcoming departure weighing on him, all he could think about was making sure his little husband was well-fed and cared for.

He put on a robe and left the house, but not without leaving a note on the vanity table to prevent Yu Jiuque from worrying when he woke.

Stepping outside, the early summer morning felt just right—neither too hot nor too cold, with a gentle breeze bringing a refreshing coolness.

At the alley’s entrance, he bumped into Wei Xi, “Heading to the trading company this early?”

Wei Xi called out, “Qin ge,” and explained, “A ship is arriving at the docks today, so we need to oversee the unloading.”

Hearing Wei Xi mention the docks, Qin Xia, who had planned to take a different route, changed his mind.

“I was thinking of going to the docks to buy some fish and shrimp. Mind if I join you?”

“Of course, that works perfectly.”

Along the way, Wei Xi stopped to buy breakfast, not just for himself but for the others at the trading company too. He asked if Qin Xia had eaten, but Qin Xia said he would cook something when he got home.

“Has your caravan not left since the new year?”

Wei Xi, already hungry, began munching on an oil cake as they walked.

“We’ll be heading out in a bit. If all goes well, we should return before winter.”

At this point, something came to his mind.

“Oh, by the way, Qin ge, does your restaurant take ‘road provisions’ orders?”

“Road provisions” referred to food prepared for long journeys when travelers couldn’t rely on finding a place to rest or eat along the way. Ordinary folks might carry stacks of flatbreads and jars of pickles, but a wealthy trading company like the Yue Clan could afford to provide better meals for their caravan.

“Where did you buy them before?”

Qin Xia didn’t rush to agree, concerned that Wei Xi’s employer might be too picky. If that were the case, he’d rather not bother with the business.

“We used to buy from another place, but the last time, we found stones in the food, nearly breaking our boss’s teeth. So, we’ve been looking to change suppliers.”

Qin Xia raised his eyebrows. How poorly made was the food that it had stones in it?

The shop that lost such a big business must be deeply regretful.

However, since the reason for the switch was due to something like this, Qin Xia didn’t mind taking advantage of the situation.

Seeing Qin Xia’s interest, Wei Xi was visibly pleased.

“To be honest, the ‘road provisions’ we had before only had one flavor—salty. If we can get a taste of your cooking, Qin ge, the journey won’t be so hard to endure.”

As they walked, the two discussed the details, and in the end, Wei Xi said he would check with his boss and come back to discuss things further with Qin Xia.

When they arrived at the docks, Wei Xi finished his oil cake and went to find his contacts at the trading company.

Qin Xia wandered to the other side, looking at the vendors selling fresh fish and river seafood.

Initially, he only planned to buy something to cook at home, but when he saw some really good ingredients, the restaurant owner in him couldn’t resist.

By the time he was ready to leave, both his hands were full, carrying baskets of fresh shrimp, eels, and a large bunch of small field snails.

These snails didn’t have much meat, and Qin Xia planned to use them to feed the chickens and Da Fu.

When Yu Jiuque woke up, Qin Xia had already cleaned the shrimp.

“Didn’t sleep well?” he asked, noticing the dark circles under Qin Xia’s eyes, feeling a twinge of concern.

“Slept okay, just suddenly had a craving.”

Qin Xia pointed to the basket. Yu Jiuque leaned over and saw the slippery eels coiled together, rubbing his arms in response.

“Are these for the restaurant?”

Qin Xia nodded, “Today I’ll make Shantong Bao.”

It was a dish he hadn’t made for Yu Jiuque before. Eel is nutritious, and eating it is good for one’s health.

After handling the shrimp, Qin Xia chopped them into pieces, not too finely—if it turned into a paste, it would lose its texture.

He added starch, egg whites, chopped vegetables, and radish bits to the bowl, seasoning with salt, pepper, and rice wine. He stirred the mixture in one direction until it became a smooth paste, ready to shape into patties.

Using an iron ladle, he scooped some of the mixture into the oil, flattening it with the ladle. He fried them over low heat until golden brown, flipping them halfway through.

Since Yu Jiuque had a big appetite, Qin Xia didn’t make bite-sized patties but ones as large as the palm of his hand.

After frying a dozen, he used the remaining oil to scramble some eggs, wiping the pan clean. He plated everything and brought it to the table.

“Since we’re eating shrimp cakes early, I kept the drink simple.”

He made a pot of cornmeal porridge, which could be sipped directly without a spoon.

Yu Jiuque’s lips were glistening with oil, looking shiny and bright.

As they ate, Qin Xia mentioned the potential deal with the Yue Trading Company.

“Since I’m making food for them, I could also make some for you to take along when you leave.”

Qin Xia wasn’t sure what kind of arrangements Yu Jiuque would have for his journey, so he asked, “Would you be able to bring some with you?”

Yu Jiuque bit into a shrimp cake, the pieces of shrimp inside firm and springy. He had already eaten two large cakes and was getting even hungrier.

“I can bring some, but not too much.”

They would have to travel light and fast on their return to the capital, and while there would be official relay stations along the way, they couldn’t stay too long due to prying eyes.

After learning how long the journey would take, Qin Xia made up his mind.

“I’ll prepare several dishes for you to choose from. Even if you can’t take them all, it’s fine.”

He had to keep himself busy, or he might end up cutting another finger while cooking out of distraction.

After finishing the shrimp cakes, it was time to leave. The two locked up their house and took the eels and the rest of the shrimp to the restaurant.

The slippery eels were so hard to hold onto that Qiu Chuan, feeling playful, grabbed one to examine, while Qiu Yao stood nearby, looking like she wanted to touch it but was too scared, which made everyone laugh.

Qiu Chuan lost his grip, and the eel slithered to the ground, startling Xiao Hu so much that its back arched and its fur stood on end. Even Zhaocai, who had never seen such a wriggling creature, crouched down and growled at it.

Qin Xia walked over, tossed the eel back into the basket, and tapped Zhaocai’s head.

“With your courage, how can I count on you to guard the house?”

It seemed that even Da Fu at home was more imposing than them.

Qiu Chuan jumped up and asked, “Boss, are we adding a new dish today?”

Qin Xia wiped the slimy residue from his hands and told him about the Shantong Bao, adding, “Let’s cook a pot before we open, just for us.”

Eel is delicious, but cleaning it is no easy task. Zhuang Xing and the newly hired woman worked together, pouring vinegar into the water to scrub off the slime, then cutting off the heads and using scissors to open the bellies.

They discarded the innards, washed the eels inside and out, cut them into sections, and parboiled them to prepare for cooking.

In the pot, scallions, ginger, and garlic were fried until the whole cloves turned golden brown. The cloves were removed, and the eel pieces were added to be stir-fried.

The seasoning included yellow wine, soy sauce, and rock sugar. Once the sauce covered the eel, they placed the lid on the pot and simmered it over low heat.

Midway through, the garlic cloves were returned to the pot, their outer layer crispy and flavorful on their own.

Zhuang Xing watched attentively, learning quickly because, come lunchtime, many customers were sure to order this dish, and he needed to be ready to step in.

Indeed, by noon, half of the eels had already been eaten.

The flavor of the Shantong Bao was savory with a hint of sweetness. These eels were thick and meaty, tender and rich like good pork.

Customers couldn’t resist ordering extra rice, and eventually, when the rice ran out, they switched to eating with steamed buns.

The returned clay pots were spotless, with even the sauce wiped clean by the buns.

The cleaning woman chuckled, “I’ve worked for many restaurants, and this place has the easiest dishes to wash. The plates are spotless.”

In other eateries, the leftover food was usually enough to be sold off to pig farms, where the pigs, fattened up on the scraps, grew big and strong.

But after observing for a few days, she realized that at Qin Ji, there were hardly any leftovers at all.

Even the guests in the private rooms didn’t just take a few symbolic bites and leave. Several of the gentlemen left clutching their full bellies, their belts straining at the seams.

Here at Qin Ji, she didn’t think about leftovers either. They provided two meals a day, and she ate better than during New Year celebrations at home.

The boss was kind, often giving her some leftover vegetables or meat, which she could take home and make a pot of food, saving money on groceries.

As an old woman living alone, she was truly content.

In the following days, Qin Xia continued to make different delicious dishes for Yu Jiuque, ensuring he was well-fed day and night. During the free time, he began planning and preparing provisions for the journey ahead.

Wei Xi hadn’t responded yet, but Qin Xia wasn’t in a hurry. In the meantime, he had business to discuss with Xing Yiming, but with the matter of Yu Jiuque’s departure weighing on his mind, he couldn’t focus on anything else.

He first prepared the provisions Yu Jiuque would take on his journey, leaving some for Wei Xi’s boss to try. What they ultimately chose would be up to them.

The most common road food was various types of “xiang,” or cured and dried foods. These dishes were rich in oil and heavily seasoned, making them less likely to spoil. They were perfect for sealing in jars and carrying on the road, eaten with dry rations to add flavor.

Southerners loved their soups and often carried soup ingredients. This gave Qin Xia an idea. He picked out quality dried seaweed, paired it with dried mushrooms and shrimp, and wrapped them in different paper packets. Each packet was perfect for a pot of soup.

He also made a fried sauce with eggplant, mixing in crispy chicken bits, crumbled tofu, and bamboo shoots. The eggplant was steamed in a chicken-bone broth, creating a dish reminiscent of a simpler version of “eggplant xiang.”

With spring turning into summer and fresh fish filling the markets, fish pickle (fish zuo) was also a must. Qin Xia specially bought bluefish, which had fewer bones, meticulously removing the small ones. He salted the fish and marinated it with rice wine lees and Sichuan pepper. Afterward, he stir-fried it with garlic shoots, ginger, and chili peppers. The longer this fish zuo was left sealed in a jar, the more flavorful it became.

On the day before departure, Yu Jiuque looked at the table piled high with food and felt a swirl of emotions.

Qin Xia brought him to the table and explained each dish. “Aside from these, I thought about making some pastries, but I worried they’d be too dry to eat on the road. So, I switched to making some sticky rice cakes instead. There are both savory and sweet ones—your favorite flavors from Qingming.”

Yu Jiuque had mentioned that his journey back to the capital would be discreet, with only three people in total. Considering his husband’s appetite, Qin Xia doubled the portions, preparing enough for six or seven people, enough to last several days.

Yu Jiuque listened for a long while without speaking. When he finally wanted to say something, he found himself unable to. His throat felt tight, as if something was lodged in it, making it impossible to speak.

At moments like this, words seemed meaningless.

Qin Xia, on the other hand, appeared calmer as the time approached. He gently took Yu Jiuque’s clenched fist and slowly unfurled it, massaging his hand as he said, “Come with me to the inner room. There’s something else I need to show you.”