Ch 88: Guide to Feeding a Villainous Husband

The dried lotus leaves were a staple at the restaurant, and Qin Xia had packed plenty when preparing the luggage. He hadn’t expected them to come in handy for this particular task.

Qiu Chuan returned with two large lotus leaves, each bigger than a head, both from the outer layers, with no traces of oil.

In front of everyone, Qin Xia wrapped the two pheasants tightly in the lotus leaves and secured them with cotton twine handed over by Qiu Yao.

“Are you going to roast the chickens in the lotus leaves? Are you making lotus leaf chicken?” Yu Jiuque asked attentively from the side.

The guards, who had no experience in cooking, were always fascinated by Qin Xia’s methods.

“Not quite,” Qin Xia replied, tying the last knot. He then turned to Ding Peng and the others, saying, “I’m going to need your help with something.”

The guards were taken aback by his polite request.

“Whatever you need, just tell us,” they responded quickly.

Though Qin Xia had no official status, he was the lord’s husband. Whatever he asked, they wouldn’t dare refuse.

Yet, Qin Xia always treated them with respect, something Ding Peng had grown accustomed to, but the other two were still adjusting to.

Qin Xia smiled. “I need some yellow clay and for someone to dig a pit.”

Yellow clay? A pit?

Though they had no idea what clay, a pit, and roasting chicken had in common, the area near the water source was bound to have plenty of mud.

Soon, Ding Peng volunteered to gather yellow clay, while the other two dug a pit.

Using some tree branches, they quickly dug a rough hole with surprising efficiency.

Once the clay was delivered and the pit was ready, Qin Xia didn’t mind getting his hands dirty. He grabbed the clay and began covering the lotus-wrapped pheasants with it, instructing the others as they coated the other bird: “Make sure to spread it evenly; if it’s too thick in some places, it might not cook through properly.”

The guards had plenty of questions, but they followed his lead without hesitation.

They had tasted Qin Xia’s cooking before and knew there was always a method to his madness.

Once the birds were fully coated in clay, they resembled two large mud balls. One by one, they were placed into the pit, which had been lined with dry firewood and set aflame.

“Master, is that all?” one of the guards asked.

“That’s it. Once the clay is cracked open, they’ll be ready to eat,” Qin Xia said.

He had always made beggar’s chicken at home using an oven—the “homemade version”—so this was his first time trying it in the wild. He was just as curious about how it would turn out.

With the two unexpected pheasants taken care of, Qin Xia returned to the stone stove to prepare the clay pot rice.

He poured the soaked rice, along with the water, into the iron pot, added a spoonful of oil, and stirred it until the surface of the rice soup was glistening with oil.

Then, he took the large bowl of sliced sausage and spread it evenly over the top with chopsticks.

Between the big pot of rice and the two pheasants, there would be plenty of food for Yu Jiuque and the others.

“If you’re still not full, there are all sorts of snacks in the carriage, so no need to worry about going hungry.”

Qin Xia covered the pot with a wooden lid, and the stone stove roared to life with a large fire. As soon as the water began boiling, white steam puffed from under the lid with a hissing sound.

The fragrance of the sausages started wafting through the air, though it wasn’t at its most tempting yet.

Both the rice and the chicken would take time.

Having spent half the day sitting in the carriage, Qin Xia didn’t want to go back just yet. Instead, he and Yu Jiuque, along with Da Fu, strolled around to stretch their legs.

During their walk, they spotted some edible mushrooms growing under the trees in the forest. Qin Xia called out, and soon enough, Qiu Chuan and Qiu Yao came eagerly with a small bamboo basket.

“Wash them clean, and we can add mushroom soup to our lunch.”

Anyone who had worked at Qin Ji was serious when it came to food, without exception.

The four of them bent down and carefully gathered the mushrooms.

This area was rarely visited, and they found two full mushroom rings, enough to make their wrists ache from picking. The bamboo basket was filled to the brim.

“That’s enough; just enough for one meal will do.”

They took the mushrooms to the water to wash them, drained the water, and tore them into small strips by hand.

Mushroom soup didn’t require many seasonings, as it would develop its own rich flavor.

As they made their way back, the aroma of the clay pot rice served as their guide.

Qiu Yao, like a little puppy, would raise her head every now and then to sniff the air.

Da Fu caught up halfway and ran ahead to lead the way.

Seeing Qin Xia and the others return, Ding Peng breathed a sigh of relief.

He had stayed behind to watch the pot, worrying that the water had been boiling away for too long and unsure whether it was time to turn off the fire.

Qin Xia walked over and lifted the lid to check.

“It’s almost done.”

The steam rushed out, enveloping his face, and he waved it away with his hand before sitting down to prepare the sauce.

One spoonful of soy sauce, one spoonful of sesame oil, half a spoon of sugar, and some hot water to mix it all together. He dipped the tip of a chopstick to taste it—just the right balance of salty and sweet.

Yu Jiuque suddenly remembered a bottle of oyster sauce they had bought in Shengjing.

“It has a hint of seafood in its smell, and the color is similar to soy sauce, but it’s thicker. Is this the kind of seasoning you mentioned before?”

Qin Xia smiled, realizing that only a place like Shengjing, bustling and prosperous, could have such a wide variety of ingredients.

“It must be. That sauce is made from oysters by the coastal fishermen, used to enhance the flavor, giving it a unique taste. For instance, this clay pot rice would taste even better with oyster sauce added to the sauce.”

Qin Xia was quite excited about this idea.

“When we get to Shengjing, I’m going to spend some time exploring the markets and buy all the ingredients that we can’t find in Qinan County.”

Soon enough, the clay pot rice was ready.

The rice grains were glossy, and the sausage was shining with oil. He served individual portions into wooden bowls, drizzled them with the prepared sauce, and topped them with a few pieces of blanched dried vegetables. Though the color couldn’t compare to fresh greens, it was still a vegetable.

At the bottom of the pot was a large piece of crispy rice.

“That’s the essence of clay pot rice,” he said, not bothering to ask if anyone wanted to try. He simply divided it into portions and handed one to each person.

Tasting something new means trying a bite of whatever’s fresh, only then can you know if you like it.

After quickly rinsing the empty pot, Qin Xia prepared a mushroom soup.

With the rice and soup ready, they just needed to wait for the beggar’s chicken to finish cooking.

Qin Xia and Yu Jiuque returned to the carriage, sitting across from each other to eat.

Yu Jiuque, mimicking Qin Xia, mixed the entire bowl of rice and then took a big spoonful.

The rice in the clay pot was a bit firm, not as soft as rice steamed on its own, but the grains were infused with the rich flavors of the sausage, making each bite more delicious than the last.

For his second bite, he paired it with a slice of sausage.

Just as Qin Xia had said, the sausage was sweet, a flavor that suited his taste perfectly.

“We didn’t bring eggs because they might crack on the journey, but normally there should be a half-cooked egg on top. When you poke it, the yolk runs out and you mix it with the rice.”

Yu Jiuque imagined the taste and licked his lips.

“I already have food in front of me, so why do I feel hungry again just listening to you?”

Qin Xia replied decisively, “That just means you know when I say something tastes good, it’s definitely good.”

Yu Jiuque wholeheartedly agreed.

By the time Qin Xia had nearly finished his bowl, Yu Jiuque still had half of his left.

From outside the carriage, Qiu Chuan called out, “Master Qin, the time’s up. Should we take the roasted chicken out of the pit?”

Qin Xia told Yu Jiuque to wait in the carriage while he went to check.

After roasting for so long, the mud covering the beggar’s chicken had turned pitch black.

Ding Peng and the others used sticks to carefully lift the chickens out, then smashed the hardened clay with stones.

The lotus leaves inside had absorbed the juices from the chicken, becoming wet and fragrant.

The sound of someone swallowing could be heard nearby.

As the leaves were unwrapped, Qin Xia took one of the chickens and grabbed half of it, leaving the rest for the others to share.

He returned to the carriage and proudly presented the dish to Yu Jiuque.

“This dish is called ‘Beggar’s Chicken.’”

The chicken underneath the lotus leaves was golden in color, with a deeper hue on the side closest to the fire. The skin in some places was thin and slightly charred.

Qin Xia tore a piece of parchment and pressed it against the chicken, using chopsticks in his other hand to pull the meat apart.

The first piece to come off was a leg, which he handed to Yu Jiuque, while he himself took the wing.

“So tender!” said one of the guards outside by the pit.

At first, he had thought the chicken didn’t look particularly impressive and probably tasted bland. But with the first bite, the meat burst with juice, making his eyes widen in surprise.

“I’ve never tasted roasted pheasant this good before. Whenever we roasted them with sticks on the road, they were always dry and tough. Compared to this, it’s like chewing on firewood.”

Another guard agreed.

By comparison, Ding Peng was the most focused on his food, not even sparing the chicken head and neck.

These were parts the others didn’t care for, leaving them for him to enjoy.

“Ding Peng, I think I finally understand what kind of blessed life you’ve been living, following Master Qin in Qinan County,” one of the guards remarked.

“Master Qin is going to open a restaurant in Shengjing too, so there’s no need to worry about missing out on his food.”

Despite Ding Peng’s reassurance, the other two shook their heads, still doubtful.

“In Shengjing’s restaurants, a single dish could cost us half a month’s salary. It’s not a place we can afford to visit easily,” one of the guards remarked.

Better to eat our fill now, while we can.

Next time, these luxuries might be beyond our reach.

Qin Xia finished off a chicken leg, a wing, and two more pieces of meat, finally feeling satisfied.

With his hands free, he shredded some chicken and placed it in Yu Jiuque’s bowl so he could mix it with his rice.

After lunch, the group resumed their journey.

Da Fu squeezed into Qin Xia and Yu Jiuque’s carriage, refusing to leave. The two had no choice but to let it stay, even giving it a soft cushion to lie on.

The carriage swayed gently, lulling both the goose and the two full and content husbands into drowsiness.

“Shall we nap for a bit?” Yu Jiuque asked.

“Sure,” Qin Xia replied, finding a comfortable position as he pulled Yu Jiuque into his arms. He draped a cloak over them like a blanket and closed his eyes for a short rest.

…

The wheels turned, and the long road stretched ahead. Most of the afternoon passed quietly.

Even inside the carriage, they could feel the temperature gradually dropping as the evening approached.

Seeking warmth, Da Fu snuggled up against their legs.

Qin Xia felt a sudden unease. He parted the curtains and looked outside.

The night outside was as dark as ink. The two carriages had lanterns lit, illuminating the road ahead.

The forest along the road no longer seemed as welcoming as it had during the day. It now appeared shadowy and ominous, as if something dangerous lurked within.

Judging by the time, they should soon reach the county town where they planned to stay for the night.

He hoped it was just his imagination.

But Da Fu reacted to the danger before the humans did.

Suddenly, the goose spread its wings wide and stared intently in the direction outside the carriage. At the same moment, Qin Xia heard the clashing of metal and the unmistakable sound of weapons slicing through the air.

Ahead, Ding Peng shouted in anger.

“Assassins! Protect the lord!”

With that one cry, he revealed Yu Jiuque’s identity.

Qin Xia turned to look at his husband, but Yu Jiuque showed no sign of surprise.

If Qin Xia’s suspicions were correct, the attackers were after Yu Jiuque.

But with him present, Yu Jiuque wouldn’t leave Qin Xia in danger. His calm demeanor indicated that he had expected this.

“Just a few who slipped through the net,” Yu Jiuque said, his voice steady as Qin Xia instinctively grabbed his hand.

“This was part of the deal for me leaving the capital. But don’t worry, I didn’t bring only three guards.”

Outside the carriage, the sounds of battle grew fierce.