Ch 90: Guide to Feeding a Villainous Husband

In front of him was undeniably the “top-tier” of late-night snacks.

The meat in the roujiamo was juicy and perfectly balanced between lean and fatty, rich but not greasy.

The steamed egg gleamed with a warm yellow hue, melting in the mouth. Just a touch of soy sauce and sesame oil was enough to bring out its delicate, lingering egg flavor.

Yu Jiuque’s injury this time was on his right hand, and because it was wrapped in bandages, he couldn’t bend it. He had to hold the roujiamo in his left hand, and though he could still use his fingers to hold the spoon to eat the egg custard, Qin Xia couldn’t stand seeing him struggle.

A spoonful of the smooth, tender steamed egg was brought to his lips. Yu Jiuque leaned forward slightly and ate it clean.

As long as he was with Qin Xia, he could relax and be “Ah Jiu” again.

Apart from the food and his husband in front of him, he didn’t want to think about anything else.

After a few more bites of the custard, Yu Jiuque lightly tapped Qin Xia with his right hand.

“Don’t just focus on me, husband, you eat too.”

Qin Xia took a few bites of the custard himself and said, “The ingredients available in this kitchen are limited. Next time, when I make it, I’ll add some shrimp or scallops, or maybe minced meat. Which would you like?”

Yu Jiuque said he’d prefer shrimp, and Qin Xia nodded in agreement.

The steamed egg was delicious, and the roujiamo was just as good. Qin Xia took one for himself and, with a few large bites, felt fully satisfied.

There were four roujiamo in total, and they each ate two.

As for the egg custard, Yu Jiuque ate most of it, and Qin Xia finished the rest. After they’d polished off everything, Qin Xia called for the attendent to clear the dishes.

“Bring some hot water and a brazier if you have one. Light it up.”

Though it was already spring, the lingering cold still had its bite.

On top of that, the large suite with three partitions in the top-tier room felt even more spacious and cold.

The attendent soon returned, though not the same one who had helped Qin Xia earlier in the kitchen.

If not for someone calling him, he wouldn’t have wanted to come to this floor at all.

Looking at the guards stationed at the door, it was clear they were soldiers—serving them could easily result in beatings or worse.

His hands trembled as he held the tray, and after taking the order, he hurriedly ran off.

Before long, the hot water and brazier were delivered.

Ding Peng, having eaten and drunk his fill, wiped his mouth and returned to guard the door for the night.

“The weather doesn’t seem good. It might rain tonight. Soak your feet before bed, or it’ll feel even colder.”

Qin Xia quickly closed the window he had left slightly ajar and turned to see Yu Jiuque washing his face with one hand, dipping the cloth in water and wiping his face in motions much like a cat.

Qin Xia walked over, rinsed the cloth again, wrung it out, and handed it back. He heard Yu Jiuque say, “I was planning to bathe tonight. In the next few days, we’ll be rushing on the road, and I fear I won’t have another chance.”

Now that their mission was complete, they couldn’t delay any longer as they were carrying out an imperial mandate.

Yu Jiuque could hardly imagine how high the pile of documents on his desk would be by the time he returned.

“No worries, neither of us is able to bathe anyway. We’ll sleep in the same bed, no one’s going to mind.”

Qin Xia poured some tooth powder onto the toothbrush and handed it to Yu Jiuque. The young man, amused by his words, sneezed just as he took the brush, almost blowing all the powder off.

That night, after soaking their feet, they placed the brazier by the bedside, warming the room. They shook out the blanket and both slipped under it together.

“This inn is quite clean. The blankets smell like they were aired out in the sun during the day.”

The inn was still using thick winter quilts, heavy and snug, sealing in the warmth from all sides.

Soon, sleep overtook them.

The next morning, the group was ready to set off again.

The severely injured guards stayed behind to recuperate, while the others split into two groups. Ding Peng was once again in charge of driving the carriage.

He had gotten the hang of it over the past few days, though today would have been even better if Da Fu hadn’t been poking his head out of the carriage door every now and then to peck at his back.

“Da Fu, if you keep messing around, I’m going to throw you out, and you can follow the carriage on foot.”

Qin Xia pulled Da Fu back again, thinking about tying a leash around the goose’s neck.

“What a handful. If I’d known you’d be this troublesome, I should have left you in Qinan to guard the house for godmother.”

“Gah!”

As if understanding Qin Xia’s discontent, Da Fu grabbed the hem of Qin Xia’s clothes in its beak and started pulling him towards the door.

The goose was surprisingly strong, and Qin Xia could almost hear the seams of his clothes starting to tear. A vein throbbed on his forehead.

“Ah Jiu.”

He turned to his husband with a serious face and asked, “Would you prefer braised goose or salted goose?”

Yu Jiuque: …

Since they had started traveling, Yu Jiuque had been buried in official work. Hearing this, he felt a tightness in his scalp and an ache in his eyes. He put his things aside and reached out to scoop up Da Fu.

“Da Fu, you’d better take a nap, or your father really will stew you. Do you remember that iron pot? It’s just the right size for one goose.”

“Gah…”

Da Fu, clearly more receptive to Yu Jiuque’s approach, immediately lowered his head and snuggled into Yu Jiuque’s arms, finally calming down.

Yu Jiuque had genuinely considered the size of the pot.

Qin Xia sighed, “This goose is as stubborn as a mule.”

Then he realized there was no point in saying that—it was a goose, after all, being stubborn was in its nature.

Might as well let it be.

The journey sped up noticeably from that point on.

After being cooped up in the carriage for so long, Qin Xia eventually couldn’t sit still. In the last two days, he got out and sat outside, learning how to drive the carriage from Ding Peng.

To be honest, driving a carriage was much simpler than getting a driver’s license. The horses pulling the carriage were well-trained and responded to commands, which were few and repetitive.

Qin Xia took the reins and, after about an hour, had gotten the hang of it. If he could ignore the occasional horse droppings that flew into his view, steering the carriage and watching the scenery along the road could even be enjoyable.

With Qin Xia sitting outside, Da Fu could stretch its legs too.

The goose wedged itself between Qin Xia and Ding Peng, making Ding Peng so nervous that he didn’t dare move.

He had never been on good terms with this goose since his stay at the Qin household, though he wasn’t sure what he had done to offend it.

Especially this big, plump goose, which kept nudging him to the side now and then.

Ding Peng silently suffered, but he couldn’t leave Qin Xia alone to drive the carriage, nor did he dare sit inside the carriage with the lord.

Fine, he thought, this goose is practically raised as half a son by the lord, so I’ll endure it!

A few days later, the carriage passed through Dingxing Prefecture.

Once past Dingxing Prefecture, they were essentially in the outskirts of Shengjing.

Yu Jiuque ordered that they stop for the night at Rong County, which was nearby. If they pressed on, they would reach Shengjing by daylight tomorrow.

Rong County had a unique characteristic: cattle farming. Unlike in Qinan County, where buying beef required knowing a butcher to make introductions, here many people openly engaged in cattle farming and beef selling, thanks to their proximity to Shengjing.

Beef was expensive and rare, making it a favorite of the wealthy. Over time, many cattle farmers emerged in Rong County, pushing fresh beef on carts under the cover of night, making the journey to Shengjing just in time for the city gates to open in the morning.

Ding Peng had previously visited this area for a mission. Without much inquiry, he led the two carriages to the most respectable inn in town and booked a private room.

The innkeeper took one look at the group and could tell they were of high status. He refrained from unnecessary questions, only answering when spoken to.

Upstairs, Qin Xia and Yu Jiuque entered first, followed by Qiu Chuan and Qiu Yao. The secret guards ate separately at the next table over.

Being in Rong County, they had to eat beef.

Qin Xia asked about the inn’s specialties and ordered a pot of beef vermicelli stew, a serving of braised beef meatballs, and ten beef patties, along with a few stir-fried dishes and vegetarian sides.

Though a chef himself, Qin Xia enjoyed exploring local specialties wherever he went, but he hadn’t had many chances to do so on this trip.

The beef vermicelli stew was served first, being the house specialty and likely kept ready on the stove at all times.

The first thing that caught his eye was the abundant cilantro, and the beef, sliced thick, was generously portioned.

Each person was given a bowl, and they picked up their chopsticks and started eating.

The beef was thin and tender, made from beef shank, soft but with a good chew.

The vermicelli was delicate but firm, absorbing the broth, which was deliciously rich.

Having been on the road since early morning, everyone was starving, even Qiu Yao, who focused intently on her meal, bowl in hand.

After finishing his bowl of soup, Qin Xia asked for some chili. Seeing this, Yu Jiuque was tempted and asked for a little as well.

Mixing the chili into the soup turned the whole bowl a bright red, adding a layer of spicy fragrance to the already savory dish.

If Qin Xia had to point out a flaw, it was that the spices were a bit overdone. His keen sense of taste felt that the spices masked the freshness of the beef, particularly when drinking the broth.

But each chef had their own style, and overall, as a fellow chef, he gave the meal a positive review.

The braised beef meatballs were larger than Qin Xia had expected, though smaller than the typical Four Happiness Meatballs. For someone like Qiu Yao, one was enough to fill her up.

Qiu Chuan placed the first meatball into his sister’s bowl, and before reaching for a second, noticed that Qin Xia’s and Yu Jiuque’s teacups were not full. He quickly put down his chopsticks and picked up the teapot to pour them more tea.

Yu Jiuque, on the other hand, placed a meatball on his plate and used his chopsticks to break it in half, eating a piece of it right after.

“A bit salty,” Yu Jiuque said after swallowing.

Qin Xia tasted it as well and agreed with him.

“Actually, all of these dishes are a bit salty. It’s probably because the people here prefer stronger flavors.”

Then he couldn’t help but ask, “How do the flavors in the capital compare to those in Qinan County?”

Yu Jiuque thought for a moment and replied, “The capital can’t be compared to smaller places like this. It’s a melting pot of people from all over the country. Like us, once we move there, we won’t be considered native to Shengjing either. So, in a way, the tastes in the capital are more varied.”

He added, “No matter the flavor, as long as it’s delicious, there will always be people who appreciate it. You don’t need to worry about that, husband.”

In his opinion, Qin Xia’s cooking skills were even better than those of the imperial kitchen. Once they arrived in Shengjing, he had no fear that business would thrive.

Qin Xia took this to heart.

“When we settle down in Shengjing, I’ll start looking for a shop.”

With the money he had, leasing a restaurant would be more than manageable.

Once business picked up, within a few years, he wouldn’t have any trouble buying property.

Qin Xia felt a bit nostalgic.

In his previous life, even at his peak earning years, his annual income was only in the tens, and he still couldn’t afford a house in the capital. So, he had never even considered developing a business there.

Now, with this second chance, he had a new opportunity.

After the meal, the server brought up some tea for them to rinse their mouths.

Qin Xia took out a few peppermint candies from his pouch and gave one to each person.

Qiu Chuan, for his part, still hadn’t gotten used to mint. Every time he put one in his mouth, he grimaced, saying that drinking water afterward made it feel icy.

That night, they stayed in the guest rooms behind the inn. Da Fu had been taken away by Qiu Chuan and Qiu Yao, but at the last moment, it stubbornly turned back and ran to rejoin them.

Qin Xia had no choice but to bring out its soft cushion, placing it on the footstool by the bed. Before sleep, Yu Jiuque fed Da Fu two dried worms.

As Da Fu buried its head into its feathers and slept soundly, it couldn’t understand why it kept faintly hearing strange noises.

It lifted its head, looked around, and then turned to glance at the bed with its tightly drawn curtains. The noises had stopped.

It convinced itself that it had imagined things, turned around, and went back to sleep.

Soon after, the sounds within the curtains resumed, only settling down after quite some time.

…

At dawn.

The inn’s server yawned, as the fresh vegetables being sold by the street vendors outside were still glistening with dew. The two carriages had already been prepared and were ready to depart.

Though they had been up twice during the night, Yu Jiuque now felt exhausted, but in front of his subordinates, he couldn’t show any weakness, so he stood tall as usual.

The carriage pulled up to the inn’s entrance, where Qiu Chuan and Qiu Yao had already settled Da Fu inside.

Outside the carriage, Qin Xia gestured for Yu Jiuque to board first. He was about to follow when he heard someone call, “Master Qin.”

The person calling “Master Qin” was a considerable distance from Qinan County, and besides the secret guards, no one else would address him that way.

Qin Xia assumed it was a case of mistaken identity, so he instinctively turned to look, only to find that there was indeed a man staring at him.

Quickly trying to recall if he knew the man, Qin Xia searched his memory while the man approached.

Ding Peng stepped forward and blocked the man, speaking coldly, “Who are you? What business do you have with my master?”

The man froze in fear, hesitated for a moment, and then, addressing Qin Xia, said, “Master Qin, my name is Gao Yang. I used to be a chef at Chang Yue Lou, and I’ve eaten at your Qin Ji before!”

A chef from Chang Yue Lou?

Hearing this, Qin Xia started to remember a little.

Yu Jiuque, observing from the carriage, gestured for Ding Peng to step aside. He then got off the carriage and, along with Qin Xia, followed Gao Yang to a quieter spot.

Qin Xia asked, “Brother Gao, why aren’t you in Qinan County? What brings you here?”

Surely he wasn’t heading to Shengjing for the same reasons as them.

Gao Yang lowered his head awkwardly and briefly explained his situation.

It turned out that his and his wife’s first child was a daughter, but when she was three years old, she was kidnapped by traffickers while they weren’t paying attention, and she had been missing ever since.

“My wife cried until her eyes were nearly blind, but once a child is lost, they’re not easily found.”

Such tragedies were all too common, but Gao Yang and his wife had never given up searching for their daughter over the years.

Later, a group of traffickers in Qinan County was caught, and among them were those who had taken Gao’s daughter. However, they didn’t know where she had been sold, only that it was somewhere in the north.

Using his job at Chang Yue Lou to his advantage, Gao Yang would ask northern merchants for help whenever he encountered them, giving them a drawing of his daughter and some money in hopes they might find her.

“To be honest, after so many years, we’d almost lost hope. But if I didn’t keep trying, we’d have nothing to hold onto.”

But fate had a way of rewarding persistence.

A merchant who had passed through Qinan County again sought out Gao Yang at Chang Yue Lou, telling him that he had seen a maid in Rong County who closely resembled Gao’s daughter.

What made her stand out was a distinctive birthmark in the center of her forehead, somewhat resembling the mole found on some Ge’er’s at birth.

“From her clothing, it seemed she was working for a wealthy family, and she didn’t appear to be living poorly.”

Gao Yang felt some relief at this news. Given that this was the only clue he had in years, he quickly packed his belongings and decided to head north to investigate.

However, when he asked for leave from his employer at Chang Yue Lou, his boss outright dismissed him.

“You know, ever since that incident, business at Chang Yue Lou has been in decline. But I assure you, I’ve never once cut corners or used inferior ingredients. I thought working with integrity would earn me some kindness from the boss, but instead, I was let go. Meanwhile, the head chef, who actually caused the problem, remains safe and sound, with only an assistant scapegoated.”

At this point, Gao Yang gave a bitter smile and shook his head.

“I lost my job, but I still need to find my child. While traveling north, my savings were stolen halfway here, leaving me with only a few coins sewn into my clothes. After much hardship, I finally arrived in Rong County, only to hear that my daughter wasn’t here after all. It turns out she had come from Shengjing with her master and had already returned there.”

At this, he looked at Qin Xia with a hint of pleading in his voice.

“Back in Qinan, I’d heard that you and your husband were planning to open a restaurant in Shengjing. Yesterday, when I passed by this inn, I saw you and your husband getting off the carriage, but since it was late, I didn’t want to disturb you. So, I waited here this morning.”

“I’ve been a chef at Chang Yue Lou for many years, and I believe my skills are decent. I’m not asking to be the head chef—just a helper or even a handyman would do. All I ask is for a chance to work for you, just enough to have a meal. My only goal now is to settle in Shengjing so I can continue searching for my daughter, Huan’er.”

Qin Xia hadn’t expected to hear such a story.

Now, he remembered Gao Yang—he recalled that when Gao had visited the restaurant, he had brought not only his wife but also a young boy.

Gao Yang didn’t deny this and explained that the boy had been born after they lost their eldest daughter.

“Everyone, even our relatives and my own parents, told us to give up searching, but if our son is our child, doesn’t that make our daughter our child too?”

His daughter, in particular, had been exceptionally intelligent for her age. By the time she was three, she was already quite sensible.

In the dead of night, in his dreams, Gao Yang could still hear his daughter calling him “father.”

He could never forget her, not truly.

Looking at Gao Yang’s weathered face, Qin Xia noticed he seemed to have aged a few more years since they last met in Qinan County.

Such a man deserved a chance.

After consulting with Yu Jiuque and confirming they could afford to delay their departure by about half an hour, Qin Xia led Gao Yang back to the inn. He gave the manager some silver, asking to borrow the kitchen.

Since it wasn’t a busy time, there was an available stove. The manager assigned a servant to guide them to the kitchen.

Once there, Qin Xia explained his request.

“Brother Gao, I’m going to ask you to make three dishes. If they’re up to standard, I’ll make sure you get a job in my kitchen when I open the restaurant. If not, I can still help you get to Shengjing.”

But what happened after that wouldn’t be his concern.

Gao Yang, with his skills and determination, would eventually find a way to support himself.

Qin Xia understood that Gao Yang had come to him seeking a shortcut, not wanting to miss this opportunity.

He didn’t mind. When the restaurant opened, he knew he couldn’t handle everything alone. Gao Yang was almost like a fellow townsman, and if he proved capable, Qin Xia would gladly accept him.

The three dishes Qin Xia asked for were spicy shredded potatoes, egg fried rice, and a simple vegetable broth.

The ingredients were easy to find. For the spicy shredded potatoes, all that was needed were some chilies and potatoes. As for the egg fried rice, the inn had plenty of leftover rice on hand, and the vegetable broth only required a few basic vegetables, which could also be found in the kitchen.

With only half an hour to prepare, Gao Yang didn’t waste time asking questions. He quickly gathered the ingredients and got to work.

Qin Xia stayed by his side the entire time, observing Gao Yang’s cooking process.

These three dishes might seem simple and homey, but each required skill.

Shredded potatoes tested a chef’s knife skills and ability to control heat. If the knife work wasn’t precise, the potatoes wouldn’t be uniformly cut. If the heat wasn’t right, the potatoes would either be undercooked or too soft.

Egg fried rice, though seemingly easy, was a dish that could easily go wrong. A good egg fried rice should have fluffy, golden eggs that complemented each distinct grain of rice. The key was to avoid clumping the rice or having the egg and rice separate completely.

Lastly, the vegetable broth was the most challenging of the three.

Qin Xia had come across at least seven or eight different recipes for vegetable broth in his time. Many top chefs displayed their mastery through this single dish.

To make a pot of proper vegetable broth, in Qin Xia’s mind, one was no longer just a beginner cook.

So, Qin Xia included the vegetable broth as part of the test. If Gao Yang managed to make the first two dishes well, Qin Xia would start him as an assistant cook. However, if he could even pull off the vegetable broth, Qin Xia would personally teach him some more challenging dishes before the restaurant opened, potentially allowing him to take charge in the kitchen.

After all, Chang Yue Lou was once a prestigious establishment in Qinan County, and Qin Xia hoped that the chef they had hired wouldn’t disappoint.

The three dishes were prepared in order and served one after the other.

The first dish, spicy shredded potatoes, showed that Gao Yang’s knife skills were adequate, and the heat control was spot on, as the dish was taken off the stove just before the potatoes changed color. The result was vibrant, crisp, and full of flavor.

The second dish, egg fried rice, was presented neatly, with Gao Yang inverting it from a bowl onto the plate, giving it an attractive shape. Each grain of rice was distinct yet coated with egg. He had also added fava beans, carrots, and scallions for extra color, and the dish passed the test.

The third dish, the vegetable broth, was where Gao Yang’s nerves became apparent.

Having been a chef for years, he knew these weren’t just random dishes Qin Xia had casually requested. The steaming bowl of vegetable broth in his hands would likely determine his future.

Qin Xia ladled out a bowl, but before tasting, he inspected it.

A proper vegetable broth should be clear; if it was cloudy, it was subpar.

Gao Yang had used bok choy, bean sprouts, shiitake mushrooms, carrots, and white radish to make the broth. Together, these ingredients likely created a fresh, slightly sweet flavor.

Qin Xia blew on the spoon to cool the broth, then took a sip.

After a few moments of silent contemplation, under Gao Yang’s anxious gaze, Qin Xia drank half of the bowl before setting it down.

“Master Qin, what do you think…” Gao Yang asked, feeling more nervous now than when he first started as an apprentice in the kitchen of Chang Yue Lou.

He knew that Qin Xia’s culinary skills far surpassed those of his former mentor. Despite having been a chef for many years and being older than Qin Xia, he considered himself only a beginner in comparison.

Fortunately, it seemed fate was smiling upon him this time.

Qin Xia said, “All three dishes are well-made. Brother Gao, you’ve clearly put in the effort over the years.”

Gao Yang couldn’t hide his excitement.

“So, does that mean I can follow you to Shengjing?”

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