Ch 112: Guide to Feeding a Villainous Husband

While dining at his own restaurant, Heguang Pavilion, even the tranquil mood was disrupted by a group of unruly foreign Hu people. Before Yu Jiuque could react, Eunuch Xia, seated nearby, was the first to express his displeasure.

“These Hu people, how dare they! Do they think our Dayong is a place to trample upon?”

Everyone else at the table echoed his sentiment.

Yu Jiuque’s brow furrowed slightly.

The Heguang Pavilion was located in the bustling area of the southern city, and with its rising reputation, it was no surprise that foreign Hu merchants and travelers might visit out of curiosity. As long as they peacefully enjoyed their meal, the restaurant would welcome them. It wouldn’t make sense to expel anyone just because of their foreign appearance.

But when they came with the intent to cause trouble, the consequences could be different—especially since Yu Jiuque himself was present. If no one else dared to deal with these foreigners, Yu Jiuque certainly would.

He was about to issue orders when a waiter entered with more food. Upon noticing the newcomer, he realized it was Qiu Chuan, who appeared nervous but proceeded to serve the steaming dishes. As per Qin Xia’s instructions, he delivered a message:

“Little boss, boss asks that you observe the situation calmly for now. He will handle the foreigners downstairs himself.”

Yu Jiuque frowned but paused, pondering for a moment before asking, “Did these Hu people display anything peculiar? Describe their attire.”

Qiu Chuan hesitated, then recollected and described the clothing and details of the foreigners as best he could. After hearing the description, Yu Jiuque decided to follow Qin Xia’s request. He also discreetly instructed his personal guard:

“If the Hu people act rashly, ensure that neither Master Qin nor any staff or guests in the restaurant are harmed.”

Xia Bingbi (Eunuch Xia) and the others exchanged glances. He then asked boldly, “Lord Yu, leaving the boss to handle this—will it really work?”

In their eyes, Qin Xia was just a lucky cook from a small town who managed to gain favor during Lord Yu’s difficult times. While his culinary skills were extraordinary and his appearance impressive—perhaps enough to charm Lord Yu and make him willing to carry his child—Qin Xia was still a mere common merchant.

By all rights, when trouble struck the restaurant, they should be leveraging Yu Jiuque’s authority to deal with it. Why leave it in the hands of Qin Xia?

But Yu Jiuque, unfazed, picked up his chopsticks and urged everyone, “This pan-seared pomfret needs to be eaten while hot. If it cools down, it’ll lose its flavor, and the excellent ingredient will go to waste. Please, enjoy.”

Confused but compliant, everyone began eating.

As they sliced through the crispy golden skin of the fish, the tender white flesh revealed itself, perfectly cooked and without any fishy odor—delicate and delicious.

What they didn’t know was that Yu Jiuque, although appearing calm, was barely tasting the food. He trusted that Qin Xia had likely recognized something off about those Hu people. Heguang Pavilion, being a busy restaurant, encountered a wide variety of people, and Qin Xia was particularly perceptive.

Qin Xia also knew about the upcoming visit of the Sharong diplomatic mission and the recent fire at the Huitong Hall, so if he had specifically sent a message, it must have been for a good reason.

This was the mutual understanding between the two of them. If the situation escalated, Yu Jiuque could always have the troublemakers detained and taken away by force if necessary.

Thinking along these lines, he calmly moved his chopsticks, picking out the small, delicate eyes of the fish and chewing slowly.

…

Meanwhile, downstairs in the main hall, as soon as the Hu people started making a scene, the situation grew a bit chaotic.

Everyone knew that these Hu people in Shengjing were not bound by Dayong’s laws, and behaved as if they were untouchable. Whenever they caused trouble, the Bingmasi (local military police) would only dare to handle them lightly—at most, demanding compensation, but never going as far as flogging or imprisonment.

Even though Heguang Pavilion had the backing of powerful figures, help from distant connections wouldn’t solve immediate problems.

Some diners, sensing the impending trouble, quietly placed silver on their tables, intending to leave before the situation escalated into a full-blown brawl and they became innocent bystanders caught in the chaos.

Seeing that some patrons were trying to leave before finishing their meal, Qin Xia gestured to Ah Jian to escort them out, assuring them that their meal was on the house as compensation for the disturbance.

After giving these instructions, Qin Xia quickly approached the scene.

At the table sat four Hu men, all wearing narrow-sleeved, high-collared Hu robes, leather boots on their feet, and various small items like wine pouches and knives hanging from their belts. Their hair was tied into long braids at the back, decorated with turquoise and other ornaments—a typical style of Qiang people.

However, Qin Xia, with his sharp eyes, noticed something unusual. Upon closer inspection, their hair showed slight, uniform waves—not natural curls, but rather the appearance of hair that had been intricately braided for a long time and then undone.

This intricate braid style, often adorned with gems, was a distinguishing feature of Sharong people.

Qin Xia was aware of the recent arrival of the Sharong diplomatic mission to the capital and the mysterious fire at the Huitong Hall, both of which were events mentioned in his knowledge of the story.

In the original plot, the fire at Huitong Hall was initially blamed on Qiang people, leading to the arrest of several Qiang merchants, which caused great dissatisfaction from Qiang people. Later, it was revealed that the arsonists were Sharong agents disguised as Qiang people, who had also planted false evidence implicating innocent Qiang merchants.

One of these Hu merchants was a prince of Qiang, traveling incognito with a merchant caravan for fun, wanting to see the wonders of the world.

Sharong’s intentions were clear: they hoped to use this incident as a catalyst to provoke conflict between the two nations, thereby benefiting from the chaos.

Once the truth came to light, Dayong had no choice but to send a letter of apology and lavish gifts to Qiang country, but even after the misunderstanding was cleared up, relations between the two nations were strained. Trade dwindled, and trade routes were disrupted.

Now that Qin Xia was a citizen of Dayong, he naturally hoped for peace and stability, not war.

Therefore, identifying the Sharong spies hidden in Shengjing became crucial.

With this in mind, he had been particularly vigilant toward the Hu people frequenting the city recently.

This heightened awareness led him to immediately spot the discrepancies in these men’s clothing.

Sharong men harassing women in public might be protected due to their status, and the local authorities might be forced to let the matter slide.

But if Sharong agents were masquerading as Qiang merchants and acting suspiciously in public, that would be reason enough for the Eastern Palace (jinyiwei) to intervene.

Since Qiang country had long maintained an official presence in Dayong for diplomatic and trade purposes, any investigation into Sharong would likely receive Qiang’s full support, which could help resolve misunderstandings and prevent further conflict.

With no hesitation, Qin Xia gave Qiu Chuan instructions before stepping forward to greet the Hu men, putting on the demeanor of a friendly innkeeper.

“Gentlemen, what seems to be the matter here? This girl is merely a street performer, trying to make a living by singing for some spare coins. Out of compassion, we allowed her and her father into the restaurant to earn some tips. If she has offended you in any way, I apologize on their behalf.”

He then turned to Ah Jian with a polite smile, “Tell the kitchen to prepare a few special dishes for our esteemed guests, as a gesture of apology.”

He slapped his forehead as if realizing something and said, “My oversight! These hearty dishes take time to prepare. I noticed you haven’t ordered much in terms of staple foods or vegetables, and I fear it won’t be enough. It also seems you’re missing a soup to warm your stomachs. Ah Jian, go quickly and bring the fresh scallion-stuffed flatbread with the vegetarian roasted goose, along with the stuffed squash with meat. Let the guests enjoy these while they wait. The Buddha Jumps Over the Wall should be nearly ready too, so serve it hot.”

He rattled off these words quickly, leaving the Hu men—who already struggled with Dayong’s official dialect—looking bewildered. The father and daughter pair were momentarily forgotten, with the girl catching Qin Xia’s glance and cautiously edging away.

Meanwhile, two seemingly bystanders, who were actually covert operatives, discreetly moved to shield the father and daughter, ensuring they were within protection.

Upstairs, one of the guards with keen hearing kept a close ear on the situation below, providing real-time updates to Yu Jiuque. Upon hearing Qin Xia’s choice of dishes, Yu Jiuque couldn’t help but smirk.

His spouse had a mischievous streak, clearly taking advantage of the Hu people’s ignorance. Qin Xia was cleverly insulting them, thinly veiled beneath politeness.

The scallion-stuffed flatbread and the stuffed squash with meat seemed like simple, everyday dishes, but both had deeper meanings.

The scallion flatbread, also known as “scallion-filled stew,” had historical connotations. It was said that during the previous dynasty, a treacherous minister falsely accused and executed a renowned general who had defended the nation against foreign invaders. In protest, the common people created this fried dish, naming it after the villain to vent their frustrations.

As for the stuffed squash, it was even simpler in its wordplay. Squash, also known as “gourd” or “葫芦” in some regions, had a homophone connection to “胡虏”—a term for foreign barbarians. So, “stuffed squash” could imply “barbarian meat.”

But what was Qin Xia’s true plan? Aside from these two symbolic dishes, there was also the Buddha Jumps Over the Wall soup. Qin Xia had specifically mentioned serving it “hot”…

Yu Jiuque’s eyes gleamed with understanding.

Downstairs, Qin Xia noticed that the two inconspicuous men were likely Yu Jiuque’s secret guards, so he felt reassured and continued dealing with the Hu men.

“In our Dayong, we have a saying: ‘Harmony brings wealth.’ You have come a long way, surely for business and profit. Why disrupt things over a mere girl, risk involving the authorities, and spoil the mood?”

One of the Hu men stepped forward. Hu people often carried a distinct mutton-like odor that developed over time. To mask this, many Hu merchants who traveled to Dayong would use heavy incense, creating a pungent mix of scents. As the man approached, even Qin Xia, seasoned as he was in dealing with various smells, found himself holding his breath.

The man spoke in broken Dayong dialect, “You mean to say, we don’t understand the rules?”

Qin Xia maintained his calm, courteous expression as he responded.

“Every nation has its own customs. Dayong is a land of etiquette, governed by Confucian principles. Bullying the old and oppressing women are both acts of immorality. Of course, the Qiang people, who follow the water and grass, are a horseback nation that rules through strength, incomparable to us.”

He deliberately emphasized “Qiang people,” and sure enough, he saw that the Hu men’s expressions showed satisfaction, though their words remained tough.

“Since you can tell we are Qiang merchants, you should know that Dayong and Qiang have a good relationship. Our master has taken a liking to this girl and wishes for her to sing and drink with us. Since the two nations are friends, this is a courtesy friends should extend.”

What kind of shameless reasoning was this?

Qin Xia’s face began to turn cold.

“Ying Niang only sings, she does not accompany guests for drinks. This is a respectable establishment, not a pleasure house. If you gentlemen are seeking such company, the capital has more appropriate venues.”

But the Hu man responded, “That may be your rule, but it’s not ours.”

Qin Xia felt the veins on his forehead pulse.

This was clearly trouble for the sake of causing trouble.

He glanced at one of the Hu men, who was eyeing Ying Dayong lecherously, clearly a man of unbridled lust.

At that moment, Ah Jian brought the dishes over.

“Gentlemen, here is the scallion flatbread, stuffed squash with meat, and Buddha Jumps Over the Wall. Please enjoy!”

The table was soon filled with food, and the leftover dishes were removed. Remarkably, before causing the disturbance, the Hu men had eaten most of their ordered dishes, nearly down to the last bite. Their audacity was almost baffling.

Qin Xia picked up the Buddha Jumps Over the Wall soup and introduced it, “Gentlemen, this dish is one of our specialties, combining the finest ingredients from both land and sea, known for its nourishing qualities.”

As he spoke, he lifted the lid, revealing the golden broth, steam rising with an intoxicating aroma that temporarily overwhelmed the odd stench emanating from the Hu men.

Food, at times, could be an ultimate temptation.

The desires of the palate and the desires of the flesh were, after all, human cravings.

The moment the Buddha Jumps Over the Wall appeared, the Hu man who had been ogling Ying Niang instinctively turned his gaze towards the soup.

Now was the time.

Qin Xia kept his eyes fixed on the man’s slightly raised right hand, and without hesitation, he poured the entire steaming bowl of Buddha Jumps Over the Wall over him.

The Hu man let out a bloodcurdling scream, and the other three leapt to their feet in an instant, but Qin Xia was already being firmly shielded by the secret guards that Yu Jiuque had stationed.

The Hu man who spoke Dayong’s language shouted, “You have attacked us without reason and insulted Great Qiang!”

Qin Xia stared coldly at him, sneering as he raised his voice, “Qiang? Everyone, take a look at this Hu man’s hand. After being scalded, a hidden tattoo has appeared. But the design is not the eagle revered by the Qiang people. Instead, it’s the totem of the Sharong, a sand snake! You are no doubt impostors—Sharong spies posing as Qiang merchants with malicious intent!”

The Hu man’s eyes widened. From the start, he had been trying to hide his companion’s hand, but how could such a secret be known by a mere Dayong shopkeeper?

“You are just a commoner of Dayong, what right do you have to judge us? Is this what you call etiquette in Dayong? We Qiang people treated you as friends, yet you see us as enemies!”

Whether these Sharong men harassed Ying Niang with a premeditated plan or acted on impulse didn’t matter anymore. They were now trying to manipulate the situation and control public perception.

This time of year was when the most Qiang merchants crowded the streets of Shengjing. After selling their goods, they would leave the city and follow the trade routes to return home before the snows fell.

As more and more Qiang people spread the news that Qiang traders were humiliated in Shengjing, combined with the agents they had planted back home, they would gradually tear apart the façade of peace between Qiang and Yong.

While this Sharong man was playing the part of a furious Qiang merchant, the doors of a private room on the second floor suddenly swung open.

A well-dressed ge’er in a fine robe, accompanied by a group of imposing figures, appeared before everyone.

The wide sleeves and the railing obscured his pregnant belly slightly, drawing everyone’s attention to the commanding expression on his face.

“He may not be qualified, but am I?”

With a gesture as light as a breeze, the towering Hu men were instantly surrounded by the Eastern Palace’s secret guards.

After a brief flash of blades, the lead guard bowed toward the second floor.

“Reporting to the Grand Attendant, four suspected Sharong spies have been apprehended. Please give further instructions.”

The entire Heguang Pavillion was in an uproar.

Some brave patrons who recognized Yu Jiuque had stayed behind, and now they were all gaping in shock.

The little boss of Heguang Pavillion was actually the imperial Grand Attendant?

In light of this revelation, those Hu men suddenly seemed insignificant.

No wonder…

No wonder the shopkeeper had emerged unscathed from lawsuits with the Marquis’ household and investigations by the Eastern Palace.

Because he and the Eastern Palace were on the same side!