Ch 66: Reborn to Raise My Husband

The Mu family carried a haughty attitude and rejected cooperation.

“The Mu family said that if someone is truly sincere about business, then let the gentleman come to speak in person. Sending a messenger to play tricks and peddle news—our Mu family has never cooperated with such people.”

“This Mu family’s manner is really foul,” the go-between said. “I followed your instructions and told them of a place where new silk has just been produced. In moonlight, it gleams with rippling light, very beautiful. It has not yet spread widely, so the price is cheap. The Mu family replied that they have been in the silk trade for many years, with plenty of contacts. How could they have never heard of such fine silk? They also complained that your request was too demanding—asking them to use caravan manpower to purchase and transport the silk, but without giving them even a share of labor costs. How could there be such a favorable bargain under heaven?”

Qi Beinan only smiled and shook his head.

It was no surprise that the caravans were unwilling to cooperate. Yet Qi Beinan did not think his proposal excessive. With one such piece of information, the caravan could not only build a connection with the silk sellers, but also make a fortune by bringing the silk back. If he had to cover their travel expenses and labor fees besides, then what profit would be left for himself?

If the Mu family did not believe his information, so be it. It did not hurt relations. But since they even accused him of trying to take advantage, such merchants were no longer worth dealing with.

“Would the gentleman be willing to make the trip himself?” the go-between asked.

Qi Beinan waved the matter off.

“The Du family is much easier to talk with,” the go-between continued. “They politely asked for the lead, and they are willing to cooperate with you. Only, they do not trade in silk.”

Qi Beinan understood. “After all, fine silk is too costly for small caravans. A single bolt costs several strings of cash. They cannot carry many, and on the road there is always risk.”

“That’s right,” the go-between confirmed.

Qi Beinan nodded. “If they are willing to cooperate, that is good enough.”

It only meant doing business in cheaper goods. Beyond silks and cloth, there were always cosmetics, rouge, candles, bath powder… everyday goods that were low-cost but profitable enough. Qi Beinan knew well.

Thus, Qi Beinan passed the silk business to the Ming family, and worked out cooperation with the Du family instead.

But the Du family’s mode of cooperation was different. Their trade was in inexpensive daily goods, while Qi Beinan himself was not specialized in such business. Stocking up and reselling had thin profit margins and was troublesome without channels.

So he sent word through the go-between: he would contribute silver into their trade, and they would treat it as a partnership, dividing the profits.

Soon, word came back agreeing to this proposal. Since he was willing to invest money, the caravan would be more secure, and after negotiating a fair division, they signed a contract.

Qi Beinan paid one hundred strings of cash to the Ming family to stock up silk, and another eighty strings to the Du family to invest in this venture.

But the household accounts could only cover one hundred. The extra eighty had to be raised by exchanging away the heavy gifts stored in the storeroom.

In one night, the coffers were once again nearly emptied, leaving only thirty strings to cover daily expenses.

Still, Qi Beinan did not worry. With the autumn harvest, once the grain, livestock, and poultry were sold, there would be a large income. It would be replenished.

Moreover, the caravans would return before the year’s end, bringing back foreign goods. During the lively New Year season, when common folk were willing to spend, those goods would sell well.

By the time Qi Beinan finished handling business, the autumn break was already over, and he returned to the county school for lessons.

Xiao Yuanbao, ever since hearing that Qi Beinan wanted to buy shops in Linzhou, and now seeing him invest in new ventures, guessed it was all to save money for those shops.

He himself also grew a little restless.

Two days prior, his old teacher had come into the city to buy supplies, and Xiao Yuanbao had already taken on three banquets to prepare, keeping him busy.

This year was a bumper harvest, and many households wanted to hold celebrations. Even the village cooks were overwhelmed.

Yet despite this, not a single invitation had come his way.

Xiao Yuanbao understood—now that he was in the county town, the connections he had built in the village were useless. Who in town would trouble themselves to invite a young ge’er with no name to prepare their banquet?

So Xiao Yuanbao thought of taking banquet work in the city.

But he had only recently arrived, with no networks, no master to vouch for him. How could he expect households to entrust him with such work?

Thus, he invited one of the steward-mothers who bought vegetables from their household to drink wine, and asked her for guidance.

The steward-mother explained that in town there was a “Cook Hall,” founded by several old, reputable chefs, very famous in Lin County.

They accepted every sort of banquet, large and small, and under them were two or three dozen cooks.

“So many!” Xiao Yuanbao exclaimed.

The steward-mother laughed: “Not all are in-house cooks. Many just pay the hall fee to be registered under the Cook Hall. When the hall takes more work than their own people can handle, they pass it down to the affiliated cooks.”

Xiao Yuanbao, seeing a path, went to visit the Cook Hall.

The reception there was courteous. He inquired about the hall fee.

They explained: paying two strings of cash gained entry. No need to report in daily—if there was work, they would be notified.

The hall could not guarantee work every month, but every other month there would be a lesson where a master-chef taught a dish.

If he wanted guaranteed work within three months, the fee was five strings. For ten strings, he would be guaranteed one assignment every month, regardless of banquet size.

Xiao Yuanbao clicked his tongue.

Registering under the hall was mainly to gain chances. But not merely for the money earned from each banquet. More important was using the chance at the stove to build connections.

Once connections were built, he could start receiving work directly.

Then there was no need to bitterly rely forever on whatever work the Cook Hall handed down.

To put it plainly, the Cook Hall was just a springboard—created to open doors for cooks without connections. The Cook Hall naturally understood this well. What they earned was not the hall fee, but the “network fee.” So, they kept the price high.

Xiao Yuanbao did some quick math. In the village, going out to take charge of a meal once earned him about sixty copper coins. Just the two strings of cash for hall entry equaled the pay from thirty-some banquets.

Thinking of it made his heart ache.

But it wasn’t even his turn to ache yet.

After asking about the process, the reception attendant instead questioned him on what dishes he could make—what current city-style dishes he knew, how many methods of mutton he could prepare, what his specialty dish was.

When they learned he was a village cook, and that his specialty was cooking offal, they did not mock him. On the contrary, they told him frankly: a countryside cook without city-style dishes would hardly ever get hired in town. Even poorer households in town would not bother inviting such a cook, no matter how skillful.

If he had skill with offal, it would be better to set up a stall in the marketplace. He could earn far more there.

The attendant added that, seeing he was still so young, instead of saving up money to join the hall, it would be wiser to put the money into something else.

The words were blunt, but not wrong.

Xiao Yuanbao had not realized how difficult life in the city was without connections.

Back home, he collapsed face-first onto the couch and lay there reflecting.

In truth, he blamed himself for not knowing enough dishes, for his skills not being refined. He couldn’t even reach the threshold of joining the hall.

In the village, he had been showered with praise so often that he had grown light-headed, believing himself remarkable. Now, doused in a basin of cold water, he had sobered up.

A few years back he had thought of learning some city-style dishes precisely to avoid this kind of humiliation. But there had been no teachers, and little chance for him to practice.

Most rural households only ate mutton, venison, rabbit. If they were better off, they might stew pigeon or turtle.

When Qi Beinan came back from the county school, he didn’t see Xiao Yuanbao in the garden. Iron Niu said he had gone out earlier and, on returning, had gone straight to his room and not come out again.

Whether he was napping or something else, Iron Niu did not know.

Madam Liu went to check once and reported there was nothing wrong, sending Iron Niu back out.

Qi Beinan handed his book box to Iron Niu, not even bothering to change out of his school robes, and went straight inside to look.

Xiao Yuanbao, hearing that Qi Beinan was back, called for him to come in.

Qi Beinan entered and saw Xiao Yuanbao slumped on the couch in the outer room, looking listless and without spirit.

“What’s wrong? Did the people at the Cook Hall bully you?”

Qi Beinan hurried forward.

Xiao Yuanbao pushed himself up. “No, they were polite.”

He choked a little. “It’s just… I wasn’t qualified to join.”

Xiao Yuanbao then told Qi Beinan simply what had happened at the hall.

“In short, the hall shattered our Xiao cook’s confidence.”

Qi Beinan patted Xiao Yuanbao’s head. “To realize one’s shortcomings and strive upward—that is no bad thing. You’re still young. With further effort, you’ll have plenty of time to hone your skills.”

Xiao Yuanbao gave a small laugh. “I know that. It’s just… it will take so much time to learn properly. I won’t be able to contribute much to saving for the shop this time. Thinking of that makes me feel down.”

“There will be many chances in the future. Why mind this moment?” Qi Beinan said. “Don’t always heap burdens on yourself. As long as you have your brother, everything will be handled.”

Xiao Yuanbao pressed his lips together and softly murmured assent.

Then he added: “Or else I could really just set up a little stall, selling offal dishes.”

Qi Beinan lightly knocked his head. “Still thinking about making money? Shouldn’t your first priority be to find a master in the city and learn proper city dishes?”

Xiao Yuanbao covered his head. “That’s true. But staying home all day won’t help me find a master. If I had a stall outside, with people passing by, maybe I’d hear some news.”

“So you’re dead set on this now?” Qi Beinan asked.

Xiao Yuanbao burst into giggles. “Not really.”

Seeing this, Qi Beinan rose from the couch. “I’ll change clothes. I heard from classmates that on Chai Ge Street there’s a shop with spicy lamb trotters that’s especially good. Tonight let’s not eat at home—let’s go try it.”

“Come on, get yourself cleaned up. Look at your hair, all a mess.”

Xiao Yuanbao looked at the broad, elegant hand that Qi Beinan stretched out to him, offering to pull him up. His eyes lingered.

“Don’t want to go?” Qi Beinan asked.

Xiao Yuanbao quickly said, “No!”

And so he grabbed Qi Beinan’s hand, letting himself be pulled up from the couch.

Qi Beinan’s hand was warm, with a thin layer of callus from years of writing. The touch against his own skin was like tiny ants crawling all over his heart—he could not name the feeling.

Since childhood, Xiao Yuanbao had held this hand countless times.

When leaving the house, to keep from getting lost, he had clutched it. When learning to write, Qi Beinan had steadied his strokes with it. That hand had always been there to guide him.

Back then, Xiao Yuanbao had always thought Qi Beinan’s hand was warm. Now, it still was. But somewhere along the way, that warmth, once a comfort that gave him peace of mind, had begun to stir something new inside him.

Xiao Yuanbao felt flustered. After standing stiffly by the couch for a moment, he quickly pulled back his hand. Then, almost as if fleeing, he rushed into the inner room. To cover up his panic, he called out, “Whoever dawdles and makes others wait is a puppy!”

Qi Beinan chuckled. “Then I’ll let you have a few steps’ head start.”

As time passed, the sun tilted westward. The setting light scattered like fine golden powder across the ground, and the sky brimmed with resplendent evening glow. A cool evening breeze carried the mingled fragrance of osmanthus and gardenia.

Qi Beinan waited at the front gate of the residence for some time, but Xiao Yuanbao still did not appear. He did not urge him, nor did he send someone to hurry him along—he simply stood quietly by the screen wall.

About the time it takes to burn one stick of incense, Xiao Yuanbao finally came out slowly from the house.

He wore a robe of Xiangfei-colored cross-collar straight cut, with a thin floral cord tied at his waist, its tassel hanging down at the side. His hair was bound with the same floral cord. The bright hue set off Xiao Yuanbao’s already fair skin, making it seem even more vivid.

Seeing Qi Beinan’s gaze on him made Xiao Yuanbao even more self-conscious, so his eyes flicked nervously about.

“All my clothes were washed, so I just wore whatever I could find.”

Qi Beinan’s eyes softened. “The clothes look very fine—suit you well. You’re even more handsome than usual, by a good margin.”

“Such fine silk clothing, why don’t you wear it often?”

Xiao Yuanbao’s face reddened. “I thought the color too gaudy, not suitable for daily wear. And besides, with no occasion, why dress so fancily? So I left it pressed at the bottom of the chest.”

The moment he said it, he realized it sounded wrong. Wasn’t he admitting outright that he had dressed up deliberately just to go out with Brother Beinan?

He cursed himself silently for talking nonsense. Just as he was about to cover it up, Qi Beinan suddenly took his hand.

“Brother understands.”

Qi Beinan’s voice was gentle, and then he tightened his hold, leading him forward.

Xiao Yuanbao froze, dumbly following Qi Beinan’s steps.

Understands…? Understands what?

Does Brother understand that he truly had no other clothes to wear and had to put this one on?

Or does Brother understand that he had dressed up especially to go out with him?

Xiao Yuanbao’s mind was a tangled mess.

“It’s my fault too,” Qi Beinan said lightly, in a tone of visible joy. “I never like to tidy myself up, always wearing sober, old-fashioned clothes. I’ve even made you feel embarrassed to wear bright fabrics.”

Hearing that, Xiao Yuanbao’s heart instantly calmed. He let out a soft hum in agreement, sneaking a glance at the hand still holding his own. Qi Beinan showed no intention of letting go.

Xiao Yuanbao’s ears grew hot. He pressed his lips together, unable to speak, pretending instead that he had seen nothing and turning his eyes elsewhere.

He felt both guilty and excited—like having done something wrong, only to be covered for.

The two of them strolled casually until they reached the little restaurant.

It wasn’t large—five tables inside, with a canopy outside holding three more.

At this hour, the inside was already full, and two tables outside were taken as well.

It was Xiao Yuanbao’s first time coming to this “Lamb Trotter” shop. Since moving into the city just two months ago, he had cooked mostly at home, rarely eating outside.

“The business here really is thriving.”

“I heard it’s an old establishment, been around for years. All the city’s food connoisseurs love it,” Qi Beinan said.

He called for the waiter: “One order of the signature spicy braised lamb trotters, one bowl of hand-pulled lamb, and two bowls of lamb offal soup.” Then he turned to Xiao Yuanbao. “Anything else you’d like?”

“Some cucumber salad,” Xiao Yuanbao replied.

“Alright. And gentlemen, since it’s your first time here, aside from lamb we also do crab noodles and crab rice, both quite good.”

Xiao Yuanbao’s eyes lit up. “You serve crab too?”

“Only during crab season. Otherwise, lamb is our mainstay.”

Qi Beinan asked, “Shall we try a bowl of crab noodles?”

Xiao Yuanbao whispered, “That’s too much. If we can’t finish, it will go to waste.”

“No matter. Just one bowl. If you can’t eat it, I will.”

The waiter glanced at the two of them, smiling. “The gentleman and his husband are truly affectionate.”

Xiao Yuanbao’s face instantly flushed crimson.

He hurried to deny, “We’re not—” But before he could finish, the waiter was already off to take another table’s order.

“Please wait just a moment. Your dishes will be right out. For now, have some tea.”

And off he went.

Xiao Yuanbao had no choice but to close his mouth, embarrassed.

He looked back at Qi Beinan, who was calmly pouring tea as though nothing had happened.

Irritated, Xiao Yuanbao poked him lightly. “Didn’t you hear what the waiter just said, Brother?”

Qi Beinan replied, “Let him say what he likes.”

“How can we let people misunderstand? Brother should be more careful in what you say outside.”

Qi Beinan set the tea before him and asked back, “Why? Are you afraid of someone misunderstanding?”

“I—I’m not afraid of that! It’s just—it just doesn’t feel right.”

“What’s wrong with it? Is it me who’s wrong?”

Xiao Yuanbao lifted his eyes toward Qi Beinan, then quickly looked away in guilt. “I didn’t mean Brother was bad. It’s just… I’m afraid people might misunderstand, and it could delay your marriage talks.”

Qi Beinan’s brows shifted slightly. “If it can be delayed, then it was never the right person. If it’s someone truly fitting, no delay would matter.”

Xiao Yuanbao was at a loss for words.

Fortunately, the dishes arrived just then.

He seized the chance to change the subject. “This shredded lamb smells amazing.”

He eagerly picked up a piece with his chopsticks and put it in his mouth. Soft, fragrant, it clung to his teeth, without the slightest gamey odor.

“Brother, taste it.”

Qi Beinan took a bite and nodded his approval.

The lamb trotters were even more marvelous—first braised with spices until the flavor soaked deep, then stewed again with chili sauce. The trotters were tender, the meat falling right off the bone. A single bite filled the mouth with rich flavor, perfect for drinking with wine.

Xiao Yuanbao gnawed down two in a row and said he must someday bring some back for Xiao Hu to enjoy with wine.

“These trotters being good is nothing rare. With money, anyone can come here and eat them.”

“Then tell me, whose cooking is there that money can’t buy?”

“Ah, don’t you know? The other day at a crab shop, while eating crab, a friend told me that an extraordinary cook has come to town. Her dishes—those are not something money alone can buy.”

As Qi Beinan fetched cold tea to soothe Xiao Yuanbao’s spice-reddened face, they overheard a table nearby gossiping.

“Cooks are all just trying to make a living. What nonsense is this about food money can’t buy?”

“But this one doesn’t need money. That old lady cook worked in the Imperial Kitchen of the palace itself. Now she’s retired and come back to our county to spend her old age.”

“Really? Don’t fool me!”

“It’s true. She lives on Hibiscus Lane. Just last month she bought four servants from the brokerage. My own brother works at the brokerage—how could it be false?”

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