This was the first time the two had met in public since they divorced and moved out of the Fu residence.
Fu Yu remained the same, but You Tong was clearly quite different—her attire and makeup were still the same as when she was at the South Tower, her eyebrows and eyes were graceful, her slightly upturned eyes carrying a touch of alluring charm, her lips were soft and tender, and her skin was as delicate as white porcelain. Although her hair was simply adorned, her long black hair was pulled back and adorned with a flower hairpin, adding a touch of elegance, and her dress reflected the moonlight, with blooming flowers below. However, the expression in her beautiful eyes was entirely different.
When she lived in the South Building, she was secluded in a corner and acted with great restraint and caution, fulfilling her duties as a young mistress.
Now, however, his expression is more open and at ease. Even though he has to deal with these trivial matters and even misses meals, he doesn't seem tired at all. His smile comes from the bottom of his heart, clear as a spring, bright as a star, radiant and lively. And in his every move, he exudes a confident and composed air of someone in charge.
Upon seeing him, You Tong's attitude was no longer as subtly respectful and polite as before. She raised her eyebrows slightly, looked him up and down, and smiled, "General, is there anything you need to do on my humble abode? Please come into the hall and have a cup of tea."
"Not only tea, but also a meal is required. It's worth the time I waited for half a day." Fu Yu entered uninvited.
You Tong followed her inside, and asked in surprise, "You've been here for a long time?"
"It wasn't long, I just smelled the aroma of food filling the yard and got hungry."
"Haven't you eaten yet?"
"No." Fu Yu shook his head, then, seeing Chuncao helping to tidy the table, he raised his chin and pointed, "You're already getting things done?"
"Although I didn't plan to run this hot pot restaurant very well, I still need to make a successful start and get everything sorted out from the beginning. The two managers, Mr. and Mrs. Xu, need to renovate the shop, purchase copper pots and kitchen supplies, find out the prices of meat and vegetables from various places, find a reliable shop, and select male and female staff. There's a lot to do. The accounts and personnel also need to be sorted out. Let's use this place as practice first." You Tong saw that Yu Zan had brewed tea again, so she took it and placed it on the table, then ordered someone to set out the meal.
—We can't let him go hungry, it would be impolite. He's come all this way.
Dinner was naturally plentiful and exquisite.
The Yunnan-style tea tree mushrooms were tender and delicious, topped with bright green scallions and vibrant red peppers, their color incredibly appealing. Beside them were a plate of braised duck, a plate of cold shredded chicken salad, tender and crisp bamboo shoots, and sweet and smooth amaranth. Next to them were milky white fish cake soup and an appetizing beef broth. Finally, a steamer basket of freshly steamed hot crabs, along with two servings of pastries, were brought out. Since Fu Yu had brought two more items with him, they were also placed on the table.
After You Tong moved out of the mansion, she didn't pay much attention to etiquette. She found dinner tasteless when she ate alone, so she usually ate with Granny Xu, Chuncao, and the others, preparing several dishes to make the meal more lively.
Now that guests have arrived, the dishes are served on delicate, small plates; half a portion is served here, and the rest is left for the guests.
Chuncao and Yanbo, fearing that Youtong would suffer a loss, served her from the side.
Fu Yu hadn't eaten at You Tong's kitchen for a long time, and it was a rare treat to taste the familiar flavors. So he ate heartily. With Chuncao and Yanbo present, he couldn't say anything else, so he asked her how the preparations for the hot pot restaurant were going.
You Tong then told him.
Finding a shop for a hot pot restaurant was easy, and there was no need to worry about copper pots or vegetables. The most important thing was the staff. You Tong had only been married into Qizhou for a year, and none of her dowry properties were located there. So, she transferred the two grandsons of Granny Xu, who worked elsewhere, to the restaurant. The two had previously managed many things at You Tong's dowry estate and were reliable and thorough in their work. The elder brother, Xu Changqing, was appointed as the manager, while the younger brother, Xu Changsong, was responsible for purchasing vegetables, fruits, and meat. The two brothers were quick and efficient, and the supplies were almost ready. They had also carefully inquired about and found male and female employees recently. Once everything was settled, the restaurant would open for business.
Hearing her say this, Fu Yu felt relieved, and a smile gradually appeared on his lips.
The crabs in the steamer were plump with roe and tender with meat. Fu Yu took one, his gaze sweeping over her face as he deftly and skillfully picked it up.
A moment later, a plate of peeled crab meat was handed to her, with the roe and meat neatly arranged.
You Tong glanced at him in surprise, then looked at the intricate silver scissors and needles, and a smile appeared on her face. "Thank you for your trouble."
...
By the time the meal was finished, it was almost dusk.
You Tong ate to her heart's content, and Fu Yu also clearly enjoyed his meal, looking unusually relaxed.
Chuncao Yanbo had already gone back to eat, leaving the hall door open and only the two of them sitting opposite each other. Seeing that he showed no intention of leaving, You Tong brought up the old matter again, "General, your visit these past few days wasn't just for this meal, was it?"
To everyone's surprise, Fu Yu nodded calmly, "It's mainly for this meal."
You Tong was taken aback by his candor. She had come all this way for dinner and was momentarily speechless. Then she saw Fu Yu's lips move slightly as he said, "I need to go to the capital in a couple of days and also visit your father. Is there anything you would like me to pass on?"
“I haven’t relayed the message, but…” You Tong hesitated for a moment, then said, “I’d like to write a letter home and ask you to take it with you, would that be alright?”
That's perfectly fine.
On the table next to her, writing brushes and ink were ready. Fu Yu strolled over and sat opposite her, grinding ink and resting his mind, while You Tong slowly wrote a letter home.
After divorcing Fu Yu, she immediately wrote a letter home to Wei Sidao, explaining the reasons for the divorce. Fearing it would cause a rift between the two families, she took most of the blame upon herself. Wei Sidao naturally replied, angrily rebuking her for being unreasonable and lacking common sense. You Tong silently accepted this and wrote another letter home to explain. Because the two families lived far apart, she hadn't received a reply yet.
Since Fu Yu was going to the Wei family this time, she naturally had to try her best to dispel Wei Sidao's resentment. She racked her brains and praised the Fu family to the skies—for example, although they had divorced and left the mansion, Fu Deqing did not blame her at all and even tried to protect her; Fu Lanyin also often visited to support her; Fu Yu never complained or made things difficult for her, but instead showed tolerance and protection, and so on.
The letter was written in great detail; she would sometimes frown, sometimes bite the pen, and sometimes write furiously.
Fu Yu sat opposite her, his gaze sweeping over her.
After moving out of the mansion, her spirits and complexion seemed much better than before. No longer harboring any reservations or needing to hide her charms, she was like a fine painting of a beauty enhanced with vibrant colors, her graceful figure and captivating beauty adding to her allure. The pent-up resentment and surging emotions in her chest dissipated without a trace after she had eaten her fill and spoke with a smile.
If he hadn't known she would refuse outright, Fu Yu would have almost wanted to stay there and spend the night.
Outside, the moon moves and shadows shift; the night is serene.
After the time it takes for two incense sticks to burn, You Tong finally nodded in satisfaction and put the letter into an envelope.
Fu Yu then rose and paced to her side. The layout of the desk and window sill was similar to that of the side room in the south building. He frowned as he stared at her, leaning slightly closer, seemingly unaware of this excessive intimacy, and asked, "Since you've come all this way, should I bring you something?"
“No, no need.” You Tong refused.
Fu Yu frowned slightly, looking somewhat disappointed. "After all, we were husband and wife, not really at odds. Why are you so distant?"
That's not it.
After the divorce, neither of them remarried. They had no grudges against each other and were even grateful to each other. There was no need for them to stay together.
You Tong sat in the chair, watching his Adam's apple bob slightly, his eyes full of meaning. His shadow under the candlelight almost enveloped her. Knowing she couldn't afford to offend him, she picked up her pen again. "Then I won't be polite." With that, she quickly wrote a rather long list. Although Qizhou was prosperous, it was still not as well-connected as the capital. There were many things that were indeed more convenient to buy in the capital.
After the list was completed, it was presented with both hands. Fu Yu was quite satisfied, accepted it, and took his leave.
Upon reaching the gate, he mounted his horse. Seeing that You Tong seemed about to turn back, he called out and beckoned her to come closer.
The night was deep, the bright moon hung high in the sky, and the shadows of the trees swayed by the door. You Tong saw him sitting upright on his horse, as still and dignified as a deep pool and a majestic mountain, his expression serious, still the imposing deputy military envoy. She assumed he had important business to attend to and took two steps forward. Fu Yu rode up to her, leaned down and whispered in her ear, his breath falling on the tip of her ear, which was cool from the night breeze, and she felt a slight burning sensation.
The streets were deserted, but his deep voice pierced her ears clearly.
"Wait for me to come back."
Having said that, his lips brushed against her ear, intentionally or unintentionally, before he straightened up, spurred his horse, and galloped away.
You Tong stood there stunned, raised her hand to touch her burning ears, and after a moment, chuckled to herself, turned around and went back to the courtyard.
...
The day after Fu Yu returned to his residence, he reported everything that Wei Tianze had told him to Fu Deqing.
Hiding within the army, colluding with outsiders, leaking military affairs under Yongning's command, and even worse, deliberately instigating and framing military officers—such crimes are certainly not light. However, Wei Tianze has served in Qizhou for over ten years. Publicly, he has fought bravely against the enemy, achieving remarkable military exploits, and shedding blood for the people no less than Fu Hui and his comrades. Privately, he has saved the lives of Fu Yu and Fu Deqing. Even if he harbored ulterior motives, these are undeniable facts.
After pondering for a long time, Fu Deqing asked Fu Yu how he planned to handle the situation.
Fu Yu said in a deep voice, "Imprison them, but do not subject them to torture."
This punishment was far too lenient. Looking at his son, Fu Deqing was unsure whether Fu Yu was being sentimental or had other plans. So he left the matter aside for the time being, only instructing him to be careful after arriving in the capital.
Afterwards, Fu Yu quietly left the city with his confidants, while You Tong took a break from his busy schedule to stroll around the streets and enjoy the autumn scenery.
Without the servants who swarm around them, without the carriages with their golden saddles and jade saddles, they no longer had to bind their feet and stay cooped up in the mansion, strictly adhering to the rules.
By late September, the hot pot restaurant had successfully opened.
Chapter 83 An Encounter
Lijing Street is located on the east side of Qizhou City. It is a collection of all kinds of shops. To the east, there are shops selling rouge and face powder, gold and silver ornaments, silk and clothing, fur and jewelry. To the west, there are bookstores, antique shops, stationery shops, and paper shops. It is quite famous. Across the street, there are teahouses, restaurants, pastry and candied fruit shops, etc., where female shoppers stop to rest and young merchants pass by.
On this day, firecrackers were going off loudly in front of the two-story restaurant on the street corner, attracting many people to stop and watch.
Amidst the sound of firecrackers, a signboard wrapped in red silk was hung up, bearing the four characters "Kyoto Hot Pot".
A young and experienced shopkeeper stood at the door, dressed in brand-new clothes, instructing his staff to scatter some copper coins to create a lively atmosphere. Inside, a row of male and female staff, dressed neatly and cleanly, stood with their hands clasped and bowed. The window near the door was open, and on the table beside it sat a copper pot, surrounded by various vegetables and meat slices. The spicy broth inside was boiling, wafting an enticing aroma.
Besides these, there were also some delicate side dishes and pastries on the exquisite little porcelain plates—
Cold shredded chicken salad, cucumber salad, golden cake, silver thread rolls, and many more.
Lijing Street is bustling with pedestrians every day. A few days ago, when this restaurant was being renovated, it didn't close its doors. Passersby, seeing this as a novelty, inevitably inquired. The waiter generously told them it was a hot pot restaurant, even mentioning the opening date and inviting them to come and try it. There are people eating hot pot in Qizhou City, but this is the first restaurant to open in a place like Lijing Street, so it's understandable that people are curious.
Today was the opening day of the restaurant. You Tong had instructed Manager Xu to invite a few people to make a good impression. The restaurant looked clean and fresh, and some people took the lead in dipping the cooked meat in the sauce and tasting it. It looked quite delicious, so people went in for the novelty.
The men had been under You Tong's supervision and training for about ten days, and they were quite well-behaved.
The two-story attic had private rooms on the top floor. Female guests were led to the second floor by female waitresses, while male guests were accommodated on the ground floor. Only those who wanted a private room were invited to the top floor.
When Fu Lanyin arrived in the carriage, there were already quite a few people inside. She was pleased to see this and went inside with Fu Zhao.
When she went to You Tong's place earlier, she inquired about the opening date. She happened to run into the two Xu managers reporting something and remembered their faces. She hadn't had hot pot in a long time, and now that the restaurant was finally open, how could she not go and join the fun? Today, she used Fu Deqing's name to drag her younger brother out.
Upon entering, Xu Changqing saw that it was her and personally came to greet her.
Fu Lanyin, also wanting to lend a hand, stopped and asked with a smile, "Manager Xu, the restaurant is finally open. Are there any seats available upstairs?"
"Yes, yes, this way please." Manager Xu said with a smile.
Before leaving, Fu Zhao had been given a long lecture by his sister. Noticing that Fu Lanyin had secretly pinched his arm, he smiled and clasped his hands in greeting, saying, "Manager Xu, you're busy. We'll go upstairs ourselves." With that, he went upstairs quite familiarly and at ease.
Among the onlookers, those who wanted to find out more about the restaurant noticed that the two seemed familiar with the owner. Upon inquiring, they learned that they were the young master and daughter of the Fu family, and secretly stuck out their tongues.
The place was lively and exciting. In the small side room next to the kitchen, You Tong heard that Fu Lanyin had actually come to support them and shook her head with a smile.
With the restaurant opening, Manager Xu would handle the external affairs. She had only come today in case anything went wrong on the opening day, and had no intention of showing her face in public. Although it was common for divorced couples to remarry after marriage these days, people's views varied from dynasty to dynasty, regardless of whether the social climate was open or strict. For example, while women from high-ranking families in the capital could ride horses, hunt, and show their faces in public, Old Madam Fu of Qizhou did not allow her female relatives to go out freely, and she held a rather disdainful attitude towards families with lax discipline.
The Fu family holds a prestigious position in Qizhou, attracting countless eyes. Even if some people don't care about the divorce, there are always those narrow-minded individuals who, upon learning that the divorced young mistress of the Fu family has opened a hot pot restaurant, will gossip and spread rumors.
You Tong's foundation here is too shallow, and she has no intention of going to the forefront again, nor does she want to cause trouble for the Fu family. From the beginning, she has no intention of standing in the open.
Behind the kitchen, there was a secluded path, enough for her to travel by carriage and avoid unwanted visitors.
Therefore, when Fu Lanyin, fearing that her new shop opening would arouse jealousy, said she would personally come to support the business and intimidate others, You Tong advised her not to be ostentatious. In any case, the administration of Qizhou was clean and efficient, and her shop was not conspicuous among the luxurious restaurants on Lijing Street. If something really happened, there was the government office there. Within the mansion, there were strict rules and entangled in internal strife, and making a living outside the mansion was not necessarily an easy path. The choice she made that day was simply choosing the lesser of two evils.
To everyone's surprise, Fu Lanyin was so enthusiastic that she actually came to support the event in person.
You Tong was grateful but helpless, so she instructed the kitchen to send some of Fu Lanyin's favorite dishes. She then ordered Yanbo to personally serve her in the side room and keep track of the cooking time. After the next two days passed smoothly, she prepared many more of Fu Lanyin's favorite dishes and invited her to her residence to enjoy them.
...
In the days leading up to the opening of the hot pot restaurant, since the manager and staff were all novices, You Tong went there every day to oversee things and provide guidance behind the scenes.
After a while, seeing that everything outside was in good order and business was doing well, he finally felt relieved.
Everyone had been incredibly busy lately, and Du Shuangxi, who was in charge of the restaurant's kitchen, was especially exhausted. Seeing that the autumn breeze was pleasant that day, You Tong asked Aunt Xia to take her place for a day, leaving Chuncao and Yanbo to look after the restaurant. Then, she took Du Shuangxi, Yuzan, and Qiu Kui, accompanied by two burly guards, and went out of the city to relax.
It's late autumn, the weather is getting cooler, and after the Double Ninth Festival, not many people have left the city recently.
You Tong didn't venture into the crowd. Hearing that the maple leaves on the hillside of Qiuming Mountain in the south of the city were turning red, she took a car there.
In the crisp autumn air, the dew condenses, the sky is high and the scenery is clear. The river at the foot of Qiuming Mountain ripples gently, and the grass and trees sway gracefully. The water is so clear that you can see the bottom, reflecting the scenery all over the hillside—in the lush and verdant forest, the green pines stand tall and dark, the red maples gradually change color, interspersed with yellow locust trees and tall poplars. The canopies overlap and cover each other, and the colors are sometimes distinct and sometimes mixed together. The forest is dyed in layers, vying for beauty.
Looking out into the wind, the scenery is one that even the most skilled painters would find difficult to capture.
When You Tong married into the family last year, she only left the city once, when she went to Jinzhao Temple to offer incense. The couple rode in the same carriage, and because she was worried about Fu Yu, she hadn't been able to enjoy the scenery along the way.