Life of Country Folks in the City during the Song Dynasty

Chapter 19

Yang Hao didn't say another word, and his eyes revealed no emotion. However, whenever Gu Zao felt his gaze on her and looked at him, he would quickly look away, his face appearing somewhat distorted. Gu Zao sighed inwardly, and after she and Liu Zao got into the car, she closed her eyes and sat there, trying to clear her mind of all distractions.

The ferry crossing was located on a narrow section of the river, and it had been frozen for almost a day and a night. By the time Gu Zao and her group arrived, they saw that some impatient people had already crossed. A wooden plank was laid vertically on the ice, with long sleepers placed horizontally underneath, providing some cushioning even if it broke under the weight. Gu Zao had been away from home for almost two days and nights, and was anxious for her family's safety. She immediately got out of the carriage, ignoring Yang Hao's expression, and slowly crossed the ice herself. Only then did she stand on the other side and wave for Liu Zao and the others to come over one by one. Finally, even Yang Hao led his horse across the river. The driver, however, seemed afraid that the ice couldn't support his mules and carriage, and simply waited there, refusing to come over. There were carriages waiting to be rented at the foot inn by the river, so they hired one, and the group headed towards the capital. At noon, they finally entered the Fengqiu Gate in the north of the city, and the capital was finally reached.

The snow was falling heavily in the city, but the snow on the main roads had already been cleared thinner. Despite the cold weather, few shops on both sides of the street were closed. However, the people walking on the street hunched their necks and tucked their hands in, looking somewhat shivering.

Upon entering the capital, Gu Zao became restless in the carriage. Several times she thought of asking Yang Hao to stop the carriage and let her and Liu Zao return to Ma Xing Street, but when she saw his seemingly cold back through the gap in the curtain, she felt it was inappropriate to speak. After hesitating for about half an hour, she heard the coachman in front of the carriage stop the mule pulling the carriage, run over, lift the curtain, and smile at Gu Zao: "Young lady, this gentleman says you have arrived at your destination, so you can get off now."

Gu Zao hurriedly climbed out of the carriage and helped Liu Zao out. He saw that the north side of Ma Xing Street was right in front of him, with rows of Jin Zi Medical Officials' Pharmacy and small goods stores along the way. It was only a few steps away from his home. He wished he could sprout wings and fly there immediately. Just as he was about to take a step, he suddenly saw Yang Hao sitting on his horse, looking at him coldly and indifferently. His heart was suddenly pulled, and he felt a slight pain. After thinking for a moment, he took a few steps towards him, bowed, and solemnly thanked him again.

Yang Hao simply grunted, glanced over Gu Zao's head, tugged on the reins, and headed towards Zheng Gate. The coachman hurriedly spurred the mule cart to follow.

Gu Zao watched his figure gradually disappear before smiling at Liu Zao, then took her hand and headed towards her home. Before they even reached the door, they could see Fang Shi sitting on the threshold, looking around anxiously. Her face was red from the cold. When she saw Gu Zao, she paused for a moment, then jumped up and ran over in a few steps. Ignoring that they were still on the street, she grabbed Gu Zao's arm and twisted it wildly.

Gu Zao cried out in pain, and only then did Madam Fang release her, pulling her into the shop. She then scolded, "You little hussy, when did you become so bold? You ran off all by yourself without a word! If something had happened to you, your parents wouldn't know how to cook. This shop we rented at such a high price would have closed down before it even opened and gone to waste!"

Gu Zao saw that although she was still cursing, her eyes were already smiling. Gu Zao felt a pang of sadness for no reason, and tears started falling down her face. Fang Shi was so frightened that she hurriedly wiped them away, thinking that she had twisted her arm too hard and hurt her second sister. Little did she know what Gu Zao was thinking at that moment.

Gu Zao only shed a few tears, and after wiping them away, she felt a little clearer-headed. She then saw that her third sister had also rushed out after hearing the commotion and hugged her and Liu Zao, crying and laughing at the same time. She went to comfort her for a few moments and then learned that Qingwu was worried about her and had gone to find Madam Shen's family early in the morning to discuss going out of the city to find her.

Gu Zao felt a little guilty and hurriedly went to Ranyuan Bridge to call Qingwu back, but Fang Shi grabbed her and told her to rest. She took an umbrella to shield herself from the snow and happily went out. Gu Zao was afraid that she would be stingy and refuse to hire a carriage, so she walked instead. Normally it would be fine, but now that the wind and snow were so heavy, Gu Zao took out some money from her pocket and stuffed it into her hand to ask her to take a carriage. Seeing that she nodded in agreement, Gu Zao and her third sister Liu Zao went back to the house in the backyard to rest.

Episode 44: A Woman's Importance of Self-Reliance

The snow continued to fall for two more days, finally stopping the day before the Lantern Festival, and the sky cleared. However, the capital suddenly felt rather deserted, with thick, unswept snow everywhere, and the streets lacking their usual bustling activity. News spread of poor people freezing and starving to death, and that the government was distributing money and grain to the needy. Even the current emperor, it was said, ordered the cancellation of the planned Lantern Festival celebrations in the palace due to the snow disaster. Many wealthy and powerful families responded to the emperor's decree, setting up sheds in front of their homes to distribute rice and clothing.

Gu Zao originally planned to open the restaurant immediately after the Lantern Festival, but now it seems that even if it opened, there wouldn't be much business. He didn't care about delaying for a few more days, so he postponed it again, thinking that he would open the restaurant after the disaster was over and the capital was bustling with people.

Qingwu, however, had to go to Shoudaotang to start school after the Lantern Festival, so the signboard for this Chinese restaurant really became a problem. He needed to figure out what to write before he left. The family discussed it for another half day, but still couldn't come up with a solution. Gu Zao looked at Fang Shi and suddenly remembered something, casually laughing, "If all else fails, how about calling it Fang Tai Restaurant? Anyway, I've seen Ugly Granny's Pharmacy and Granny Peng's Soup Noodles on the street, haven't I? Why not use my mother's name for it? It's easy to pronounce, and if it's good, Mother will have a good reputation!"

Upon hearing that the shop name should be her own, and with the honorific "Tai" at the end, Fang had no reason to refuse. She immediately urged Qingwu to grind the ink. Seeing that Gu Zao was smiling and not joking, Qingwu indeed picked up the brush and wrote. In no time, four tall and vigorous characters were finished. Although Fang only recognized the first character "Fang" on the right side of the signboard, she still stood in front of the signboard, admiring it from left to right for a long time.

Ever since her eldest sister's visit on the second day of the Lunar New Year, Gu Zao had been thinking about going to see the place herself. She figured that once the restaurant reopened, she'd be even busier and wouldn't have time, so she figured she might as well take advantage of the few days she had free time to go and check it out. Knowing that Fang Shi doted on her eldest sister, she worried that if Fang Shi found out, she'd want to come along too, and if she saw anything inappropriate, it would be difficult to handle. She was quite anxious, but when she mentioned that she and her sister were going to visit her eldest sister, Fang Shi seemed a little absent-minded, only giving a few perfunctory replies, as if lost in thought. Seeing that she didn't mention wanting to go, Gu Zao breathed a sigh of relief and didn't think much of it. Remembering that Zhu'er and Chuan'er seemed to like the pastries when they last visited, she made some crystal cakes and stuffed pies, then carried them in a food box. She called her second sister, and the two of them took a carriage to the alleyway bridge where her eldest sister lived, and inquired about the butcher Fan's house. After turning a corner in the alley, we finally found an old house with a wooden upper floor, but the door was tightly closed, and the snow piled up in front of the door hadn't even been swept away.

Gu Zao's second sister trudged through the snow to the door and called out a few times. Then, with a soft cry, Zhu'er's head appeared. The child seemed to have just been crying. When she saw that it was Gu Zao and her second sister, she happily flew inside, repeatedly shouting, "Mother, Chuan'er, Second Aunt and Little Aunt are here!"

Gu Zao and her second sister entered the house and found it somewhat dark. A wheelbarrow was parked on the ground, and several large bamboo baskets were piled up beside it, along with a pile of knives and other tools used for butchering pigs and cutting meat. Chuan'er had already happily run out from the back room and was clinging to her second sister's leg. However, she couldn't find her eldest sister, and it seemed that her brother-in-law, Fan, was not home either. There was also a strong smell of medicine. After asking Zhu'er, she was told that her mother was sick and lying upstairs.

Gu Zao was startled and hurriedly climbed up the narrow stairs with her second sister. There was only one room upstairs, and they could see her eldest sister struggling to get up. In front of the bed was a small stove with a pot of medicinal soup bubbling on it.

Gu Zao hurriedly stepped forward and pressed her eldest sister back onto the bed. She sat down beside her and looked over by the light from the small window. She saw that her face was sallow and she was lying there weak and listless. Her chin was pointed and her face seemed to be even smaller than it had been ten days ago.

Gu Zao felt a pang of sadness, and the second sister couldn't hold back any longer, lying on her eldest sister's quilt as if wiping away tears.

Gu Zao asked, "Big sister, what happened to you? You look so much worse than you have in just a few days!"

Before Sister Gu could speak, she coughed for a while. After she finally calmed down, her face was flushed. She forced a smile and said, "I just caught a chill a few days ago. I was in bed for a few days and took some medicine and I'm fine now."

"Big sister, where's brother-in-law? There's such a thick pile of snow in front of your house, why didn't you sweep it away?" the second sister interjected.

When Sister Gu heard that her husband had been mentioned, her face turned even uglier, and she remained silent.

Gu Zao glanced at Zhu'er and Chuan'er, who had followed her upstairs and were standing blankly to one side, and told her second sister to take them downstairs to eat pastries. She then noticed that the medicinal soup in the clay pot was overflowing, hissing in the fire, so she took a bowl, poured out the liquid, and fed it to her eldest sister slowly. After putting the bowl down, she looked at her and said, "Eldest sister, what exactly happened between you and my brother-in-law Fan? Are you still trying to hide it from me?"

Sister Gu stared blankly at the old, worn-out, dark green floral and bird patterned quilt she was covering herself with, speechless for a long time, but tears slowly rolled down her cheeks.

Gu Zao sighed, placed her hand on hers, and said softly, "We're sisters, what's there to hide or be afraid to say? If you tell me, even if I can't help you much, you'll feel better."

Sister Gu's tears flowed even more fiercely, and it took her a long time to finally speak, albeit haltingly.

It turned out that Butcher Fan and Sister Gu had moved to Tokyo and settled down there, resuming their old trade. For the first two years, they were diligent, getting up early every day to buy meat from the pig slaughterhouse near Nanxun Gate. Although it was hard work, their lives gradually improved. However, unexpectedly, after Butcher Fan had some money, he became infatuated with the countless young women in the brothel. He also resented Sister Gu for not having given birth to a son, so he became increasingly unfaithful. Sister Gu tried to persuade him several times, but seeing that he ignored her, she had no choice but to give up, hoping that her husband would eventually come to his senses. But last year, he actually fell in love with a prostitute in Xiji Lane and started an affair with her. He would leave early and return late every day, even neglecting his meat stall. In the end, he even said he wanted to take the prostitute as a concubine. After Sister Gu said a few words to him, he simply took the family's money, rented a house far away, and went off to enjoy himself with the young woman. Poor Sister Gu went to the butcher's house several times, but he either avoided her or verbally abused her, even threatening to divorce her. Sister Gu was ridiculed by the butcher's wife, and had no choice but to swallow her anger and return home. She took her two daughters with her and went to the slaughterhouse at dawn every day to buy meat and tend her stall. The neighbors all knew about her family's situation and, out of pity for her difficult life as a woman, they patronized her stall to some extent, which allowed her to barely make ends meet. However, at the end of the year, Sister Gu thought that her two daughters missed their father and hoped that her husband would return for the New Year, so she went to the butcher's house again, only to find it empty. She asked the neighbors and learned that the couple had moved away long ago. Sister Gu was devastated. She spent New Year's Eve in tears, hiding her two daughters from them. She only made it to the second day of the New Year to visit her parents, and upon returning, she fell ill.

By the end, the eldest sister was in tears, and even a large part of the quilt cover was soaked.

Gu Zao was already furious, wishing she could drag Butcher Fan over immediately to make a decision. However, he had already disappeared. After thinking for a moment, she finally said, "Elder sister, Mother said that when you married a few years ago, the family was doing well, and you should have had some dowry. Wasn't it all in your name? Since that man doesn't care about the bond between husband and wife, why are you still tolerating him? Just get a divorce. Take your own things and raise your daughter. If you meet a suitable person in the future, you can remarry. Why hang yourself on that crooked tree?"

Upon hearing this, the eldest sister lowered her head, her face filled with shame: "In the seven or eight years I've been married to him, I've sold off most of my dowry, and used up most of it. Now, there's not a single penny left..."

Gu Zao sighed. Knowing things had come to this, there was no point in saying anything more; it would only cause her eldest sister more grief and regret. After offering a few more words of comfort, she went downstairs and asked the older girl, Ling'er. She learned that her eldest sister was reluctant to spend money on good medicine, only taking five-qian doses. Her illness had dragged on for over ten days without improvement. Although it was a psychological ailment, there was a reason for it as well. But how could such cheap medicine be effective? Gu Zao then asked her second sister to stay and look after her while she went outside to find a respectable pharmacy. She paid the doctor's fee and had him come to examine her. She then went to the pharmacy to get some good medicine, brewed it, and gave it to her eldest sister. Seeing that her sister had fallen into a deep sleep again, she finally breathed a sigh of relief.

It was already quite dark by then, so Gu Zao told her second sister to take Ling'er and Chuan'er back to Ma Xing Street, while she stayed behind to continue looking after her eldest sister. The next day, after taking the medicine, Gu's eldest sister not only poured out the things that had been weighing on her mind for so long, but also learned that her family had moved to Ma Xing Street and rented a shop to open a restaurant. With Gu Zao constantly giving her earnest advice, her mood gradually improved, and she appeared much more energetic.

Seeing that her older sister was feeling a little better, Gu Zao was eager to get some pork to sell. She asked around and learned that there were already at least ten meat stalls of all sizes in the market, barely making ends meet each day. After thinking for a moment, she asked, "Sister, have you ever thought about switching to selling boiled or cooked food?"

The older sister was taken aback, then stammered, "There are one or two in the market..."

Gu Zao said, "Since there are already about ten meat vendors, and your business is barely enough to make ends meet, why not try switching to cooked food? I think it would be more profitable. Besides, with cooked food, you won't have to get up in the middle of the night every day to haul a whole cart of meat; you can just have your acquaintances deliver the meat to your home a day in advance. If it works out, that's great; if it doesn't, you can always go back to your original trade, and there won't be much of a loss. As for that guy surnamed Fan, from now on, just consider him dead and don't have any more thoughts about him. You should know that women also need to be self-reliant."

The eldest sister said bitterly, "Now that things have come to this, I really wish he would come back and divorce me!" After thinking for a moment, she shook her head and said, "Your idea sounds good, but I'm not a very good cook, and I'm afraid the guests won't like it..."

Gu Zao smiled and said, "Don't worry about that. I will teach you. Although I can't guarantee that everyone will say it's good, it's still feasible if seven or eight out of ten people say it's good. It doesn't matter if the restaurant at home opens a few days later."

Seeing Gu Zao's certainty, the eldest sister was already tempted. Feeling that her illness was completely cured, she jumped out of bed and immediately started preparing to take action. Gu Zao managed to persuade her to rest for another day, so she reluctantly went back to sleep.

Yesterday, my second sister took Zhu'er and Chuan'er back home and couldn't help but mention my eldest sister's situation to Madam Fang. Madam Fang then learned from her two granddaughters that she hadn't seen her father for over half a year. She was furious on the spot. Finally, the next day arrived, and she rushed to my eldest sister's house early in the morning. She found my eldest sister lying in bed, whispering to Gu Zao beside her. Although she still looked a little weak, her complexion was not bad. She was stunned for a moment, then stepped forward and pointed at my eldest sister, cursing: "You useless thing! I gave so much dowry to that butcher for my good daughter, and he didn't even help me out. How did I end up in such a shameful state? You always said it was fine when I asked you, but you were just lying to me! Get up and take me to that harlot's place. If I don't smash her house to pieces with a stick, I'm not your mother!"

Sister Gu's sorrows had already faded after Gu Zao had told them, but now, being pointed at and scolded by Madam Fang, her eyes reddened and she was about to shed tears again.

Gu Zao hurriedly got up, pressed down Fang's finger, and said that the man and the prostitute had run away and could not be found. Fang stomped her foot heavily and scolded her elder sister for a while before Gu Zao persuaded her to stop. Gu Zao also said that she would stay here with her elder sister for a few more days, and Fang left helplessly.

The eldest sister, scolded by Fang, was a strong-willed woman and couldn't stay still. She immediately got up and wanted to start working with Gu Zao on the things they had discussed. Gu Zao saw that she was indeed anxious and understood, so she didn't stop her. Together, they went out to buy several stoves, pots, and the necessary seasonings. Since it was a trial run, they decided to only make a few dishes, such as braised pig's head, stewed pig's trotters, braised intestines, and spiced pork belly, to sell. The quantity was not large, so they went to a familiar butcher stall to order the goods for the next morning before returning home, which was already evening.

The next day, the butcher delivered the goods before dawn, and Gu Zao also taught her second sister how to make the cooked food early in the morning. The braised pig's head was prepared again according to the method her eldest sister had used when she returned home last time. Once it was fully cooked, it was cut into small pieces according to the customer's request and ready to be sold. The braised intestines were cleaned by rubbing them with flour, vinegar, and salt, then tied at one end and boiled in water with peppercorns and star anise until they were 90% cooked. They were then drained and simmered in a fresh broth until tender. Several pig's trotters were also taken, the claws removed, and after being boiled in plain water, they were simmered in a soup with wine, soy sauce, dried tangerine peel, red dates, and dried shrimp cooked in another pot until tender. Before serving, they were garnished with scallions and peppercorns. The five-spice tripe was made by braising the whole tripe with soy sauce, rice wine, shredded orange peel, peppercorns, and star anise. By the time everything was done, the eldest sister's house was filled with a wonderful aroma.

Seeing that it was almost noon, Gu Zao and her older sister carried several small, lit stoves onto the cart that her family usually used to transport meat. The cart had already been washed and cleaned. They then placed the large pots, along with the broth, on the stoves and covered them. Only then did the two of them push the cart, which included a cutting board, slicing knife, scales, and a stack of dried lotus leaves, toward the market where Gu's older sister sold meat every day.

Chapter 45 Restaurant Opening

Today is the first day after the Lantern Festival. Although this year's Lantern Festival lacks the lively lantern displays of previous years, many lanterns can still be seen hanging in front of every household along the way. Apart from the snow still piled up on the rooftops and walls of the houses, most of the snow on the streets has been cleared, and there are many people again.

Sister Gu's house wasn't far from the market. The two of them set up their goods at her stall, lifted the pot lids, and the enticing aroma of the steaming braised food underneath attracted many people. Some bought a piece of pig's head, others a trotter. Sister Gu weighed the food, and Gu quickly helped wrap it in lotus leaves. Before dusk, the food in the pots was sold out.

The eldest sister was delighted with her initial success, but still worried about doing it alone, so she asked Gu Zao to help for a couple more days. Gu Zao readily agreed with a smile. That night, the two locked the door and lay down to sleep. The eldest sister seemed to be in a good mood, but Gu Zao still had something on her mind. After thinking for a long time, she said to her sister, "Elder sister, if that guy surnamed Fan doesn't come back, you'll have some peace and quiet; but what if he comes back one day and causes trouble?"

Sister Gu paused, her smile fading. Gu Zao knew she hadn't thought of that much yet, so she said, "Sister, don't worry too much. I'm just giving you a heads-up. Although it's rare for women to initiate divorce these days, if the husband is too outrageous, you can't just let him bully you. I'm thinking you should ask someone to write a statement, have the neighbors witness it, and attach your dowry list to the government office. Say that since you married into the Fan family, you've served your parents-in-law to old age, and used all your personal wealth to supplement the household expenses, without any immoral behavior. It's just that your husband was seduced by a prostitute and abandoned his family and daughter, completely disregarding their lives. You're not suing your husband, but just asking the government office to register the case to prevent him from being instigated by that prostitute to cause trouble again. That way, if something really happens in the future, you'll be in the right when you go to the government office."

The older sister's eyes lit up upon hearing this, but she hesitated and said, "That sounds good, but will it really work if we just hand it in like this?"

Gu Zao laughed and said, "I was just saying that. I don't think that guy surnamed Fan will be back anytime soon. These days, the clerks in the government offices may not have any official rank or position, but they all have connections. I'll keep an eye out for any connections I can make. If I do, I'll ask the clerk for some favors and ask him to put in a good word for me. I think that should solve the problem."

Sister Gu finally smiled and kept thanking him. Gu Zao laughed and said, "What are you thanking me for? I didn't do anything. I just gave you an idea."

Sister Gu looked at Gu Zao for a while, then sighed and said, "Second Sister, you are completely different from before. But you are not young anymore. Although most men are unreliable, I am a good example. It's not good for you to keep drifting like this. I just hope that one day you will meet a suitable man, get married and live a good life. That would truly be a blessing from heaven."

Gu Zao's heart skipped a beat, and the image of that person's eyes flashed before her eyes. She then shook her head and laughed, "Eldest sister, if even someone as good-looking and virtuous as you can't be trusted, what can I expect from you? It's better to live a good life yourself so that Third Sister and Qingwu can have someone to rely on in the future. That's the right thing to do."

Although Sister Gu nodded, there was still a hint of regret on her face. Gu Zao just smiled, blew out the lamp, and the two went to bed without saying anything more.

Gu Zao helped her older sister for two more days. Seeing that business was indeed good and her sister was working much easier than before, she said she had to go back. Before leaving, she suddenly remembered the method she had tried to extract flavor from seaweed and taught it to her sister, laughing, "It's just a simple method. I found it too troublesome and didn't use it much. But the brown stuff that comes out, after you've cooked the braised dishes, sprinkle a little into the soup, and the taste will definitely be different from before. You can try it if you have time."

Sister Gu made a note of it, then escorted Gu Zao back to her home on Ma Xing Street, picked up her two daughters, and reluctantly left.

Gu Zao returned to the shop and saw that the street was bustling with people again. She thought she would set off firecrackers and hang up the signboard in the next couple of days to celebrate the grand opening. However, she noticed that Fang Shi's expression was a bit strange, and she seemed to be avoiding her when she saw her. Gu Zao couldn't help but feel puzzled. While Fang Shi was hiding in her room, Gu Zao asked her third sister and Liu Zao, and what she found was both funny and annoying.

A few days ago, due to the severe snow disaster, the government issued a notice to appease the victims, stating that poor families and orphans in the capital could receive relief money and grain from the Yuanfeng Granary in the capital, provided their local headman provided a certificate. According to regulations, a family of ten would receive two strings of cash and one shi of rice, while a family of five or less would receive one string of cash and five dou of rice. Most people in the capital valued their reputation and considered it shameful; few families that were even slightly well-off would go there to collect relief money and grain. However, that Fang woman had a crooked idea. No one knows how she did it, but she somehow obtained a slip of paper from the headman of the former Ranyuan Bridge area. Yesterday, dressed in tattered clothes, she actually went to the Yuanfeng Granary and squeezed among the disaster victims to collect supplies. She had already received the one string of cash and five dou of rice when suddenly one of the disaster victims recognized her and exposed her, saying that her family had just moved to Ma Xing Street to open a shop, and now she was fraudulently collecting money and grain.

Fang was exposed on the spot. Not only was her rice money confiscated, but the military officer in charge of distributing it also had her flogged and displayed in public. Fortunately, a few lower-ranking military officers there recognized her and pleaded for her, so the flogging was changed to a fine of the same amount of money and grain. Fang herself was detained and couldn't move. Helpless, she asked someone to go home and call her third sister. After being fined one string of cash and five dou of rice, she was finally released.

Fang's attempt to steal a chicken backfired, and she felt too ashamed to face anyone. When she returned, she hid in her room and refused to come out. Afraid that Gu Zao would find out and scold her, she repeatedly told her second sister and Liu Zao not to tell anyone. But the two of them couldn't bear it, and as soon as Gu Zao asked, they told her everything.

Gu Zao was both amused and annoyed. No wonder she had been so distracted when he mentioned going to his elder sister's house a few days ago; she must have been preoccupied with that matter. He went to Fang's room and found her sitting on the bed, avoiding eye contact. Gu Zao sighed and couldn't help but scold her a few times. Fang lowered her head, her face showing shame, and simply let him talk without arguing back. Gu Zao's heart softened, and he only said, "Never again be so greedy for small gains; you'll ruin your reputation," before letting it go. The family then began preparing for the opening the next day.

The next morning, amidst a string of crackling firecrackers, the red cloth covering the large signboard was torn down, and "Fangtai Restaurant" officially opened for business. Because the restaurant was small and there was a lot of foot traffic nearby, Gu Zao had already decided on a plan: besides stir-frying dishes, he would operate it in the same way as his old fast-food restaurant. All the dishes were pre-cooked and kept warm in rows of shallow earthenware pots on small stoves with gentle fires. Prices were clearly marked according to the number of servings. Rice was cooked in large wooden barrels, and it only cost one coin per person to fill one's stomach. There was also a bucket of soup available for self-service.

Gu had heard that when the Baifanlou restaurant in the capital opened last year, it rewarded the first customers with a small gold plaque every day, stopping after a night or two. Her family's small restaurant didn't have that kind of luxury, so like the Zhouqiao noodle stall last year, they put up a sign offering discounts for the first three days to attract customers. Fang Shi, her second sister, and Liu Zao were all dressed up and ready for customers to arrive. Even Madam Shen came over, saying she'd help out on the first day.

Before lunchtime, enticing aromas wafted from the entrance of Fangtai Restaurant. Gu Zao's discount sign had an immediate effect, and the restaurant's tables were soon packed.

Gu Zao's restaurant mainly serves home-style dishes that go well with rice. However, despite the word "home-style," each dish is cooked neatly and meticulously, giving it a touch of refinement. In several rows of pots, steaming hot meat dishes include chicken breast and radish balls, fried shredded eggs, crystal pork, braised pork intestines, braised five-spice pork belly, and braised dried fish. Vegetarian dishes include seasonal dishes such as braised bamboo shoots, ginger and vinegar cabbage, pine nut tofu, wood ear mushrooms and bean sprouts, five-spice celery, and taro stewed with cabbage. There are also pastries such as fried rolls and eggplant cakes, as well as various mixed vegetables, shrimp and bean curd skin stew, bamboo shoot stuffed with pork, and pickled radishes. The dishes look very appetizing. The two pots at the front are the main dishes for the opening day: one is steamed chicken with mushrooms, and the other is braised fish slices.

Steamed chicken with shiitake mushrooms is made by cutting a young chicken weighing less than two pounds (approximately 1 kg) into small pieces. A jar of aged Shaoxing wine is used, with a layer of chicken, a layer of soaked shiitake mushrooms, another layer of chicken, and another layer of mushrooms, and so on. Finally, a few slices of salted ham are placed on top. The chicken is not blanched; instead, Shaoxing wine is poured in until the jar is half full. The jar is then placed on a clay pot and steamed over high heat for half an hour. When the time is up, it is removed from the steamer and opened. There is no smell of wine, only a rich aroma. A bite reveals chicken infused with the fragrance of shiitake mushrooms, and mushrooms fully absorbing the savory flavor of the chicken—a delicately flavorful and refreshing dish, a true delicacy. Braised fish fillets are made by deboning fresh fish and slicing it into thin, even pieces. The fillets are then coated in a cornstarch and egg white batter, dipped in warm oil, and then simmered in a mixture of fermented bean curd oil and stock that Gu Zao had made years ago. Ginger juice, salt, and sugar are added, followed by the fish fillets, thickened with a cornstarch slurry, and drizzled with oil to make the sauce glossy. Finally, a few pieces of wood ear mushrooms are added. The fish fillets are white and smooth, the wood ear mushrooms are dark and sweet, the broth is crystal clear, and the fermented bean curd oil removes the fishy smell while enhancing the freshness—truly a dish that excels in color, aroma, and taste. These two dishes were Gu Zao's favorite home-style dishes, and now that he had cooked them, he was naturally very skilled. They were quickly devoured by the many diners.

Because the food was all ready-made, customers didn't have to wait. They could simply pick out their favorite dishes, put them on small plates, and take them to the table to eat. Over the course of a lunch break, countless groups of people came and went. In just over an hour, almost all the dishes cooked in the morning were sold out, and the rice in the large buckets was completely emptied. Every customer who ate there said that Fangtai Restaurant was delicious, convenient, and reasonably priced.

Fang was initially a little embarrassed, afraid of being recognized, but seeing the booming business, she was busy clearing away dishes and washing up. Before long, she had completely forgotten about the embarrassing incident from the previous two days. Even with Madam Shen coming to help, Gu Zao, the second sister, and Liu Zao were all so busy they could hardly breathe. It wasn't until the last customer left, burping contentedly, that the group finally sat down to catch their breath, all with smiles on their faces.

Seeing that business was good, Gu Zao was also pleased. He was helping to tidy up the tables when he suddenly noticed a servant dressed as a waiter peeking in at the entrance of his shop. Upon closer inspection, he recognized him as San Kuan, who was next to Master Yang.

Chapter Forty-Six: Flower Soap, Xiu Niang

Although San Dun was a stranger, Gu Zao was afraid that if her family saw her and questioned her, it would be troublesome. She turned around and saw that Fang Shi and the others were busy tidying up. After thinking for a moment, she went out of the shop and walked to the side. When she saw San Dun following her, she turned around and asked in a friendly tone, "Did you come here for something?"

The three men, their faces beaming with smiles, suddenly produced a large red lacquered tin box painted with peonies from behind their backs as if by magic. They chuckled and said, “My second master heard Zhenxin mention before the New Year that you praised the floral soaps you used when you stayed at the old lady's residence for her birthday banquet. Those soaps are from a renowned old brand in the capital, made with mugwort, citrus blossoms, and imported fragrant milk, and supplied to the imperial palace. They're rarely seen in shops outside. My second master specially ordered them from that workshop, and they were just made these past two days. So I brought them over to you?”

Gu Zao was reminded by San Dun's words that she remembered the two nights she stayed at the Grand Commandant's mansion last time. She had thought the floral soap she used was quite nice—the lather was fine, the scent was delicate and fragrant, and it left her skin feeling smooth. She had casually asked Zhen Xin about it, and Zhen Xin said that the madam had specifically instructed her to get it from the mansion's treasury for her. Later, she had gone to the spice shop to buy the same one, but couldn't find it. She thought it was just a thing of the past and had completely forgotten about it. Now, a large box had suddenly appeared in front of her. She stared at the box in surprise, and finally shook her head, saying, "You should take it back. I don't like this smell anymore."

Seeing that Gu Zao wouldn't accept it, San Dun stamped her foot and exclaimed, "Oh dear, I was wondering why you and Second Master are both so indecisive. It's enough to make my teeth ache. One of you is leaving today but still rushed me here to bring you this flower soap, and the other of you said you didn't want it even when it was delivered to you. I'm telling you, please don't make things difficult for me, your servant. Even if you gave me the greatest courage in the world, I wouldn't dare to take it back to my Second Master. Second Sister Gu, please have pity on me and accept it. I'm in a hurry to leave the city to catch up with my Second Master."

Gu Zao was stunned for a moment, then blurted out, "Is he leaving?"

Sanzu glanced at her, shook his head and sighed, "That's right, the young master of the manor is getting married next month, but the second master can't even wait that long and is already leaving. I guess he won't be back for several more months. What kind of situation is this? Why not stay in the capital? Why go to that place at sea to be exposed to the wind and rain? I'm the poor servant here. Wherever the second master goes, I have to follow him..."

San Dun was still rambling on and on about his troubles, but Gu Zao was somewhat dazed and didn't really listen to what he was saying. But then she saw San Dun finish his sigh, suddenly slap his head, and mutter, "If you're late, you'll get the worst food!" He then shoved the box into her hands without a word.

Gu Zao felt his hand sink, and exclaimed in surprise. He tried to hand the box back, but the three squatting figures had already run away like monkeys, their feet barely touching the ground.

Gu Zao glanced at what she was holding and had no choice but to try to smuggle it back, hoping to hide it when Fang Shi wasn't looking. But as soon as she stepped into the shop, Fang Shi, with her sharp eyes, spotted what was behind her, grabbed it, and opened the lid without a word, only to be greeted by a strong floral fragrance.

Seeing the exquisite box and noticing the neatly arranged pieces wrapped in oiled paper inside, Fang picked up a piece, sniffed it, and said, "It smells strange. Is it some kind of new pastry?" She then tore open a piece of oiled paper and saw that the pale yellow surface of the pastry had a flower pattern embossed on it. She shook her head and said, "It looks quite delicate, but why is it so hard? This pastry is very strange."

Seeing that she was about to put the soap to her mouth, Gu Zao quickly stepped forward to stop her. Liu Zao, who was standing next to her, was already bending over with laughter and said, "Madam, this is soap for washing your face. Although it is exquisitely made, it is not edible." It turned out that Liu Zao had been calling Fang Shi "Madam" ever since she saw that Fang Shi liked it.

Fang then sheepishly put it back and looked at Gu Zao, asking, "Second Sister, where did you get this box of fragrant soap?"

Gu Zao made up a story: "I ordered it from a spice shop, and the shop assistant just delivered it."

Fang asked suspiciously, "Such exquisite items must be quite expensive, and a whole box of them must cost at least several tens of dollars. How much did you spend?"

Gu Zao stepped forward and put the box away, then smiled and said, "I originally thought it looked nice, so I had it made without even asking the price. Now that you've reminded me, I'll put it away for now and see if I can return it when I have time."

Fang glanced at her and shook her head, saying, "It's already been delivered, why would you return it? You and Third Sister are both young and beautiful, it's not good to be surrounded by cooking fumes all day long and end up smelling like that."

Gu Zao hadn't expected her to say that. He glanced at it, then silently put it aside and went to tidy up the shop with his third sister and the others. Once everything was in order, he took the box inside and placed it together with the old bottle of rose water.

The Lunar New Year had passed in the blink of an eye, and Fangtai Restaurant, which had only been open for a short time, was thriving day by day. At mealtimes, it was packed with customers, and many even bought food to take away. These were mostly residents from nearby streets or shop owners on the same street. Some found it troublesome to start their own fires, and seeing the restaurant's reasonable prices and good food, they naturally chose to eat there for convenience. For those who hadn't brought their own bowls and plates, Gu Zao would arrange for them to take some and return them later. Fang Shi noticed this a few times and began to grumble, worried that they might be taken and not returned. Gu Zao smiled and said, "Mother, even the big restaurants in the city let people take their food home to entertain guests and make a good impression. Are you worried that my humble porcelain bowls and plates will be lacking?" Fang Shi was speechless. She observed for a few days and, seeing that few people indeed took bowls and plates without returning them, finally felt relieved.