Fu Yu had lived for twenty years and had seen noble ladies choose jewelry, silks, gold, silver, and jade, but he had never heard of anyone going to a vegetable stall or butcher shop to select ingredients—even someone as greedy as Fu Lanyin had never considered going into the kitchen, let alone a butcher shop. However, this was not a big deal; the people brought by Madam Wei were excellent cooks, and it was understandable that they were particular about ingredients.
He nodded and said, "As you wish."
Having said that, he took the cloak and draped it over his arm. Before leaving, he remembered something else: "Your father sent a message asking me to return to the capital during the New Year."
Without waiting for You Tong to ask any further questions, he strode away.
You Tong agreed, but he was already thinking about going out for a stroll, so he immediately ordered someone to prepare a carriage and horses and left the mansion through a side gate.
...
Qizhou City is very lively.
The last time You Tong went to the city, she was exhausted from the bumpy ride in the bridal sedan chair. Aside from hearing the chatter of the onlookers and smelling the aromas of food and wine wafting from the street, she hadn't been able to look outside once. This time, leaving the mansion in such a grand manner was like being let out for a stroll; everything was new and exciting. As the carriage slowly drove along the long street, she lifted the curtain, and the signs outside flashed by one by one—
Tea shops and taverns, wontons and snacks, pastries and candied fruits, gold and silver jewelry, the Four Treasures of the Study, weapons and kitchen knives...
After turning a few streets, the shops were filled with a dazzling array of goods, and all of them were doing good business.
It seems that the Fu family is well-governed. Although Qizhou is not as wealthy and prosperous as the capital, it is more prosperous than other prefectures along the way.
You Tong intended to make a living through recipes, so she paid special attention to restaurants and eateries. After looking around, she indeed didn't see a single hot pot restaurant.
After strolling around several long streets, I noticed the sun was starting to set, so I headed towards the east side of the city.
As they reached the street corner, a thumb-sized iron ball flew out of nowhere and struck the horse heavily on the neck. Startled, the horse let out a long, terrified neigh, its hooves flailing wildly as it veered off to the side. Had the coachman not been holding the reins, it would have nearly struck a bystander. The carriage veered off course, its wheels sinking into a nearby drainage ditch before crashing into a tree with a loud thud.
The wheels got stuck and couldn't be pulled, so the startled horse was held back by the driver's desperate efforts, and only then did it stop stomping wildly.
Unfortunately, You Tong was thrown off balance and fell in the carriage. If Chun Cao hadn't reacted quickly, she would have almost hit her head on the carriage wall.
Still shaken, he lifted the carriage curtain and saw the carriage stuck in a ditch, feeling utterly overwhelmed.
The coachman was terrified. Once the horse was calm, he quickly ran over to apologize, "Young Madam, please calm down. It was my slowness that startled you. Is there any problem? I'll go and fetch the doctor right away."
"No need, I'm not hurt." You Tong jumped off the carriage shaft and saw that the wheels were almost broken, so it was obviously impossible to move for a while. Looking around, she saw that the surrounding people were all watching the commotion after being frightened and moved aside. She couldn't help but frown and ask, "What happened? Did anyone get hurt?" Seeing that there were no fat unlucky people around, she secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
The coachman looked panicked. "It felt like something hit the horse's neck, but I didn't see it clearly."
"It's this!" a child shouted from the crowd, holding up an iron ball. "Here it is!"
The coachman hurriedly went to fetch it. You Tong examined the round iron ball but found nothing amiss, so she looked elsewhere.
In a weapons shop across the street, Fu Zhao, who was peeking around, quickly ducked behind the window when he saw her looking over. Just now, he and his companion were picking out iron pellets, and someone was throwing one to test their strength, but they accidentally hit the horse's neck. He was afraid the mad horse would hurt someone, and he was quite frightened just now, but fortunately, no one was hurt.
Although it was a minor incident, if You Tong caught him and brought him back to the manor, he would definitely get a beating from his second brother, so he subconsciously hid.
After squatting for a while, he asked his companion Qin Taoyu, "How is it?"
"We found someone to pull it out and fix it. That young mistress went to the restaurant next door for dinner. That place—" Qin Taoyu recognized the Fu family's carriage. Seeing Fu Zhao's evasive manner, as if afraid of being seen, he mocked mercilessly, "Who is that person that scared you like this?"
Fu Zhao ignored him, glancing at the restaurant across the street, and muttered to herself, "What's she doing out here?"
Because this second sister-in-law married into the family despite being infamous throughout the city, yet her behavior was not as bad as rumored, Fu Zhao hesitated for a moment, then, out of curiosity, decided to leave Qin Taoyu and the others behind and went out of the Weapon Ranking to enter that restaurant.
...
Even though it was just past noon, the restaurant was still bustling with business.
The tables and chairs on the first floor were almost full, and the few empty spaces were always crowded and noisy. To avoid suspicion, You Tong specially brought her maid Mu Xiang, who was already in the South Building to help with the arrangements, with her when she went out. Although Mu Xiang was of high status, she was used to the high-class manners of the Fu family and would never allow the young mistress to squeeze into such a place.
However, all the private rooms upstairs were occupied. The innkeeper recognized the Fu family's logo and personally went around to check on the place before coming over with a smile.
“There’s a private room upstairs, it’s very spacious, with two tables inside, one of which is empty. I’ll have someone put up a screen to surround it, and invite you, young mistress, to go there. It can seat thirty or forty people, and with the screen separating the seating, it’s just like a private room. The guests inside are also very friendly and won’t disturb each other.”
As they spoke, they invited him upstairs with a smile.
You Tong saw that the hand-shredded white chicken ordered downstairs looked delicious, so she nodded in agreement.
Author's Note: Fu Erge's true feelings: You still quite like this woman.
Brother Fu's rationality: No, you don't like it.
Chapter 20 Comrades
The private room the innkeeper had chosen was indeed spacious. Although its depth was no different from the others, its width was a full two zhang (approximately 6.6 meters). When You Tong entered, the waiter had already moved three colorful embroidered gauze screens for display to the middle, surrounding the round table near the door, leaving only a passageway along the wall.
Although a screen is not as soundproof as a wall, placing it in the middle is just as good as a small private room.
You Tong was quite satisfied. Because he felt that the brazier in the private room was too stuffy and the sun outside was too warm, he ordered the window to be opened for ventilation. Then he asked Chuncao and Muxiang, who were with him, to sit down as well.
At first, the two of them didn't dare to sit down, but You Tong said that the table was empty and useless, and she didn't need to serve her much, so they dared to sit down next to her.
The waiter brought over an antique wooden plate with two neat rows of small bamboo slats inside, each engraved with the name of a dish in elegant regular script.
You Tong immediately spotted the hand-shredded white chicken, picked it out, and then looked around again before choosing the ten-spice drunken ribs, stir-fried bamboo shoots, vinegared bean sprouts, pepper-flavored taro, and chicken soup with dried bean curd strips. She also ordered three bowls of fish cake soup, steamed sweet cheese, and two snacks: plum blossom-shaped pastries.
The waiter obeyed and went to do so, and soon the dishes were served one after another.
The hand-shredded white chicken at the restaurant was indeed delicious. The chicken was cooked to perfection, with a translucent skin and tender, delicate meat. It was topped with a strained chicken broth, mixed with a prepared sauce, and sprinkled with chopped scallions and chili peppers. The presentation was excellent, and the tangy and spicy flavor was very appetizing. The taro with chili peppers was a common dish, and the taro was cooked until soft and glutinous, which suited Chuncao's taste perfectly.
Mu Xiang, however, prefers light flavors and only eats bamboo shoots and bean sprouts.
When Chuncao saw this, she joked, "You're as skinny as a bean sprout, yet you only eat this. Try this shredded chicken and drunken ribs, they're delicious."
Mu Xiang laughed and retorted, "You're the one who looks like a bean sprout! You just like light and crisp flavors, what's it to you?"
Chuncao smiled and said, "I love all the dishes that the young mistress chooses, but I always find these bean sprouts bland and tasteless."
“It’s not necessarily just bland.” You Tong looked at the tempting shredded chicken and thought of a delicious dish. “I saw a dish called Mao Xue Wang in a cookbook before. It’s often served with bean sprouts underneath. That dish is spicy and fragrant. The bean sprouts inside are not oily or greasy, but they still have a fresh and spicy flavor. It’s the best dish to eat with rice.”
Whenever she tries to make a dish that is not commonly seen these days, she uses the recipe as a cover-up.
Chuncao had served Wei Youtong for many years. At first, she was full of doubts, wondering how her young lady, who only dealt with elegant things like music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, could handle a recipe. But now that she had done it many times, she had gotten used to it and asked curiously, "What is that? Like the hot pot we had last time, is it cooked with blood?"
As he spoke, his eyes were fixed on You Tong, looking very expectant.
—When You Tong made hot pot last time, she was terrified when she first saw the plate of bright red coagulated blood. But after cooking it and tasting it twice, she couldn't forget it. Hearing You Tong mention it now, she immediately became interested.
You Tong was pleased to see their greedy expressions, so she told them how to make it.
There are many ingredients that can be used in Mao Xue Wang (a Sichuan dish), but currently many ingredients are inconvenient to prepare, so she might not be able to enjoy them to her heart's content. Therefore, she could only mention a few ingredients that she could manage, such as ham and duck blood. Mentioning the indispensable tripe, You Tong also became eager, saying excitedly, "That stuff is also called honeycomb tripe; it's crisp and tender, and it's best made spicy—"
"Has this lady eaten tripe and honeycomb?"
Suddenly, someone behind the screen asked abruptly.
You Tong paused, then exchanged a glance with Chun Cao, unsure of what was going on. "Was that from behind the screen?"
"My name is Qin Jiu. Please forgive my intrusion, Madam." Behind the gauze screen, a man stood up and asked sparsely through the screen, "From what you just said, Madam, have you tasted tripe?"
You Tong glanced at it and was immediately curious.
Tripe is taken from the omasum of a cow. At this time of year, draft cattle were still considered valuable, and although they weren't strictly regulated, ordinary people were reluctant to slaughter them casually. Those who could afford to eat beef were either of some status or servants of high-ranking families, enjoying a privilege like eating some. If someone could occupy a private room for their meal, they were naturally of high status and wouldn't touch "filthy" things like tripe and offal.
Could it be that he's like her...?
The thought suddenly occurred to You Tong, who was startled.
But then they heard an explanation from the other side: "My master is a doctor, but he was too embarrassed to speak, so he asked me to inquire. In his younger days, my master traveled to various places to identify medicinal herbs and was fortunate enough to taste the flavor of tripe once. He has never forgotten it, but unfortunately, no one in Qizhou can make that flavor. Just now, I heard the lady mention it, and she seemed to be very familiar with it, so I couldn't help but ask. Please forgive me."
After saying this, he bowed as if he were behind a screen.
From this perspective, he appears to be a very courteous attendant.
You Tong was surprised. Since she didn't know the other party's background, she was cautious and only vaguely said, "I also saw it in the recipe."
Qin Jiu seemed disappointed, said "Excuse me" and sat back down.
You Tong continued eating, but her mind was still on the screen and she couldn't bring it back.
For the owner to remember the taste so fondly, the person who makes the tripe must be extremely skilled, well-versed in the craft, and possess the vision and courage to forge a new path. If she were to open a shop and attract customers in the future, Aunt Xia's skills might not be sufficient; having her as a helper would be a great asset.
While secretly plotting, he heard the soft rustling of the tables and chairs behind the screen and couldn't help but peek over.
Two men emerged from behind the screen. The one in front was in his early twenties, with a handsome face and elegant demeanor. He was clearly from a high-ranking family, wearing a jade crown and a wide belt, with a relaxed and open expression. He wore a white brocade robe embroidered with a crane, and a jade pendant hung at his waist. At first glance, he inexplicably reminded her of eight words—"refined and dignified, cheerful and elegant."
Following behind was indeed a servant dressed as a young man, about fifteen or sixteen years old, with an endearingly innocent smile.
Without the slightest hesitation, You Tong immediately stood up and said, "Young master, please wait. That tripe is so tender and delicious. I'll try to make some for you to try, how about that?"
A look of surprise and delight appeared in the man's eyes, and he immediately made a gesture towards his attendant Qin Jiu.
Qin Jiu then bowed and said, "My young master said that he would be very grateful to receive such a gift. Thank you, Madam!"
"Since we share the same interests, there's no need to be so polite. I wonder..."
"Oh. My young master's surname is Qin, and his given name is Liangyu." Qin Jiu knew the proper etiquette and did not rashly inquire about the other party's identity.
You Tong noted it down, then smiled and took her leave—they were strangers who had met by chance, and she didn't know Qin Liangyu's identity, nor could she reveal his background. Fortunately, the Fu family held a high position of power, and with some effort after returning home, she could surely find out his background. At that time, she could bring him delicious food as a gift, inquire about the past, and ask him to help find someone—that would be a perfectly reasonable approach.
While she was calculating, Mu Xiang muttered to herself, "Is this person mute?"
"Scent of wood!"
"This servant understands," Mu Xiang quickly explained. "His surname is Qin, he's a doctor, and he can't speak. Could he be the Second Young Master Qin?"
...
Outside the private room, after Qin Liangyu and her attendant left, Su Ruolan peeked out from the corner of the stairs.
"That person, isn't that Young Master Qin?"
"It's him!" said Jin Deng, a maid from Shou'an Hall, standing beside her. "He often comes to help the old lady take her pulse; I've seen him a few times."
"That's it. I've seen it a few times, but I wasn't sure." Su Ruolan looked at the private room and murmured, "How come Wei Youtong is with Young Master Qin? Hmph, he really is hard to change. Even in Qizhou, he can't stay still and is always trying to seduce people!"
Upon hearing this, Jin Deng stuck out his tongue and dared not utter a word.
The reputation of this Second Young Master Qin is known to everyone in Qizhou.
The Qin family was also a family of officials, of noble birth, and had produced many famous scholars and talented individuals. Although they did not hold as high a position or great power as the Fu family in Qizhou, their reputation and prestige were not much inferior. When the second young master of the Qin family was born, he could not even cry. The Qin family raised him with great anxiety for two days, and when they saw that he could not make a sound, they realized that he was born mute.
This matter greatly worried the elders of the Qin family. They asked around and sought medical help everywhere, but no one could cure the sore throat.
Later, a retired imperial physician returned to his hometown to retire. The Qin family invited him to stay and care for him, hoping he could cure the patient's throat. The physician couldn't cure the throat, but the second young master of the Qin family, having spent so much time with him, learned all his medical skills. Moreover, he was naturally intelligent and, in his youth, disliked the imperial examinations, choosing instead to study medical books, which he found fascinating.
The Qin family held onto a sliver of hope, thinking that he might be able to learn medicine and cure himself, and even invited many famous doctors to teach him.
By the time he was sixteen, the Second Young Master Qin's medical skills were almost on par with those of the old imperial physician. He would save many lives he encountered on the road who were seriously ill. Over the years, although he hadn't been able to cure his sore throat, he had earned a reputation that spread throughout Qizhou. Even noble ladies like Madam Fu would often politely ask him to take their pulses and treat their illnesses. When people mentioned him, they would respectfully call him "Second Young Master Qin" and rarely use his real name.
He was handsome and had a unique charm. He possessed the majestic stature of a jade mountain and the gentle breeze under a pine tree. As he walked, he captivated countless people.
However, he has not yet met someone he clicks with and is still unmarried.