The hand-pulled noodles were chewy and springy, topped with braised pork offal. The rich aroma filled the entire courtyard.
Qiao Mianmian held her bowl, taking a bite of noodles followed by a bite of pickled vegetables. The sour and spicy pickles perfectly cut through the greasiness. “Fourth Sister, eat more.”
“Mhm, I’m going to eat two bowls today!” Lin Xiahe said, her mouth glistening with oil. No one in the family brought up Yuan Qiang anymore—they all carried on as usual.
After the meal, Qiao Mianmian continued braising pork offal. Lin Xiahe helped sweep the courtyard. When she saw Wu Ermao arrive, she called out, “Wu Ermao, are you looking for my brothers?”
“No,” Wu Ermao replied. “My mother said that while I was away, our neighbors took good care of her. I’m here to deliver some cured meat to everyone. Also, in three days, my mother is hosting a meal for everyone.”
He placed the cured meat on the table.
Lin Xiahe had already heard that Wu Ermao had become a centurion. “Congratulations, Brother Ermao. I’ll let my mother know.”
They had grown up in the same alley and had known each other since childhood. Wu Ermao looked strong and tanned, but he didn’t talk much. When they were younger, Lin Xiahe had even dragged him along to fight others. But as she grew older, her mother told her to behave more like a proper young lady, and she gradually stopped playing with the boys in the alley.
“You should come too,” Wu Ermao said, scratching his head before leaving.
Lin Xiahe carried the cured meat into the kitchen, where her mother and grandmother were. She told them about the Wu family’s banquet.
Lin Shi sighed, “Ermao has really made something of himself. Being a centurion is impressive—even better than his father. Back then, when he insisted on joining the army, no amount of crying from his mother could stop him. It’s a blessing that he returned safely.”
For ordinary people like them, becoming a centurion was already a great achievement. That was why Lin Shi had once been so hopeful about Yuan Qiang becoming her son-in-law.
Zhang Shi told Lin Shi to prepare a red envelope. “You and Mancang can go to the banquet. There are too many of us to all attend.”
Lin Shi nodded and continued preparing the braised dishes. “Mianmian, Xiahe, go rest. There’s nothing much left to do in the kitchen.”
Lin Xiahe shook her head. “I’m not tired. I didn’t do much today. Mianmian, you should go wash up first.”
Qiao Mianmian was indeed tired. These past few days, she had been constantly braising and selling pork offal, working all day long. As soon as she lay down at night, she fell asleep. “Alright, I’ll go wash my face first.”
There was no soap at home, only plain water. Lin Shi saved money wherever she could. As Qiao Mianmian washed her face, she splashed a bit more water, thinking she needed to earn more money—otherwise, life would remain too tight.
Over the next three days, life in the Qiao household continued as usual. The neighbors avoided mentioning Yuan Qiang in front of Lin Xiahe.
On the day of the Wu family’s banquet, Qiao Mancang went early to help slaughter pigs, while Lin Shi helped wash dishes and chop vegetables. With two fewer workers at home, Qiao Mianmian didn’t set up her stall and only prepared the order for Chunxi Restaurant.
She and her elder brother delivered the braised pork offal to Chunxi Restaurant and took the opportunity to introduce braised vegetables and braised pig head meat.
“Some people don’t eat pork offal, especially those who dine in restaurants—they usually have more money than people eating at street stalls. Try this braised pig head meat and pig trotters. They’re prepared the same way, just with different textures,” Qiao Mianmian enthusiastically promoted her products. “If you like them, you can try selling them too.”
Since they were prepared using the same braising method, the flavors were similar. Manager Sun tried a piece of braised pig head meat—it was rich but not greasy, fragrant with a slight spiciness. When dipped in Qiao Mianmian’s special sauce, it became tangy and appetizing, perfect as a drinking dish.
“No need to test it. I trust your cooking,” Manager Sun said. Having worked at Chunxi Restaurant for many years, he knew that a restaurant needed signature dishes as well as new offerings. “We’ll take forty portions of pig head meat. As for pig trotters, let’s start with four per day. The weather is hot, and food doesn’t keep well. If they sell well, we’ll increase the amount.”
Each portion of pig head meat was sold by Qiao Mianmian for forty-five wen, and each pig trotter for eighty wen. In half a month, the net profit could reach eighteen taels of silver—about the same as selling braised pork offal.
Calculating it, just supplying Chunxi Restaurant with braised dishes could earn over seventy taels a month, not including her own stall. But she had also calculated the restaurant’s profit—it was much higher than hers. That made her even more determined to open her own restaurant someday.
“Big Brother, it’s still early. Should we go see Fourth Sister?” Recently, although Lin Xiahe still smiled, Qiao Mianmian could hear her quietly crying at night. She bought a pack of crispy candy, planning to cheer her up.
When they arrived at the embroidery workshop, they were told that Lin Xiahe was working in the backyard, so they went to find her.
“I asked for iced tea. It’s so hot—who drinks hot tea? Lin Xiahe, you’re just here to do cleaning. Do you think listening at the door will make you an embroiderer?” a girl named Hao Jiayue said harshly.
“Jiayue, stop. Xiahe isn’t in a good mood—try to understand,” someone else said.
“Why should I stop? Everyone should stick to their role. She doesn’t do her job properly and instead tries to secretly learn embroidery. She really doesn’t know her place!” Hao Jiayue snapped.
Lin Xiahe clenched her fists. She had prepared the tea as usual, but Hao Jiayue clearly disliked her and was deliberately picking on her. If it weren’t for the two taels of silver a month, she wouldn’t endure this humiliation.
Holding back her tears, she said, “Alright, it’s my fault. I’ll come earlier tomorrow—”
Before she could finish, Qiao Mianmian rushed over and grabbed her hand. “Fourth Sister, we’re not working here anymore. Come home and work with me—we won’t let you suffer here!”
Qiao Jiawang glared at Hao Jiayue. As a man, he couldn’t argue with a woman, but he supported the idea. “Yes, Fourth Sister, quit!”
“How can I?” Lin Xiahe panicked. It wasn’t easy to find work in Lin’an City. To get this cleaning job at the embroidery workshop, her mother had humbled herself and given gifts. “Mianmian, don’t pull me. It’s just a small matter—I’m fine.”
“How is this a small matter? You’re being insulted!” Qiao Mianmian refused to let it go. “I’m serious. I just secured another deal with Chunxi Restaurant today. Our family needs help. Instead of being bullied here, come home and work with us. When we succeed, we can drink iced tea or hot tea whenever we want—and even have people serve us!”
Qiao Mianmian pulled with all her strength, and with their brother helping, they dragged Lin Xiahe away.
After they left, Zhou Zeyi, who had defended Lin Xiahe, sighed at Hao Jiayue. “Jiayue, we’re all women. Why make things so hard for her? You don’t know about Xiahe… never mind, you wouldn’t listen anyway.”
She then ran after them, worried Lin Xiahe might act impulsively and regret quitting.
Outside the workshop, Qiao Mianmian firmly said, “My Fourth Sister really won’t be working here anymore.” She showed her the contract with Chunxi Restaurant and explained that the family needed help, finally persuading Lin Xiahe.
“Thank you for standing up for my sister. We’ve recently started a braised pork stall—come visit sometime, and I’ll treat you,” she said.
“Is it true, Xiahe?” Zhou Zeyi asked.
Lin Xiahe nodded. “Yes. Thank you, Sister Zhou. Please let the manager know I’m leaving to help at home.”
“Alright. If things are better at home, that’s good. You’re strong—live well. If anything happens, come find me,” Zhou Zeyi said.
After parting ways, as they got closer to home, Lin Xiahe grew uneasy. “Mianmian, do you think Mom will scold me?”
“Don’t worry. Mom has a soft heart. Once you cry, she won’t have the heart to scold you,” Qiao Mianmian said, holding her hand. “Besides, the family really needs help. Grandpa and Grandma are getting old—it’s time they had some rest.”
When they reached home, Lin Xiahe hesitated at the door until Qiao Mianmian shouted for their mother.
When Lin Shi learned that her daughter had quit, she immediately glared—but upon hearing that her daughter had been bullied, she grabbed a stick in anger. “Damn it! I wouldn’t even scold her myself—how dare someone else bully my Xiahe?”
She tried to rush out, but was stopped by the others. Eventually, she sat down, red-eyed. “You silly girl, why didn’t you tell me you were being mistreated? I care about money, but I wouldn’t force you to suffer like that!”
Lin Xiahe burst into tears.
Lin Shi hugged her tightly. “My good Xiahe, we won’t go back there. Mianmian is right—you can help at home.”
Zhang Shi also supported the decision. Qiao Youfu finally agreed as well.
As the family shared a warm moment, Wu Ermao came by with a pork knuckle. “This is leftover from the banquet—please don’t mind.”
“You already gave us cured meat, how can we take this too?” Lin Shi protested, but Wu Ermao left it and went.
Zhang Shi then said, “Jiawang, your grandfather caught some river shrimp today. Take a bowl to the Wu family.”
At the Wu house, Wu Auntie complained, “You’re too generous. That was for us to eat. People might think you’re trying to become their son-in-law.”
“They’re our neighbors—it’s just mutual kindness,” Wu Ermao said with a grin.
Back at the Qiao household, Qiao Mianmian stir-fried the river shrimp in rapeseed oil until golden, then added minced ginger and chives. She used only a little soy sauce and cooking wine to preserve the shrimp’s natural sweetness.
After a quick stir-fry, the dish was ready. The pork knuckle only needed reheating, and with an egg soup, dinner was complete.
Qiao Jiaxing, as always, ate the most enthusiastically. He popped shrimp into his mouth one after another, shells and all. “The shells are crispy and delicious too! The chives soak up the shrimp’s flavor—so smooth and tasty. Mom, you should let Fifth Sister set up a stall. I’ll quit the dock work and help!”
Qiao Mancang laughed. “What can you do? You can’t even cook.”
“I can serve customers, shout to attract business, carry loads, wash dishes. I may not cook, but I can do plenty. Don’t underestimate me. If we open a stall, Fifth Sister can focus on cooking, and I’ll handle the rest—we’ll definitely make good money,” Qiao Jiaxing said seriously.
He knew he couldn’t work at the docks forever—it was hard labor with little savings. He wasn’t like his older brother. Though he always asked what to eat, he had his own plans. Only by earning more could they move to a bigger house and eventually marry.
That night, Qiao Youfu thought his grandson made sense. “Why not persuade Lin Shi to set up a stall while Mianmian is still unmarried?”
Zhang Shi disagreed. “Starting a stall isn’t easy. Lin Shi has only saved a little money through great effort. What if they lose it? As the elder, don’t pressure the younger generation.”
Meanwhile, Lin Shi and Qiao Mancang were also awake, worrying about their family’s future. They discussed renting the empty house across from them, hoping it would ease their situation.
But the next morning, when they woke up, they saw the door across the street open.
It was the Zhang family’s youngest son, bringing people along. Covering his nose, he said, “Uncle Qiao, Aunt Qiao—you’re just in time. I was going to look for you. Our house has been sold—to an official. Our alley is about to become much more prestigious.”