Hearing this, Lin Shi and her husband could no longer smile, and Lin Shi’s face stiffened immediately.
Qiao Mancang asked, “When did this happen? We didn’t hear anything. Didn’t any agents come to view the house?”
“No one came to view it,” the youngest son of the Zhang family replied. “My elder brother met someone while traveling for business. When that person heard our house was empty, and saw my brother was trustworthy, they signed a contract with him. Once he finishes his affairs, he’ll move in.”
It was also to leave a good impression—the buyer was from the capital, Bianjing. His brother had repeatedly instructed him to repair the house well.
The matter was already settled. Qiao Mancang sighed helplessly, while Lin Shi, still unwilling to give up, asked how much it sold for so she could have an idea.
“It was sold cheaply—just nine hundred taels. If it were sold to someone else, it would definitely be a thousand taels,” the Zhang family’s youngest son said. As he spoke, he smelled the rich aroma of braised food. “Huh, who’s making braised dishes? Smells so good.”
His stomach growled—he had rushed over to repair the house and hadn’t even eaten breakfast.
Qiao Mancang politely said, “My family is making braised food for business. If you haven’t eaten, come to our house and have some.”
“Sure,” the Zhang family’s youngest son nodded.
Lin Shi had no mood to entertain guests. With a long face, she went into the kitchen. Their house had originally been bought for six hundred taels, and now it could sell for a thousand.
Even though the family’s income had increased, if they tightened their belts, they could at most save four hundred taels a year—and that would require living frugally without even eating meat.
With two daughters already grown and no dowries prepared, Lin Shi felt even more troubled.
Porridge was cooking on the stove. Qiao Mianmian sliced some fatty pork and stir-fried it with preserved vegetables, adding two green chili peppers. As the fragrance burst out, both she and Lin Shi couldn’t help coughing.
“You girl, do chilies cost nothing?” Lin Shi muttered.
Qiao Mianmian noticed her tone. “Mother, are you unhappy?”
“I’m worried,” Lin Shi said. “I had planned to rent the house across the street for your eldest brother’s marriage. But it was sold without a word—for nine hundred taels, and they even said it was cheap. Look at our house—only three rooms, and one is already partitioned. We can’t possibly divide your brothers’ room again, can we?”
The more she spoke, the more she sighed. Finally, she added, “Don’t tell anyone about this—not even your grandmother.”
“I understand, Mother,” Qiao Mianmian paused. “Actually, you could consider what Second Brother said. We could start a small food stall. Starting small doesn’t require much capital. Think about it—if we want to save money, increasing income is more important than just cutting expenses. What if we could earn a hundred taels a month?”
Lin’an was a prosperous place, and in peaceful times, people paid more attention to food.
“How could it be that much? If we earn ten extra taels a month, I’d already be thankful,” Lin Shi said, though she was tempted.
Qiao Mianmian knew she needed to take it step by step. Lin Shi’s frugality was deeply rooted.
Carrying the stir-fried preserved vegetables out, Qiao Mianmian saw a stranger in the main hall. Only then did she learn it was the former owner from across the street.
Breakfast was simple: a bowl of stir-fried preserved vegetables, a bowl of braised pork offal, porridge for everyone, and a sweet potato each.
Qiao Mianmian noticed her second brother putting his sweet potato into his pocket. Knowing he hadn’t eaten enough, she broke hers in half and handed it to him. “I can’t finish it—help me eat some.”
“If you can’t finish it, eat it later,” Qiao Jiaxing said. Though he loved food, he wouldn’t take it from his sister. “Father, Mother, Grandfather, Grandmother—I’m going to work.”
If he went late, the foreman wouldn’t take him, and he’d lose a day’s wages.
Lin Xiahe and Qiao Jiawang also finished eating. One went to deliver braised food to Chunxi Restaurant, while the other went to the kitchen to help.
The Zhang family’s youngest son had half a bowl of braised offal, though he tried to restrain himself. “I’m really sorry—it’s just too delicious. I didn’t realize I ate so much. Auntie, please pack three bowls for me—I’ll bring them home for my parents to try. I never expected that after just two years away, Mianmian has become such a great cook.”
He let out a satisfied burp and placed money on the table. Eating for free was one thing, but buying was another—his family was also in business, and he wouldn’t take advantage.
“Ah, as long as you like it, no need to be so polite,” Lin Shi said with a smile, though she still accepted the money.
After sending him off, Qiao Mianmian went to set up her stall. Even arriving a bit late now, regular customers were already waiting.
Luo Da was one of them. “Hey, little girl, do you sell anything besides braised food?”
“For now, only braised food. If business improves, we might open a small food stall,” Qiao Mianmian replied while packing.
“If you open one, it’ll definitely do well. My young master loves your cooking, but eating braised food all the time gets tiring. You need some variety,” Luo Da said.
Lin Shi, who was selling alongside her, took his words to heart and wavered again about opening a stall.
While mother and daughter sold braised food, the rest of the Qiao family was by the river cleaning pork offal.
Qiao Mancang wasn’t selling meat today. He carried the braised offal there, and with Lin Xiahe helping, Zhang Shi didn’t come, while Qiao Youfu went to set nets for fish.
Around noon, after cleaning everything, Qiao Mancang prepared to carry it back when Wu Ermao happened to pass by.
“Uncle Qiao, I’ll help you carry it,” Wu Ermao said, taking the load naturally. “Do you wash this much every day?”
Qiao Mancang nodded. “Ermao, why are you home so often lately?”
“There’s not much to do in the military camp. Training in the morning, and we return home in the afternoon because of the heat. I was heading back anyway. Why do you come all the way here to wash?”
“We have no choice,” Qiao Mancang said. “We must wash downstream. Otherwise, if dirty water flows down from upstream, people will complain.”
They chatted as they walked ahead, with Lin Xiahe following behind carrying a basket. Soon, Qiao Jiawang ran over.
“No need, I’ll do it,” Wu Ermao said, but eventually passed the load to him.
At the alley entrance, Qiao Mancang didn’t go home but headed toward the market.
Wu Ermao and Lin Xiahe walked behind.
“Xiahe, I heard you quit the embroidery workshop?” he asked.
“Yes,” Lin Xiahe quickened her pace. Neighbors were watching.
“So you’ll help at home now?” Wu Ermao struggled to find something to say.
At that moment, Wu Auntie called out, “Ermao, we’re out of water. Go fetch two buckets.”
After he entered, she frowned. “Don’t get too close to Xiahe. You’re a centurion now—the most impressive in this alley. I’ve already asked a matchmaker to find you a bride from a well-off family.”
In her eyes, her son had succeeded and deserved a good match.
“Mother, I said I don’t want to marry so soon,” Wu Ermao said, his face darkening. “And I’m just a centurion, not some high-ranking officer.”
“Nonsense! You’re young and accomplished—only a fool wouldn’t want you,” she insisted.
Wu Ermao left in silence.
Meanwhile, Widow Wang came out smiling and hurried toward the Qiao house.
“Auntie Qiao, busy?” she asked, then turned to Lin Xiahe. “Xiahe, you’re so hardworking—pretty and capable too.”
“Auntie, are you looking for my mother?” Lin Xiahe asked while plucking pig hair.
“No, I’m here for you. Aren’t you good at embroidery? I’d like you to help make a set of clothes.”
Lin Xiahe used to take such work for pocket money, but now she was busy. Still, thinking of the family’s need for money, she agreed.
As they left, Zhang Shi watched thoughtfully and called Qiao Jiawang to fetch Lin Shi back from the market.
She worried—if Xiahe married into the Wang family, her life would be even harder than now.
Later, when Lin Shi and Qiao Mancang returned, Lin Shi complained about the cost of buying a chicken.
Qiao Mancang laughed. “Mianmian wanted to eat it—let her try.”
“You and your daughter always sweet-talk me. Fill my purse first, then I’ll be happy,” Lin Shi huffed.
Qiao Mianmian whispered to her father, “You’re the best!”
She then took the chicken to the backyard to prepare it.
Today, she planned to make spicy fried chicken. After chopping it into pieces, she marinated it with cooking wine and starch. She also cleaned the giblets and prepared pickled chilies for stir-frying.
Once marinated, she deep-fried the chicken until golden and crispy.
Just then, Qiao Jiaxing peeked in. “Fifth Sister, what are you making? It smells amazing!”
“Second Brother, bring me some firewood,” she said.
After frying, she stir-fried Sichuan peppercorns and dried chilies in oil, added scallions, ginger, and garlic, then tossed in the chicken to season it. Finally, she sprinkled sesame seeds before serving.
Qiao Jiaxing couldn’t wait—he grabbed a piece. It was crispy outside, tender inside, juicy, spicy, and slightly sweet at the end. He wanted more after one bite.
“Hurry and take it out—I’m cooking the giblets,” Qiao Mianmian said.
She stir-fried the pickled chilies and ginger, added the marinated giblets, and quickly tossed everything over high heat. The dish came out glossy and red, with a tangy aroma that made her crave rice.
Finally, she made a yam soup to balance the rich dishes.
When she brought the soup out, the family was ready.
“I’ll get the rice!” Qiao Jiaxing said eagerly.
Lin Shi, however, kept glancing toward her fourth daughter, still worried.
At that moment, in the courtyard across the street, Lu Zhao and his attendant had just finished viewing the house.
Lu Zhao sniffed the air.
Whose cooking smelled this good?