Lu Zhao had just arrived in Lin’an and came to check the house he had rented. When he learned it still needed renovations, he was about to leave when he caught the aroma of food drifting through the air.
His attendant Qingjiu sniffed as well. “Yes, sir, it smells amazing.” He rubbed his stomach—he was hungry.
“Let’s go.”
Lu Zhao’s stomach growled. When he left Bianjing, his grandmother had secretly given him some banknotes. After renting the house, he didn’t have much left, so he could only find something simple to eat.
Qingjiu followed behind, looking back every few steps. “Sir, what are we going to eat?”
“There’s a stall near the inn that sells steamed buns.”
“Steamed buns again? Sir, can we not eat buns anymore? We’ve been eating them the whole journey—I’m turning into a bun myself!”
“You want to eat at a restaurant?”
Qingjiu nodded repeatedly. “We’ve finally arrived in Lin’an. Let’s celebrate a bit?”
“Sure. I heard Fuman Restaurant is the most famous in Lin’an. How about you treat me?” Seeing Qingjiu’s face fall instantly, Lu Zhao smirked. “No money, then eat buns. If you keep talking, you won’t even get buns.”
His family had opposed his coming to Lin’an, but he insisted. His father even declared he couldn’t take any money from home. Without his grandmother’s help, he might not have even found a place to stay.
Qingjiu looked dejected, thinking of the delicious smell from the alley earlier, and swallowed again.
Once they moved in, he was determined to find out who cooked so well. If possible, he’d love to share meals with them.
…
Meanwhile, at the Qiao household, they had already finished eating.
Lin Shi called her fourth daughter into the room and carefully asked about her visit to the Wang family. “Did Widow Wang say anything else, or just ask you to make clothes?”
“That’s right, Mother,” Lin Xiahe replied. “Do you think it’s inappropriate for me to earn money from neighbors?”
“That’s not what I mean. Even if they’re neighbors, help is help, but when it comes to payment, it should still be counted.” Lin Shi looked at her daughter’s still youthful face and sighed gently. “You helped her this time, but decline next time. The Wang family has five sons. It’s not that I’m snobbish, but their life is too hard. I don’t want you to marry into a household where you’ll have to support such a big family.”
Her daughter was grown now, and she needed to teach her how to deal with people. Lin Shi held her daughter’s hand, feeling both concerned and protective. “Your marriage isn’t urgent. Let’s wait. Once I earn more money, I’ll find you a better match than the Yuan family.”
Lin Xiahe hadn’t realized Widow Wang had such intentions. No wonder she suddenly became so warm. “Mother, I’ll listen to you.”
“Alright, go wash up.” Lin Shi patted her arm, and the two went out together.
…
In the kitchen, Qiao Mianmian had just finished braising one pot of offal and was working on a second.
Lin Shi sat by the stove, lost in thought for a long time. Only when her youngest daughter handed her a cup of herbal tea did she snap out of it.
“Mother, what are you thinking about?” Qiao Mianmian asked.
Looking at her graceful young daughter—who would also need to be matched with a family next year—Lin Shi felt a weight in her heart. Yes, they really needed to earn more money.
But she didn’t have much capital. She decided that after earning a bit more next month, she would rent a stall at the market.
“I was thinking, what good deeds I did in my past life to have such well-behaved children,” Lin Shi said with a smile, pulling her daughter to sit. “Are the braised dishes at Chunxi Restaurant selling well?”
Their main income now came from working with Chunxi Restaurant. Every time she thought about it, Lin Shi felt nervous, worried the restaurant’s business might decline.
“They’re selling well,” Qiao Mianmian said. “Manager Sun said they sell out every day. Because of our braised dishes, they’ve gotten more customers than before.”
Mother and daughter chatted in the kitchen. Once the food was done, they each went to rest.
…
When Qiao Mianmian returned to her room, she saw her fourth sister already lying down, so she quietly got into bed.
The next day, Qiao Mianmian set up her stall as usual. Her father was selling meat today. Just as they arrived, a round-faced man approached.
Seeing his somewhat lecherous expression, Qiao Mancang stepped protectively beside his daughter. “Brother, what would you like to buy?”
“Give me a portion of pork offal.” The man ate a few bites, nodding thoughtfully. “So it’s true—Chunxi Restaurant gets their braised dishes from you. Brother, I’m the manager of Fuman Restaurant. My surname is Wang. Can we talk?”
Hearing this, Qiao Mancang looked at his daughter in surprise, then asked what he wanted.
“This isn’t the place to talk. How about I treat you to tea? I have a good opportunity for you,” Manager Wang said with a smile that narrowed his eyes into slits.
Qiao Mancang hesitated. “It’s about to get busy. If you have something to say, just say it. I really can’t leave.”
Qiao Mianmian already guessed his intention and smiled. “Manager Wang, if you want to discuss supplying braised dishes, I’m sorry. We’ve signed a contract with Chunxi Restaurant and can only supply them.”
Manager Wang then carefully looked at her. The young girl was fair and delicate, yet spoke clearly and confidently.
“You should know that Fuman Restaurant is more famous than Chunxi Restaurant. If you cooperate with us, you’ll earn more. As for the contract, just pay the penalty—I’ll make sure you earn it back.”
But Qiao Mianmian insisted, “We’re just a small business. Being able to work with Chunxi Restaurant is already a blessing. We can’t break our agreement. If we betray Chunxi Restaurant for better profit today, we might do the same to you tomorrow. Wouldn’t you agree?”
“…That…”
“Thank you for your appreciation. Our contract isn’t permanent. If there’s a chance in the future, we’d be happy to work together.”
Manager Wang had dealt with many people, but this was the first time he met such a sharp-tongued young girl. “If you work with us, you could earn at least ten more taels a month.”
“I believe you,” she said. “But business is like being a person—you need integrity. That’s probably why Fuman Restaurant has lasted so long.”
Manager Wang was left speechless. In the end, he sighed. “You’re impressive. Fine, I won’t force you. But remember—Fuman Restaurant is stronger than Chunxi Restaurant. Think it over.”
After he left, Qiao Mancang stared at his daughter in amazement. When had she become so eloquent?
“Father, don’t get any ideas. We have a contract,” Qiao Mianmian reminded him.
“Do you think I’m that kind of person?” he huffed. “I’m just surprised at how well you speak.”
She laughed it off, saying she learned from Manager Sun.
…
By noon, Qiao Mianmian felt hungry and bought two sesame flatbreads. They were crispy but lacked richness.
“If they had meat filling, they’d be better,” she said.
“With meat, few people could afford them,” her father replied.
She nodded.
Soon, Xu Mingxuan and his classmates arrived.
“Miss Qiao!” Wang Chuang called out. “Any pork offal left?”
“Yes, just one last portion of pork head meat.”
“I’ll take it all!” he said, explaining they’d soon take the prefectural exam, which would bring many scholars to Lin’an.
Qiao Mianmian immediately saw the opportunity—more people meant more customers.
…
After closing the stall, she suggested her father take the remaining ribs home to cook.
Back home, everyone worked together as usual.
Meanwhile, Lin Shi was dragged to the Wang household by Widow Wang, who tried to propose a marriage between their families. Lin Shi politely refused and quickly left.
…
Back in the Qiao kitchen, Qiao Mianmian had already finished braising pork ribs. The meat was coated in caramelized sauce, tender enough to fall off the bone.
“Fifth Sister, your cooking is amazing,” Qiao Jiaxing said, nearly drooling. “Can I have just one piece?”
“No,” she refused. “I’ll make crucian carp tofu soup, then we’ll eat.”
She fried the fish until golden, added hot water, and simmered it into a milky-white soup with tofu.
Seeing her second brother drooling, she laughed and pushed him out.
When the soup was ready, she sprinkled chopped scallions and served it.
“Let me carry it,” Lin Xiahe said, taking the soup, while Qiao Mianmian carried the braised ribs out.