After the salted duck eggs were cooked, Qiao Mianmian carried the rice out. The others had already washed their hands and were waiting to eat.
“Mianmian, your father and I have discussed it. In two days it will be Mid-Autumn Festival. After the festival, we’ll start setting up the stall,” Lin Shi said excitedly. “All the pots, bowls, and utensils are ready. When you have time, go check if anything is missing, and I’ll get it right away!”
Qiao Mianmian said she had already checked. “Everything is ready. We just need to open. These days while selling braised food, I’ve been promoting it to every customer. Mother, if business goes well, don’t frown when I cook meat anymore.”
“Haha, you silly girl, always teasing me. If we have money, of course I won’t frown,” Lin Shi said. “Come, everyone, sit down. Oh dear, you cooked meat again. What will you do after you get married?”
Even as she spoke, once the elders picked up their chopsticks, Lin Shi first served meat to her two daughters before eating herself.
Although the Qiao family had split into separate households, Zhang Shi and her husband were still alive, so during major festivals like Mid-Autumn and New Year’s Eve, the second branch would come together to celebrate. The third son didn’t live in Lin’an and only returned for New Year.
Zhang Shi valued her eldest son but also cared for the others. She had already bought chicken and duck, and said to him, “Mancang, keep a pork knuckle tomorrow—we’ll eat it during Mid-Autumn.”
Qiao Mancang readily agreed. “Even if you didn’t say it, I had already planned it. Second Brother works at a cloth shop; their family doesn’t get as much good food as we do. Besides the pork knuckle, I’ll keep two more jin of meat for him to take home.”
The three brothers had a good relationship. With Zhang Shi as a sensible matriarch, there were no real conflicts between them.
Zhang Shi glanced at Lin Shi, and seeing no objection, nodded.
The Mid-Autumn arrangements were settled. After dinner, everyone went back to their tasks.
Qiao Youfu rinsed his mouth and returned to his room. When Zhang Shi entered, he asked her to close the door.
“If you have something to say, just say it. Why act secretive?” Zhang Shi said. “You want to talk about your second son’s wife, don’t you?”
Qiao Youfu frowned. “During Mid-Autumn, you should say something to her. It’s not easy for our second son to earn money, so why is she constantly supporting her natal family?”
“You say it yourself. I won’t ruin the holiday mood,” Zhang Shi refused.
“I’m the father-in-law. How can I scold my daughter-in-law?” Qiao Youfu said. “Let you say it means you should say it. Jiacheng told me his family hasn’t eaten meat for half a month. He’s a grown boy—how can that be okay?”
He sighed. “I heard his uncle is seriously ill. It’s not that we shouldn’t help, but there should be limits. Our second son can’t support both his own family and his brother-in-law’s family, can he?”
Though it made sense, Zhang Shi still refused. “She has her difficulties. Her parents died early, and her elder brother raised her. Now that he’s sick, how can she not help? Would she still be human if she didn’t?”
“They can endure hardship for a while—it will pass. Besides, when Jiacheng comes, don’t you secretly return the money your son gave? You don’t want to spend your own money but expect me to say harsh things.”
“I… I don’t do that!”
“Anyway, I’m warning you—during Mid-Autumn, we’ll just talk about happy things. If you stir up trouble, you can sleep outside!”
Zhang Shi snorted and left.
As a woman herself, she understood her second daughter-in-law’s hardship. According to Jiacheng, the man wouldn’t last two months. She had to let her fulfill her duty. If she ignored it, then Zhang Shi would truly scold her.
“Mother, do you want to wash your face?” Lin Shi asked, carrying a basin. She had been so tired lately that she was already yawning before nightfall.
“I’ve already washed. Go rest. I’ll watch over Mianmian,” Zhang Shi said.
Lin Shi, truly exhausted, returned to her room.
Soon it was Mid-Autumn Day. Qiao Mianmian only prepared the braised dishes for Chunxi Restaurant and had her elder brother deliver them. Then she stayed home to prepare breakfast.
Her second uncle’s family would arrive early to eat more meals, so she cooked extra sweet potato porridge. She also set aside some braised dishes for them to try.
While the Qiao family cooked, next door Qing Jiu stood in the courtyard, holding items sent from Bianjing, looking reluctant.
“Sir, these are from the old madam, not the master. If you refuse everything, she’ll be heartbroken,” Qing Jiu said. Their living conditions in Lin’an were far worse than in Bianjing, and even his master had visibly lost weight.
“Qing Jiu, don’t make me repeat myself. Return everything as it came. If I accept them, that old man will think I still depend on the Lu family. This is a letter for my grandmother—send it with the items,” Lu Zhao said firmly.
“But—”
“Say one more word, and you can go back to Bianjing.”
Qing Jiu dared not argue further. He sighed, feeling heartache over the items, but had no choice except to take them to the courier station.
On his way back, he ran into Qiao Jiaxing carrying wine. Learning that the Qiao family had guests, he said enviously, “So lively.”
“Yes, we have a big family. What about you? Is your master not going home?” Qiao Jiaxing asked.
Qing Jiu shook his head. “He’s too busy to return.”
After returning home, Qiao Jiaxing brought two mooncakes to them. Later, Lin Shi sent him again with two bowls of braised offal—one for the Lu household, one for Chunsheng’s family.
“These neighbors are far from home. Their parents must miss them,” Lin Shi said. “Take these to them. We’ve been cooking braised food every day—it’s only right to share.”
Qiao Jiaxing delivered food to many households and returned with various items—vegetables, chestnuts, and more. Only Lu Zhao’s household didn’t prepare anything, instead receiving food from others.
Qing Jiu looked at the ingredients and sighed. “Sir, I don’t know how to cook. I’ll go next door and learn!”
He eagerly went to the Qiao household, and Lin Shi welcomed him into the kitchen.
“Mianmian, teach him,” she said.
Qiao Mianmian began explaining how to cook chestnuts and stir-fry vegetables, but Qing Jiu looked completely confused.
Seeing this, she laughed. “You won’t learn just by listening. Bring your ingredients—I’ll cook with you while you watch.”
Qing Jiu ran off happily.
Soon, her cousin Huanhuan arrived, a sweet eight-year-old girl. Qiao Mianmian kissed her and led her to the front hall.
After greeting her second uncle and aunt, she noticed her cousins—Qiao Jiacheng and Qiao Jiaxi. One was seventeen, the other fourteen. Jiaxi had studied for a couple of years and appeared more refined.
Her second uncle praised her cooking and hinted that his wife should learn the recipe. Before Qiao Mianmian could respond, Zhang Shi interrupted and told everyone to eat.
After the meal, her second aunt followed her to the kitchen to help.
Qiao Mianmian prepared chicken soup and ginger duck, explaining each step while cooking. Qing Jiu remained confused, but her aunt managed to remember.
They also cooked stir-fried dried loach with chili. The kitchen filled with fragrance and spicy fumes, making her aunt cough, while Qing Jiu endured it.
Later, Qing Jiu was called back home. He brought the dishes back, along with some roasted seeds.
Lu Zhao, initially not hungry, was drawn by the aroma. Qing Jiu eagerly fed him a piece of spicy loach—only for Lu Zhao to turn red from the heat.
Though he couldn’t handle spice, the taste tempted him, and he ended up eating it by rinsing it in tea.
Meanwhile, at the Qiao household, dinner preparations continued.
Qiao Mianmian had already stewed several dishes and planned to stir-fry the rest later in the afternoon.
When her brother returned with sugar figurines, he gave her the biggest one. She laughed, teasing him for thinking about food.
She took a bite—it was sweet like honey.
“Let me just tell you what we’re having,” she said. “If you keep going into the kitchen, Mother will think you’re sneaking food.”
She licked the sugar figurine and listed the dishes: “There’s chicken soup, ginger duck, spicy stir-fried dried loach, braised fish, pan-fried eggs with scallions, cold pork ear, plus green beans and goji leaves. Grandmother really went all out today!”