Shopkeeper Li found a separate small kitchen and had Chef Xu follow Luo Qingqing’s instructions. The ingredients had already been washed, and they were just waiting for Luo Qingqing to begin.
“Chef Xu, I’ll make each dish once. Follow the recipe while watching. If there’s anything that isn’t detailed enough, just ask me.”
Chef Xu was a skilled cook. When Shopkeeper Li first told him about this arrangement, he had been quite displeased. What could a young girl possibly teach him? But Shopkeeper Li was offering an exceptionally high wage.
People said that no one would bow their heads for five dou of rice. But what about twenty dou? He chose to bow his head.
“Yes, Boss Lady Luo. Please begin.”
First was sour plum drink. Use five qian of smoked plums, ten qian of hawthorn, one qian of dried tangerine peel, two and a half qian of roselle, half a qian of licorice, one and a half qian of mulberries, and half a qian of mint leaves. Soak them for fifteen minutes, then add water and bring it to a boil over high heat. Turn the heat down and simmer for another half an hour. Add rock sugar, let it cool, and then strain it.
This was simple. After watching it once, Chef Xu understood it. Luo Qingqing’s recipe was also written very clearly, with every step explained.
Next was pickled radish. Peel the radish and cut it into pieces. Add salt and marinate for fifteen minutes. Once the water had been drawn out, rinse it twice. Add five spoonfuls of light soy sauce, three spoonfuls of vinegar, an appropriate amount of salt and sugar, then add enough cool water to cover everything. It would be ready to eat after three days.
Pickled peanuts were prepared the same way.
Luo Qingqing’s favorite was pickled peanuts. They were absolutely perfect with a little sake, although she herself was a complete lightweight who would be tipsy after just one cup.
Finally came egg fried rice, the perfect accompaniment to hotpot.
Add one spoonful of sesame oil, one spoonful of light soy sauce, and half a spoonful of salt to the cooked rice, then mix thoroughly. Fry two eggs, remove them from the pan, then add finely diced carrots and stir-fry briefly. Add the rice and stir-fry for a while. Finally, add the eggs and chopped green onions, stir-fry a few more times, and serve.
The golden egg fried rice gave off an irresistible aroma. Luo Qingqing served several bowls for everyone, and by then, the sour plum drink had cooled as well.
Chef Xu was practically intoxicated by the fragrance. He had never seen rice prepared this way before. One bite left an incredible fragrance lingering in his mouth.
He had truly made the right decision coming here. Not only did he get paid, but he also got to eat delicious food. And this young woman wasn’t arrogant or rude. Whatever he asked, she answered.
He thought about when he had first learned to cook. His master had never explained anything. He could only watch with his eyes, taste with his mouth, and figure everything out through repeated attempts.
After eating two bites, Luo Qingqing began staring at Gu Jing’an.
His table manners were exceptionally refined. Luo Qingqing felt that he didn’t seem like someone who had grown up in the countryside at all. A person’s bearing could not be faked.
Gu Jing’an felt a little uncomfortable under her gaze.
“Is there something on my face?”
Caught staring, Luo Qingqing didn’t even blush.
“I just wanted to ask whether the egg fried rice is good and whether the sour plum drink tastes good.”
There was a hint of warmth hidden in Gu Jing’an’s eyes. He had overlooked something—he had forgotten to praise the young woman.
His voice softened.
“The egg fried rice is delicious. The sour plum drink is good too. I like them very much.”
He had been watching her earlier as well.
There was a unique charm about her when she cooked. Surrounded by the warmth and bustle of the kitchen, she gave off an incredibly comforting feeling that made him want to draw closer, follow her, and lose himself in that warmth.
“Affection value +5. Current affection value: +15. Total points: 500. (The previous 1,000 points have already been exchanged for wishes.)”
Luo Qingqing found Gu Jing’an more and more pleasing to the eye.
At this rate, she could leave by next summer.
“Gu Jing’an, let’s go buy the ingredients now. By the time we finish, Qiran and Xuanning should be out of school.”
“Okay.”
After saying goodbye to Shopkeeper Li and Chef Xu, the two left.
“Do you need to buy some paper and writing brushes?” Luo Qingqing had noticed that they were running low when she was writing the recipes.
Gu Jing’an nodded and went to choose paper, brushes, and some books. There were quite a few storybooks in the bookstore, so Luo Qingqing casually picked up two to pass the time.
They bought some oranges, onions, apples, and pears. She planned to cook them for Gu Jing’an that evening and let him try them.
She also bought peaches and lychees to make fruit jam, then picked out several pretty jars to store it in.
Flour, white sugar, honey, almonds, walnuts, and dried osmanthus flowers could all be used to make pastries.
She substituted goat’s milk for cow’s milk. Someone in the village raised goats, and after adding honey, the goat’s milk wasn’t particularly strong-smelling.
The fish and river shrimp at the market looked fresh. Luo Qingqing decided to make fish soup and shrimp paste, and bought a piece of tofu as well.
After walking around for a while, she realized that Gu Jing’an had paid for everything. His hands were simply too quick.
By the time they arrived at the school, classes had already ended. The two children had been waiting at the entrance for a little while.
“Sister-in-law! Brother!”
Gu Xuanning felt like she was the happiest child in the world. She had Sister-in-law to cook for her and Sister-in-law to pick her up from school.
Luo Qingqing rubbed their soft hair and handed them two skewers of candied hawthorn.
“Eat them sideways, and be careful.”
She had bought three skewers. Gu Jing’an didn’t eat sweets.
Gu Jing’an carried everything they had bought. When Luo Qingqing tried to take some of it, he refused and simply told her to hold the two children’s hands properly.
Night gradually deepened. The stars and moon grew brighter, and several fireflies swept through the air like floating lanterns. The night breeze gently blew, making the lights sway along with it.
They were almost back at the Gu family courtyard when Luo Qingqing noticed someone standing at the entrance. She wanted to walk closer to see who it was.
A coquettish voice rang out.
“Brother An, Ping’er has been waiting here for you for so long. You still haven’t come home this late. I was so worried about you.”
It was Li Ping, the village chief’s younger daughter.
She had always wanted to marry Gu Jing’an. Gu Jing’an had rejected her openly and subtly countless times, yet she pretended not to hear him.
Even now, she refused to give up and wanted to marry him as his legal wife.
The village chief’s family was actually quite decent. It was just that this daughter of his was foolish.
Step Four of Luo’s Survival Guide: Eliminate all the rotten peach blossoms around Gu Jing’an and give him some peace and quiet.
Since this was a rotten peach blossom, Luo Qingqing certainly wasn’t going to be polite.
The village chief had shown Gu Jing’an kindness, but he had never done anything for her.
“Oh! I wondered who it was. Sister Ping’er, you’re an unmarried young lady, yet you came to my house in the middle of the night looking for Brother An. There’s no Brother An here. Zhao An is over at the Zhao family’s house!”
The village chief wanted to marry Li Ping off to Zhao An. She hadn’t agreed yet. She wanted to marry Gu Jing’an while also refusing to give up the wealth and status of the Zhao family.
Luo Qingqing hated people like this the most.
“I’m looking for Brother Jing’an, not Zhao An. Sister Qingqing, don’t ruin my reputation.”
After saying that, she turned her tear-filled eyes toward Gu Jing’an.
“Brother Jing’an, you’re the only one in my heart. Will you marry me? How could Sister Qingqing know how to take care of you?”
“Reputation? Since ancient times, a properly arranged marriage makes a wife, while a woman who runs off with a man can only become a concubine. Sister Ping’er, you’re openly offering yourself to him and still want to preserve your reputation?”
“As for whether I know how to take care of someone, how could an outsider like you possibly know what happens between husband and wife? My husband is very satisfied with me!”
She was standing right there, yet Li Ping had treated her as though she were invisible and was openly trying to steal her husband.
An uncle might tolerate it, but an aunt certainly wouldn’t!
Gu Jing’an looked at the little cat in front of him whose fur had practically stood on end, and he laughed softly.
“I’m very satisfied with Qingqing.”
Then he turned cold and said,
“Miss Li, please go home. Gu has already married. Even if I had not, I would never marry you.”
The chill in his eyes made Li Ping tremble.
Why could he smile at Luo Qingqing with such warmth, yet be so cold toward her?
“If Sister Ping’er doesn’t leave soon, I’ll start beating the gong and drum to invite everyone over to see just how well the village chief’s daughter was raised.”
Luo Qingqing was completely fired up now, and she took full advantage of Gu Jing’an’s support.
The two little ones immediately ran into the kitchen and returned with a pot lid and a rolling pin.
Seeing the situation, Li Ping could no longer stay. She burst into tears and ran away.