Manager Li found a small private kitchen and had Chef Xu follow Luo Qingqing’s instructions. The ingredients had already been washed and prepared, leaving only the cooking itself.
“Chef Xu, I’ll make everything once while you follow along with the recipe. If anything isn’t detailed enough, feel free to ask me.”
Chef Xu was a truly skilled cook. When Manager Li first told him about this arrangement, he had been rather displeased. What could a little girl possibly teach him? Unfortunately for his pride, the wages Manager Li offered were simply too high.
People always claimed they would never bow for five pecks of rice, but what about twenty?
In the end, he bowed willingly. “Understood, Boss Luo. Please begin.”
They started with sour plum soup.
Five qian of smoked plums, ten qian of hawthorn, one qian of dried tangerine peel, two and a half qian of roselle flowers, half a qian of licorice root, one and a half qian of mulberries, and half a qian of mint leaves were soaked for fifteen minutes. Then water was added and brought to a boil over high heat before simmering over low heat for another thirty minutes. Rock sugar was added at the end, and once cooled, the soup only needed to be strained before serving.
The process was simple. Chef Xu understood it after watching it once, especially since Luo Qingqing’s recipe was written with remarkable clarity, every step carefully explained.
Next came the pickled radishes.
The radishes were peeled and cut into chunks, then salted and left to marinate for thirty minutes. After the moisture had been drawn out, they were rinsed twice before adding five spoonfuls of light soy sauce, three spoonfuls of vinegar, and an appropriate amount of salt and sugar. Finally, cool water was poured in until everything was submerged. They would be ready to eat after three days. The pickled peanuts were made the same way.
Luo Qingqing adored pickled peanuts the most. Paired with a little clear wine, they were absolutely perfect, even though she herself became drunk after a single cup.
Last came egg fried rice, the perfect companion for hotpot.
A spoonful of sesame oil, a spoonful of light soy sauce, and half a spoonful of salt were added to the rice and mixed evenly by hand. Two eggs were scrambled and set aside. Finely diced carrots were stir fried briefly before the rice was added and cooked for a while. Finally, the eggs and chopped scallions were tossed in before everything was quickly stir fried together and served.
The golden fried rice released an irresistible fragrance. Luo Qingqing filled several bowls and handed them around just as the sour plum soup had cooled.
Chef Xu was practically hooked by the aroma. He had never imagined rice could be prepared this way before. After taking one bite, the lingering fragrance filled his mouth. Coming here has truly been worth it. Not only was he earning wages, but he was also getting to enjoy delicious food. This young lady was neither arrogant nor rude either. Whatever he asked, she answered patiently.
He could not help recalling the years he spent learning cooking under his own master. Back then, his teacher explained nothing. He had been forced to rely on his own eyes and tongue, repeatedly observing, tasting, and figuring everything out himself.
After taking a few bites, Luo Qingqing began staring openly at Gu Jing’an. His table manners were extraordinarily refined. She truly did not believe he had grown up in the countryside. A person’s bearing was not something that could be faked.
Being watched so intently made Gu Jing’an somewhat uncomfortable. “Is there something on my face?”
Caught red handed, Luo Qingqing remained perfectly calm. “I just wanted to ask if the egg fried rice tastes good and whether the sour plum soup is good too.”
Warmth flickered in Gu Jing’an’s eyes. He realized his own oversight. He had forgotten to praise the little girl.
His voice softened slightly. “The egg fried rice is delicious, and the sour plum soup tastes wonderful as well. I like them very much.”
Earlier, he had been watching her the entire time. When she cooked, she possessed a unique sort of charm. Wrapped in the warmth of smoke and firelight, she gave people a comforting feeling that made him want to draw closer, follow her, and sink deeper.
“Favorability increased by five. Current favorability: positive fifteen. Total accumulated points: five hundred. One thousand points have already been exchanged for a wish.”
The more Luo Qingqing looked at Gu Jing’an now, the more pleasing he became to the eye. At this rate, she would be able to leave by next summer.
“Gu Jing’an, let’s go buy ingredients now. By the time we finish shopping, Qiran and Xuanning should be done with school.”
“Alright.”
After saying goodbye to Manager Li and Chef Xu, the two left together.
“Should we buy some paper and brushes too?” Luo Qingqing remembered that she was running low after writing the recipes earlier.
Gu Jing’an nodded and went to choose writing supplies and books. The bookstore had quite a few storybooks as well, so Luo Qingqing casually picked out two to pass the time.
They bought oranges, onions, apples, and pears, planning to boil them for Gu Jing’an to try that evening.
They also purchased peaches and lychees to make jam, along with several attractive jars for storage. Flour, white sugar, honey, almonds, walnuts, and dried osmanthus flowers could all be used to make pastries.
Milk would be substituted with goat milk. Someone in the village raised goats, and after adding honey, the goat milk no longer tasted overly gamey.
The fish and river shrimp at the market looked fresh, so Luo Qingqing planned to make fish soup and shrimp paste hotpot, and she also bought a block of tofu. By the time they finished shopping, Gu Jing’an had paid for everything. His hands moved too quickly for her to stop him.
When they arrived at the school, classes had already ended, and the two children had been waiting at the entrance for a little while.
“Sister-in-law, elder brother.” Gu Xuanning felt she was the happiest child alive. She had a sister-in-law who cooked delicious meals for her and even came to pick her up after school.
Luo Qingqing rubbed the two children’s soft little heads and handed each of them a candied hawthorn skewer. “Eat sideways and be careful.” She had bought three skewers, but Gu Jing’an refused to eat one.
Gu Jing’an carried all the bags himself. Luo Qingqing wanted to help, but he would not allow it, only telling her to hold the children’s hands properly.
Night gradually deepened as the stars and moon grew brighter overhead. Several fireflies drifted through the air like floating lantern lights, swaying gently with the evening breeze.
As they approached the Gu family courtyard, someone seemed to be standing at the entrance. Luo Qingqing moved closer to get a better look.
A deliberately delicate voice suddenly rang out.
“Brother An, Ping’er has been waiting here for so long. You came home so late that I was worried sick.”
It was Li Ping, the village chief’s youngest daughter. She had always wanted to marry Gu Jing’an. Gu Jing’an had rejected her both directly and indirectly countless times, but she pretended not to understand. Even now, she still had not given up and wanted to marry him as a secondary wife. The entire village chief’s family were decent people, except that she herself was foolish.
Step Four of Luo’s Survival Guide: eliminate every rotten peach blossom around Gu Jing’an and restore his peace and quiet.
Since she was just a rotten peach blossom anyway, Luo Qingqing had no intention of being polite. The village chief might have shown Gu Jing’an kindness before, but he had done nothing for her.
“Well now, who do we have here? Sister Ping’er, an unmarried young lady coming to my house looking for Brother An this late at night? There’s no Brother An here. Zhao An is over at the Zhao family.”
The village chief intended to marry Li Ping into the Zhao family, though she had not yet agreed. She wanted Gu Jing’an while also refusing to give up the Zhao family’s wealth and status. Luo Qingqing despised people like that the most.
“I’m looking for Brother Jing’an, not Zhao An. Qing’er, don’t ruin my reputation.”
Then she looked tearfully toward Gu Jing’an.
“Brother Jing’an, Ping’er only has you in her heart. Will you marry me? Qing’er doesn’t even know how to take care of people.”
“Your reputation?” Luo Qingqing sneered. “Since ancient times, formal marriage makes a wife while throwing yourself at a man makes a concubine. Sister Ping’er is offering herself willingly yet still wants a good reputation? As for whether I know how to take care of people or not, how could an outsider possibly understand matters between husband and wife? My husband is extremely satisfied with me.”
She was standing right there, yet Li Ping acted as though she did not exist and openly tried to steal her husband.
Uncle could tolerate it, but Aunt absolutely could not.
Gu Jing’an looked at the little cat baring its claws in front of him and chuckled softly. “I’m very satisfied with Qingqing.” Then his expression turned cold once more. “Miss Li, please return home. Gu already has a wife. Even if I were unmarried, I still would not marry you.”
The chill in his eyes made Li Ping tremble. Why could he smile so gently at Luo Qingqing yet treat her with such cold indifference?
“If Sister Ping’er still refuses to leave, I’ll start banging gongs and drums so everyone can come to admire the village chief family’s fine upbringing.”
Luo Qingqing was completely fired up now, climbing higher the moment Gu Jing’an gave her support.
The two little ones immediately ran toward the kitchen after hearing her words and returned carrying a pot lid and a rolling pin.
Faced with such a scene, Li Ping could no longer stay. Crying bitterly, she turned and ran away.