"This is utterly ridiculous! Family matters shouldn't be brought before the court. We should resolve this privately among ourselves. You're being completely unreasonable!" Seeing her tactic wasn't working, Hu Shi immediately switched to a heartbroken expression, pressing a hand to her chest. "A Yao, why can't you understand your aunt's good intentions? If this gets out, people will laugh at our family. Where would we put our face?"
"This is no trivial matter," Lin Yao retorted firmly. "Who knows what schemes you might employ behind closed doors to oppress us? You seem determined to completely block our means of livelihood, to the point where we can't even run a simple food stall to make ends meet! Today, we must clarify everything before the authorities and clear our names."
Old Woman Li chimed in from the side, "That's right! We can't let this go. We must have the officials deliver justice!"
Xu Zhiheng, who had been watching the scene unfold from a perfect vantage point, had clearly seen Lin Yao give her own thigh a sharp pinch. He spoke up leisurely, "If Lady Lin wishes to file a complaint, I can draft the petition for you. I only hope that in return for this favor, you might offer me better prices on your food in the future, as compensation for my writing services."
Seeing that everyone seemed serious about taking her to court, Hu Shi grew anxious. Her face flushed and paled alternately, her eyes darting nervously. "This… how can we rashly trouble the officials? It's all a misunderstanding, just some disobedience from the younger generation. We shouldn't bother the magistrate. I'll return home now and report this matter truthfully to the family elders. Let them decide—no need to involve outsiders."
With that, Hu Shi turned and left without looking back, nearly stumbling in her haste.
Watching Hu Shi's retreating figure fleeing in defeat, Lin Yao finally relaxed her tense nerves and let out a long sigh of relief.
She looked around gratefully and bowed to the gathered villagers. "Today, I thank you all for speaking up for justice. Without everyone's support, we three siblings would have struggled to obtain fairness. To express our gratitude, tomorrow, all food at our stall will be discounted by one copper coin! We hope you'll continue to visit often and look after our small business."
The uncle who had stepped forward to help earlier smiled broadly. "Such generosity from the young lady is truly rare!"
As the crowd gradually dispersed, Lin Yao turned to Xu Zhiheng and bowed solemnly. "Thank you for your assistance today, sir. Although we ultimately didn't proceed to the authorities, we three siblings will remember your chivalrous kindness. Henceforth, whenever you visit our stall, you'll receive a twenty percent discount on all food. Please don't refuse—it's our humble way of expressing thanks."
For small vendors like them operating on thin margins, a twenty percent discount represented genuine sincerity.
"The young lady is indeed magnanimous!" Xu Zhiheng replied. "My surname is Xu, given name Zhiheng. I'm a regular customer, almost a familiar face. If you don't mind, you may call me Brother Xu from now on."
Lin Yao had inherited the original host's memories, which included knowledge about maintaining proper boundaries between men and women.
Although she had met this Young Master Xu several times, she still didn't consider him an acquaintance.
Though grateful for Xu Zhiheng's assistance, she instinctively felt this man carried too many mysteries. She only wanted to lie low and earn money, unwilling to be drawn into any troubles.
Feigning ignorance, she said, "No, no, Mother taught me to address scholars as 'gongzi'. Scholars possess great learning and are most formidable. We're merely country bumpkins who must hold scholars in reverence."
Xu Zhiheng quietly appreciated her pretense without pressing further. "It matters not—merely a form of address. The young lady may call me as she pleases."
Inside the carriage, Jin Yu expressed confusion, "Lang Jun, why did you help that young lady today?"
"Do you recall why we went to the docks today?" Xu Zhiheng asked with closed eyes, resting.
"Because the one from the capital arrived. We had to reveal our tracks intentionally to protect other locations from detection," Jin Yu replied.
"And in your eyes, what manner of man does your Lang Jun appear to be outwardly?" Xu Zhiheng continued unhurriedly.
"A wine-sack rice-bag," Jin Yu answered truthfully.
Xu Zhiheng opened his eyes. "The docks were crowded with prying eyes. By openly assisting that young lady and engaging her in conversation, I aimed to make him believe I'm nothing but a capricious, lust-driven profligate."
Jin Yu suddenly understood. "Lang Jun's calculations are meticulous. I was foolish."
Xu Zhiheng couldn't resist tapping Jin Yu's head with his folding fan. "When will you ever learn to be clever?"
Jin Yu pouted slightly, picking up fruit from the small table to eat. "Lang Jun knows well I've only ever excelled at martial arts. Normally, Mantang is here to devise strategies. As for me, so long as I can protect Lang Jun's safety, I've fulfilled my duty."
Xu Zhiheng shook his head and closed his eyes again.
In Qingquan Town's largest inn, two middle-aged men sat facing each other over a chessboard, while a dark-clad guard stood attentively beside it.
Zhao Li leaned forward slightly, a trace of contempt in his smile as he addressed Wu Shen beside him. "Minister Wu, you may not know, but that Xu youngster is notoriously useless in the capital. All he does is indulge in gluttony and lust, behaving no differently from common market riffraff. Look at him today—even standing up for some lowborn commoners. In my humble opinion, General Xu probably sent him back to their ancestral lands just to keep him out of sight and avoid further disgrace to the Xu family."
Wu Shen placed a piece on the board, then lifted his gaze with measured scrutiny. "Minister Zhao seems quite familiar with the Xu family. Surely you're aware how Madam Xu treats her youngest son—cradling him fearing he might break, holding him in her mouth fearing he might melt. And General Xu has always been as docile as a lamb before his wife, his henpecked reputation widely known in the capital. Given this, doesn't it seem rather peculiar that they'd hastily send the boy back to their ancestral lands just over that single incident in the capital? Upon careful consideration, I believe there must be more to this story."
Zhao Li waved it off dismissively, setting down the chess piece in his hand. "In my humble opinion, it's hardly uncommon for young men to squander fortunes to win a courtesan's favor—such behavior is frequently seen in the common streets. However, for him to openly quarrel with the Third Prince over a woman of ill repute, even resorting to physical violence—such recklessness truly tarnishes the dignity of the imperial family. General Xu sending him back to his ancestral home for reflection is, at its core, an act of paternal mercy. It's meant to protect him from committing an irreversible mistake in a moment of impulsiveness here in the capital, which could cost him his life."
Wu Shen picked up his teacup, his gaze drifting out the window, and said nothing more.
~
Lin Yao decided to make Caramelized Sweet Potato to comfort the frightened Lin Song and lift her own spirits—after all, sweets are the best solace for the heart.
"A Yao, we still have some white rice at home. Let your elder brother keep these sweet potatoes to take along when he goes hunting in the mountains," Lin Cheng said, his heart aching from seeing his younger siblings bullied that day and unwilling to let them eat coarse grains.
"Today I'll cook a new dish for you and our younger brother. With a different preparation, these sweet potatoes can become an exquisite delicacy," Lin Yao declared enthusiastically.
Sweet potatoes are remarkable—highly adaptable, drought-resistant, and tolerant of poor soil with minimal requirements①. They thrive anywhere and, in years of poor grain harvests or increased taxes, can substitute as a staple food, making them a common sustenance in ancient times.
Lin Cheng had eaten his fill of sweet potatoes since childhood and had grown weary of them. Yet, after recent experiences, he trusted his sister's culinary skills unconditionally and let her have her way.
Fired with determination, Lin Cheng knew that to earn more copper coins from selling fried rice the next day, he needed to cook plenty of rice tonight.
Lin Yao washed the sweet potatoes thoroughly and cut them into evenly sized rolling wedges with a knife.
Next, she added a small amount of lard to the iron wok, stoked the fire beneath the stove, and waited quietly for the oil to heat up.
Soon, faint smoke began to rise from the wok as the oil temperature increased. Carefully, Lin Yao added the sweet potato pieces one by one into the hot oil.
As the sweet potato pieces hit the oil, they released a subtle, fragrant aroma.
Using chopsticks, she gently turned the sweet potatoes, allowing each piece to coat lightly in the oil.
In no time, the sweet potatoes turned a tempting golden brown, their skins crisp. Lin Yao removed the fried pieces and set them aside in an earthen bowl for later use.
During the Song Dynasty, the production and use of white granulated sugar had already been promoted and developed. Lin Yao recalled reading that in the Northern Song period, "white sugar" was listed among the local tributes from Fuzhou in the Jiangnan East Circuit②. In this era, white sugar was likely a luxury affordable only to nobles and the wealthy.
Fortunately, while filming a sweet potato special before, she had tried making Caramelized Sweet Potato with Maltose candy.
Leaving a little oil in the wok, Lin Yao added a large spoonful of Maltose candy and began patiently stir-frying it to caramelize.
Her eyes were fixed intently on the Maltose candy in the wok.
Gradually, the Maltose candy melted under the low heat.
It first turned into a light yellow syrup, then deepened in color to an amber hue, emitting a sweet, rich fragrance.
Swiftly, Lin Yao poured the fried sweet potato pieces into the wok, stir-frying quickly to coat each piece evenly with the syrup.
As she stirred, the syrup, under the heat, gradually formed into fine, silky strands that clung tightly to the sweet potatoes.
Lin Yao moved with practiced ease, and in no time, a plate of caramelized sweet potato boasting excellent color, aroma, and flavor was ready.
She arranged the caramelized sweet potato on a plate, brought it to the dining table, and deliberately prepared a bowl of cold water to place beside it.
"Is Second Sister thirsty? Song'er will pour hot tea for Second Sister. Elder Brother said autumn is approaching soon, so we shouldn't favor cold drinks," Lin Song remarked earnestly from the side.
Lin Yao handed a bowl filled to the brim with rice to Lin Cheng. "Second Sister made a new dish today. This cold water is meant to be eaten with it."
As she spoke, Lin Yao picked up a piece of caramelized sweet potato with her chopsticks, gently shaking it in the air. The fine, elongated sugar strands shimmered like golden threads.
She swiftly dipped the sweet potato into the cold water, and the sugar strands instantly solidified upon contact with the cold.
Lin Yao fed the sweet potato to Lin Song, who reflexively bit into it. The unfamiliar texture surprised him the moment it entered his mouth—he had eaten sweet potato before, but this one was crispy, and the outer sugar coating crunched with each chew.
Seeing his satisfied expression, Lin Yao picked up another piece of caramelized sweet potato. "Elder Brother, try it too. This is called caramelized sweet potato. When you pick it up, the sugar strands stretch long. Dipping it in cold water makes the sugar strands even crispier. It’s crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and delightfully sweet."
Lin Cheng picked up a piece of sweet potato, carefully examining its golden, sugar-strand-wrapped appearance. He chewed it slowly, savoring the contrast between the soft, glutinous sweet potato and the crispy sugar coating on his tongue. After swallowing, he smiled and praised, "This caramelized sweet potato is sweet but not cloying. I’ve never tasted such delicious sweet potato!"
As he ate the sweet treat, the gloom in Lin Cheng’s heart gradually dissipated.
When their father passed away, he had entrusted him with the care of their mother and younger siblings. Now that their mother was gone, he felt even more responsible for looking after his younger brother and sister. These days, the family’s income relied entirely on his sister, and he could only assist her with manual labor.
Recalling Hu Shi’s contemptuous demeanor earlier that day, Lin Cheng felt deeply that they were still too vulnerable—anyone could bully the three siblings. Only by earning enough copper coins would people dare not treat them lightly.
Lin Yao patted her full stomach. "Elder Brother, tomorrow we can also sell these sweet potatoes. However, caramelized sweet potato requires a wok for immediate preparation, which isn’t very convenient at the stall. I plan to make sweet potato pancakes instead."
Lin Cheng snapped out of his thoughts. "We’ll do as A Yao says."