Lady Luo’s restaurant was easy to find. It stood not far from the town entrance—a rare two-story building in the otherwise modest Pingxi Town.
It was lunchtime, and the place was bustling with people. Yun Yin stood at the front for a moment, took a look inside, then headed toward the back entrance.
She had barely knocked a few times when someone came to open the door. Seeing a strikingly beautiful young woman standing outside, the servant hesitated before asking, “Miss, how can I help you?”
Upon hearing that Yun Yin was here to sell goods, the servant thought for a moment and went to fetch the owner.
When Lady Luo arrived, she didn’t expect to see the same young woman she had noticed by the roadside earlier. After a brief pause, she greeted her, “Please, come in and speak inside.”
Yun Yin glanced around the courtyard before following Lady Luo into a room. Before she could speak, Lady Luo asked, “May I know how to address you? And what brings you here?”
Yun Yin smiled, her cheeks faintly flushed. “You may call me Yun Yin. I’ve come to ask whether your restaurant purchases wild produce.”
She brought out the three bamboo rats she had carried. Though tied up, they were still lively despite being handled along the way. She then set down her basket and said, “Some wild vegetables and game—I’m not sure if your restaurant has any use for them.”
At first, Lady Luo had no intention of buying. Their vegetables were usually sourced from nearby villages, and if they ever ran short, they could easily purchase more in town.
But looking at Yun Yin—her refined clothing and bearing clearly not that of an ordinary villager—and seeing her trying to seize this opportunity despite her slight embarrassment, Lady Luo was reminded of her past self. Her mind changed instantly.
“These are fine mountain goods. Our restaurant can make use of them. If it were something else, I might not be able to help—but some customers do enjoy wild greens, especially these elm seeds. They’re quite good for porridge.”
“As for the bamboo rats, the meat is tender and flavorful—excellent when stewed. I’ll give you 50 wen for each. If you have more in the future, you can bring them to me.”
“As for these elm seeds and spring bamboo shoots, I can offer 100 wen. The rest of the wild greens aren’t worth much—there’s plenty outside town—so I can only give 20 wen for those. What do you think of this price?”
Yun Yin raised her brows slightly. She had already asked Sister Fang about market prices—this was far higher than expected. It was clear Lady Luo was helping her.
Her eyes curved into a smile. “Thank you, Lady Luo.”
Thinking of Sister Fang’s tofu and wanting to return the favor, she added, “May I ask how you usually prepare elm seeds?”
“We steam them with rice or cook them into porridge,” Lady Luo replied with a smile. “But our restaurant mainly serves stews, so we rarely make porridge.”
Yun Yin nodded. “Have you ever tried making them as a cold dish?”
“A cold dish?” Lady Luo shook her head. “We don’t serve alcohol, so we rarely make cold dishes. What do you have in mind?”
“You don’t often use elm seeds, and buying them from me is already helping my business—I wouldn’t want you to waste money,” Yun Yin said. “How about this: I’ll teach you a simple method. It could add another dish to your menu.”
“Do you have tofu in the kitchen? If not, you can buy some from Sister Fang at the market—her tofu is quite good.”
Lady Luo was briefly startled, as if realizing something, but quickly smiled. “Thank you, Miss Yun. I’ll take you to the kitchen.”
She led Yun Yin there and instructed a servant to buy tofu, all the while warmly introducing the kitchen setup.
Once the tofu arrived, Yun Yin cut it into small cubes, blanched it, and set it aside. She washed the elm seeds, chopped them into small pieces, and placed them into a bowl. Then she minced some garlic.
The most important part was the sauce. It was simple: soy sauce, vinegar, and minced garlic mixed together. Since chili peppers didn’t exist in this era, she substituted with pepper oil, adding a pinch of salt to finish.
She poured the sauce over the tofu and elm seeds, mixing them well. A simple cold dish was complete.
Handing it to Lady Luo, she said, “Give it a taste—what do you think?”
Lady Luo picked up a pair of chopsticks and took a bite. The tofu’s refreshing texture surprised her—it looked firm, yet was incredibly tender. Combined with the crispness of the elm seeds and the flavorful sauce, the dish had a rich yet refreshing taste.
“It’s delicious,” she said after another bite, nodding. “Thank you for teaching me. This dish would likely appeal to scholars—it has a very fresh taste.”
“You can also make toon shoots with tofu,” Yun Yin added, cleaning the cutting board. “Blanch both and mix them with the same sauce—it’s very good. Sister Fang’s tofu works especially well for cold dishes.”
“Oh, and those bamboo shoots are excellent when stewed with meat—you might want to try that.”
(Stir-fried bamboo shoots with meat would also be delicious, but Yun Yin had noticed the restaurant used large cauldrons rather than iron woks, so she didn’t suggest stir-frying.)
Lady Luo set down her chopsticks and led Yun Yin back to the courtyard, pouring her a cup of tea. “I must admit, I misjudged you. I didn’t realize your cooking skills were this impressive. Would you consider working at my restaurant? We could really use someone like you.”
Yun Yin paused mid-sip. She was still technically a refugee. She had learned from Sister Fang that while selling goods might go unnoticed, working or renting required household registration.
Moreover, town patrols frequently checked the area. She had almost been discovered earlier—only her confident demeanor and Fang’s presence had kept suspicion away.
Right now, her priority was to earn money and secure official registration. After that, she planned to set up a small food stall by the main road.
She had chosen the location carefully. Pingxi Town wasn’t wealthy—Lady Luo’s restaurant was already the limit of what the town could support. Opening another restaurant here would only create conflict and bring little profit.
The main road, however, was different. It lay between the county and the town, with no convenient food options nearby. Moreover, it was one of the routes connecting Chang’an to Mianzhou, frequently traveled by merchant caravans. A food stall there would thrive.
Though she couldn’t work for Lady Luo, cooperation was still possible.
Setting down her teacup, she said, “I’ll pass on working here. Your restaurant is already thriving—your skills must be excellent. But if you like my cooking, I do have a business proposal.”
Lady Luo looked at her in surprise. After a moment, she asked, “What kind of proposal?”
“I have a method for making sauces. If you’re interested, I can bring some tomorrow. If you like the taste, I can supply your restaurant.”
Lady Luo studied her carefully, then nodded after some thought. “Very well. When you come tomorrow, bring another basket of elm seeds—and if you have toon shoots, we’ll take those too. I’ll also taste your sauce, and if it’s good, we can discuss further.”
“And don’t call me Lady Luo—call me Sister A’man. I’ll call you Sister A’yin.”
Yun Yin smiled and nodded. “Thank you, Sister A’man. I’ll take my leave now and come back tomorrow.”
“Why not stay for a meal?” Luo Man offered.
Yun Yin shook her head apologetically. “I still have errands to run today. I’ll come tomorrow and eat with you then.”
Seeing she was busy, Luo Man didn’t insist. “Alright. Tomorrow I’ll treat you to our famous stewed lamb—you must try it.”
“Definitely. See you tomorrow, Sister A’man.”
After parting, Yun Yin took her empty basket and the money she earned, heading first to a bun stall she had noticed earlier. The aroma had tempted her greatly, but she hadn’t had money then.
Now, the stall was much quieter. Most people had gone home for lunch, while those eating out usually went to Luo Man’s restaurant.
She quickly bought a meat bun. One sniff told her it was excellent. The thin, fluffy wrapper and juicy filling, mixed with scallions, made every bite fragrant and satisfying.
She finished it in a few bites, barely easing her hunger, so she bought two more and ate them before finally feeling full.
Looking at the steaming basket, she wanted to buy more for later—but with limited funds and many necessities to purchase, she couldn’t afford it, even at just three wen each.
She still had to feed Zhang Lin, who would surely eat more than her. Shaking her head, she left and bought twenty flatbreads from the neighboring stall instead.
The flatbreads smelled wonderful, especially the sesame on top. Even after eating, she felt tempted again.
As she walked, chewing on one, she thought these would be a good staple—cheap, tasty, and long-lasting. Twenty cost only twenty wen, and they could be reheated later, even paired with mushroom sauce.
With little capital, Yun Yin couldn’t afford many cooking tools. She still needed daily necessities, so she spent carefully, entering the town’s only general store.
After buying essentials, two knives, a cooking cauldron, clay jars, a wooden chest, and a lock, she had little money left—only enough for some rice and a pound of pork.
Looking at her nearly empty purse, Yun Yin sighed deeply.
She felt she might be among the unluckiest transmigrators—no money, no home, and still a refugee. Even with martial skills, she couldn’t hunt; she didn’t even know where to find prey. The bamboo rats had been pure luck—who knew if she’d find more?
Thankfully, she had her cooking skills. For now, things were just a bit rough. Once she secured a partnership with Lady Luo, life should improve.
With hope for the future, Yun Yin carried her purchases and headed back toward the woods outside town.