Su Taifu waved his hand in refusal. “It’s not easy for you to run a small business. How can you just give these away?”
“But young lady, your number plates are quite novel. Were these all your ideas?”
He carefully examined both sides of the number plate, clicking his tongue in admiration.
Having traveled extensively for decades in his youth, he had never encountered such an ingenious person. This young girl was remarkable!
Gu Yanxi smiled faintly. “They’re just ordinary bamboo pieces. I merely wanted to make things easier for myself~”
“You’re being modest, young lady.” Su Taifu set down the number plate. “In all my years, I’ve never seen anyone make laziness look so clever.”
“Might you teach me how to use these number plates? If they could be implemented in government offices, commoners wouldn’t have to stand in line waiting to handle affairs.”
Gu Yanxi had thought Su Taifu was merely curious about the bamboo pieces, never expecting his concern was for the people’s welfare.
She led Su Taifu to sit nearby and explained all the modern applications of number plates to him.
Su Taifu listened while nodding repeatedly, his gaze filled with admiration for Gu Yanxi.
Their conversation lasted until the sun was high in the sky.
Gu Yanxi stood up to take her leave. “Grandpa Su, it’s getting late. I should return home.”
“Perfect timing! Let me treat you to a meal!” Su Taifu extended the invitation.
Gu Yanxi declined. “Thank you, Grandpa Su, but I need to care for my parents at home and prepare their midday meal first.”
Midday meal?
Hearing these words, Su Taifu’s eyes immediately lit up.
If the young lady’s snacks were this delicious, her main dishes must be exceptional!
Thus, under the pretext of needing clarification on some details, Su Taifu shamelessly followed Gu Yanxi home.
When they arrived,
Both Gu Yanxi and Su Taifu were carrying numerous packages.
Gu Yanxi held groceries, while Su Taifu carried gifts.
Seeing they had a guest,
Gu Guosheng and Zhao Shi hurried out to welcome them. “Oh, you shouldn’t have brought so many gifts! It’s hot outside—please come in and rest with some cool tea.”
“Father, Mother, this is Academy Head Su from Yunchang Academy.”
Gu Yanxi made a brief introduction.
Gu Guosheng and Zhao Shi were filled with respect. They had heard of Yunchang Academy—the third-ranked academy in all of Jingdu.
Neither dared to treat him casually.
While her parents entertained the guest in the main hall, Gu Yanxi prepared the midday meal in the kitchen, with Gu Yu assisting nearby.
The weather was particularly hot today.
Gu Yanxi planned to make hand-shredded chicken salad and Pea Jelly, along with several homestyle stir-fried dishes.
First, she cleaned the whole chicken thoroughly, removed the giblets, and stuffed ginger and scallions into the cavity.
She added water to the pot with Sichuan peppercorns and star anise, pouring in some liquor to remove any gaminess.
After bringing the water to a boil, she simmered the whole chicken for two ke (approximately 30 minutes).
In a smaller pot, she steamed the rice.
Using another large pot, she boiled pork belly to prepare stir-fried pork with green peppers.
Unfortunately, this era lacked fermented bean paste, making the stir-fried pork somewhat lacking in flavor.
It seemed she would need to find time to make some fermented bean paste herself.
Within two ke, the stir-fried pork was ready.
She removed the whole chicken from the large pot, let it cool briefly in well water prepared earlier, then shredded the meat into strips.
In a separate small bowl, she mixed salt, chicken bouillon, and other seasonings—most importantly adding two spoonfuls of secret-recipe chili oil and crispy peanuts. After mixing thoroughly, she drizzled the sauce over the chicken and finished with a sprinkle of chopped scallions.
The remaining giblets were stir-fried with pickled chili and pickled vegetables for a spicy and sour dish.
The aroma of meat wafted far into the distance.
In the main hall, Su Taifu couldn’t sit still any longer. He found an excuse to step out and stood by the kitchen door, inhaling the aromas.
“Grandpa Su, please go sit in the main hall first. The meal will be ready soon.”
“Alright, I’ll help carry the dishes!” Su Taifu grabbed two plates in one hand, murmuring continuously, “Mmm~ fragrant, absolutely divine!”
Gu Yanxi prepared Pea Jelly, Suan La Tu Dou Si, and bitter melon scrambled egg soup before serving the meal.
The table was laden with dishes, each boasting excellent color, aroma, and flavor.
“Our humble home has little to offer for hospitality, Academy Head Su. Please make yourself at home and help yourself to the dishes~”
Gu Guosheng and Su Taifu sat in the seats of honor, their cups filled with a bit of liquor. The atmosphere was entirely relaxed.
Everyone first took a bite of the cold hand-shredded chicken.
The moment it entered their mouths, it was numbing, spicy, fresh, and fragrant. The chicken had been perfectly rid of any gaminess, leaving only the pure meaty aroma. The texture was tender and juicy, not dry at all.
Chilled and cool, though heavily spiced, it was particularly appetizing in the scorching summer heat.
“Little girl, your cooking skills surpass even the chefs at Juwei Restaurant! You could easily open your own eatery!
If you were to start a restaurant, I’d come by every day! Haha!”
After swallowing a mouthful of the hand-shredded chicken, Su Taifu laughed heartily in praise.
He ate several pieces of chicken in a row before finally turning his chopsticks to the twice-cooked pork.
The twice-cooked pork was made with standard pork belly, each slice stir-fried until crispy and fragrant. With one bite, the meat and green peppers entered his mouth together—savory but not greasy, carrying a rich, soy-based aroma.
“Mmm~ this is delicious too! I’ve never tasted such flavorful stir-fried pork!”
A piece of meat, a sip of liquor—Su Taifu ate with immense satisfaction.
He felt immensely grateful for his “shameless” decision to follow the little girl to the Gu Family, or he would have missed out on such a delightful feast!
The rest of the family hadn’t had meat in a long time either. Each person devoured two large bowls of rice with the dishes.
The meal left both hosts and guest thoroughly content.
After the meal.
Everyone sat in the courtyard, enjoying the breeze and cooling off.
Su Taifu and Gu Guosheng chatted about their youthful adventures.
Gu Yu sat nearby, listening obediently.
Especially when hearing Su Taifu’s stories, he grew more excited than Su Taifu himself, as if he were the protagonist of those experiences.
Meanwhile, Gu Yanxi and her mother sat to the side, weaving knots while listening to the casual conversation, chiming in occasionally.
Before they knew it, some time had passed.
The courtyard gate was knocked.
Upon opening it, they found an elderly man.
“Master, this servant has finally found you.”
The visitor was Su Taifu’s steward, Su Guanjia.
Noticing strangers in the courtyard, he greeted each one politely before leaning close to his master’s ear and whispering, “The one from the palace has arrived. Please return quickly.”
Su Taifu reluctantly bid everyone farewell, “I’ve troubled you all today. There are matters at home, so I must take my leave now.”
“Academy Head Su, let’s share another drink another day!”
Gu Guosheng had completely regarded Academy Head Su as a good friend, forgetting all about social hierarchies and feeling not the slightest bit nervous.
“Grandpa Su, you haven’t finished your stories yet. Can you continue next time?” Gu Yu looked at him with hopeful eyes.
“Of course, of course. I’ll come again another day to bother you all. The little girl’s cooking suits my taste far too well!”
Su Taifu left beaming with joy.
He had already made up his mind—he would definitely return!
“What? Can’t bear to see Grandpa Su leave?”
Noticing that her younger brother was still leaning against the doorframe, staring intently even after Su Taifu had long disappeared, Gu Yanxi teased him playfully.
Gu Yu nodded, “When I was young, I heard my teacher tell stories about Grandpa Su. Even then, I regarded him as my role model—I wanted to enter Yunchang Academy and become his disciple!
Never did I imagine… I would actually meet him in person! He comes to our food stall every day to buy snacks!”