Suppressing the excitement bubbling inside her, Lin Shanyue carefully hid everything inside the cabinet.
After all… wealth should never be displayed openly.
She was alone in the enormous imperial capital now. Just like that man she’d encountered the other day, she could easily become someone’s target at any time. Everything valuable had to be hidden away.
“Young Master, this meat won’t keep for long. I’ll cook it for you today. It still looks frozen… Do you have an ice cellar where you are?”
Huo Yi fell into thought.
She was right. There wasn’t even a refrigerator in her world. Fresh food simply couldn’t be stored.
It seemed he’d have to be more gradual about sending her supplies.
He brushed the question about the ice cellar aside with a vague explanation. Lin Shanyue didn’t press the issue. Once she’d put everything away, she turned to eat her own meal.
Watching her hide things here and there, Huo Yi couldn’t help smiling.
She looked more and more like a squirrel.
Chuckling to himself, he temporarily stopped watching through the mirror.
Lin Shanyue enjoyed a hearty meal herself.
Meat really was wonderful.
At last she’d had something with a bit of fat and richness.
Little Bao was still too young to eat greasy food, so she soaked rice in the radish pork bone soup for him. The rice became soft and tender, and he happily finished half a bowl.
“Such a good boy.”
She smiled as she wiped his mouth.
When she’d first taken him in, she hadn’t decided what role she would play in his life.
But the neighbors—and even the Jiang family—already assumed he was her son.
So…
She decided to go along with it.
A son it was.
From now on, she would live under the identity of Lin Shanyue instead. She also planned to add two years to her age.
That way, she would completely sever herself from “Jiang Shanyue.” The Jiang family would also have less reason to come looking for her.
After lunch, Little Bao took his afternoon nap.
Lin Shanyue returned to the kitchen to continue working.
Madam Liu accepting her Suhe Incense was undoubtedly an excellent start. She wanted to make an especially fine batch for her.
After that, it would be time to prepare dinner.
The meat and ribs the mirror spirit had given her were incredibly fresh.
The ribs could be simmered into soup again.
As for the pork…
The mirror spirit had requested braised pork.
She immediately began preparing it.
“Braising spices…”
She looked over the seasonings he’d sent.
Every single one was top-quality—far better than anything sold in ordinary shops.
Together, they were worth several hundred copper coins.
Then there was the powdered milk…
Was it made from cow’s milk?
But how could milk become powder?
Curious, she mixed some with hot water and cautiously took a sip.
How fragrant…
How sweet!
Lin Shanyue’s eyes widened.
She suddenly possessed so many wonderful things.
A bold—perhaps even reckless—idea slowly formed in her mind.
Feeling slightly guilty, she glanced toward the room before letting out a long breath.
First…
She needed to make the braised pork as delicious as possible.
That entire afternoon, Lin Shanyue stayed busy.
So did Huo Yi.
A foreign customer had unexpectedly walked into the antique shop.
The man wanted a perfectly matched pair of jade pendants as a wedding gift for his son and future daughter-in-law.
Preferably genuine pieces from the Tang or Song Dynasty.
Price was no object.
Old Master Huo personally called Huo Yi, hoping he could secure the deal.
Huo Yi respected his grandfather, so he took the matter seriously.
Unfortunately, after showing everything currently in stock, the customer remained dissatisfied.
“Mr. Huo, that’s all right. We still have time. Please continue searching.”
“These jade pendants carry great meaning for me.”
“I hope to find the perfect pair.”
After hanging up, Huo Yi immediately began calling every contact he had.
But today’s antique market was full of fakes mixed with genuine pieces.
Finding authentic antiques was difficult enough.
Finding exceptional ones was even harder.
Just as Huo Yi was getting a headache over the matter…
The silver mirror reacted again.
“Young Master Huo, are you there?”
He tapped the mirror.
“Mhm.”
“Dinner’s ready!”
Her voice was soft and couldn’t hide her excitement.
Smiling brightly, she passed a plate of braised pork, a bowl piled high with white rice, and a small dish of stir-fried greens through the mirror.
She looked almost as though she were making an offering to a deity.
For some reason…
The irritation weighing on Huo Yi’s heart immediately eased.
He glanced at the time.
The entire afternoon had slipped away again.
Braised pork…
The glossy slices were perfectly layered with lean meat and fat, their rich reddish-brown color making them irresistibly appetizing.
Still…
“Why is it cabbage again? Don’t you have anything else?”
Lin Shanyue blinked.
“Cabbage? You mean songcai?”
In ancient times, napa cabbage was called songcai.
Huo Yi nodded.
“It’s winter now…”
“This is all there is.”
Huo Yi clicked his tongue.
Of course.
Greenhouses didn’t exist back then.
Winter vegetables were pitifully scarce.
He wondered whether he should send her more vegetables…
But considering the miserable little house she lived in, there wasn’t anywhere she could store them.
Maybe later.
“Young Master…”
Lin Shanyue asked carefully,
“What did you think of today’s meal?”
“It was good.”
“Then…”
“May I ask you something?”
Huo Yi paused.
He assumed she wanted more supplies.
“Sure. What do you need?”
Lin Shanyue hurriedly shook her head.
“N-No, I don’t need anything else.”
“I just realized that everything you send is of exceptional quality.”
“I was wondering if I could use some of it to make food to sell.”
“For example…”
“This powdered milk…”
“When mixed with hot water, it becomes wonderfully sweet milk.”
“I think I could use it to make pastries.”
“I just don’t know whether you’d mind…”
Huo Yi stared blankly for a moment.
So…
That was what she’d wanted to ask.
“Do whatever you want.”
“Once I’ve given something to you, it belongs to you.”
Lin Shanyue’s face lit up.
“Thank you, Young Master!”
Huo Yi studied her thoughtfully.
She could have simply relied on everything he sent and lived comfortably.
Instead…
She was still determined to earn her own money.
This young woman…
Really was interesting.
Most of the braised pork ended up going to Huo Yi.
Lin Shanyue kept only a small plate for herself and Little Bao.
After dinner, she prepared a bowl of powdered milk for Little Bao.
People always said cow’s milk nourished the body.
The poor child was painfully thin.
Little Bao clearly loved it.
Holding the bowl with both hands, he gulped it down in one breath.
Soon afterward, his eyelids grew heavy.
Smiling, Lin Shanyue spread out the strange quilt the mirror spirit had given her.
Little Bao quickly fell asleep, sucking on his tiny fist.
The quilt felt as soft as floating clouds.
Lin Shanyue wanted nothing more than to crawl into it herself.
But she couldn’t yet.
She shook her head to stay awake and returned to making incense.
With the mirror spirit’s permission, Lin Shanyue could finally act without hesitation.
Her plan from earlier that day had been to make unique foods to sell.
There was one pastry she’d eaten back at the Marquis’ Manor—
Milk Cake.
It was made by steaming fresh cow’s milk together with glutinous rice.
Wonderfully fragrant and sweet.
It had been Jiang Wan’er’s favorite dessert.
She’d also heard that many ladies throughout the imperial capital adored it.
The problem was…
Fresh milk spoiled easily.
It had to be delivered and prepared the very same day.
It was difficult to obtain.
But now…
She had powdered milk.
Could she make milk cakes with it instead?
She wanted to find out.
She worked deep into the night.
Tomorrow’s batch of Suhe Incense was finally complete.
She carefully washed her hands by the water basin before entering the kitchen.
Making incense and preparing food absolutely couldn’t be mixed.
Everything had to stay perfectly clean.
If her food business really succeeded in the future, she’d also have to separate the work by time.
To make the cakes, the glutinous rice first had to be ground into fine flour.
Then she mixed it evenly with the reconstituted milk.
Oh…
The Young Master had also given her sugar today.
She opened the bag.
Inside were sparkling white crystals, as pure as fresh snow.
She had never seen anything like it.
Even crude brown sugar sold at the market was considered expensive.
Where could anyone possibly find sugar this white…
This fine…
She cautiously tasted a single grain.
Her heart began beating even faster.
Setting aside the brown sugar she’d bought herself, she used the white sugar instead.
After mixing everything thoroughly, she strained the batter, poured it into small bowls, and steamed them.
She remained busy until nearly midnight before finally producing an entire steamer basket of milk cakes.
Unable to wait any longer, she immediately tasted one.
It was even sweeter and more fragrant than the version served at the Marquis’ Manor.
After thinking it over, there could only be one explanation.
The mirror spirit’s powdered milk and sugar were simply superior.
Even the Marquis’ household couldn’t compare.
Joy filled Lin Shanyue’s heart.
Something this delicious…
It was certain to sell.