Su Lele had previously prepared some five-spice powder, mildly spicy sauce, and spicy sauce.
While the fish balls were still hot, she immediately tried making three flavors of fish balls: five-spice flavor, sauce flavor, and spicy flavor.
Just as she finished, she saw her grandfather, mother, and sister-in-law all standing neatly by the side waiting to eat. Even Grandfather was practically drooling.
Sigh… all of them are foodies.
“Come on, everyone try the flavors,” Su Lele said, handing out small bamboo skewers to her family and the servants.
After tasting, everyone couldn’t help but praise it:
“Springy and firm, so satisfying!”
“Spicy and aromatic, lips full of fragrance!”
“No fishy taste, rich sauce flavor!”
“I like the spicy one—hot and satisfying!”
“The spicy one is a bit too spicy, the sauce flavor is just right.”
At that moment, Grandfather said, “I love all three flavors!”
Su Lele couldn’t help but grin.
That really fit the saying: kids make choices, adults want everything.
After tasting, she saved some fish balls for her younger sister and her father and elder brother.
The remaining large plate was instructed to be stored in the cold room for sale the next day.
..
In the evening, the Su family gathered in the courtyard outside the kitchen, happily enjoying spicy crab, braised shrimp, mixed fish stew, braised pork, fish ball soup, and dry pot potatoes. It was a lively feast.
Su Qinghe, usually gentle and refined, was now happily cracking spicy crab together with his father, Su Dong. The rich, spicy flavor was irresistible.
Su Yixing scooped a bowl of fish ball soup for his wife, Li Chuyun, while saying:
“Second Sister really is amazing. The seafood that no one in the capital liked has become delicacies in her hands. These fish balls will definitely sell well.”
“How should we price the fish balls?” Su Lele always liked discussing new products with her family.
She enjoyed this atmosphere—everyone participating equally regardless of seniority.
“Sea fish costs 8 wen per jin, not expensive. But fish balls are labor-intensive, so they shouldn’t be too cheap.”
“Yes, I saw Da Li pounding the fish meat this afternoon—it’s quite laborious.”
“How about 1 wen per fish ball?” Su Qinghe asked.
“That works,” Su Lele agreed. The fish balls were quite large, so 1 wen each was reasonable.
Then she smiled at Su Dong and said, “Tomorrow I plan to go to the estate again. Grandfather, do you want to come along? We can go into the mountains—maybe we’ll find something unexpected.”
“Alright! It’s been a long time since I’ve gone to the mountains,” Grandfather said happily. With his granddaughter, there was always good food. The old friends had been envious of him lately.
“Second Sister, can I come too?” Su Tongtong asked eagerly.
Before Su Lele could answer, her mother immediately refused—she clearly knew her daughter just wanted to skip lessons.
..
The next morning, after breakfast, Su Lele instructed the servants:
“For all customers buying potato chips, remind them that chips will no longer be sold in the future. Recommend the new product—fish balls instead. Limit: 100 fish balls per household per day.”
“Yes, Miss.”
She strictly enforced the purchase limits—partly to prepare for future shop expansion, and partly so more people could try the food.
As the grandfather and granddaughter were about to leave the main gate, they ran into the old Duke of Zhenguo striding over.
The old Duke immediately complained loudly:
“Where are you two going? Old Su, did you save any chips for me? That unfilial grandson ate my last remaining pack! And yesterday, I don’t know which bastard dared to impersonate my Duke’s mansion name to buy chips!”
At that moment, in the Second Prince’s residence, Leng Feng suddenly sneezed loudly.
He muttered to himself: Is someone thinking about me?
Definitely not praising him, right?
“Saved,” Su Dong replied. “We also saved fruit leather and fish balls for you. We’re going to the estate. Just go in yourself.”
“I’m coming too!” the old Duke said immediately. “I haven’t been to the countryside in a long time anyway. Let’s go together—I need to relax! My grandson has been driving me crazy lately!”
So the group of two became three.
On the way, the old Duke kept praising Su Lele:
“Can you be my god-granddaughter? You’re so clever and talented, truly a refined young lady!”
Su Dong immediately objected: “Dream on!”
He practically wanted to hide his granddaughter away. He had just heard about the fish balls—springy, flavorful, addictive—and hadn’t even tasted them yet, but already knew it was another delicacy.
Half an hour later, they arrived at the estate.
Su Lele immediately instructed Uncle Chen to go find Liu Shitou and bring him to the estate.
“Miss Su, my family and Liu Shan’s family have followed your advice and started clearing land. Most villagers also plan to grow potatoes. Luckily, we still had seed potatoes, enough for everyone.”
Liu Shitou was extremely grateful and followed all of Su Lele’s instructions without question.
Hearing this, Su Lele felt relieved.
Then she asked him to take them to explore the back mountain.
The mountains behind Liu Family Village were continuous and lush, with fresh air and beautiful scenery. As they walked, Su Lele took a deep breath.
As expected of ancient times—zero pollution, the air was incredibly fresh.
Soon, they saw red fruits hanging on trees. Su Dong couldn’t resist picking one and taking a bite—only to immediately grimace.
“So sour!”
Clearly, unprocessed fruit couldn’t be eaten casually.
The old Duke suddenly pointed at the ground in surprise.
“Why are there so many spiky, hedgehog-like fruits here?”
Su Lele looked down and then up at the trees.
“Oh… these are chestnuts!”
Seeing the cracked shells revealing brown chestnuts inside, she was about to pick them up when—
“Miss Su, do you recognize these spiky balls? Don’t touch them—the spikes are sharp,” Liu Shitou warned.
“Brother Liu, do you usually eat these chestnuts?”
“Eat them? No one in the village eats them.”
“Granddaughter, are these tasty?” Su Dong asked excitedly.
“Once cooked, they’re soft, sweet, and fragrant.”
The moment he heard that, Su Dong immediately grabbed a basket.
Su Lele quickly stopped him: the outer shell had to be broken with stones—not by hand.
“Got it.”
Soon, they filled two large baskets. There were still many left on the trees and ground. Liu Shitou said there were many more chestnut trees deeper in the mountains—another potential new product.
Su Lele wanted to go deeper into the mountains, but the old Duke and others were tired, so they stopped to rest.
Only Liu Shitou continued with her.
After walking further, she noticed that this area had few fruit trees—mostly tall pine trees, with many pinecones on the ground.
She quickly cracked one open—and her eyes lit up.
Pine nuts!
In modern times, they were expensive delicacies, but here they were just scattered on the ground, ignored.
Liu Shitou silently followed her and started picking as well—he assumed it must be valuable if she was so happy.
“These pinecones contain edible pine nuts,” she said.
“Brother Liu, I plan to buy chestnuts and pine nuts from the village. Please inform the village chief so all households know. Prices: chestnuts 2 wen per jin, pine nuts 100 wen per jin.”
“Alright! I’ll go tell him immediately!” Liu Shitou replied happily.
This meant more income for the villagers.
An hour later, they returned downhill with full baskets, also picking a basket of ripening apricots and peaches on the way.
Back at the estate, everyone was hungry.
Su Lele quickly cooked several farmhouse dishes: braised pork, boiled fish, mapo tofu, and eggplant with beans.
Once again, her cooking conquered the old Duke’s taste buds. Every dish was unique and delicious—he ate until his mouth was full of oil and satisfaction.