The savory aroma of meat, mingled with the fresh scent of crisp lotus root, slipped right out of the propped-open window, tempting Jiang Xiyu, who was leaning against the sill, to drool.
“It smells so good! Are we eating now?” Jiang Xiyu couldn’t stop her hand from reaching toward the mountain of fried meatballs piled high into a little peak.
Xue Li gave a sidelong glance and, with quick reflexes, tapped her on the back of the hand with a chopstick. “This is only the first step, what’s the rush?”
“Who told you to make them smell so incredibly good?” Jiang Xiyu pulled her hand back, rubbing it as she swallowed pitifully. Good things take time, and good food takes time too; she could only console the gluttonous worm in her belly like this.
With a smile in her eyes, Xue Li gently shook her head. She let the leftover oil from frying the Lion’s Head meatballs settle, filtered it clean, and poured it into a small bowl. Although it was best not to repeatedly reuse frying oil, the price of oil wasn’t exactly cheap these days. Since she still wanted to rent a storefront, it was better to be frugal with everything.
She scooped two spatulas of oil from the small bowl back into the wok, then added scallions, ginger, star anise, and cinnamon bark to stir-fry until fragrant. Following a loud sizzle, she poured in a bowl of clear water, a spoonful of oyster sauce, soy sauce, and cane sugar. Only after the broth boiled and developed a rich, mellow color did she add the fried Lion’s Head meatballs one by one.
Gulu, gulu. The broth bubbled and tumbled, with the meatballs swaying leisurely within it, enveloped completely and gently by the sauce. Every inch of their texture was soaked in the braised flavor. As the cooking time deepened, the broth gradually thickened, and a layer of bright, reddish oil floated to the surface of the Lion’s Head meatballs, gleaming brightly like fine Hetian red jade, crystal clear and lustrous.
After simmering for a quarter of an hour, Xue Li scooped out the meatballs and picked out the spices. She then thickened the broth with a cornstarch slurry and drizzled a thin layer of the glaze over the meatballs. Finally, a sprinkle of bright green chopped scallions made the plate of braised Lion’s Head meatballs look even more mouthwatering and vibrant, truly whetting the appetite.
Jiang Xiyu could no longer contain herself. She stared eagerly at Xue Li, and after the latter chuckled and nodded, she immediately picked up her chopsticks, grabbed a meatball, popped it into her mouth, and took an impatient bite. The piping hot juice inside the meat filling burst forth instantly—rich, savory, tender, and melting in the mouth. The crispness of the minced lotus root fully bloomed between her teeth, intertwining with the soft, delicate minced meat like a breathtaking feast for the palate.
For a long while, Jiang Xiyu couldn’t speak, only narrowing her eyes with a face full of intoxication.
Seeing her like this, Xue Li asked with a light laugh, “How is it? Is this inaugural meal delicious?”
Jiang Xiyu nodded vigorously, her cheeks bulging with the steaming hot Lion’s Head meatball. Her eyes shining, she mumbled her praise, “A’li, partnering up with you is truly one of the greatest blessings in this world!”
Xue Li covered her mouth and chuckled softly.
The early spring days were warm, and a full stomach made one drowsy.
After a hearty meal, Jiang Xiyu contentedly clutched her round belly. Tilting her body, she collapsed into a woven bamboo rattan chair, lounging lazily and burping with absolute comfort.
Just now, she had eaten seven or eight braised Lion’s Head meatballs in a row and mixed a large bowl of rice with the thick, rich sauce left at the bottom of the dish. Now her stomach was stuffed, her whole body radiated warmth, and she was at her most prone to drowsiness.
Casually pulling out a cattail leaf fan tucked under her bottom, she tossed it over her face and, with her mouth slightly open, began to doze off.
In her hazy state, she felt the spring breeze blowing gently, crisp and warm, as if even her bones had grown lighter. Just as she was about to fall into a deep slumber and meet the Duke of Zhou, a crisp voice suddenly exploded by her ear, “Wake up! Xiyu, don’t sleep too much, get up quickly!”
Jiang Xiyu jolted violently, nearly tumbling out of the rattan chair. Stumbling as she gripped the armrest, she blearily opened her eyes, her drowsiness lingering as she looked around in bewilderment.
“Ugh! What happened?” she grumbled, looking at Xue Li with sleep-filled eyes.
“Didn’t we agree on this earlier? After lunch, you have to accompany me to the streets to look at storefronts.” The “culprit,” Xue Li, stood under the corridor with a bamboo basket on her arm. The indigo cloth covering it was slightly parted, revealing a glimpse of bright red crabapples.
She lifted the basket slightly, her eyes and brows curved in a smile. “I’ve already washed the fruit for us to quench our thirst on the road. Hurry up and get ready, we’re heading out.”
Jiang Xiyu let out a sigh and rubbed her round belly, complaining bitterly. But unable to withstand Xue Li’s watery eyes staring fixedly at her, she eventually struggled to her feet and painstakingly set off.
The streets in the west of the city were bustling with crowds, and carriages and horses passed by endlessly. Both sides of the street were lined with taverns, teahouses, and silk shops. The carved beams and painted rafters exuded an air of affluence, and occasionally, the shouts of errand boys from the eateries could be heard:
“Freshly baked pea cake, fragrant and tender! Come have a taste, dear customers!”
Xue Li and Jiang Xiyu strolled slowly through the crowd, dodging vendors carrying loads on shoulder poles while looking around for a suitable storefront.
“A’li, how big of a shop do you think we should rent?” Jiang Xiyu asked vaguely, biting into a stick of candied hawthorn.
Xue Li lowered her head in thought for a moment before replying, “If it’s too small, it’ll be hard to move around, but if it’s too big, it will cost too much money… Either way, we need a front hall that can fit a few tables and a kitchen in the back.”
“You say that so lightly. Although this Xingguo Temple area isn’t comparable to the Daxiangguo Temple, it’s still considered a place where land is worth its weight in gold.” Jiang Xiyu clicked her tongue and pointed ahead. “Look, that teahouse changed hands the year before last. I heard the storefront fee alone was thirty strings of cash, which completely scared off several bosses who wanted to take it over.”
Xue Li followed her gesture and saw the teahouse with its high lintel and shiny vermilion paint. It was clearly a premium location.
Knowing in her heart that such a prime location was indeed beyond her means, she dismissed the thought and continued to carefully observe the shops along the street, silently calculating the pros and cons of each place.
The two walked and stopped along the way, inquiring at a few places. If the rent wasn’t too high, then the location was too remote with low foot traffic.
Seeing that the fruits in Xue Li’s basket were all eaten and they had no food left, both of them were feeling parched. Just as they were about to find a stall to buy two cups of plum drink, they suddenly noticed a slightly worn cloth banner hanging in front of an old shop at the corner of the street. The ink was slightly faded, bearing the words “For Rent.”
Jiang Xiyu’s eyes lit up. She turned to exchange a glance with Xue Li, both of them smiling inwardly. She stepped forward quickly and raised her hand to knock on the door. A moment later, a landlord in his forties emerged from inside, looking somewhat shrewd.
“Are you two here to ask about the shop?” the landlord asked, sizing them up.
“Indeed,” Xue Li smiled slightly. “May I ask, landlord, is this shop rented as a whole or divided?”
Seeing her get straight to the point, the landlord realized she was a no-nonsense person and didn’t beat around the bush either. With a smile, he stepped aside and invited them in.
“My shop has always only been rented as a whole.” He pointed inside. “Take a look, ladies. The front hall is spacious and suitable for business, and there’s a kitchen in the back. Although it’s not new, the beams and pillars are sturdy, and there’s no worry of leaky roofs or rat infestations.”
Xue Li stepped inside and inspected it carefully. Although this shop wasn’t as shiny and new as some of the ones on the main street, its advantage lay in its square layout and well-ventilated structure. Moreover, the backyard even featured a small courtyard. If they added a few large vats, they could easily keep fresh fish and live shrimp, which would be extremely convenient.
She paced around and asked casually, “May I ask the landlord, how much is the rent for this place?”
The landlord smiled, extending his fingers to signal a one, and then a five.
“Fifteen strings of cash?” Jiang Xiyu’s eyelid twitched.
The landlord replied unhurriedly, “Don’t be surprised, miss. Although this location isn’t as bustling as the center of the street, it boasts a steady flow of customers, and the spacious backyard makes it a truly great spot for business.”
Jiang Xiyu frowned slightly. “But when I passed by earlier, I saw this shop had been empty for a long time. Why are you still asking for such a price?”
A hint of embarrassment flashed through the landlord’s eyes, and he chuckled. “That’s because the previous tenant had a family emergency and had to rush back to his hometown. That’s why it’s been vacant for a short while. But there’s absolutely nothing wrong with this shop!”
“How come that slightly contradicts what I heard?” Jiang Xiyu looked at him, shaking her head slowly with a leisurely tone. “I heard that recently, a new restaurant opened in this area and business is booming. Several other small eateries were forced to change trades. The fact that your shop has been sitting unrented for so long… Could it be because of that?”
The landlord’s smile faltered a little. “Ah, the young lady is quite well-informed…”
Listening from the side, Xue Li chuckled inwardly. Jiang Xiyu had always been articulate and skilled at bargaining. In just a few words, she had clearly laid out the shop’s weaknesses, putting the landlord in a passive position.
Seeing the timing was right, she seized the opportunity to speak up: “How about this, landlord? We are willing to rent this shop, but the rent still needs some negotiation. After all, we don’t know if we can establish a foothold anytime soon. If the rent is too high and our shop can’t sustain its business, it would be hard for us to continue renting from you, right?”
The landlord’s eyes darted slightly, and after weighing his options for a moment, he finally said, “Since you two sincerely want to rent, I’m not an unreasonable man… Let’s do twelve strings of cash. It really can’t go any lower, but I can allow you half off the rent for the first two months. How does that sound?”
Xue Li and Jiang Xiyu exchanged a glance. Although this place couldn’t compare to prime locations, it was quite suitable given their current budget. Thus, they readily agreed.
Seeing them agree so decisively, the landlord was finally able to rent out the shop. Feeling quite delighted, he personally led them to sign the contract.
Once the contract was stamped and sealed, they stepped out of their new shop. Xue Li let out a long sigh of relief, turned her head, and asked with a smile, “A’yu, where on earth did you learn this bargaining skill of yours?”
Jiang Xiyu raised her eyebrows and patted her gently on the shoulder. “When navigating the real world, how can one throw silver around so easily? Practice more, and one day your bargaining might be even more ruthless than mine.”
Xue Li smiled gently.
She tilted her head up, facing the soft light of the spring afternoon, and watched the landlord take down the “For Rent” banner that had previously hung in front of the door. Golden beams of light spilled onto the red-painted wooden pillars, warm and full of hope, making a quiet sense of anticipation grow in her heart as well.
This time, she would definitely make her business flourish!
April in Bianjing, just clearing up after the rain. The earthy moisture lingering in the streets and alleys had yet to dissipate. Raindrops remaining from the previous night dripped from the crevices of the tiled eaves, splashing onto the ground and forming small puddles. After the ripples spread and faded, the water returned to stillness, reflecting the scarlet silk skirt of a pretty young lady.
The young girl in the scarlet silk skirt wove through the crowd, her eyes red-rimmed and her expression listless.