Chapter 95

Chapter 95

When Ye Han’s old mother saw the preserved eggs he had brought back, her heart ached with pain.

If it had been meat dishes, it would have been another matter, but these were eggs laid by the livestock at home, and their strange color and pungent smell led her to suspect he had been cheated.

However, she didn’t dare to say anything reckless now, and simply handed out small pieces with chopsticks to everyone, saying, "Let’s taste it and see what it’s like."

Once they tasted it, it was a revelation. Although the smell was sharp, the taste was entirely different and left a lingering, unforgettable flavor.

Ye Han hadn’t bought the preserved eggs on a whim. After bringing them to the academy gate, many students had tried them and found them good, even commenting that the paintings on the eggs were artistic and had composed poems about them. This had prompted him to try them himself.

Moreover, Lin the Idler had also mentioned that to sell such food smoothly, it was best to have tasted it all so that when customers asked, one could answer knowledgeably.

Otherwise, if you went with the items and were asked about them but couldn’t answer, it wouldn’t be ideal.

Ye Han found this reasoning quite sensible and thought that when he had time, he would invite Lin the Idler home for a good meal to thank him for his advice.

Lin the Idler didn’t refuse and was just waiting for the opportunity to eat and drink.

They were all poor families who could only survive by relying on the taverns in the town. He had also done his best to guide Ye Han into the business.

However, before Lin Chunyan opened her shop, it had never been so easy to earn money.

Lin the Idler had been an idler for many years, but in the past, he could only earn eight or nine big coins a day, and many households wouldn’t call for his services.

He had heard from distant relatives that even in ordinary households in prefectural cities and the Imperial City, people didn’t cook at home and instead called for services.

He had envied this, wishing that if more people in their town called for services, there would be more income. Unexpectedly, since Lin Chunyan opened her shop, their delivery service business had gradually improved, and on good days, he could earn over twenty big coins.

After finishing the preserved eggs, everyone was still not satisfied. Ye Han’s wife jokingly said, "I see that these are cured eggs. We have quite a few eggs at home that we were planning to sell to the general store in town."

Ye Han immediately understood his wife’s meaning and gave her a praiseful look, "I think it’s worth trying. Go and pack those chicken and duck eggs."

Encouraged by the affirmation, Ye Han’s wife was very happy and, together with her mother-in-law, selected the chicken and duck eggs, placing them in a small basket.

It had rained frequently these past few days, and the road from home to town was muddy, making it inevitable to step in mud and dirty the shoes, which was quite unpleasant.

Lin Chunyan stomped her feet at the door to remove the mud before entering, but she still dirtied the floor.

Hu Daqiang saw Lin Chunyan’s frustrated expression and laughed cheerfully, "Boss, when we first came, we were the same. I’ll sweep them out in a bit."

No matter how many times Lin Chunyan corrected them, they insisted on calling her ‘Boss,’ and eventually, she let it go.

Lin Chunyan smiled and asked Hu Daqiang to help unload the two buckets from the cart, placing them directly in the hall.

Hu Daqiang could immediately tell it was fresh food but didn’t know what was inside. He happily went to help Erlang.

Lin Chunyan lifted the lid of the wooden bucket, and a light bean fragrance immediately filled the air.

"Is it soy milk?" Tutor Duan asked from afar, and his stomach rumbled in response to his question.

Lin Chunyan shook her head, "It’s tofu pudding, with sweet and savory sauces. Everyone can try both later."

Lin Taohong had already eaten this tofu pudding at home and told them, "I think the savory sauce is delicious. The tofu is smooth, and the sauce is fragrant and savory. Paired with freshly fried dough sticks, the taste is unbeatable."

Just the description made everyone swallow their saliva. Usually, before guests arrived, Lin Chunyan would let them eat something to cushion their stomachs. At this time, they had just opened the door, and it was still early. Lin Chunyan gave them bowls and served two bowls each.

"Try both flavors and see which you like," she said.

Everyone tasted them, and Tutor Duan preferred the sweet sauce, "It’s like eating a dessert and finished in a few bites."

Some white sugar and previously made fruit preserves were added, making it very refreshing.

Zhao Liu and Hu Daqiang liked the savory flavor. They followed Lin Taohong’s example and soaked the dough sticks in the bowl of tofu pudding, making them flavorful. Adding a couple of bites of pickles made this breakfast very satisfying.

Lin Chunyan didn’t let Mrs. Zhang eat these triggering foods, only allowing her to drink plain porridge, fearing her wounds would heal slowly. Mrs. Zhang looked at them with a resentful expression, her mouth watering, "When I’m better, I’ll eat several big bowls."

The bruises on her face had turned bluish-white, and it was estimated that they would completely heal in a few days. After checking, Lin Chunyan put the apron back on her.

Covering it like this made it impossible to tell she had been beaten. Mrs. Zhang felt a bit awkward, "I might as well help out in the back. Isn’t it said that you can’t keep up with washing the dishes?"

Lin Chunyan nodded, "That’s fine, but if your back hurts, don’t push yourself."

"I know, you’re too fussy."

As they were about to clean up the bowls, a head peeked in from the door. Hu Daqiang saw it and hurriedly invited the person to come in and eat. However, Lin Taohong immediately recognized him, "Isn’t that Ye the Idler?"

Having come to buy several times, Lin Taohong had become familiar with these idlers and could occasionally chat with them casually.

Ye Han smiled shyly and pushed the basket of eggs in front of him, "These are eggs from our chickens and ducks. I don’t know if you need them here?"

Lin Chunyan came over, saw that the eggs were quite fresh, and accepted them directly, "If you have more, just bring them next time."

Ye Han breathed a sigh of relief, finding it surprisingly simple. He had been anxious all the way, wondering how to speak.

After leaving the hall, he went back to the delivery window and asked Lin Taohong to scoop him a few bowls of tofu pudding, pairing them with fried dough sticks. He then carried the basket toward the academy gate.

"I heard that in the past few days, many stalls have appeared near the academy gate. The students, if they have a few big coins, will buy food at the gate."

Erlang wasn’t in a hurry to set up his stall; going early meant there were few people on the street. However, hearing this, his heart stirred, and he looked at Lin Chunyan, "Yan Niang, should I try going there too?"

Sanlang was already eager, "I think my crispy fish is so good that many people will buy it."

He was now working with Erlang in town, and Sanlang still often collected fish from nearby to make crispy fish and sell it, earning a dozen or so copper coins daily. Additionally, the business of making dried shrimp from small river shrimp also brought in a good amount.

Lin Chunyan let them arrange things themselves, "Just don’t lose the town business. It’s taken a long time to build up regular customers."

However, she was curious about how the stalls near the academy gate operated, so she followed Sanlang over. When she arrived and saw the scene, she couldn’t help but laugh.

Behind the academy's back door, several carrying poles were placed, and some idle men had already started selling things there. The door had a small gap, just enough to pass a food box through. It was somewhat reminiscent of the entrance of a middle school in later times.

Lin Chunyan watched for a moment and understood the situation. She left Sanlang there alone, instructing him to come find her at the shop if anything happened.

Walking back slowly with Erlang, along the way, she saw a small window opened on the second floor of a courtesan house. A woman was lazily leaning against the window, while her maid slowly lowered a basket. The waiting Mrs. Wei put the food she requested into the basket, which was then carefully pulled back up to the second floor by the maid.

Lin Chunyan noticed that the food inside was freshly made tofu pudding and couldn't help but smile.

Mrs. Wei greeted Lin Chunyan, "Young Madam Lin, the tofu pudding is indeed delicious. We've already made several deliveries this morning."

Lin Chunyan smiled, "You've worked hard too."

Soon they arrived at the stall area. Erlang put the things down, and as soon as Lin Chunyan stood there, the sweet soup granny and Fang Niangzi exclaimed, "We've been waiting for you. We were thinking of going to your shop to find you but were afraid you'd be too busy and disrupt your business."

After the Lunar New Year, the sweet soup granny looked noticeably older, with more white hair. Lin Chunyan smiled at her, "Granny, why did you come out on such a bad weather day?"

The sweet soup granny's husband chimed in, "Why else? If she doesn't come out, her son and daughter-in-law aren't happy. They scold her, so it's better for her to come out and be free."

The granny, used to being teased, just glared at her husband, "You're always here too, old man. You're out setting up a stall as well, so why are you only talking about me?"

The sweet soup granny's husband, a bit embarrassed, laughed and rubbed his nose. Earlier, for some reason, his grandson had been questioned by the academy head and Scholar Song, who came to his house and took the boy for some inquiries.

When he returned, the boy said he didn't want to study anymore and instead wanted to go south to do small business.

This shocked the sweet soup granny's husband. He worked hard every day to support his grandson's studies, so how could he just quit school like that?

The sweet soup granny's husband then dragged his grandson back to the academy, determined to get to the bottom of things.

The academy head sighed and explained everything clearly. The sweet soup granny's husband then realized the foolish thing his grandson had done, consorting with those involved in privately minting money and even trying to implicate his classmates in wrongdoing.

This matter could have been big or small, but the academy head, considering the boy's young age and that he had been misled, only expelled him from the academy without reporting him to the authorities.

After learning this, the sweet soup granny's husband was both angry and distressed, and he fell ill after returning home.

He was too ashamed to mention this to others, especially since the privately minting money was a grave offense. He only said that his grandson wanted to travel south for studies, managing to cover things up.

The couple continued to bicker, which amused Lin Chunyan. She reminded them, "At least wear a straw raincoat for protection. You can't really afford to get sick."

At their stall, they had large oil-paper umbrellas set up, but it was still a bit chilly on rainy days, and not many people came for drinks.

Yet, even just those few people were willing to brave the wind and rain to come over.

As for Fang Niangzi, upon seeing Lin Chunyan, she was extremely affectionate, "Last time, Sweetie's father came back and told me how you taught him how to make that bread oven. We don't know how to thank you."

Lin Chunyan smiled, "Don't mention it. Haven't you made me several sets of clothes and shoes? They fit me perfectly."

"That's nothing. Anyone can make those shoes and clothes, but the bread oven you taught, probably no one in this area knows how to do it."

Fang Niangzi was the type to feel extremely grateful for even the smallest favor and always wanted to repay it. Ever since she taught Mr. Fang the bread oven technique, Lin Chunyan had received countless clothes and shoes.

Even Mrs. Zhang and Lin Taohong benefited, though the materials were average, the stitching was very fine, showing that Fang Niangzi had put in a lot of effort.

After exchanging a few more words, Lin Chunyan returned to her shop, her hair slightly damp, which she didn't bother with.

Mrs. Zhang still poked her head out from the back kitchen, scolding her with a stern face, insisting she drink a large bowl of perilla water before letting her go.

Lin Chunyan happily told her, "Our pumpkin seedlings have sprouted. We didn't waste those seeds."

In a few more days, they would find some sheep manure to fertilize them.

Sheep manure is a good thing. The ewe from their household was brought back earlier, but one sheep isn't productive enough to yield much milk. They would need to ask Mr. Song for another one.

Speaking of sheep milk, Lin Chunyan felt like eating some dairy products. She had promised to make some when she returned.

Mrs. Zhang curled her lip. "You've been working all day and don't know how to rest. When you get back, you're still messing around."

Lin Chunyan put down the flowers she had casually picked along the way and took a basin to soak them in. After washing, they could be steeped in water to drink.

The lotus root starch would take a few more days to be ready. Lin Chunyan noticed it was raining today, and there weren't many people coming to the shop to eat. Most just called for takeout. She thought for a moment and took a food box, putting some stir-fried dishes from the shop inside. She said she was going to visit Li Niangzi.

"We just need to focus on getting the lotus root starch ready. A young wife from a mansion in the city, what she does isn't something we need to worry about."

Mrs. Zhang immediately knew what Lin Chunyan was planning to do but didn't agree.

Lin Chunyan explained briefly, "I just want to deliver some things. Whether I can find out anything is uncertain, but I need to do my best."

"I can't stop you. At least take an umbrella. Don't think the spring rain is harmless."

Lin Chunyan responded and left with an umbrella.

Li Niangzi was the steward of the Wang family's kitchen. She had her own large room, with several jingling keys at her waist. The position was quite lucrative, and she didn't neglect herself. The decorations in her room were elaborate.

When Li Niangzi saw Lin Chunyan, she was very happy, pouring her tea and bringing out some pastries. "I've been telling you to come over! You never do! You must have a reason for coming today."

Lin Chunyan pushed the food box forward. "I do have something I want to ask you. How is the young miss in your mansion?"

Li Niangzi nodded knowingly. "The young miss? She went to the city mansion not long ago and is said to be engaged to Erlang of the Earl's mansion."

Then she lowered her voice. "The old lady took out a lot of her private money and sent it with the escort agency. Although she usually treats the young masters and misses in the mansion well, when it really matters, she still favors the young miss."

Lin Chunyan couldn't casually ask about other matters and could only circle around the topic. Li Niangzi suddenly smacked her forehead as if remembering something. "My master wrote a letter saying a young lady from the Prince's mansion particularly likes the tofu skin and dried tofu from our town. The prince even sent people to buy some. Now, they're trying to learn how to make it themselves to save the trouble of coming all this way. But every time they make it, it doesn't turn out well. They asked if I knew how it's made."

Hearing this, Lin Chunyan felt her heart pounding, as if something was about to be revealed. She suddenly thought of those formidable-looking men from the beginning of the year. They bought tofu skin and left without staying long.

The Boatman had also muttered to Lin Chunyan that just by looking at the boots they wore, one could tell they were from the royal family.

Lin Chunyan clenched her fist and tried to steady her voice. "I didn't expect someone from the Prince's mansion to know about my dried tofu. But is it someone from our town?"

Li Niangzi shook her head. "I don't know. My master only said this young lady is highly favored. Since she entered the mansion, the prince hasn't gone to the other young ladies."

Lin Chunyan felt her head explode and involuntarily repeated, "Chao Xiaoniang?"

Her reaction seemed strange, and Li Niangzi nodded, "It's quite a coincidence that this name bears some resemblance to our family's cousin. It's truly serendipitous."

Indeed, it was too much of a coincidence, one "Chao" and one "Wan," this King Zhao really...

Lin Chunyan had intended to inquire about Zhou Wanniang, but to her surprise, she found out about Zhao Xinghua's whereabouts instead.

However, she didn't feel any relief. Instead, her heart felt tightly clenched.

Zhao Xinghua had entered King Zhao's residence and likely wouldn't be able to leave easily. She wondered how such a good young wife was managing now.

On her way back, Lin Chunyan continued to ponder, not noticing the look Li Niangzi gave her as she saw her off.

Back in her room, Li Niangzi took out the contents of the food box. The braised lion's head and shredded pork with Beijing sauce still emitted some warmth. She took small pancakes, placed the meat on them, rolled them up, and put them in her mouth, savoring the meat's aroma.

She had indeed intentionally spoken those words for Lin Chunyan.

She frequently corresponded with Li Daniang, and although she didn't know why, her master always mentioned Chao Xiaoniang.

At first, she didn't pay attention until her master asked her how the dried tofu and bean curd were made, which startled her into realization.

Zhou Wanniang had come to avoid trouble from the prefecture city, and there had been various speculations in the residence, some true and some false, all of which Li Niangzi had heard. Especially with a gossipy Zhao Pozi by her side, who would reveal everything once she drank alcohol.

One rumor said that Zhou Wanniang had been noticed by someone above who wanted to take her as a concubine, but she refused and had returned from the prefecture city.

Li Niangzi didn't know which rumors were true or false.

But it had only been a few months since Zhou Wanniang left, and now they needed lotus root starch, sending a servant specifically for it. This wasn't unusual since Lin Chunyan's skills were excellent, and her lotus root starch was naturally better than others.

What surprised her was that Lin Chunyan had sought her out, asking about Zhou Wanniang.

Just now, she had become certain that Zhou Wanniang must have something to do with King Zhao, and Chao Xiaoniang in King Zhao's residence was also from their town, likely involved.

She didn't know what the mystery was, but she was willing to tell Lin Chunyan as a way to repay her for the culinary advice.

Lin Chunyan returned even more troubled, forcing herself to calm down, slicing green peppers into thin strips, and taking out some bacon to cut into slices, stir-frying them in hot oil.

As the peppers hit the pan, the kitchen was filled with a fragrant smell. Usually, Lin Chunyan would instruct Lin Cuixiang and the others on how to stir-fry, but today she was silent, seemingly lost in thought.

"Big sister, is something wrong?" Lin Cuixiang asked gently.

Lin Chunyan snapped out of it, quickly saying it was nothing, and then carefully explained to them how to stir-fry to make it delicious, feeling the anger in her heart dissipate slightly.

It had already become a fact. She was just a commoner struggling to make a living and couldn't change anything. All she could do was remind Zhou Wanniang and tell her what was happening.

What she did with that information was up to her.

Mr. Zhao looked at the incessant rain outside and didn't want to go out, calling over the Pozi by Mrs. Zhao to buy some food.

Mrs. Zhao had been waiting these past few days for Mr. Zhao to go out so she could buy something for herself. Seeing that he wasn't leaving today, Mrs. Zhao's expression darkened, and she went over to ask him several times.

Not knowing the reason, Mr. Zhao thought Mrs. Zhao was overly delighted and, holding her hand, said guiltily, "It was my fault before, always wanting to eat out. From now on, I'll make sure to stay in and keep you company."

Mr. Zhao had made up his mind; eating some stir-fried vegetables from the small kitchen in the residence wouldn't kill him.

Mrs. Zhao was anxious, "Who needs your company? Having you in front of me all day is annoying. I get upset just seeing you. Why aren't you going out?"

As Mr. Zhao stood at the entrance of the residence, he was still confused, not knowing which sentence had upset his wife, only to be driven out.

Since he was already out, Mr. Zhao decided to head to a food shop. Just as he stepped out, he ran into a Xianhan who came over.

Those who did odd jobs knew Mr. Zhao well; everyone knew he loved eating and was a true glutton. If you brought something to him, it would surely work out.

This Xianhan was new and had been told by others that if you wanted to earn more money, you should go to the homes of these gluttons.

He had waited at Zhao's door a few times, and the lady of the house also loved eating. After running errands for her a few times, he thought this was a good business and came to wait here daily.

Seeing the man holding something, Mr. Zhao waved his hand, "Did you make a mistake? I haven't ordered anything."

The man was a bit foolish and, upon hearing Mr. Zhao's words, quickly explained, "Sir, you don't know. This isn't for you but for the lady of our residence."

Mr. Zhao was even more surprised, "Are you new? Don't you know that my lady dislikes eating outside food and always has her kitchen prepare it? Don't stir up trouble here. Leave quickly."

The Xianhan didn't leave and insisted on arguing with Mr. Zhao, "How could I be wrong? I've come a few times, and each time it was for the food from Madam Lin's shop. Today, I have tofu pudding and pastries, so I brought them over. Could this be fake?"

Mr. Zhao decided not to leave and was determined to deal with this man, so he wouldn't dare cause trouble at the residence gate again.

This argument inevitably called Mrs. Zhao out.

Mr. Zhao tugged at the Xianhan's sleeve and argued for a long time, becoming parched. Seeing Mrs. Zhao come out, he quickly went over to take credit, "This Xianhan is getting more and more outrageous, claiming that you also ordered food. What a joke! Let me teach him a lesson. You don't need to worry, just watch."

Mrs. Zhao's expression was a mix of emotions, turning red and white, glaring hatefully at the Pozi next to her, blaming her for being inefficient and finding such a Xianhan to run errands.

The Xianhan was at a loss for words but, upon seeing the Pozi next to Mrs. Zhao, immediately perked up, rushing forward, "Mother, save me! I'm the one who has been delivering things to the lady these past few days. Don't you remember me? I came as soon as there was fresh food. Please say something for me out of my sincerity."

Mr. Zhao scolded again, "Don't talk nonsense! The mama by my side is not someone you can casually involve. If you continue like this, I'll take you to the authorities and have your job revoked."

Their job as Xianhans wasn't easy to come by. Besides paying a deposit, they also had to pass an assessment. If they failed, they couldn't do the job.

To regulate them, an order had been issued that they must be neatly dressed and hygienic. If a complaint was made by their employer, their job would be immediately revoked.

He hadn't worked for many days and hadn't earned back the deposit for the Wenden, so he was unwilling to give up this business. Upon hearing this, he knelt down with a thud, panic-stricken, and began kowtowing.

Mrs. Zhao felt a deep sense of compassion and stepped forward to take Mr. Zhao's hand. "In the past, you were quite gentle. Why do you have to make such a big deal out of this idler today? Let's go home quickly."

Mr. Zhao frowned and shook his head. "I can let other things slide, turn a blind eye, and let them pass. But this man insists that you requested a summons for him, which is clearly ill-intentioned. I don't know what he might do when I'm not around, so I have to take him to the authorities."

Seeing that the situation might escalate if she didn't reveal the truth, Mrs. Zhao had no choice but to whisper a few words into Mr. Zhao's ear.

Mr. Zhao's eyes widened in disbelief as he looked at Mrs. Zhao. "What? Did you really call for that summons these past few days?"

Mrs. Zhao nodded, somewhat embarrassed. "It's true; I just didn't tell you about it."

She felt a bit shy, as if she had been caught doing something naughty. But then again, she hadn't done anything wrong; she had just called for a few summonses.

Mr. Zhao, however, treated it as something rare and curious, clicking his tongue a few times. "No wonder you didn't eat the shredded pork with sweet bean sauce I brought you that day. You had already eaten."

Mrs. Zhao lightly patted Mr. Zhao. "Since it's already clear, don't say such things to embarrass me, and don't tell Daqiang and Erlang. It would be too shameful."

Once the misunderstanding was cleared up, Mr. Zhao gave the idler a few coins, thanking him for delivering the summons and saying that if there were fresh food next time, he should come again.

The idler, having had a narrow escape, left quickly with the coins, finding a quiet place to digest the situation.

Mr. Zhao didn't go out anymore and followed Mrs. Zhao back inside. Opening the food box, he saw two types of tofu pudding with different sauces, which were now just the right temperature to eat.

They asked the maid to bring chopsticks, and each tasted their preferred flavor. Mr. Zhao couldn't help but squint his eyes. "Madam Lin is indeed remarkable. How can she make everything so delicious?"

Mrs. Zhao nodded. "Indeed, even someone like me, who doesn't enjoy eating much, feels like something's missing on days when I don't eat it."

She then took out an invitation sent from her natal family. "When we go back to give gifts, we'll have to go there to cook a few dishes and bring them back hot to eat."

Mr. Zhao naturally agreed and had already started pondering what food to bring.

A few days later, Lin Chunyan packed the lotus root powder in the kitchen and asked Tutor Duan to help write a letter, which she handed to the Zhou family's errand boy.

The boy, holding several jars of white lotus root powder, felt relieved, thinking that although he hadn't enjoyed good days for long, he would have to leave again, which made him very reluctant.

He had eaten very well in the shop these past few days, better than in some large restaurants in the city, making him not want to leave.

Initially, he was asked to run errands in this town, a task no one wanted, and he was assigned to it. But after coming, his stomach was well-fed.

The boy thought that if there were such errands again, he would grab them, not letting others take them.

Just then, Young Master Wang and two young ladies of the Wang family came to the food shop. Qing'er, finding it novel, looked at the lotus root powder. "This looks nice. No wonder Big Sister Wanniang still remembers it even after reaching the city."

She was lovely and very likable. Seeing Lin Chunyan standing nearby, she reached out to pull her sleeve. "Miss, since you are so close to Big Sister Wanniang, you must be a really good person. Why don't you make some lotus root powder for us?"

Rong'er pulled Qing'er back. "This lotus root powder is very difficult to make, and we have it in our mansion, so there's no need to trouble Madam Lin."

Qing'er pouted. "I think this lotus root powder is different from ours. With Madam Lin's excellent skills, it must be delicious. I don't want much, just a small jar."

Lin Chunyan smiled. "This lotus root is grown in the pond in our village, and there isn't much of it. It has already been made into lotus root powder, and there is really only one small jar left, which the two young ladies can take back to try. There's no more."

As she spoke, Lin Chunyan took out a small jar from behind the counter.

Seeing that there was so little in the jar, Qing'er was unhappy, fearing it wouldn't last long. "Can't you make some more?"

Lin Chunyan shook her head. "There is no more lotus root. If we want to make more, we'll have to find fresh lotus root."

Rong'er was much more composed and sincerely thanked Lin Chunyan. "I didn't know you were so close to Big Sister Wanniang. If she sends another letter, I'll mention it to you."

Lin Chunyan appreciated her gesture, and by then, Young Master Wang had eaten a plate of preserved eggs and asked Hu Daqiang to pack a few more. To those unfamiliar with him, it would seem he treated preserved eggs as ordinary.

But those familiar with him had already seen the excited look in his eyes.

Young Master Wang also mentioned Young Master Hu. "He wrote to me, complaining that he had eaten all the delicious things in the city and that it was better to be in our town, where he could eat more from Madam Lin."

Young Master Hu had been in the city for almost half a year, and Lin Chunyan still remembered his love for food. She couldn't help but laugh and asked Young Master Wang, "Can I send him some things? It would be worth it for all the business he brought me."

Young Master Wang nodded. "Of course, we often exchange letters. It's just a matter of sending some things."

What Young Master Wang didn't say was that he had already asked to send things but deliberately didn't, just to tease Young Master Hu and make him drool over the letters.

Lin Chunyan packed easy-to-carry items, including preserved eggs, dried tofu, and bean curd. She also took out a jar of fish sauce.

Seeing the fish sauce, Young Master Wang listened to how to eat it and decided not to send it. "If I lose my appetite, this will come in handy."

Lin Chunyan had made a few more jars of fish sauce and, seeing this, took out two more. "Since you like it, I still have some. If you want to eat it, just come and find me."

Understanding Lin Chunyan's implication, Young Master Wang laughed. "In that case, I'll send this jar to him."

The fish sauce was placed slightly to the left of the counter, and a few jars were also placed at Tutor Duan's ticket collection area. At first, no one knew what it was for, but after hearing it was fish sauce that could be mixed with rice or noodles, many academy students came to buy it.

Some impoverished students, unwilling to spend several coins three times a day on the idler's food, found this fish sauce to be a cheaper alternative that could last for five or six days if used sparingly.

Seeing that the fish sauce sold well, Lin Chunyan also packed pickles into small jars for the students to buy conveniently.

The steward in the academy's canteen had spoken to the head of the academy several times, asking him to ban students from summoning food. The canteen had fewer and fewer people, and the food prepared each day, apart from what they ate, was mostly fed to pigs, which was heartbreaking.

The head of the academy stroked his beard and comforted his relative. "In the future, just make less food. I've said before to find a good chef. Your food is so bad that I can't bring myself to say it's edible."

"But we can't let the students summon food every day and develop a habit of extravagance."

The head of the academy waved his hand. "It's not that serious. It's just food; it's not that big of a deal."

Finally, the impoverished students returned to the canteen but only asked for staple food, porridge, fish sauce, and pickles, still avoiding the cooked cabbage.

The steward's wife initially thought that with fewer people, they could make less food and raise a couple of pigs, still living comfortably.

However, when Li Niangzi said this, her husband scolded her. "What do you know? If fewer people come to eat here, the private school head certainly won't give us as much money for procurement. Where will we get more money then?"

Mrs. Zhang was startled. "Is that so? Oh no, what should we do?"

It turned out the steward's words were accurate. The private school head indeed reduced their procurement money, just enough for a portion of the people, leaving the two in distress.

Thinking of how much these people loved the fish sauce and pickles, Mrs. Zhang suggested, "Why don't we ask for more money, saying it's for purchasing fish sauce for everyone's meals?"

The steward thought it was a good idea and indeed went to the private school head.

Lin Chunyan listened as Mrs. Feng from the escort agency explained her purpose. "My nephew is getting engaged and wants to invite people to celebrate at home. I know you've opened a shop and probably don't want to cook for others anymore, so I was wondering if you could host it at your shop?"

Lin Chunyan was intrigued. This was essentially a private event. She carefully asked how many people would come and what dishes were needed.

"As you can see, the space here isn't very large, so I'm not sure if it can accommodate that many people."

Mrs. Feng pointed to Old Zhou's shed outside. "I see that space can also seat people. It should work if we squeeze a bit. If it's not enough, we can have each table squeeze a little more."

Lin Chunyan had never hosted a banquet in her shop before and said she would think about it, promising to give Mrs. Feng an answer tomorrow.

Mrs. Feng was afraid that Lin Chunyan would disagree and quickly said, "My nephew's family is also quite well-off. He said that if the banquet could be held in the shop, he would pay two strings of cash for these tables, not including the alcohol."

Hearing this, Mrs. Zhang quickly nudged Lin Chunyan from behind, urging her to agree.

That's a full two strings of cash. In the past, when they were just running a street stall, it would take over half a month to earn that much.

Lin Chunyan waited until Mrs. Feng left before speaking to Mrs. Zhang. "There's no need to be so hasty. We need to carefully calculate the expenses."

Tutor Duan helped Lin Chunyan with the calculations. Mrs. Zhang wasn't good with numbers, so she grabbed some sunflower seeds and went to chat with Jin Niangzi.

Jin Niangzi had finally managed to set up her stall next to their shop. Many people had wanted this spot because being next to Lin Chunyan meant not having to worry about foot traffic.

Just like when Jin Niangzi used to set up her stall nearby, she could benefit even more.

However, Jin Niangzi was also quite fierce. She single-handedly argued with the vendors around her and successfully secured the spot.

She said proudly to Mrs. Zhang, "If it weren't for me setting up next to you before, who knows who would be here now."

The old man next to Jin Niangzi, who sold steamed buns, laughed after watching the commotion for a few days. "That's not entirely true. Everyone was just afraid of your sharp tongue. They were worried that before they even made any money, you'd ruin their business. That's why no one competed with you."

Jin Niangzi was pleased with herself. "Whatever the reason, I'm back here setting up my stall. Look how busy your shop is. It makes me envious."

Jin Niangzi's envy was never hidden. Mrs. Zhang enjoyed talking to such straightforward people. Even though Jin Niangzi had caused her some trouble with a matchmaking scheme before, Mrs. Zhang was only upset for a few days before they made up.

As Jin Niangzi wrapped wontons, she spoke. Her technique was very fast. She spread some seasoned meat filling on a thin wonton wrapper, folded it into small wontons, and boiled them in water. They looked like lively little fish.

Lin Chunyan had even taught her how to make colorful ones, which the young children loved the most.

Sometimes, when the adults didn't feel like cooking, they would bring the children over for a bowl of wontons. They would drink the soup too, feeling completely comfortable afterward.

Mrs. Zhang, still cracking sunflower seeds, started chatting with Jin Niangzi. "That old lady actually said I'm not doing well now. Doesn't she have five or six children? Every day, she's busy arranging marriages for them. After one son gets married, it's the next one's turn. She even has to prepare dowries for them, which has given her white hair. She's just taking her frustration out on me."

The bruise on her face hadn't completely faded, but it wasn't very noticeable if you weren't looking closely. Jin Niangzi chimed in, "I think she's just upset because you're doing well and even helping your brothers from your natal family."

Then, lowering her voice, she asked Mrs. Zhang, "Speaking of dowries, have you prepared anything for your two daughters?"

Mrs. Zhang's heart skipped a beat. In the past, they could barely manage to feed themselves, let alone think about preparing dowries.

But Jin Niangzi's reminder was valid. With the current trend of lavish dowries, marrying off daughters was no easy task. The dowry had to be substantial to ensure the bride wouldn't be looked down upon by her in-laws.

Li Shi was favored by Grandma Lin because of her substantial dowry and skills, making her a desirable match.

However, Li Shi hadn't brought much of a dowry and had been mistreated because of it.

Although she didn't want to speak ill of the elders, whenever she thought about the past, Mrs. Zhang harbored some resentment towards both Grandma Zhang and Grandma Lin. She didn't want her daughters to suffer the same way.

Thinking of this, she stopped cracking sunflower seeds and went back to do some calculations.

However, her math wasn't good, and she didn't want anyone to know how much private money she had. She calculated up to two hundred coins but couldn't go further and had to start over, which frustrated her.

Lin Chunyan had suggested that Ding Hui Niang come over to help with the dishes, with a monthly wage agreed upon, which Mrs. Zhang had initially agreed to.

The kitchen out back was too busy. After helping with the dishes for a few days, Mrs. Zhang's back ached from bending over, which was harder than helping serve dishes in the main hall.

But now, wanting to save more money, Mrs. Zhang couldn't bear to give up the few hundred coins she earned each month. She hesitated but eventually went to talk to Lin Chunyan.

Lin Chunyan was puzzled. "What's the matter? We already agreed to have Ding Hui Niang come and help."

Mrs. Zhang found an excuse to avoid the topic. "If Ding Hui Niang comes, what will happen to her family's troubles? Her father is bedridden."

Lin Chunyan smiled as soon as she heard about eating this. "I thought it was something serious, Mother. Rest assured, that Liu Niangzi is quite righteous and doesn't mind what Ding Hui Niang did before. She even said that Geda can go to their place. Whether it's her or Sister Wei Ruo, they can both keep an eye on him."

Lin Chunyan added, "There are always people at our place too. I think it's also fine to let Geda play with Niuniu from Madam Sun's family. They're old enough and don't need constant supervision anyway. The adults can work nearby without any issues."