Chapter Seventy-Four: Thoughts

Chapter 74: Her Thoughts

Lin Qiuran was still pondering when Xiao Xun arrived with the items.

"Should I put these inside?" Xiao Xun asked.

Watching him effortlessly carry the goods, his eyes bright, Lin Qiuran seemed to grasp something. She cleared her throat and said, "See what's in there. Mr. Xu said there are things for Tangyuan."

At this, Lin Qiuran clearly saw Xiao Xun pause, then ask, "Am I allowed to look?"

Lin Qiuran smiled. "Of course, go ahead."

With that, she turned and returned to the kitchen to continue her work. There was nothing to hide.

Xiao Xun watched Lin Qiuran's retreating back, waiting until she was inside before lowering his gaze. He had assumed these were things he shouldn't see.

He carried Xu Yuanhang's gifts to the adjacent room, where Aunt Xu was looking after Ying Jieer, who was about six months older than Tangyuan. Seeing Ying Jieer, Xiao Xun couldn't help but imagine Tangyuan at that age. After playfully teasing Ying Jieer for a bit, he went to the nearby table to examine the contents of the boxes.

The first box was filled with children's toys. After inspecting them, he felt relieved—they were different from what he had brought back, consisting of large seashells and conches.

It was good that Tangyuan had another person doting on her, but duplicate gifts would inevitably lead to one set being unused. As a father, Xiao Xun naturally didn't want his own gifts to be set aside, yet Xu Yuanhang's gesture was well-intentioned, and it wouldn't be right not to use them.

These items were novel. Xiao Xun noticed a string of various shells tied together, though he wasn't sure of their purpose.

He opened another box, which contained a beautiful porcelain set. The porcelain lay quietly, each piece wrapped in paper, with straw padding inside the box to prevent damage.

Xiao Xun picked up one piece—delicate and exquisite, appearing even smaller in his hands.

After a moment, his hand stilled. He remembered a similar porcelain set at home—a matching teapot and cups arranged on a tray, which made the room look beautiful but also somewhat out of place in the otherwise sparsely furnished house.

That, too, had been a gift from Xu Yuanhang.

The fact that it was being used suggested she liked it. If not for today, Xiao Xun might never have realized Lin Qiuran had a fondness for such things.

He gently closed the box and moved it to a corner to prevent anyone from bumping into it.

Outside, birds chirped. Aunt Xu was playing with Ying Jieer, who laughed easily. Xiao Xun glanced at her, forcing himself to untangle the jumbled thoughts in his mind.

Xu Yuanhang had always been courteous, and Qiuran had never overstepped any boundaries. They were business partners and shared a respectful friendship.

Even thinking this, Xiao Xun felt a pang of bitterness. Even if Xu Yuanhang was like this, he didn't like it. But if he objected, what position would that put Lin Qiuran in?

When Xiao Xun was away, Xu Yuanhang had been the one to help. He could assist Qiuran greatly, which in turn helped the Xiao family. Xu Yuanhang was very kind to Tangyuan, always remembering to bring gifts when he visited.

Xiao Xun was back now, in Xuzhou, and recently there had been unrest in the northern frontier... As long as Xu Yuanhang treated them well, that was enough.

In the future, it would simply mean another person sending Lin Qiuran beautiful porcelain.

He was Lin Qiuran's husband, yet he hadn't fulfilled many of a husband's duties.

Xiao Xun glanced at Ying Jieer again. He was beginning to miss Tangyuan.

There was nothing else to do here, so he decided to take the items home to avoid them getting damaged in the dark.

Xiao Xun went to the kitchen door. "Qiuran."

Lin Qiuran was stir-frying. She glanced behind Xiao Xun and asked, "What is it?"

Xiao Xun managed a weak smile. "Mr. Xu brought some toys for Tangyuan and a set of teaware. I'm worried they might get damaged, so I'll take them home first."

Lin Qiuran nodded. "Alright. Come back later to get food for Mother and the others. You can decide whether to eat at home or here."

If Xiao Xun ate at home, Lin Qiuran would serve him a larger portion.

Usually, Lin Xia came to fetch the food. With Xiao Xun present, the two could focus on the child and do other things.

Xiao Xun said, "I'll come back to eat."

With that, he carried the items home.

After he left, Wan Niang couldn't help but remark, "Your husband certainly listens to you."

Lin Qiuran smiled. "What, doesn't Zhao Shi listen to you? I see him coming to fetch you every day."

Zhao Shi had a good temperament. Sometimes, Lin Qiuran even felt their relationship was harmonious and pleasant to witness.

*

Xiao Xun soon arrived home. There were always people at the Xiao house. Today, Sun Shi and Xiao Dashi were both there. Tangyuan was asleep. Seeing Xiao Xun carrying things, Xiao Dashi couldn't help but ask, "What are you carrying?"

Xiao Xun glanced at the items in his hands. "Mr. Xu visited and brought some toys for Tangyuan."

He didn't mention the teacups.

Xiao Dashi nodded. "Mr. Xu is truly a good person. He usually takes good care of our family. He even came for Tangyuan's full moon celebration and gave a gold lock."

Xiao Dashi's attitude toward Xu Yuanhang was different from his attitude toward Shopkeeper Shi and the others. Shopkeeper Shi's family was poor, and Lu Fan and the others weren't married yet, so he had to be cautious.

But Xu Yuanhang was different. Xiao Dashi greatly respected Xu Yuanhang—rich, generous, and straightforward. He felt that, given Xu Yuanhang's family wealth, he might have looked down on Lin Qiuran as a widow in the past. But now that Xiao Xun was back and they had a child, and considering Xu Yuanhang had seen all kinds of women, he was even less likely to harbor other intentions.

Xiao Dashi had been wary of Shopkeeper Shi and the others, but with Xu Yuanhang, he simply thought he was a good person. The Xu family was wealthy, and Xu Yuanhang was young and accomplished.

Hearing this, Sun Shi was startled. She noticed Xiao Xun also seemed stunned and quickly said, "Husband, why are you only talking about Mr. Xu? Xinghua also bought a lock for Tangyuan, and Shopkeeper Shi and the others even chipped in to buy one."

Lin Qiuran indeed hadn't mentioned this. For one, it had been a long time, and she was afraid the lock might get lost, so she didn't put it on Tangyuan. She had also forgotten about it. Secondly, Xu Yuanhang's social interactions were likely like this. Given the Xu family's status, if they were to give a gift, a silver lock would probably seem cheap.

Besides, Lin Qiuran felt that if Xu Yuanhang truly had feelings for her, Tangyuan was Xiao Xun's child—would he really be this generous?

Xu Yuanhang had never overstepped, and Lin Qiuran wouldn't presumptuously say to him, "I have a husband and a child. Besides business, let's keep our distance." Nor could she specifically tell Xiao Xun, "Xu Yuanhang gave Tangyuan a gold lock. As his father, why don't you do something?" That would just be looking for trouble.

Sun Shi was worried, afraid Xiao Xun might overthink it. "It was for the full moon celebration. Mr. Xu is also in business with Qiuran, so he had to keep up appearances."

Fortunately, Xiao Xun just smiled. "Mother, I met Mr. Xu today. He seems like a good person. I'll go inside now and pick out the toys Tangyuan can use. The ones he can't use yet, I'll put away for later."

Sun Shi nodded repeatedly. "Yes, put them aside for when Tangyuan's older."

She observed Xiao Xun's expression, which seemed normal, and couldn't help but scold Xiao Dashi. "What are you going on about? You talk too much."

Xiao Dashi said, "What did I say? He bought a gold lock, didn't he? Can't I mention it?"

Sun Shi was furious. And he kept going!

Sun Shi: "Keep your voice down! There's no need to talk about this. Make yourself useful..."

Xiao Xun carried the items into the room and closed the door, blocking out the outside noise. He sighed. Saying he didn't mind would be lying. Too much had happened while he was away, much of which he didn't know and had no way of finding out.

Xu Yuanhang had bought a gold lock for Tangyuan.

He wondered how someone could willingly treat another person so well.

But after wondering, Xiao Xun thought again—perhaps he hadn't done enough, which was why he felt this way. Mr. Xu might also wonder why a father was so busy, unable to return home for days, not even present for Tangyuan's full moon celebration.

Xiao Xun sighed again, putting things away and sorting out the toys.

He glanced at the tea set, tidied up the room for a while, then returned to the eatery. First, he delivered meals to Sun Shi and the others, then went back to eat.

When he returned, there were still customers in the eatery, but those on the second floor had already finished eating. Zhao Xing and the others had cleaned up, and the customers on the first floor were still eating. Lin Qiuran no longer needed to cook for customers at the moment.

She took the lamb from the side, sliced it thinly, and marinated it, planning to make cumin lamb for lunch. Now that the eatery was fully stocked with seasonings and fresh scallions and cilantro were available, the dish was sure to turn out flavorful.

This dish was made especially for Xiao Xun.

When Lin Ming and his two companions arrived, Lin Qiuran added two more dishes. Though simple, they were extra.

After all, Xiao Xun was family, and since he had finally returned home, she couldn't serve him a simple meal like last night, when he'd had to eat their leftovers. Today, she wanted to make it special.

As family, Lin Qiuran didn't want to skimp on Xiao Xun. If Lin Xia and the others saw her being neglectful, they might also undervalue him or even dismiss Sun Shi and the others.

Lin Qiuran remembered he had been injured. Since she had time today, she was willing to make a few extra dishes to make things more festive.

There was also a basin of marinated diced rabbit, which Lin Qiuran had asked Zhao Xing to buy from the market earlier. Hunters from the village often sold rabbits at the market, so she bought two, planning to make Spicy Diced Rabbit. Xiao Xun seemed to enjoy spicy food, and Lin Qiuran also liked fragrant and spicy dishes, which made her eat an extra bowl or two of rice.

She planned to use half of the rabbit for lunch and save the other half for Xiao Xun to take with him tomorrow afternoon. Greasy foods kept better and could last a couple of days.

The diced rabbit was deep-fried directly in oil, paying close attention to the temperature. Frequent turning ensured a crispy exterior and tender interior. After frying, it was set aside, and the wok was cleaned. Then, a generous amount of oil was used to stir-fry dried chili segments, Sichuan peppercorns, scallions, ginger, and garlic until fragrant. Lin Qiuran used more chili than rabbit meat for this dish, filling the kitchen with a spicy, meaty aroma that made mouths water.

The fragrance drifted into the courtyard and then to the main hall, where two tables of customers were still eating. One customer couldn't help but look up and ask, "What's that smell? What dish is it? Who ordered it? It smells amazing!"

A regular sniffed the air but didn't look up, replying, "No use asking. Probably someone in the family is back, so they're making something special."

Either the husband had returned, or there were other guests.

Besides, the cook needs to eat, too. With so many dishes they knew how to make, it was common for them to try something new. They came every few days and it was never enough, but the cook had to make the same dishes daily—shouldn't she switch things up once in a while?

The inquiring customer nodded, "Makes sense. But they could add it to the menu too, to make some money."

Some might resent others profiting, but the eatery ought to add more dishes. If a competitor opened next door, they'd probably add more dishes too. Otherwise, with such a large place and such a short menu, it'd be a poor showing.

In the kitchen, Lin Qiuran dished out the food. When cooking, she didn't mentally consult a recipe. With experience, she went by feel with ingredients and seasonings, as if she had an internal scale.

Lin Qiuran asked Lin Dong to see whether the customers were done eating. Unless she was particularly hungry, she preferred to wait for the customers to finish before eating, so they could eat at ease and not rush the customers.

Besides, when the dishes were different, customers would inevitably ask questions.

Lin Dong took a look and came back, "Madam, they're still eating."

Lin Qiuran covered the dishes with a mesh cover, "Then we'll hold off a bit."

Wan Niang was free now, so Lin Qiuran served her meal first—a single serving. Wan Niang usually took her food home, only occasionally staying to eat. With Xiao Xun back, she didn't want to crowd them.

After a while, the customers left, and Lin Qiuran told Lin Dong and the rest to bring out the food and rice.

Xiao Xun came to help carry dishes, too. Since there were many people, the small table downstairs couldn't accommodate everything, so they moved the meal upstairs.

Each dish was in heaping portions. Zhao Xing's mouth watered at the sight, but after being there for a few days, he couldn't pack away as much as on his first day.

After all, he could eat like this every day—no sense in stuffing himself sick.

Everyone sat down, with Xiao Xun taking a seat next to Lin Qiuran. Shopkeeper Shi sat on her other side, and the others sat wherever they liked.

Lin Qiuran said, "We've been working all morning. Let's eat."

The cumin lamb and Spicy Diced Rabbit were placed in front of Xiao Xun, while the other dishes were spread out. Lin Qiuran started eating, and the others dug in.

Everyone had worked hard all morning, including Lin Ming and his two companions. Lin Ming had gone with Shopkeeper Shi on shopping and unloading duties, while Lin Chun and Lin Ying had prepped vegetables in the kitchen.

Having worked as servants for wealthy families before, they knew they couldn't idle about waiting to be told what to do. They understood that they had to jump on tasks to win their masters' approval and secure a better future.

They followed the same mindset at the Xiao family's.

The only difference was that working at the Xiao Family Eatery was really taxing. Back at the Qian family, the kitchen wasn't particularly busy—just three meals a day, with only short busy spells. But at the eatery, there were so many customers. Still, since Lin Qiuran was also busy, they couldn't slack off.

Moreover, it was the first time they'd seen their master out cooking them. The stir-fried cabbage was incredibly fragrant.

Xiao Xun looked at the two dishes in front of him, then at Lin Qiuran. He put some of each on her plate before starting to eat himself. These dishes weren't there last night but were prepared today—clearly for him.

He took a bite of the Spicy Diced Rabbit, getting some chilies and peppercorns in his bite, without minding the spiciness or numbness. The spices and meat mingled perfectly, making it incredibly delicious.

The cumin lamb was even more flavorful, with a richer meaty taste. Xiao Xun quickly went for a second bowl of rice.

With the fragrant braised pork, crispy and tender Ginger Duck, flavorful braised fish, and two spicy, appetizing dishes, everyone ate longer than usual.

Shopkeeper Shi, after finishing his meal, didn't feel like moving. "I've overeaten again. I'll get an earful when I get home."

Being plump was a sign of a comfortable life, but it also meant he grew lazy and got out of breath easily. His wife even complained about his snoring. Overeating like this would surely earn him a scolding.

Xiao Xun glanced at Lin Qiuran. He had overeaten too.

Zhao Xing chimed in, "Well, if you were like Tangyuan's dad, no matter how much you ate, your wife wouldn't say a word."

Lin Qiuran interjected, "Alright, alright. It's getting late. Hurry up and clean so you can leave early."

The eatery only had one small room. Unless, like Shopkeeper Shi, you brought your own chair to lie on, there wasn't enough space for everyone to sleep.

They quickly cleaned up and dispersed.

Lin Qiuran breathed a sigh of relief and said to Xiao Xun, "I need to rest for a while. What about you?"

Xiao Xun replied, "I'll go home to check on Tangyuan."

He had gone back twice earlier, but Tangyuan was asleep both times. Now, the child was probably awake.

Lin Qiuran nodded. Xiao Xun didn't return often, and Tangyuan wasn't at the eatery during the day, so father and son had little time together. It was good for him to spend time with the child now, so Tangyuan wouldn't forget him later.

Xiao Xun nodded, though Lin Qiuran calculated that he had already made several trips back and forth today. No wonder he looked thinner.

From afternoon to sunset, from sunset to night, the streets gradually filled with people and then emptied again. Another busy day had finally come to an end.

Lin Qiuran had worked hard all day. In the evening, Xiao Xun drove the donkey cart, and she rode back with him.

The cart rocked gently, lulling Lin Qiuran into drowsiness. When they arrived home, she rubbed her shoulders and said, "I need to sleep early tonight."

She hugged Tangyuan, pressing her cheek against his. The child was in high spirits. Sun Shi remarked, "Xiao Xun took him out to bask in the sun at noon."

The sun wasn't too harsh this season, but by May or June, it would be too hot for that.

Tangyuan had enjoyed the outing.

Lin Qiuran smiled, played with the child for a bit, and then handed him to Sun Shi. Xiao Xun had already returned to his room, and Lin Qiuran entered hers.

A lamp was lit inside, and Lin Qiuran's eyes fell on the teapot on the table.

Xiao Xun also looked at the teapot, and said, "It was a gift from Mr. Xu. I liked it, so I replaced the old one and brewed some herbal tea. Would you like to try it?"

Lin Qiuran gave a slight nod. She hadn't expected Xiao Xun to do such things.

Putting herself in his shoes—if she were Xiao Xun and he were her, and a woman partnered with him in business while constantly giving him gifts—Lin Qiuran knew she wouldn't have handled it as well as he did.

She even felt like she'd been taking advantage.

Lin Qiuran sat by the table, and Xiao Xun poured her a cup of herbal tea. She took a sip—it was sweet.

Lin Qiuran spoke slowly, "I've partnered with Mr. Xu in the spice business. These spices are used in cooking—adding a little while stir-frying or stewing makes the dishes more flavorful. We've been doing this for half a year now, with profits ranging from dozens to hundreds of taels of silver each month. I developed the spice blends myself. There's also a pastry business..."

Lin Qiuran briefly explained the whole story, including how Sun Shi and the other woman were taken away and how she went to the Jiang family to make pastries. Back then, she had sought help from the Xu family but found no help there.

Xu Yuanhang had been very kind to her and Tangyuan lately, and sometimes Lin Qiuran almost felt unworthy. Yet, she has never forgotten what happened in the past.

Xu Yuanhang is a businessman, and merchants prioritize profit. While there are benefits now, who can say what will happen in the future?

Lin Qiuran added, "Mr. Xu also came for Tangyuan's full moon celebration and gave a gold longevity lock as a gift. Occasionally, when he comes to discuss business, he brings porcelain gifts. There are other things stored in our storage too."

Lin Qiuran wasn't sure why she was saying all this. Perhaps it was because Xiao Xun had replaced her cup—she usually changes it herself whenever there's a new one.

Or perhaps it was because of this pot of tea. Lin Qiuran usually just drinks water and has no idea where the herbal tea came from.

Maybe it was also because she felt Xiao Xun already knew, so she said it anyway.

Xiao Xun poured her more tea and said, "It's good to have more people who care for Tangyuan. There's something I need to tell you too."

Lin Qiuran asked, "What is it?"

Xiao Xun glanced into Lin Qiuran's eyes, then lowered his head. "There's trouble brewing in the northwest. War is coming. I don't know when I'll return, or if I'll return at all. Qiuran, if I..."

Lin Qiuran interrupted him, "What are you saying? This sounds like a will!"