Chapter 17, Night in Chenzhou (with a small bonus chapter)

It was this one bite that revealed the crispy crust, perfectly fried! The crust crumbled between my lips and teeth, and I was surprised to find that it wasn't bland at all; it had a savory aroma. One bite was oily but not greasy. Before I could savor it properly, the fragrant fried chicken and fried dough sticks inside were coated in a smooth, sweet, milky-white sauce. The sauce was crispy yet sweet, with a hint of sourness, which instantly made the meaty aroma even more intense.

Then, the crisp spring vegetables entered my mouth, like a cool breeze on a hot day, adding a final layer of refreshing coolness to this mouthful of meat and eggs.

When Xie Su came to his senses, he was already silently licking his fingers.

He glanced instinctively at his servants, who were eating even faster than him, like hungry tigers pouncing on their prey, their mouths stuffed full, their lips still smeared with sauce, which they were licking off.

Xie Su suddenly regretted that he should have saved three cakes for himself.

He wanted to send someone back to chase after the servant who delivered the cakes, but felt it would be a bit embarrassing. He turned back to ask for two more to be bought, but the young lady looked ashamed and said, "...Oh dear, it was my first time making cakes, so I tried making fifty. I didn't expect that I made too few and they're all sold out. I'll make more tomorrow."

Shen Miao didn't expect it to sell so quickly.

Even the dozen or so sausages she made, which cost four coins each or seven coins for two, sold out before she even opened her shop, except for one she cut off for passersby to try for free.

The sausages were skewered on bamboo sticks, then scored, and fried on a griddle with hot oil. In no time, they were fried until golden brown and cracked open. Then, they were coated with sauce and fried until the skin was slightly crispy, releasing their aroma that quickly spread for miles around.

This thing is cheaper than hand-pulled pancakes. For four coins, you can get such a big skewer of "meat," which is enough to entice passersby to take out their coins to try it.

Some people even subtly asked her how she cooked the pork, as there wasn't a trace of fishy smell. Shen Miao couldn't possibly share her little secret, since she still had to open a noodle shop later!

He just smiled good-naturedly and said, "Come again tomorrow. I come every day, so I'm not afraid of not getting any."

Some people even asked her in detail what time she would be coming tomorrow, intending to arrive early to wait for her.

As the crowd dispersed, Chen Miao began to tidy up the empty bowls and plates on the table. She put the oil used to fry the sausages back into the food box, tied it into a string, made a knot, and hung it on her arm. She folded the large umbrella and carried it on her shoulder. She piled the stools and stove on the table and carried them with both hands.

It's a bit heavy, but not so heavy that you can't walk on it.

Shen Miao was already quite strong in her past life. Every restaurant owner gets up early to buy a cartload of groceries, which are even heavier! The original owner of this body also did all the housework in the Rong family; she was no longer the pampered young lady Shen from her parents' side. Besides, there were times when she couldn't hire porters on the journey from Jinling to Bianjing, so she carried all that luggage herself. Therefore, after these busy days, she's gotten used to it.

But I guess I'll have to go buy a long carrying pole later!

The plump woman had been a little envious when she saw her shop packed with customers, but later, many of the people who bought cakes also came to buy her tea soup. Shen Miao even took the time to give her a vegetarian cake. So now she happily lent her a hand and winked, asking, "Aren't you waiting for someone to come and pick you up?"

Shen Miao smiled and shook her head: "No, this little bit is nothing."

Just as she was about to get up and move, she saw two children, one big and one small, running towards her from the bridgehead. Ji Ge rushed over and took away all the things on her arms, and even helped carry two stoves with one hand. Xiang Jie also helped carry the stools. In an instant, Shen Miao was left with only a table.

"Why did you all come here?" Shen Miao laughed heartily. "Ji-ge'er, you took too much. Give me the stove."

"I figured they should have sold out by now, so I came over." He knew exactly how many pastries his sister had made yesterday. There was no reason why his sister's excellent skills wouldn't sell. So, Ji-ge cleaned up the house, watched the craftsmen repair the stove and the earthen kiln, and then came over.

“I can carry it. By the way, He Daizhao said that the earthen kiln needs to be dried for five or eight days before it can be used.”

"No, I'll take another one." Shen Miao forcefully took a small stove. "Did you properly see He Daizhao and the others off? They worked so hard, did you give them water?"

"Don't worry, sister, I've already brought him water and even handed him the chisel!"

Shen Miao smiled. "Ji Ge'er is quite clever and thoughtful."

The three of them chatted and laughed as they went back together.

***

The Xie residence is located in Zhonggu Lane, west of Daxiangguo Temple.

Xie Qi was sitting at his desk by the south window reading, while Yan Shu was watering the banana trees under the window with a small bucket. When he looked up, he saw that his ninth brother was holding the book upside down and was staring at it intently.

As Yan Shu sprinkled water into the soil with a gourd ladle, he sighed like an old man. Originally, the journey to Chenzhou City was fine after disembarking from the boat. Apart from losing money twice, taking the wrong road three times, and overturning the cart once, nothing serious happened. Yan Shu and Xie Qi were a bit disheveled, but they still managed to arrive at the home of Xie Qi's uncle, Cui Si Cao.

Cui Si Cao and his aunt held a grand banquet for Xie Qi, but during the banquet, Cui Si Cao burst into tears, saying that his cousin was seriously ill and might not recover. He told Xie Qi to take the six gifts back to Bianjing, and that they would come back in person to break off the engagement.

Since such an unexpected incident had occurred, Xie Qi felt it was both reasonable and emotional to want to see Cousin Cui.

Cui Si Cao said with a mournful face, "That child has a terrible illness and can't be seen by anyone. He's resting quietly in another courtyard. It's best if Ninth Brother doesn't see him."

"It's all because that child was unlucky!" Aunt cried so hard she almost collapsed.

Although Xie Qi had some doubts, his aunt's weeping and grief were undeniable, so he had no choice but to follow her instructions and check the six gifts according to the gift list, and also wrote a letter and sent it home.

That night, while staying at the Cui family's house, he tossed and turned, unable to sleep, constantly thinking: Judging from his aunt's tone, his cousin's illness was unusual. Chenzhou and Bianjing were only a few days' journey by fast horse, so why had he never heard of her going to Bianjing to seek medical treatment? If she wanted to break off the engagement, why did she keep it a secret from the Xie family before the six betrothal rites and the formal engagement?

The Cui family is also a powerful clan in Chenzhou; they are not people who are so ignorant of etiquette.

Xie Qi simply put on his robe and got up, taking Yan Shu, who was so sleepy that her eyelids were barely open, to the courtyard to admire the moon.

He walked along the Cui family's waterside pavilions, gazing at the moon and water, hoping to dispel his pent-up frustration. Unexpectedly, he became so lost in thought that he wandered further and further astray. Before him, tall and lush flowers and trees, with pavilions hidden among them, appeared somewhat desolate.

Xie Qi was about to turn back when he saw what appeared to be chaotic flickering lights and candlelight outside the courtyard wall. He also heard faint, pleading cries: "No! No! Father, I know I was wrong! Don't hit me! Ah—Mother! Save me! Save me..." The voice abruptly stopped, as if something had blocked it, leaving only a muffled sob.

"Gag her!" Cui Si Cao's furious voice carried on the wind. "You shameless idiot, how dare you shout like that? You should have expected this day to come!"

She paused, then gritted her teeth and scolded sharply, "If it weren't for you, you wretched child, taking advantage of your parents' love and deceiving them by saying that once you were married, you would have no more joy in the boudoir and wanted to go to the estate to relax and have fun before your engagement, how could your mother and I have only found out now? You even dared to dream of eloping with that lowly servant! You disregard your parents' years of raising you, the reputation of the Cui family, your father's official standing, and the dignity and future of your other sisters. Why do you expect others to care about your life? Your parents have raised you with all our care, but who knew we would raise such an ingrate!"

Xie Qi and Yan Shu exchanged a glance. Using the thick branches of the flowering trees at the foot of the wall, they climbed up the courtyard wall. The courtyard next door seemed to be the ancestral hall of the Cui family. People inside could not see them, only the flickering candlelight cast on the lattice windows in the dead of night.

The candlelight at night always seemed so huge, like giants with twisted and elongated limbs. In the pitch-black night, it seemed that only that dim light and a few swaying shadows remained, making everything seem eerie and absurd, and making people's hearts pound.