Chapter 42 Eating Fried Rice with Eggs We only live once, what is true happiness? ...

What kind of person is Xie Qi?

In Feng Qiniang's heart, he was polite and courteous, yet distant and unapproachable. He was gentle and had a graceful manner, but this made it impossible for her to ever get close to him.

Ever since Xie Qi passed the preliminary examination and entered Biyong Academy, and was assigned to the tutelage of Doctor Feng, Feng Qiniang has known him. However, after so many years, Xie Qi still treats her with the same politeness as before, as if they had only known each other for three days.

Hearing that Xie Qi was an exceptional calligrapher and painter, Feng Qiniang diligently practiced calligraphy and painting as well. She also heard that his flute playing was incredibly moving, so she begged her mother to hire a female tutor for her to learn the xiao (a type of vertical bamboo flute), hoping one day she could harmonize with him on both instruments. Later, she heard her father praise Xie Qi's poetry as clear, elegant, and full of spirit, possessing great inspiration. She then devoted herself to studying poetry and prose, even asking her brother to include her poems in his collection for his appreciation.

However, Xie Qi had never truly reciprocated her admiration over the years. He never accepted the sachets and handkerchiefs she embroidered, and he would even return the calligraphy brushes she made herself. When she waited for her brother outside the school, her gaze would always linger on him. If classmates teased or made fun of her, he would immediately and sternly stop them. Even when Xie Qi visited his father during the New Year celebrations and encountered her, he never spoke to her alone, only saying, "Disciple Xie Qi wishes Master and his family happiness, health, and peace."

It's difficult enough to even exchange a few words, let alone receive poems, calligraphy, or paintings personally gifted by Xie Qi! Feng Qiniang did indeed secretly collect quite a few of Xie Qi's poems, but those were all stolen from her brother's study—they were all poems Xie Qi wrote to her brother in their correspondence, such as "[Feelings upon revisiting the Moon-Viewing Pavilion in Chenzhou, presented to Feng Da]" or "[Presented to Feng Da while staying at a monastery in Huangshan]".

But now her precious handwriting is blatantly posted in a small eatery. How could she not be devastated?

Feng Qiniang covered her face, turned around and ran away.

Seeing that she had suddenly run away, Shiyi Niang hesitated for a moment between her friends and the delicious food, then stamped her foot and turned around to chase after her, calling out, "Qiniang! Qiniang! Wait for me!"

So their servants also ran out in a flash.

Shen Miao had just washed her hands and came out of the kitchen to greet them when the shop was empty, with only a single fallen leaf swirling in the air. She stared blankly, wondering, "Was I hallucinating?"

How could so many guests have vanished into thin air?

She was completely bewildered, not knowing what had happened. Scratching her head, she had no choice but to go back to the kitchen to keep busy.

Fortunately, another customer came soon after. This time it was not her hallucination, because she recognized the old man with his hands behind his back and walking with measured steps—his surname was Yao. He had come to eat instant noodles on the evening of her opening day. As soon as he arrived, the students from the Imperial Academy who were eating heartily in the shop stood up like mice seeing a cat, bowed to him, and called him Dr. Yao.

Upon seeing these students, their faces covered in greasy soup, he seemed furious. He immediately sternly questioned them, "The dormitories have long been dark and closed. Where did you all come from?"

The students who had climbed over the wall to wander around were so frightened that they scattered like birds and beasts after dropping off their coins.

After that, Dr. Yao often came to eat noodles.

He was one of the few diners these past few days who still ordered some of the noodle dishes on the menu, and he even seemed determined to try every single dish on the menu.

Sure enough, when he came in today with his hands behind his back, he naturally looked up at the menu. His serious gaze swept over the menu from head to toe, finally stopping at "Steamed Soup Dumplings." He coughed lightly and said, "Madam Chen, bring me a bowl of steamed soup dumplings."

Shen Miao poked her head out of the kitchen and replied, "Okay, Dr. Yao, please have a seat. It will be ready in a moment."

Dr. Yao nodded, lifted the hem of his long gown, selected a long table with a view of the street outside the window, straightened his back, and sat down very properly.

After sitting down, he began to make plans in his mind.

Of the dishes on this menu, he had tried everything except for the mutton soup with flatbread and the mutton soup, which he hadn't yet tasted due to his limited funds. The only thing missing was the "steamed flatbread" dish.

The soup noodles made at this small eatery are mostly served in a way that other shops don't have. I didn't know if they tasted good or not, but I thought I'd try other kinds because of the fast-food soup noodles.

After all, he's getting old, and his stomach can't handle eating so much fried instant noodles. He's also always thirsty and wants to eat something light and easy to digest.

Unexpectedly, after eating for several days in a row, he found that everything from Yanzhou fried sauce soup pancakes, mushy soup pancakes, dumpling soup, and dan dan soup pancakes was exactly what he wanted. As a result, Dr. Yao became curious and wanted to try everything on the menu.

When he was a high-ranking official in his early years, his family employed a cook and farmhands, so he was well-off. Later, after he was demoted, he didn't have that much money, so he had to dismiss the cook and start living with his granddaughter, cooking for themselves.

Unfortunately, less than a month after he started cooking in the kitchen, both he and his granddaughter Yao Ruyi lost nearly ten pounds.

Neither of them was fat to begin with, and if things continued like this, the grandfather and grandson would likely die by their own hands.

That day, Dr. Yao and Ruyi stood dumbfounded in the billowing black smoke, staring at the pot lid that had been blown onto the roof beam, the iron pot with its bottom burned through, and the kettle with its spout broken.

He was just looking for a way to save himself when, unexpectedly, Shenji Soup Noodle Shop opened.

He's getting old and needs less sleep, so a few days ago he started queuing up early to buy instant soup noodles. Now he has a lot stocked up at home in a cool, dry place. This ensures that Yao Ruyi, who has been hiding and unwilling to go out since the annulment of her engagement, can have two meals a day.

Even when he's away teaching at the Imperial Academy, Ruyi can still boil some water and enjoy hot and delicious soup noodles by herself.

Dr. Yao felt relieved. He rested his chin on his hand and looked out the window at the bustling street with its endless stream of people. He was thinking that he didn't have to teach this afternoon and could go home a little earlier. If the "steamed soup dumplings" from Chenji were good, he would buy another serving and take it home so that Ruyi could also try them.

Steamed soup dumplings? I didn't know soup dumplings could be steamed! I wonder what they taste like? How can this young lady from the Shen family come up with so many novel ways to make soup dumplings!

Steamed noodles are actually delicious and easy to make.

Shen Miao had already prepared the noodles in advance, so she put them directly into a preheated steamer and steamed them over high heat for about 15 minutes. While the noodles were steaming, she took the hanging pork belly and quickly sliced ​​it into thin slices. Then she chopped the green beans and shredded the ginger. She heated the oil in a wok, added the shredded ginger and stir-fried it until fragrant, then added the green beans and pork belly. She stir-fried the green beans until they were just cooked through and the pork belly until it changed color. Then she added some soy sauce, salt, and water, covered the wok, and simmered it for a while.

Here's an extra point to note: don't cook them for too long. Don't wait until the broth has completely reduced. Intentionally leaving some broth is the key to making these steamed noodles delicious.

By this time, the noodles on the steamer should be almost done. Take them out and mix them with the meat and vegetables in the pot, which are rich in broth, using chopsticks to ensure that each noodle absorbs the broth evenly. Then steam them for a little while longer before eating.

Outside, Dr. Yao had already smelled the aroma wafting out and kept craning his neck to look into the kitchen.

Not only him, but also Youyu, who had already washed the dishes and carried two vats of water, was sent by Chen Miao to rest under the eaves and was staring blankly at the chickens wandering around the yard.

Behind her was a small door connecting the kitchen to the backyard, the door wide open, allowing the aroma of steamed soup dumplings to waft out unimpeded.

She sniffed, then sniffed again, and couldn't help but turn her head to look around. But she still felt a little scared and uneasy in this unfamiliar place, and dared not run around.

Mother has already returned to the outer city. Mother told her to stay here and work, and that she would come back to pick her up before the shop closes. Mother said she should listen to Madam Shen and do whatever Madam Shen tells her to do, and not to act recklessly or run around.

Just now, Madam Chen said to her, "Youyu, go sit and rest in the backyard. If you're bored by yourself, scoop a spoonful of wheat bran from that bag in the corner, add water and mix it well to feed the chickens. I'll call you when I have something to do."

So Yu sat there for a while, clumsily feeding the chickens. When she added water, she accidentally spilled wheat bran all over the ground. Luckily, the three chickens flew over clucking and soon ate all the wheat bran.

After that, she obediently sat back down in the distance, continuing to watch the chickens and dogs. She watched as the chickens took turns flying onto the yellow dog's head, only to be roared at twice by the yellow dog and then clucking as they flew down.

But once the dogs stopped barking, they flew up again.

Madam Shen hadn't called her, so she didn't dare move. She could only lower her head and rub her stomach, enduring the rumbling of her stomach from the craving, while still watching the chickens and dogs in the yard.

At this moment, the yellow-haired dog chased away the chickens again, ran around the yard for a couple of hours as if it were having a blast, and then inexplicably started circling again, trying to bite its own tail.

The other large black dog was exceptionally big, but it was much quieter. It lay on the edge of the porch, not far from her. It lazily yawned, half-closing its eyes, and together with Youyu, coldly watched the yellow dog howling and acting foolishly.

At this point, the steamed noodles were officially ready. Chen Miao lifted the steamer basket, plated them, and the aroma became even stronger.

Yu swallowed hard with a loud "gulp," his hands unconsciously clenching together.

It smells so good...

Dr. Yao looked at the large plate in front of him, filled with intertwined, slender and evenly shaped, dark yellow soup dumplings. The dumplings were wrapped with many stir-fried, glistening slices of meat and chopped green beans, and garnished with scallions. They not only looked beautiful, but also smelled especially delicious.

This aroma is completely different from that of soup noodles cooked in boiling water.

Even before it reached the table, the aroma was enough to whet one's appetite.

He couldn't wait to take a bite with his chopsticks. The soup noodles were smooth and chewy, and it felt like they were jumping between his teeth. Each noodle had absorbed the rich meat juice and the freshness of the vegetables, and the flavor became more and more fragrant the more he chewed.

"Hmm, really good." Dr. Yao squinted his eyes in enjoyment. He first felt the oily aroma of the meat being stir-fried until fragrant, and then tasted the crispness and tenderness of the green beans. The three flavors combined to create a lingering fragrance of noodles.

"Snoring..."

Dr. Yao buried his head in his food and devoured it, finishing a whole plate of steamed dumplings in no time. His aged body was filled with a deep sense of satisfaction. He couldn't help but sigh to himself, "How delightful, how delightful!"

After saying that, he immediately asked Madam Chen to make another serving so that he could take it home for his granddaughter.

After another batch was prepared, Dr. Yao put down an extra five coins and borrowed a large ceramic bowl from Shen Miao to pack the noodles.

Shen Miao saw him off and soon welcomed Bai Laosan, who was obsessed with Zha Jiang Mian (noodles with soybean paste), as well as several other customers she had recognized from her stall. She was busy for half an hour.

When she finally had some free time, she turned her head casually and found that Yu, who was sitting on the veranda in a daze, hadn't moved an inch. It seemed that her bottom had gone numb from sitting. She was sitting blankly with her hands under her bottom, scratching it from time to time.

Thinking she was engrossed in something, she went over to investigate and found Yu engrossed in the aroma of noodles in the air, her mouth watering. When she finally came to call her, Yu complained, sounding aggrieved and slurring her words, "Hungry! Hungry!"

Shen Miao chuckled: "I forgot about you, sorry, sorry. Get up quickly, go inside and wash the dishes the guests just ate from. I'm about to start making dinner. From now on, we'll be having dinner at this time. It's a bit early, but if we wait until dinner time, we won't have time to eat. You'll get used to it after a while."

Yu understood the words "washing dishes," and although he was very hungry, he jumped up and went in to wash the dishes.

Shen Miao glanced at the sky. Before Ji Ge'er and Xiang Jie'er left, she told them to be back around 3:45 PM. It would be about the same time after they finished cooking.

So he washed his hands and began to prepare dinner.

She washed rice and steamed a big pot of rice while making steamed noodles. Now that it's cooked, she took it out and put it in a bowl to cool—because she plans to make fried rice with eggs tonight.

Everyone says that fried rice is best made with leftover rice, but Shenmiao doesn't actually think that leftover rice is necessarily good.

Generally, it's recommended to use leftover rice because it has lost some moisture overnight. Fresh rice usually has a higher moisture content and is stickier and softer. Leftover rice, on the other hand, becomes relatively dry, making it less likely for the rice to stick together during the frying process and allowing it to separate more easily.

Another reason is that as the moisture decreases, the texture of the rice changes. It becomes more elastic, as if it has been slightly "dried." When stir-fried in a pan, this elastic rice can withstand the force of stirring and will not easily break.

However, there is a drawback to using leftover rice for fried rice: the rice becomes harder after the moisture is reduced, and you need to add more seasonings and oil to make it more flavorful, which makes it greasy and not as refreshing.

Therefore, Shen Miao always prefers to use freshly steamed rice from that day to make fried rice.

As long as you control the amount of water when steaming rice, using a little less water than usual, you can still get perfectly dry and fresh rice without having to wait overnight.

This way, you can make whatever you want and eat whatever you want.

Today there was an extra person, and considering her size, Shen Miao did a lot of work, so she added two extra cups of rice when steaming the rice. The rice scoop they used was a small bamboo tube that had been charcoal-roasted. After being roasted, the bamboo wouldn't attract insects or get moldy. Usually, the three siblings and two dogs would use exactly three cups of rice, no more and no less.

While the rice was cooling down, Chen Miao took the opportunity to prepare the ingredients.

Prepare four eggs, a few scallions, a small amount of pork belly, peas, and a suitable amount of mixed vegetables. Crack the eggs open, and pass the yolk back and forth between the two halves of the shell to separate the egg white. Then, put the yolk into another bowl and stir well.

Use whatever vegetables you have at home. Sometimes cooking doesn't have to be too meticulous or follow a recipe exactly; sometimes, you can unexpectedly create a surprisingly delicious combination.

All vegetables and meat should be diced.

Heat oil in a wok, add the egg whites and quickly scramble them with a spatula. Once the egg whites turn white and solidify, remove them and set aside. Heat oil in the wok again, and once the oil is hot, add the rice that has cooled to room temperature. Remove the firewood and turn the heat to low to slowly stir-fry the rice until it is loose and fluffy.

The rice will stick together at first, but as you stir-fry it slowly, the moisture on the surface will decrease. Then, press it down with the back of a spatula and it will quickly separate.

Even without using leftover rice, the grains can be separated. In fact, because fresh rice contains more moisture, the rice fried today has a more glossy color.

After the rice is heated, pour the egg yolk mixture into it separately and stir-fry quickly until all the rice grains are coated with the egg mixture.

Yu had already finished washing the dishes. She placed the bowls upside down in the wicker basket, arranging them neatly. She couldn't help but stand next to Chen Miao and stare at them with wide eyes.

Shen Miao lifted the heavy iron pot and shook it a few times, causing the flames in the furnace to leap up suddenly.

The rice in the pot had been fried to a golden color, and under the intense heat of the stove, it shimmered like golden pearls.

The aroma of eggs and rice was already quite strong at this point.

Yu watched intently, unable to take his eyes off her.

Shen Miao methodically began to add meat, peas, chopped egg whites, and other diced vegetables to the pot and stir-fry them together. As the ingredients were mixed in, the aroma became increasingly intense.

Yu swallowed hard, making gulping sounds in her ear. The sound was so loud that the child didn't know what it meant to hide her mouth. Shen Miao turned to look at her, but all she could see was a pot of rice.

Add soy sauce, salt, and other seasonings, sprinkle with chopped green onions, stir-fry a few times to bring out the aroma of the green onions, and the egg fried rice is ready.

There's still some pork bone broth left in the stockpot. Scoop a few spoonfuls into another pot, bring it to a boil, add some greens and lean meat, a pinch of salt, and sprinkle with chopped green onions before serving. You'll have a delicious and simple lean meat soup to accompany your meal.

Having not rested well these past few days, Shen Miao didn't want to make things too complicated, and wanted to save some energy to deal with the evening's peak dining season. Therefore, tonight's meal was simply lean pork soup and egg fried rice.

Just as Chen Miao was plating the food, the back door creaked open, and Xiang Jie'er's skipping footsteps and cheerful shouts rang out at the same time: "Sister! Sister! We're back! Today, Grandpa Zhou closed the shop and specially took us to the river to catch river shrimp! I caught a crayfish in the ditch, and its claws are so big! Sister, come and see!"

Then came the barking of Thunder and the puppy welcoming the two home, followed by Ji-ge'er's steady footsteps.

She replied from the kitchen, "Okay, I'll come out and take a look in a bit... Perfect timing, you guys go wash your hands and get ready to eat."

The brother and sister washed their hands and came in, only to come face to face with Youyu, who was following closely behind Shen Miao. They were both startled and took a step back, asking, "Who are you?"

Yu couldn't say her own name; she could only call out "ah ah" to them.

Xiang Jie and Shen Ji were both stunned for a moment, then exchanged a silent glance. Even though they were young, they could tell that this tall and strong girl seemed to be something special.

Shen Miao, carrying a large bowl of fried rice, walked past the three people who were frozen in place, looking at each other. She didn't say much, but simply nodded her chin in the direction of You Yu and introduced her to them: "This is You Yu. She will be working for our family from now on. She is young and immature, so just treat her like a little sister and play with her. Don't bully her."

When Xiangjie heard the word "younger sister," her eyes lit up: "She's the younger sister! Then I'm the older sister!"

She immediately walked up to Youyu, puffed out her small chest with a righteous air, and looked up at her, saying, "You have to call me elder sister. If you call me elder sister, I will protect you."

After thinking hard for a while, Yu tried to make a sound similar to "squeak".

The sound was like a mouse squeak, but Xiangjie was still very satisfied. She raised her head and patted her chest, saying, "From now on, I am your elder sister. Don't worry, with me here, no one in this alley will be able to bully you."

Even though she wasn't even as tall as someone else's elbow.

Shen Ji gently tapped her head, mercilessly exposing her shortcomings: "Stop bragging! Last time, I don't know who it was, but they got into a fight with Liu Douhua for some reason. Not only did they lose the argument, but her face was scratched all over. And she was crying... um... um..."

"Brother! Stop talking!"

Xiangjie jumped up in a panic and covered her brother's mouth. Shen Ji even had his nose covered by her, and he almost suffocated. Helpless, he pulled her down, turned around and set up the table in the yard, and agreed perfunctorily, "Okay, okay, I won't say anymore."

Xiangjie wrinkled her nose in dissatisfaction and had no choice but to turn to Youyu and explain in a low voice, "That time was an accident, don't listen to my brother's nonsense. I'm very capable."

Yu didn't know if she understood or not, she just stood there grinning at her.

Shen Ji silently set up the table, then brought four stools and four sets of bowls and chopsticks.

Shen Miao placed the fried rice on the table, served four bowls of soup, clapped her hands, and officially announced, "Dinner's ready!"

The sun had not yet set, and the early summer twilight was much more intense than the spring day, casting a dazzling light on the courtyard. As Shen Miao led You Yu to sit down, looking at the small courtyard without a shady spot, he suddenly thought that next time he went to the market, he should buy a half-grown tree to plant, preferably a fruit tree, such as a persimmon, pomegranate, peach, or jujube tree, which would provide shade and produce fruit.

A jujube tree? If you want to plant jujube trees, you can't just buy one. You have to buy two. After all, "there are two trees outside the wall, one is a jujube tree, and the other is also a jujube tree." [Note]

Then she burst out laughing.

Ji-ge'er looked at her strangely, wondering what his elder sister was laughing about—there was nothing in the courtyard.

Shen Miao smiled and waved her hand; this was a kind of happiness that only she herself understood.

Xiangjie kept insisting on sitting next to Youyu. She was quite satisfied with sitting next to her and even promised Shen Miao, "I will take care of Youyu from now on and I will serve her food."

Shen Miao chuckled, "Then I'll leave it to you."

Xiang Jie nodded earnestly.

But soon, Xiangjie realized she was wrong—Yu didn't need her care at all.

She ate her meal with gusto, finishing the bowl in no time. Then she held the empty bowl, looking at you pitifully. Shen Miao gave her another bowl, which she quickly finished, and then looked at you pitifully again.

Even Shen Miao was stunned for a moment, and hesitated for a second before adding more rice.

In the end, Yu ate a total of four bowls of fried rice with eggs, two bowls of soup, and ate a pear.

The fried rice originally included portions for Lei Ting and Huang Gou, but Yu ate it all himself. Shen Miao had no choice but to get up and go to the kitchen to chop some vegetables and minced meat for the two dogs, and cook some noodle soup to feed them.

Xiangjie was so engrossed in watching Youyu eat that she hadn't eaten much herself. She looked down at her small bowl, then looked up at Youyu, and stared at her with wide eyes at how much she could eat.

Yu was burping as she finished the last grain of rice in her bowl, then smacked her lips with a hint of lingering satisfaction. She stopped looking at you and put down her chopsticks.

After finishing making dog food and noodle soup, Shen Miao came out of the kitchen again and suddenly remembered that Youyu's mother had said that the older Youyu got, the less her son and daughter-in-law liked her. Could the reason be that Youyu was just too big a eater?

No wonder she's so tall.

Next time I cook rice, I'll have to add two more cups of rice.

After the family finished their dinner and rested for a while, dusk arrived. The evening drum of Daxiangguo Temple sounded like ripples on water, and customers began to arrive one after another. The shop quickly became lively, and Chenmiao started working again.

With an extra helper today, she seemed much more at ease. She focused on making noodles, while Ji Ge helped carry them out and collect the money, and Xiang Jie helped clear away the bowls and chopsticks.

As soon as Xiangjie brought the dishes back and put them in the pool, Youyu immediately washed them. After washing the dishes, she could even help Chenmiao pass firewood.

To Shen Miao's great surprise, You Yu actually knew how to start a fire!

It's important to know that in ancient times, keeping a fire burning in these wood-fired stoves was a skill in itself. You had to know how much firewood to add for a big fire, how much for a medium fire, and how much for a small fire, and you had to keep a close eye on it. Sometimes you even had to operate the bellows.

Even if someone is mentally sound, it takes years to hone a good fire-starting girl. She had thought that Yu Yu was not capable of doing such a complex job that required quick reflexes.

Unexpectedly, Youyu actually knew how to start a fire. When Shenmiao said, "Youyu, turn the fire to medium and pull out a large piece of firewood," she responded with an "ah," and then grasped the fire tongs, steadily pulling out the firewood. After pulling it out, she even knew to stir the remaining firewood in the stove to loosen the pile and prevent the fire from gradually going out.

When the shops outside weren't busy for a while, Shen Miao stopped giving orders and observed carefully for a moment. She discovered that You Yu would take the initiative to maintain the fire by operating the bellows. When the fire got too small, she would turn the vents up, and when the fire got too big, she would push them back down a bit, reducing the amount of oxygen entering the furnace.

Seeing that the furnace ash had piled up, she silently squatted down and started to remove the embers. The ash could be used to fertilize the land for growing vegetables, so Chen Miao told her to shovel it all into the vegetable garden.

Shen Miao watched her tend the fire for a while, and seeing how skillfully she did it, she felt it was all worth it. Even if she ate four bowls of rice in one meal, it would still be worth it! She had truly struck gold.

The four of them worked non-stop until 7 PM. Lei Ting had voluntarily gone to the backyard gate to keep watch. Huang Gou didn't sleep in his own doghouse, but instead went to squeeze into the chicken coop with Rong Rong, the little white chicken, and the spotted hen. The shop finally became quieter.

There was no curfew in the Song Dynasty, so the city gates between the inner and outer cities would leave two or three openings for passage. Yu's mother also rushed to pick her up before Shen Miao closed the gate. She seemed reluctant to take the carriage and had walked and stopped along the way. When she arrived, her forehead was covered in sweat and she was panting heavily.

Shen Miao led Youyu out and praised her profusely: "Your Youyu is so capable! Aunt Nian, she didn't break a single bowl today. I told her to rest earlier, but she filled all four water vats and even watered and swept the floor. And today, the swill collector came, and she carried the swill bucket by herself and took it out to exchange for three coins!"

During the Song Dynasty, there were "daily plunderers" who went from street to street to collect swill. They would collect swill from Bianjing (Kaifeng) at a low price and transport it to the countryside to sell to pig farms or to farmers who needed to ferment agricultural fertilizer. This was a very environmentally friendly and advanced method.

This was the first time Aunt Nian had ever heard anyone praise Yu Neng's competence, and she was so excited that her eyes filled with tears: "Really? That's wonderful, wonderful! As long as you're satisfied, Madam Chen, that's all that matters."

She was quite anxious on her way here, worried that Yu might cause trouble or that she might get beaten for not doing well. Now, she can finally relax.

Yu seemed to understand that someone was praising her. Her flat face turned rosy, and she started grinning foolishly at Chen Miao, her wide eyes squinting as she laughed.

After seeing Youyu off and agreeing on the time for her to come to work the next day, Chen Miao turned around and went back. She had just taken off a door panel and was about to close the door when a young man, who was drunk and staggering, walked in, looking dejected.

His blue silk robe with scroll patterns and wide sleeves was wrinkled like pickled vegetables, and a pageboy was with him.

"Madam, two bowls of mutton noodles, please." The page helped him sit down, walked to the counter to order, "and a bowl of Er Chen soup to help you sober up."

"Okay. Please sit down, I'll get it." Shen Miao opened the beverage cabinet, took out a jar for him, and couldn't help but glance at the man.

It looks so familiar.

But there are some things I don't remember.

Perhaps she bought her hand-pulled pancakes when she had a stall in Qiaoshi before? Shen Miao shrugged and went back to make noodles. There was just a little bit of noodles left, which was perfect for today. Once she sold these two bowls, they would be sold out.

With more money in hand, she sold more noodles today, and she was able to work calmly and efficiently throughout the night, leaving her feeling energetic and not tired at all.

While making noodles, she pondered: After closing up shop, should I make some broth and braise some pig's head meat as well? That way, I can offer a new dish tomorrow—braised noodles? Or cucumber salad with pig's head meat?

She finished making the noodles while lost in thought and brought them out, only to see that Ji Ge'er was also somewhat absent-minded, dragging his feet as he lifted the curtain and came out.

"Sister, Xiang'er has been put to sleep."

Shen Miao noticed that something was wrong with his expression, so she asked softly, "What's wrong?"

Shen Ji hesitated for a moment, then lowered his head and said frankly:

“These past few days, I’ve felt stuck while reading… Sometimes I get lost in thought and want to leave my desk. Today, when I went to the bookstore, I stared at the words but couldn’t concentrate. I don’t know what’s wrong with me; I just can’t calm my mind.” Shen Ji felt guilty. His sister was working so hard, yet he wasn’t focusing on his studies. His heart felt like it was filled with water, constantly swaying back and forth.

What a loser.

His voice trailed off, “The results for Biyong Academy will be released in a few days, sister. What if I don’t pass?”

Shen Miao then realized that beneath Ji Ge'er's composed and sensible exterior, he had actually been feeling uneasy all along. She also felt a little guilty; these past few days, in order to keep the shop running smoothly, she had neglected him, otherwise she should have noticed Ji Ge'er's low spirits much earlier.

However, it is already quite remarkable that Ji-ge'er, with his personality, was willing to take the initiative to confide in her.

"Come, sit next to your older sister." Shen Miao pulled Ji Ge'er to sit at the table in the corner of the shop.

With other customers eating, the shop couldn't be left unattended, so Shen Miao simply started talking to him right there.

She gently patted Ji Ge'er's head and said softly, "I'm sorry, I forgot about the results these days. You must have been so worried that you haven't slept well for days. You asked me what would happen if I didn't pass the exam. Well, I'll just tell you, whatever happens, happens."

“It’s alright. If you don’t pass the exam, that’s fine. There’s more than one path in this world. If you still want to study, we can find another teacher. If you don’t want to continue studying, that’s fine too. Your older sister will help you find a skill you like and learn a skill to make a living.”

Shen Miao gently comforted him, but Ji Ge'er felt ashamed and guilty upon hearing this, and his eyes reddened.

"It's my fault for being useless and letting you down, elder sister."

"Oh dear, don't say that." She thought for a moment, "By the way, when my elder sister was in Nanjing, she heard of a man named Xu Xiake."

"Let me tell you the story of this man named Xu Xiake. He was born in Jiangyin, into a very wealthy family of merchants who owned vast fields and numerous shops. His ancestors were all scholars, and his great-grandfather even passed the imperial examination. Yet, despite being from a family of scholars and farmers, his father only taught him the principles of reading and being a good person, not the pursuit of fame and fortune. When his parents learned that Xu Xiake loved landscapes and wanted to travel the world, they wholeheartedly supported him, even selling their family property to cover his expenses."

While Xu Xiake's classmates, family friends, and acquaintances were all pursuing official careers, wealth, and fame, he, with the understanding and love of his parents, climbed Mount Huangshan alone in winter, writing in his travelogue, "On the fourth day, I sat alone listening to the snow melt all day." On the summit of Mount Huangshan, he listened to the sound of melting snow all night until dawn. This experience would surely be difficult for others to understand, wouldn't it? But his elder sister was deeply moved upon hearing it.

Looking into Ji Ge'er's bewildered eyes, Shen Miao said softly:

“Ji-ge’er, we only live once. We shouldn’t let our studies be swayed by fame and fortune, or just focus on achieving a result. You need to understand what kind of person you want to become in this life? What do you enjoy doing most in your life? Your older sister hopes that you will have your own pursuits in life and be able to live a happy life. As for things like getting married and establishing a career, or supporting a family, those are not your responsibilities. You may think that your older sister works very hard, running this small shop all by herself. I’m glad that you feel sorry for your older sister. But, I also want to tell you that your older sister does it willingly. I really enjoy cooking, I enjoy being busy in this little shop, and I just enjoy making money.”

Shen Ji was initially shocked and surprised, but couldn't help but laugh at his sister's last sentence, which was so frank: "I just like making money."

Seeing that he had taken it to heart, Shen Miao smiled.

"When Xu Xiake was traveling, he often encountered hardships such as robbery by bandits, death of companions, and physical ailments. However, he did not stop or give up his ambition. He still measured the world with his own two feet. Even when he suffered from a leg ailment and could no longer walk, he did not give up on himself because his hands could still move. So in the end, he still wrote the very valuable 'Travels of Xu Xiake'."

Shen Miao patted Ji Ge'er on the shoulder, "So, what does it matter whether you pass the exam or not? Don't be discouraged or sad. You've done your best and have a clear conscience. That's enough."

The warmth of his sister's palm fell on his shoulder, light and warm, yet like a breeze, easily wiping away the heavy burden he had imposed upon himself.

He held back the tears welling up in his eyes.

He didn't cry, but someone else in the shop was wailing.

Shen Miao turned around in surprise.

The young man in the shop was crying so hard his hands were shaking. He put down his chopsticks, covered his wrist with one hand, and cried uncontrollably, his whole body trembling. It was as if all the pent-up frustration and despondency in his heart over the years had finally been released like water from a burst dam, thanks to Shen Miao's words.

After that, he cried and laughed, and after a while, he went out the door, crying and laughing and stumbling.

"We only have this one life, so what is true joy? We only have this one life... only this one life... Ha... my life so far has been a joke..."

"Sorry, sorry. Keep the change." Seeing this, the pageboy didn't have time to count the money. He quickly took out a large wad of cash to settle the account, bowed deeply to Shen Miao, and hurriedly chased after her.

Shen Miao and Ji Ge'er exchanged a glance, completely baffled as to what was going on.

How much wine did he drink to get like this? It seems that young people in ancient times also faced a lot of pressure... Shen Miao shook her head.

But after they left, it was time to close the door.

"It's getting late, go back and rest."

The next morning, Shen Miao had already forgotten about the strange customer from the previous night. She got up and opened the door with a yawn. Sure enough, there was a line of customers buying instant noodles in front of the door again, but it was obviously not as bustling as it had been in the previous days. There were far fewer people, and they didn't even need to hand out bamboo skewers anymore.

But unexpectedly, the first one was...

She rubbed her eyes to make sure she wasn't seeing things.

"Ninth Brother?"

Xie Qi stood in the morning breeze and smiled.

At this moment, she looked at Xie Qi with sleepy eyes, but suddenly remembered the diner who had been drunk and crying last night.

She suddenly realized—she finally understood why the person looked so familiar.

That strange-looking guy even looks a bit like Ninth Brother! His eyebrows, eyes, and nose are somewhat similar.

After the instant noodles were sold out and the shop quieted down, Shen Miao finally had a chance to serve Xie Qi, who had bought three servings of instant noodles but hadn't left. She asked curiously, "Is something wrong, Ninth Brother?"

Xie Qi nodded, straightened his clothes, and stood up solemnly, saying, "Madam Shen, regarding this instant soup noodle, my mother and I have pondered it for several days, and finally decided to take the liberty of coming to inquire. I wonder if we could jointly establish a soup noodle workshop specializing in instant soup noodles with Madam Shen? The Xie family would provide the money and reliable servants, while Madam Shen would provide the recipe, as well as any subsequent changes to the flavor and technique of the instant soup noodles..."

Shen Miao's eyes lit up instantly!

Instant noodles were invented centuries ahead of schedule thanks to her. She had been waiting for this opportunity. When the soldiers came to eat them, she started to have the idea of ​​"why not start an instant noodle factory" and thought about it carefully. However, she had no money or connections, so she put it aside. Now that Xie Qi mentioned it, she immediately nodded with her eyes shining: "Okay."

This prompted Xie Qi to say, "I urge Madam Shen to consider this carefully..." which stuck in his throat, unable to be swallowed or spat out.

He widened his eyes involuntarily: "...Madam Shen, this matter is actually of great importance. Our family wants to set up this workshop not to make money in Bianjing, but to set up this workshop in Youzhou. You, you, you don't have to agree rashly. Let me explain it to you in detail. You can agree after you have heard it."

Shen Miao looked at him thoughtfully.

Xie Qi sighed helplessly and said, "Although I am a member of the Xie family, I do not want Madam Shen to suffer any loss."

"Don't worry, Ninth Brother. I love to eat everything, but I don't like to suffer losses."

Shen Miao narrowed his eyes slyly and held up five fingers:

"To be honest, I've thought about this before... Ninth Brother, why don't you listen to my thoughts first: you provide the money, I contribute my skills, no problem. But! I want to own 30% of the workshop. I can ignore the daily operations, but I hope to receive dividends every year."