Chapter Forty-Two: I've Ascended to the Clouds, What Can You Do About It?

Several unassuming yet heavy carriages departed from the back gate of the Chen residence before the morning mist had dissipated. There was no farewell, no clamor, only the monotonous sound of wheels rolling over the bluestone slabs. Wang Zhong sat on the head carriage, his back ramrod straight, his face showing a relaxed ease he hadn't seen in years.

"Miss, just two blocks ahead, turn the corner and you'll be there," he said, turning back to the carriage.

The carriage curtain was lifted slightly, and Chen Qing gazed calmly at the familiar street scene rushing past outside the window. "Hmm. From now on, you can just call me Miss. Once you step out that door, there will be no more Miss."

“Yes, Miss,” Wang Zhong replied, his voice carrying a barely perceptible hint of excitement.

Just as Wang Zhong had described, the Hehuan Courtyard was a tranquil haven amidst the hustle and bustle, with white walls and blue tiles. Although the two old Hehuan trees had lost their leaves, their branches still stretched powerfully towards the sky. Zhu Yan was the first to jump out of the carriage, excitedly pushing open the courtyard gate: "Miss, look! This courtyard is so bright and spacious!"

Everyone was busy unloading and moving boxes. Xiao Wu and Pei Xuan, two young and strong men, carried the heaviest boxes, their foreheads sweating but their faces full of smiles.

"Be gentle! This is the lady's jade screen!" Wang Zhong instructed nervously.

Li Yimo silently carried several seemingly light boxes, which were actually filled with gold and silver valuables, into the main room first, and cautiously checked the doors and windows.

As the sun began to set, all the chests and trunks were finally put away. Everyone gathered in the cleaned main hall, somewhat tired but unable to hide their excitement.

Chen Qing looked around and his gaze fell on Zhu Yan: "Zhu Yan, let's have a nice meal tonight. I'll teach you how to make hot pot."

"Hot pot?" Zhu Yan blinked. "Does it mean putting a pot on a fire to cook?"

Chen Qing laughed: "Pretty much, but the way of eating it is special. Xiao Wu, go to the market and buy some of the freshest mutton, with a good balance of fat and lean meat, and ask the chef to slice it thinly. Also buy some cabbage, radish, tofu, mushrooms... Oh, and buy more garlic, ginger, dogwood, and Sichuan peppercorns."

Xiao Wu responded and nimbly ran out.

Wang Zhong asked in confusion, "Miss, dogwood and Sichuan pepper are mostly used for medicinal purposes, this..."

"You'll find out soon enough." Chen Qing kept him in suspense, then said to Pei Xuan, "Pei Xuan, go find a bricklayer and build a similar one in the middle of the main room, just like the stove in the kitchen, but it should be shorter so that a large pot can fit on top."

Although puzzled, everyone acted with remarkable efficiency. As night fell, a new stove had been built in the center of the main room, upon which sat a large, gleaming brass pot. The charcoal glowed red-hot in the stove, and the red oil in the pot bubbled and boiled, filling the entire room with a pungent and rich aroma that mingled with the mellow flavor of the bone broth.

Following Chen Qing's instructions, Zhu Yan arranged the paper-thin slices of mutton and washed vegetables on the low table beside her. She also prepared several bowls of dipping sauce with minced garlic, soy sauce, and sesame oil.

"Sit down, everyone." Chen Qing took the lead and sat down on the soft-cushioned folding chair, gesturing to the somewhat reserved group.

Li Yi was still standing by the door: "Miss, I..."

"There are no outsiders tonight, sit down and eat." Without waiting for a reply, Chen Qing picked up a slice of bright red mutton with her chopsticks, dipped it in the boiling red broth, and the slice of meat instantly curled up and changed color. She dipped it in the sauce and put it in her mouth, squinting her eyes in satisfaction. "Mmm, this is the taste."

Seeing that she had started eating, everyone cautiously gathered around and followed her example, picking up slices of meat and dipping them in the pot.

"Wow! This...this taste!" Pei Xuan's eyes widened at the impact of the spicy and savory aroma. He swallowed it whole and quickly picked up another piece with his chopsticks.

Xiao Wu hissed and gasped as it burned, but couldn't bear to stop: "Delicious! It smells so good! It's much better than the banquets at the manor!"

Zhu Yan carefully placed the blanched vegetables into Wang Zhong and Li Yi's bowls: "Uncle Zhong, Brother Li, please try them."

Wang Zhong took a bite, savoring it carefully, and the wrinkles on his face smoothed out: "Wonderful! This way of eating is novel, and the taste is even more unique! In all my years, this is the first time I've ever eaten something so delicious and hot!"

Even the usually silent Li Yi softened his cold and hard expression after trying it, and silently placed a piece of blanched mutton onto Chen Qing's plate.

Chen Qing laughed: "Eat as much as you want, there's plenty."

Inside, the room was filled with warmth and laughter, a stark contrast to the biting winter night outside.

After a hearty meal, the dishes were cleared away. Xiao Wu, burping contentedly, went to tidy up, while Zhu Yan helped the slightly tipsy Wang Zhong to rest. Pei Xuan inspected the courtyard gate. Li Yi remained on guard under the eaves, his figure blending into the night.

Chen Qing wasn't sleepy, so she strolled into the courtyard. The moonlight was cool, and the cold wind brushed her face, calming her body, which had been burning from the hot pot. She stood under the two mimosa trees, looking up at the silhouettes of their sparse branches against the dark blue sky.

What's the next step?

Just then, the sound of a flute drifted on the wind. At first, it was intermittent, as if testing the silent night, but gradually it became continuous, its tone clear and melodious, carrying an indescribable sense of solitude and loneliness, like a lone traveler trekking through a snowy night.

Chen Qing stopped and listened quietly. The loneliness in the flute music subtly resonated with her current state of mind.

She turned and went back into her room. A moment later, she came out carrying a chestnut-colored guqin. She sat down on a stone bench, placed the guqin on her lap, and gently brushed her fingertips across the strings.

She didn't deliberately try to match the sound of the flute; she simply followed the rhythm in her heart and plucked the strings of the zither.

"Zheng—"

The music was slow and gentle, carrying a hint of unfamiliarity and confusion, like a lost boat searching for direction in the night.

The flute music seemed to pause for a moment, then the tone changed slightly, becoming less cold and desolate and more guiding, like the faint light emanating from a distant lighthouse.

Chen Qing's piano playing gradually caught up, becoming steady and firm, no longer hesitant, but like a newly rooted tree, stretching its branches and leaves in the cold wind, exuding vitality.

A flute and a zither intertwined and harmonized in the air above this small courtyard. No words were spoken, yet they spoke volumes.

After a long while, the sound of the flute ceased first, leaving a lingering melody. Chen Qing's fingertips also pressed on the strings, stopping the last note.

She stood up, holding her violin, and looked at the dark wall next door. There was no more sound from there, as if everything that had just happened was a hallucination. But she knew it wasn't.

The next day, Chen Qing got up very early. She stretched her limbs slowly in the courtyard and said to the bamboo smoke sweeper, "From today onwards, my diet will be lighter, with less oil and salt, and the portions will be halved."

Zhu Yan said worriedly, "Miss, you're still growing..."

"Do as I say." Chen Qing's tone was gentle but left no room for doubt. "Also, go and find me some books and pamphlets about Qingzhou's products and trade."

After breakfast, she took Wang Zhong and Pei Xuan out the door.

The market in the west of Qingzhou City was bustling with people, and the cries of vendors filled the air. Chen Qing stopped at a stall selling sesame cakes, bought three, and shared them with Wang Zhong and Pei Xuan. While eating them herself, she casually asked the stall owner, "Uncle, business is good. I see a decent flow of people on this street, but why does that shop over there look like it's been empty for a long time?" She pointed to a shop diagonally opposite that used to be a bookstore.

The sesame seed cake vendor, a talkative man, sighed, "Ah, that's Manager Liu's bookstore. Business was doing well, but his mother fell ill and he urgently needed money. He couldn't sell the shop, so he had to close it down and go back to his hometown. What a pity for such a good location!"

Chen Qing nodded, slowly walked to the closed shop door, and looked inside through the crack in the door.

Wang Zhong whispered, "Miss, you mean..."

"Let's go in and take a look," Chen Qing said.

Upon finding the brokerage firm and explaining his purpose, the broker, seeing that Chen Qing was dressed simply but had an extraordinary demeanor and that the people accompanying him were also capable, dared not neglect him and quickly found the key to open the door.

The shop was covered in a thin layer of dust, and the bookshelves were askew, making it look somewhat dilapidated. However, the layout was square and open, with a small courtyard and a well at the back.

"This shop has a good location, but it's a bit old," the broker said with a smile.

Chen Qing didn't reply. He walked to the backyard, looked at the well, and measured the size of the yard. He already had a plan in mind.

"How much?" she asked.

The broker quoted a price. Wang Zhong frowned and stepped forward: "Too expensive. This location isn't the worst, but it's not a prime spot either, and given its condition, renovations will cost a lot of money."

After some bargaining, they finally settled on a price that was acceptable to both parties.

As they left the brokerage firm, Pei Xuan couldn't help but ask, "Miss, are we really going to take over that shop? Are we going to open a bookstore?"

Chen Qing shook his head, a glint of light flashing in his eyes: "Let's not open a bookstore. Let's open a restaurant and sell the hotpot we had last night."

"Hot pot?" Pei Xuan's eyes widened.

“Yes.” Chen Qing said firmly, “Uncle Wang, I’ll have to trouble you from now on. Find reliable craftsmen to repair the shop according to my requirements. Pei Xuan, go find reliable sources of goods, the best quality mutton, vegetables, and seasonings. Xiao Wu, you’re clever, go to various restaurants and eateries and see what kind of pots and pans they use, and find out the market prices.”

"Yes!" the three answered in unison, feeling both curious and full of enthusiasm.

In the days that followed, the Hehuan Courtyard and the shop that was under renovation became Chen Qing's main areas of activity. She personally drew up designs for tables, chairs, and specially made pots and pans, and watched the craftsmen make them; she and Zhuyan repeatedly adjusted the broth recipe to make it more palatable to the general public; and she trained the few young men she had hired on how to cut meat and how to serve customers.

Occasionally when I go out, I can hear rumors about the Chen family.

"Have you heard? The third young lady of the Chen family has been causing trouble at home every day since her engagement fell through!"

"Young Master Zhao hasn't left either; he's still living in our Qingzhou City. Isn't that strange?"

"The Chen family has really lost face this time..."

Chen Qing paid no heed to this. The Chen residence was also unusually quiet, as if they had forgotten her existence.

Every night, when she dragged her tired but satisfied body back to the courtyard, the sound of the flute from next door would always rise as scheduled. Sometimes, when she was in the mood, she would pick up her zither and play a tune; other times, she would just listen quietly. The flute seemed to know her busyness, sometimes as stirring as war drums, urging her forward; sometimes as soothing as flowing water, washing away her fatigue.

That night, the sound of the xiao (vertical flute) was exceptionally clear and expansive, like the bright moon rising over the Tianshan Mountains amidst the vast sea of ​​clouds.

Chen Qing sat by the window, and by the light of the lamp, wrote the five characters "Qingyun Hot Pot Restaurant" on a piece of paper. She examined the characters, and the corners of her mouth turned up slightly.

The day the sign for "Qingyun Hot Pot Restaurant" was hung up, it attracted a lot of onlookers from the neighborhood. The name was elegant, but the word "hot pot" left people scratching their heads.

"Hot pot? Is it where you put a pot on a fire and cook it?"

"I heard it was opened by that young lady who recently separated from the Chen family..."

"Tsk tsk, she gave up being a proper young lady to open a restaurant, really..."

Amidst the chatter, preparations for the shop were in full swing. Specially made brass pots with chimneys in the middle, custom-made long tables and benches, and baskets of freshly purchased ingredients arrived one after another. Zhu Yan, along with several newly hired cooks, practiced slicing mutton repeatedly in the backyard; their knife skills, as thin as cicada wings, drew gasps of amazement from onlookers. Pei Xuan was in charge of purchasing, Xiao Wu cleverly ran errands in the front, Wang Zhong oversaw everything, and Li Yi remained hidden in the shadows, ensuring everything ran smoothly.

Chen Qing would come to the shop every day and spend several hours there, personally supervising and adjusting the details. She was still plump, but her complexion was rosy, her eyes were bright, and the calm yet sharp temperament between her brows was completely different from the taciturn eldest daughter of the Chen family in the past.

That day, she was inspecting the newly delivered dishes in the back room when Wang Zhong walked in with a somewhat solemn expression.

"Miss, someone from the manor has arrived."

Chen Qing didn't even look up. He picked up a blue-and-white porcelain bowl and examined the glaze against the light: "Who?"

“It’s Granny Zhou, who works by the old lady’s side. She said she was sent by the old lady to check on Miss.” Wang Zhong’s tone was worried. “She’s in the front hall.”

Chen Qing put down the bowl, dusted off his hands, and said calmly, "Let's go see him."

The front hall was not yet fully furnished and appeared somewhat empty. Granny Zhou, dressed in a dark vest, stood in the center of the hall, surveying the unfamiliar surroundings. Her face was expressionless, but her eyes held a subtle, almost imperceptible scrutiny.

"This old servant greets the young lady." Granny Zhou bowed respectfully.

"No need for formalities, Granny Zhou. Please sit." Chen Qing sat down in the main seat, her tone distant. "What are your instructions, Grandmother?"

Granny Zhou did not sit down, but bowed slightly: "The old lady heard that the eldest young lady is running a shop outside and is worried about her. The old lady said that it is ultimately bad for the family's reputation for a daughter of the Chen family to show her face in public and run a business. If the eldest young lady has any financial difficulties, the old lady can privately subsidize her. It is better not to open this shop."

Upon hearing this, Chen Qing smiled softly, but the smile didn't reach her eyes: "Thank you for your concern, Grandmother. Please tell Grandmother, Chen Qing is no longer a member of the Chen family. Whether I am poor or rich, honored or disgraced, it has nothing to do with the Chen family. As for the family's reputation..." She paused, her gaze sweeping over the empty shop, "...it's always better to earn my own living than to depend on others, or even to resort to trickery and extortion. Don't you agree, Granny?"

Granny Zhou was speechless, a hint of embarrassment flashing across her face. She naturally understood the sarcasm in her words. "Young Miss..."

"Please leave, Granny." Chen Qing stood up, her tone leaving no room for argument. "The shop is about to open, and we're very busy, so I won't keep you any longer. Zhuyan, see the guest out."

“Yes,” Zhu Yan stepped forward and said to Granny Zhou, “Granny, please go back.”

Granny Zhou opened her mouth, but ultimately said nothing more. She sighed, turned, and left. The old lady's advice was rejected without a trace.