Chapter 86 (Stir-fried Pork Liver)

Zhao Shuhong felt so wronged that she wanted to cry when she talked about this. She had been spoiled since she was young. Although her family was a traveling merchant and favored her younger brother, they were also very generous to her. When she first returned home, she thought that her family would definitely not dislike her.

But later, she realized that she had overthought.

Zhao Shuhong is two years older than Yan Qiushu and is actually already married. It was unfortunate that she was captured by bandits. After being rescued by Xiao Huaiting, she was taken back by her biological father and lived with him for a while, but she never waited for her husband to come and pick her up.

Her father went to ask about it and found out that the fact that she was kidnapped by bandits was already known to everyone in her husband's family. Her husband didn't want a woman who cheated on him, so he was reluctant to come and pick her up.

Zhao Shuhong was so angry that she simply took her people and went straight back to her husband's home.

She didn't lose her virginity, and she didn't want to be kidnapped by robbers. She didn't do anything wrong.

But her husband's family treated her very badly, saying all the time that she was unclean and a slut, and that she was openly taking a concubine for her husband.

How could Zhao Shuhong bear it? You have to know that her husband's family could only support a scholar thanks to her family. So she turned her husband's family upside down and beat her husband.

The husband was so angry that he wanted to divorce his wife, but she disagreed and wanted a divorce. Divorce means being divorced, which is unfair.

Her husband's family withheld her dowry and forced her to return home alone, arguing that she had committed one of the seven grounds for divorce. Otherwise, they would not give her a divorce and demanded a certificate of divorce.

Zhao Shuhong sought help from her family at this time, but was rejected because her father did not allow her to divorce.

She felt that doing so would be embarrassing, and was even more afraid that they would expose the fact that she was kidnapped by bandits, which would affect the marriages of other sisters in the family. She also wanted to establish a relationship with her husband's younger brother.

That man passed the imperial examination this time and stayed in the Hanlin Academy in Kyoto to gain experience. But in Wucheng, a place far away from Kyoto, it was already a great success, especially since the Zhao family was in business and had no connections in official circles. The reason why she was married there was because her husband's younger brother had passed the provincial examination early on.

So her father would rather pressure her husband, or even give him some benefits so that he would not divorce and would allow him to take a concubine.

Zhao Shuhong didn't understand, but without the help of her family, she couldn't even take away her dowry. So she gritted her teeth and gave up the dowry. She wanted to go home with the divorce papers, but her father refused to let her in and wanted to force her to go back and apologize to her husband.

She was also stubborn. Since her father didn't agree, she would not go back and would support herself.

Zhao Shuhong was not really penniless, so she rented a house in Wucheng and started a shrimp cake business. Her shrimp cakes were delicious because she loved them when she was a child. Her mother spent money to hire a master chef to teach the chef in the family home, and she learned from him.

The business was originally pretty good, but her father thought it was shameful for a woman to show up in public, and sent people to persuade her to go back many times. People from her ex-husband's side also came to mess things up from time to time, causing her business to fall into disarray, and she began to think about leaving Wucheng.

It happened that Xiao Waiting went to Wucheng to buy local specialties. When he passed by, Zhao Shuhong recognized him and called out to him.

Xiao Waiting is a good man. After hearing her experience, he asked her if she wanted to go to Kyoto.

That's why she appeared in front of Yan Qiushu now.

Zhao Shuhong is brave enough to get a divorce, to grit her teeth and start her own business, and to leave the city and live somewhere else when she encounters difficulties. She believes that she has skills and can survive anywhere, especially since she met the noble man Xiao Waiting.

Yan Qiushu couldn't help but admire him after hearing this.

As a modern person, she is not as brave as Zhao Shuhong, but she feels more distressed because her experience is too similar to that of the original owner, except that the original owner is not as confident as she is.

She was born a concubine's daughter, and the Yan family had strict upbringing. She had been bound by rules since childhood. The family's disowning her was tantamount to killing her.

Yan Qiushu sighed, held her hand, and said sincerely: "Sister Zhao has suffered a lot. Although I don't have any great ability, this farm is not bad. I am also planning to do business. However, I am not good at business. It happens that Sister Zhao can stay here to help. That's great."

"Of course you can stay, Ah Shu. You are so righteous, so I naturally trust you. But what kind of business are you going to do?" Zhao Shuhong reacted quickly. With tears in her eyes, she began to worry: "I took a quick look when I came here. Your farm is similar to the one next door, but there are too few things. I'm afraid it won't be enough for business."

Yan Qiushu smiled and said, "When doing farm stay business, the target of business is those big customers in Kyoto!"

"Hiss!" Zhao Shuhong's eyes widened and she gasped, but she quickly added, "That's right, you are the future young mistress of the Xiao family now, you must have a lot of connections."

Finally, she smiled and said, "When we just separated, I was worried about you. I asked a few others, but no one knew where you had gone. It turned out that you came to Kyoto with General Xiao, and you became a couple. General Xiao told me that you were engaged, which scared me!"

"Ahem!" Yan Qiushu was drinking soy milk. When she heard this, she choked and spat out the whole mouthful of soy milk. Her face flushed red and she asked in astonishment, "Did he tell you on his own initiative?"

"Yes, otherwise why would I come to Kyoto?" Zhao Shuhong smiled and said, "Because I wanted to come and see you."

Otherwise, she could just stay in any suitable city along the way, there was no need for her to come to Kyoto.

Yan Qiushu's heartbeat was erratic, and she quickly smiled and said, "Well, then I'd better tell you what I'm going to do..."

She tried to change the subject, bring the matter back to the farm stay, and express her thoughts.

Zhao Shuhong was stunned for a moment, then expressed her strong agreement. If she could really do business with those officials in Kyoto, she would make a lot of money just by coming and going.

If you don't have too big ambitions, this farm stay can make a few more years of profit and you will never have to worry about food and drink for the rest of your life.

I just have a question, is this the only thing that makes these people come here so often?

Soon Yan Qiushu took her to visit the entire manor. When they were tired, they took a carriage to the food street in the city for lunch.

After this meal, Zhao Shuhong was completely convinced and said shyly: "I was just telling you that I have good cooking skills, but you made all these things!"

Yan Qiushu said helplessly: "My craftsmanship is just average, and these are not my original creations. Someone just taught me, and I just showed it to you."

If it weren't for her golden finger, she would never be able to compare with those chefs who have been in this business for years.

But it's enough.

The atmosphere between the two of them was cheerful, but the Xiao family on the other side seemed to be much quieter.

It was obvious that Yan Qiushu was not a noisy child when she was at Xiao's house.

But as soon as she left, Dongdong and Xiao Pingsong went to school, and Wan'er stayed at home alone, practicing basic skills with Xiao Huaiqi in the morning. The others were also in various courtyards, and this home seemed to have become quiet.

It feels a bit like going back to a year ago.

Xiao Huaiwu, on the other hand, didn't feel anything at all. She just felt very happy. She never thought that the girl who looked pretty but tasted spicy could actually cook, and make such delicious dishes at that!

In front of her was a plate of stir-fried pork liver, which was made by the chef in the mansion according to the recipe left by Yan Qiushu.

When Ah Shu left, she left behind a lot of dried and fresh chili peppers. She told the chefs to use up the fresh chili peppers quickly to prevent them from going bad, but the dried chili peppers could be used slowly.

The chefs followed the Xiao family's master to dine, and their taste for food became heavier. After noticing the flavor brought by chili peppers, they decisively added chili peppers to other dishes.

For example, this stir-fried pork liver.

The pork liver was cut in fancy ways so that every part was covered with condiments, and the side dish was lantern peppers, three colors of red, yellow and green, stir-fried with the gray-red pork liver. The whole thing tasted so spicy that it made her mouth red.

You know, you didn’t get this treatment when eating spicy noodles before.

The texture of the pork liver is a bit doughy but also tough and chewy. The salty and spicy taste covers up the fishy smell. It is so delicious that she wants to cry.

The key is the lantern pepper that she used to look down upon. In this dish, it is cut into square diamonds and coated with seasonings, but the color is still bright.

Xiao Huaiwu tentatively picked up a piece of red lantern pepper, and her eyes widened when she took a bite.

It’s not spicy at all!

It's not that it's not spicy at all, it's mainly because it has the taste of other peppers, but its taste is sweet, a bit like white radish, refreshing and tender, a little sweet but not too much, and it is especially refreshing against the backdrop of pork liver!

If her son were here, would he cry because of the spicy food?

But it was so delicious that she was willing to eat it even if it was spicy!

Xiao Huaiwu ate with gusto, but Mrs. Xiao, who was sitting at the host seat, showed no interest at all.

She picked up the chopsticks and added some meat dishes. The food in her mouth had a stronger flavor from the seasoning and tasted better, but she still couldn't stop the feeling of loss in her heart.

Xie Qingyun used the serving chopsticks to pick up some food for her and said softly, "What's wrong? Are you not happy to eat now that Ah Shu is gone?"

Being teased by her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Xiao said unhappily, "Isn't it? Normally, if this girl were here, she would probably send some food over by now."

It’s not that she was greedy for the food, although it was indeed delicious. But the important thing was that every time Mrs. Xiao received the delicious food made by herself, she would feel comfortable and her appetite would increase.

Since she came, the Xiao family has regained vitality.

Even when she didn't bring food occasionally, like in the morning, or at night when she was busy taking care of the kids, she felt different than she does now.

Xie Qingyun said with a smile: "How about I accompany you to the manor to see Ah Shu this afternoon?"

Mrs. Xiao's mind moved and she actually had some ideas.

Everyone at the table noticed it, and Xiao Huaiwu pretended to be sour and said, "Sister-in-law, when I went to the war, was my mother like this, not wanting to eat or drink?"

Xie Qingyun smiled and said, "It seems not. What's going on? Lao Si, you didn't pick it up, did you?"

Xiao Huaiwu hummed as if she was crying.

Mrs. Xiao glared at her daughter and said sarcastically, "You are not at home every day, you don't like to take care of the children when you are at home, and you practice martial arts all day long. You still have the nerve to say that I don't miss you? Isn't this a habit? Ah Shu is different from you. She has no other relatives. If it weren't for this broken rule, I would not be willing to let her go back to the manor."

"What's wrong? Mother, why are you angry?" Mrs. Xiao had just finished her rage when a young man in solemn official uniform strode in. He only heard the end of what she said and asked in confusion.

Xiao Huaiwu coughed lightly, and realizing that she had offended her mother, she dared not say anything.

Xiao Huaiyu smiled and said, "Mom misses Ah Shu."

Speaking of Ah Shu, Xiao Huaiting's heart also stagnated. He was busy for a long time last night and came back, only to hear Nanny Xu say that she went to stay at the manor temporarily, and his other gifts had not been sent out yet.

The chili peppers were what he was most eager to get. Besides the first time, there were also some things that the team behind him brought back.

As for what Aunt Xu said about sending the peppers to the farm, he didn't do it right away. After hearing what his third sister said, the young man thought about it and said, "It just so happens that I have something to send over there, mother, then will you come with me?"

Mrs. Xiao's unhappy expression finally faded away, revealing a smile: "Not bad, you know to send gifts. I was worried that you would become stupid from fighting."

Xiao Huaiting: "...Mother!"

Mrs. Xiao sighed: "Why are you shouting? I have always wanted you to marry Ah Shu, but you just won't wake up and make good use of your time!"

Hey!

When the other people at the table heard this, they looked at Xiao Waiting with sympathy and urged him to get married!

Who here has never been urged to do something?

But just as her sympathy was revealed, Xiao Huai Ting nodded solemnly: "Mom, don't worry, your son knows."

Everyone remembered, oh, this person just got engaged. Although the engagement was not that serious, it was still an engagement. If they tried hard, it shouldn't be difficult to get married. After all, these two people always whispered to each other at the dinner table before, and everyone could see it from the look on their faces.

But Mrs. Xiao was not satisfied. Instead, she rolled her eyes at him and said, "You are making it seem like you are going to fight a war. You should smile more and be like your elder brother so that girls will like you. Do you understand?"

Xiao Huai Ting was silent for a moment.

He wasn't always so serious, but he was a little nervous when the marriage was mentioned. He quickly relaxed and smiled at his mother with eight big white teeth: "Mom, is this okay?"

Madam Xiao: "...Forget it, stop laughing. You look like a fool."

Xiao Huaiting: "..."