Chapter 37 The person who came was actually her.
Yu Man was stunned for a moment, then a genuine smile bloomed on her face, and her voice was clear and crisp: "Great news! This is a very happy occasion!"
Yu Chengfu finally snapped out of his daze, rubbing his hands together and grinning foolishly at Deng Sanniang: "Hehe... Yes, it's a good thing! I... I'm going to be a father again!" He instinctively reached out to take Deng Sanniang's hand, but she slapped it away with a hint of embarrassment, her eyes brimming with undisguised joy.
Immediately, as if remembering something important, Deng San Niang struggled to get up: "I was so happy that I didn't even have time to sort out the accounts for the reopening of the shop today, and the kitchen is probably in a mess..." In her opinion, although pregnancy was a joyous occasion, it shouldn't interfere with her business.
Yu Man quickly stepped forward to support her, smiling, "Aunt Xiang, you are the most important person in our family now, so just rest well! Dad and I are looking after the food shop, and the new helper we hired is getting the hang of things, so we can manage. Just stay home and rest, and make sure you take the medicine the doctor prescribed on time." She went on and on, giving her instructions, from diet and daily routines to emotional regulation, speaking with great expertise.
These meticulous instructions drew stares from Yu Chengfu, Deng Sanniang, and Xiuxiu. Yu Chengfu's face beamed with pride, as if saying, "My daughter knows so much!" Deng Sanniang hesitated, her gaze strange, seemingly wondering how an unmarried girl could understand such matters as pregnancy. Xiuxiu, on the other hand, looked on with adoration, thinking her elder sister was omnipotent.
Yu Man felt a little uncomfortable under their gazes, so she coughed lightly and made an excuse: "I learned all of this from miscellaneous books, and I don't know if it's right or wrong. Anyway, it's better to be safe than sorry. I'll ask the doctor to come and take a closer look tomorrow and prescribe a safer remedy."
Deng San Niang waved her hands repeatedly, saying, "Why bother with all that? I know my own body; I'm not that delicate. Although I can't move heavy things, I can still do light work like picking vegetables and doing accounting." In her deeply ingrained belief, it was only natural for a pregnant woman to work; her mother had worked in the fields when she was pregnant with her.
Seeing that Deng San Niang was determined not to be completely idle, Yu Man didn't press the matter further, and secretly planned to arrange some of the easiest tasks for her that wouldn't require prolonged standing. Having experienced the previous turmoil, she realized that the management of the food stall needed a more refined division of labor. Therefore, drawing on some management experience from her previous life, she created a simple duty roster and responsibility chart, clearly defining each person's duties and rest time, making the food stall's operations much more organized and efficient than before.
After arranging things at home and the restaurant, Yu Man finally had time to go to the teahouse where she had arranged to meet Mr. He, the owner of Zuixianlou.
As she passed by Fengyulou, she took a special look. The bustling scene of the past was long gone; the entrance was deserted, with only a few customers coming and going, a stark contrast to the lively Zuixianlou.
The teahouse's private room was quiet and elegant. When the waiter led Yu Man in, He Ming was already there. Upon seeing Yu Man, he immediately smiled, stood up to greet her, and his attitude was much warmer and more polite than on their previous meetings.
"Madam Yu has arrived, please have a seat." He Ming personally poured her a cup of tea. "Congratulations, Madam Yu, your innocence has been cleared, and your restaurant has reopened, even better than before!"
Yu Man knew perfectly well that He Ming's change of attitude was because Manxin Food Shop had successfully survived this ordeal. She smiled and agreed, "Thank you for your kind words, Mr. He. I am also very grateful for your secret help beforehand."
After exchanging pleasantries, Yu Man cut straight to the point. She reiterated the details of the cooperation she had previously agreed upon with He Ming: "Mr. He, after this incident, Fengyulou's reputation has plummeted, and it will likely be difficult for them to continue. In the future, Zuixianlou will probably dominate the catering industry in Dongqing County. I promised before that I would supply Zuixianlou with sauces at half the market price for a year, without any problem."
She paused, took out a written recipe from her sleeve, and pushed it in front of He Ming: "In addition, this is a specialty dish that I specially designed for Zuixianlou, called Golden Jade Abundance. The ingredients are ordinary, but its strength lies in its ingenious design and rich flavor. It may be one of Zuixianlou's signature dishes as a token of my gratitude."
However, He Ming looked at the prescription but did not immediately take it. The smile on his face faded slightly, and his fingers gently caressed the rim of the teacup. After a moment of contemplation, he slowly said, "I appreciate Madam Yu's sincerity. I, Zuixianlou, will accept the first two items. But this third item... I cannot accept this prescription."
Yu Man was slightly taken aback, somewhat surprised: "What does the master mean by this? Does he not think much of this dish?"
“No, no.” He Ming shook his head, his gaze becoming deep and sharp as he looked directly at Yu Man. “Madam Yu is exceptionally intelligent and knows that having more friends means having more options. My help to you is partly due to my disapproval of the Chen family’s actions and my belief in your potential, but there is something more important I would like to know.”
He leaned forward slightly, lowered his voice, and said with unprecedented seriousness, "The third thing I want is an answer. I hope Lady Yu can tell me honestly and clear up my doubts."
Yu Man felt a slight chill in his heart, but remained outwardly calm: "Please ask, Master."
He Ming asked clearly, word by word, "Who exactly is standing behind my wife?"
Before Yu Man could answer, he continued his analysis: "The reason why the Chen family can be so arrogant in Dongqing County and even the prefecture is because they have the second young master of the prefecture, Chen Xiuwen, as their backer. To put it another way, it is the Chen family's patron—Prefect Gu Kangshi!"
"To be honest, my lady, the reason why my Drunken Immortal Pavilion has been able to establish itself in Dongqing County and operate for so many years is not entirely without support. It is because I have received some guidance and care from the Zhang family of the prefecture."
His gaze was piercing as he fixed it on Yu Man: "Prefect Gu and the Zhang family are no longer on the same side in the prefecture. Dongqing County may seem peaceful on the surface, but undercurrents are surging beneath. Madam Yu, you have managed to clear your name so decisively and cleanly, even turning the tables on me. I simply do not believe that you were not helped behind the scenes. May I ask you, Madam, whose side are you on? Which faction do you represent?"
Yu Man hadn't expected this series of information. She quickly processed the situation revealed in He Ming's words—Prefect Gu Kangshi was competing with the Zhang family, the Chen family was Prefect Gu's henchmen, and Zuixianlou was connected to the Zhang family. He Ming's questioning now was about knowing, or rather trying to win her over, and about the possible forces behind her.
In truth, she also realized that the Chen family matter had been handled too simply, and the image of Pei Ji flashed through her mind in an instant. His mysterious whereabouts, his capable subordinate Gu Qiu, and that villa... If there really was some "power" behind her, the most likely candidate was Pei Ji!
Countless thoughts raced through Yu Man's mind in an instant, but her face displayed just the right amount of surprise and bewilderment. She carefully chose her words, slowly saying, "Master He's words truly... flatter me, yet also fill me with trepidation. Master He must have already investigated my background; I am but a commoner, running a small business, my only wish being for my family's safety and a comfortable life. My escape from this calamity is thanks to three things: first, the discerning eyes of the local officials; second, the righteous words of many neighbors; and third... perhaps a bit of luck. As for the person behind this, Master He..."
She paused, met He Ming's probing gaze, and said frankly, "I really don't know."
After saying that, she said, as if joking, "If there's no one around, will Master He refuse to cooperate with me?"
He Ming was a shrewd man. Seeing her answer, he knew that further questioning would yield no clear result. He laughed heartily, as if the tense atmosphere from before had never existed, and smoothly changed the subject: "Of course not. Since my wife is unwilling to say more, I will not force her. However, I would like to remind you that the tree may wish to remain still, but the wind will not cease. Furthermore, according to the information I have received, that noble person—Prince Ding—will arrive in our Dongqing County soon. At that time, I am afraid the waters here will become even more turbulent. My wife should make plans as soon as possible."
He gently pushed the recipe for "Gold and Jade Abundance" back to Yu Man: "Consider this dish my congratulatory gift, wishing you, my lady, to shine brightly before distinguished guests. As for the cooperation, it's settled as you previously stated!"
Yu Man no longer stood on ceremony, put away the prescription, stood up, curtsied, and said, "Thank you for informing me, Master He. It's a pleasure doing business with you."
...
The Chen residence.
Chen Jing'an gripped the thin letter with white knuckles, his gaze fixed on the last line: "The Prince of Ding is about to arrive, and there may be changes in Dongqing. My brother, you should be careful with your words and actions and not act rashly."
Do not act rashly!
A surge of anger welled up in his chest, burning a dull ache in his internal organs. How much effort had he expended to crush that arrogant Yu Man? Bribing local thugs, planting accomplices, forging loan agreements, even feeding the wolf in sheep's clothing to the county magistrate! He thought he had it all figured out, that he could take care of the Yu family along with that eyesore of a Manxin Restaurant. Who would have thought that woman would be so difficult to deal with? Not only did she escape unscathed, but she also turned around and bit him, ruining Fengyu Restaurant's reputation and making it the laughingstock of the entire county!
In the end, it's all the fault of those damned Yu family! His sinister gaze swept over Yu Fangyu, who was kneeling on the cold stone slab. If it weren't for the trouble caused by her poor relatives, he wouldn't be in this situation!
A surge of irritation welled up inside him, and he subconsciously reached out his hand. Aunt Zhou, who had been standing by for a long time and whose makeup was exquisite, immediately understood and handed him a cup of freshly brewed hot tea in a charming manner, while casually tossing a smug and provocative look at Yu Fangyu, who was kneeling on the ground.
Yu Fangyu lowered her head, her hands on her knees clenched tightly, her nails almost digging into her flesh, but she still maintained the last bit of stiffness in her back.
Chen Jing'an gulped down a mouthful of tea, but instead of calming down, it only made him more agitated. He slammed the teacup on the table with a "bang," and the splashed tea scalded Aunt Zhou, making her flinch slightly, but she dared not utter a sound.
"Useless thing!" he hissed, whether cursing his incompetent subordinates or Yu Fangyu, who had made him lose face, it was unclear. He stared at Yu Fangyu's face, which, even in its paleness, could not hide its beauty, and the more he looked, the more irritating it became.
"Guards!" he coldly ordered the servants waiting outside the door. "Madam has caught a cold and needs to rest. From today onwards, she is not to step out of the courtyard without my permission! The young lady is young and frail, and may have caught the illness. She has been temporarily moved to the west wing to be looked after by the nanny. There is no need to disturb Madam's rest unless necessary!"
"Yes!" the servants replied in unison, their heads bowed and eyes lowered, not daring to look at them for long.
"No—!" Yu Fangyu suddenly raised her head, her eyes filled with terror and pleading. "Husband! Ling'er is still young, she can't live without me! Please..."
Chen Jing'an impatiently interrupted her, turning his gaze to Aunt Zhou, who was beaming with delight, and made the final decision: "Aunt Zhou will be in charge of all the household affairs these days. The household affairs token will be sent to your room later."
Aunt Zhou's face immediately lit up with joy, and she quickly bowed and said, "This concubine will certainly not fail your trust, sir!"
Having arranged everything, Chen Jing'an felt a slight release of the anger he had been holding in. He stood up, no longer looking at Yu Fangyu, whose face had turned deathly pale, and strode out of the courtyard.
Prince Ding is coming... Fengyu Tower must be rebuilt no matter what, even if it's just an empty shell, it can't show weakness in front of such an important person! He needs to think carefully about how to salvage the situation.
As soon as Chen Jing'an disappeared outside the door, the smug expression on Aunt Zhou's face vanished like the tide. She glanced at the servants standing at their sides and said indifferently, "You may all leave. There's no need to serve you here anymore."
The servants exchanged glances, not daring to interfere, and quickly filed out with their heads down, thoughtfully closing the courtyard gate behind them.
The courtyard, which had been somewhat crowded just moments before, was now empty except for Yu Fangyu and Aunt Zhou.
Aunt Zhou slowly walked to Yu Fangyu, who was still kneeling on the ground, and looked down at her. She used her well-maintained fingertips, painted with bright red nail polish, to forcefully lift Yu Fangyu's chin, forcing her to look at her.
“My dear lady,” Aunt Zhou’s voice was icy, a mocking smile curving her lips, “did you ever imagine that you would end up like this? Kneeling before me like a stray dog?”
Yu Fangyu abruptly turned her face away, breaking free from her grip. Even in this state of despair, her eyes were filled with mockery. She sneered, "Ha... do you think you can hold onto this power of managing the household affairs for long? It's just a momentary impulse on his part!"
"How long?" Aunt Zhou chuckled softly, as if she had heard something amusing, but the laughter sent chills down one's spine. "I don't care how long it can last. I only care... who has it now."
She leaned down, close to Yu Fangyu's ear, and spoke in a voice only the two of them could hear, word by word: "Madam, do you think that during this period of recuperation, your precious little Ling'er might have accidentally... caught a cold? Or... something worse, like... smallpox?"
The words "smallpox" exploded in Yu Fangyu's ears like a thunderclap!
She trembled violently, abruptly raising her head. Her eyes flashed with fierceness and terror as she screamed shrilly, "You dare?! Zhou Meier! If you dare touch a single hair on Ling'er's head, I'll haunt you even as a ghost!!"
Aunt Zhou straightened up, disgustedly slapping her fingers that had just touched Yu Fangyu's chin, as if they had been stained with something dirty. Looking at Yu Fangyu's near-collapse, a cruel pleasure shone on her face.
"What wouldn't I dare to do?" she asked softly. "Ever since the day my child, my child who died before he grew up, died, there has been nothing in this world that I, Zhou Meier, would not dare to do."
She took a step closer, her gaze sharp as a knife, fixed on Yu Fangyu's pale face: "Smallpox... how could it be smallpox? My dear wife, tell me, how did my child get those terrible red rashes all over his body? Hmm?"
Yu Fangyu's pupils shrank, her lips trembled, but she couldn't utter a single word; she could only stare intently at Aunt Zhou.
Seeing her like this, Aunt Zhou suddenly threw her head back and burst into laughter. After she had finished laughing, she looked at Yu Fangyu with eyes full of hatred and said, word by word, "Yu Fangyu, your hands have probably never been clean since the day you stepped into the Chen family mansion!"
After saying that, she threw the silk handkerchief she had just used to wipe her hands onto Yu Fangyu's hair ornament as if it were filth, and then turned and left.
The silk handkerchief, carrying a rich fragrance, floated lightly over Yu Fangyu's hair, yet felt as heavy as a thousand pounds, pressing her down to the ground. Staring in the direction where Aunt Zhou had disappeared, her eyes were filled with endless fear and despair. She knew Zhou Meier wasn't bluffing. That woman was capable of anything for revenge. Ling'er… her Ling'er!
...
The food stall was busy, and Yu Man was cooking all by herself. Even though she was quick and efficient, she was finding it a bit overwhelming, so she started thinking about finding another chef. After closing time that day, A Mao, the young waiter and purchasing assistant, rubbed his hands together and approached Yu Man somewhat shyly.
“Mrs. Yu,” Amao said, a nervous blush creeping across his dark face, “I…I have a favor to ask. My older sister…she…she’s an excellent cook! Really! Everyone in the neighborhood says she’s amazing! She just…she has an incredibly discerning palate; once she’s tasted a dish, she can almost perfectly recreate it! Could you…could you give her a chance to try?” Afraid Yu Man wouldn’t believe him, he quickly added, “I’ll guarantee it with my wages! If she doesn’t cook well, you can deduct my pay!”
Seeing his earnestness and the anticipation and trepidation in his eyes, Yu Man couldn't help but smile. She needed manpower, so she nodded in agreement: "Sure, since you put it that way, let your older sister come and try out the job tomorrow."
Amao was overjoyed upon hearing this and thanked him repeatedly. He turned to leave, but then hesitated and stopped, scratching his head. He added somewhat awkwardly, "Um... Madam, I have to tell you first, my older sister... she's a little different from ordinary people..."
"Oh? How is it different?" Yu Man's curiosity was piqued.
Amao opened his mouth, seemingly unsure how to describe it, and finally mumbled, "You...you'll see tomorrow. But she's absolutely capable at work! She's very efficient!"
The next day, a woman dressed in clean but obviously worn cloth clothes came with Amao. She was about twenty years old, slender, with a beautiful face but an almost transparent pallor, and her eyes were calm, like two bottomless pools of autumn water. She gave Yu Man a slight curtsy, said nothing, and just stood there quietly with her hands folded in front of her.
Yu Man understood immediately; this was probably the difference Ah Mao had mentioned. Without asking any further questions, she led the woman directly to the kitchen. To test her skills, Yu Man specially prepared one of her specialties—a slightly complicated braised pork rib dish—and wrote down the main steps and ingredients, handing it to the woman.
“I just made this dish, and this is the general recipe. Try making it with the same ingredients so I can taste it,” Yu Man said.
The woman took the paper, her eyes quickly scanning it. Then she picked up her chopsticks, took a piece of pork ribs prepared by Yu Man, and put it in her mouth, savoring it carefully. Her eyes were slightly closed, as if she were trying to capture the flavor. After a moment, she put down her chopsticks, nodded to Yu Man, and turned to prepare the ingredients.
Her movements were unhurried yet remarkably fluid. Chopping, marinating, sautéing, braising... time ticked by, and the kitchen was filled with a similar, rich aroma of soy sauce.
When the woman brought the cooked braised pork ribs to Yu Man, Yu Man picked up a piece and tasted it, her eyes immediately filled with amazement! The taste was almost exactly the same as hers! No, it even seemed to be better? The meat was more tender and flavorful, and the sauce was richer and more harmonious.
"It tastes great!" Yu Man praised without reservation, then asked curiously, "I see that your steps are not much different from mine, so why does it taste even richer? Did you add something?"
The woman quietly raised her hand and pointed to an inconspicuous little jar in the corner of the stove. Yu Man walked over and opened it. Inside were some dark brown pieces of roasted dried tangerine peel with a distinctive fruity and woody aroma.
"Ah, I see!" Yu Man exclaimed in sudden realization. She occasionally added dried tangerine peel to remove any fishy smell and enhance the aroma when cooking meat, but she had never thought to roast the peel first to release its deeper fragrance. This small change elevated the entire dish's flavor to a whole new level!
"Wonderful!" Yu Manzhen exclaimed, immediately agreeing, "This lady, may I ask your name? If you'd like, you can start working tomorrow. Your wages will be the same as Amao's, every month..."
It was only then that Yu Man suddenly realized that from the moment this woman entered until now, through tasting the dishes, cooking, and answering questions, she hadn't uttered a single word! She looked at A Mao questioningly.
Amao quickly explained, "Madam, my sister isn't mute, she just... she speaks very little. She's like that at home too, so please don't take offense."
Looking into the woman's eyes, Yu Man felt that this tranquility might be just right for the kitchen. She smiled and said, "It's alright, as long as your skills are good. From now on, I'll call you..."
“Mountain,” the woman said, her voice somewhat incongruous with her appearance, sounding hoarse.
"Then I'll call you Mountain Maiden."
Shan Niang nodded slightly, which was considered an agreement.
Yu Man didn't deliberately publicize the addition of a new head chef, but she didn't hide it either. The food stall continued to operate as usual, and Shan Niang quickly adapted to the rhythm of the kitchen. She was a woman of few words, but quick-witted and efficient, and worked well with Aunt Zhang and the others. After observing for a few days and finding no unusual feedback from customers, and with the suggestion box in the shop remaining empty, Yu Man was completely relieved. Amao was also cheerful every day, occasionally peeking into the kitchen, and seeing that his sister was doing well, he finally felt at ease.
Yu Man grew increasingly satisfied with Shan Niang, even privately teasing the system in his mind: [Electronic pet, do you think Shan Niang might be some kind of reclusive master chef destined for worldwide fame? Wouldn't you say I've struck gold?]
System response: [Database search in progress... No matching profile found.]
Yu Man was already used to it and didn't care.
That day, Yu Man made a special trip to Lanning Village, bringing some homemade pastries and a thick piece of cotton cloth to thank Pan Yue and his mother, Aunt Pan, for their previous generosity. It was already afternoon when she returned to the city, and thinking the food stalls shouldn't be too busy at this hour, she went straight there.
Unexpectedly, she saw a large crowd gathered at the entrance of the food shop, pointing and whispering inside. She quickly stepped forward, pushed through the crowd, and entered the shop. There, she saw Ah Mao anxiously approaching her, reporting in a low voice, "Madam, you're finally back! A customer has arrived, insisting on trying your homemade casserole of mushroom and chicken. He won't touch anything you make, saying... saying he'll wait for the main customer to return."
Yu Man's gaze swept to the table by the window. A man in a lake-blue brocade robe sat with his back to the door, his posture upright. The casserole on the table was untouched, long since devoid of steam. She moved to the side and saw the man's face clearly—around thirty years old, with a handsome and refined appearance, his eyes carrying an air of affluence born of privilege. But when he looked at her now, his eyes held an extremely strange quality, a mixture of intense curiosity, inquiry, and even a hint of… knowing amusement?
Looking at the bright-eyed young woman in front of him, Li Heng thought to himself: So it was her.
Pei Ji's beloved.
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