Chapter 46-50

Chapter 46: Punishment

But Fan Pingyang was a scholar, after all. No matter how tempting the food, he had to maintain his dignity. So, he could only swallow his saliva again and again, suppressing the urge to devour the treat before him.

Zhang Mingyi, on the other hand, was not faring any better. He swallowed several times, and his mouth was practically watering uncontrollably. He struggled to keep his composure and managed to bow stiffly to Xia Mingyue. "We have to go back to review our lessons. Farewell."

His voice, however, was slightly garbled—too much saliva.

Fan Pingyang, having learned his lesson from Zhang Mingyi’s mistake, wisely chose to remain silent. Instead of speaking, he simply bowed to Xia Mingyue.

Silence was golden——if he didn’t speak, he wouldn’t embarrass himself!

Xia Mingyue returned the gesture with a graceful bow. "Then I shall not disturb you two gentlemen any further. I’ll take my leave now."

The moment Xia Mingyue exited the gatehouse, Zhang Mingyi and Fan Pingyang abandoned any pretense of scholarly refinement. Their hands moved almost instinctively, unwrapping the rice dumplings with practiced efficiency before shoving them into their mouths.

Sweet, soft, cool.... Delicious!

They exhaled in contentment at the same time, exchanging satisfied glances before refocusing on peeling and eating.

But soon, a problem arose.

Xia Mingyue, likely being considerate, had sent an even number of rice dumplings. However, due to differing eating speeds, both of them ended up reaching for the last one at the exact same moment.

The air tensed.

Zhang Mingyi blinked, then quickly rolled his eyes. "Pingyang, I saw you eating faster than me earlier. You had one more than I did, so this one should be mine."

"Nonsense!" Fan Pingyang shot back, his eyes narrowing. "You’re the one who ate faster. If you don’t believe me, the proof is right here——just count the leaves we peeled. The numbers won’t lie."

Before Fan Pingyang could actually start counting, Zhang Mingyi swiftly gathered all the discarded leaves together into one pile, making any comparison impossible. He grinned sheepishly. "Come on, you and I are like brothers. Is it really necessary to be so petty? If others saw us, they’d laugh! For the sake of fairness, let’s just split the last zongzi in half. That way, neither of us loses, right?"

Fair?

Fan Pingyang raised an eyebrow. "This last zongzi is rightfully mine. Why should I share it with you? I refuse."

"Oh, come on, just give me half——!"

Before Fan Pingyang could react, Zhang Mingyi had already grabbed the zongzi and was peeling it with practiced ease.

"No!" Fan Pingyang lunged forward, trying to snatch it back.

But Zhang Mingyi was taller and had the advantage. He spun around, lifting the zongzi high above his head, just out of Fan Pingyang’s reach.

Fan Pingyang, determined, reached up——too hastily. Losing his balance, he stumbled forward and crashed into the desk beside them.

The desk, which had already seen better days, wobbled under the impact. One of its legs tilted dangerously to the side.

And then——Crash!

Pens, ink stones, paperweights, and documents tumbled to the floor in a chaotic heap.

At that precise moment, Shen Yongan, who had just been approaching the county school’s main entrance, frowned at the loud noise. "What’s going on in there?"

The gatekeeper, Old Li, responded hesitantly, "It’s the two students, Zhang Mingyi and Fan Pingyang...."

Shen Yongan’s expression darkened. "At this hour, they should be reviewing their lessons. Instead, they’re causing a ruckus?" Furious, he strode toward the gatehouse.

Inside, Fan Pingyang was still making a desperate attempt to reclaim his zongzi.

But Zhang Mingyi had the height advantage, and Fan Pingyang's arm simply wasn’t long enough. Out of options, he made one final move——he jumped.

Unfortunately, he miscalculated. The moment his feet left the ground, he lost his balance and staggered forward....

Right into Shen Yongan’s arms.

Silence.

For a long moment, the four of them stared at each other in mortified stillness.

Then, realization hit.

Fan Pingyang, upon recognizing the severe and notoriously strict Master Shen, jolted backward as though burned. He straightened up hastily, smoothing out his robe, and gave a proper bow. "Master."

Zhang Mingyi also scrambled to bow, his face stiff with guilt.

Shen Yongan’s gaze swept across the mess, his face darkening to the color of an ink-drenched brush. "You are students of the county school," he said, his voice sharp with disapproval. "Yet, instead of diligently studying, you are fighting over rice dumplings? And creating chaos in the process? How disgraceful!"

Zhang Mingyi and Fan Pingyang shrank under his piercing glare.

"Master, we admit our mistake," they mumbled in unison.

But in their hearts, they secretly exchanged glances.

The real mistake... was not eating faster before Master Shen arrived.

"Admitting your mistake is not enough," Shen Yongan continued sternly. "The true test of character is in correcting one's faults. If one does not change, then knowing one’s mistakes is meaningless! Worse still, it is shameful!"

The two students lowered their heads, but inside, they hesitated.

Madam Xia had promised to bring more delicacies soon. The zongzi were only the beginning. If the next dishes were even more delicious....

Could they really guarantee they wouldn’t repeat today’s mistake?

Of course, they wouldn’t do anything too outrageous. But a little dispute over food? That was probably inevitable.

Besides, they didn’t mean to make fools of themselves. It was just that the zongzi were really too good....

Shen Yongan’s patience snapped as he saw their wavering expressions. His anger surged. "You two are so stubborn just for the sake of food! Truly, a rotten tree that cannot be carved!"

His next words sealed their fate. "Go back and copy the essay you studied yesterday——one hundred times. You will not be allowed to leave or eat until you finish!"

One. Hundred. Times.

Zhang Mingyi and Fan Pingyang’s faces turned deathly pale.

But they dared not argue. They could only grit their teeth and bow. "Yes, Master."

Zhang Mingyi, still holding his last hope——a single remaining zongzi——clutched it tightly. At least they could share this one later.

"Leave the rice dumplings behind," Shen Yongan ordered coldly.

The culprit must not be taken away.

Zhang Mingyi and Fan Pingyang fell even more silent.

It was over.

Swallowing their grief, Zhang Mingyi placed the fragrant zongzi onto the table. With heavy hearts, the two quickly gathered the scattered stationery before fleeing the scene.

Shen Yongan, still fuming, shouted after them, "Brats! No motivation for progress!"

But as he turned back to the room, his gaze landed on the untouched zongzi.

Fighting over food was human nature. But these two came from respectable families——was a single zongzi really worth such disgraceful behavior?

Frustrated, he reached for the dumpling, intent on throwing it away.

Then, he paused.

The aroma drifting from it was unexpectedly rich. He glanced at the leaves scattered on the floor. Judging by their number, Zhang Mingyi and Fan Pingyang had already eaten quite a few.

And yet, they had still fought over the last one.

Shen Yongan hesitated.

Just what kind of zongzi was this?

The scent tickled his senses, and against his better judgment, a thought surfaced in his mind.

...Maybe I should taste it first.

Even he was startled by the idea.

__________________________

Chapter 47: Can I Still Eat It?

Shen Yongan had always prided himself on being indifferent to food. Now in his forties, he had never considered himself a man driven by appetite. To him, food was merely sustenance, nothing more.

But now...

Well, his real intention wasn’t to indulge in gluttony, of course. He was merely investigating why two well-mannered students had lost all composure over a mere rice dumpling. That was all. Nothing more.

Convincing himself with this reasoning, Shen Yongan swiftly peeled off the rice dumpling leaves.

The moment he did, the rich aroma of candied dates intertwined with the soft scent of glutinous rice filled the air.

He hesitated for only a second before placing the dumpling in his mouth.

Then, he froze.

Shen Yongan, a man of vast knowledge and eloquence, found himself at a rare loss for words.

The soft, glutinous texture, the mellow sweetness of the candied dates, the lingering warmth of the rice——these sensations melded together into something indescribably satisfying.

All he knew was that even after swallowing, the sweetness still lingered, and an absurd thought arose in his mind.

'I want another one.'

That thought alone made him pause in horror.

For a moment, he was tempted to call Zhang Mingyi and Fan Pingyang back to question them about the origins of these dumplings.

But he couldn’t. Absolutely not.

Still... would there be more of these rice dumplings in the future?

As Shen Yongan stepped out of the gatehouse, his expression was oddly troubled.

Dai Changnian, another teacher at the county school, happened to see him and couldn't help but sigh. "Master Shen looks worried. He must be troubled about how to properly educate his students."

Dai Changnian was older than Shen Yongan and had been his fellow Jinshi in the imperial exams. Having worked together at the county school for years, the two shared a strong friendship.

Hearing his colleague’s words, Shen Yongan quickly regained his composure, lowering his gaze slightly to conceal the turmoil in his heart. "Just now, two students were fighting over rice dumplings. I reprimanded them accordingly."

"Fighting over rice dumplings?" Dai Changnian's expression darkened in disapproval. "How disgraceful! Such behavior is unacceptable. I have always believed that studying is akin to monastic practice. While we may not reach the level of monks in forsaking worldly attachments, we must, at the very least, cultivate self-restraint.

Especially when it comes to food! Food is the root of both illness and disaster. The desire for it must be controlled. How pitiful to let one's reason be clouded over a mere dumpling."

With a shake of his head, Dai Changnian scoffed, "Besides, it's just a rice dumpling. How delicious could it possibly be? Surely not enough to warrant such an embarrassing display."

Shen Yongan fell silent.

Why did that sound like an indirect scolding?

Ahem!" Clearing his throat, Shen Yongan straightened. "I still have students' essays to review. I’ll take my leave now."

"Master Shen, take care," Dai Changnian said, nodding approvingly as he watched him walk away.

Indeed, Shen Yongan was as diligent as ever, fully devoted to his scholarly pursuits. His commitment to education was truly admirable.

Moreover, he shared the same disdain for students losing their composure over food. How fortunate it was to have such a like-minded colleague!

Dai Changnian stroked his beard, a satisfied smile spreading across his face.

Meanwhile, at home, Xia Mingyue had just returned with the written document. Jiang Zhuguo and Lu were still busy.

A fresh batch of bamboo had arrived, neatly stacked in the yard.

Xia Mingyue inspected it carefully. The bamboo was of excellent quality, freshly cut, and just the right thickness and size for her needs.

"The young man who delivered it said that if you find the bamboo useful and need more, you can look for him in the market. He’s been selling rice dumpling leaves there recently," Jiang Zhuguo relayed. Then, unable to suppress his curiosity, he asked, "Sister Xia, what exactly do you need this bamboo for?"

"To make rice dumplings," Xia Mingyue answered with a smile.

"Rice dumplings?"

Both Jiang Zhuguo and Sister Lu were momentarily taken aback.

"Using this bamboo?" Lu asked in surprise.

It was common knowledge that rice dumplings were usually wrapped in reed leaves. Some had tried using bamboo leaves before, but they were narrow and difficult to wrap with, and the results had never been particularly outstanding.

But using actual bamboo?

How was that supposed to work? Would she slice the bamboo into thin strips and weave it into a dumpling shape like a tiny basket? That sounded like far too much effort....

Yet, Xia Mingyue seemed confident in her approach. If she had a plan, there was no need to question it further. They would simply follow her lead.

With that in mind, Jiang Zhuguo and Lu helped her get started.

The first step was to saw the bamboo into segments along its nodes.

For this, Lu had specially borrowed a carpenter's saw.

Since bamboo was hollow, it was much easier to cut than solid wood. Taking turns, the three of them made quick work of sawing the stalks into smaller sections.

Technically, the cut bamboo tubes could be used as-is after a thorough cleaning.

However, to make sure the rice dumplings wouldn’t stick and to allow for easy removal after cooking, Xia Mingyue decided to split each bamboo tube lengthwise, dividing them in half.

This task required skill. The hatchet had to be steady, precise, and swift. If the cut was even slightly off, the bamboo tube could split incorrectly and become unusable.

At first, they struggled, breaking several tubes. But after some trial and error, they got the hang of it and successfully split the remaining bamboo into perfect halves.

Next, the bamboo tubes were cleaned and steamed to sterilize them.

Then, the glutinous rice was soaked, and the fillings were prepared.

By the next morning, Xia Mingyue began assembling the dumplings.

She carefully tied the bamboo halves together with cloth strips, filled them with soaked glutinous rice, added candied dates or crushed bean paste, pressed the mixture down firmly, and sealed the ends with wooden stoppers.

Finally, she placed them into a large pot, just like traditional rice dumplings, and began steaming them over high heat.

"The smell is different from yesterday's rice dumplings," remarked Zhao Dahu, who was tending the fire.

"How so?" Xia Mingyue asked with a smile as she flipped pancakes on another stove.

"I can’t quite explain it," Zhao Dahu admitted, sniffing the air again. "It just smells... better. Even more fragrant."

Xia Mingyue took a deep breath, catching the distinct, sweet scent of bamboo-infused steam.

Indeed, the fragrance was more intense than yesterday’s dumplings. Unlike reed leaves, bamboo had a naturally fresh and slightly sweet aroma that lingered longer.

If the scent alone was this enticing, the flavor was bound to be even better.

And once the bamboo tube rice dumplings were finally ready, her guess was confirmed.

Soft, glutinous, and perfectly sweet——they had absorbed the delicate fragrance of the bamboo, enhancing their natural taste with a subtle, woody depth.

"This is even better than yesterday’s rice dumplings," someone exclaimed after taking a bite.

"Yes! The fragrance lingers in your mouth even after you finish eating!"

"It’s just like the scent I remember from running through a bamboo forest!"

Xia Mingyue smiled.

This was exactly the result she had hoped for.

__________________________

Chapter 48: Greed

"The best part about this kind of rice dumpling is that you can eat it directly with chopsticks——clean and convenient. You don’t have to worry about your hands getting sticky from the rice dumpling leaves. If you're out on business, there’s no need for a bowl, making it even more practical," Sister Lu said.

It was purely a business-minded perspective.

"Mom only thinks about making money," Zhao Dahu joked.

Zhao Erhu, however, responded seriously, "The stall is already packed with enough items. If we add zongzi, we might not be able to manage everything. Mom, you’re being a bit greedy."

"Of course I am."

Sister Lu admitted her greed without hesitation.

After all, in business, it's impossible not to be. If you don’t think about making money, you'll never earn any.

Besides, her greed wasn’t unjust. The money she made was honest and well-earned.

On that point, Sister Lu felt she could hold her head high.

Xia Mingyue smiled. "If we can find someone as capable as Zhuguo to help in the future, we can reconsider. For now, we can just let people have a small taste of it."

"If we wait, we’ll miss the Dragon Boat Festival and have to delay it until next year," Sister Lu sighed with regret. "But rushing things and jeopardizing our regular business wouldn’t be wise."

Trying to handle too much at once only invites mistakes.

Besides, business is a long-term endeavor. It’s not like the opportunity will vanish after this year. Why rush?

Sister Lu braced herself and reluctantly accepted the reality——bamboo tube rice dumplings wouldn’t be on the menu.

But the very next day, something lifted her spirits again.

At noon, two scholars from the county school arrived at the stall, specifically asking for rice dumplings.

Apparently, Zhang Mingyi and Fan Pingyang had fought over a rice dumpling the day before——so fiercely that both ended up with bleeding heads, toppling a table, and nearly demolishing the gatehouse.

Now, the scholars wanted to try this supposedly irresistible delicacy for themselves.

Upon hearing what had happened, Xia Mingyue was speechless.

She had met those two gentlemen many times. They were close, like brothers——it was ridiculous to think they would fight over a mere dumpling.

Even if she was confident in her cooking, no food could drive people to such extremes.

It seemed like a minor scuffle that, once witnessed and passed around, had escalated into a full-blown legend.

...Rumors really spread too easily!

"I did give some rice dumplings to Student Zhang and Student Fan yesterday as a thank-you for their ghostwriting, but they weren’t even my best batch. I suspect someone misunderstood what they saw," Xia Mingyue explained with a smile. "To be honest, while my stall offers seasonal foods, I don’t produce zongzi in large quantities. We don’t have any ready today."

The two scholars looked disappointed at first, but then they caught onto something crucial.

No dumplings today.

One of them immediately asked, "If we place an order——like we did with pancakes and cold noodles before——would Madam Xia make some?"

Even if the rumored fight had been exaggerated, there had definitely been some dispute. And Zhang Mingyi and Fan Pingyang were known for their love of good food.

If they fought over these rice dumplings, they must be worth trying.

After all, the Dragon Boat Festival was approaching, a time to honor great scholars like Qu Yuan. It was only fitting to mark the occasion with delicious rice dumplings.

And if they didn’t get them from Madam Xia, Chef Wei would probably end up making his own version.

That wouldn’t do.

They had to buy theirs from Madam Xia.

Seeing their insistence, Xia Mingyue, following the principle of making more money, agreed. "Of course, I can make them. But my zongzi are a bit different——they’re made in bamboo tubes instead of the usual leaf wrapping."

The two scholars exchanged glances, then nodded eagerly. "That’s fine! No problem at all!"

As long as they were made by Madam Xia, that was all that mattered.

Besides, they had never heard of bamboo tube rice dumplings before. It was likely another one of Madam Xia’s original creations.

Anything that required this much effort and innovation was bound to be delicious.

"How many would you like? Do you have any filling preferences?" Xia Mingyue asked. "Right now, we offer candied dates and red bean paste. We’re also planning to make meat dumplings soon——if you’d like, I can prepare some for you as well."

Meat dumplings?

Yet another unheard-of idea.

But as they had already decided——whatever Madam Xia made was worth trying.

"Madam Xia, just make whatever you think is best," they replied in unison.

"Then I’ll prepare them based on the available ingredients," Xia Mingyue confirmed. "The earliest I can deliver them is the day after tomorrow."

She needed to find the young bamboo vendor today and place an order for more bamboo poles. Once they were delivered tomorrow, she could clean and prepare them, then start cooking the day after.

"Madam Xia, we trust your arrangements," the two scholars said again.

As long as they could eat the rice dumplings, everything else was secondary.

After finalizing the order, they paid a deposit.

Xia Mingyue’s bamboo tube rice dumplings were generous in size and packed with filling. The red bean paste and candied date ones cost six cents each, while the meat-filled ones were ten cents.

With the payment in hand, she immediately set off to find the young man who sold zongzi leaves. This time, she needed ten bamboo poles.

"No problem!" The young man readily agreed. "Same price as last time. I’ll cut them early tomorrow and deliver them to your home after noon."

That way, he wouldn’t miss his afternoon leaf-selling routine.

"Good. The sooner, the better," Xia Mingyue instructed.

Bamboo preparation took time, and it was always better to start early.

"Don’t worry, I’ll handle it," the young man assured her before turning back to sell his leaves with renewed enthusiasm.

The sooner he sold out, the sooner he could go home to sharpen his knives.

And he’d need a flatbed cart to transport ten bamboo poles——meaning a quick visit to his second uncle’s house to borrow one.

Unaware of his plans, Xia Mingyue simply returned to Xia Ji.

As always, the wontons, pancakes, and cold noodles sold out completely. Today was no different.

After cleaning up and heading home, she was soon met by Jiang Erniu.

"I was just about to bring this document to Brother Jiang," Xia Mingyue said, handing over a neatly written paper. "Please check if everything looks right or if anything needs revision."

Jiang Erniu trusted Xia Mingyue’s integrity.

But since the document required fingerprints, he played it safe——heading to the street to find Boss Qian and have it read out loud for verification.

__________________________

Chapter 49: Chili Oil

Boss Qian read the document carefully, while Jiang Erniu listened attentively. By the time it was finished, he nodded repeatedly and said, “Madam Xia has thought everything through thoroughly. There’s nothing wrong with it.”

“I’ve also gathered the silver Madam Xia mentioned and left my fingerprint on the receipt. Tomorrow, I’ll start learning the craft from her. At the same time, I’ll continue searching for a suitable location for my food stall. This way, we won’t delay each other.”

For the past two days, Jiang Erniu had been busy collecting funds and scouting locations. His sesame cake stall had remained closed, leaving his family without income, so they had been relying solely on their savings. Now, with their cash reserves running low, he was eager to get started as soon as possible.

Understanding his urgency, Xia Mingyue agreed without hesitation. “Then let’s do as Brother Jiang suggests.”

With the money paid and the fingerprints stamped, each of them took a copy of the contract, officially putting their agreement into motion.

After finalizing the arrangements for the next day’s lesson, Jiang Erniu went off to continue his search for a stall, while Xia Mingyue made her way to the butcher shop to pick out a well-balanced piece of pork leg, with both lean and fatty meat.

Thanks to the growing success of her food stall, she had become a frequent customer at the butcher shop. Without waiting for her to say a word, Butcher Hong had already lowered the price again.

As usual, when weighing the meat, the scale tipped skyward, the weight nearly slipping off, yet Butcher Hong still felt it wasn’t enough. He even added a small extra piece of meat, saying, “This one is hard to sell anyway, so I’ll throw it in for Madam Xia.”

Butcher Hong knew that while discounts in business were appreciated, they were often expected. However, a small personal favor——a little extra given out of goodwill——would leave a lasting impression. Years of experience had taught him this.

Xia Mingyue understood his gesture and smiled. “Then I’ll take advantage of Brother Hong’s generosity today.”

“There’s no need to be so polite,” Butcher Hong chuckled, scratching his head. Then, as if remembering something, he hesitated before saying, “To be honest, Madam Xia, I actually have a favor to ask.”

“What kind of favor?” Xia Mingyue asked with a smile. “Brother Hong, tell me, and I’ll see if I can help.”

"It’s my wife——she’s pregnant again and has been having terrible cravings. She keeps asking for spicy food but is incredibly picky about it. If there’s not enough chili, she complains that it’s bland. If there’s too much, she says it’s not the right kind of spicy. No matter what, she refuses to eat properly.”

Butcher Hong sighed. “A few days ago, when you started selling cold noodles, I bought two bowls for her. She ate them and kept talking about the chili oil——said it was fragrant, satisfying, and had just the right kick. Now, she won’t stop asking for more.”

He scratched his head again. “I figured this chili oil isn’t sold anywhere else, and since my wife loves it so much, I wanted to ask if Madam Xia could sell me some....”

Xia Mingyue laughed. “If it were anything outside of cooking, I might not be able to help. But food? That’s easy. I’ll send a jar over tomorrow morning, and I’ll add some crushed peanuts for extra flavor.”

”That would be a huge help! Thank you, Madam Xia!” Butcher Hong was overjoyed. He wiped his hands on the rag slung over his shoulder, then reached for his cash box. “How much for a jar of chili oil?”

“No need for money. Your wife can just have it,” Xia Mingyue said generously.

After all, the extra meat he had added was already quite a bit.

“That won’t do!” Butcher Hong immediately grabbed a handful of coins and stuffed them into her hands. When she refused to take them, he insisted, “Alright, then from now on, I’ll add two extra cents’ worth of meat for every pound you buy.”

As long as his wife could eat properly and stay healthy, it didn’t matter if he made a little less profit!

“Thank you, Brother Hong.”

Xia Mingyue hadn’t expected him to make such a generous offer, so she agreed with a smile.

After leaving the butcher shop, she bought some red chili peppers and fresh cooking oil from the market.

The best oil for making chili oil was rapeseed oil, but Jinqiu County, located in the north, had few rapeseed trees. Most of the available oil was peanut oil. While peanut oil lacked the same depth of aroma, it had a rich, nutty taste that was just as good.

Once home, Xia Mingyue got straight to work.

She stir-fried dried red chili peppers with bay leaves and peppercorns over low heat——without oil——until they became crisp and fragrant. Then she added crispy fried peanuts, sugar, and salt, poured everything into a mortar, and crushed it into a fine powder with a pestle.

Next, she slowly heated peanut oil with bay leaves, scallions, coriander, and star anise to infuse it with flavor. Once the oil was warm, she scooped a ladleful and poured it over the crushed chili mixture. The sizzling sound filled the kitchen.

She repeated this process twice more, pouring hot oil over the mixture each time and stirring thoroughly, until the fragrance of the chili oil filled the entire courtyard.

The pungent aroma made Wu Jin, the family dog, sneeze. Still, he curiously poked his head toward the kitchen to see what was cooking.

But after sniffing a few more times, Wu Jin flopped back down in his spot, looking utterly dejected.

There were some things dogs simply couldn’t eat, no matter how tempting they smelled.

How frustrating!

Sister Lu and Jiang Zhuguo were drawn in by the aroma and couldn’t resist sneaking a taste. After sampling the chili oil, they both gave Xia Mingyue a big thumbs-up.

“This freshly made chili oil is fantastic!” Sister Lu exclaimed. “Honestly, we don’t even need to cook dinner. Just heat up two steamed buns, and we’ll be set.”

Though, considering the family’s appetite, two buns wouldn’t be enough——they might need an entire pot.

“I made some adjustments this time,” Xia Mingyue explained. “Before, I only added spices to the chili powder. This time, I infused the oil as well. It really brings out the flavor.”

She had also added a touch of sugar, which not only enhanced the taste but balanced out the spiciness, making it more flavorful and less harsh.

With this fragrant and spicy chili oil, cold noodles would be irresistible all summer long!

Feeling more confident than ever, she moved on to her next task——washing glutinous rice, seasoning the meat, and preparing to make rice dumplings.

This time, she planned to follow the famous Wufangzhai recipe.

The Jiangnan region was renowned for its rice dumplings, and Wufangzhai was considered the king of them all. Their meat dumplings were known for being glutinous but not mushy, rich but not greasy, and incredibly tender and flavorful.

__________________________

Chapter 50: Apprentice

The method for making Wufangzhai meat dumplings differs from most other meat dumplings.

The meat is sliced into small rectangular pieces along the grain. Instead of soaking it in soy sauce——salt, white wine, sugar, and other seasonings are added, and it is rubbed thoroughly by hand until small white bubbles form.

When soaking the glutinous rice, it is crucial to minimize the water content to prevent it from absorbing excess moisture. This ensures that the rice can fully soak up the flavors of the marinade, allowing it to be seasoned properly.

When cooking zongzi, hot water must be used in the pot to prevent the flavor from being lost.

Only by following these steps can the meat in the rice dumplings remain tender and fragrant while the dumplings themselves become rich but not greasy——delicious enough that one never tires of eating them.

The next morning, Xia Mingyue went to the butcher shop early to buy the meat for the day and deliver the chili oil.

Butcher Hong weighed the meat, accepted the jar of chili oil, and thanked her profusely.

After Xia Mingyue left, he opened the earthen jar and pondered what meal to prepare for his wife, Madam Fang.

Before he could come to a decision, Madam Fang rushed over from the backyard, sniffing the air eagerly. "What smells so good?" She asked anxiously.

Butcher Hong felt speechless.

He had barely opened the jar, yet she arrived so quickly. Was her nose as sharp as a dog's?

No, no! What was he thinking? How could he compare his own wife to a dog?

Suppressing his laughter, Butcher Hong explained, "You were craving chili oil, so I asked Madam Xia to make some for you. As soon as I brought it home, here you are."

"Chili oil?" Madam Fang's eyes lit up. She picked up the jar, sniffing repeatedly before sighing in delight. "It smells amazing!"

"Madam Xia is an excellent cook," Butcher Hong said with a chuckle. "What would you like to eat for breakfast?"

"Just warm up two——no, four steamed buns!" Madam Fang declared as she walked toward the backyard, clutching the jar like a treasure.

When something is this fragrant, it must be enjoyed in the simplest way possible to truly appreciate its flavor.

She had already planned her meals for the day: four steamed buns in the morning, another four at noon.

At night, though, eating too much chili oil might cause a sore throat. Overeating before bed could also be uncomfortable. So, she would limit herself to three.

As Fang finalized her schedule, Butcher Hong watched her retreating figure, frowning slightly.

He had worried about her lack of appetite before, and now she seemed overly enthusiastic about eating. Should he be concerned?

Still, if she was craving chili oil, then her body must need it.

And perhaps the baby in her belly wanted it too?

As for why he was certain the baby was a girl——Butcher Hong had absolute confidence. The old saying "sour for a boy, spicy for a girl" had never failed.

Besides, his family had never had a daughter in generations. Even now, he had three sons. It was about time for a little girl!

After returning home, Xia Mingyue asked Jiang Zhuguo to chop the meat filling while she prepared the rice dumplings.

She drained the soaked glutinous rice, mixed it thoroughly with the meat marinade, and let it rest for a while. Then, she packed the rice and marinated meat into bamboo leaves, wrapping them carefully.

Just as she finished making the zongzi, Jiang Erniu arrived to begin his first day of training.

She instructed Zhao Dahu and Zhao Erhu to light the stoves, while she and Sister Lu guided Jiang Erniu through kneading the dough and making pancakes.

Having previously made sesame cakes, Jiang Erniu was already skilled at handling dough——his technique even surpassed that of Xia Mingyue and Sister Lu.

But despite their similarities, each type of pancake had its unique characteristics. This particular pancake was the best-selling one on West Street, so Jiang Erniu took his learning seriously.

He followed Xia Mingyue and Sister Lu step by step, carefully memorizing the process and confirming details whenever he had doubts.

Impressed by his diligence, Xia Mingyue soon let him try making pancakes on his own.

Thanks to his prior experience and focused effort, he mastered the technique quickly. After just two or three attempts, his pancakes were already neat and well-shaped.

Seeing this, Sister Lu couldn't help but praise him. "You truly have a knack for this! Your pancakes look even better than mine."

Jiang Erniu blushed at the compliment. "Sister Lu, please don't praise me too much."

If his baking skills were really that good, why had his hanging oven sesame cake stall failed?

Appetizing appearance was one thing but, whether it tasted good or not, was entirely another matter.

Jiang Erniu's humility earned the approval of both Sister Lu and Jiang Zhuguo.

Once the pancakes were done and the wonton wrappers rolled out, Xia Mingyue and the others packed up their supplies and headed to the stall to begin the day's business.

Jiang Erniu followed, taking on odd jobs such as collecting and washing dishes while also helping to sell pancakes.

Many of the customers at the wonton stall were familiar faces, and several had previously bought sesame cakes from Jiang Erniu. Seeing him there surprised them.

"Did the hanging oven sesame cake stall close? Are you planning to work with Madam Xia now?" Someone asked.

Xia Mingyue smiled and explained, "Brother Jiang won’t be running the hanging oven sesame cake stall anymore. But he’s not working with me—he’s starting his own stall selling pancakes, wontons, and cold noodles. It’ll be set up elsewhere in the city. If you find my stall too far, you can go to his instead. The taste will be exactly the same!"

The customer’s eyes lit up. "Where will it be? North Street, maybe? I have to travel over half an hour just to buy food from here. It’d be great if you set up closer!"

"We haven’t finalized a location yet," Xia Mingyue replied. "Once we do, I’ll make sure to spread the word. I’d appreciate your support then!"

"Of course!"

In a small county like Jinqiu, connections were everything. Everyone saw each other regularly, so supporting one another was only natural.

The customers chatted about Jiang Erniu’s upcoming stall, joking about possible opening discounts and special promotions.

Listening to their conversation, Jiang Erniu suddenly felt a lump in his throat.

He had been an apprentice before, and he knew how masters usually treated their apprentices.

Most masters acted arrogantly, fearing that if they taught too well, their apprentices would surpass them. Even if an apprentice paid tuition and did all the chores, they were still met with disdain and harsh treatment, as though they were slaves rather than students.

Jiang Erniu still remembered the humiliation he endured while learning his craft. Those wounds weren’t on his body, but they had scarred his heart, and the pain lingered even now.

Yet, he had accepted it as the way of the world——an unspoken rule that everyone followed.

Before joining Xia Mingyue’s business, he had prepared himself mentally, expecting similar hardships once again.