Transmigrated into an Ancient ABO Fantasy World: A Culinary Comeback - Chapter 10

Xie Yu’an returned home and immediately told her aunt, Xie Xing, about the matter. Xie Xing had heard of this Qin Yin before her own magistrate protégé’s in-law. She was furious. How dare a lowly yamen runner, relying on his connections, act so brazenly, extorting and blackmailing with nothing but empty threats? It was as if he held no regard for imperial law.

She immediately summoned Li Chao to her residence and reprimanded him harshly, ordering him to investigate and deal with Qin Yin at once or else he could forget about keeping his official hat. Terrified and trembling, Li Chao returned and promptly threw Qin Yin into prison.

This Qin Yin had committed no shortage of misdeeds in his time, even extorting pigs and sheep from common folk. Now that he had fallen from power, the people of Dongyang County secretly rejoiced.

To repay the kindness of Xie Yu’an and Xie Xing, Wang Xiaojin expressed her desire to visit them in person to offer her thanks. Xie Xing, who remembered the young woman fondly, gladly agreed.

At noon that day, Wang Xiaojin prepared two roast ducks from scratch. She sliced the duck meat and arranged it in an exquisite gift box with lotus-leaf pancakes, homemade sweet bean sauce, cucumber strips, and other accompaniments. Along with an assortment of other gifts, she set off to visit the Xie residence.

As before, Xie Xing was warm and approachable, showing no airs as she chatted amiably with Wang Xiaojin.

When she learned Wang Xiaojin had brought roast duck, Xie Xing was especially delighted: “Roast duck, how wonderful! Yu’an told me about you and Madam Deng. I’ve been craving this very dish. Don’t laugh at this old woman for having no taste, hahaha!”

In the hall, steaming slices of duck were served, golden and glistening, exuding an irresistible aroma. Each person had lotus-leaf pancakes, sauces, and side dishes laid out before them, along with braised pork knuckle and other dishes prepared by the Xie family’s chef.

The duck meat was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, bursting with juices at the first bite utterly fragrant. Wrapping a few slices in a lotus pancake, dipping it in sweet bean sauce, and adding some shredded cucumber was a foolproof combination. The salty-sweet sauce melded perfectly with the flavors of the pancake and meat.

Xie Xing nodded approvingly as she ate, then teased Xie Yu’an:

“Yu’an, aren’t you jealous? Once you return to the capital, you won’t get to enjoy this anymore.”

Turning to Wang Xiaojin, she added, “Xiaojin, you must visit often. This old woman’s appetite depends on you now.”

Wang Xiaojin bowed humbly and smiled. “I’m so glad you like it. Just let me know what you’d like to eat, and I’ll do my best to prepare it.”

Xie Yu’an, sitting across from her, raised an eyebrow. “Oh? So you can speak properly?”

Wang Xiaojin rubbed her nose. “Uh! When is Miss Xie returning to the capital?”

Noticing Xie Xing’s gaze, she quickly added, “I mean, should I ask Deng Shu to see you off?”

Xie Yu’an waved a hand. “In seven days. But there’s no need, I’ll go see her myself when the time comes.”

Seven days? Wang Xiaojin kept her expression neutral, but inside, a wave of panic surged. Before the Qin Yin incident, she might have simply felt regret, something that would fade with time. But now, it was different.

What should she do? The thought repeated in her mind. Though Xie Yu’an clearly had no interest in her, the idea of being separated by such a vast distance never seeing her smile again, never being part of her life made her want to crouch down, hug her knees, and sob.

For the rest of the meal, Wang Xiaojin barely ate, suppressing her emotions before returning home.

She went over her savings again and again, but no matter how she counted, she only had twelve taels. A modest house in Dongyang County cost sixty taels, and according to Fan Xi, a mid-sized home in Changzhou, the prefecture Dongyang belonged to cost eight hundred taels, with larger estates running into the thousands. The capital was even more unthinkable.

Such an insurmountable gap was enough to make anyone despair.

Wang Xiaojin tossed and turned all night, but in the end, she couldn’t resign herself to mediocrity and decided to make big money. Setting up a stall was too small-scale, and opening a single shop wasn’t enough either. Only by trying a modern chain store could she have a chance to strike it rich.

In fact, the concept of chain stores had already begun to take shape in this dynasty. For example, the government-run inns where scholars rested during their travels for the imperial examinations were all uniformly managed by the authorities, much like chain stores. However, this model hadn’t been widely adopted in private commerce.

Although Wang Xiaojin planned to open a chain store or what could be considered branches, she hadn’t yet decided what to sell when Xie Yu’an arrived by carriage to visit Deng Shu. Xie Yu’an was returning to the capital the next day.

Wang Xiaojin knew this and felt downcast, lacking the energy for anything. She sat listlessly in the courtyard, head bowed, listening to the conversation between the two sisters inside the house.

Inside, Xie Yu’an glanced out the window and asked curiously, “Huh, what’s wrong with her today? She seems so out of sorts.”

Deng Shu looked over and sighed. “Ah, the sorrows of young love.”

Xie Yu’an didn’t quite understand but called out to Wang Xiaojin, “Chef Wang, could you make something delicious? Once I’m back in the capital, I won’t get to eat your cooking anymore.”

Wang Xiaojin felt a pang in her heart but got up to cook anyway.

No matter what, she still wanted to prepare a good meal. Fan Xi would likely come over to freeload, and since it was still early, making extra wouldn’t hurt.

First, she prepared a braising broth, adding tied-up pork, eggs, meatballs, spicy peppers, and other ingredients to simmer and absorb the flavors this was beng rou, a dish that paired perfectly with rice.

She also made a spicy stir-fry, minced pork with eggplant, and other hearty dishes.

Everyone ate happily, especially the beng rou. Pouring a ladle of the braising sauce over rice and mixing it with the tender, flavorful pork, eggs, and spicy pepper tofu was simply divine.

Alternatively, pairing it with the spicy stir-fry, the red oil soaking into the rice, offered a completely different flavor profile fiery, numbing, and aromatic.

While the others ate plenty of rice, Wang Xiaojin didn’t have much.

After the meal, everyone chatted and laughed for a while before Xie Yu’an prepared to leave.

Deng Shu saw her off to the village entrance, wiping away tears, reluctant to part. She knew that once Xie Yu’an returned to the capital, it would likely be a long time before she visited Dongyang County again.

Most of Xie Yu’an’s friends and family were in the capital, her true home, a place of bustling crowds, dazzling performances, and sleepless nights. She would probably soon forget the people and happenings of Dongyang County.

Seeing Deng Shu like this, Xie Yu’an’s eyes also reddened. After a long, emotional embrace, Deng Shu stepped back to the roadside. Just as Xie Yu’an was about to mount her horse, Wang Xiaojin, who had been silent the whole time, suddenly called out, “Xie Yu’an!”

The young woman turned back, puzzled. Wang Xiaojin’s throat tightened, but in the end, she only said, “Have a safe journey. Take care.”

Xie Yu’an smiled, waved, and rode off into the distance.

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