Transmigrated into an Ancient ABO Fantasy World: A Culinary Comeback - Chapter 19

Upon arriving at the dining room, Wang Xiaojin found Xie Yu’an already eating. Her cheeks were puffed out as she chewed. She looked up with a flash of confusion when she saw Wang Xiaojin and her father enter together, only then remembering they were now married. From now on, they would have to face each other every morning at breakfast.

Recalling the events of the previous night, Xie Yu’an stole a cautious glance at Wang Xiaojin. Seeing that the other woman was focused solely on her food and refusing to look back, Yu’an felt a wave of irritation and took a spiteful bite of her bun.

Xie Ding looked at his daughter and then at Wang Xiaojin with a warm smile. “Xiaojin, try these soup dumplings. They are incredibly fresh.” He placed a dumpling on her plate and handed her a few eggs.

“Prince, please eat. I can help myself,” Wang Xiaojin replied politely.

Xie Yu’an muttered from across the table, “Father, she has hands. She can feed herself.”

“Yu’an, watch your attitude,” Xie Ding scolded, his face hardening.

Wang Xiaojin remained silent and continued eating. Seeing that she was being ignored, Yu’an’s frustration grew for reasons she could not explain. She slapped her chopsticks down and stormed out of the room.

The meal was entirely tasteless. Wang Xiaojin picked at her eggs with her chopsticks, feeling a heavy sigh trapped in her chest.

“That child, always so restless,” Xie Ding watched his daughter leave before turning back to Xiaojin. “Don’t take it to heart, Xiaojin. Eat more.”

Over the following days, the two maintained their stalemate: one slept on the bed, the other on the couch. They had almost no communication. Sleeping on the couch left Wang Xiaojin with constant back pain, making her long workdays even more exhausting. She considered asking the Prince for separate quarters, but it would look bad so soon after the wedding. She decided to endure it.

One evening, Wang Xiaojin returned from the shop completely drained. She collapsed onto her couch and pulled a thin blanket over herself, ready to pass out. Xie Yu’an, watching her cold indifference from the inner room, curled her lip and walked over to poke her. “Hey.”

Wang Xiaojin opened her eyes blearily. “What is it?”

“Accompany me to visit Sister Deng tomorrow,” the girl said, fidgeting with her fingers.

Wang Xiaojin could barely keep her eyes open. “Go by yourself. Why do you need me?” With that, she drifted back to sleep.

Xie Yu’an stood over her with her hands on her hips. “Fine then, Wang Xiaojin! I give you a way out and you don’t take it. Hmph!” She marched back to her room, blew out the lamp, and went to bed. Her attitude toward Xiaojin became even more sour after that.

Wang Xiaojin grew used to it, though she had not expected the County Princess to hate her this much. Since the anger showed no signs of fading even after weeks of marriage, she became more determined than ever to seek a divorce. This arrangement was a torment for them both.

She began looking for a way to move out without breaking the Prince’s heart. She finally found the answer: a business trip. Given recent events, she felt it was unsafe to keep all her business interests in the capital. She planned to scout the markets in the Jiang and Xin Kingdoms to see what kind of shops she could open there.

When she shared her idea with the Prince, he was fully supportive. “Good. There is nothing wrong with making more money. Just make sure to tell Yu’an.”

Back in their room, Wang Xiaojin began packing. Xie Yu’an, who had stayed home today instead of managing her various entertainment businesses, watched her in surprise. “What are you doing?”

“I am going away for a few days,” Wang Xiaojin said without looking up.

“Where to?”

“To travel around Jiang and Xin.” Once her bags were packed, she walked out without a second glance.

Wang Xiaojin left her team in the capital to look after the shop and her mother while she headed back to Dongyang County to visit her mentor, Xie Xing.

She arrived at the Xie estate covered in dust but was greeted with joy by her old friends. Xie Xing looked at her with motherly concern. “Look at you, Xiaojin. You have grown thin. Life in the capital must be very difficult.”

Wang Qi teased her with a suggestive grin. “It is only natural she is thinner. She just brought home a beautiful bride, after all.”

Feng Xian quickly muttered a prayer, clearly used to Wang Qi’s antics. Wang Xiaojin swirled her tea, offering no explanation for the sadness in her eyes.

Xie Xing noticed the change in her student and sent the others away to practice. Once they were alone, she patted Xiaojin’s shoulder. “Xiaojin, has Yu’an been giving you a hard time?”

That single question broke Wang Xiaojin’s composure. She covered her eyes with her palm, and the tears began to fall. Although she carried herself with maturity, she was only twenty years old at heart. In front of her mentor, the weight of the political schemes and the failed marriage became too much to bear.

Xie Xing was startled to see this side of her. She handed her a handkerchief and offered gentle comfort. “The capital was never going to be an easy place. Just think of this as a hard-learned lesson.”

Once she calmed down, Wang Xiaojin wiped her face and whispered hoarsely, “Master, please do not tell the others.”

“Of course I won’t,” Xie Xing promised with a smile.

After resting for a few days, Wang Xiaojin set off for the Jiang Kingdom, taking Wang Qi along for company. The Jiang Kingdom was a vast, sparsely populated land with a scorching sun. The people there were tall, energetic, and loved bread and meat. Wang Xiaojin decided that instead of potato flour, she would sell something that fit the local palate better: burgers.

They rented a small shop, and Xiaojin built a traditional bread oven. Using the abundant local milk to make butter and cheese, she baked golden, soft burger buns.

“It is so fluffy and soft, nothing like a steamed bun!” Wang Qi exclaimed as she sampled the bread.

The next day, Wang Xiaojin prepared sweet and sour pickles and juicy beef patties. She layered them with fresh lettuce, tomatoes, and plenty of cheese and sauce. The result was a rich, savory burger that Wang Qi could not stop eating.

However, Wang Xiaojin felt something was missing. Looking at Wang Qi drinking plain tea, she realized the soul of the meal was absent: ice-cold cola.

Making cola in the ancient world was difficult, especially the essential oils. Just as she was about to give up, she stumbled upon a small shop that smelled of fresh citrus and herbs. To her delight, it was an essential oil shop. Even better, the owner, Chen Xi, was a member of the Shadow Guards, a cool and elegant woman.

Chen Xi listened to her request and nodded. “That is not difficult. If I can make all these perfumes, I can certainly produce the oils you need.”

A day later, Wang Xiaojin returned for the oils. Using caramel syrup and carbonated water mixed with the oils and crushed ice, she produced a cold, refreshing glass of cola. It was the perfect match for the burgers.

The Burger and Cola shop opened to immediate success, becoming a sensation among the people of the Jiang Kingdom.

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