Let’s go out and have fun!

We get to go out and have fun!

Just thinking about it made Ji Rongxia burst with joy.

This morning, as he ate breakfast, his steps seemed a little lighter.

“Are you that happy?” Gu Tangjin couldn’t help but ask.

Ji Rongxia replied without hesitation, “Of course, I’m happy! I’ve never been to the provincial capital before. Besides, who wouldn’t be happy to get out and have some fun?”

Gu Tangjin had studied in the provincial capital a few years back and had made countless trips back and forth; going there no longer held any sense of wonder or trepidation for him. Seeing Ji Rongxia so delighted, however, he found himself growing somewhat excited.

Gu Tangjin said, “Who knows? Maybe one day, Xia-ger will even open a restaurant in the provincial capital.”

“Me?” Ji Rongxia pointed at himself, a hint of disbelief in his voice. “Is that even possible?” Ji Rongxia muttered.

“Why not?” Gu Tangjin said with a smile. “Even without the Little Master by your side, given your natural talent, opening a restaurant in the prefectural city wouldn’t be difficult.”

“Is that so? I suppose so.” Ji Rongxia paused in his stirring of the meat filling.

Although there was still some uncertainty in his tone, Gu Tangjin’s words seemed to ignite a spark of hope within him. After all, he was destined to become a culinary master—wouldn’t opening a restaurant in the provincial capital be the natural next step?!

Just having that thought in his mind gave Ji Rongxia a new burst of energy as he worked.

Ji Rongxia thought about baking some crumbly pancakes today. Seeing the oven reminded him of the idea he’d mentioned before: using thicker flatbreads to sandwich meat and vegetables for sale.

Since he wouldn’t be able to set up his stall for the next few days, Ji Rongxia decided to take a portion of his not-so-perfect fish-flavored shredded pork from the system space and sell it sandwiched in the flatbreads.

He didn’t need to make too many—just a dozen or so would do.

Once something this delicious hits the market, anyone who tries it will definitely want more— at the very least, it’ll help build a following.

“I want to bake some more thick flatbreads this time. When you’re kneading the dough, help me make a little extra leavened dough. I’ll put some shredded pork in them—just a dozen or so thick flatbreads. You just need to mix in an extra scoop of dough,” Ji Rongxia said.

Gu Tangjin went to get a small piece of sourdough starter and used another bowl to knead the dough. “Alright.”

Once the dough had risen, Ji Rongxia sprinkled some ground Sichuan pepper, salt, and lard into it. He divided the dough into small portions, rolled them into thick, round flatbreads, and placed them in the oven.

The two bustled about preparing breakfast, and Ji Rongxia also marinated the meat and vegetable dishes to be sold that day. Meanwhile, Zhu Pengyi had been roused by his master early that morning.

“Master, it’s not even dawn yet.” Zhu Pengyi rubbed his eyes as he got out of bed. He glanced outside and sighed, “It’s so early. Master, we don’t have to break stones for the road anymore. Why get up this early? Also, sir, I’m pretty sure I locked the bolt on my door. How did you get in?”

“That thing? Can’t you just pry it open with a piece of wood? I heard from Old Tao that the eateries in the eastern part of town are still serving breakfast this morning. Come on, let’s go try it—see if the breakfast here is any good,” said Wu Baoquan.

Zhu Pengyi was a laborer Wu Baoquan had recruited to build roads while in Shouwu County in the Northern Frontier. Having grown up without parents, relying on the kindness of others, he was a man of great strength. During the late years of the previous dynasty, when the Northern Frontier was plagued by foreign invasions, Zhu Pengyi survived not only because of good luck but also because he possessed an innate, acute sense of danger. Later, seeing how quick-witted he was and having no one else to rely on, Wu Baoquan took him under his wing. Over the years, Zhu Pengyi had become Wu Baoquan’s right-hand man.

When Wu Baoquan took up this new post, Zhu Pengyi entrusted his wife and daughter to the care of Wu Baoquan’s Fulang and came along to assist him.

The two were very close; in front of him, Wu Baoquan didn’t put on any airs of being the county magistrate. Zhu Pengyi resignedly combed his hair and changed his clothes: “I’ll go harness the ox cart.”

They had driven over in an ox cart, which had been kept in the courtyard these past few days. The county office also had two donkeys and a mule that could be harnessed for transport.

“I’ve already hitched up the donkey cart. The ox cart is a bit too conspicuous. Let’s just use the donkey cart,” Wu Baoquan instructed. Zhu Pengyi’s mouth twitched. “Sigh, for the sake of a meal, you really know how to go all out, Your Honor.”

Getting up early just to harness a donkey cart?

Who says the county magistrate is lazy? When it comes to food, he’s as hardworking as they come!

When the two arrived, Ji Rongxia and Gu Tangjin had just set up their stall, with a few scattered customers waiting. Wu Baoquan quickly climbed down from the donkey cart, told Zhu Pengyi to watch the cart, and went to buy breakfast.

Today’s breakfast was especially lavish—not only were there crumbly pancakes and Pan-fried buns, but also a dozen or so flatbreads stuffed with fish-flavored shredded pork.

This particular batch of fish-flavored shredded pork was one of Ji Rongxia’s less successful attempts; Gu Tangjin had carefully picked out all the chili peppers from it.

“Something new today? Why so many pan-fried buns? I get the feeling you guys aren’t going to set up the stall tomorrow,” Lin Dongshan, who was at the front of the line, couldn’t help but remark upon seeing all the buns and pan-fried buns.

“You’ve actually guessed right. We won’t be setting up our breakfast stall for the next ten days.” Ji Rongxia said cheerfully. Hee hee hee, he was going to buy some land and then go off to have some fun.

“Huh? A ten-day period? That’s ten whole days?! You’re not setting up the stall? Why?” Lin Dongshan quickly pressed.

He was used to coming over every day for breakfast; it would be a real bummer if he couldn’t get any.

Wu Baoquan couldn’t help but prick up his ears to listen.

“We’re thinking of going to the village to check out some farmland—it’ll take quite a bit of effort. Once we’ve bought the land, Tangjin and I are planning to make a trip to the prefectural city. When we get back, we’ll make some fruit drinks for everyone,” Ji Rongxia said with a smile.

“Oh, if you don’t set up your stall, I won’t know what to eat for the next ten days. But once you’re back, we’ll have pastries and drinks again—thinking about that makes it bearable.” Hearing it was for a good cause, Lin Dongshan didn’t know what to say, though he was genuinely worried about how he’d get through these days.

The woman standing behind Lin Dongshan chimed in, “That’s right. Those pan-fried buns are so delicious—if I can’t have them for a whole ten days, I’m sure I’ll miss them terribly.” Now that the buns cost two wen each, many people were happy to buy one or two to try something new.

Wu Baoquan stood on tiptoe to look ahead. What were they selling for breakfast?

Plump, round buns; flat cakes topped with meat filling; and some flat cakes sliced open and stuffed with stir-fried shredded pork.

Wu Baoquan had never actually tried any of them!

Wu Baoquan thought to himself, since those two people up ahead were talking about them like that, these breakfast items must taste pretty good.

“There are plenty of places selling breakfast in Wuqu Alley—surely you can’t be hungry.” Gu Tangjin changed the subject with a joke. He looked at Lin Dongshan and asked, “What would you like to buy today?”

“What’s this pastry?” Lin Dongshan pointed to the pastry stuffed with shredded meat.

Ji Rongxia explained, “It’s a baked flatbread with shredded pork. The bread is made a bit thicker, split open in the middle, and filled with some shredded pork. Six wen each.”

“Wow, give me one of those, and two Pan-fried buns too,” Lin Dongshan said after a moment’s hesitation. He really wanted to try the crumbly pancake too, but half a piece cost four wen!

“That’ll be ten wen in total,” Ji Rongxia said as he and Gu Tangjin wrapped up the flatbread and Pan-fried buns. Lin Dongshan took the flatbread and Pan-fried buns and handed over ten wen.

He hesitated for a moment. Since he hadn’t bought anything else to eat today, he found a corner, squatted down, and began to eat. First, he peeled back the lotus leaf and took a bite of the pancake stuffed with shredded pork.

This pancake was considerably thicker than the crumbly kind, and it seemed like Sichuan pepper had been mixed into the dough. The outside was crispy while the inside was tender, and it was already quite fragrant.

With every bite, he could taste the meat, proving the pastry was generously filled—selling it for six wen was practically a loss.

The shredded meat was tender and fragrant, with a hint of umami and a subtle kick of spice. Lin Dongshan took a big bite and chewed with great satisfaction.

Wu Baoquan watched, unable to resist swallowing hard.

It was soon his turn, and Wu Baoquan quickly said, “Four meat-stuffed flatbreads, six of these with meat filling on top, and twenty small buns.”

“That many?”

Ji Rongxia couldn’t help but glance at Wu Baoquan a few more times.

Before him stood a plump man, slightly younger than Gu Chuncai, who looked like a wealthy merchant—and was clearly a stranger. It’s so hot today; will he even be able to finish all that?

Ji Rongxia was filled with doubt. Gu Tangjin quickly wrapped the meat-stuffed buns and crumbly buns for Wu Baoquan, while Ji Rongxia served him the Pan-fried buns.

Gu Tangjin: “Eighty-eight wen.”

“Here you go.” Wu Baoquan quickly counted out the wen and handed them over.

Gu Tangjin took the money and reminded him, “It’s hot out—you’d better eat this soon.”

Wu Baoquan wore a cheerful smile, but inwardly he thought that he could finish all this in just two meals, not to mention that Zhu Pengyi was there to eat with him.

After taking the food, he asked curiously, “Young man, what was that ‘fruit drink’ you mentioned earlier? A drink made from fruit?” 

“Right, it’s a drink made from fruit. It tastes pretty good,” Ji Rongxia replied simply.

“Oh.” Wu Baoquan nodded. He didn’t linger, stepping aside to let the people behind him buy breakfast. Carrying his breakfast, he strolled over to Zhu Pengyi.

“Let’s go find a place to have some tea and sit down to eat this breakfast.” Wu Baoquan could smell the aroma of crumbly pancakes, pan-fried buns, and pancakes stuffed with shredded pork—he really didn’t want to wait another moment.

Zhu Pengyi nodded, looked around, and finally found a tea stall nearby with Wu Baoquan. The stall sold not only tea but also various beverages, whole-wheat buns, and flower rolls.

The drinks included sweetened water, simmered pear juice, and herbal beverages infused with mint and other cooling herbs.

The steamed buns and flower rolls were selling well; in just a short while, a customer who had bought breakfast from Gu Tangjin and Ji Rongxia’s stall came over to buy some buns.

“Two bowls of tea and two bowls of mint drink, please,” Wu Baoquan called out.

Pei Laofulang hurried over with two bowls of tea and two bowls of mint drink. Seeing all the food they were carrying, his eyes lit up. Big spenders! These two must be well-off—they’re regulars at Xia-ger’s stall.

He could sell quite a few bowls of tea and steamed buns to them as well. Thinking of this, Pei Laofulang was very warm toward the two men. He not only brought them the tea but also handed them chopsticks: “Here’s the tea and mint drink you ordered.”

“Alright. Thanks a lot, brother,” Wu Baoquan replied. As soon as he finished speaking, he couldn’t wait to unwrap the lotus leaf containing the Pan-fried buns. He was most curious about what these little buns tasted like.

The bottom was crispy, as if it had been pan-fried in oil.

He picked up his chopsticks and picked up a pan-fried bun.

The broth was rich, the meat filling was delicious, and the bottom of the wrapper was crispy and aromatic, while the top was chewy.

“Good. Good,” he said twice in a row, devouring one pan-fried bun after another with great relish.

“Young Master, have some tea to wash it down. Don’t choke.” Zhu Pengyi watched him and shook his head. If he kept eating like this, by the time his parents and Fulang arrived, wouldn’t the young master have put on a whole new layer of fat?

With that thought, he picked up a bun filled with shredded pork and took a bite.

The shredded meat was tender, with a faint fishy aroma—so delicious that it chased away the last traces of drowsiness from Zhu Pengyi!

“Young Master, this meat bun is delicious. You should try it,” Zhu Pengyi said.

“Oh, really!” Wu Baoquan said, picking up a meat-filled bun to eat as well.

“Hmm, this meat is excellent, and it’s so flavorful. I wonder how they make it—this restaurant’s cooking is truly top-notch.”

Wu Baoquan thought for a moment, swallowed the food in his mouth, then curiously picked up a crumbly pancake to try.

The crumbly pancake was generously seasoned with spices; the flavor burst forth with the first bite, salty and savory.

Wu Baoquan found himself liking all three breakfast items equally; he couldn’t decide which was better.

As he ate, Wu Baoquan mused that perhaps he could buy a house at the junction of East and South City—that way, he could easily come to this eatery for meals and also get to the county office conveniently.

“No! It’s over!!” Wu Baoquan suddenly cried out in alarm.

“What’s wrong?” Zhu Pengyi looked around in confusion.

“Everything looks fine around here. What’s the matter?!”

“I won’t be able to eat this tomorrow. The vendor has to run some errands and go to the prefectural city—he won’t be setting up his stall for ten days.” Wu Baoquan’s voice carried a hint of sorrow and hesitation.

Sadness at the thought of going ten days without such a delicious breakfast.

Hesitation over whether to eat less now and save some for lunch.

“Ten days?!” Zhu Pengyi couldn’t help but exclaim in surprise. Ten whole days?!

Zhu Pengyi didn’t consider himself a big eater, especially with a foodie like the Master right by his side. In comparison, he really wasn’t particular about food and drink.

But having tasted such a delicious breakfast today, only to be unable to have it for several days afterward, was simply unbearable!!!

Ji Rongxia was unaware of Magistrate Wu’s thoughts. He was discussing with Yao Tianlan and Gu Chuncai their plans to buy land today and visit the prefectural city in a few days.

“Father and Mother, you’ve just handed the restaurant business over to me, and now I’m asking you to worry about me again.” Ji Rongxia scratched his face, looking a bit embarrassed.

“Hey, it’s not like your father, and I can’t manage things anymore. Don’t worry—you two just go about your business; we’ll keep an eye on the restaurant,” said Yao Tianlan.

Gu Chuncai nodded in agreement. “Exactly. When you go to the prefectural city, remember to pay a visit to Juren Zhao. Tangjin, Juren Zhao is your teacher. Even though you can’t study in the prefectural city now, you must still show him respect.”

Upon hearing this, Ji Rongxia’s smile froze for a moment.

Gu Tangjin, however, remained composed: “All right, Father.”

Although he had been recuperating at home for the past two years, he had still sent gifts for the seasonal festivals, the New Year, and the birthdays of Juren Zhao and his wife through intermediaries, as if he were unaware of anything. The silver used to purchase these gifts had been saved from selling his calligraphy while he was in the prefectural city, which was why, by the time of his wedding, he had only a few taels of silver left in his savings.

Yao Tianlan and Gu Chuncai had wanted to help, but Gu Tangjin refused, insisting that a gift prepared by his own hands would be more heartfelt. Ji Rongxia stole a glance at Gu Tangjin’s expression; seeing no change in his face, he breathed a sigh of relief.

“By the way, Father, since this braised meat is selling so well, if the two of us go to the provincial capital, it would be a shame not to sell it in the restaurants there. Why don’t I prepare some braised meat and vegetables for you to try? With the braising sauce on hand, you and Mother can continue selling braised meat.” Ji Rongxia casually steered the conversation away from the topic of Juren Zhao.

Upon hearing this, Gu Chuncai’s attention was indeed diverted to the braised meat: “Alright, don’t worry about that.”

With the serious matters settled, Ji Rongxia said with a smile, “Father and Mother, you must try this eight-treasure porridge. It has chestnuts in it—it’s rare to find chestnuts this time of year.”

“Chestnuts? Where did you get them?” Yao Tianlan realized only then that they hadn’t eaten breakfast yet. He picked up a spoon and stirred the congee a few times, and sure enough, he saw plump chestnuts.

“We got them from the docks. It gets colder faster up north, so the chestnuts grow well there,” Gu Tangjin lied without batting an eye. He was almost used to covering for Ji Rongxia now; he was getting better and better at it.

“Oh. That’s quite a find.” Yao Tianlan trusted her son implicitly; he believed Gu Tangjin’s story without question. He scooped up a spoonful of the eight-treasure porridge, complete with a piece of chestnut, and popped it into her mouth.

It was sweet, soft, and sticky—absolutely delicious. The chestnut, in particular, had a smooth, velvety texture; its natural sweetness hadn’t been lost in the simmering but had actually been brought out.

Yao Tianlan said, “This porridge smells wonderful, and the chestnuts are lovely too. Old man, you should try some.”

Gu Chuncai wasn’t much of a porridge fan; he found it a hassle to cook, and eating porridge never seemed to fill him up—he preferred plain rice or steamed buns. But Ji Rongxia’s eight-treasure porridge was different. It was sweet and delicious, and even Gu Chuncai, who usually disliked porridge, enjoyed it.

After breakfast, having settled all matters at the restaurant, Ji Rongxia and Gu Tangjin headed to the Ji family residence to find Ji Ronghu. They wanted to ask their eldest brother when he’d be free to accompany them to inspect the fields.

Ji Ronghu didn’t have any major projects on his hands—just some minor tasks—so he was naturally free. Even if he did have work to do, he couldn’t help but keep Xia-ger’s matter in mind.

“We can go right now,” Ji Ronghu said decisively.

“Oh? Alright then. Brother, come back with us first. We’ll grab some silver and borrow a donkey cart,” Ji Rongxia said decisively. Ji Ronghu brushed the wood shavings off his clothes and said, “I’ll change into a different outfit too. I can’t go out looking like this.”

He worked as a carpenter at home, wearing his most tattered clothes—the sleeves were completely worn through, exposing his bare arms. He didn’t bother with appearances at home, but he always changed into clean clothes before going out.

Ji Rongxia: “Alright, Tangjin and I will wait here.”

Hong Yuelian handed them two bamboo-woven hats: “Put them on. It’s very sunny out there, and since you’re going out, wearing hats will make it a little more bearable.”

“Thank you, Mother.” Gu Tangjin took the hats, putting one on himself and one on Ji Rongxia. It was the first time either of them had seen the other wearing a hat.

Even with such an ordinary bamboo hat, Gu Tangjin’s handsome features couldn’t be hidden. On the contrary, because the hat slightly softened his somewhat sharp features, he appeared a bit more gentle and refined.

The bamboo hat on Ji Rongxia’s head did nothing to dampen his lively, energetic spirit. In fact, because it slightly obstructed his vision, he fidgeted even more, looking like a little fox cub forced to wear a tiny outfit, completely at a loss.

The two exchanged a knowing glance, both with smiles in their eyes.

Ji Ronghu quickly changed into his clothes, and the three of them headed back to the restaurant together. Gu Tangjin and Ji Rongxia first secured the silver and then went to the Guan family to borrow a donkey cart. With everything ready, they took advantage of the early morning coolness before the sun rose too high. The three of them took turns riding in the cart as they made their way slowly out of the county town.