The front of Tai Ping Residence remained quiet at midday, with no carriages or horses in sight, but inside the hall, quite a few people were seated, eating enthusiastically with bowls and spoons in hand.
Xu Maoxiu maintained his usual restraint while eating, but the other brothers beside him were less composed. Xu Bangchui, in particular, tilted his head back and directly poured a bowl of tender tofu into his mouth.
“My late wife used to make an excellent steamed egg custard. This bowl of soft tofu now tastes just as delicate as her custard,” the old manager said. He carefully scooped out the last bits of tofu from his bowl with a spoon, put them into his mouth, and closed his eyes to savor the flavor.
The curtain of the back hall was lifted, and the fourth brother came out carrying a tray. On it was a plate of tofu, inverted like white jade, adorned with a drizzle of sauce.
“Here, give this preparation a try,” he said.
Before he could even set the tray down, several brothers had already gathered around, reaching out with their spoons.
Xu Maoxiu chuckled, shook his head, stood up, and, ignoring the lively scene in the hall, walked toward the back.
Under the corridor in the backyard, Cheng Jiao-niang sat gracefully, looking at the food tray brought by the maid.
“They’ve been steamed, boiled, braised, stir-fried, and deep-fried—each with its own color and flavor,” the maid said, her face filled with excitement.
Another girl stood by, watching curiously.
“I like stuffed tofu with dipping sauce the most,” she said. “Miss, which one do you prefer?”
Cheng Jiao-niang looked up and saw Xu Maoxiu approaching. She smiled slightly.
“Brother, which one do you think is best?” she asked.
“They’re all good,” Xu Maoxiu replied with a smile. “I never expected such an unassuming ingredient to have so many different preparations.”
The old manager also came out, and as the curtain lifted, the lively sounds of eating and drinking from the hall spilled out with it.
“I truly didn’t expect tofu to be this delicious,” he said, nodding in satisfaction. Then, glancing at the maid, he added, “With you teaching the cook culinary skills and bringing new dishes and flavors, our foundation is solid. Now that we have this tofu—something novel and exciting—it’s only a matter of time before Tai Ping Residence gains fame.”
“Hopefully sooner rather than later,” Li Dashao couldn’t help but say as he walked out of the kitchen, having listened in for a while.
Ironically, it seemed that the ones most eager to make a fortune weren’t the owners, but the hired workers.
“I’ve done all I can. The rest is up to you,” Cheng Jiao-niang said.
The old manager squinted his eyes and smiled.
“You’re too polite, Miss. This is my duty, my duty indeed,” he said. “Back in the day—”
Li Dashao let out a loud cough and shot the manager a glare.
The old manager burst into laughter, while the maid and girl covered their mouths, giggling.
With a loud clang in the courtyard, Sun Cai jumped out from the tofu workshop.
“Where are the soybeans? We’re running out! Hurry and buy more! You all just ate an entire batch of tofu—how are we supposed to do business like this?” he shouted.
Yet another person eager to strike it rich. Xu Maoxiu chuckled, nodding as he called for someone to handle it.
“Miss, why not expand the tofu workshop a bit? I fear it won’t be enough in the future,” the old manager said with a smile.
“No need,” Cheng Jiao-niang replied.
Everyone paused in surprise.
“Miss, such a great product is bound to be popular! The sales will be huge,” Sun Cai hurriedly said. “With such a small workshop, even if we work around the clock, we won’t be able to produce much!”
Cheng Jiao-niang shook her head.
“I’m running a restaurant, not a tofu workshop,” she said. “If we run out, we run out. Come earlier next time.”
The old manager snapped out of it and burst into laughter.
“Exactly, exactly!” he said. “Back in the day—”
Over on the side, Li Dashao was already preparing to glare at him again, so the old manager quickly changed his words.
“—even at the famous Immortal’s Abode, you had to make reservations to eat ‘Passing Immortal’, or they wouldn’t get a bite,” he said.
Everyone understood—scarcity fuels curiosity, and the harder something is to get, the more it draws people in.
Only Sun Cai still looked regretful.
“If there’s money to be made, why not make it?” he muttered.
“Opportunities should be pursued slowly,” the old manager said with a smile.
The old manager gathered everyone to instruct them on how to serve dishes, prepare food, and follow the proper etiquette of a restaurant. Meanwhile, Xu Maoxiu walked Cheng Jiao-niang out.
“With all these new dishes and fresh ideas, it’s going to cost even more,” he said.
Compared to before, asking for money no longer carried any shame for him. His expression was calm—he simply did what needed to be done without overthinking.
Cheng Jiao-niang nodded.
“Brother, just focus on your work. I’ll handle the money,” she said. Then, as if remembering something, she quickly added, “Oh, and I’ve moved back to the house. If anything comes up, you can come find me there anytime.”
Moved back to the Yudai Bridge residence? Xu Maoxiu was momentarily stunned.
“Did they bully you?” he asked. “Sister, we both know that the few of us don’t have much ability and wouldn’t dare act recklessly. I’m afraid we might not be able to help you and could even cause more trouble. But still, if nothing else, we can at least give them a beating and make a scene to vent some anger.”
Cheng Jiao-niang stopped in her tracks, turned her head, and smiled at him.
“Don’t worry, Brother,” she said. “If they dared to bully me, do you think something as simple as a beating and making a fuss would be enough to settle it?”
Xu Maoxiu smiled and nodded.
“I know you’re clever,” he said. “I just want you to remember—you’re not alone. Even if we can’t do much, we’ll stand by you.”
Cheng Jiao-niang looked at him, smiled, and nodded.
It was nearly evening when Zhou Liu-lang finally saw a carriage stop in front of the door.
The door, which had remained tightly shut all day—unmoved even by kicking—finally opened. A young servant boy and a maid rushed out.
“Miss! Miss!”
They eagerly surrounded the lady who had just stepped out of the carriage, their faces filled with joy and excitement.
A smile unexpectedly appeared on the lady’s usually expressionless face. It was not a forced or stiff smile, but a genuine one.
Zhou Liu-lang threw down the whip in his hand and strode forward.
Upon seeing him, Ban Qin and Jin Ge’er were startled. They quickly stepped in front of Cheng Jiao-niang, their expressions wary.
“Sixth Young Master, what do you want now? When we left, we didn’t take a single thing from your Zhou family. Haven’t you had enough?” The maid stepped forward, furrowing her brows in defiance.
They had been driven out in the middle of the night, not even allowed to stay until morning…
Zhou Liu-lang stared at Cheng Jiao-niang, his hand at his side clenching so tightly that his knuckles cracked.
“I will take you back,” he said.
The maid let out a sharp scoff.
“You think we want to go back to that place of yours?” she retorted, raising her brows before waving him off. “Sixth Young Master, wake up already.”
With that, she supported Cheng Jiao-niang and led her inside.
Jin Ge’er, the only man in their household, stood firmly at the door despite his frail frame, guarding the entrance. Ban Qin kept her head lowered, following behind in small, hurried steps.
Watching the lady enter the door, Zhou Liu-lang took another step forward.
“Cheng Jiao-niang,” he gritted his teeth and said, “I will marry you.”
With that, he turned and strode away, leaving the few people at the door in stunned silence.
What?
Who? Who’s marrying whom?
Jin Ge’er stood frozen, his mouth agape in shock. Ban Qin lifted her head, looking utterly incredulous, and the maid widened her eyes in disbelief. Only Cheng Jiao-niang’s expression remained unchanged, as calm as ever.
“Oh, so it was for this,” Cheng Jiao-niang said.
For what?
The others snapped back to reality, looking at her with confusion.
The maid froze for a moment, then suddenly understood.
No wonder the maids and servants had looked at them strangely, no wonder Madam Zhou had sent them away, no wonder…
“Ugh, how shameless!” the maid cried out angrily. “So it turns out he’s the one ruining the mistress’s reputation!”
“Well, that’s fine too,” Cheng Jiao-niang said. “Coming into the house was because of him, and leaving the house will also be because of him. It all works out.”
The maid stamped her foot in frustration.
“Miss, you’re still joking,” she said, frowning. “How dare he ruin your reputation!”
“My reputation? Who could ruin it?” Cheng Jiao-niang replied, turning and stepping inside.
The next morning, at the Zhou family’s training grounds, Zhou Liu-lang was present as usual. With a stern face, he sparred with his father, wielding a spear that cut through the air with increasing force. After a few sharp clashes, Zhou Liu-lang took a few steps back, but instead of having his spear knocked away, he managed to steady himself by planting it firmly on the ground.
“Looks like you’re making some progress,” Master Zhou grunted, tossing his own spear aside. He took the towel offered by a servant to wipe his sweat, then shot Zhou Liu-lang a glare.
“Father, this has nothing to do with her. She…” Zhou Liu-lang gritted his teeth.
Master Zhou turned and walked off.
Left standing behind, Zhou Liu-lang couldn’t help but angrily jab his spear into the ground.
The food in the room was cleared away, and the tables were moved.
Master Zhou and Madam Zhou sipped tea while quietly discussing the household matters. Zhou Liu-lang knelt at the door, and the food in front of him on the table remained untouched.
“Sixth Young Master, please eat a little,” one of the maids said softly.
Zhou Liu-lang didn’t respond. Madam Zhou raised an eyebrow and looked over.
“Take it away. You’re not allowed to eat,” she ordered sternly.
The maid, not daring to say anything further, quickly nodded and took the food away.
“Now that you’ve grown up, you’re acting like an ignorant woman, crying, making a scene, and even threatening to hang yourself. You’ll starve yourself to death, mark my words!” Madam Zhou scolded.
Zhou Liu-lang kept a stern face and remained silent.
A few maids hurriedly ran in from outside.
“Master, Madam, someone from the Qin family is here,” they said.
“The Qin family? Which Qin family?” Master Zhou asked.
He knew of a well-known Qin family in the capital, but their interactions had always been limited to young people, and it was of no concern to the two families.
Upon hearing the name “Qin,” Zhou Liulang also looked up at the maid.
“It’s the Qin family from the princess’s residence, the Qin family from Chuan,” the maid said in one breath.
So it was the family of Young Master Qin.
Master Zhou and Madam Zhou looked at Zhou Liu-lang, who furrowed his brows. But then, as if realizing something, his expression shifted.
So the Qin family’s parents must have finally learned about that matter. With such shocking words, it was inevitable they would come knocking.
“What’s going on? Are they here to see Liu-lang?” Master Zhou asked casually, raising an eyebrow. “You, boy, did you somehow offend Qin Family’s Thirteenth Young Master?”
“We’re here to discuss a marriage proposal,” two maids, dressed in fine attire and exuding an air of elegance, smiled as they spoke from the hall.
Master Zhou and Madam Zhou’s eyes instantly widened.
Did they hear that right?
The Qin family actually wanted to form a marriage alliance with their family?
“A marriage proposal?” Madam Zhou asked, struggling to suppress her excitement and joy. “For whom?”
“For our Thirteenth Young Master, proposing to your niece, Lady Cheng,” the maid said with a smile, extending a marriage proposal letter.
Lady Cheng!
That little cripple actually set his sights on this little fool!
Master Zhou and Madam Zhou were frozen, their breath momentarily halted.
Zhou Liu-lang, who had been prepared to explain the matter regarding seeking medical help, was also stunned and sat up straight in shock.
