Volume 1 Chapter 4

  Xia Ting didn't realize that there was anything wrong with her words and paused for a moment before saying, "Has anyone come to inquire about the shop in the past few days?"

  Gu Bao composed himself and immediately spoke in a serious tone, "Several people have come to inquire about this. I told them that some time ago, a mysterious merchant came to our Yixing City to do business. He took a liking to the old mansion left behind by Master and wanted to buy it at a high price. Due to the substantial amount of money involved, after discussion, Madame took charge and also sold the old mansion's servants, as well as the estate and fields, to him. I think they should have gone to investigate the mysterious merchant's background."

  Guan Bo secretly praised her, thinking that the young lady was indeed thoughtful and knew that making too much profit would inevitably attract envy. With a few strokes of her brush, she fabricated a "mysterious businessman". The name "Jun Mo Wen" was truly ingenious.

  "Let them investigate, they won't be able to find anything on me anyway." In this feudal and backward ancient era, who would believe that a fourteen-year-old girl could have such business acumen.

  After this matter was revealed, Xia Ting Cong immediately ordered Guan Bo to find more people and arrange them to open branches in several neighboring cities.

  In the end, she took a few thousand taels of silver and let him go buy the villa they had looked at last time. She planned to open another tavern and buy that villa to start raising livestock and so on.

  After careful consideration, she still decided to control the supply source herself, lest someone secretly hinder her business in the future.

  In her previous life, she had a greatest hobby, which was cooking. China's food culture has a long history, with eight major cuisines, and she used to follow famous chefs from all over the country to learn their skills for many years because of her love for good food.

  The next day, Xia Ting was busy planning the farm, thinking about where it would be better to build a chicken coop and cowshed.

  "Sister!" A tender voice called out from the doorway, and Xia Zi Yun rushed in. However, she saw that her own sister was busy with something and had no time to pay attention to him, pouting immediately "Sis, you've been busy for several months now, when will you ever be done?"

  Upon hearing her younger brother's complaints, Xia Ting Cong was taken aback and involuntarily put down the pen in her hand. Looking at his sulky expression, she suddenly realized that she had indeed neglected him for several months recently.

  She had to put down what she was doing, rubbed his head and comforted him "It's okay, this time it's my fault, I've been too busy. How about this, tonight I'll make something delicious for Yun'er to make up for you?"

  Xia Zi Yun finally cracked a smile, his bright eyes shining with excitement as he rattled off a string of dish names. He had grown up eating the dishes his sister cooked, and his palate had been spoiled from a young age. These past few months, he didn't know what his sister was busy with, but she hadn't entered the kitchen in a long time. The dishes the cook made were simply no match for his sister's, and couldn't even enter his eyes.

  Xia Ting smiled and nodded in agreement, then asked him "The academy exam is approaching soon, have you remembered the things I taught you well?"

  Xia Zi Yun immediately nodded and swayed her body "Yes, I remembered everything sister told me"

  This dynasty also had imperial examinations. My younger brother Xia Ziyun has already passed the first two stages of the examination for children, and as long as he passes the next stage, he will be a scholar, and can participate in next year's "autumn exam".

  Xia Ting thought to herself: Although Yun'er is only ten years old, her grades have always been exceptionally good. Having grown up by her side and learned from her, her thinking and insight are already different from those of this generation. It should be no problem for her to pass the imperial examination.

  After playing with her brother for a while, Xia Tingjing got up and decided to go to the kitchen to cook a few dishes that her brother liked.

  Xia Zi Yun made a fuss and insisted on going with her. She was entangled to the point of having no way out, so she had to bring this little guy to the kitchen together.

  It's unclear whether it was because Xia Ting hadn't personally cooked for several months, but her beloved younger brother wanted to make up for it all at once and ordered dish after dish that took a lot of time and effort.

  Dry-braised fish, steamed pork with preserved mustard greens, eight-treasure braised duck, hand-beaten mudfish balls, sautéed matsutake mushrooms with pearl chicken...

  Although it was a lot of trouble, Xia Ting Cong, who had always doted on her younger brother, still rolled up her sleeves and made more than ten dishes.

  Xia Zi Yun stood by curiously watching and occasionally lending a hand to her own sister, fetching soy sauce, vinegar, salt and whatnot.

  The tempting aroma wafted out of the pots one after another. Xia Zi Yun was salivating on the side, her eyes wide open, staring straight at the dishes in the pot.

  Xia Ting lifted the lid, and the last dish of braised matsutake mushrooms with pearl chicken was served. She untied her apron, patted her hands, and nodded in satisfaction at the perfectly presented dishes, feeling that she had finally accomplished something great.

  Xia Zi Yun took advantage of his sister's inattention, secretly pinched a piece of fragrant and tender chicken meat into his mouth. The chicken was stewed to be both tender and smooth, and when he bit down, there was still the fragrance of oil flowing out, greatly satisfying his appetite.

  Xia Ting couldn't help but laugh as she watched her little brother reach out to sneak a second piece of chicken, and took a step forward to gently slap his hand away, pinching his face and saying "You little glutton, you don't even know to wipe your mouth after stealing food"

  Xia Zi Yun could only withdraw her hand, pouting with her tender lips and rolling her eyes, when she was caught by her sister.

  At dinner time, Xia Zi Yun buried her head in the bowl and ate quickly, thinking to herself: It smells so good, it's been a long time since I've had my sister's cooking.

  Shui's family liked Xia Ting's cooking very much, but at the same time, they also felt heartache for their daughter.

  With a reproachful face, she said to her youngest son, "Yun'er, you're so unreasonable. All you know is to pester your sister to cook for you."

  Xia Zi Yun was properly scolded by Shui Shi, and not daring to disobey her mother, could only blink her eyes with a wronged expression looking at her own sister.

  Looking at her brother's wronged and resentful expression, Xia Ting couldn't help but laugh. She reached out to pick up a piece of dry-burnt fish for Shui Shi and excused him, saying "Mother, how can you blame Brother? I haven't cooked in a long time, it's no wonder he's been thinking about it."

  Mrs. Shui looked at her daughter helping her son and said, "You're spoiling him."

  "Mother, what are you talking about? Just because I cooked a few dishes, it's spoiled him. Besides, he's my only brother, if I don't cook for him, who should I cook for?"

  Yun'er was only ten years old, and it was a time when she should be carefree and innocent. She strongly disagreed with her mother's strict control over her.

  Mrs. Shui was speechless, and she knew in her heart that she couldn't outtalk her daughter. Seeing that her mother had nothing more to say, Xia Tingjing seized the opportunity to stop and had a few dishes of Mrs. Shui's favorite food served, coaxing her into smiling again.

  After dinner, Shui's family told his brother some strategies. It wasn't until the time to light the lamps that Xia Tingfang was free to return to her room and continue working on the Zhuangzi plan.

  Before long, the day arrived when Xia Zi Yun was to take part in the college entrance examination. Xia Ting personally escorted her brother to the examination hall and, looking at his slightly immature face, gently instructed him: "Don't worry, don't be nervous, just treat it as a practice, do your best to answer the questions, and don't worry about the results."

  Xia Zi Yun obediently listened to her own sister's teachings, blinking her sparkling big eyes and said "Yun'er will work hard"

  Xia Ting smiled and nodded, helping him tidy up his clothes. Only then did he stand in place, watching as his young brother walked into the examination hall, suddenly feeling a mix of emotions in his heart.

  Just a few days after Xia Zi Yun finished her college entrance exam, Xia Lian Jing's 'Warm Smoke Building' also opened with great fanfare. The new menu immediately attracted a large number of customers, and for several days in a row, the guests were endless.

  Xia Ting was sitting in the house, examining the ingredients and spices brought by Guan Bo. There were chili peppers, tomatoes, potatoes, and corn, among others. Guan Bo stood beside her and said, "My second son has found what you wanted, Miss, at the foreign merchant's place, just as you said."

  Digression

  I don't know if you guys mind that there is no chapter title, mainly because it's a bit of trouble. If you guys think it's really necessary, you can bring it up.