Ancient Foodie Survival Guide Chapter 37 (Part 1)
Tled by Serena Love
Unedited
Chapter 37 (1): Chili Pepper
Lin Cheng's heart was broken by Xie Xun, but Jiang Shuyao, at the other end of the capital, was completely heartbroken.
Mrs. Xiangyang sent a message saying that they found chili seeds that Jiang Shuyao asked her to find before, but she was unsure whether it was the kind of seeds she wanted.
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Jiang Shuyao wished to grow wings and flew back to Lord Xiangyang's mansion immediately, but she had to forbear it. When Xie Xun came back, she flew in front of him regardless of etiquette to share the good news with him.
Xie Xun had just returned to the house, and was still wearing the complicated and heavy official uniforms. He was a little tired, but when he saw Jiang Shuyao running towards him with her skirt in her hands from a distance, his exhaustion disappeared immediately.
He stood at the gate of the courtyard and subconsciously smiled, "Why are you running?"
Jiang Shuyao couldn't wait to say, "I asked my mother to let our caravan go to sea to find chili peppers. She just sent a letter to say that there is news!"
She was happy, and Xie Xun was also delighted. The corners of his eyes and eyebrows were full of brilliance, "Chili?"
"It tastes similar to cornel oil, but it is so much better." Jiang Shuyao explained to him.
She smiled and raised her head to look at Xie Xun, and only noticed that he was extraordinarily handsome today.
This was the first time she had seen Xie Xun wear his official uniform. Compared with the usual, he looked so energetic, calm, and steady. When he looked at her, the tail of his eyes rose slightly, and he looked a little gentle.
She met Xie Xun's gaze, and suddenly, her face felt a little hot.
She hurriedly looked away and fanned her face, "The weather has really gotten hot recently."
Xie Xun didn't notice anything, so he replied, "Yes, I will go back to the room to take a shower and change clothes first, and then I will come to you later."
After he walked away, Jiang Shuyao stared at his back for a few more minutes.
The heat on her face had not yet dissipated, and she was puzzled. He only wore his official uniform. How did the handsome Mr. Xie suddenly become Lord Xie? He was like two different people.
After Xie Xun took a shower, he changed into his regular clothes. When he found Jiang Shuyao, she was sitting in the rocking chair like before. When she saw Xie Xun's clothes, she was inexplicably relieved.
Xie Xun didn't know what he had missed and asked about what she said before.
Jiang Shuyao said, "I want to visit the Xiangyang Mansion tomorrow morning and take a look."
Xie Xun nodded, "It just so happens that I will be off work tomorrow, so let's go together."
Jiang Shuyao sat up, the joy on her face turned a bit gloomy. "But I haven't thought about the restaurant plan, so I don't know how to discuss it with my mother."
Xie Xun sat down next to her and said, "Why you have to think about what to eat and sell? In my opinion, it's great just to take it out randomly."
Jiang Shuyao shook her head. "No, I wanted to make some cheap and delicious food, but I found that it is not cheap to process the ingredients and seasonings. Moreover, I originally intended to make portable food for people that were in a hurry. Now I have tried several things, but I found that cold food is not as good as the hot one."
She said, "Ms. Ge once persuaded me not to stick to the point of convenience, but if my food is sold in restaurants, how is it different from ordinary food? You told me to do something good for the people. It won't work."
Xie Xun couldn't help but chuckle when he heard her doubts. The night breeze was so quiet, and his laughter sounded clear, which caused Jiang Shuyao, who was frowning and thinking, loosened her brows.
"You are trying to make a difference." Xie Xun said, "Tomorrow, I will take you to meet the common people. I think you will know what to do."
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Early the next day, Xie Xun waited in front of the east wing.
Jiang Shuyao didn't let him wait long. She packed up casually and went out with him.
Perhaps because she remembered that Xie Xun said that he would accompany her to go out, she wore more simple and plain clothes compared to usual. Only thin shirts and silver hairpins, which looked crisp and generous, except for her charming face that didn't match her clothes, she looked like an ordinary married business people. There was no sign that she was a noble lady.
Accompanied by Xie Xun, it was easier for Jiang Shuyao to go out. They went straight to the Xiangyang Mansion after leaving the Xie residence.
Lin-shi originally planned to send the pot of chili peppers to Duke Xie's mansion today, but Jiang Shuyao had come over in person.
She was very happy but a little worried, and told her, "Where would you find ladies who run out to her maiden home every one or two days? You should restrain yourself. Even if you want to go back to your family, how can you trouble your husband to come over?"
"Mother, don't worry about it." Jiang Shuyao glanced at Xie Xun, "Xie Boyuan took the initiative to follow me."
Lin-shi was pleased and touched Jiang Shuyao's hand upon hearing this, "I didn't expect my daughter to be so good."
She felt a little bit depressed, but Jiang Shuyao and her husband were in harmony. It brought a little vigor to her body. She asked her servant to present the potted chili plant.
Jiang Shuyao was so excited. Xie Xun wanted to talk to her a little bit, but because of Lin-shi's presence, he could only endure it.
Lin-shi looked at his cold face and felt uneasy. She always thought that he could not be so affectionate with her daughter, who ran out of his family's home every few days. Probably, he was unwilling to accompany her today.
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After Xie Xun greeted Mrs. Xiangyang, he went to the front yard to talk to Lord Xiangyang.
Lin-shi looked at his distant back and felt incomprehensibly sad.
Her mother's worries, Jiang Shuyao didn't understand at all. When a servant came holding the potted chili plant, she jumped up excitedly.
Is there anything happier than a person who likes spicy seeing chili peppers?
She pulled Lin-shi's sleeve and said, "Mother, this is it!"
Seeing her reaction, Lin-shi felt helpless, "This is it, so what about it?"
Jiang Shuyao smiled embarrassedly and asked, "Mother, is there only this pot?"
"Of course not. I just asked about what you wanted, but I didn't know if what the caravan found is what you want, so they only brought a pot to Beijing. This plant is rare, and the caravan only brought back a small amount of seeds. Rich merchants in coastal areas often make bonsai with this plant for viewing, but I don't think it looks as good as a flower." Lin-shi waved, "Come, let the gardener come in."
The maid responded and soon brought in a gardener, a commoner from the coastal area. He stood restrained after saluting Lin-shi.
Jiang Shuyao didn't understand business, and said to Lin-shi, "Mother, can you let me have more chili peppers? it will be of great use in the future."
Although Lin-shi always spoiled her, she still has to ask, "What's the use of planting this thing?"
Jiang Shuyao talked about the deliciousness of chili. When Lin-shi asked her how she knew these, she said that she had heard that Emperor Taizu had found this plant and praised it.
Lin-shi was skeptical, but she still arranged for the errand.
Even if the pepper is not as useful as what Jiang Shuyao said, it was only a little money that was wasted. If this little money can make her daughter happy, of course, she will not be stingy.
Jiang Shuyao was very excited at the moment, and she went through the famous Sichuan cuisine and Hunan cuisine in her mind. Her head full of a series of spicy and enjoyable snacks. Finally, she thought of her ambitious goal of improving the food in this dynasty and remembered about the business.
"By the way, mother, I have an idea of doing business and want to talk to you."
Lin-shi glanced at her as if she didn't know her anymore, "Business? You haven't even touched an abacus since your birth until now. Why are you suddenly interested in doing business?"
Of course, it was Xie Xun's idea. But her original intention of doing business was not in the business itself, but in order to restore Lin-shi's fighting spirit.
Jiang Shuyao smiled and said, "Because my cooking skill is not bad, isn't it? I don't know how to do business, so I came here to ask mother."
She shared her thoughts with Lin-shi, "Mother, you were used to countless delicacies from Jiangnan to the capital, but have you ever seen a cooking method more novel than mine?"
As a woman who had been in the business for many years, Lin-shi's first thought was the feasibility of this business. She shook her head and said, "There are many restaurants in Beijing. It is difficult to get ahead."
"We won't compete with restaurants. We would only sell to ordinary people. Anyway, my skill is to make delicious and innovative ideas with cheap ingredients."
When Lin-shi's face moved slightly, Jiang Shuyao couldn't help but feel pleased when she saw it. When she was about to continue persuading, she heard Lin-shi spit out a word decisively, "No!"
She turned around with a solemn expression. "You are the third lady of Duke Xie's mansion. How did you think about these messy thoughts? If you want to handle the farm business, how many do you want, mother will give it to you. But this matter, I will never agree."
Jiang Shuyao's smile froze on her face.
Lin-shi's refusal was beyond her expectation. She was confident that Lin-shi would be interested, and maybe she would regain her spirit and enthusiasm to return to that Lin-shi from before, but she didn't expect Lin-shi to be so disagreeable.
"Mother, what does this have to do with being the third lady of Duke Xie's mansion? Isn't it just a restaurant? What's the difference with the farm, I—"
"It's a big difference. It's a housekeeper's job to deal with businesses. All the ladies need to do is to order. How many noble ladies are serious in doing business? In business, you have to show your face, you have to be stinky, and you have to scheme. Who wants to marry this kind of lady?"
"But... mother, how could it be as serious as you said." It was the first time Jiang Shuyao heard this kind of argument.
She looked indifferent, so Lin-shi looked anxious and roared, "Why do you think your father and I went from a loving couple to now?"
Jiang Shuyao was completely stunned by her words. She looked at Lin-shi in amazement, "Was it not because of the backyard..." She always thought it was Lord Xiangyang who was tired of the old woman, or because the two had different personalities. She didn't expect this to be the reason.
Lin-shi looked at her, her voice was flat, as if she had long been numb, "Men, before they marry you, they like your neat tricks and unparalleled strategy. They praise you for being a strong woman who didn't let your eyebrows shaved. Once the days pass, you will be covered with copper and scheming, and they hate that you were doing this family business and rolling among men."
"Mother..." Jiang Shuyao felt sore in her heart and grabbed her sleeve.
"Enough." Lin-shi interrupted her, "Don't think about it anymore. Before you got married, you were ridiculous. It was your mother's own bad decision to protect you this long. After you marry, all those previous temperaments have to be put away. Do you think that the Xiangyang Mansion can indulge you?"
Jiang Shuyao didn't care about business anymore, but she pitied Lin-shi's experience and wept when she looked at her.
Lin-shi's heart softened for a moment, but she still hardened her heart, "Okay, that's the end of this conversation. Go and see your father."
These words were for driving her away. Jiang Shuyao wanted to say a few more words, but when she saw Lin-shi's face, she obeyed.
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