CHAPTER 108: CHAPTER 107: NOT THE BEST TIME TO AWAKEN THE LONGEVITY GU

Yu Xiaolian glanced at the list of ingredients, which included beef tallow, chili peppers, various spices, and additives.

This can’t be used, it’s incomplete.

She remembered that the supermarket stationery section had books on cooking, so she got up to browse and actually found a book on Sichuan cuisine.

Upon combining the spices and ingredients listed in the book, there were over a dozen different spices alone, which Yu Xiaolian felt should be sufficient.

Sesame paste posed a problem because there were no sesame crops in Great Liang. Although the supermarket had sesame seeds, unfortunately, they were all roasted and couldn’t be used as seeds.

Without sesame seeds, there wouldn’t be sesame oil, which meant there would be no sesame paste or oil dishes. The hotpot dipping sauces and sesame oil in her supermarket might only be enough to supply one store. What about opening branch stores in the future?

Forget it, it’s better to focus on the present matter; one store isn’t even set up yet, so there’s no need to worry about branch stores.

Zheng Yuanfeng got up to refill the tea cups of Su Jingchen and Yu Xiaolian.

"Sheep are easier to buy, but it’s hard to procure cattle. It’s forbidden to slaughter prime working cattle, and the ones available are too old and sick."

Goodness, after lacking sesame paste and sesame oil, now there’s no beef rolls.

Opening a hotpot restaurant in ancient times is quite challenging!

Fortunately, they weren’t just a hotpot restaurant; they also offered stir-fried dishes, barbecues, and various spiced delights.

Spiced delights were easy to make because the supermarket had bags of braised meat seasonings.

Thankfully, there were such lazy people seasonings, otherwise with her culinary skills, she couldn’t make money in the food industry.

Her ability only extended to processing semi-finished products.

Like making instant noodles, assembling a self-heating hotpot, using an air fryer for sausages, or baking sweet potatoes.

More complicated dishes she made never tasted quite right.

Eyes: I learned it.

Hands: No, you didn’t!

Her half-baked cooking skills could only support herself; even one more person would be a stretch.

Probably no one would want to eat her "dark cuisine."

Since procuring quality beef is not possible, why not just slaughter sheep instead? Lamb could be used for the hotpot while lamb spine and ribs could be braised.

After discussing some details about the restaurant with Zheng Yuanfeng, Yu Xiaolian and Su Jingchen left.

The two walked side by side on the street, "I heard you represented Qingquan Academy and defeated the sixty-year-old scholar from Mingde Academy? Congratulations!"

Su Jingchen: "..."

Why didn’t this sound like words of congratulations?

"In literary debates, there’s no distinction between winning and losing. I believe the purpose of a debate is to foster communication and exchange between opposing views. The existence of things isn’t an either-or situation; there shouldn’t be winners or losers."

Yu Xiaolian remembered the debate topic for the women’s academy that Zheng Yuanfeng mentioned a few days ago.

Curious to test Su Jingchen, she asked, "What are your thoughts on the Three Obediences and Four Virtues for women, viewing the husband as heaven?"

Su Jingchen’s casual steps hesitated for a moment; he glanced at Yu Xiaolian, "It depends on personal will. Some women wish to showcase their virtuousness and view their husband as heaven, never disobeying.

Others don’t wish to serve three meals a day, washing and cleaning for the whole family, day after day. There are also women who go to war with a pen."

"Going to war with a pen?"

Are there such remarkable women in Great Liang?

Su Jingchen seemed to perceive Yu Xiaolian’s puzzlement, "General Cao Chengtong of the Great Meng Country is one such remarkable woman who went to war with a pen."

Oh, how I wish I could meet her!

Books also mention Cao Chengtong, this woman of legendary color, but only a brief passage during alliances between the two countries.

Now Yu Xiaolian is incredibly curious about this female general.

When she gets the chance, she must visit Great Meng Country.

"You wouldn’t like that place. Great Meng Country is very poor," Su Jingchen once again probed Yu Xiaolian’s thoughts.

Yu Xiaolian stiffened her neck, "Just because you don’t like it doesn’t mean I won’t."

It’s said that in Great Meng Country, Cao Chengtong has the special permission of the Emperor to marry multiple husbands.

Truly a role model for women!

Different handsome men, coming when called and leaving when dismissed, just the thought of it is delightful!

"It’s tough for women to support a family..."

"It’s fine, I’m not afraid of hardship... Hey, how do you know what I’m thinking?" Yu Xiaolian glared at Su Jingchen.

Is this guy like a worm in her belly?

Su Jingchen answered calmly, "It’s obvious!"

Yu Xiaolian: "..."

From now on, she must learn to manage her facial expressions; this guy seems to know micro-expression psychology.

Yu Xiaolian put on a stern face, mimicking Su Jingchen’s expressionless demeanor, "It looks like it’s going to snow, let’s hurry."

Su Jingchen glimpsed a pair of figures from the corner of his eye, his gaze deep and profound.

Following Su Jingchen’s line of sight, Yu Xiaolian saw a man and a woman walking hand in hand into a jewelry store called White Jade Hall.

"Yunfan brother..."

Accompanied by a sweet voice, a handsome young man glanced aside, a faint trace of imperceptible disgust flashing across his face.

"Since I agreed to take you to buy jewelry, I won’t go back on my word, so pick quickly."

The young man, face cold, slapped a silver note on the counter, "I’ll wait for you outside!"

Qi Yunfan strode out of the shop, showing no regard for how awkward the woman inside must feel at that moment.

When Su Jingchen noticed Qi Yunfan looking over, he quickly averted his eyes.

However, Yu Xiaolian’s heart skipped a beat upon hearing the name Yunfan.

"Let’s go!" Su Jingchen tugged the dazed Yu Xiaolian lightly.

Yu Xiaolian snapped back, realizing that Qi Yunfan was now frowning at her.

Did he recognize her?

Yu Xiaolian felt nervous, unconsciously clenching her fists, her nails digging into her tender palms, causing a slight pain.

Qi Yunfan’s gaze lingered on Yu Xiaolian for just a moment before moving away.

Phew...

Yu Xiaolian breathed a sigh of relief, guessing that staring at Qi Yunfan in a daze might have annoyed him.

When Yu Xiaolian and Su Jingchen walked away together, Qi Yunfan hesitated for a moment but then followed quietly.

Too much alike; the girl bore too much resemblance to his mother.

Yu Xiaolian was just about to enter her own courtyard when Su Jingchen coldly remarked, "Sir, you’ve been following us the entire way, are you still not planning to reveal yourself?"

Yu Xiaolian was puzzled, looking at Su Jingchen in confusion.

Suddenly, Qi Yunfan appeared in front of Yu Xiaolian with a snap, startling her into retreating several steps.

Leaning against her own door, she raised her small hand to pat her chest.

My goodness, her heart practically leaped out in fright.

Is this what they call a master of the world?

Silent, sudden, and mysterious.

"Yu Xiaolian?"

He remembered Aunt Sheng mentioning this name.

Yu Xiaolian stared blankly at Qi Yunfan.

It seemed Qi Yunfan wasn’t entirely ignorant of her.

Probably the host of ’Beauty Face’ at Baihua House, she assumed, told him.

Su Jingchen stood protectively in front of Yu Xiaolian, scrutinizing Qi Yunfan, coldly demanding, "Who are you?"

Seeing Su Jingchen’s stance, Qi Yunfan had his answer in his heart.

This was undoubtedly his sister.

Unexpectedly, as soon as he arrived in Yangcheng, the siblings stumbled upon each other by chance.

Was it the bond of blood that drew them?

Recalling Aunt Sheng’s instructions, Qi Yunfan swallowed the words that almost escaped his lips.

After the great chaos more than ten years ago, the Witch Clan sealed their borders and ceased all external interaction.

The long-term seclusion and indifference to worldly affairs had once driven the Witch Clan to extreme poverty.

Prohibiting marriages with outsiders saw the clan’s talented members dwindling, and descendants dwindling away.

Qi Yunfan, feeling complicated, glanced at Yu Xiaolian.

She’s still too young; it’s not yet the ideal time to awaken the Longevity Gu.