Chapter Ten: Jiangnan Pavilion

“Hmph, all men are useless. If they didn’t get together in the first half of the night, they’ll surely do so in the second half,” Wang Chunxiao muttered.

“Don’t worry, Miss. If the young master truly were a lecher, he wouldn’t have waited until midnight. We would’ve caught him already,” Xichun replied reassuringly.

The two women returned to their courtyard, washed up, and went to bed. Inside, Wang Chunxiao gazed at the bright moon outside the window and whispered, “Xichun, are you asleep?”

“Miss, not yet. I’ll come right away...”

“Pour me a cup of water.”

The fragrant wood in the room released curling blue smoke, inducing drowsiness. The atmosphere inside was warm and tranquil, time seemed gentle.

“Xichun, are you asleep?” After a long silence from the outer room, Wang Chunxiao opened her eyes, climbed off the bed, carefully put on her shoes and socks. Her feet were white and flawless, a true marvel.

She gritted her teeth, climbed out the window, and accidentally bumped her arm against the sill. A sharp pain shot through her, but she held back any sound, tears welling in her reddened eyes.

“If I catch you sneaking around with the maids, I won’t let you off,” she murmured, biting her lip and looking toward Sun Yang’s courtyard. Though Sun Yang had been brought in as a son-in-law to protect the family fortune, in name he was still her husband.

Even if it was just in name, the thought of her husband sneaking around filled her with sour jealousy. No, she corrected herself, this was just to ensure her husband followed the proper conduct of a son-in-law.

The Golden House was locked, but Wang Chunxiao had prepared two ladders. The courtyard wall was only two meters high, not difficult to scale since it was just a small yard within the Wang estate.

She crept along like a thief, slipping beneath the inner room window, the best spot for eavesdropping.

Suddenly, a figure flashed before her.

Their eyes met.

Both Wang Chunxiao and Xichun froze!

“Miss... you?”

“Xichun... you?”

“Who’s outside?” Sun Yang pushed open the window, frowning at the two figures climbing the wall. “How shameless! Sneaking around at night to eavesdrop. Could they be sent by Wang Chunxiao?”

Looking closer, they resembled the maids beside the eldest miss. The other one, though—none of the maids were so slender and shapely.

He closed the window. Inside, Peach Blossom was sleeping soundly, her beauty unmatched. One foot dangled from the bed, small and smooth as jade.

He tucked her foot back under the covers, yawned, and went to rest. Thankfully, everything necessary was done; had he waited until midnight, eavesdroppers would indeed have caught him.

The next morning.

Xiliu helped Wang Chunxiao wash and dress. Both women kept silent about last night, sharing a tacit understanding, though the atmosphere was tinged with awkwardness.

Last night, Xiliu had intended to ease her mistress’s worries, but never expected the eldest miss herself would sneak around as well—so unlike her usual disdainful attitude toward Sun Yang. It was like a reserved, proper woman secretly revealing her wild side.

Inside the Golden House.

Sun Yang had carried Peach Blossom into his room early, and only after the maids called did he help her dress and wash. Each morning, they paid respects, then had breakfast.

Today, Peach Blossom was especially alluring.

Sun Yang, too, was spirited.

His wife, with her dark complexion, met his gaze but said little. The two were ushered into Liu Wenxiang’s room to pay respects.

Breakfast was simple, porridge and some side dishes. The maids ate at a small table nearby. Peach Blossom, once a sturdy maid, had never tasted such delicious sides before; she filled her mouth eagerly.

Today, her mother-in-law was as poised as ever, like a blooming peony—curvaceous, elegant, a true beauty!

“Eat slowly, what’s so tasty about that?”

“Shameful.”

The old housekeeper serving Liu Wenxiang scolded Peach Blossom, who quickly lowered her head.

“She’s young, still growing. She should eat more,” Sun Yang defended her. “Eat plenty, Peach Blossom, so you won’t be hungry before lunch.”

“Young master, I’m teaching her proper manners. In the Wang family, everything follows strict rules,” the housekeeper retorted, asserting her authority and subtly admonishing the new son-in-law.

“Oh? The Wang family?” Sun Yang raised an eyebrow.

“I...!” The housekeeper faltered. Liu Wenxiang, displeased, looked over. “Go eat outside.”

“Yes, Madam.” The housekeeper withdrew, not forgetting to glare fiercely at Sun Yang. At the doorway, she suddenly felt a sharp pain in her calf, cried out, and fell—Sun Yang had flicked a pebble her way.

The maids in the room covered their mouths, giggling.

Xiliu, Xichun, and Xixia, the three close maids, took good care of Peach Blossom; after all, they were all maids and of upright character.

After breakfast, everyone left. Sun Yang stayed behind to discuss grain storage and the restaurant’s affairs—the two chefs had left, leaving unresolved issues.

Sun Yang didn’t want to meddle; he used his Qi-sensing technique to observe the three women. White wisps mixed with faint blue indicated wealth among the upper class.

But there were also black streaks, showing their recent misfortunes.

Last night, when he looked at Peach Blossom, her head was mostly white with a faint blue—likely gained after joining him.

White Qi signified commoners; the denser it was, the deeper their foundation. But Qi wasn’t fixed—some commoners had red clouds above, showing future prosperity and possible rise to official rank.

Blue Qi meant wealth and ordinary officials; red Qi meant high-ranking court officials.

Golden Qi was usually reserved for royalty, though those with high status or rank could possess it as well.

Regarding the Jiangnan Restaurant’s kitchen troubles, the three women had no solution. A knock came at the door—a middle-aged man entered, face anxious.

His head bore white Qi, but also several conspicuous black streaks. He quickly reported the matter.

It turned out the Wang family’s Baozhi Pharmacy had a mishap—a trainee confused Tianxingzi with Maxingzi, grabbed the wrong medicine, and caused a death. The family had placed the corpse at the pharmacy’s door.

Either pay compensation or report to the authorities.

Liu Wenxiang felt dizzy, certain the eldest branch was involved. She handed out two sums of silver—one for the bereaved family, one for the officials.

Baozhi Pharmacy’s reputation was ruined. Fearing further action from the eldest branch, Liu Wenxiang closed the pharmacy, leaving only the unprofitable Wang Cloth Shop and Jiangnan Restaurant.

Sun Yang suggested closing the cloth shop too. With disasters and war, people had no money for cloth. If they did, they could buy and store it for future sale, but the quality was poor, so Liu Wenxiang reluctantly shut it down.

Business at the restaurant was also declining. Liu Wenxiang considered closing it, dismissing some servants—the remaining wealth would suffice for a lifetime.

In the end, Sun Yang recommended keeping the restaurant open; he promised to explain his reasons before tomorrow.

“Mother, does my brother-in-law have some way to hire a chef?” Wang Xiahe asked, eyes wide with curiosity.

“What way could he possibly have? If he did, would he have married in for just two hundred taels?” Wang Chunxiao sneered, not forgetting to call him spineless.

“Let’s stay open one more day—it won’t cost much. If need be, we can close tomorrow. We women aren’t suited to business, and it’s hard to investigate the restaurant’s situation,” Liu Wenxiang sighed. “The eldest branch eyes us hungrily, wishing to swallow us whole. Let’s close everything so they have nowhere to exert their strength.”

Her face showed a trace of helplessness.

Jiangnan Restaurant, Baozhi Pharmacy, Wang Cloth Shop—all were her husband’s life’s work. Closing them filled Liu Wenxiang with regret and guilt, but there was no other choice.

If someone could save these businesses, they’d be a great benefactor; she’d even marry off her second daughter Xiahe to him.

Then, she could answer to the ancestors.

But Liu Wenxiang knew well—the eldest branch’s leader, Wang Shangfu, was ruthless. Few could match him; many families had been ruined in his hands.

Wang Chunxiao and Wang Xiahe lowered their heads, equally dejected.

...

Name: Sun Yang (Quasi-Immortal)
Incense Points: 0
Realm: Ninth Grade, Blood-Burning Stage
Techniques: [Incense Division] [Qi-Sensing Technique]
Lifespan: 116+
Family Progress: Family progress is going smoothly, but as the head, you need not only fertility, but also strong management ability to secure resources for offspring to grow quickly. Please earn enough silver within five days; rewards will be based on the amount earned.

Maximum reward: 50 points!

Sun Yang agreed to help mainly for family progress; fifty incense points were significant. If converted to lifespan, that was 500 days—over a year.

With more than a year, surely he could produce an heir—incense points would follow.

Protect the heir, help him prosper, and immortality would be within reach.

Returning to the courtyard, Sun Yang sent Peach Blossom to fetch some ingredients. There was a small kitchen in the yard; he started a fire.

He cut pork belly into chunks, boiled them to remove blood, then soaked them in cold water.

He fried a bit of pork to render fat, then added the belly, browning it to remove odors. He scooped it out, added more lard, caramelized sugar to red, then ginger slices, pork belly, hot water, yellow wine, salt, soy sauce...

Once simmered, a rich aroma filled the kitchen.

Braised Pork.

In Da Qian, most cooking was steaming, boiling, roasting, or frying, with little variety—even stir-frying hadn’t appeared, though in his past life it had been invented a thousand years ago.

“Master, what is this... it smells amazing!” Peach Blossom stared at the braised pork, swallowing hungrily, almost drooling.

“Try it.”

Sun Yang scooped some onto a bowl of rice; the glossy, fragrant sauce soaked into the grains, boosting appetite.

“Thank you, Master!” Peach Blossom beamed, eating in big bites. The aroma was intoxicating, the pork tender and sweet, rich but not greasy—a perfect match for rice.

The bowl was gone in moments. She looked at Sun Yang hopefully.

“No more for now—it’s too oily. You can have some tonight.”

“I’ll listen to you, Master.” Hearing there’d be more in the evening, Peach Blossom was delighted. She clung to Sun Yang like an octopus, her delicate body soft and yielding.

Sun Yang divided the braised pork into three portions, sending one each to Liu Wenxiang, Wang Chunxiao, and Wang Xiahe.

In the afternoon.

The three women rushed into the courtyard, not even bothering to knock. Wang Xiahe carried a bowl—braised pork and rice.

“Mother-in-law, what brings you here?”

“Master, who cooked this braised pork? Could we meet this chef?” Liu Wenxiang’s voice trembled, her face full of anticipation.

“The recipe is my own. Have someone hang a sign at Jiangnan Restaurant—tomorrow, meals will be thirty percent off, and each table gets a free small plate of braised pork, first come, first served,” Sun Yang announced.

“What? Brother-in-law, you made this braised pork?” Wang Xiahe’s eyes widened in disbelief. “That’s incredible!”

Wang Chunxiao, seated in her wheelchair, lowered her head in contemplation, yet her heart surged with excitement. As soon as she tasted the braised pork, she knew Jiangnan Restaurant could be saved.

Never would she have guessed the spineless man invented it.

Grain storage, braised pork—each could help the Wang family avoid disaster. Used wisely, they could rise in Yanggu County.

This man truly surprises.

Watching Sun Yang and Peach Blossom’s closeness, she felt a pang of jealousy, wishing she could leap from her wheelchair and separate them.

“Xiliu, go call the manager of Jiangnan Restaurant,” Liu Wenxiang ordered.

“Yes, Madam.”

Xiliu hurried out, while the three women looked at Sun Yang with fervor. Xiahe held out her bowl, “Brother-in-law, is there any more?”

The manager soon arrived, a middle-aged man. At the wedding, Sun Yang’s face was hidden, so he was surprised to see his handsome, refined appearance.

From tomorrow, Sun Yang would take charge of all affairs at Jiangnan Restaurant. The discount sign was posted, and large quantities of ingredients were ordered.

Once everything was settled, Liu Wenxiang and Wang Xiahe left, leaving Wang Chunxiao to speak with Sun Yang. He had little desire to converse with the plain woman—he’d rather talk to his sister-in-law, who treated him decently, not harshly.

With his mother-in-law, he could talk through the night.

“Don’t you have anything to say to me?” Wang Chunxiao asked.

“How did your leg become lame?”

“Xichun, let’s go back...!”

Pushed by her maid, Wang Chunxiao left, cheeks puffed in anger, wishing she could storm back and beat the wretched man.

You’re the lame one.

When she stands up one day, he’ll be in for a shock.

...

“Master, you’ve made the eldest miss angry.”

“That’s good—now no one will disturb us.”

“Master...!”

“Peach Blossom, if you’re bored, I’ll teach you how to play the flute, or perhaps the pipa...”

...........................................

PS: Brothers, if you’ve read this far, please vote for me if you have spare monthly tickets—I want to feel what it’s like to take off!