The Lady’s Sickly Husband

The dock was as busy as usual with people constantly coming and going.

When Mo Qianxue arrived, Wang Tiansong, Fang Datang and others were busying doing their work. Seeing that the lunch was sent here, they all came over with joy. By wind, as the lid was lifted up, the appetizing scent instantly spread all around. People near the construction site all looked at them with curious eyes, especially those porters going on and off ships. Their eyes lit up; some of their even drooled.

Ordering Juniang to give out the food, Mo Qianxue picked up a few bowls to add the pig lung soup into them and then packed a few steamed buns, walking in the direction of the managing office.

Whether manager Tang had had lunch or not, this represented her gratitude.

Since the weather was cold, fearing that the soup might cool down on the way, Mo Qianxue specially asked Juniang to cover the bucket with a worn-out cotton-padded jacket, so now the soup was still steamingly hot.

Manager Tang didn’t pretend to refuse but took over the food right away from Mo Qianxue, thanked her and began to eat.

Judging from the look the other two officers ate, their life conditions couldn’t be too good. An ordinary officer wasn’t paid too much, and he had to support a whole big family.

The three of them enjoyed the lunch very much. Manager Tang also praised the dishes while eating.

There was no restaurant yet at the dock, so the porters only eat old solid food. In addition, after the cleaning woman left, very likely manager Tang only had solid food for lunch too. No wonder that they enjoyed the meal so much.

After finishing the lunch, manager Tang wiped his mouth, still enjoying the great taste and asking, “Mrs. Ning, what is this soup? Will it be one of the dishes in your restaurant?”

“The soup is cooked with pig lungs and tofu. Yes, it’ll be one of our specialties. What you do think?”

Officer Li said, “Uh? Aren’t pig lungs smelly? Don’t they taste strange? But how can you make it so delicious? You’re really a good cook. Tell us the secret. I want my wife to cook the soup too.”

Officer Zhang said, “So this is the taste of tofu. It’s soft and tasty. I heard that tofu can only be bought at Baiyunju in Tianxiang city. Mrs. Ning also knows how to make it?”

Manager Tang didn’t show it on his face, but he was also shocked. He almost forgot the fact that tofu had gained huge reputation in Tianxiang city months ago and that in the city, tofu was only accessible at Baiyunju the restaurant. It seemed that this Mrs. Ning was no ordinary people. It would be better to get along with her with sincerity and courtesy from now on.

Besides, the tofu recipe was the lifeblood of a restaurant! The secret! How ignorant Li and Zhang were!

Thinking of this, he gave a glare at them and scolded with a joke, “You two lads. It’s good enough to have a taste. How greedy that you should want the recipe!”

Having scolded the two men, he turned back to Mo Qianxue, asking. “Both the steam buns and pig lung soup are delicious. I’m wondering how you’ll set the price for them.”

Although Mo Qianxue didn’t mind the two young officers asking the question, she was still grateful to manager Tang for thinking on her behalf, so she replied with a smile, “It’s okay, manager Tang. I take it that these two officers are praising my cooking skills. The steam bun sells at half cent and the soup at five cents.”

Manager Tang added, “For each porter, three or four steamed buns can fill their stomach. It’s not expensive. But as for the soup, one bowl isn’t enough, so the porters couldn’t afford the soup if it sells at five cents.”

Mo Qainxue replied, a little awkward, “I have no other choice. The cost is high. If I sell it at a low price, I can’t make ends meet.”

In fact, she wouldn’t! The tofu was made in her own workshop, and the pig lungs were cheap scraps. Though she added some side ingredients such as black cardamom, cardamom, clove, pepper, star anise, cumin, bay leaf and white peony to remove the smelly taste, the cost of one bowl of the soup was no more than one cent.

Originally, in order to sell more, she could sell it at two cents per bowl.

However, if she targeted the porters as the main customers, the level of the restaurant would be lowered down invisibly, then the rich people coming on the tourist ships wouldn’t go to her restaurant.

In addition, to sell the steamed buns, she planned to open a special window which sold the buns for take-away.

For those who wanted to sit down in the restaurant, they must be able to afford the soup and some other dishes, so ordinary porters couldn’t afford these.

Otherwise, if the price of the soup was set at two cents per bowl, she would need to serve loads of people every day, which would both exhaust her and make little money. At the same time, she also had to bear with the porters who might yell and fight in the restaurant.

She really couldn’t stand that kind of rudeness and noise.

“Yes, you’re right. You should be cautious to do business…” Manager Tang responded.

It was okay for him if the soup would sell at a high price. By his salary, though he couldn’t enjoy the soup every day, he could afford it occasionally. When the weather turned freezing, he would be happy enough if there was a place for him to have some warm food now and then.

The other two officers also agreed and kept praising the delicious soup which warmed up their bodies after taking one bowl. Mo Qianxue explained to them that it was because she had added many nutritious herbal medicines which could drive away moist and improve qi.

They recalled the taste and confirmed that there was indeed a medicinal fragrance, nodding and praising and promising that they would definitely go to her restaurant when it was open.

Chatting for a moment, Mo Qianxue stood up, collecting the wares, and said goodbye when three people came in. One of them took out a paper and handed it to manager Tang, who took a glance and laughed, “So manager Jin. This way please.”

Mo Qianxue frowned. These three people were probably manager and officers sent here from Changyou city again.

Seeing that Mo Qianxue were collecting bowls and chopsticks, they ordered rudely, “You, pour some tea for us.”

Did they regard her as a waitress here? Go to hell! What manager? She didn’t give a shit, and there was no need to please them.

Besides, the heads of the two cities stood at odds against each other, so she only needed to build good relationship with one side. By the reckless behavior of manager Jin, she could tell what kind of stupid asshole he was. How was he comparable with manager Tang?

Mo Qianxue gathered everything, pulling her face long, and left without saying anything. The one behind her pointed at her back and complained to manager Tang, “What does that mean? You’re going to treat your guests in this way? Do you want to…”

Mo Qianxue didn’t hear clearly of the rest of the words, and she didn’t want to. The feuds and discords among officers were none of her business.

When she came back, the workers had already finished their lunch and started to work again.

Wang Tiansong played the role of leader or the man in charge. At the sight of her, he came over and reported to her in detail the accounts taking place from yesterday till now. Then he shared his thoughts on the arrangement of the construction work, requesting for her opinions. All this satisfied Mo Qianxue.

She taught him a few points, shared some of her own ideas and thoughts, confirmed with him some details and then, taking Juniang with her, went back to the Wang village, pushing the cart.

*

The waiters of Yingkeju the restaurant of Tianxiang city saw the arrival of Baiyunju’s carriage which was to collect tofu and sprinted to the backyard to report boss Xue.

The carriage had been prepared long ago. On boss Xue’s order, it set off quickly.

Manager Liao accompanied boss Xue to sit in the carriage, and surprisingly, Zhao Dafei, eldest son of Zhao Ergou, should sit next to the driver complacently and lead the way.

The weather was fine. The carriage of Yingkexuan headed in the direction of Wang village.

On the opposite side, manager Li of Baiyunju stood at the window of one vip room and saw the carriage setting off, feeling depressed.

When the carriage was out of sight, he heavily snorted and, throwing his sleeves, left, taking aback the waiter who came upstairs to clean the table.

Manager Li had been a nice person. What happened to him today?

*

Mo Qianxue and Juniang just arrived at the entrance of the village when a young wife showed up and told them that there were guests at her house. One of them claimed himself as boss Xue. Mo Qianxue searched the name in her brain but didn’t figure out who he was, yet she knew that very likely he came to buy tofu.

Before the end of this year, tofu was sold exclusively to Baiyunju, an agreement that had been reached upon long ago. She wouldn’t be a person that easily broke her promise.

It was okay if he wanted to buy, but just wait until next year.

Making up her mind, Mo Qianxue pulled her cotton-padded jacket that didn’t fit her well, frowning. The needlework of aunt Yunsan was really way worse than that of sister Guihua. Ning Shaoqing was fine with that because of his model-like figure which naturally gave him a touch of graceful bearing.

She, on the other hand, was dissatisfied because the jacket made her look plump, so she eagerly looked forward to Nizi making a new jacket for her.

Upon entering the door, at the sight of Zhao Dafei standing over there, Mo Qianxue frowned. The man sitting at the lower side stood up, stepping forward and asking, “Are you Mrs. Ning?”

The man looked familiar. By little thinking, Mo Qianxue remembered this man—the arrogant manager Liao of Yingkexuan. What? Now he knew the good of tofu and begged for it by visiting her in person?

Hem!

She despised in secrecy but didn’t show it on her face, “Yes, I am.”

Yet, manager Liao didn’t recognize her, still presenting an overbearing manner. Another man introduced, “This is boss Xue of Yingkexuan in Tianxiang city.”

Boss Xue sat upright on the left side, all fake smiles, waiting for Mo Qianxue to bow to him. To his surprise, Mo Qianxue walked by him and sat directly on the main chair, asking in a slow voice, “What I can help you?”

Boss Xue immediately pulled his face long due to Mo Qianxue’s indifferent attitude and gave a small snort through his nose. What a rude country woman!

Only because that his purpose today was to pull off cooperation, he shouldn’t scold her.

Seeing his boss’s expression, manager Liao also changed his tone to become impolite, “We come here to buy your tofu. Name a number and we want it all.”

The tone sounded as if that the offer was an enormous grace and that if Mo Qianxue didn’t kneel down to thank them, she was proved an ungrateful person.

Shit! Obviously, now it was they who should beg her. Why did they act in such a tough manner?! She supposed that these people were influenced by the Zhao boy who poured stupid water into their brains.

Mo Qianxue still looked impassive, replied in a manner neither humble nor arrogant, “Sorry about that. Our tofu is exclusive to Baiyunju and won’t sell to other restaurants. If there is nothing else that I can help, let’s call it a day and pardon me that I don’t have the time to see you to the door.”

Zhao Dafei got anxious about the up-coming failure of the negotiation, “She is lying. In and out the village, she exchanges one kilogram of tofu with three kilograms of beans.” Manager Liao had promised to give him a slice of cake if the business succeeded.

“You also said exchange not sell.”

Mo Qianxue thumped on the table and scared Zhao Dafei.

Boss Xue gave manager Liao a look, suggesting that if a touch hand didn’t work then try a softer method. Instantly, manager Liao put on a smiling ingratiating face, “Then we can exchange too. If others offer you three kilograms of beans, we’ll…”

Manager Liao paused for a while as if to emphasize what a bliss they were offering, “We’ll exchange one kilogram of tofu with three and a half kilograms of beans. How do you like it?”

How stingy!

Mo Qianxue pissed off. They only offer a half kilogram more and pronounced it like something. She mistook that they would offer a big number.

It wasn’t worthwhile to be mad at such people, “How generous you are! Shame that we don’t need it.”

Though she said generous, she said it with ridicule and sneer, “The exchange originally meant to thank our neighbors for taking care of us, not to make a profit. Baiyunju buys our tofu at five cents per kilogram…”

Listening to her speaking, boss Xue could no longer hold back his rage, standing up and said impatiently, “Alright. We offer one cent more than Baiyunju. In addition, we’ll give you ten taels of silver as a reward. From this day on, you can’t sell it to others.”

He just didn’t believe that there were things that couldn’t be settled by money. The high price couldn’t let a household woman compromise?

Manager Liao added, “Our boss is so kind and generous to give a such a big reward. Hurry and kowtow to him to show your gratitude.”

Zhao Dafei continued, “Right. Mrs. Ning, kowtow to show your gratitude. Ten straight taels of silver! The tofu you make can’t sell ten taels for a month. Besides, I introduce such a boss to you. Shouldn’t you thank me with something?”

How could she forget? Cold beams shot out from Mo Qianxue’s eyes. She had heard of what Wang Yushan said last time when they were driven out of the village. It turned out that the one initiated everything was Zhao Dafei.

It was said that after their whole family were expelled out of the village, no other villages were willing to accept them, so the braze Zhao Ergou had to take all of them back to the Zhao village to crowd up with his old man.

Now Zhao Ergou and his wife lived there and worked hard all day long, not daring to even speak loudly. Zhao Dafei was such an unconscionable person that he disappeared completely with all their money.

It turned out that he went to the city.

To this kind of rogue and bastard, she indeed should express her “thanks”!

Zhao Dafei was frozed by her look and sunconsciously shut up.

Mo Qianxue took back her gaze and said coldly, “I’ve promised Baiyunju not to sell tofu to others until the end of this year. Even if I’ll cooperate with other restaurants in the future, I won’t sell it to you.”

Boss Xue got stunned and speechless from rage.

In view of her hard and cold tone, manager Liao put on a stern face, satirizing, “Do you mean to stand on the opposite side of Yingkexuan and look down on us? You have to know that Yingkexuan operates a business at a scale no lesser than that of Baiyunju. We’re even better than it. Why don’t you send good food first to our restaurant?”

Earlier, sister Fang had been occupied with work, and, hearing the young wife told here that there were guests, she put down the needlework, washed her hands and went to prepare tea.

Seeing that she had no idea of the situation, Mo Qianxue grabbed over the tea tray at once and put it on her own table, sneering, “Don’t you remember me my noble guest? On that day, I visited Yingkexuan. Wasn’t it you that called us cheaters and gave us two hard buns?”

Boss Xue glared at manager Liao.

Manager Liao trembled and was about to say something.

When sister Fang at once recognized these few people in the room and figured out the whole story, so she added fuel to the fire, pointing at manager Liao, “Oh dear heaven. Are you the manager Liao who drove us out of Yingkexuan?”

Boss Xue immediately smacked manager Liao in the face.

Manager Liao covered his swollen cheek with his hand and carefully regarded the two women in front of him. He suddenly recalled that two months ago, he indeed had driven away two countryside women.

“Boss, this…this…this should blame the waiter…”

“Shut up! Let’s talk about it when we get back.”

“Do you mean to take it out on him Mrs. Ning? I can fire him and the waiter.”

“No thanks! I suppose it’d better to take your manager and guiding dog and leave.”

“Guiding dog? Who are you cursing?”

“You! So what?”

“You…”

Mo Qianxue looked him in the eye, “What?”

Zhao Dafei still wanted to talk back when sister Fang began to shoot, “You bastard. Calling you a dog is flattering you. In the end, you’re no good than a pig or dog…”

Zhao Dafei knew what she was cursing about and didn’t dare to look up. He had been struggling for many days in the city, so he knew the consequences and certainly didn’t want to mention the fact that he had sold out his parents for money.

Boss Xue went out, huffing. Walking to the yard, he still found it difficult to accept, so he added, “Mrs. Ning, I’m afraid in the future you’ll regret it. There’ll be one day that you come and beg me!”

Mo Qianxue didn’t give a shit to the threat and calmly enjoyed her tea, as if these people were clowns and jokers that were performing for her.

Boss Xue bit hard his teeth from rage and quickly got into the carriage.

Manager Liao followed up when a crispy sound of slapping sent out.

Dejected, Zhao Dafei walked in the end. Seeing that boss Xue and manager Liao got on board, he also wanted to sit there. Just being smacked in the face, manager Liao happened to need a vent to pour out his anger, so at once he kicked Zhao Dafei off the carriage.