You cook while I boil water, you serve while I collect money, and we go home together as a couple.
After the rushed and chaotic days of chickens flying and dogs running, the noodle shop finally calmed down. Over there, Mei Dou was clever, always crying for Qing Huan twice a day, calling her sister in a state of despair, which made the girls in Yicui Pavilion believe that Qing Huan was really dead, and they sighed for a while.
The noodle shop was located opposite a long street that ran east to west. Although the storefront was narrow, plain, and lacked any distinctive features compared to neighboring shops, the aroma of food from the small noodle shop attracted many passersby daily. Nowadays, it could at least be called a place bustling with customers.
Despite it being late autumn, the climate was not too dry due to Xinan County being near the river. It was cold and damp, especially in the mornings and evenings, and today the sky was gray and dark, likely indicating rain.
But regardless of whether it rained or someone was getting married, life still had to be lived happily, except—
Mr. Ji’s bedtime stories were unbearable! They were too boring!
Yu Jinnian got up early with a dejected expression, heated the braised meat sauce in the kitchen, and went to check on Qing Huan. Unexpectedly, Aunt Xu was already there, both of them having gotten up even earlier than him and were chatting happily.
“I couldn’t sleep, so I came to check on Miss Qing Huan,” Aunt Xu smiled, “She was saying she was bored and asked me to find some sewing work for her.”
Yu Jinnian said, “Finding some work is no problem, but she shouldn’t overwork herself; she still needs proper rest.”
Qing Huan, who had lost blood when injured, still looked slightly pale. She smiled and said, “I’m not skilled like Brother Nian, who can even sew a broken leg. Brother Nian saved my life, and I’m already ashamed of living here eating for free. If there are any clothes or quilts to mend or embroidery to do, I can handle it. I’m quite fast at embroidery!”
Aunt Xu patted her hand and said, “I have a few pieces of white silk, originally intended to make some small handkerchiefs for Sui Sui. But since I’m not in good health and can’t sit for long, I’ll give them to you. Once you’ve embroidered them, Brother Nian can sell them, and that will cover your food and lodging expenses.”
Qing Huan, feeling uneasy, said, “How can I accept this? A piece of silk isn’t worth much…”
Aunt Xu smiled and told her not to refuse anymore, saying, “When you’re fully recovered, if you’re willing, you can stay and help Brother Nian.”
Qing Huan didn’t know what to say and kept nodding vigorously, “You are my saviors. I’ll repay you even if I have to be a cow or a horse!”
“No,” Yu Jinnian interrupted, “Look at our small courtyard; we can’t raise cows or keep horses! Now, all cows and horses should rest, it’s time to change the medicine.”
Both of them laughed, covering their mouths.
Yu Jinnian placed the medicine tray by the bed, carefully unwrapped the cloth strips, used soft silk dipped in thick scallion soup to wash away the previous medicine, applied fresh Yuhong ointment, which helps heal wounds and remove toxins, and rewrapped it with new cotton cloth. Then he fixed the splint again. After changing the medicine, he instructed her on how to gently move her ankle to prevent muscle stiffness.
When he returned from Qing Huan’s room with the medicine powder and bottles, Ji Hong had just gotten up and was changing his undergarments by the bed. He didn’t expect Yu Jinnian to return so quickly and couldn’t cover up in time, exposing a large area of his fair back.
Yu Jinnian also didn’t expect to see such an enticing scene upon opening the door. He stopped abruptly and instinctively wanted to look away. However, he quickly thought: He isn’t a maiden, and I am not a lecher. We are both men, so there’s nothing to be embarrassed about. Looking away suddenly would seem even stranger!
So he forced himself to look back, attempting to greet him like normal men, and grinned, saying, “Hey Ji, you’re so fair!”
Ji Hong glanced at him and then turned away, hurriedly putting on his clothes and tying his belt tightly, as if afraid Yu Jinnian would suddenly assault him.
“… Ugh,” Yu Jinnian cursed himself inwardly. “You should have pretended not to see anything. Since when do normal men compliment others by saying ‘so fair’? You might as well have blindly praised his physique!”
After Ji Hong finished dressing, Yu Jinnian quickly said, “Wear more. It’s cloudy today, it might rain.”
“Mm,” Ji Hong replied curtly. Seeing that Ji Hong wasn’t in the mood to chat, Yu Jinnian felt a bit down. He put down the medicine bottle and was about to go open the shop when Ji Hong called him back, “Jinnian, come here.”
“Oh!” Yu Jinnian retracted his steps and happily ran over, “What is it?”
Ji Hong said, “Your hair is messy.”
“I tied it up pretty well, though?” For convenience, Yu Jinnian had quickly tied his hair into a ponytail without looking in the mirror. Hearing Ji Hong’s comment, he touched his hair, puzzled, and his hand brushed against Ji Hong’s already raised hand. Ji Hong’s hand was still cool, with a jade-like smoothness that spread from his fingers up his arm before quickly dissipating. Yu Jinnian muttered, “Isn’t it always like this? What’s the difference?”
Ji Hong opened the bottom drawer of the wardrobe, took out a hair ribbon, and deftly tied Yu Jinnian’s hair with two wraps, saying, “Done.”
Yu Jinnian bent over to look in the mirror, seeing a new duck egg blue hair ribbon with sky blue clouds embroidered on the ends, which softly hung behind his ears. He looked at it from different angles, curiously asking, “Where did this come from? I haven’t seen it before.”
Ji Hong casually replied, “I won it during the archery contest on Mid-Autumn Festival. You forgot?”
“Really?” Yu Jinnian was skeptical, not remembering such a prize.
Ji Hong affirmed, “Mm, as long as you like it.”
Yu Jinnian thought hard but had no memory of it, so he gave up. His previous hair ribbons were made by Aunt Xu from Sui Sui’s old clothes. The little girl’s clothes were mostly bright, and the usable ones were gray or white, made of stiff fabric that frayed after many washes. He never thought about buying a new hair ribbon and just made do with what he had.
But everyone, whether man or woman, has a bit of vanity. Yu Jinnian touched the ribbon happily and nodded, “I like it, why wouldn’t I?”
Ji Hong’s expression softened as he smoothed Yu Jinnian’s hair.
After looking enough, Yu Jinnian cheerfully pulled him to the front to open the shop.
When it came to opening the shop, the two had become quite coordinated. Yu Jinnian cooked while Ji Hong boiled water, Ji Hong served while Yu Jinnian collected money. Remarkably, every time Yu Jinnian needed something, Ji Hong anticipated it and handed it to him immediately.
After the breakfast rush, there was usually an hour of downtime when few customers came, allowing Yu Jinnian to rest.
Ji Hong habitually stood behind the counter, tallying accounts, while Yu Jinnian leaned over the counter to watch him write, making the already narrow space even more cramped. Yu Jinnian was uncomfortable leaning over, and Ji Hong was uncomfortable writing. After a moment, Ji Hong glanced up at him, wanting to say something, but ended up sighing softly and moving the ledger to the side.
After watching for a while, Yu Jinnian began discussing what to eat, suggesting various meat and vegetable dishes, sweet and spicy, almost singing the menu.
Ji Hong continued writing without pause, suddenly recalling the dish “chopped pepper fish head.” He had once walked from the city to the outskirts to try it, only to end up not eating it and not even learning how it was made.
The two were lost in their own thoughts when a woman, dressed elegantly but with a sallow complexion, entered with a child still sucking on his fingers. The child was so thin his chin was sharp, making his large, grape-like eyes appear even bigger as he curiously looked around.
Yu Jinnian quickly approached with a smile, asking, “Auntie, what would you like to eat?”
The woman looked at the small wooden sign hanging on the wall and the prices listed on it. “Two bowls of tomato sauce noodles.”
She could read! She must be the wife or daughter-in-law of a wealthy family.
Yu Jinnian cheerfully responded and went to the kitchen. The little child on the floor tugged at the woman’s skirt, chewing on his fingers and babbling, “Mother, I want to eat stir-fried three ingredients…”
The woman’s expression turned annoyed. “There is no stir-fried three ingredients.”
The child, however, continued to shake her arm persistently, “Mother, Hong’er wants stir-fried three ingredients, wants stir-fried three ingredients…”
Hong’er? Yu Jinnian glanced back at Ji Hong, inwardly amused. There was a little Hong’er here, and a big Hong’er over there! Ji Hong seemed to notice his gaze and looked up lightly.
The woman, overwhelmed by little Hong’er’s fussing, placed him on a stool and sternly said, “Hong’er, stop it! Our family is scattered, it’s not like before. We are now going to seek refuge at your uncle’s house in Jin County. There are no stir-fried three ingredients anymore, do you hear?”
The child didn’t understand any of this, only knowing there was no tasty food, and immediately began to cry in grievance.
The woman angrily said, “Why are you so naughty!”
Seeing that this wasn’t helping, Yu Jinnian intervened, “He’s just a little child, craving something tasty doesn’t mean he’s naughty. When he grows up, he’ll naturally be a good son to his mother, right, Hong’er?” He squatted down, patted the child’s head, wiped his tears, and asked, “Hong’er, what do you want to eat? Tell me.”
The child sniffled, glanced at his mother, and timidly said, “Stir-fried three ingredients.”
Yu Jinnian’s eyes curved into a smile. “Alright, I can make that. Be good and listen to your brother, don’t fuss, okay?”
The child’s mother protested, “How can this be, spoiling him like this…”
“Children are just fond of tasty food, and stir-fried three ingredients isn’t a big deal,” Yu Jinnian waved to the child, then stood up and headed to the kitchen. Before going behind the curtain, he looked back at the counter and said, “Hong’er! Brother is going to cook now!”
Ji Hong’s eyebrows twitched, his pen paused, and a drop of ink fell, spreading on the paper.
The boy was openly taking advantage of him.
Yu Jinnian cheerfully went into the kitchen, cracked two eggs, and separated the yolks from the whites, keeping the whites for other dishes. Stir-fried three ingredients, despite being called a dish, was more like a dessert. It involved frying three differently colored ingredients into a sweet, mushy consistency and then plating them, hence the name stir-fried three ingredients. It was particularly good for digestion and was a favorite among children.
He took a handful of adzuki beans and a handful of peas, washed them separately, and steamed them until they were soft. He also steamed the egg yolks until they were powdery. Then he mashed the three steamed ingredients into a paste and set them aside.
Next, he heated a wok with oil and stir-fried each paste with fine white sugar separately. He allowed the sugar to dissolve and the paste to become soft but not too runny. He then plated the three pastes in a large white dish in the shape of three leaf-shaped cakes, with each paste occupying a distinct segment. The three colors were clearly defined and very appealing.
Finally, he garnished the dish with a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds and placed a spoon on the side.
Yu Jinnian also prepared the tomato sauce noodles ordered by the child’s mother. After washing his hands, he cheerfully carried the stir-fried three ingredients to the front. Lifting the curtain, he called out, “Hong’er!”
Both the big Hong’er and the little Hong’er turned their heads simultaneously.
Yu Jinnian brought the two dishes over, pacified the little Hong’er, and then ran to the counter, sneaking a glance at the big Hong’er. Seeing Ji Hong with a cold expression, seemingly annoyed, he sheepishly said, “Alright, I’ll let you call me ‘Nian’er’ a few times too, okay?”
Ji Hong’s lips twitched slightly; the name “Nian’er” was too much for him to handle, and he couldn’t bring himself to say it.
Yu Jinnian, anticipating this reaction, laughed heartily.
Ji Hong shook his head; when it came to fooling around, he had to admit defeat.
After the mother and child finished their meal, they paid the bill, bowed to Yu Jinnian, and left. Seeing that no one else was around, Yu Jinnian mentioned he needed to go out for a bit to return some medical instruments to the old gentleman at Pingkang Pharmacy.
…
Pingkang Pharmacy was known for its high-quality and reasonably priced medicinal herbs, never skimping on quantity. The pharmacy was actually owned by the same family as the neighboring Shouren Hall, which had a good reputation for benevolent and skilled doctors. Hence, Yu Jinnian preferred buying medicine from them.
At this moment, an apprentice rushed into the back hall, shouting, “Master Luo! Master Luo!”
A white-haired elderly man walked out slowly, frowning, “Why are you running around?”
The apprentice, startled by the sudden appearance of Master Luo behind him, stopped abruptly and patted his chest before saying, “Someone from the Ding family is here, asking you to go see their Master Ding, who got cut by a dagger a few days ago and the wound isn’t healing, it’s festering now. I heard… they also invited Doctor Zou from next door to come along…”
“What nonsense! That Master Ding beat up one of my disciples recently, and now he has the nerve to ask for my help? And for a festering wound, do they really need two doctors?” Luo Qian, upon hearing it was the Ding family, immediately refused, cursing in anger, “Tell them my medical instruments are not with me, and I’m not taking surgical cases for now. They should find someone else.”
The apprentice, having no good opinion of the Ding family either, was glad Master Luo wasn’t going. He nodded and was about to go back to reply when he bumped into someone at the front door.
It was none other than Zou Heng, the “miracle doctor” from the neighboring Jiaan Hall.
The apprentice disliked both the Ding family and Zou Heng. One was heartless in wealth, the other exploited his medical skills for high prices—a perfect match of cow dung and dog feces, each equally foul. Anyone who knew the story knew that Zou Heng had given himself the title of “miracle doctor,” fooling only those unaware of his true nature.
Interestingly, Zou Heng and Master Luo were from the same school of thought, and technically, Zou Heng should address Master Luo as “Senior Uncle.” However, it was said that they had fallen out many years ago, and Master Luo never mentioned Zou Heng again.
The apprentice blocked the door, but Zou Heng shamelessly squeezed his way in, causing the apprentice to stumble. Zou Heng then walked in, cheerfully following behind Luo Qian, and said, “Master Luo, long time no see!”
Luo Qian snorted coldly, not responding.
Zou Heng pretended not to notice the cold shoulder and shamelessly continued, “The Ding family is asking for help. Aren’t you going to check on them, Master?”
“Who are you calling Master? Look carefully before addressing someone,” Luo Qian replied angrily, repeating his excuse, “My medical instruments are borrowed, I can’t handle surgery cases now. You can go to the Ding family yourself!”
Zou Heng, feigning surprise, said, “Master, your medical instruments are untouchable by anyone else. Who has the audacity to borrow your toolbox?”
Luo Qian replied curtly, “None of your business,” and turned away, slamming the door in Zou Heng’s face.
“…” Zou Heng, left standing outside, cursed under his breath, “Hmph, old fool!”
Considering the hefty consultation fee from the Ding family, only a fool would refuse! He quickly composed himself, plastered on a smile, and walked back to the front hall, confidently joining the Ding family representatives and leaving with them.
As he walked down the street, Zou Heng brushed past a young man and noticed the medical toolbox slung over his shoulder.
It was unmistakably Luo Qian’s medical toolbox!
He couldn’t be wrong. Luo Qian’s toolbox was unique, made of ink-colored lacquerware, as bright as a mirror, and light as a cloud. It was said to have been a gift from a high-ranking official, with specially made medical instruments inside, unparalleled in the world. Somehow, their grandmaster had passed this toolbox to Luo Qian.
Zou Heng greedily stared at the toolbox for a long time before looking up to see who was carrying it.
That one glance made his blood boil—wasn’t this the same Yu Jinnian who had humiliated him at the He family’s place? Just a lowly cook, yet carrying that toolbox! Luo Qian had claimed the toolbox was borrowed; could it be he lent it to this boy?
Yu Jinnian, unaware of Zou Heng, cheerfully walked into Pingkang Pharmacy.
Author’s Note:
Question: How should normal men greet each other?
Yu Jinnian: (raising hand) I know! It goes like this… “Bro, you look great—”
(A ledger book flies out of nowhere, smacking Yu Jinnian in the face. Yu Jinnian, dead.)
Ji Hong: (dragging the body) Sorry, he’s not fit for interviews right now.
—
Yu Jinnian: I’m totally straight!
Yeah right. Ever seen a mosquito coil?