Chapter 2, Diligence

Jiang Qingyun stared at his expression: "If the master is not accustomed to eating noodles, should we add a few more side dishes to accompany it? I just wonder where the master is from and what flavors he enjoys eating?"

The shopkeeper chuckled: "He is merely a wealthy merchant; what background could he possibly have? He is indeed generous with his tips. If we treat him well, we might just earn a few taels of silver."

Jiang Qingyun was in the midst of an enthusiastic introduction when Jiao Si suddenly turned to look at the door, prompting Zhou Kang to glance over as well. It turned out that Jiao San had returned after inspecting the condition of the bridge, with the shopkeeper following closely behind, his head drooping, seemingly a bit dejected

The shopkeeper listened with some concern: "But what can we do? This is a newly opened store, and we haven't even officially launched yet. The county office promised to build us a new road, but there has been no progress so far. Relying on just a few of us to chop some trees and fix the road surface is of little use. And that suspension bridge, although a bit rudimentary, was built with our hard work and has made things much more convenient for many people. The folks in the county city praise us, but those few distinguished guests still look down on us! How about... we serve them with extra care, and tomorrow morning we apologize to them, hoping they won't take their frustrations out on the dog?"

Jiang Qingyun suddenly glanced at him

The shopkeeper's eyes darted around: "If this is indeed the new county magistrate, that would be something significant; we must curry favor with him!"

Jiang Qingyun smiled and said: "In fact, this is merely a temporary measure. To attract more customers to take this route, it is necessary not only to clear a path through the forest ahead but also to rebuild a larger, wider, and sturdier bridge. Otherwise, when merchants pass by in the future with large cargo, how can that suspension bridge withstand it?"

Jiao San reported to Zhou Kang: "Master Zhou, not far from here, there is indeed a suspension bridge. The bridge is over three feet wide, and it is no problem for people to cross. However, the gaps between the planks are too wide, and our horses might step into the void. To be safe, it would be better to take the official road instead."

Zhou Kang listened to these words and said expressionlessly: "It is already dark, and it would be quite inconvenient to walk back along the mountain path at this time. Even if we reach Qinghe County via the official road, the city gates will be closed, and we won't be able to enter. It is better to stay here for the night and discuss it in the morning." After speaking, he instructed Jiang Qingyun: "Prepare some hot dishes, they must be clean, and it doesn't matter what it is, just make it as quick as possible; anything that requires too much effort can be set aside."

The shopkeeper expressed some confusion: "What is it? Qing Jie, look at how busy I am..."

Jiang Qingyun merely smiled and said, "I have only watched others cook a lot, so I have learned a little bit, but I am still far from it!" Seeing that the broth on Aunt Ma's side was ready, he helped her add the noodles. Before long, it was done, and he personally took the bowl on a tray to Qiu Da: "Please help me taste it and see if it meets the master's expectations"

Jiang Qingyun noticed that he seemed intent on staying in the kitchen to supervise, so she did not stop him. However, the others were clearly very nervous. Aunt Ma added too much firewood while cooking, causing herself to choke, and Chef Zhang added half a spoonful too much salt while stir-frying, which immediately drew his suspicious gaze, resulting in even more tension among everyone. Jiang Qingyun had to offer some words of comfort here and a reminder there, occasionally giving cooking instructions to Chef Zhang and Aunt Ma, which Qiu Da found quite reliable. When four fragrant dishes were served, he tasted each one, and the look he cast at Jiang Qingyun carried a hint of approval: "Little girl, you have some knowledge; does your family work in the culinary field?" Surprisingly, there were two or three seasoning methods that he, having served in high-ranking households for many years, had never heard of before. Of course, he would never voice this.

The two women looked at him with fear, completely unsure of how to react, while the young boy had shrunk back into the counter. It was the young girl Jiang Qingyun who, with a calm demeanor, bowed slightly and said, "Yes, esteemed guest, please wait a moment, the food will be served shortly." She then turned around and half-pushed, half-urged the two women into the kitchen, simultaneously giving a discreet signal to the shopkeeper. The latter quickly entered the counter and, not long after, also went into the kitchen. Once again, the young girl Jiang Qingyun, with her calm demeanor, bowed slightly and said, "Yes, esteemed guest, please wait a moment, the food will be served shortly." She then turned around and half-pushed, half-urged the two women into the kitchen, simultaneously giving a discreet signal to the shopkeeper. The latter quickly entered the counter and, not long after, also went into the kitchen.

Qiu turned his head to look and indeed saw a basket of wood ears and mushrooms in the corner, along with some pickled cabbage and similar items. He picked them up one by one and sniffed them, his expression easing slightly. He nodded at two of them: "Just these two will do, the rest can be set aside." He then went to observe how others were cooking.

The shopkeeper was somewhat moved: "Alright, I won't argue with you. However... Qing Jie, you are no longer the same as us now. Since you have acknowledged Liu Laoye as your godfather, you are now a lady of the official family. You shouldn't always stay here, mingling with us in this smoky and chaotic environment. Liu Laoye is a good person and has taken care of us. If it weren't for his help, how could we, the migrants from other places, enjoy a peaceful meal? Not to mention establishing this property... You should come here less often in the future, honor Liu Laoye well, and live a good life, treating it as a way to thank him for us!" Liu Laoye is a good person and has taken care of us. If it weren't for his help, how could we, the migrants from other places, enjoy a peaceful meal? Not to mention establishing this property... You should come here less often in the future, honor Liu Laoye well, and live a good life, treating it as a way to thank him for us!

So... what should we do? The shopkeeper has no idea; he has never experienced such things before

Jiang Qingyun quietly called to him at the counter: "Uncle Wang, could you come over for a moment"

Qiu Da walked in with a look of disdain: "What kind of attendants does this inn employ?! They are utterly incompetent. After teaching them for half a day, they still can't even give water to the horse properly, and the fodder they provided was damp with dew. Fortunately, I managed to stop them in time..."

Zhou Kang furrowed his brow, while over there, Jiao Si had already started shouting: "I knew it, that kid at the dock was not reliable! What shortcuts is he talking about? A few country folks might manage to walk it, but how can we, with so many people and horses, possibly do the same? We should turn back quickly!"

The shopkeeper busily said: "I have homemade pickled vegetables, all stored in large jars outside, which are the most refreshing and appetizing. I will bring some right away!" After saying this, he went out.

Jiang Qingyun was taken aback for a moment and smiled, saying: "Uncle Wang, why do you say such things? Although we are not related by blood, ever since my parents passed away, I have relied on Old Master Qian and you for support. Otherwise, I would have died long ago. I regard you as family in my heart, so when you say this, aren't you distancing yourself from me?"

Qiu arrogantly tossed a small cloth bag to the shopkeeper, saying: "Serve well, and as long as our master is satisfied, there will be benefits for you!" The shopkeeper weighed the bag in his hand, happily agreed, and upon seeing Zhou Kang had finished his meal, asked him if he wanted more tea.

Jiang Qingyun curled his lips and said: "What are we to be considered? Can we persuade them? If we could truly serve them comfortably, that would be one thing, but look at them, it's clear they might not think highly of our little establishment. We might end up offending them, and there will be plenty of days to suffer the consequences in the future"

Jiang Qingyun interrupted him, saying: "Did you see that? That gentleman has an extraordinary background!"

Qiu Da inquired about the dishes they had prepared and learned that it was hot noodle soup, along with a chicken, a duck, a fish, and a pork knuckle. He still felt it was insufficient: "It's too greasy; our master is not accustomed to such food. We need something refreshing."

Qiu Dayou said: "Our master is not accustomed to eating wheat products, why not cook rice? Is it possible that your establishment does not even have plain rice?"

Qiu Da's face was filled with disdain before he immediately vanished, replacing it with a kind and affectionate smile: "Master, your kindness is appreciated by this old servant. However, your meals and accommodations cannot be entirely entrusted to these country bumpkins. Allow me to take a look myself." After saying this, he scanned the shop and noticed the young lad standing dazed at the kitchen door. From behind the door, voices and the clattering of pots and pans could be heard, so he pushed the lad aside and entered.

Jiao Si wanted to persuade again, but his brother stopped him. With no other choice, he shouted in a rough voice at a group of people by the counter: "What are you still dawdling for? Hurry up and prepare good wine and dishes for grandpa! Also, arrange a room for grandpa!"

"Yes, yes!" The shopkeeper nodded repeatedly, "What you say makes sense, let's do it this way!"

In the shop outside, the shopkeeper had early on served some appetizers to two tables of guests: a plate of five-spice peanuts, a plate of salted dried fish, a plate of marinated tofu, and a plate of pickled cucumbers. Zhou Kang leisurely sipped his tea, while the two brothers, Jiao San and Jiao Si, had already started drinking and said to the shopkeeper: "Your wine has some flavor, better than the ordinary stuff bought outside, but is it homemade?"

The shopkeeper's eyes lit up: "Sure, this won't take much effort. It's not even a matter of one night, just a couple of hours. Since there's still time, I'll take people over right now!"

Jiang Qingyun suggested to him: "Those horses of theirs are not draft horses, how could they not cross the suspension bridge? The bridge we built is at least four feet wide! They must be afraid that the horse's hooves will step into the gaps between the planks. Why don't we ask Master You to come and add a few more people, and overnight, we can reinforce the suspension bridge with wooden planks, leaving no gaps, so that their horses can cross as well, what do you think?"

The shopkeeper exclaimed in disbelief: "What? Are you saying he is..." Looking around, he leaned in closer and lowered his voice, "Are you saying he is a person of official status?!"

A hint of joy suddenly appeared in Jiang Qingyun's eyes, yet she did not show it on her face. She responded verbally while exchanging glances with the chef and the Ma family's sisters-in-law. The four of them quickly placed the noodle soup and several dishes onto a tray, which Jiang Qingyun personally carried out. Seeing that she was young, Qiu Da followed closely, muttering, "Be careful, don't spill it..."

Jiang Qingyun smiled and said, "Heaven knows, but looking at his attire, he seems quite low-key. Given the recent turmoil in Qinghe, could he be attempting to play the trick of visiting incognito? However, the jade pendant hanging at his waist, judging by its quality, color, and craftsmanship, is certainly not something an ordinary person could afford. The moment I saw that jade pendant and noticed he was wearing official boots, I began to have my suspicions. Moreover, the two towering figures beside him, who appear to be bodyguards, are dressed in satin garments, feasting on lavish food and still complaining that it is not good enough, which indicates the kind of life they usually lead. Just think about it, if he were an ordinary merchant, could he afford such wealthy bodyguards? But if he were another noble, why would he come to a place like Qinghe?"

Jiang Qingyun brought food to Zhou Kang, while Aunt Ma followed behind to deliver the portion for the Jiao brothers. Qiu Da attentively stood by Zhou Kang's table to serve him dishes. The latter noticed that the inn had prepared a bowl of steaming Yangchun noodles, with a rich and fragrant broth and chewy noodles, which made his appetite surge. Looking at the various dishes, there was braised chicken with mushrooms and black fungus, soy sauce roasted duck, grilled fish, and stewed pork knuckle with gourd strips, all of which were quite delicious. He ate some pickles, fish, and chicken along with the noodles, picked some gourd strips, and then instructed Qiu Da to send the pork knuckle to the Jiao brothers. He was very satisfied with this meal and signaled to Qiu Da to give a tip.

Jiang Qingyun advised him again: "That guard just said he heard it from some kid at the dock, who took a shortcut to come to us. This kid must be a dog. If it were someone else, how would they know we have a shop here? A couple of days ago, he introduced two passing merchants to us. Although they only stayed in a shared room, the meal expenses added up to several dozen wen. This is the dog helping us attract business!" A couple of days ago, he introduced two passing merchants to us. Although they only stayed in a shared room, the meal expenses added up to several dozen wen. This is the dog helping us attract business!

Zhou Kang smiled gently: "Uncle Qiu, when we are out, let us make do. Tonight we will stay here for the night and head to the city tomorrow morning. You should also sit down and have a good meal; you must have suffered on the boat all this time, right?"

The innkeeper led the master and servant to their guest room. Jiang Qingyun stood by the counter, watching their departing figures, lost in thought. After a while, the innkeeper returned, wiping the sweat from his forehead while muttering, "I've never seen such picky guests before. Where can we find silk bedding in this small inn? Fortunately, everything is new, which has silenced their complaints. Now they want some incense..." He then called out to Chef Zhang, "Hurry and bring hot water! Thankfully, everything is new, which has silenced their complaints. Now they want some incense..." He called out again, "Hurry and bring hot water! Fill the newly prepared bathtub six or seven parts full, be careful, the water shouldn't be too hot, nor too cold." Chef Zhang hesitated, saying, "I've only worked as a cook, I don't know how to serve someone a bath." The innkeeper spat at him, "I told you to bring water, who asked you to serve them? If you wanted to, they wouldn't even allow it!"

Everyone looked at each other, and it was Jiang Qingyun who stepped forward: "Sir, your master said to prepare a few dishes quickly, so let's skip the more labor-intensive ones. I believe you must be hungry; the noodles can be made quickly, but cooking rice will take at least half an hour. As for the other dishes, they are all ready-made, and there are also some refreshing options. How about those mountain goods over there?"

Our master is from Jiangling in the south, and he usually enjoys eating pickled vegetables, preferably those that are sour with a hint of sweetness, not too salty and not too spicy. Fresh melons and vegetables are best; if not available, pickled cucumbers will suffice. Additionally, our master loves fish, but fatty meat is out of the question. As for pork knuckles and cured meat, just place them on the table for those two burly men; our master cannot tolerate them

Qingyun? This does not seem like a name that a peasant family would give to their daughter

The shopkeeper widened his eyes: "No way... If it really is the county magistrate, how could he come to our small shop?!"

Jiang Qingyun winked at him: "Uncle Wang must have heard, right? A new county magistrate is about to arrive in Qinghe County. I heard someone mention in the county office that the new magistrate comes from a prominent family in the south and has quite a reputation in the capital! This guest happens to be from Jiangling in the south."

Chef Zhang retreated to the kitchen, while over there, the Jiao brothers had also eaten their fill. Although they had not drunk enough, they did not intend to continue. The shopkeeper hurriedly led them to two other guest rooms and then called back to the young lad: "Xiao Dao, quickly send two buckets of hot water over!"

Therefore... Jiang Qingyun lowered his voice even further, "We cannot allow these esteemed guests to turn back and cause trouble for the dog. What worries me even more is that if this matter spreads and the people at the dock find out, they will no longer introduce new guests to us"

Zhou Kang noticed that the Jiao brothers seemed to be enjoying their drinks, and he did not call out to them. He simply said to Qiu Da, "Go check the room; if there is hot water, I will take a wash." Before Qiu Da could respond, the innkeeper had already spoken: "Hot water has been prepared in the kitchen and will be sent to the guest room shortly. Please follow me, honored guest." Qiu Da glanced at him, seemingly satisfied with his attentiveness.

Jiang Qingyun was taken aback, revealing a helpless smile that was very inconsistent with his outward appearance and age

This thought briefly crossed Zhou Kang's mind before being suppressed. He did not continue to inquire further, as the young girl Jiang Qingyun had already begun to enthusiastically recommend the appetizers from Tongfu Inn: "Would the esteemed guest like to try some appetizers? We have our homemade pickled vegetables, which are salty and sour, and also the small fish caught from the nearby river, salted and dried, then stir-fried in oil, making them incredibly crispy! We also have five-spice peanuts and marinated peanuts..."

Jiang Qingyun smiled and said, "What merchant? This gentleman is wearing official boots! Moreover, they look even better than the official boots worn by the gentlemen in our county office; they are of superior quality!"

Qiu Da took a taste and pondered for a moment: "Well, it’s not too bad; if he eats one bowl or one and a half bowls, the master should be able to manage."

The shopkeeper nodded and sighed: "This child is indeed rare; Old Zhang is such a scoundrel, yet he has a good son."

The innkeeper nodded repeatedly, soon making up his mind. He then looked at Jiang Qingyun, his face filled with emotion: "Sister Qing, you truly live up to being from a prominent family; your insight is far superior to ours. What is rare is that you are kind-hearted and humble, treating us all like family and taking care of us in every way. If it weren't for your suggestions and your help in bringing in Lord Liu and the others, I wouldn't have been able to establish this inn. Now, with your constant guidance, how could I possibly run the business well?"

"Do not be anxious," Jiang Qingyun said, "Since he intends to travel incognito, if we were to expose his identity, wouldn't that only provoke him? It is better to pretend we are unaware and serve him as attentively as possible, allowing him to remember our kindness. When he assumes office in the future and learns of our backgrounds, he will not make things difficult for us"

The kitchen is quite spacious, but it becomes a bit cramped with four or five people suddenly squeezed in. Jiang Qingyun is discussing the dishes with the shopkeeper and the cook, while Aunt Ma, who excels at pastry work, is kneading the dough. Another woman, Aunt Ma Er, who is the sister-in-law of the former, is tending to the fire. Upon seeing strangers enter, they all turn their heads to look.