Chapter 28: In Life, One Must Be Wary

Chen Ping chimed in as well, “That’s right, Yun’er. There’s been a lot of fighting lately, and it’s only been peaceful for a short while. If not for the good harvest this year, we wouldn’t even have enough to eat, so we mustn’t waste anything. Also, I heard you and Liu’er eat three meals a day. Actually, the Great Qi dynasty encourages at most two meals a day, but eating three meals isn’t against the law. Just eat less at each meal, and it’ll be the same amount each day.”

Chu Yun replied, “Alright, I understand, Second Uncle. But don’t worry—I would never waste food. Even if I soak all the beans, nothing will be wasted. There are many ways to prepare delicious dishes with these beans, not a single bit will go to waste.”

Upon hearing this, the Chen father and son grew even more curious.

Still, Chen Jun didn’t dare to soak the entire bushel of beans, only soaking a liter. It was Chu Yun who added another liter to the wooden bucket, reassuring the Chen family.

Once the beans were soaking, Chen Jun asked, “Brother, what’s the next step?”

Chu Yun said, “The beans need to soak for at least half an hour, so let’s leave them for now.”

Chen Jun then glanced at the wine jar. “Brother, what’s the third method?”

Chu Yun thought for a moment, then shook his head. “No rush. We already have two methods, which will help Celebration Restaurant a great deal. I know how you feel about Shuangxi, but we still don’t know her feelings for you. Let’s wait and see. After all, these are things passed down by immortals—every one of them is very precious.”

That wine jar was, of course, meant for distilling liquor, but Chu Yun felt there was no need to reveal that for now.

Chen Jun was too honest, too straightforward—Chu Yun needed to teach him some caution.

Besides, distilled liquor could be extremely profitable.

If, in the future, he truly earned a title and land, and developed his own power base, distilled liquor would bring enormous benefits to his territory.

Of course, if Wang Shuangxi and Chen Jun truly fell for each other, he would not hesitate to share the distillation technique as well.

After all, he could bring the whole family to his own domain, open a restaurant there, and produce distilled liquor for him.

Chen Ping nodded approvingly at Chu Yun’s words. “You rascal—though you’re a troublemaker, you’re actually sharper than Chen Jun. Chen Jun is too honest, too simple. You must look after him in the future; he’s easily taken advantage of.”

He then turned to Chen Jun. “I know how you feel about the restaurant owner’s daughter, but don’t be too foolish. Just as Chu Yun said, if you do all this for her and she still doesn’t understand your feelings, or if she looks down on you because she’s the boss’s daughter and you’re just a worker, then don’t make a fool of yourself.”

“So for now, you can only give her one of the two methods Chu Yun taught you. First, let Celebration Restaurant turn things around. Then, I’ll ask a matchmaker to speak to the owner about your marriage, and we’ll see how they respond.”

Chu Yun agreed, “That’s right, Second Uncle is exactly right. Chen Jun, did you hear that?”

Chen Jun nodded. “I understand.”

Chu Yun patted him on the shoulder. “I know you like Wang Shuangxi and want nothing more than to be good to her, willing to give everything for her. But you also need to think: if you give your all, and she still doesn’t want to be with you, won’t you feel hurt?”

Chen Jun replied, “If Celebration Restaurant can get better and Shuangxi can be happy, that’s all I want. Why would I feel hurt?”

Hearing this, Chu Yun looked over at Chen Ping.

Chen Ping just shook his head and sighed, a little helpless.

Chu Yun sighed as well, silently relieved that he hadn’t taught Chen Jun the distillation process.

Still, he hoped that Chen Jun’s devotion would be rewarded.

The three of them fell into idle chatter.

Before long, Li Sanniang and Yang Liu’er finished cooking and brought the dishes to the table, calling everyone to eat.

When Li Sanniang saw the beans soaking in the bucket and the kneaded flour in the basin, she couldn’t help but ask, “Why did you soak so many beans and knead so much dough? Isn’t that a waste of food?”

Chen Jun hurried to explain, “Mother, Brother Chu Yun is going to use those beans to make a delicacy we’ve never seen before, and he promised not a bit would be wasted. As for the dough, Brother Chu Yun said he can make buns and mantou as soft as new-fallen snow—delicious! Besides, buns and mantou can be eaten the next day. It’s fine.”

“A delicacy we’ve never seen before? Buns and mantou as soft as new-fallen snow?” Li Sanniang looked at Chu Yun with curiosity.

Yang Liu’er also looked at Chu Yun, smiling with pride for her husband’s skill, and was equally curious about what kind of delicacy Chu Yun would make, and whether the buns and mantou would truly be that soft.

She said, “Husband, when you have time, teach me how to make this delicacy—the soft buns and mantou—so I can make them for you in the future.”

Chu Yun smiled at her. “Don’t worry, I’ll definitely teach you.”

Then everyone took their seats and began to eat.

Chu Yun picked up the wine jar and said, “Second Uncle, since I don’t need to reveal this method for now, let’s drink this wine. Don’t make me take it back, or I might get drunk and do something I’d regret to Yang Liu’er.”

Chen Ping, remembering Chu Yun’s old reputation as a drunkard, quickly took the wine jar, poured himself a bowl, and said, “Alright, I’ll drink it here so you can’t take it back.”

With that, he passed the jar to Chen Jun.

Chen Jun poured himself a bowl, then poured one for Chu Yun.

The wine was not very strong—a whole bowl at once was perfectly fine—but Chu Yun still couldn’t get used to it, as it tasted like diluted rice water.

It was hard to believe that this was the best wine in all of Chu Family Town, and a small jar cost twenty knife coins.

The Chen father and son, however, drank happily, finishing a bowl in a few sips and immediately going for another.