That evening, Shu Rui planned to buy a perch to make pickled fish. In the heat, something sour and spicy would be refreshing. He had already purchased pickled vegetables and radish in the morning, saving some for the fish. If he waited until tomorrow, without a pickling vat or properly prepared storage, the radish would become overly sour.
He intended to prepare the fish, using the leftover vegetables from the day, and invited Yang Chunhua and her son to share the meal.
Earlier at noon, Song Xiangxue had run tirelessly, calling classmates, collecting bowls, and helping with the deliveries. With only an orphaned mother and child at home, their mealtime was usually quiet.
Shu Rui handed Lu Ling twenty copper coins to buy a perch from the market while he prepared vegetables and heated rice.
As Lu Ling left, Shu Rui began washing the radishes when he heard footsteps at the door. Expecting Lu Ling’s return, he looked up and saw Dou Zhuang instead.
“Tomorrow afternoon, there will be ships arriving at Bai Lu Dock—two large ships. Make sure they dock at the right place.”
Shu Rui and Dou Zhuang brought over some stools and poured a bowl of tea for him.
Dou Zhuang wasted no time with idle chatter, going straight to the point.
“You’ve prepared meals for the evening batch of customers. I only learned from my colleagues whether ships will dock at the other two wharves.”
Shu Rui thanked him politely. “Much obliged, Officer Dou, for taking the trouble to check on the other two wharves for us.”
Dou Zhuang drank the tea in one gulp, clearly having come straight from the docks on duty.
“It’s nothing, we’re familiar with each other; it’s only right,” he said. His eyes drifted toward the kitchen, where steam rose from the pots and pans. Setting down his tea bowl, he asked, “Where’s Brother Lu? Hasn’t he eaten?”
“He went out to buy vegetables,” Shu Rui replied. “This morning he was at the academy doing some small errands. He’s been busy, so the evening meal preparations are a bit delayed.”
“You and Brother Lu run your business well. What are you making for dinner?”
Dou Zhuang asked, then added, “Tomorrow I’ll be on duty at the central wharf, so I can’t oversee the other wharves. Be careful when you do business over there.”
Shu Rui, hearing this, thought to himself that when they worked at the docks, they always avoided drawing attention to themselves. There was little need for Dou Zhuang to worry about them. He noticed Dou Zhuang’s eyes lingering on the kitchen and realized the officer wasn’t truly concerned about the meals; he just wanted to secure a free portion for himself.
Sure enough, Dou Zhuang stood and said, “It’s getting late. I should head home. My mother went to my aunt’s house today—I wonder if she prepared meals for me.”
Shu Rui could no longer feign ignorance. “No trouble at all. If Officer Dou doesn’t mind taking some of today’s leftover dishes, it’ll save you the hassle.”
Dou Zhuang pretended to be reluctant but smiled nonetheless. “We can’t eat it all anyway. It’s too hot for the leftovers to go to waste.”
With that, Shu Rui packed some of the day’s remaining dishes for him. Dou Zhuang carried the food box, humming a cheerful tune as he left.
“He’s a clever officer, always finding ways to benefit,” Shu Rui remarked.
Later, Yang Chunhua, closing her shop, came by to help with the cooking. She happened to meet Dou Zhuang leaving and exchanged a brief greeting. Overhearing Shu Rui mention Dou Zhuang’s visit, she commented, “You really know how to deal with people.”
Shu Rui replied as he chopped radishes, “His character is one thing, business another. Since he has contacts and gets information, giving him some food isn’t a problem. Whenever he’s on duty at the docks, we’ll still provide him a meal.”
“You always know how to handle matters,” Yang Chunhua said. Then, noticing the workload, she added, “If Brother Lu doesn’t go to transport goods tomorrow, could you manage both sides?”
Shu Rui shook his head. “If he goes to move goods, he can earn two or three hundred coins. Having him stay to help here wouldn’t be worth it. It’s better he goes to the docks.”
“Hmm, in that case, you might as well hire a temporary worker for the day. A girl from town could handle cooking and chores—faster hands and cheaper than a man. Less than a hundred coins for a day’s work. Isn’t that more practical?”
Shu Rui smiled. “Indeed, you’ve been running businesses long enough to know how to calculate.”
Yang Chunhua added, “But now it’s late, and the employment offices in town are closed. If you wait until tomorrow morning, the workers will know you’re in a hurry and will hike their prices.”
“Then go find Zhang the fortune-teller. Don’t be fooled by her mysticism—she has many connections. Ask if she can help find a worker.”
Shu Rui considered this. “Alright. Once dinner is ready tonight, I’ll take a bowl of fish to her and ask.”
Later, Shu Rui cooked the large perch Lu Ling had bought, placing it hot into a ceramic bowl. Yang Chunhua suggested reheating the leftover dishes and sending them along so they could contact Zhang the fortune-teller before dark.
Zhang lived alone in a courtyard, with several adopted children but no surviving spouse. During the day, people often came to buy incense and paper money from her, keeping the place lively, but evenings were quiet.
Returning from a house where she had performed a ritual, Zhang complained about their stinginess and started warming leftover rice. Life was lonely, and she thought perhaps she should hire a young girl to help, not just for work, but for companionship.
Just then, someone knocked. Zhang opened the door to see Shu Rui carrying a food box and invited him inside. Shu Rui explained his request, and Zhang happily agreed.
“I can call on my adopted daughter, Liu Qiao. She lives just across the alley and can help for a day,” Zhang said.
“Perfect. She should come early tomorrow so I can buy fresh ingredients. Payment is as usual,” Shu Rui said.
“Don’t worry. She’s never been sent out for long-term work, only small chores like washing and sewing at home. She’ll be easy to hire.”
Shu Rui asked her to confirm that evening, so he’d have a backup plan in case she couldn’t help, in which case he could still go to the employment office in the morning. Zhang promised.
Shu Rui returned, and Zhang eagerly opened the food box, revealing a bowl of hot pickled fish. The aroma of sour and spicy steam made her mouth water. She tasted a few spoonfuls, enjoying the fresh, tangy, savory flavor, and then ate it with some rice until full. Feeling satisfied, she went to fetch Liu Qiao to assist Shu Rui.
The next morning, Shu Rui and Lu Ling finished breakfast in the courtyard. At the door, a young girl of sixteen or seventeen knocked.
Lu Ling opened the door to find a girl with her hair in a cloud bun, adorned with two pink silk flowers. Looking up, she blushed at his cool, handsome face, her cheeks matching the flowers’ hue.
Lu Ling stepped back and called toward the kitchen, “A-shao?”
Shu Rui, hearing the voice, wiped his hands on his apron and walked over. “Who is it?”
“My name is You Xiang, called Xiang Jie at home. My godmother said the shop needed a day worker yesterday.”
“Ah, Zhang’s adopted daughter. This is the place. Come in quickly.”
Shu Rui turned to Lu Ling in the kitchen. “You heard her yesterday but didn’t call her in?”
Then he welcomed Xiang Jie into the courtyard. It was early; Shu Rui and Lu Ling had been busy since dawn, not even having breakfast. Shu Rui thought how diligent she must be to arrive so early. Noting that she hadn’t eaten, he called her to join them for breakfast.
After eating, Shu Rui and Xiang Jie went to the morning market to buy the day’s vegetables and meat. Lu Ling, usually eager to accompany Shu Rui, stayed home to repair tables and stools.
Shu Rui carried one basket, Xiang Jie the other. Seeing Lu Ling stay behind, Xiang Jie glanced a few times, then asked Shu Rui, “Shopkeeper Shao, Zhang said Brother Lu is your elder? Do you both run the inn? What about your family?”
Shu Rui, moving along, replied, “We’re just getting the business started. Once things are settled, we’ll bring the family over.”
“The location of your inn is good. Once repaired, business will surely prosper,” she said.
Then she asked, “Shao, you’re still young. Have you settled down?”
Shu Rui casually replied, “It’s just a small shop. We don’t have the funds to renovate yet, let alone worry about that.”
“Young people only have so many years. While you’re still in your prime, find a match so a husband can provide. Once the inn is running well, it’s still family property. Don’t put all your energy into the shop—remember your own future as well.”
Shu Rui listened to the young girl and found her amusing, nodding along. “You have a point.”
Xiang Jie lowered her head slightly and added, “Shao Ge’er, you haven’t chosen anyone yet. Your elder brother, being older, might already have his eye on someone.”
Shu Rui raised an eyebrow. Seeing her speak so casually, he immediately realized she had been leading up to this moment all along—she wanted to know about his brother.
“I haven’t seen anyone myself,” he replied honestly, then added meaningfully, “But Xiang Jie, he isn’t my biological brother—we’re cousins. Look at us; we don’t even resemble each other.”
Xiang Jie froze for a moment, her fair, rosy face puzzled.
Shu Rui laughed. “Let’s go to the market and buy vegetables.”
Today, Shu Rui planned to buy two plump chickens, to cut into large pieces and braise in yellow and soy wine for a roasted chicken dish to sell at the wharf and the academy in the evening. He bought extra, so after delivering to the academy, he’d know how much to prepare. Any leftovers could be eaten at home without worry.
For the lunch meat dish at the academy, he intended to make fish, taking advantage of the abundant fresh catch at the Chaoxi Fu. He would also make fish balls, as he had on previous occasions.
For side dishes, Shu Rui picked fresh produce from the market: flat beans, eggplants, bracken, preserved eggs, bean sprouts…
On the way back, both carried full baskets, each with a flapping chicken in hand.
Hearing their return, Lu Ling took Shu Rui’s basket at the doorway and carried it into the kitchen. “There’s jasmine tea ready for you on the stove.”
“When did you make it?”
“When you went out. It should be cool enough to drink now.”
Xiang Jie followed behind with her basket, watching their interaction. She thought: this young man is not only handsome but also considerate. Her mother always said that when finding a partner, looks mattered less than someone dependable, considerate, and hardworking. Otherwise, she’d end up like her second uncle—married to a scholar who was neat in appearance but clueless about daily life. He read books while the children cried, and she and her mother had to bear the hardships.
So Xiang Jie, young as she was, valued both appearance and character. Seeing Shu Rui so capable and considerate, she felt lucky. Even if he claimed to be cousins with Lu Ling, with Shu Rui’s looks, his cousin was unlikely to match him in skill or heart.
“Xiang Jie, why are you standing there daydreaming? Come drink some tea,” Shu Rui said.
He handed the four-to-five-pound chicken to Lu Ling, who set up boiling water to scald the feathers for plucking. Xiang Jie, still entranced, finally ran over, put down her basket, and took a sip of tea while watching Lu Ling work.
Shu Rui grabbed a large ceramic bowl and sprinkled some salt in preparation for collecting the chicken’s blood. Xiang Jie quickly held the bowl for him. “I’ll do it.”
Shu Rui chuckled at her eagerness, cleared his throat, and went to prepare the fish.
Lu Ling, uneasy with the chatter and closeness, frowned and said little. Several times he glanced toward the kitchen, hoping Shu Rui would give her other tasks. But she was persistent, hovering and watching him pluck the chicken.
Suddenly, she let out a shriek. Shu Rui immediately dropped what he was doing. “What’s wrong?!”
Lu Ling, face taut, muttered, “Used too much force.”
Shu Rui looked and saw that in killing the chicken, Lu Ling had accidentally smashed its head. The sight was unsettling.
“Xiang Jie, don’t be scared. He’s just strong, no sense of gentle touch,” Shu Rui reassured her, then called her over to help with washing vegetables. He shot Lu Ling a sharp glance, who turned his head away.
After boiling water and scalding the chicken, Lu Ling carried it up to the roof to pluck it.
“Good heavens, Shao Ge’er, your brother has such strength!” Xiang Jie whispered from below.
“Don’t worry. He won’t hurt anyone if left unprovoked,” Shu Rui replied. “He’s trained in martial arts. He may seem unapproachable, but he won’t strike without cause.”
Recalling the chicken’s head flying off, Xiang Jie shivered. She whispered a warning: “Shao Ge’er, you should be careful with him. Seeing you order him around, I worry he might get angry one day.”
Shu Rui found her both vexing and amusing. After that incident, she settled down.
At noon, Xiang Jie had helped Shu Rui at the academy. She loved calling out to the students and selling the food, and it also gave her a chance to talk to the scholarly young men. After the meal, they collected the list of dinner orders from Yu Qiaosheng. Shu Rui instructed that students should arrive on time. Once finished, he needed to head to the docks.
In the afternoon, Shu Rui and Xiang Jie delivered meals to the academy and then rushed to the docks. Lu Ling had transported two fewer carts of goods and returned early with meals.
Shu Rui had worried about Lu Ling’s temper, but the line at the stall was already orderly. Even if Shu Rui kept a stern face and didn’t chat, the dock workers, seeing the substantial portions, would still buy. Having sold there twice before, the regulars came once they smelled the food. With three of them working together, the service was smooth and fast.
That evening, Shu Rui and Xiang Jie earned eighty coins. Originally, Xiang Jie had planned to stay for dinner, but she asked if she could take some leftover food to the academy to try herself. Knowing she was intimidated by Lu Ling, Shu Rui packed her extra portions. She could eat her fill and share some with her family. Grateful, she thanked him twice and left happily with the food box.
After sending her off, Shu Rui returned to the courtyard. “Tonight, I’ll make a soup with the chicken blood from lunch and stir-fry the giblets and green onions on the side. Sound good?”
Lu Ling emerged from the house, shedding his outer coat, revealing a thin undershirt damp with sweat. He tossed the coat over Shu Rui’s head.
Shu Rui snapped it off. “What’s wrong with you?”
“You’re more annoying,” Lu Ling retorted.
Shu Rui looked at him. “How have I annoyed you?”
“You invited someone undesirable,” Lu Ling grumbled, referring to Xiang Jie. He had ignored Shu Rui all afternoon.
Shu Rui scolded him lightly, “She likes you, yet you complain? Are you unreasonable?”
Lu Ling countered, “You called us brothers. If not for that, this wouldn’t have happened. She came, and she talked too much. You should have warned her.”
Shu Rui sighed. “If I hadn’t said we were brothers, what should I have said?”
The two stared at each other for a moment. Lu Ling finally relented. “Fine. No match, no engagement—my fault for misjudging. Otherwise, it might look like a secret elopement, which would be scandalous.”
Shu Rui blinked in surprise.
“I’ll go wash up. You start cooking; I’ll help once I’m done.”
As he left, Lu Ling added, “Pour some of the ‘Mistaken Water’ later.”