Chapter 199: What Is the Meaning of Coming Here?

Qiao Mai left ten sets of luxury noodles and departed, leaving Shopkeeper Tong both amused and exasperated; just then someone came out of Yajian, heard the conversation, and immediately took interest.

Their mind itched like a cat's scratch, "I said, Shopkeeper, was that noodle really that good?"

Shopkeeper Tong pursed his mouth like eighty‑thousand‑one, "Anyway I think it's tasty, but it's too expensive; I don't recommend you eat it."

"It's only Five Taels of Silver, just a bowl to try, remember to cook it for me as she said."

Shopkeeper Tong's eyes widened; indeed someone is being a dupe.

"Do you really want to eat it?"

"Hurry and cook it, I want to see how a Five Taels of Silver bowl of noodles can be tasty."

Originally on the verge of crying without tears, Shopkeeper Tong quickly smiled, lifted the basket and rushed to the back kitchen; this is Five Taels of Silver, and sometimes a customer orders a whole set of dishes for only Five Taels of Silver.

Whatever happens with Shopkeeper Tong, she can't control it; since she tried to help him, it depends on whether he has that enlightenment.

Back home, looking at several tables pieced together, with that tuna placed on top, she flipped her hand and a dagger began to move.

That day, Qiao Mai was meditating and cultivating in a space, when an old woman outside came to report.

"You?"

She could no longer stay in Tianshui Town; fortunately she had silver in hand, and in a fit of anger she bought a Zhai in Fucheng, took the servant girl and the old woman, along with her dowry, and left without a word.

Otherwise, what is the point of her coming here? What is the point of having a space that defies the heavens?

Qiao Mai every day, apart from cultivation, hardly does anything else.

"You! Fine,"

Liu Hai rudely drove her away, making Lu Ruxin's eyes water as if the whole world owed her.

"Hmm, the taste is not bad, I can still accept it."

"Miss, something wrong?"

"Next time I'll fry it for you, I like it this way, it's not fishy, and dipped in this sauce it's especially delicious."

"For this silver, I have to try it too."

But we can't let the common folk run back and forth anymore; she hasn't experienced a drought, but has heard of it.

Looking at plate after plate of bright red meat, they grinned and pointed with their hands.

No one knows why, but the whole town found out, and now Lu Ruxin became a despised street rat.

They cut it piece by piece, keeping the best part, and threw the rest into the space's refrigeration cabinet to preserve.

One by one they picked up chopsticks and tried a bite; some frowned, some thought it was fine, each palate differed—some could accept it, some could not.

Can't say it was Cao Cao, but once mentioned they arrived, truly on time.

After Lu San‑niang learned of this, she neither went to find Qiao Mai nor comforted her own maiden.

"Honestly, this fish is a deep‑sea fish, not easy to catch; not to mention a hundred, even a thousand or ten thousand would be worth it."

"You always bully those who are good to you; don't come to my shop again, my shop doesn't welcome you, White‑eyed Wolf!"

"You, a Weak Woman, have no one backing you; going out is just a loss."

Qiao Mai smiled, "You try it; if you can accept it, eat it, if not, eat the Kitchen Maid's meal. This is the most classic way to eat this fish, and only this way can you bring out the fish's essence."

Liu Hai was displeased, "I didn't sell my cousin's recipe to you; I gave it to you, don't be ungrateful. Whether I open a branch shop is my business. In County Town there are several cloth shops and restaurants; you imagine it so beautifully. As far as I know, opposite your Liangpi Puzi in County Town there's another one; though not as tasty as yours, its business is good. Why don't you say that to them?"

Today everyone ate two meals, and they all felt they hadn't eaten the evening one.

The crowd sat down, devoured those plates of tuna meat, and only then ate the meal the Kitchen Maid brought.

She came to Jixiang Yuan just to discuss the Liangpi matter with Qiao Mai.

"Out."

The old woman left, and Lu Ruxin was thus kicked out of Jixiang Yuan; she arrived already lacking confidence, and now feels her face is completely ruined.

She, unwilling, returned to Liu Ji, called Liu Hai over; Liu Hai, knowing the relationship between his cousin and this young lady, asked coolly.

"Are you going to open a branch shop for your shop?"

Qiao Mai's eyes opened and closed again, and she replied directly.

She sliced the fish into thin pieces, arranged them on a plate, and then prepared a mustard‑laden sauce.

Qin Yide placed the book in his hand on the table, "Your master is the rarest good person under heaven; anyone who does her a fraction of good, she returns ten times that, never counting losses, and even so, people are still unsatisfied."

"You!"

"When I see my sister I get angry; it's not the master treating her like that. If it were me, I'd have had someone beat her with a stick already. She still has the nerve to look for the master, White‑eyed Wolf."

Having solved the water's lingering worry, a stone in her heart finally settled; she thought that if the water source ran short, she could become a porter again, transporting water from the South.

In the morning a pan was fried, everyone said it was delicious, but they didn't know if they could accept it raw.

Qin Yide dared not speak much about the Lu family's matters, but he also thought that Lu Ruxin's actions were indeed excessive.

Every fire in the South kills many people; the North's droughts cause many to flee famine and also die; she hopes they all live well.

"Master, Miss Lu Ruxin of the Lu family requests an audience."

Honestly this noodle is too tasty; at Shopkeeper Tong's place Qiao Mai supplies ten sets daily, while Liu Hai's place supplies a hundred portions each day.

When it's gone they order something else; the two shops' business, due to limited supply, has become far better than before.

"Since you all hate me, I'll just leave; why do you still come looking for me?"

Then a bold one, like her, pinched a bite.

"Make her leave!"

"I still prefer it fried."

She led by picking up a slice of fish, dipping it in the sauce and eating; the first bite she closed her eyes and made a very tasty motion.

Ruxin finally relaxed, "I hope you don't open, otherwise you'll be competing with me for business, understand?"

"This fish cost me Two Hundred Taels of Silver; that captain was really generous— I said two hundred, they said a hundred was enough."

After a morning of busy work, by this time they should all have arrived.

Ruyi, after hearing it, was furious: "Serves me right, I have no idea how my sister ended up like this, I gave her a prescription for free, and she makes so many demands, it's unbearable—what's with her being the only one who can open it, even my master's relatives aren't allowed to open it, that's just unreasonable, they don't show any gratitude at all."

"What about such an expensive fish?"

"You aren't trying to make us eat raw meat, are you?"

Even if they want more of Qiao Mai, they won't give any; despite the limited quantity, those who want a bite come every day, waiting impatiently.

Lu San‑niang's temperament is also fierce: "Since you insist on this, I hope you don't run into the southern wall."

"Mother, aren't you just relying on the town mayor's money? I can have it too; there's no need to hang dead on your tree."

"Closed, only this one shop!"

It was Liu Hai and Shopkeeper Tong; because they got instant noodles, business suddenly flourished.

When Lu San‑niang discovered it and chased after, she stared at Lu San‑niang full of hatred.

She even went to the Liu Ji Liangpi Shop to try it, and found Liu Ji's cold noodles indeed tastier than her own—could the master be hiding a secret?

Unable to restrain the impulse in her heart, she finally knocked on the door, not expecting the result to be like this.

"Hmph, even if I crash into a coffin, you don't have to worry about me."

The relationship between the two mothers became awkward; each stubbornly turned their heads and left.

Qiao Mai, after hearing it, didn't mind; in the Lu family only Ruyi still often came to see her. Lu San‑niang seemed to have a rift because of Ruxin's matter, or something, and rarely came—from October until now, almost New Year, she hasn't come.

She was happy to have peace and began preparing New Year's gifts for everyone.

(End of chapter)