chapter 4

I think Xiang may have overestimated me.

It’s been a month since I sent the letter, and soon it will be time for Pei Second Son to send the military allowance again, yet there’s still no response.

I can’t help but think, to outsiders I am the Widowed Sister-in-law of the Pei family, but in Pei Second Son’s eyes, I must be an outsider.

After all, the Divorce Letter has already been signed.

Since I am an outsider, why would he ever tell me such an important recipe for tofu pudding?

Pei Xiaotao doesn’t think so. She stands with her hands on her hips, chin raised, leaving me with two little nostrils: “Sister-in-law, you’re wrong. My Second Brother will become a General in the future, and I will be a female official. Our Pei family will have a grand residence in Huajing, with a hundred maids and servants, entering the Son of Heaven’s hall. Who would come back to sell tofu pudding then? So that recipe isn’t important at all!”

Me: …

Just as I was about to give up and try some other business, Pei Second Son’s letter arrived, along with four taels of silver.

I hadn’t expected his handwriting to be so good-strong and vigorous, the brushwork piercing the paper.

Even more surprising, he actually told me the recipe.

The secret to Pei family’s tofu pudding lies first in the Brine Soup, and second in the Three-Oil Blend.

Before Pei Old Father learned to make tofu pudding, he was an oil seller.

Other people’s tofu pudding, before being served, would have a few drops of fragrant sesame oil in the bowl.

But the Pei family’s oil is a secret blend of fragrant sesame oil, chicken oil, and pork oil.

Pei Second Son wrote out the recipe for the Three-Oil Blend for me.

He also told me that the Brine Soup can have chicken giblets added for extra flavor.

My eyes grew hot. He truly trusts me, treating me as his real Sister-in-law.

Ever since I received his letter, everything I did seemed to go especially smoothly.

First, I found a satisfactory Shop at the southern end of Lion Lane, near the corner of Zhou Bridge.

The Shop wasn’t large; it used to be a small tavern, with a front hall and a back courtyard.

The front hall had tables, chairs, and a counter for business; the back courtyard had a well and a stove, everything needed. Besides the Kitchen, the east wing had a room for storing odds and ends.

What made me satisfied was that the Shop had two rooms upstairs.

The stairs were tucked in a corner of the back courtyard. The rooms upstairs were bright, with windows facing Lion Lane, and you could see the bustle near Zhou Bridge.

Before Xiang suggested opening a Shop, I had planned to set up a street stall.

But if there’s a better choice, who would want to travel forty li every day, pushing a cart to the county to set up a stall?

Even if I had some money and could afford to rent a donkey cart, working from dawn to dusk, leaving Grandmother and Xiaotao at home, I’d inevitably neglect them.

Now it’s good-we can all move into the Shop in the county.

Opening this Shop nearly used up all of Xiang’s dowry money.

At first, I was a bit anxious, afraid we’d lose money, but Xiang wasn’t worried at all. She said calmly, “What’s there to fear? My father said the taste is almost the same as before. Pei family’s tofu pudding-who would worry about not selling it?”

She was right. Two years later, we had recouped all our costs.

The Shop only operated in the mornings, because by noon everything was sold out.

There weren’t enough seats inside, so we set up a few tables on the street. Every day, they were always full.

Because of Uncle Zhao, the Yamen’s Constables turned a blind eye to our business spilling onto the street.

When things got too busy, even Xiang had to limp over and help clean up.

Uncle Zhao, worried about his daughter being bullied, would stroll Lion Lane in his Yamen Runner uniform whenever he had time.

Pei Xiaotao helped us with the work, Grandmother would sit at the Shop entrance, trembling in the sun, asking everyone who passed-

“Have you eaten?”

In the second year after the Shop broke even, I found a Private School and sent Pei Xiaotao to study.

In the third year, after daily expenses, I managed to save fifty taels of silver.

No one would believe that a small tofu pudding Shop could make so much money.

In fact, I had written to Second Uncle Pei long ago, telling him not to send money anymore.

Three years passed in a blink, and during these three years, we kept up correspondence.

At first, I told him the Shop was making a profit, and that he needed money for expenses in the army, so he shouldn’t make things hard for himself.

After I sent the letter, he didn’t reply, nor did he send money again.

Pei Second Son is just that kind of person-his aloofness is in his bones.

When I was busy with business, I didn’t have time to think about anything else, until one day a Military Courier from the Post Station hurried past the tofu pudding Shop, saw me, and asked, “Madam Xue, do you want to send any Undergarment Fur, Knee Pads, or Padded Jackets? There’s going to be war over there, it’s very cold. We’re leaving in two days, so if you want to send anything, hurry and bring it.”

Yun’an County belongs to Taozhou Prefecture, and news here isn’t usually delayed. After asking around, I learned that since the New Year, the Northern Barbarian Jin, Tiele, and other nomadic tribes had been constantly provoking and invading.

It used to be just small skirmishes-whenever Great Chu sent troops, they’d scatter without a trace.

But not long ago, they formed an alliance, crossed Jiebei Pass, took Pingcheng Wuci County, and massacred hundreds.

The Son of Heaven was enraged and ordered the army to march.

Those two days, I didn’t rest for a moment. I bought good furs and cloth, and sewed Undergarment Fur overnight.

For marching and fighting, armor must be worn outside, so for ease of movement, the undergarment can’t be too thick, but must be warm.

Pei Second Son is about eight feet tall, with a well-proportioned build. I made an undergarment to fit, with a layer of fur densely stitched into the back and chest.

With the fur inside, worn close to the body, it should be much warmer.

Along with the finished Knee Pads and Padded Jacket, I sent them to the Post Station in time, and finally breathed a sigh of relief.

That battle at the Border Frontier lasted nearly three years.

According to the Military Courier from the Post Station, the Military Camp does distribute Winter Coats, but the sizes aren’t always right, and the cotton inside isn’t thick, so they barely keep out the cold.

Soldiers who can afford it have their families send Undergarment Fur; fur is much warmer than winter clothes, and if you receive one in the Military Camp, it draws a lot of envy.
If nothing else, those with family at home can always afford to send Knee Pads and Padded Jackets.

The Military Courier said that every winter, the most commonly sent items at the Post Station are Knee Pads and Padded Jackets.

I was a bit surprised when I heard this: “Every year?”

“Yes, you don’t know. The Border Frontier is bitterly cold. In winter, the wind cuts like knives, slicing through clothes and skin. That’s why those Hu Barbarians risk everything to invade our territory-every winter is the hardest for them.”

I frowned and said nothing.

Second Uncle Pei joined the army as a youth; it’s been seven years now. Since I came to the Pei family, I’ve never seen Aunt send him any clothing.

Thinking of this, I couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.

The following year, when I had a bit more money, I sewed a better, warmer Undergarment Fur for him, and made an extra set of Knee Pads, lined densely with soft fur.

The third year, I did the same.

When sending clothes, I would usually include a family letter-

“Grandmother is healthy, Xiaotao has started at Private School, the Shop is thriving, all is well at home. Second Uncle, do not worry, we await your safe return.”

“All is well at home, Grandmother’s appetite is good, only Xiaotao is not diligent in her studies. The tofu pudding at the Shop is getting better and better; the neighbors all say it has Pei Eldest Uncle’s skill. Now we also sell Chicken Giblet Soup, fifteen wen a bowl, with noodles that can soak up bread. One bowl in winter is very warming. When Second Uncle returns, you must try it. We await your safe return.”

“All is well at home. I often take Grandmother for walks by the bridge. Only Xiaotao is hard to manage-she skips Private School and even fought with her classmates. When Second Uncle returns, please discipline her well. We await your safe return.”

With the Border Frontier tense, I hadn’t expected to receive a reply from Pei Second Son. Yet, after sending the letter the second year, the Post Station delivered his reply.

The handwriting was indeed his, and the letter contained only one word: “Good.”

The third year, again, just “Good.”

Because of Pei Second Son, I paid close attention to the Border Frontier, often asking Uncle Zhao to inquire at the Yamen for news.

In the third year, the war finally ended. Great Chu won a complete victory; the Hu Barbarians were driven out, and the Imperial Court established a new Tiger-Slaying (Hu) Gate outside Jiebei Pass.

The Emperor was greatly pleased and ordered rewards for the army, granting honors according to merit.

That winter, as usual, I bought the finest fur fabric. The Undergarment Fur I was making for Pei Second Son was not yet finished when news came that soldiers from the Border Frontier were returning to the capital, granted special leave to visit home.

A few days later, Pei Second Son returned.

He did not come alone; he brought about eight or nine soldiers, all in armor and military boots, riding fine warhorses, looking imposing and dignified.

They entered the city through the West Outer Gate, galloped down the county’s main street to Lion Lane, the sound of hooves drawing everyone’s attention and sparking much discussion.

At noon, the sun was warm.

On South Street of Lion Lane, business at the Shop was good. Xiang was serving tofu pudding to customers, and I was busy carrying bowls to the tables.

Just as I was placing two bowls on the table outside by the street, I suddenly heard the sound of approaching hooves.

Peering out, I saw the crowd ahead parting, making way for a line of riders.

The lead horse reared its front legs and slowly stopped. The man sat tall on horseback, bathed in sunlight, clad in Black Armor, the plates gleaming and reflecting light so bright it was hard to look directly.

When I saw him clearly, his sword-like brows were bold and slanted, his black eyes sharp and narrow, lips pressed thin, jaw stern, and his deep brown eyes gazed at me, silent and profound.

Our eyes met, and it took me a moment to recover.

Pei Second Son had changed so much.

Three and a half years ago, when he left, he still had a trace of youthful defiance. Now, his features were colder, and alongside his solemnity, he exuded the aura of a battle-hardened man-sharp and deep.

On top of that, there was the fierce and intimidating presence built up from years of war and killing.

Those icy eyes, so dark, made it hard to meet his gaze, leaving one uneasy.

He dismounted, his eight-foot frame standing tall, Sword at his waist, walking toward me with steady, resonant steps.

Before he could speak, I nervously called out, “Se-Second Uncle.”

“Mm.”

Before, my voice was soft and his was low.

Now, it was the opposite-my voice was so low I worried he might not hear.

But he did, and he answered softly.

It seemed he even laughed quietly.

I wasn’t sure if I heard wrong, so I looked at him in surprise, only to see him actually curve his lips, a faint, fragmented light in his deep eyes.

I was certain now-his “Mm” just now was indeed tinged with a smile.

This made me even more flustered, and I stood there dazed.

“Sister-in-law! This must be our Sister-in-law.”

Only when the men behind him also dismounted, each burly and armored, coming over with joy and courtesy to salute me, did I snap back to my senses and hurriedly return the gesture-

“Gentlemen, no need for such formality, you honor a Common Woman too much.”

“No, no, Sister-in-law, you are the one who need not be so formal. We dare not accept such respect.”

“Sister-in-law deserves it. If not for your letter, we wouldn’t know if we’d have the fortune to come to Taozhou Prefecture and eat this tofu pudding and Chicken Giblet Soup. The General gave his word, and here we are, thick-skinned enough to visit. We hope Sister-in-law doesn’t mind.”

Their words left me puzzled, though I understood they had come to eat tofu pudding and Chicken Giblet Soup, so I quickly turned into the Shop, calling out as I went-

“No more sales, no more sales. Sorry, neighbors, Xue Yu will make it up to you another day. Today my Second Uncle has returned, and he’s brought the fine men of Great Chu who have just fought back from the Border Frontier. Please come again next time; today, there’s no charge.”