My Villainess Is Definitely Not a Black Lotus - Chapter 22
On the eighteenth day of the winter month, a day of divine amnesty, the sky was clear and bright, free from all taboos, making it an auspicious day to open a business.
At dawn, the crisp crackle of firecrackers echoed through the street.
With agricultural work at a standstill during winter, people flocked to the bustling scene.
Ji Xiaoyu stood on tiptoe, carefully lifting the red cloth draped over the doorframe. The four gilded characters of Fu Ji Food Stall shimmered brilliantly in the morning sun.
Fu Jianxu had set up a large iron pot in front of the stall, its steaming bone broth bubbling vigorously. White mist, infused with the pungent aroma of Sichuan peppercorns and ginger slices, drifted through the air. With her sleeves rolled up and long wooden chopsticks in hand, she swirled tender spinach and crisp radishes in the crimson broth, quickly scooping them out and portioning them into small, rustic porcelain bowls.
A cedar price list stood nearby, its characters clearly written in charcoal
All-Vegetarian Mala Tang 6 cash
Mixed Meat and Vegetarian Mala Tang 8 cash
Signature Pork Offal Mala Tang 12 cash
Several women carrying baskets gathered closer to inspect the sign. One of them sniffed the air and exclaimed in surprise, My goodness, the aroma is so pungent—both numbing and fragrant!
Indeed! Boss Chen mentioned this recipe came from Shu Land. It’s quite the novelty! another woman chimed in, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
Hey, Old Li, you can read—what does the sign say?
The man called Old Li loudly read out the price list.
What are they selling? Pork offal? Can you even eat that? A burly man questioned gruffly upon hearing the offerings.
We’re here to make a living, so we wouldn’t sell anything unappetizing! Ji Xiaoyu set aside the red cloth and called out with a smile, Grand opening! The first twenty customers get a free taste! Complimentary side dish included!
Before she could finish, the crowd stirred. Hearing about the free offer, the onlookers surged toward the shop, eager to claim their share of the bargain.
Before long, the small shop was packed with customers. New arrivals, drawn by the bustling crowd, the mouthwatering aroma, and the reasonable prices, eagerly joined the queue to try the food.
Boss, how is this pork heart so tender? And not a hint of gaminess! An elderly woman picked up a paper-thin slice of pork heart, dipped it in chili sauce, and popped it into her mouth. Her eyes widened instantly. Aiyo! It’s both numbing and incredibly fresh!
This broth is absolutely divine! Another young woman cradled her bowl, blowing on the steaming liquid before taking a small sip. On such a cold day, it warms you right to the core!
Fu Jianxu and her two companions were working tirelessly, their feet barely touching the ground. Seeing they were overwhelmed, Chen Zhen rolled up her sleeves and joined in, carrying bowls and wiping tables.
They had prepared two hundred portions of ingredients for the day, but by early afternoon, everything was completely sold out.
Some customers who had been waiting in line, their stomachs growling from the tantalizing aroma, grumbled in disappointment at missing out.
Wiping her sweat-drenched face, Ji Xiaoyu bowed apologetically to the remaining customers. We’re so sorry, but we’ve sold out of ingredients for today. Please come early tomorrow!
Closing the door, Fu Jianxu finally let out a long sigh, gently lowering herself into a seat while rubbing her aching back. After working tirelessly all day, she felt like a mindless vegetable-scooping machine, her arms so sore she could barely lift them.
Fu Zhixiao and Ji Xiaoyu were no better off. One massaged his stiff wrist, while the other clutched a teapot, gulping down water.
Exhausted as they were, their minds remained fixed on business. Ji Xiaoyu couldn’t resist the urge to check the day’s earnings. She soon retrieved the copper coins from the ceramic jar at the counter and began counting them one by one.
The Mixed Meat and Vegetarian Mala Tang sold the best, Fu Zhixiao observed. Looks like everyone still craves meat. Adding just two cash for extra meat? Who could resist?
Ji Xiaoyu nodded absently as she counted.
By the time she finished, Ji Xiaoyu’s eyes lit up—they had earned over two taels of silver on their first day! After deducting expenses, their net profit exceeded one tael!
Unable to contain her excitement, Ji Xiaoyu beckoned the others over, whispering, Guess how much we made today? Over two taels of silver!
Two taels?! Fu Zhixiao gasped, realizing she would have to catch fifty rabbits to earn that much.
Fu Jianxu felt her exhaustion vanish instantly. Her back no longer ached, her hands no longer stung. She wanted to leap up and cook hundreds more bowls immediately. Her eyes sparkled, and her lips curled into an uncontrollable smile.
Just scooping vegetables? she thought. Scoop away! Scoop those vegetables!
Ji Xiaoyu counted on her fingers, calculating aloud, At this rate, each of us could earn over three hundred cash a day. In a month… She trailed off, stunned by the figure.
Still, we’re too busy today, she added. We might need to hire a helper.
Let’s not get ahead of ourselves, Fu Zhixiao cautioned, ever the steady one. Though his face beamed with joy, he maintained his composure, reviewing the day’s earnings. Today was our grand opening, and everyone wanted to try something new. Our future success depends on repeat customers.
After a moment’s thought, he continued, I’ve noticed our dishes are quite rich and flavorful. If we could pair them with some staple foods…
Fu Jianxu nodded in agreement but added with concern, If we add staple foods, I won’t be able to handle it alone. We’ll need to hire a noodle chef.
Ji Xiaoyu’s eyes twinkled as she smiled knowingly. Why look elsewhere? We have one right here!
Chen Zhen froze, her fingers unconsciously tightening around the corner of her apron. You’re asking me to be the noodle chef?
Ji Xiaoyu smiled warmly, her eyes sincere. Sister Zhenzhen’s noodle dishes are so delicious! Everyone rushes to buy them. This job is perfect for you.
Chen Zhen lowered her gaze, her heart churning with conflicting emotions.
A monthly salary of two taels of silver was tempting. It would allow her to buy Siwen new clothes and save some for herself. But then she remembered her daughter, barely ten years old. Preparing breakfast was already a struggle. If she took on another job, she’d be stuck in the kitchen all day…
She glanced instinctively toward the inner room, faintly hearing the rustle of Siwen turning pages.
Whatever she was thinking, Chen Zhen finally lifted her head. In that case, I accept.
After cleaning up the shop, Fu Jianxu and her two companions were so exhausted they could barely straighten their backs. Chen Zhen, seeing their weary state, couldn’t help but chuckle. You poor dears must be worn out. Let me make you a bowl of noodles to fill your bellies before you leave.
The trio hastily declined, but Chen Zhen stopped them. You called me ‘Sister,’ so why are you being so polite? Besides, Siwen and I need to eat too. It’s just a few extra noodles.
Seeing they couldn’t refuse and their stomachs were indeed growling, the three reluctantly agreed.
By the time they returned home, dusk had already fallen. Fu Jianxu quickly washed up and practically collapsed onto her bed.
In her drowsy state, she heard Ji Xiaoyu’s return. The young girl was carrying an oil lamp and fumbling for something in her chest.
Fu Jianxu squinted through her sleepy eyes and vaguely saw Xiaoyu clutching her chest. She jolted upright. What’s wrong? Did the cold wind today make your stomach hurt again?
Ji Xiaoyu turned at the sound of her voice, her face blank with confusion.
It was then that Fu Jianxu noticed she was carrying today’s ledger tucked in her arms.
Fu Jianxu ……
Fu Chunhao handed a steaming bowl of meat broth to Fu Zhixiao, fussing with motherly concern, I told you to let me help! How could you three children manage all this alone?
Mother, we’re handling it just fine, Fu Zhixiao replied, warming his hands around the bowl. It’s only so busy today because it’s our first day. Things will settle down soon.
His mother’s lame leg always ached on rainy days, and the round trip to town took four hours. With the weather so cold, how could he bear to let her make such a tiring journey?
Seeing her son’s complexion improve after finishing the broth, Fu Chunhao finally relaxed a little. She then asked, Is Dazhuang settled in?
Fu Zhixiao’s expression darkened at the mention of the man. He nodded curtly. He’s working as an accountant at the Brocade Embroidery Cloth Shop on East Street. Room and board included.
She finally managed to shake off the trouble before opening the shop, and now she regretted her moment of kindness in bringing that man home.
Fu Chunhao sighed. I thought, given your situation… bringing a man home to marry into the family wouldn’t be a bad choice. Who knew that Dazhuang, despite his handsome looks, would turn out to be such a lazy, good-for-nothing?
She patted her daughter’s hand with sympathy. Xiaoxiao, you must never settle for a man like that. Remember that?
Fu Zhixiao nodded, wiping her face, but inwardly she thought Aren’t there plenty of lazy men in the village already? They’re all slovenly and reek from a distance.
But if it were someone like Miss Xie… even if she were a bit lazy, I’d be willing to take care of her.
The moment this thought crossed her mind, she shook her head. How could someone like me even dream of someone as precious as Miss Xie? Besides…
I’m not even a real man.
On the nineteenth day of the winter month, at the first quarter of the Si hour, the wooden door of Fu Ji Food Stall creaked open at the corner of East Street, allowing the warm winter sun to slant into the shop.
A wok sizzled on the stove, its rich aroma instantly escaping to entice the long-waiting customers, who craned their necks eagerly.
Shopkeeper, if you make this old woman come for nothing again today, I’ll just stay here and never leave! A woman in an apron chuckled, rubbing her stomach.
Ji Xiaoyu, behind the counter counting ingredients, tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear. Auntie, don’t worry. We’ve prepared plenty of ingredients today. You’ll definitely get a taste of the fresh batch.
With that, she lowered her head, pen in hand, and meticulously wrote strokes on the paper.
This was a specially designed pictorial ledger created by Fu Jianxu. The paper was divided into neat squares, each row and column marked with simple symbols triangles for meat, circles for vegetables, and crosses for spices. For every bowl sold, a diagonal line was drawn in the corresponding ingredient’s square. Five diagonal lines formed a æ£ character shape, making it both easy to track and clear to read.
One sheet was used for tracking inventory, and another for sales. Comparing the two sheets made it incredibly convenient. Even Ji Xiaoyu, who couldn’t read, could easily grasp the stall’s accounts at a glance.
The food stall quickly buzzed with activity. The crisp clatter of wooden ladles against ceramic bowls rose and fell in a rhythmic chorus, while steaming heat and laughter drifted out the door.
Have you heard? Full Moon Pavilion has a new dessert called ‘Jade Terrace Jade Cream’! Sounds fancy! a customer said, chewing on his chopsticks.
Hah! That’s way beyond our means, his neighbor waved dismissively. I heard a tiny plate costs one tael of silver. How many bowls of spicy hotpot could you buy with that?
Exactly! For us common folk, spicy hotpot is the real deal! Hahaha! Boss, two more taels of noodles!
The chatter of diners mingled with the smoky aroma from the kitchen, creating a lively atmosphere that felt particularly warm on this winter day.
Meanwhile, two streets away on the second floor of Full Moon Pavilion, the accounting room was eerily silent. The only sound was the soft clinking of abacus beads, one by one, crisp and sparse.
Master… Zhuye hesitated outside the door, holding a tea tray. After a long moment, she finally knocked lightly on the doorframe.
Xie Yinwan, who was reviewing the ledger with a vermilion brush, paused slightly at the sound. Since when did you learn to stammer?
Zhuye gently placed the teacup on the desk. That person has secured an accounting position at the Brocade Embroidery Cloth Shop on East Street.
Keep a close watch. Ensure nothing goes wrong before the Eldest Princess sends her reply, Xie Yinwan said calmly, her brush never faltering.
Zhuye stood with her hands at her sides for a moment, showing no sign of leaving.
Xie Yinwan set down her brush, raising an eyebrow. Is there something else?
The family who took her in… they set up a food stall west of town yesterday. Seeing her master’s frown, Zhuye quickly added, Business is booming. They’re selling a new dish called Mala Tang…