Chapter 9: Eating Hot Pot

"Su Jin, it's getting late. Let me escort you back."

"Alright." Zhong Li Chen closed the door of Qin Xiang Ju and led Su Jin toward the courtyard where she lived. Neither spoke a word along the way until they reached the small courtyard.

"We're here. Su Jin, you go on in. I won't come in."

"Okay." Su Jin turned and entered the courtyard, walking straight to her own room.

"Miss Su Jin, you're back?"

"Yes, I'm exhausted to death." Su Jin stretched her limbs casually.

"Then, would the young miss like to dine now?"

"Mm, let's eat now. I need to bathe after dinner."

"Alright, please wait a moment, Miss. I'll go give the orders."

"Okay, trouble you then." Su Jin pushed open the door, walked inside, and lay on the bed. She raised a hand and sniffed it; a stench of sweat wafted from her body. She hurriedly got off the bed and sat on a chair. Before long, Yu Zhu arrived carrying the meal. Su Jin washed her hands and quickly picked up her bowl and chopsticks to eat.

"Miss Su Jin, you want to bathe, right?"

"Yes." Su Jin replied indistinctly, mouth full of food.

"Then I'll have the kitchen boil some hot water first, then mix in some cold water. Miss Su Jin can bathe once you finish eating."

"Trouble you, Yu Zhu."

"Miss, you're too polite." After Su Jin finished eating, Yu Zhu had already prepared the bath water, even the intimate garments were ready. She truly was a gold-medal maid. Su Jin silently gave Yu Zhu a thumbs up in her heart, secretly vowing that once she got Qin Xiang Ju running and profits were distributed, she would definitely reward Yu Zhu handsomely. But a series of subsequent events plunged Su Jin into a boundless escape.

Su Jin finished her meal, quickly shed her outer clothes, jumped into the wooden tub, washed up fast, then went to bed to rest. Before long, Su Jin fell into a deep sleep.....

Early the next morning, Su Jin rose early. After breakfast, Zhong Li Chen came to pick her up to go to Qin Xiang Ju. In the evening, Zhong Li Chen escorted Su Jin back to the small courtyard again. For half a month, it was like this every day. The renovation and arrangements of Qin Xiang Ju were nearly complete. Painter Chen had finished the menu designs. Old Huang had finished forging the items. The chefs and waiters were all hand-picked by Su Jin. Su Jin had also developed soda, fruit juice, sour plum soup, rock sugar pear soup, and the wine she made tasted quite good. Everything was ready; they just waited for the opening day.

"Su Jin, everything's set now. Just waiting for opening day." Zhong Li Chen said blandly.

"Yeah." Su Jin surveyed the Qin Xiang Ju she had designed, a surge of pride rising unbidden in her heart.

"Now we just wait to hand out flyers a few days before opening."

"Zhong Li Chen, there are still a few days until opening. Since we're free these days, you arrange for the chefs and waiters to take a few days off. Once we open, it'll definitely be incredibly busy. Let them rest well these few days."

"Mm, okay. I'll listen to you."

"Then I'll rest for a few days too, conserve my strength."

"Mm, this past half month, you've been rising early and returning late. You've worked hard." A trace of heartache flashed through Zhong Li Chen's eyes, gone in an instant.

"What are you saying? The food I eat, the things I use, the place I live are all yours. These are things I should do. Besides, we're partners now."

"Young Master, Miss Su Jin, you're back so early today?"

"The shop is all ready, just waiting to open, so we came back early."

"Then are the Young Master and Miss Su Jin dining now?"

"No need. Today the kitchen is off. I'll cook myself."

"Miss Su Jin, *you're* cooking?" Yu Zhu looked at Su Jin in disbelief.

"Yeah, what? Don't believe my cooking skills?" Su Jin pretended to look gloomy.

"No, no!" Yu Zhu hurriedly waved her hands.

"Then Yu Zhu, take me to the kitchen."

"I'll go too." Zhong Li Chen, standing to the side, joined in.

"Young Master, what are you going to the kitchen for?"

"I'm going to help..." Zhong Li Chen's words sent Su Jin and Yu Zhu's imaginations running wild. The result: Zhong Li Chen ran to the kitchen to be a fire stoker.

"...." Yu Zhu watched the Young Master wearing an apron stoking the fire, not knowing what to say. She only felt immense admiration for Su Jin—she had actually educated the previously lofty Young Master into stoking fires. She didn't know if this was a blessing or a curse.

"...." Su Jin watched Zhong Li Chen stoking the fire, the corner of her mouth twitching involuntarily.

*Cough cough.* Zhong Li Chen was smoked until he couldn't open his eyes. Su Jin snatched the firewood from his hand and shoved it into the stove.

"Yu Zhu, quickly bring a basin of clear water!"

"Okay." Yu Zhu hurriedly fetched a basin of water. Su Jin quickly took the basin, set it down, helped the smoke-blinded Zhong Li Chen up, walked to the basin, and put his hands into the water.

"Come, put your hands in, cup the water with both hands, and wash your eyes." Zhong Li Chen cupped a handful of water, washed his eyes, and felt much less discomfort. He blinked hard.

"How is it? Better?"

"Mm, much more comfortable." Zhong Li Chen blinked hard, finding it much better after washing with water.

"Young Master, should we call a physician to take a look?"

"No need. It's fine. It's better after washing with clear water."

"Yu Zhu, you help the Young Master go rest first. I can handle the kitchen alone."

"Okay." After Yu Zhu helped Zhong Li Chen go rest, Su Jin busied herself alone in the kitchen.

"Yu Zhu, go help Su Jin cook. I'm afraid she can't manage alone."

"Yes."

"Who says I can't manage?" Just as Yu Zhu was about to leave, Su Jin's voice drifted in. Yu Zhu and Zhong Li Chen exchanged a glance. Then they saw Su Jin carrying a pot in.

"Su Jin, how did you cook so fast? Huh, isn't this the pot forged by Old Huang? Smells amazing."

"Mm, it's the one Old Huang forged. Today I'm testing the pot. You've definitely never eaten this dish." Su Jin carefully placed the pot on the table. Hearing Su Jin's words, Zhong Li Chen immediately tried to stand up to look, but Su Jin pressed him straight back down.

"You sit still, don't move. Yu Zhu and I will go get the dishes from the kitchen."

"Okay." Yu Zhu spoke and followed Su Jin out. Before long, Su Jin and Yu Zhu each carried a pear-wood food box into the room, taking out dish after dish. In a moment, the dishes filled the entire table. Zhong Li Chen stood up and looked at the dishes on the table.

"This... Su Jin, why are all these dishes raw? How do you eat raw dishes?"

"Wait a moment. I'll show you how to eat in a bit."

"Mm." Zhong Li Chen nodded vigorously in a daze.

"Yu Zhu, trouble you to bring the prepared dipping sauce from the kitchen."

"Okay."

"Su Jin, where are you going?" Seeing Su Jin about to leave, Zhong Li Chen hurriedly asked.

"I'm going to the ice cellar to get the sour plum soup and soda."

"Then I'll go with you."

"Okay, let's go." Su Jin walked to the ice cellar, quickly grabbed the sour plum soup and soda, and left. Because it was too cold, after Su Jin came out of the ice cellar, she felt too hot again. This ancient era had no electric fans or air conditioning. Sigh... but luckily Yu Zhu put ice blocks in her room. Most importantly, Su Jin had a secret weapon: the clothes she took from that man on the shore. They felt icy to the touch. Su Jin hugged them to sleep every night; it was so comfortable.

Su Jin and Zhong Li Chen each carried a bottle of drink. Yu Zhu also brought the dipping sauce.

"Sit down. I'll teach you how to eat." Su Jin beckoned, signaling Yu Zhu to sit and eat too.

"Yu Zhu, you come sit and eat together."

"No, Miss Su Jin. How can a servant sit and eat with the master?" Yu Zhu hurriedly waved her hands upon hearing Su Jin's words.

"Sit down. Let's eat together."

"Yu Zhu, sit down." Zhong Li Chen glanced at Yu Zhu. Seeing the Young Master speak, Yu Zhu had no choice but to sit and eat.

"Come, I'll teach you. Like this." Su Jin picked up a vegetable with chopsticks, blanched it in the pot, then dipped it in the sauce bowl.

"Did you see clearly?"

"Mm, got it." Zhong Li Chen nodded, imitating Su Jin. He picked up a slice of pork belly, blanched it in the pot for a while, picked it up, dipped it in the sauce, and put it in his mouth. The meat was tender, mixed with a hint of spicy chili sauce fragrance, sliding down his throat. Then a sip of ice-cold sour plum soup stimulated Zhong Li Chen's taste buds. He shouted in delight.

"Really delicious."

"Tasty, right? When Zui Xian Lou is officially running, come winter we'll open another shop like this. It'll definitely be a hit." Su Jin spoke indistinctly with food in her mouth.

"Opening a shop like this in winter probably won't work." Zhong Li Chen frowned.

"Why not?"

"Because in winter you can only eat Chinese cabbage, radishes, and potatoes. There are no other vegetables." Hearing Zhong Li Chen's words, Su Jin realized ancient times had no greenhouse vegetables, no heated greenhouses, at most only cellars. Thinking of this, Su Jin's brows furrowed too.

"Is that so? This problem needs a solution." Su Jin propped her chin on her chopsticks, staring at the pot, lost in thought.

"Su Jin, stop thinking for a bit..."

"Su Jin?"

"Miss Su Jin?"

"You guys eat first, ignore me. Let me think. I'm so close, I almost have it. Shh, quiet." Seeing Su Jin's state, Zhong Li Chen and Yu Zhu immediately fell silent. The surroundings were so quiet only the sound of the hot pot broth rolling could be heard. Su Jin thought hard but found the more she thought, the less she could remember. Just as she was about to give up, the two words "Glass" popped out from the depths of Su Jin's mind.

"That's right, glass. With glass, this is easy." Su Jin suddenly remembered she used to like staying home reading transmigration novels. One novel wrote about the female lead transmigrating to ancient times and making glass. Su Jin had specifically looked up the glass-making method back then. She never expected it would come in handy now.

"Glass?" Hearing Su Jin's words, Yu Zhu and Zhong Li Chen were instantly puzzled. What on earth was glass?

"You must be very confused. Glass is a transparent thing...." Su Jin explained to Zhong Li Chen and Yu Zhu for half a day. The more they listened, the more bewildered they became. Seeing their confused looks, Su Jin could only wave her hand.

"Let's eat first. No more talk. When it's developed later, you'll know."

"Oh." Zhong Li Chen nodded thoughtfully.

"Come... come... come. Hurry up and eat." Su Jin stood up, serving dishes to Yu Zhu and Zhong Li Chen, placing them in their bowls.

"Su Jin, come, you eat more too." Zhong Li Chen also stood up, serving Su Jin.

"Mm hm." Su Jin agreed indistinctly, mouth full. Seeing Zhong Li Chen serve her, Su Jin hurriedly stood up to take the dish from him.

"So full." Su Jin sat casually on the chair, rubbing her belly. The action looked exactly like a heavily pregnant woman rubbing her belly. Zhong Li Chen had just picked up the sour plum soup to take a sip. Seeing Su Jin's posture, he sprayed it out.

*Pfft, haha... haha... haha.*

Yu Zhu, seeing Su Jin's action, couldn't help covering her mouth and laughing softly. Su Jin looked at Yu Zhu and the laughing Zhong Li Chen in utter bewilderment, completely unaware that a casual action of hers could provoke such laughter.

"Zhong Li Chen, what are you laughing at?"

"Haha... haha, Yu Zhu, you tell Su Jin." Zhong Li Chen pointed at Yu Zhu, signaling her to explain. Su Jin followed his gesture and looked at Yu Zhu.

"Yu Zhu, what are you laughing at?"

"Miss Su Jin, your action just now looked exactly like a heavily pregnant woman rubbing her pregnant belly." Yu Zhu hurriedly explained. Hearing Yu Zhu's words, Zhong Li Chen couldn't help laughing loudly again.

"Hahahahahaha." Hearing Zhong Li Chen's laughter, the corner of Su Jin's mouth twitched. I just rubbed my belly... is it that funny?

"Zhong Li Chen, you laugh slowly. I'm done eating. I'm going back to my room." Su Jin finished speaking, lifted her foot, walked out the door, and headed toward her own house.

"Hey... hey... haha... Su Jin... I stopped laughing.... haha." Zhong Li Chen wanted to stop laughing, but found that as long as he saw Su Jin, he remembered her action just now. He simply couldn't stop.

"......" Hearing Zhong Li Chen's voice, the corner of Su Jin's mouth twitched again, then she stepped toward her room.

"Hey... Su Jin... hahaha."

"Young Master, are you alright?" Yu Zhu looked at Zhong Li Chen laughing uncontrollably and asked worriedly.

"I'm fine, I'm fine. You go prepare the carriage. I'm going back to the manor." Zhong Li Chen waved his hand.

"Young Master, you just made Miss Su Jin angry and leave. Aren't you going to stay?"

"No need. Su Jin isn't that petty. It's late now. If a man goes to a young lady's room, it would be bad for Su Jin's reputation if word got out."

"Okay, then Yu Zhu will go prepare the carriage for the Young Master."

"Mm, go on."