As a major strategic town bordering the imperial capital to the west and leading to Huzhou to the east, Lingzhou boasts towering city gate towers that exude an air of imposing grandeur.
The city gates stand wide open, with a constant stream of carriages, horses, and pedestrians passing through. The soldiers guarding the gates carry out meticulous inspections of the travel documents and cargo of passing merchants, and the sounds of their urging shouts, loud calls, and rolling carriage wheels rise and fall together, forming the bustling cacophony of a thriving city.
The merchant caravan does not head straight into the city. Instead, it follows the road along the city wall with practiced ease, circling around to the southeast of the city. Over in that area, masts stand as thick as a forest at the canal wharf, with countless boats coming and going in an endless stream, and beyond that stretches the spacious warehouse district.
The Jincheng Trading Company has permanent storage warehouses and a courtyard here. As soon as the convoy arrives, everyone gets busy, moving about skillfully to attend to their tasks — unhitching the draft animals, unloading cargo, checking the manifests, each person following their own well-established routine.
Over at the kitchen area, Lin Wu straightens out her clothes and walks toward a small room that has been temporarily tidied up not far away. A long queue has formed outside the room, as the porters and fellow employees go in one by one, collect their pay, and then come out. Only one person is allowed inside at a time, and the moment the door curtain falls, the voices from within become too low to be heard clearly.
When it is Lin Wu's turn, she gently lifts the door curtain and steps inside. The room is simply furnished, with only a table and a chair. The accountant and an assistant are seated behind the desk.
"Lin Wu, the temporary cook who came along with the caravan from Wucang County," she states her name.
The accountant finds her name in the register, dips his brush in ink and makes a mark, saying as he does so, "Total comes to 960 wen."
Lin Wu freezes in surprise when she hears that number. She looks up at him hurriedly and says, "Uncle, that number seems too high. I get 60 wen a day, and counting all the days I've worked, it's only been eight days, so it should be..."
The accountant does not let her finish and explains to her gently, "It's correct. The manager gave specific instructions that Mrs. Lin not only prepared meals for the entire crew on this trip, but also took extra care to cater to Master Qin's personal diet, putting in extra thought and effort. You deserve this extra share of pay. It's the master's order, so you can rest assured and take it."
Lin Wu understands clearly in her heart, and immediately bows to express her gratitude.
After collecting her pay, she returns to the cargo carriage and starts packing her belongings. Along the way, with the protection and support of the Jincheng Trading Company, the few personal items she brought barely got used at all, so she can keep them for the next leg of her journey.
But as of now, she has no idea what that next leg will look like, where she will be going, or who she will be traveling with. The moment she thinks of that, the little sense of stability she felt upon arriving in Lingzhou fades away.
Though her final destination is Huzhou, the journey from Lingzhou to Huzhou is blocked by mountains and rivers, stretching nearly two thousand li. Traveling over land then switching to water routes, and switching back to land again, the whole trip would take almost two months.
Even the seven or eight-day journey from Wucang County to Lingzhou was plagued by a string of mishaps. It was only thanks to the care from Manager Zhang and Xiao Zhao that no real disaster struck. If she were to follow another caravan of unknown background for two whole months, there would be countless unforeseen variables, just thinking about it sends a chill down one's spine.
Don't rush it, Lin Wu reminds herself quietly in her mind.
So to be safe, she should proceed one section at a time. But she still needs to find out information about where the next stop will be, and carefully look for a reliable caravan to join.
A trustworthy caravan like the Jincheng Trading Company is the kind that can be encountered but not deliberately sought out. From now on, she will have to tread very carefully, and cannot be as hasty as she was back in Wucang County, setting off on a journey without proper planning.
What's more, if she cannot find a job like working as a cook to offset the travel costs, the fee to tag along with a caravan alone will likely be a considerable expense.
The most critical thing of all is that the lack of an official travel document is still a sharp blade hanging over her head. Once it falls, the consequences will be fatal. This identity issue has to be resolved eventually, otherwise she will not be able to settle down even when she reaches Huzhou.
The travel route needs to be planned, the caravan needs to be carefully selected, the risks need to be weighed, and the money also needs to be saved. Thinking it all through like this, it seems she will have to stay in Lingzhou for a longer period of time.
Lin Wu tidied up her things while her mind raced, full of careful plans.
Right beside her, Lin Jing followed quietly, earnestly packing his few belongings. He tucked his little wooden bowl and spoon carefully into his small cloth bundle, pulled the drawstring tight, then copied Lin Wu by slinging the bundle over his back, with a small drawstring pouch for odds and ends slung diagonally at his waist.
Once he was all packed, he stood up straight and proper, tilted his little face up to look at Lin Wu, his whole expression brimming with "I'm all ready too."
Lin Wu looked at his sweet, well-behaved little face and smiled as she patted his head.
Li Sanniang had also finished packing, and was standing there with her bundle on her arm waiting for her. Seeing that Lin Wu was done, she stepped forward two paces, her eyes full of reluctance. "Mrs. Lin, after all this time traveling together, I really hate to see you go. What are your plans next? If you have time, you must come visit me. My eldest sister's home is the third house on Huailiu Street in the south of the city, the one with the old pagoda tree out front. Send me a message once you've settled somewhere, or I'll find time to come look for you to chat."
Lin Wu held Lin Jing's hand and replied gently, "Thank you, Sanniang, that would be lovely. I'm completely new to Lingzhou, I don't know my way around at all, and I was just wishing I had someone I could talk to. It's just..."
She paused for a moment, then sighed. "I came to Lingzhou this time because I heard my elder brother, who left to do business years ago, settled down here. I came specifically to look for him, but we lost contact ages ago. The world is so big, I'll have to search for him slowly, I'm afraid I won't have a stable place to stay for quite a while."
Just as they were talking, Manager Zhang walked over with Xiao Zhao.
Manager Zhang looked a little more relaxed than usual, and nodded at the two women. "Thank you both for all your hard work on this trip. The master was very satisfied with the meals you prepared. If Jincheng Trading Company needs more staff in the future, we hope you two will consider us first."
"Manager, you're far too kind. It's all thanks to your care along the way that our trip went so smoothly," Lin Wu and Li Sanniang thanked him in unison.
"Sister Lin, you just said you're looking for your elder brother? What's his name? What line of work is he in in Lingzhou?" Xiao Zhao, who was standing nearby, asked warmly. "Our caravan travels around this area all year round. I can't say I know every single merchant in Lingzhou, big or small, but I've seen most of their faces. Maybe I can help you ask around."
"That's right, the manager and Xiao Zhao have seen so much and know so many people, it's way better than you wandering around lost trying to find him on your own," Li Sanniang added with a nod.
Lin Wu's face lit up with joy, and she said gratefully, "Thank you so much for the kind offer, Brother Zhao! My elder brother's name is Lin Gui. He left home very early, and we haven't been in touch for so long. I only vaguely remember he ran a small business selling goods from the north and south, I have no idea where exactly he works. Oh, Lingzhou is such a big city, I guess I'll just have to find a temporary place to stay first, then ask around slowly."
She had thought up this name several days earlier. There were already quite a few fellows and guards in the caravan whose names had "Gui" or "Fu" in them, and if you called out "A-Gui," several people would turn their heads.
Xiao Zhao scratched his head when he heard that. "Lin Gui... that's a really common name. But Sister Lin, don't worry too much. Now that you're in Lingzhou, you'll definitely find some clues. You get settled in the city first. We have to stay here for a while to count and hand over the cargo from this trip, we're staying at the warehouse not far ahead. If you need anything, just come find us there. We know this whole area well, and we'll keep an eye out for you too!"
As he spoke, he pointed specifically in the direction of the warehouse, which was only a short distance away from the Shen family mansion.
"I cannot thank the steward and Brother Zhao enough!" Lin Wu bowed deeply once more.
Lin Jing, who had been standing quietly by her leg the whole time, followed her lead. He curled his small fist into a proper fist salute, bowed in a neat, earnest gesture, his little face wearing a solemn, serious expression.
After saying their goodbyes one by one to Li Sanniang, the several kitchen helpers, and the familiar shop assistants, Lin Wu took Lin Jing by the hand, slung her pack over her shoulder, and turned to step into the bustling crowds coming and going just outside Lingzhou City.
Following the detailed introduction of Lingzhou City that Xiao Zhao and the kitchen helpers had shared along the way, Lin Wu quickly found the market street lined with inns near the wharf.
She compared several of them carefully, and finally picked a modest inn with a clean storefront. Lingzhou City was far more prosperous than Wucang County, with a constant stream of traveling merchant caravans passing through. The conditions at this inn were naturally much better as well; it was still simple, but its doors and windows looked sturdy and secure.
Lin Wu took out the kitchen maid contract she had signed with the Jincheng Trading House earlier. It was a thin sheet of paper, with neat, clear characters, and the large words "Jincheng Trading House" were prominently printed at the very top. Even though there was no official government certification for it, relying on the reputation of the Jincheng Trading House, she did not need to waste extra words with the innkeeper, and the two of them quickly finished the check-in procedures.
After days of nonstop traveling and mental exhaustion, they could finally settle down for the time being. Both of them were completely worn out.
Even though the entire journey with the Jincheng Trading House had their food and lodging arranged, so it could not be considered a period of great hardship, being surrounded by unfamiliar people meant that every word and action had to be watched over constantly, their nerves kept taut the whole time. There had also been several unexpected incidents along the way, draining both their physical strength and their energy.
Now that the door was closed, there were only the two of them in this humble guest room. This place was already far from the capital, and the sounds of the unfamiliar Lingzhou street drifted in through the window. Instead, a sense of safety crept over them, and their nerves, which had been tense for so long, could finally relax a little.
After a simple late-afternoon meal, she asked the waiter for a large bucket of hot water, washed and cleaned themselves thoroughly, and then the two of them turned in to rest.
The Shen Residence.
Unlike the noisy, bustling wharf, the area around the Shen family's mansion was much quieter.
Fang Qian and Qin Xiaoshan arrived at the front gate of the Shen Residence together, moving along the path with easy familiarity.
The gate attendant spotted the Fang family's carriage from far away, and hurried down the steps with a smile on his face. He greeted them respectfully, and quickly and efficiently ushered the two of them inside.
After passing through a moon gate, before they even caught sight of anyone, a full-bodied, hearty laugh echoed from the courtyard: "I was wondering why the magpies on the eave outside my window kept chirping nonstop this morning. It turns out that honored guests are arriving!"
Right as the laughter faded, a burly, robust old man strode out to welcome them. It was none other than Shen Zhongming. His face was ruddy and glowing, and his steps were crisp and nimble.
"Old Qin!" Shen Zhongming gave Qin Xiaoshan a light, friendly punch on the shoulder, his gesture warm and familiar. "This trip must have been tiring for you, truly!"
He then looked the other man up and down, and furrowed his brows: "You look like you've lost a bit of weight. Was the journey so tough that you had no appetite? That body of yours can't take that kind of strain, you know."
Qin Xiaoshan swayed slightly from the punch, but a smile spread across his face. He curled his hands into fists and gave a proper, formal bow: "Brother Zhongming, your eyes are still as sharp as ever. It's been so long since we met, and your bearing is even more impressive than before. This trip of mine was just coming from the capital suburbs, the roads were flat and smooth, so it was nothing at all. It's you, brother, who traveled all the way here from Huzhou, that's the real long, arduous journey by boat and carriage—you're the one who's been through all the hardship."
"Alright, alright, cut out all that empty formal stuff with me!" Shen Zhongming waved a hand, cutting off his words with a playful, amused scold, then turned his gaze to Fang Qian at his side. "Young Qian, you've worked hard too! Great, it's so good that you're both here! Come on in, the tea's all ready and waiting for you!"
"Thanks to Uncle's good fortune, the entire journey went smoothly. I ate well and slept soundly, so it was hardly tiring at all," Fang Qian replied with a smile.
"Oh?" A clear, crisp voice came from under the corridor.
Fang Qian turned his head and saw Shen Guanting stepping out slowly from behind a corridor pillar. He had an upright, tall figure, dressed in a plain azure silk straight robe. At first glance, he looked like nothing more than a refined, well-bred young man from an aristocratic family, but as he walked closer, his distinct bearing became apparent. He stood even taller than he had appeared from a distance, his strides steady and unhurried, completely free of the frail air common to ordinary scholars.
A faint, lingering smile played on Shen Guanting's face as he picked up the conversation, "But I heard that you lost two of your kitchen maids in Wucang County, and had to endure harsh winds and meager meals all the way, short-changing your own appetite terribly?"
Fang Qian's smile deepened at the words. "What you've heard isn't entirely true. While it's a fact that those two kitchen maids couldn't make the trip for some reason, this journey led me by a lucky chance to a temporary cook with exceptional skills. When it comes to taking good care of my stomach, things turned out even more comfortably than I had expected. It's just as the saying goes: when you lose something on the east side, you gain something on the west side."
He then sized up the young man before him. "Guanting, you are as handsome and distinguished as ever. I'd say you've grown even taller and more poised than you were last year. With such bearing, I can't imagine how many young ladies in Lingzhou will be stealing glances your way."
"Surely this must be Guanting, he is truly a man of outstanding elegance and bearing," Qin Xiaoshan's eyes showed obvious admiration. "I've heard Nephew Fang sing his praises so many times before, that I once worried his words were over-exaggerated. Today I finally see that hearing a hundred times cannot compare to seeing once for myself."
"Guanting greets you, Master Qin," Shen Guanting bowed to Qin Xiaoshan, his voice bright and clear. "You must have had a tough journey traveling by boat and carriage all the way. My grandfather often talks about your past exploits at home, and has been looking forward to seeing you. These days, when he's got nothing to do, he's practically worn through the stools at the tea stall sitting there waiting for you. Now that you've finally arrived, he'll surely get to chat with his old friend to his heart's content."
"Listen to him, just listen!" Shen Zhongming pointed at his eldest grandson and laughed to the other two men. "This boy is perfect in every other way, but he just has that sharp tongue of his, always taking sly, veiled jabs at people."
"Grandfather, you are too harsh on me," Shen Guanting's tone was so modest and deferential that there was nothing to fault. "Grandson only wanted to add a bit of liveliness to your happy reunion with your old friend. It seems I was being clumsy, and still haven't mastered the skill of figuring out what you really want."
Shen Zhongming was so amused by him he could not even get properly angry. "You always have a clever answer no matter what! That glib tongue of yours is so good at making snide remarks, but don't go complaining that the food in Lingzhou is too salty and spicy. If you end up feeling the burn or the salt on your tongue, you can just lick your own lips to get rid of the taste, won't you?"
The few of them laughed and chatted as they walked slowly toward the main hall.
"Uncle, you and Guanting share such a warm, close bond, full of the joy of family affection in every exchange. It's truly enviable," Fang Qian said gently with a smile.
Qin Xiaoshan smiled and picked up the thread of the conversation. "The flavors in the south and the north are indeed very different. Just a couple of days ago, Nephew Fang mentioned that he was worried Guanting, new to the northern lands, might not get used to the heavy, salty flavors of the food here."
"He's just never had to go through any hardship, spoiled so much that he's become picky with his food," Shen Zhongming shook his head.
Shen Guanting lifted his eyes slightly, his tone calm and mild. "Grandfather, it's not me who has been wandering all over the streets and lanes every day looking for food that tastes like our hometown's."
"There you go again!" Shen Zhongming was left speechless by his grandson's retort.
Qin Xiaoshan burst into laughter on hearing this. "It just goes to show that the saying 'the people regard food as their heaven' is absolutely true. Traveling is already tiring enough, the last thing you want to do is treat your stomach badly. If it weren't for the warm, comforting congee we had along the way, I'm afraid I wouldn't have had the energy to meet Brother Zhongming today."
Fang Qian also nodded in agreement. "Uncle Qin speaks most rightly."
"Speaking of which, we all have Nephew Fang to thank for this," Qin Xiaoshan shook his head again. "It's just a pity that such a skilled cook slipped through the fingers of my warehouse, and I failed to recruit her."
"Oh?" Shen Zhongming perked up at their exchange. "What's this? There's someone even Old Qin can't get on his side? That's a real surprise."
"She must be confident in her outstanding craftsmanship," Qin Xiaoshan said.
Fang Qian picked up the thread. "That cook was only hired to help out temporarily, but she's incredibly clever and deft, especially skilled when it comes to making pasta. The food she prepares tastes mild, fresh, and perfectly palatable. I thought it would suit both your and Guanting's tastes perfectly, Uncle."
"Alright, alright, I finally get what you two are on about now," Shen Zhongming said with a laugh, pointing at the two of them. "You two were playing off each other this whole time, deliberately coming here just to tease an old man like me with that food, weren't you?"
"How could you accuse me of that, Uncle?" Fang Qian said with a smile. "I just wanted to show off that I was lucky enough to find such a skilled cook on this trip." As he spoke, he motioned for Xiao Zhao, standing behind him, to bring over a food box.
The food box was made of fine rosewood, with bright polished brass trims on all its corners, looking solid and well-crafted at first glance.
When Xiao Zhao lifted the lid, warm steam wafted out, carrying the rich aroma of freshly made pasta.
Shen Guanting glanced down at it, his tone laced with playful teasing. "I saw how elaborate that food box is, and thought Uncle Fang had brought back some incredible new fads from the capital. What, has the capital become such a place now that even steamed buns need to be stored in fancy containers like this to make them seem special?"
Shen Zhongming let out a hearty laugh at his words. "The current trends in the capital are truly eye-opening. I've heard that the Noble Consort is full of clever ideas, launching limited-edition pastries one day and special exclusive drinks the next. She's turned ordinary food into a booming business that all the nobles and wealthy families in the capital are scrambling to chase after. That tiny little food shop makes mountains of money every day. Such a remarkable ability to turn the mundane into something profitable is truly admirable."
Shen Guanting picked up his teacup, his tone gentle. "Grandfather is right. Even the most common things from the streets can be turned into refined pleasures that mark one's status. It's what they call turning the vulgar into the elegant, and almost like returning to the simple, genuine roots of things."
He paused for a moment then, and smiled. "Though I can't help but wonder how much of that focus is on the actual taste of the food, and how much is on chasing the status and benefits behind that famous name."
Qin Xiaoshan shook his head and chuckled softly. "This world is full of such oddities, nothing to be surprised about. Today the wind blows east, tomorrow it blows west. But these days, it's not the weather that decides when the wind starts, where it blows, and when it stops. It's all driven by people."
Shen Zhongming huffed. "That sort of behavior sounds just like us profit-chasing folks, always trying to squeeze a little more money out of everyone else's pockets."
Fang Qian, quick to pick up the underlying meaning of their words, steered the conversation back with a smile. "All of you have such sharp, far-sighted insights. But let's just talk about the food today. These steamed buns aren't some fancy new trend from the capital. They're just a clever creation by the cook of our caravan, made with simple, authentic flavors. You'll see once you try them."
"Nephew Fang traveled all that way through harsh weather, and thought of Zhongming the moment he got his hands on something good to eat. That's a truly thoughtful gesture," Qin Xiaoshan said.
Shen Zhongming cheerfully picked up a steamed bun. "This kid really is something else. He comes to visit, not bearing rare treasures, but steamed buns." As he spoke, he took a big bite, chewed a few times, and nodded repeatedly. "This steamed bun really is wonderful! The texture is so soft and fluffy."
He finished it in just a couple of bites, then reached out for another one.
"Speaking of rare treasures, what in this world haven't you laid eyes on? If I brought you just another ordinary trinket, I'd be showing off in front of an expert. So I decided to take a completely different approach, and I've brought you a steamed bun instead," Fang Qian said with a bright smile.
"Wonderful, wonderful! It's only been a little while, and you're already talking in such odd, playful tones just like that rascal Guanting of mine," Shen Zhongming teased Fang Qian in his reply, not forgetting to drag his own eldest grandson into the joke.
His eldest grandson Shen Guanting did not take the teasing to heart at all. He picked up the steamed bun and took a big bite, saying, "Oh? It's got a sweet filling inside?"
After he bit through the dough and spotted the pale purple taro paste, he savored the taste carefully before praising it, "This filling is made from taro. It's sweet but not cloying, with a pure, rich taro aroma. To make such a smooth, delicate filling while traveling on the road, someone must have put a lot of thought into it."
"To win such high praise from picky-eater Guanting, this steamed bun has truly lived up to its purpose," Fang Qian jested, then shifted his tone, "This was prepared by Cook Lin early this morning, so it's not as fresh as it could be. If you had tasted it straight out of the steamer, the flavor would have been even better."
"Excellent, excellent. Your Cook Lin is really something, letting you enjoy such delicious food," Shen Zhongming said after finishing his bun, then took a sip of tea.
Shen Guanting wiped his hands with a handkerchief, and said with a soft chuckle, "It's a pity she's only a temporary cook. Your good fortune with such fine food, Uncle Fang, won't last forever."
"What do you know, you silly boy?" Shen Zhongming glanced at his grandson, "It's precisely because it's limited that it feels so precious. If you could eat good things like this every single day, you'd soon stop noticing how special they are."
"Cook Lin isn't just skilled at making steamed buns. All the cakes, porridges, and soups she prepares are carefully made and perfectly seasoned. She's a very capable, thorough person," Qin Xiaoshan chimed in.
"From what you all say, this cook sounds remarkably talented," Shen Zhongming set down his tea cup, looked over at Qin Xiaoshan, his eyes glinting with amusement, "With cooking skills this refined, she must have been a servant woman from some great aristocratic household. It wouldn't be strange at all if she thought the job at your warehouse was beneath her."
Fang Qian shook his head with a laugh. "No, Uncle, you've guessed wrong this time."
Qin Xiaoshan added, "She's a simple woman from the countryside. She came to Lingzhou with her child this time, I hear, to look for her elder brother."
"That's quite curious," Shen Zhongming raised his eyebrows. "Leaving her cooking skills aside for a moment, a rural woman would not leave a stable, ready job at your warehouse and travel such a long, hard journey with her child to find her brother, unless she shares an extremely deep bond with him, or she has some hidden, pressing trouble that forces her to leave, to get away."
"Now in the lands around the capital," Shen Guanting lowered his eyes, his gaze falling on the plump, soft white steamed bun in his hand, his voice slow and calm, "more and more people are leaving the capital, while many others are traveling to it. But no matter whether they're going in or coming out, there's always something unusual behind it."
"What do all these people moving in and out of the capital have to do with us ordinary folks?" Shen Zhongming waved his hand dismissively. "All the commotion in the imperial city has got all kinds of hidden twists and turns that we can't possibly figure out. It's far more practical for this old man to wander down to the alley entrance and find a bowl of warm soup that suits my taste."
"Exactly, Brother Zhongming, that's such a wise way to look at it. No matter how fierce the storms are outside, ordinary people's lives will always revolve around the warm, familiar smoke of their own kitchen stoves," Qin Xiaoshan stroked his beard and laughed.
Shen Zhongming laughed heartily, then reached out to take the last remaining steamed bun from the food box. "That said, this cook's skills are truly rare. Tomorrow, I'm hosting a welcome banquet for you two. The Shen residence has already prepared a feast, but most of the dishes are the heavy, rich local flavors of Lingzhou. If we could add a few exquisitely made pastries with different, lighter tastes, wouldn't that make the meal even more perfect?"
He turned to look at Fang Qian as he spoke. "This cook's food happens to suit all of our tastes. Why not invite her to the manor, and have her specialize in making two or three kinds of pasta and pastries? It would be a nice extra touch for this welcome feast."
"Grandfather, this is hardly a welcome feast," Shen Guanting said, the corners of his eyes crinkling with a smile. "You're clearly just using it as an excuse to satisfy your own cravings."
"You cheeky boy, if you're not craving it, you'd better not take a single bite at the banquet tomorrow," Shen Zhongming chided with a laugh.
"Uncle, that's a wonderful idea," Fang Qian said, then raised his hand slightly towards Xiao Zhao. "The conditions on the road were limited after all, so I'm afraid that cook never got the chance to show what she's really capable of. If the timing is right, having her make a few dishes properly would be a real treat for everyone. Do you know where Mrs. Lin is staying at the moment?"
Xiao Zhao replied respectfully, "She didn't say for sure, but she's traveling with a child, so she won't have gone far. She's most likely settled in one of the clean inns or small lodgings near the docks. Our caravan's staff frequent that area, so we can find out where she is with just a little asking around."
Fang Qian nodded. "Then go make those inquiries. If we can find her, it would be best if she is willing to come over."
