Tled by Serena Love

Edited

Chapter 4: Yunnan's Crossing-the-Bridge Rice Noodles

Jiang Shuyao chose to make Yunnan Crossing-the-Bridge Rice Noodles[1] today.

With children staying over for dinner and the limited ingredients and condiments available, Jiang Shuyao thought it was best to make the fragrant and light rice noodle soup.

She boiled some chicken and pork in a big pot on the stove. The soup, stewed on the primitive wood-burning stove, had a unique flavor. With just a pinch of  salt and white pepper, the chicken soup would taste absolutely delicious.

The stewed chicken broth was covered with a layer of chicken oil. The chicken in the broth was tender and smooth. After being added to the blanched rice noodles, the main ingredients were ready.

Jiang Shuyao repeatedly warned the two children to pay attention to the heat when eating. The boiled oil from the chicken ensured that the thin slices of meat would be thoroughly cooked in the soup.

However, Xie Zhao still ate hurriedly. He picked up a thin slice of pork, sandwiched it between the soft and mellow rice noodles, and stuffed it into his mouth. The hot temperature made him keep inhaling and his face was flushed.

The main kitchen of Duke Xie's mansion was stocked with all kinds of fresh vegetables. If something wasn’t available, the servants would obtain it immediately when the masters ordered them.

Vegetables that needed more time and higher temperature to cook were blanched, shredded, and placed on a plate. The white and green side dishes were placed on delicate porcelain plates, making them pleasing to the eyes.

Xie Xun looked at the big table with fresh dishes and couldn't help but ask, "What is this?"

Jiang Shuyao took a quail egg from a bowl and took a gentle bite. The soft egg whites burst open. The egg was fragrant, fresh, and delicious.

"Rice noodles." It was so hot that she inhaled air. She wanted to reply but had to inhale again. Her posture was really ungraceful.

Xie Xun had never seen a woman eat in such a way. It was truly unsightly for a woman to eat like the little fat boy, Xie Zhao.

He frowned slightly and said, "Of course I know it's rice noodles." What he was actually curious about was the manner of eating and the table full of vegetables and meat slices.

Unfortunately, Jiang Shuyao didn't understand him. She hadn't even bothered to raise her head when he expressed his confusion.

"Auntie, fish filets!" Xie Zhao exclaimed and extended his short hand towards Jiang Shuyao.

Jiang Shuyao tacitly handed him the plate with fish filets. She had just stuffed a large mouthful of rice noodles in her mouth, and her eyes were filled with tears as she chewed.

Xie Xun was ignored again.

As he looked at the "bold and unrestrained" manner of eating of one big person and one small person, his understanding of Jiang Shuyao increased once again. It seemed that she had never learned etiquette when she was at the Jiang family's house.

The scent of chicken soup drifted to Xie Xun's nose. Xie Yao, the little skinny boy, had been infected by the others, and his appearance became increasingly less constricted. He swallowed and ate happily.

Xie Xun had a headache and turned his gaze to Jiang Shuyao. At this time, she happened to be eating a very long strand of rice noodle, so she sucked the rice noodle into her mouth with her cheeks appearing hamster-like.

Xie Xun couldn't believe it.

How could there be a lady who eats food like this? She was acting inappropriately like the women in Saibei that he had seen when he’d traveled abroad, but... the food did look delicious.

He couldn't help but swallow.

As he was such a big person standing there, Jiang Shuyao could no longer pretend that he didn't exist.

She knew that Xie Xun didn't want to see her or develop a good relationship with her. Seeing him frowning and looking at her bowl, she asked, "Have you eaten dinner?"

Xie Xun, feeling a sense of panic, quickly looked away and said, "No, not yet."

Jiang Shuyao asked politely, "Do you want to eat with us?" Xie Xun's disgusted look made it obvious that he was didn’t want to. Jiang Shuyao already knew the answer when she asked. 

Unexpectedly, Xie Xun was silent for a few seconds before suddenly saying, "Okay."

Jiang Shuyao suddenly raised her head and stared at him in surprise.

Xie Xun hadn’t expected to agree. He regretted doing so very much, but he had to act calmly on the surface. He lifted his robe and sat down.

He raised his hand, and someone immediately stepped forward to serve him food.

Seeing that he was a mild-tempered gentleman who was polite and graceful even when he ate, Jiang Shuyao silently cursed in her heart: Why are you eating rice noodles? Just drink morning dew!

Bai Zhi had previously seen Jiang Shuyao make the noodles once, and blanching rice noodles did not require any craftsmanship, so she quickly brought Xie Xun's share.

When the clay pot was placed in front of Xie Xun, the fragrance became more intense. The soup was clear, translucent, and covered with a layer of yellow oil. The white rice noodles were immersed in the soup, and one could imagine the sweetness and flavor just by looking at it.

Xie Xun picked up his chopsticks, and Jiang Shuyao couldn't help but remind him, "Be careful. It is hot."

Xie Xun was slightly taken aback.

If Jiang Shuyao regarded Xie Xun as her husband, she would definitely be feeling embarrassed but at this moment, she treated him as nothing more than an ordinary diner, so her attitude was exceptionally natural.

Food usually makes people very friendly. There would usually be some diners in a restaurant who would ask others, "What are you eating? Is it delicious?" Most diners would enthusiastically respond and provide menu recommendations. 

Today, Xie Zhao and Xie Yao were extremely enthusiastic and appreciative of her cooking, so when Xie Xun joined them, her attitude was warm and hearty.

"Put in the meat dishes first, then the vegetables," she explained.

Xie Xun nodded.

Jiang Shuyao looked at his elegant and cold appearance and felt anxious, so she simply moved a little to his side and neatly poured a raw egg for him.

Then, she quickly used the common chopsticks to add raw meat, fish filets, chicken, and other types of meat.

She asked, "Are you okay eating this? How about this? Is there anything you don't like? This is delicious, do you want to try it?"

Xie Xun felt dizzy with the rapid speech, which sounded like pouring beans. Regardless of whether he usually wanted to eat these meats or not, he went along with her.

She added tender leeks, spinach, shredded lettuce, shredded radish, and other vegetables for him. The previously empty pot quickly piled up and the bowl filled with brightly colored things that were rich but not overwhelmingly flavorful.

"You can eat when the food is cooked." Jiang Shuyao looked at Xie Xun expectantly as she said, "Try this." She looked like a kind old lady who was eager to feed her grandson during Chinese New Year.

"Thank you."

Xie Xun avoided her sparkling gaze. He felt very uncomfortable and even somewhat guilty.

She really cooked this big table of dishes for him. Otherwise, why would she be so excited and eager to serve him dinner? But on the first day of his wedding, he ran away and left his wife alone.

Seeing that it was almost done, Jiang Shuyao told him, "You can eat now."

Xie Xun abandoned his unhappy thoughts and turned his attention to the pot. He picked up rice noodle with chopsticks, mixed it with various vegetables, and took a bite. It tasted rich and delicious.

The piping hot rice noodles were firm, soft, and delicious. It was delicious, not just because of the chicken soup, but also because of the unique refreshing sweetness of the rice. 

The vegetables had just been cooked. It was fresh, crisp, and sweet. The original fragrance of the vegetables were preserved.

After they were mixed together and swallowed in one bite, Xie Xun could understand why it had to be eaten this way.

Xie Xun's more than ten year long studying of dining etiquette allowed him to develop a habit of eating slowly and gracefully. As he was still eating, he suddenly raised his head and met Jiang Shuyao's expectant eyes, almost choking in fright. Only then did he remember that she was waiting for his evaluation.

He hurriedly swallowed. The hot temperature made his throat slightly uncomfortable.

"It tastes delicious, with a unique flavor."

Jiang Shuyao, having been praised, happily returned to her "battlefield." 

If Xie Xun had given her negative feedback just now, she would have immediately taken away his bowl.

Xie Xun saw Jiang Shuyao waiting for his feedback before eating with ease, and suddenly felt relieved. Even if he hated her schemes that forced him to marry her, he couldn't deny that she genuinely wanted to please him. 

He sighed in his heart.

Whenever there was something in his mind, he forgot about his pace of eating.

The fresh and tender thin meat slices, with the perfect amount of saltiness and mellow taste, were mixed with the rice noodles. He took one bite after another and couldn't stop at all.

By the time the bottom of the clay pot was visible, the thin shirt on his body had become slightly damp with sweat.

He hadn't eaten this much in many years.

When he turned his head to look, he saw Jiang Shuyao and his two little nephews already full and lazily leaning to the side, appearing to be boneless.

He had only eaten until he felt slightly full ever since he was a child and he had never eaten this much before, so he couldn’t understand Jiang Shuyao, who couldn’t support her own body anymore.

Xie Xun couldn't help but reprimand, "What is with your sitting posture?"

Jiang Shuyao glanced at him lazily, without moving.

Xie Xun, "..."

He turned his head and looked around. Not seeing any young men around, he felt slightly relieved.

After sighing with relief, he felt a little puzzled again. Why did he worry that another man would see Jiang Shuyao's boneless and lazy appearance? Was he ashamed of her?

He didn't think about it deeply, and the sweat on his back made him feel a little dizzy.

He looked at Jiang Shuyao without saying anything.

Before his complex feelings became too overwhelming, Jiang Shuyao grabbed her stomach and hummed. Xie Xun's emotions were immediately destroyed, and he couldn't bear to look anymore and looked away.

"Make her a cup of hawthorn tea," he instructed Bai Zhi.

"No need. I'll just take a short walk," Jiang Shuyao stood up and took the two children, who were also full, to stroll in the yard.

Xie Xun looked at her back, feeling very helpless and unable to figure out what kind of people could raise such a woman.

But he would soon understand.

Xie Xun got up early on the third day of marriage to go with his wife to visit her premarital home, Xiangyang Mansion [2]. When he arrived at the courtyard, he found that Jiang Shuyao wasn’t in the room.

He was about to ask someone when Jiang Shuyao came out of the small kitchen holding a small jar.

Xie Xun couldn't help but frown.

"Why are you dressed like this?"

Today, Jiang Shuyao looked very plain, with a thick layer of white powder on her face, making her look bloodless. A pair of sad eyebrows were drawn on her face strangely, making it seem like she would cry at any moment. It greatly contrasted with her bright and energetic eyes.

Jiang Shuyao didn't realize how odd she looked. She raised her eyebrows, making them even more apparent, "Me? I dressed up especially for today. My mother likes style."

Xie Xun, being a talented young man with normal aesthetics, found it really uncomfortable to see her like this. He wanted to take out a handkerchief and wipe her eyebrows.

Jiang Shuyao didn't care whether he appeared uncomfortable or not. She took the small jar and got into the carriage.

Xie Xun, seeing her carrying the little jar as if it was precious, moved his gaze away from her eyebrows and curiously asked, "What is this?"

Jiang Shuyao proudly said, "This is cornel oil!" [3]

Her eyebrows raised even more.

Xie Xun was going to dig out his handkerchief, but Jiang Shuyao acted first to relieve his discomfort.

"Do you want to taste it?" She sat down, holding out the small jar, and Bai Zhi perceptively handed Xie Xun chopsticks.

Xie Xun didn't look at her face and nodded casually.

Jiang Shuyao eagerly opened the lid, and a pungent aroma instantly filled the carriage.

—

Footnotes:  

1. Crossing-the-Bridge Rice Noodles is a very well-known dish in Yunnan cuisine. 

The origin of the name begins with a scholar studying hard for the imperial exams on a small island. His wife, who would bring him food, found that by the time she had crossed the bridge to the island, the soup would be cold and the noodles would be soggy. She then discovered that having a layer of oil on top of boiling broth in an earthen pot would keep the broth warm. The noodles and other ingredients were kept in separate containers and when she arrived on the island, she would mix the two ingredients together to make warm soup.

2. It’s a tradition to visit the wife’s premarital home three days after the wedding day. 

3. Cornel, also known as dogwood, or cornus, is a flowering plant with fragrant cherry-like fruits. Before chili became popular in China, the three main ingredients used for spicy dishes were pepper, ginger, and cornel.

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