Ancient Foodie Survival Guide Chapter 76
Translated by Serena Love
Edited by Azure
Chapter 76: Cold Noodles and Iced Rice
After determining her future goals, the first thing Jiang Shuyao did was tell Xie Xun.
Xie Xun had long expected her to think this way, so he wasn’t surprised. Instead, he asked, "What are you going to do next?"
Jiang Shuyao shook her head. "I don’t know yet. I’ll think about it slowly. For now, the most important thing is to run the street food market well."
Xie Xun nodded. "Alright."
"Then I’ll probably be going out often in the future. Would you mind?"
Xie Xun smiled. "Why do you keep asking these questions? You know I won’t mind."
Jiang Shuyao felt relieved. With Xie Xun’s support, she could pursue her goals with confidence and boldness.
Day after day, as the summer heat gradually faded, Jiang Shuyao improved the flavors at the street food market and introduced new types of food. At the same time, she frequently exchanged ideas with Lin-shi, planning her next steps.
Since its opening day, the street food market had been bustling with business. The food was delicious yet affordable, offering something for everyone—even those on a tight budget could find tasty, filling meals at reasonable prices. Whether it was diners who were initially hesitant to spend or those simply looking to try something new without high expectations, everyone was won over by the food and vibrant atmosphere. As night fell, the flow of people never ceased. Despite the Lin family’s efforts to widen the street, the food market still felt crowded and lively.
Diners who valued privacy could dine inside the shops or head upstairs, while those who didn’t mind could sit on the wooden benches outside, sharing the space with strangers as they enjoyed the evening breeze and their mutual love for good food.
Since Jiang Shuyao intended to expand the business, she visited the street food market every few days. However, Lin-shi, who used to come daily, was now heavily pregnant, and Jiang Shuyao didn’t dare let her venture into the noisy, crowded, and hot environment. Instead, Lin-shi assigned two capable stewards to stay at the inn located on the street and instructed them to follow Jiang Shuyao’s arrangements.
The street food market had only been open for a little over ten days, yet more tables and chairs had already been added to accommodate the growing crowd. Fortunately, Lin-shi had the foresight to purchase the entire street, including the pavement at the end, so wooden stools and chairs could be seen scattered everywhere.
As Jiang Shuyao walked through the bustling crowd, her bright and dignified appearance stood out. With her hair styled in a married woman’s bun and her elegant demeanor, she looked every bit like a lady from a wealthy family. The diners couldn’t help but glance her way as she passed.
But this was the Lin family’s territory. Ruffians who often loitered around other restaurants and stalls didn’t dare to cause trouble here, so Jiang Shuyao could walk through the street food market safely without worrying about harassment.
Behind her was the housekeeper, and the diners simply assumed she was a lady from the Lin family. None of them connected her to the eldest daughter of Lord Xiangyang’s household.
Some of the regular foodies, who visited daily, had grown familiar with Jiang Shuyao.
“Hello, shopkeeper!” they called out warmly, sitting on benches by the street as they waited for their meals.
Jiang Shuyao had found it strange at first, but now she was used to it. She nodded at them in acknowledgment.
“How’s the taste?” she asked, glancing at a table of fresh-faced diners.
This group consisted of merchants who had come to the capital to sell their goods. They had learned about the street food market through a recommendation. Middle-aged and financially comfortable, they could afford to dine out regularly. Now that they had discovered the street food market, they treated eating here as a true delight.
“Shopkeeper is too humble. I’ve traveled north and south and tasted many kinds of food, but this flavor is a first for me. I’m truly enjoying it,” one of the diners replied.
Jiang Shuyao smiled at his words. “That’s good to hear.”
She continued walking forward but suddenly sensed something amiss.
Amid the bustling crowd, a few individuals seemed out of place. While it’s often said that grace comes from within, these people were hunched over, their eyes darting around as they peered suspiciously in all directions. Something about them felt off.
Jiang Shuyao turned her head and signaled to the steward, who quickly instructed the Lin family’s guards to discreetly follow them.
Jiang Shuyao made her rounds through every store, flipping through the ledgers from the past few days to assess the business situation. She paused abruptly at a store selling cold noodles.
“Do you really think the food here is good?” a young man in silk clothing muttered to his companion. “It doesn’t seem reliable to me.”
“I agree,” the companion replied. “Look at this store—it’s so cramped.”
As they whispered, two people came downstairs and waved to them. “You can come up now. A table is free.”
Reluctantly, they walked over, grumbling as they went. “I can’t believe I have to wait for a seat. This is a first for me. Even Bazhenzhai has never made me wait like this.”
“I want to see how delicious it really is.”
“I don’t know what they’re thinking. They finally got out of the academy, but instead of going to a proper restaurant, they came here to eat.”
Jiang Shuyao followed them upstairs, mainly because the two people who had called them up looked all too familiar. Weren’t they Xie Ye and Xie Hao from the first branch?
For some reason, she didn’t believe the two of them had brought their friends here just to eat and drink. After all, this was the street food market opened by the Lin family. While the common people were very satisfied with the food, she wasn’t sure what the noble sons and students, who were accustomed to fine delicacies, would think. If they weren’t satisfied, wouldn’t it mean Xie Ye and Xie Hao would lose face?
The cold noodle shop’s shopkeeper followed Jiang Shuyao upstairs and asked if she had any orders.
Jiang Shuyao requested a small table.
After she sat down, the noble sons and students at the other table were already in an uproar.
“How come it’s only cold noodles? Where’s the meat?”
The waiter explained, “Guest, if you want meat, there are skewers, fried skewers, stew, fried chicken, and more nearby. I’ll bring you the menu. You can order here, and we’ll send someone to the nearby shops to get it for you.”
This was an unconventional approach. Everyone exchanged glances, wanting to say something, but criticizing at this moment felt petty, so they reluctantly agreed.
After looking at the menu, they were dumbfounded.
The menu was overwhelming—a thick stack of papers with a wide variety of dishes. The problem was, they didn’t recognize anything on it.
The waiter said, “All the meat and fish items are here. The next few pages are for cold drinks, including shaved ice, fruit tea, iced rice, and more. Take your time to choose.”
At this point, all the criticism vanished. The most critical young man in silk clothing cleared his throat and said, “Well, it seems they’ve put a lot of thought into creating the food, but there are too many categories. I’m not sure if they can maintain the quality.”
Xie Hao grew impatient. “Fine, if you don’t want to eat here, then don’t.”
The other person shrugged. “I’m just saying, no need to get so angry.”
The atmosphere grew tense. Xie Ye stepped in to mediate. “Let’s order first. I recommend the fried skewers. Which ones do you want? You can also try the grilled skewers… Actually, forget it. Just order a variety of skewers for everyone.”
The waiter noted down the orders and left, leaving the table in an awkward silence. No one spoke.
Xie Hao couldn’t help but whisper to Xie Ye, “We brought them to a good place, but they’re being so reluctant. It’s annoying.”
Xie Ye’s expression remained calm, unfazed. “Why bother arguing? Wait until the food arrives. The earlier argument will be pointless then.”
The cold noodles were served first. The noodles had been steamed and cooled, with bean sprouts at the bottom. They were topped with soy sauce, spicy chili oil, vinegar, garlic water, and sprinkled with salt, pepper, chives, and cucumber shreds.
The porcelain bowl was filled with light yellow cold noodles, tender white garlic, brown-red sweet soy sauce, bright red chili oil, emerald-green cucumber, and chopped green onions. The colors were simple yet vibrant. The aroma was complex—sour, sweet, numbing, spicy, and fragrant—enough to whet anyone’s appetite, even in the summer when appetites usually wane.
After mixing well with chopsticks, the cold noodles became evenly coated in the sauce. Each strand glistened with a brown, oily sheen, looking far more appetizing than the usual hot noodle soups.
Everyone picked up their chopsticks in silence. Since the noodles were cold, there was no need to blow on them to avoid being scalded. They grabbed large portions and put them into their mouths. The first impression was a refreshing coolness, followed by the sweetness of the soy sauce, the spiciness of the chili oil, the numbing sensation of the pepper, the pungency of the garlic, and the tanginess of the vinegar. The flavors swept across their tongues, instantly awakening their taste buds. A rush of energy surged to their foreheads, and their appetites were fully roused.
The cold noodles were chewy and distinct. Being alkaline noodles, they carried a mellow, savory aroma. The red oil chili pepper was spicy but not overpowering—its fragrance stood out more than its heat. The sweet soy sauce, made with brown sugar, star anise, cinnamon, licorice, and other spices, was rich and aromatic, leaving a lingering, fragrant aftertaste.
The cold noodles were very simple. Aside from the noodles, the only additional toppings were cucumber shreds and bean sprouts, but this simplicity was refreshing enough. The soft noodles mixed with the crisp bean sprouts created a satisfying contrast—each bite had a tender crunch.
The bean sprouts carried a slight bitterness and sweetness, while the cucumber shreds were fresh and tender. They instantly cut through the richness of the cold noodles and red oil, leaving behind only the tangy and spicy fragrance. There was no need to wait or eat carefully—they could grab large portions with their chopsticks and chew in big mouthfuls. The appetite, long suppressed by the heat, was finally revived.
At that moment, the iced rice arrived. The porcelain white bowls were filled with colorful ingredients. Plump white glutinous rice, translucent soft white fungus, red date slices, raisins, taro balls, watermelon chunks, chopped peanuts, and candied fruit were piled together, vibrant and inviting. Crystal-clear ice floated in the chilled water, and a sweet, refreshing aroma mixed with the cool air rushed toward them.
“Why is rice soaked in cold water, and why is it served with candied fruit?” the picky person remarked again. But since he had just enjoyed the cold noodles, this time he only sighed and didn’t dare to say more.
When he tasted it, he understood why. The fruit fragrance and the sweetness of the candied fruit melted into the ice water, creating a refreshing drink. The glutinous rice wasn’t a staple food here but a dessert—soft, sweet, and with a slight chewiness when chilled. It was cool, springy, and fragrant, with just the right amount of sweetness. Eating it cold made the heat completely disappear.
Now, he had nothing left to complain about, so he quietly kept his mouth shut.
When the skewers arrived, everyone was even more amazed by the rich, smoky aroma and spicy flavor. Just moments ago, they thought summer called for cold dishes and icy drinks, but now they were convinced that meat was the way to go. The spiciness, saltiness, and richness left them feeling invigorated. It was perfect!
As they ate heartily, they overheard someone at the next table loudly discussing the street food market.
Being food enthusiasts, they all pricked up their ears to listen.
Then, the big guy couldn’t hold back his words. “Did they just say the Lin family opened this place?”
"The Lin Family? The Lin Family is in the Fuyang Mansion, but isn't this location..."
Everyone turned their heads to look at Xie Ye and Xie Hao, "This place was opened by the Lin family of Miss Jiang?" Xie Xun didn't know how crazy Jiang Shuyao was back then, but people like them were clear. Since they fell into the water that year, this group of people would walk around in a circle whenever they heard the woman was at a banquet.
Gossip was the nature of human beings, and they could not avoid being vulgar. As soon as Jiang Shuyao was mentioned, they began to resent her again. They lamented Xie Xun's bad luck—the amazingly talented Xie Xun, who came in third in the imperial exam, had married an idiot in the end.
Xie Hao and Xie Ye were feeling uncomfortable and on the verge of arguing with the others. The picky son who had spoken earlier said, "We're in the happiest place in the world right now. Don't force me to teach you a lesson!" He added, "If you say anything rude to the owner, how do you expect to come back and eat here in the future?"
Everyone was intimidated by this domineering classmate. Reluctantly, they fell silent, but they still didn’t connect these delicious dishes with Jiang Shuyao.
Seeing this, Xie Ye said helplessly, "These foods—no, to be precise, all the food on this street—was made by my third aunt."
Everyone was stunned by his words, but then they burst into laughter. "Funny, really funny," they said.
"There is so much food on this street. If one person created it, it would take forever to figure it out. Don't fool us."
As they were talking, they suddenly stopped.
Jiang Shuyao walked out from behind the screen. Her eyes swept over them.
Recalling her craziness back then, all these stubborn students were shaken, and they shrank into the corner.
Xie Hao and Xie Ye didn’t expect Jiang Shuyao to be here and to have heard their classmates talking about her. They greeted her, "Third aunt."
"How does it taste? Does it suit your preference?" Jiang Shuyao asked.
Everyone nodded awkwardly, "Okay, very good."
She was relieved, "That's good. It seems that there is no big problem with taste." Only when both common people and nobles liked it could the recipes be considered qualified.
After she finished speaking, she turned and went downstairs. Just as she reached the top of the stairs, Xie Xun suddenly came up from below.
The academy students had just seen Jiang Shuyao and were still processing her presence, but when they saw Xie Xun, they immediately recognized him as the third master of the Xie family, whom they had admired for many years.
Seeing Xie Xun's cold face, they sighed in their hearts. Hey, his eyes are a bit resentful... eh?
The cold-faced Xie Xun walked quickly to Jiang Shuyao. He lowered his head, and suddenly a cloud-like smile appeared on his face. "I came here because I heard that you are here. How is it today? Tired? Is there anything to improve?"
Jiang Shuyao shook her head, "It should be all good now."
Xie Xun sighed helplessly, "I’ve told you, your cooking skills are superb. Why do you have to worry that it’s not suitable for the diners?"
Jiang Shuyao replied, "Why not? After we improved the taste the first few times, everyone said it was better."
Although Xie Xun was afraid that she would be tired, he felt that she was shining all over when she pursued excellence and progress in cooking. His eyes softened, and his tone was gentle as he said, "I know you love thinking about food and enjoy cooking, but don’t tire yourself out."
Jiang Shuyao nodded and stepped down the stairs.
Xie Xun hurriedly followed her, stretching out his arms to help, fearing that she might slip and fall.
The summer night’s wind suddenly sounded so noisy.
The academy students felt the wind grow chaotic, staring dumbfounded at the scene before them.
Were they blind? How could the third master of the Xie family treat Miss Jiang like this? What about the grudge? This was obviously a loving and perfect couple.
Even more frightening was that Xie Ye and Xie Hao might lie, but Xie Xun would never lie.
So, the food they ate was really made by Miss Jiang?
Xie Hao looked at each of them, dumbfounded by their unbelievable expressions and flushed faces. He shook his head and exclaimed, "Aren’t your faces burning hot and painful (from being face-slapped)? Hey, I felt the same way that day."
—
[T/N, I can't find any English speaking video for the "Iced Rice", but it looks like this:
Iced rice is a traditional famous snack in Fuzhou City, Fujian Province. So it belongs to Fujian cuisine. The dish was born in the 1980s and originated in Fuzhou's Changle District. It evolved from Fuzhou's traditional shaved ice, and it is a summer dessert for people in Fuzhou.] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aso4uxOTwlc
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