Chapter 152: Warmth

Tushan Feishang didn’t see Qiao Suluo when he returned home. Usually, he would see her the moment he stepped through the door. Not finding her there now left an empty feeling in his chest. Following her scent, he made his way to the Cat Clan Village.

Since she had nothing planned for the day, Qiao Suluo had brought her two babies back to her parents’ place. This time, she could distinctly feel that her parents and brothers were in much higher spirits. Their eyes shone with hope, and they were full of energy while making pastries. Even Hao Hao was helping wash the red and green beans. However, upon seeing her arrive, the little boy—who adored his two younger brothers, Da Bao and Second Treasure—abandoned his task to play with them.

Qiao Suluo stayed to chat with her parents.

Qiao Feishuang wore a bright smile. “Now that your second brother’s leg is healed, he’s become much more cheerful.

“Business at the Nanfeng Building is booming. By supplying them with our pastries every day, we can earn a few taels of silver daily. That was something we never even dared to dream of before.

“With this income, our family’s life has improved drastically. We can finally afford to buy things at the market without second-guessing ourselves. We’ve saved up enough silver to prepare proper dowries for your second and third brothers.”

Without the heavy burden of stress, Qiao Feishuang felt immensely lighter mentally. She held Qiao Suluo’s hand, unsure of how else to express her gratitude. “Daughter, we owe all of this to you.”

Qiao Suluo smiled. “Mother, don’t say such polite things. You, Father, and my brothers have always been good to me.”

Back when her predecessor acted arrogantly and domineeringly, her family had treated her just as kindly without fail. Since she had taken over this body, she felt it was only right to shoulder its responsibilities. Moreover, seeing her parents and brothers reminded her of her own family in the modern world. They had spoiled and doted on her too. Having grown up in a loving environment, she cherished the warm and harmonious atmosphere of this home.

Besides, she hadn’t actually done much. She merely provided ideas and recipes; her parents and brothers were the ones doing the hard work. Still, she could tell that having culinary skills to rely on for a living had given her brothers a newfound confidence. Her eldest brother, in particular, was no longer quiet and withdrawn. There were far more smiles on his face now, and that was a good thing.

“Alright, alright, I won’t say it,” Qiao Feishuang chuckled. “I’m just so happy from the bottom of my heart.”

As if recalling something, Qiao Suluo asked, “By the way, Mother, it’s been over a month since I asked you to pickle those century eggs and salted duck eggs, hasn’t it?”

“Yes, it’s been over a month. We pickled quite a lot following your method.” The family had even bought several large vats specifically for this purpose. Back then, they had gone to the market every day just to buy duck eggs for pickling.

“They should be ready now,” Qiao Suluo said. “Let’s open them up and take a look.”

“Okay.”

Qiao Feishuang led the way. Chu Moyuan and Bai Qianluo stayed behind to help watch over Hao Hao, Da Bao, and Second Treasure.

The two women arrived at a storage room used specifically for grain. Four large vats sat to the side. They opened one of them, revealing the salted duck eggs inside. Qiao Suluo took one out, washed it, and peeled it open. The rich, golden oil of the yolk immediately oozed out, accompanied by a savory aroma. Splitting it down the middle, oil dripping onto her fingers, she handed half to her mother. “Mother, have a taste.”

Qiao Feishuang looked at it in amazement. She took a bite, and her eyes lit up, instantly blown away by the incredible flavor.

“This is absolutely delicious! It smells incredible. The duck eggs I’ve eaten before never tasted like this. I had no idea pickling them would make them so good!” She took tiny bites, reluctant to finish it too quickly. “The egg white is a bit salty, though. But that’s fine. We can eat it with steamed buns or rice.”

Struck by an idea, she added, “Oh! When we’re busy, we can just grab one of these to eat with rice. We won’t even need to cook any other dishes!”

Qiao Suluo laughed. “You can eat it like that, or you can use the salted egg yolk in stir-fries. It tastes amazing either way. I’ll teach my brothers how to cook with it later so you can all enjoy it at home.

“Now that we have salted duck eggs, we can make egg yolk pastries. They’re even tastier than our other pastries, so we can sell them at a higher price.”

The pastries they supplied to the Nanfeng Building were aimed at the high-end market. Packaged in beautiful boxes by the establishment, they looked incredibly premium. Some customers even pre-ordered them specifically to give as gifts. Many patrons had praised the superior taste and texture, resulting in a loyal base of returning customers who kept coming back for more. Rumor had it that even the pastry shops in the prefectural capital couldn’t compare to them in terms of variety and flavor.

Because they lacked salted duck eggs before, Qiao Suluo hadn’t been able to teach her brothers how to make egg yolk crisps. Now, the time had finally come.

Qiao Feishuang didn’t fully understand the business side of things, but she knew that listening to her daughter was always the right move. As they spoke, they opened the vat of century eggs, taking some out to peel and taste.

“It actually changes color! Just looking at it makes my mouth water,” Qiao Suluo said, handing one over. “Try some, Mother.”

After taking a bite, Qiao Feishuang was full of praise. “Delicious! You bought these. I remember you saying you needed them for wontons.” She and the rest of the family had always kept in mind that these century eggs belonged to Qiao Suluo; they were merely helping her pickle them.

Qiao Suluo nodded. “Yes, my eatery has been doing really well selling wontons lately. Everyone loves the ones from our stall.”

“Of course!” Qiao Feishuang smiled. “Never mind everyone else, we love them too! Your wontons have thin wrappers and big fillings. They’re flavorful and packed with plenty of meat. They are a bit expensive for regular Beastmen, though.”

“My eatery focuses on a premium route, specializing in high-quality food,” Qiao Suluo explained. “The prices are a bit higher, but the quality is guaranteed, and it doesn’t disrupt the local market.”

Just like their pastries, the higher prices didn’t deter wealthier Beastmen, who were perfectly willing to spend their money on premium goods. Ordinary Beastmen would continue buying more affordable options, meaning the pastry shops in the county town weren’t negatively affected either.

“Let’s make century egg wontons for everyone to eat tonight,” Qiao Suluo suggested.

“Wonderful! We get to enjoy another delicious meal tonight.” Qiao Feishuang and the family always looked forward to her visits. Whenever she came, the house grew lively, and they were guaranteed a feast. Although she had taught her three brothers some culinary skills, their cooking still couldn’t quite compare to hers.

While they were busy preparing, Tushan Feishang arrived. The moment he laid eyes on Qiao Suluo, a deep sense of peace settled in his heart. He couldn’t help but wonder if he returned to the Qingqiu Clan and couldn’t see his wife for a short while, would he even be able to bear it? But for the sake of his grandmother and his clan, returning was inevitable.

He had brought over some supplies. Since Qiao Feishuang and the rest of the family knew he was now Su Luo’s true Beast Husband, and they had seen how well he treated her, they were quite pleased with him. Since he wasn’t very skilled at cooking, he spent his time playing with Hao Hao, Da Bao, and Second Treasure instead.

It wasn’t until they finished dinner and returned home that evening that Qiao Suluo looked at him and said, “Feishang, I noticed you hardly touched your dinner. You seem to have something on your mind. Is there something you want to tell me?”

Hearing her words, he reached out and pulled her into an embrace. “My wife truly does pay attention to me and care for me.”

“So, tell me, has something happened? Or is there anything I can help you with?”

His heart stirred with emotion. His wife was truly wonderful. Stroking her hair gently, he murmured, “I want to show you a letter.”