Chapter 13: A Small Test of Skill

Early in the morning, Chu Chaoyun was carrying a bucket of water, wiping here and there along the edge of the boat’s eaves. Manager Zhong, coming from the courtyard, directly approached her.

“Hmm, the chores were done well. Chun Ye hasn’t thrown up again since yesterday after eating,” Manager Zhong glanced at her with a faint expression.

Chu Chaoyun understood that this time Manager Zhong had completely tacitly approved her free access to the kitchen.

She put away the cloth, rubbed her wet hands on the hem of her shirt to wipe off the water droplets, then looked up and asked, “Is Miss Chunye feeling better now?”

Manager Zhong’s gaze swept over her, noticing Chu Chaoyun’s red and frozen hands, and with a smirk said, “In this situation, you still have the mind to care about others?”

Chu Chaoyun did not respond; she lowered her head and busied herself with her work again.

After breakfast, the girls boarded the boat one after another from the courtyard. From afar, Chun Ye, dressed in green, was walking at the back of the line. Having not seen her for several days, her tired and haggard expression was still faintly visible, clearly from having been unwell for some days.

Old Lady Li came up as well, leaning on her cane, chatting idly with Manager Zhong.

According to the rules of the Flower Boat, working boatwomen and the girls in the private rooms were not allowed to make contact privately, so under the managers’ watchful eyes, they dared not casually strike up conversations.

Chu Chaoyun was busy with her own work until Chun Ye came closer, then reflexively glanced over.

In that instant, Chu Chaoyun caught a smile in Chun Ye’s eyes.

It seemed Miss Chunye really liked the fish ball porridge she made.

Chu Chaoyun couldn’t help but feel relieved.

—

After that day, Chun Ye’s illness got better, but the fish balls were only partially responsible. Chun Ye used the tips she had saved to hire a doctor who came back and carefully nursed her for several days, which restored her health.

As for Chu Chaoyun, life was not so easy. The days were getting colder and colder. Even with a reed mat beneath her, it was never enough; she was always lacking a thick quilt.

Some mornings when she woke up, her limbs were stiff and numb from the cold; she almost lost feeling. She could only work more to keep herself warm.

After many days of waiting, the steward finally came to assign a task to Mrs. Diao, telling her to make some food for the girls and send it over.

Chu Chaoyun drank some hot water secretly boiled in the kitchen and listened to Mrs. Diao on her bed quietly say, “Tomorrow I’ll go personally. I won’t ask Big Zhao to run errands anymore.”

Chu Chaoyun knew Mrs. Diao couldn’t bear to see her shivering all day, so she planned to get off the boat and try to find a way.

But Mrs. Diao was poor, and the price of a thick quilt was not cheap; she simply couldn’t afford it with the little money she had.

Chu Chaoyun thought for a while, took a sip of hot water, then spoke, “There’s something I have to tell you. When I made fish ball porridge for Miss Chunye last time, I actually had a hidden intention.”

Mrs. Diao understood and lowered her voice, “Go ahead, say it.”

Chu Chaoyun lowered the small window a bit and spoke even softer, “Winter is coming, and the mornings and nights are biting cold. Even if the monthly silver allowance comes in, ten wen can’t do much. I have a plan, but I’m afraid it will trouble you.”

Mrs. Diao rubbed her calves and shook her head, “Troublesome or not, boatwomen’s lives are hard. Figuring out ways to make life smoother is what really matters.”

Chu Chaoyun arrived late and hadn’t seen much of the situation on the boat.

But she was different.

Seeing how the boatwomen died of illness or frostbite, the miserable fate they met made Mrs. Diao feel heartbroken.

After hearing Mrs. Diao say this, Chu Chaoyun lowered her voice and revealed her idea, “The fish balls I made tasted good to you and Xiang He, and even Miss Chunye, who is used to the cook girl’s skills, thought they were good. I was thinking, why not make more at once and have Aunt take them off the boat to try selling?”

Mrs. Diao thought it over and said, “The idea sounds feasible, but fish balls are fresh things. I’m afraid they are too fresh, and people might not accept them.”

Chu Chaoyun smiled, “If they’re willing, trying a few samples wouldn’t hurt! As long as they like the taste, even if only one place wants them, we can still make money.”

Then she added, “Every little bit adds up!”

Mrs. Diao also laughed, “You’re quite optimistic.”

After agreeing, early next morning, Chu Chaoyun went into the kitchen and started working.

Usually cook girls came later, but now it was boatwomen’s breakfast time. Chu Chaoyun didn’t eat; she rushed to add fuel to the stove, then marinated the chopped fish with plum juice.

Because she planned to sell fish balls, Chu Chaoyun had caught a few more bamboo fish last night and mixed them with the fish already in the kitchen; no one would pay notice.

The marinated fish meat was mixed with flour, salt, and lard until thick. With water boiling in a pot, Chu Chaoyun began rolling fish balls and then placed them one by one into the water.

Rolling fish balls required skill; squeezing them with the crook of the hand made them rounder.

The first time Chu Chaoyun made fish balls, their shapes were all kinds of odd. Though it didn’t affect taste, they lacked aesthetic appeal.

This time, she clearly did much better.

Since they were for sale, she was especially attentive.

The cooked fish balls were light and floated on the water’s surface, emitting a fresh aroma. Chu Chaoyun scooped them out and rinsed them in cold water—this was the secret to their smooth and springy texture.

She put some finished fish balls into the bottom layer of the food box, then started boiling water for porridge, adding some chopped greens and a few white tender fish balls. Soon, the fish ball porridge was ready.

After tidying up the kitchen, she carried the food box out to hand to Mrs. Diao.

“Aunt, take care on the road,” she said.

They exchanged a look. Mrs. Diao lightly patted her hand and subtly nodded.

Around them, boatwomen were busy working, and the managers were each absorbed in their own tasks. The tightly sealed food box and the routine day brought no novelty, and no one else showed any interest in their actions.

Watching Mrs. Diao’s figure descend the boat, and seeing that her legs and feet were not very agile, Chu Chaoyun sighed softly inside.

There was no better way; otherwise, who else could they trust to sell that pile of fish balls?

Chu Chaoyun pretended nothing was wrong and continued with her work. Mrs. Diao also went down the gangplank towards the girls’ quarters.

The girls’ courtyard and the Rui River were separated by a few small alleys and a long street, where street vendors of Ruizhou usually hawked. Besides some scattered stalls, there were also a few fixed restaurants and taverns.

Mrs. Diao, carrying the food box and looking around, slipped away from Big Zhao’s sight, then quietly entered a noodle shop.

This shop usually only sold Wonton and cold dishes. The business wasn’t bad but only just enough to get by.

Mrs. Diao chose this shop mainly because every time she got off the boat and wanted to improve her diet, she always came here. Although she wasn’t very familiar with the owner, she was at least a recognizable face.

It was still early, and few customers were in the shop. Even in the outdoor shed at the door, there were barely any diners.

The owner leaned casually by the door and upon seeing Mrs. Diao, smiled and came out to greet her, “Long time no see, Mrs. Diao! Freshly made wontons will be ready soon. Want some? It’s really cold today.”

The owner exhaled visible breath and clasped his arms, obviously feeling the cold.

“Not eating today,” Mrs. Diao said shyly and hesitantly, since this was her first time doing something like this.

The owner looked puzzled. Even if the business didn’t work out, he could still chat a bit. He smiled and said, “So, Mrs. Diao, is this…?”

Mrs. Diao moved closer to a corner, looking uncomfortable. She carefully lifted the food box lid and opened the bottom layer to reveal a plate of fish balls, and awkwardly asked, “Boss, do you need some homemade fish balls? I’ll sell them cheap to you.”

The owner was surprised, and stared at her for a moment before saying, “Sell them… sell to me?”

“Yes, you can buy and put them in soup or fry them with lard; they taste really good,” Mrs. Diao recited what Chu Chaoyun had taught her, speaking earnestly.

The owner, seeing the round, plump little white fish balls in the plate, was curious, but had no intention of buying. His soups all used common wild vegetables and didn’t cost much, so there was no need to put in something extra.

Moreover, he didn’t recognize these fish balls.

Seeing the owner look embarrassed, probably afraid to offend her by refusing directly, Mrs. Diao nodded, closed the lid, and prepared to leave.

Along the way, she asked two tea stalls and a tavern, but the owners politely declined. Worried the porridge would get cold, Mrs. Diao went back to the courtyard.

Mrs. Diao knocked on the courtyard door and someone escorted her to the girl’s room.

After they left, the girl eagerly brought a wooden spoon, “A few days ago, after Sister Chun Ye ate the porridge you sent over, she praised it a lot. At first, we thought it was made by Aunt, but later learned it was made by Miss Chaoyun!”

The girl pulled over a stool for Mrs. Diao to sit and rest a while, lowering her head as she stirred the fish ball porridge with the wooden spoon.

The room was small, and it was cold, so the doors and windows were closed. The aroma of the fish ball porridge immediately filled the entire room with each stir. Even Mrs. Diao felt a bit tempted.

She had eaten breakfast before coming, and lately every night Chu Chaoyun tried to make something tasty to eat with her.

In theory, Mrs. Diao had already satisfied her craving.

But seeing the girl scoop the porridge spoonful by spoonful, her saliva couldn’t stop flowing.

The girl ate slowly, seemingly reluctant to finish, taking a few bites then asking, “Aunt, can Miss Chaoyun still make porridge for us later?”

“She can,” Mrs. Diao replied.

“That’s great!” the girl smiled, then continued eating.

The fish balls didn’t sell; Chu Chaoyun would still be freezing tonight. Mrs. Diao felt unhappy and didn’t stay long before leaving.

By this time it was nearly noon, and the noodle shop they just passed was busier. The owner was bustling about enthusiastically. The stall was small, and he had no helpers, managing everything himself.

Mrs. Diao stopped in front of the noodle shop.

Recalling Chu Chaoyun’s advice from last night, she hesitated.

“Aunt, if the fish balls don’t sell, just find a restaurant and order a bowl of hot wontons. Don’t sit in the outdoor shed. When the wontons come, put some fish balls in and eat slowly. Maybe this business will work.”

At first, Mrs. Diao hadn’t taken Chu Chaoyun’s words seriously, but after seeing the girl eat in the courtyard just now…

The owner raised his eyes from the steaming pot and smiled at her, “Mrs. Diao, just back from a walk? Want a bowl of wontons to warm up?”

Without hesitation, Mrs. Diao replied, “A bowl, please. With plenty of broth. I’ll go inside to eat.”

The owner wiped the steamy moisture off the window and answered, “Alright, you go inside and have a rest, the wontons will be ready soon!”