Chapter Thirty-Two: The Mandarin Duck Hotpot

“Go back and tell your parents right away. Hurry and get the money back from Azure Cloud Academy—it must have been quite a sum. Your mother is really generous with you, but she’s awfully stingy with your father. He never had more than a tael of silver in his pocket back in the day. Truly, you’re her real son.”

Not knowing how to reply, Lin You glanced at Gan Sui.

“Sitting around like this is dull. Would you all like to play some cards?”

These cards were made by Banxia. Life in ancient times was indeed rather boring, so she had crafted them, and sometimes played “Catch the Tortoise” with Gan Sui.

“What kind of cards? Bring them out and let’s see,” Dean Ye said with interest, while the other two didn’t object.

They were still playing “Catch the Tortoise.” Gan Sui explained the rules. The cards were finely made; after ten, the faces were replaced by little fairies, all illustrated by Banxia, who had learned criminal sketching and drew quite well. The two teachers found the cards novel, studying them intently. Lin You was unfamiliar but waited eagerly for the game to begin.

The first round was just for practice, to get used to the rules. The newcomers played cautiously, and whether it was beginner’s luck or not, Gan Sui ended up losing the first game.

Lin You was overjoyed. “This is the first time I’ve ever won a game in my life! Brother Gan, you’re a true friend.”

“…Heh.” So why did I just help him out earlier?

“This is fun! Let’s keep playing,” Dean Ye said, now intrigued.

As it turned out, luck is never reliable, but misfortune can be persistent. By the time Banxia returned with the fish, she found Lin You’s entire face plastered with penalty slips, only his mournful eyes visible.

“Don’t just sit there, Lin boy—keep playing!”

Banxia: I thought everyone was diligently studying, but instead you’ve all fallen into idle amusements. How could you betray the two fish in my hands like this?

“You’re back.” Gan Sui, having finished his cards first, came to take the things from her. “Let me help you.”

“No, you can’t leave, there’s still a game on!” Dean Lin was in high spirits, unwilling to let Gan Sui go.

“It’s fine, I can manage alone. Stay and play with the others,” Banxia urged him.

“This game works with three players too. I’ll go clean the fish and come teach you all some new games,” Gan Sui said to Dean Ye.

“Hurry then.”

Banxia took the fish and followed Gan Sui into the kitchen.

She planned to make both sour soup and spicy fish, so she’d bought two kinds. Snakehead for its tender flesh, thinly sliced to be poached in the hotpot; grass carp, with fewer bones and firmer texture, for spicy fish.

Banxia had never dared to kill fish, so Gan Sui always did it for her. He worked quickly and efficiently, cleaning the fish before heading back out.

Banxia began with the spicy fish. She set aside the fish head for the soup, adding ginger, garlic, and a splash of wine, simmering it for the broth. Once it came to a boil, she lowered the heat for a gentle simmer.

She split the fish belly and tail, slicing along the grain into thin pieces, and chopped the backbone into sections. She washed the fish meat thoroughly, kneading it with salt and water to remove any slime—a crucial step to avoid a fishy taste. The water had to run clear.

She marinated the cleaned slices with salt, wine, egg white, and a bit of oil. While it marinated, she washed the side dishes: bean sprouts, cabbage, and picked fresh cilantro.

Once done with the grass carp, Banxia moved on to the snakehead. Since it would be poached at the table, the slices had to be nearly translucent, thin enough to see the light through them. The remaining bones she coated in flour and egg, frying them into a plate of crispy fish bones. With the leftover oil, she started frying pickled vegetables. The pickles, made by Aunt Hui’s mother-in-law, were perfectly balanced in salt and sourness. The aroma made Banxia’s mouth water, and even the card players outside lost interest in their game.

“Gan Sui, how much longer? I’m starving,” someone called.

Gan Sui popped into the kitchen. She handed him a plate of fried fish bones. “Take these out to tide them over. It’ll just be a bit longer. And close the kitchen door on your way out—I’m about to fry the chilies.”

Gan Sui brought the fish bones out, the others watching eagerly. Dean Lin made a move to grab some, but Gan Sui stepped back, “You all played cards—go wash your hands first, Master.”

After washing up, they sat down, munching on the crispy fish bones.

“Tasty, but barely any meat,” someone grumbled.

“Good things are worth the wait. Lin You, when are you heading home?”

“I’ll ride back after dinner. Would you like to come, Master?”

“No thanks. I haven’t been in touch with your parents for years. If your mother saw me, she’d be furious. I can’t handle her temper at my age. I’ll meet your father first. He’ll probably come with you tomorrow, so let’s meet here—it’s convenient. I’ll wait for you both here.”

Lin You agreed. Mr. Chuan then regaled them with stories about Lin You’s parents, making Lin You squirm in his seat. Fortunately, Banxia soon brought the pot out.

“Good thing the weather’s cool today. If it were a few days ago, we couldn’t have eaten this,” someone remarked.

Gan Sui set up Banxia’s little stove, and she placed the pot on top.

“This design is clever—spicy on one side, mild on the other,” Mr. Chuan noted. Before he was finished, Dean Ye was already helping himself to a piece of spicy fish.

“It’s hot—” Banxia began, but he’d already put it in his mouth, wincing and grimacing as he chewed his way through the first piece.

“That’s got some kick!”

Of course it did—Banxia had used a generous handful of chilies and Sichuan peppercorns, topped with sizzling hot oil.

“Try the clear broth side. These fish slices are so thin, just a quick dip and they’re done. There’s also a green chili dipping sauce—add some if you want more flavor.”

The fish was fresh and tender, and with two ways to eat it, when the fish ran out Banxia cooked up some greens. Everyone ate until their bellies were round.

“Gan Sui, you’ve married well,” Dean Ye praised, rubbing his stomach.

“You just find it novel. I’m decent at home cooking, but can’t compare to real chefs.”

“It’s not the same. Chefs show off their skills, but you make your guests feel at home. It’s a different experience altogether.”

“I don’t really understand all that, but if you like, you’re welcome to join Gan Sui for meals any time.”

“I’m afraid not. We—”

“Master, let’s take a walk. Lying down after eating feels worse,” Gan Sui interrupted, knowing what Dean Ye wanted to say, but preferring to speak to Banxia himself.

“Come, Ye old man, let’s check out their shop. All these shelves—are you opening a general store?”

“Yes. I originally wanted to open a restaurant, but Gan Sui said it was too much work. This will be easier.”

“Food service is exhausting—early mornings, late nights, always in the kitchen. Not ideal for a young woman. What will you sell?”

“A bit of everything, really. The back will have household goods—pots, bowls, and pans. The middle section is for sewing supplies, brush and ink, soy sauce and vinegar. Up front: accessories, children’s toys and snacks, cosmetics.”

“That’s quite a range,” Mr. Chuan remarked.

“Well, that’s why it’s called a general store—you can find a little of everything, so you never leave empty-handed.”

“Indeed, it’s the kind of place where thieves never go home empty-handed. It’s getting late, Lin You, shouldn’t you head home?”

Lin You, realizing the time, hurried off to rent a horse and galloped home.

“We two old fellows should go too.”

“The mountain road isn’t easy. Let me escort you,” Gan Sui offered.

“No need. Your senior’s sedan chair is waiting outside.” Gan Sui glanced out and saw it was true—Wang family servants had been waiting. He saw them off at the door, then returned.

Banxia was washing dishes in the kitchen when Gan Sui came up behind her and hugged her.

“You scared me! My hands are all greasy—don’t let me get you dirty.” Without modern dish soap, Banxia used wood ash to clean. Tonight’s meal had left her hands sticky with oil.

“I’ll help you wash the dishes.”

“All right, then scoop some hot water and rinse the ones I’ve cleaned.”

Gan Sui followed instructions to the letter, diligently rinsing each dish.

“When I was making the fish, I worried they might not like it, but they weren’t picky at all.”

“You cook wonderfully.”

“With praise like that, did you do something wrong?” Banxia teased.

Gan Sui didn’t answer.

“Are you upset? I was only joking,” Banxia said, seeing his silence.

“No, just a bit tired.”

“Then heat up plenty of water and soak yourself later. I had Housekeeper Gao buy a huge bath barrel—you can have a long soak.”

“All right. Banxia, there’s something I want to tell you.”

“Go ahead.”

“I’ll tell you when we’re back in the room.”

“What’s so mysterious?”

Gan Sui didn’t respond, only finished tidying the dishes in silence and started heating bath water.

Meanwhile, Lin You raced home, arriving just as his father returned from work. Rubbing his eyes, his father stared in surprise, “Why are you back already? First day of school and you’ve been expelled? What did you do, you rascal?” He couldn’t help himself and reached over to twist Lin You’s ear.

“Dad, dad, let go—it hurts!”

“If it hurts, why don’t you behave? I went to such trouble and expense to get you into Azure Cloud Academy, and you come home the first day! Do you want to make me angry enough to die?”

“No, no, listen to me—I haven’t even reported in yet.”

“Then why are you home?”

“I got accepted to Cloud Hidden Academy. I came back so we can get our money back from Azure Cloud.”

Lin Changshan felt Lin You’s forehead. “No fever. What nonsense are you talking about?”

“I’m not talking nonsense.”

“Not talking nonsense? With your abilities, Cloud Hidden Academy? I counted it a blessing that Azure Cloud took you!”

“I’m not that bad! Master Chuan chose me at first sight—”

“Who did you say?” Lin Changshan interrupted.

“Master Chuan Gu from Cloud Hidden Academy. Do you know him? He said he knows you, and even carried me when I was little.”

“I—” Lin Changshan began to reply.

“You met Chuan Gu?” his wife interjected.

“Yes, Mother—at Cloud Hidden Academy in the city.”

“Well, well, excellent. Tomorrow I’ll personally take you to school and properly ‘thank’ Master Chuan.”

Lin You thought: Mother, you don’t sound grateful at all—you sound like you’re out for blood.

“Dear, I think—” Lin Changshan began.

“You have an objection?” She looked at him coldly.

Years of self-preservation made Lin Changshan blurt out, “No, dear, you’re right.”

Lin You thought: My father’s timidity is truly hard to witness.