Chapter 33
Fang Yu heard the familiar voice again, coming from above him. He looked up: "Brother Li, Brother Ji, you're here too!"
"I heard Brother Fang was injured while riding a horse a while ago. Seeing Brother Fang now full of energy and vigor, is your body fully recovered? You even have such leisure to take a..." The two did not recognize Qiao Hezhi. From upstairs, judging by the figure, they could only tell it was a young ger. As they had never discussed family matters in their previous interactions, they were afraid of using the wrong form of address and causing gossip, so the sentence was left unfinished.
Li Yun, being worldly and experienced, naturally understood that men often pursued romantic pleasures. In the capital, it was common for men to take their lovers out for amusement in the streets and markets, but it was rare for anyone to bring their wife along.
However, Fang Yu... from his understanding, did not seem like someone who kept a lover.
"Ah, my apologies," Fang Yu said. "I forgot to introduce. This is my fulang."
Upon hearing the voices, Qiao Hezhi also reined in his horse—quietly, without making a sound. He hadn't expected to meet acquaintances here. Hearing Fang Yu happily greeting people and striking up a conversation, Qiao Hezhi wished he could pull a cloth to cover Fang Yu's face and, naturally, his own as well.
But with the conversation at this point, he could only brace himself and nod in acknowledgment to the two scholars, as if performing a bow.
Li Yun saw the person on the horse had handsome, quite beautiful features—no wonder Fang Yu would take him out for a stroll on horseback. He couldn't help but tease Fang Yu: "Seeing for oneself is better than hearing the reputation. When Brother Fang and I first became acquainted, it was because of your fulang's excellent culinary skills. For Brother Fang to teach your fulang how to ride a horse, you two are truly an enviably affectionate couple."
Fang Yu laughed, as honest as could be: "You flatter me. I don't actually know how to ride a horse, it's my fulang taking me out to walk the horse."
Qiao Hezhi widened his eyes and shot Fang Yu a secret glare: Why did you have to say that!
Fang Yu also widened his eyes and looked back: But it's true~
Hearing this, Li Yun and Ji Yunlu were stunned for a moment. They couldn't help but look at each other. Even the ever-so-serious Ji Yunlu couldn't prevent a smile from touching his brows. A bellyful of words reached his lips, but he only managed to say: "Brother Fang truly... has refined tastes!"
"It's truly because my family was poor when I was young, and I never had the chance to learn equestrian skills. Now that my in-laws have sent two fine horses, I'm making an effort to improve, lest I embarrass myself another day," Fang Yu said, waving his hand. "I'll take my leave now, you two gentlemen. I won't disturb your tea. Let's meet another day."
Watching the horse trot away along the bluestone pavement of the long street, Ji Yunlu shook his head with a smile and remarked: "Brother Fang really is a remarkable man, completely unafraid of losing face."
Li Yun, however, had a sharper eye: "He cares about face normally, but when it comes to matters involving his fulang, he abandons that concern. It's truly outrageous. Just now, I saw his fulang clearly had a gentle, virtuous, and kind appearance. Last time we drank, I invited him along, and arranged for a few courtesans to accompany us. He refused to drink, insisting his household management was strict and he was constrained. He only drank after I dismissed the courtesans."
"Did such a thing really happen?" Ji Yunlu said. "I have also heard some gossip. I heard he married the only son of the Qiao family tea merchants, and there were opinions about him abandoning a scholar's integrity to associate with wealthy merchants. But after observing him today, it seems that's not entirely the case. It seems he and the Qiao family young master were originally mutually affectionate. Moreover, Brother Fang's every word was frank and open, without any concealment, which is truly admirable."
Li Yun took a sip of tea: "In the end, Brother Fang lives a carefree life. He is a man of understanding."
Over here, Qiao Hezhi and Fang Yu found a small shop selling sugar-roasted chestnuts. They tied the horse to a tree outside. Qiao Hezhi asked: "Were those two gentlemen your classmates just now?"
"They're both from Han De Academy, but not in the same classroom," Fang Yu said, then added: "They are Li Yun, from the Education Commissioner's residence, and Ji Yunlu, from the Assistant Prefect's residence, whose invitation cards I saw today."
Upon hearing this, Qiao Hezhi's brow furrowed tightly: "Why didn't you tell me earlier? And you didn't conceal anything at all. Aren't you afraid they'll laugh at you in private?"
"They are not the type to gossip privately, otherwise I wouldn't have befriended them. Don't worry. Besides, I'm just riding horses and strolling with you. That Li Yun even tried to get me to drink and keep company with courtesans! I was completely honest today, which is like laying all my cards on the table. If they look down on me, they'll naturally distance themselves in the future. If I kept hiding things, and they found out something from others one day, it would probably cause more friction."
Qiao Hezhi thought it over carefully and felt Fang Yu's words were indeed reasonable.
Riding horses was a small matter. He was afraid these scholars from high-status families would look down on him, born into a merchant household, and subsequently not think well of Fang Yu for marrying him. Instinctively, he wanted to hide these matters. Just as Fang Yu said, one could conceal things for a while but not forever. If everything was laid bare from the beginning, future disputes over these matters could be avoided. It would be far more regrettable if they grew close and formed a deep bond, only to part ways later because of incompatible family backgrounds.
He felt Fang Yu's perspective on many matters was truly clearer than his own. But he still looked at the man fiercely and said: "Well... that may be so, but those are your usual male social circles. Now, the first time the people you befriend see me, it's in such a scene. Who knows how they'll joke about me. In a few days, you host a gathering, and I'll make up for today's impropriety."
Fang Yu held Qiao Hezhi's hand: "Okay, okay, I'll listen to your arrangements."
During the New Year festival, the dried fruit and nut shop's business was very good. People were everywhere, buying snacks to use for entertaining guests or passing the time. They could be arranged on plates for banquets, grabbed by the handful to amuse children, or peeled and eaten comfortably while chatting around a brazier.
The two had originally come to buy sugar-roasted chestnuts. The local chestnuts, though not large in size, were plump, starchy, and glutinous. Peeled while still warm, they were fragrant and floury. A small paper bag full offered enough to keep one peeling for quite some time.
Since they had already entered the shop, Fang Yu couldn't bear to just buy chestnuts and leave. He looked around at the novelties.
Various dried goods like dried red dates, wild wolfberries, and pumpkin seeds were stored in large hemp sacks. This era didn't have sunflower seeds yet. He looked around but didn't see any, feeling some regret, as sunflower seeds were the outstanding representative among nuts and dried fruits.
Although there were no sunflower seeds, there was a substitute at this time: watermelon seeds.
These watermelon seeds were not from the sweet-fleshed watermelons eaten in summer, but from a fruit called a "beating melon." The seeds were flat and much larger than sweet watermelon seeds, somewhat resembling pumpkin seeds.
Currently, taverns and teahouses mostly used this type of watermelon seed. Their household had bought some a while ago, and he had seen Madam Chen cracking them happily in her room. He had also tried them; they were crispy and fragrant, but there was only the original flavor.
"Hezhi, let's buy some watermelon seeds to take back too."
Fang Yu pondered. In later times, watermelon seeds and sunflower seeds came in many flavors: savory, milky, green tea, even Sichuan peppercorn flavor, etc. Since the snacks at the Book and Tea House were ordinary and bland, without distinctive features, if they made some other flavors themselves, it could also attract interest with something new.
He shared his idea with Qiao Hezhi. Qiao Hezhi laughed: "When it comes to food, you can always come up with unique ideas. Then let's buy more to take back and try making first. If it succeeds, it won't be a wasted effort."
"Good. But everything in this shop is dried goods. To make other flavors, we need raw watermelon seeds to absorb the seasoning properly."
The two obtained the address of the farmer who produced the raw watermelon seeds from the shopkeeper. Watermelon seeds were a popular leisure food; many people ate them, so many people grew them. They were quite easy to buy.
They washed the watermelon seeds clean, drained them, heated them in a wok, added a mixture of salt and sugar water to the wok with the seeds, and fried them together until dry and cooked.
Qiao Hezhi had culinary skills to begin with. Managing heat and such tasks came naturally to him. Under Fang Yu's guidance, which was like reciting poetry—methodological instructions—he actually succeeded on the first try.
They also had to thank Fang Yu for his past love of researching and documenting food. Although he couldn't actually cook, he remembered the theory.
Watermelon seeds fried with salt and sugar naturally had a richer flavor: fragrant, crispy, with a salty-sweet taste. One couldn't stop cracking them.
The product was good, but items like salt and sugar were quite expensive at this time. Ordinary households couldn't afford such extravagance. And it wasn't just salt and sugar; several flavors Fang Yu wanted to experiment with, like matcha, Sichuan peppercorn, soy sauce, etc., required precious ingredients.
It wasn't that people today didn't know how to research food. Watermelon seeds were so common yet had only one original flavor, largely because experimenting with other flavors was too costly to undertake. If successful, it could generate significant profit; if not, it would waste expensive seasonings like oil and salt.
Following the method for salt-and-sugar fried watermelon seeds, making other flavors was essentially the same process with different seasonings. The key was adjusting proportions, not making the flavor too strong, which would be both overwhelming and wasteful, yielding little gain for the cost. However, with Qiao Hezhi here, they managed to make several flavors with very few failures.
The two spent a full day experimenting in the small kitchen. Qiao Hezhi, wearing an apron, busied himself in front of the stove. Fang Yu, beside him, took notes with pen and paper—recording recipes, heat levels, timing... bustling up and down, seeming even busier than Qiao Hezhi. Though it was laborious and tiring work, working together like this, they didn't find the day annoying or exhausting.
By the time it grew dark, they had made four flavors of watermelon seeds. Including the original flavor, it made a perfect five-flavor sampler platter.
Fang Yu was in high spirits. He sent a good amount of watermelon seeds to Changshou Hall. The servants at home also each received a handful of different flavors to taste. They even gathered together, exchanging flavors to try. All were made with precious ingredients, something not yet available outside. Holding a handful, they were overjoyed.
"Your ideas are truly plentiful."
Qiao Hezhi held the watermelon seeds, unable to suppress his happiness. Although he made them himself, without Fang Yu's recipe, it would have been hard to think of this direction.
Fang Yu cracked a few. Among them, he liked the matcha flavor best, retaining a hint of tea fragrance. It was specially made using Qiao family tea leaves. It would be quite fitting to serve as a snack at the Book and Tea House and likely sell well. "I think all the flavors are good. Let's pack and seal some to send to your family, so your parents can taste our handiwork. Your father sent two fine horses, and we haven't sent anything back to show filial piety. These watermelon seeds can serve that purpose now."
Qiao Hezhi happily nodded. Fang Yu remembering his family naturally pleased him. He immediately instructed Siyu to handle it.
Novel yet not overly unconventional, homely and practical—Fang Yu felt that before putting them on sale at the Book and Tea House, they could also be packaged exquisitely as gifts. They would be very presentable at banquets too. He could give them as gifts when visiting Li Yun and Ji Yunlu. Usually, drinking empty-handed was fine, but visiting during the New Year festival without a gift would be somewhat impolite.
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