Chapter 283: The Matchmaker Pays a Visit

"Hey, the meal’s ready!"

The families happily took their seats, enjoying a delightful meal together. It wasn’t until the early evening, after everyone was satisfied with food and drink, that they stood up to see Qin San Lang and his party off.

"Take these things, share them with the brothers in the Military Office and the government office. Don’t mind the trouble of carrying them; you’re newcomers, so you need to handle relationships well. Otherwise, others might be displeased with you." Third Grandma rambled on, instructing Qin San Lang to put four bags filled with bean dregs cakes onto the horse’s back.

After he finished, she brought over two more bags, placing them on the horse Qin Er Lang was riding. "These are filled with seasoning spices, each package is two taels. You take one bag, Kid Wu takes one bag, then give each person a package. Section Leader, Chief Commander, and squad leader should get more packages. They’re in charge of you, so you can’t give them the same amount as the soldiers - that wouldn’t be a gift, that would be an insult."

Qin Er Lang furrowed his brow, very much wanting to throw away those two bags of seasoning spices.

Qin San Lang walked over, helping Third Grandma place the two bags of seasoning spices on the horse’s back, and said with a smile, "Don’t worry, Third Grandma, we’ll share these items with our comrades."

Upon finishing, he mounted his horse, stretched out his hand, and used his strength to pull Luo Wu onto the horse’s back. He said to the families, "We’re leaving now, we’ll be back next time we have leave."

He added, "If Village Chief Sun comes to cause trouble again, don’t keep it to yourselves. Come find us at the Military Office and county government; we’ll come back to help."

"Hey, we understand, don’t worry," Third Grandpa waved his hand, urging him, "Hurry up and leave, it’s getting late."

Qin San Lang looked at Gu Jinli, and seeing her nod earnestly again and again, he laughed. He spurred his horse, whipped it, and rode swiftly out of the village.

Qin Er Lang followed closely behind, and in just a few blinks of an eye, they disappeared from sight.

After Qin San Lang and his party left, Gu Jinli began teaching Ms. Chu, Ms. Yan, and Mrs. Chen how to stir-fry spices, while pondering what new dish to make for Gu Daya’s family.

After three days of thinking, she finally came up with two dishes not found in Great Chu. That evening, she called over Gu Daya’s family and told them, "These are two great snacks to pair with drinks, called braised dishes and roast duck."

"What’s a braised dish? What’s roast duck? Is it like roasting fish, putting a duck on a iron plate to roast?" Gu Daya had worked as a cook at the Li Family, and could make many dishes, yet hadn’t heard of braised dishes or roast duck. "That duck has a strong smell, and its meat is rather tough and not tasty; everyone dislikes it."

Gu Jinli said, "Don’t worry, Aunt, roast duck is not only fragrant, the meat is also tender and juicy, better than chicken."

Nowadays, ducks are inexpensive. A duck weighing three pounds only costs forty-five copper coins, while a living chicken of the same weight costs one hundred copper coins. And if it’s an egg-laying hen, it costs at least one hundred fifty copper coins each, which is quite expensive.

Qi Kangle’s eyes lit up upon hearing this. "If it can be made tastier than chicken, then this business is worth doing. Ducks are much cheaper than chickens."

He then asked, "What’s a braised dish?"

Gu Jinli said, "It’s a kind of snack to pair with drinks. First, make a pot of braising sauce with seasoning spices, then put the meat in to cook. After it’s cooked, soak it for two hours before eating. You can also make vegetarian braised dishes by putting tofu, bean curd sheets, lotus roots into the cooked braising sauce. Once they absorb the flavor, they become vegetarian braised dishes, which are very tasty. Not only are they great snacks to pair with drinks, but they’re also good with rice and steamed buns."

Qi Panzi said, "Vegetarian braised dishes are acceptable, but I’m afraid meat braised dishes are not easy to sell. The town has few wealthy households; not every family is willing to eat meat every day."

Qi Panzi, having worked as a peddler, knew about the conditions of the people in Great Chu Town. Despite living in the town, many families only buy meat every few days.

Gu Daya glared at Qi Panzi: "You haven’t even started, and you’re already being pessimistic."

This was thought out by Xiao Yu with great effort. Instead of praising it, he was speaking discouraging words.

Besides, Xiao Yu teaching them these two new dishes was already kind enough; saying unpleasant words wasn’t right.

Gu Daya now fiercely protected her brother’s family. Even if Qi Panzi was unintentional, she couldn’t stand him saying such things.

On hearing this, Qi Panzi quickly said, "We’ll do as you say."

Gu Jinli found it amusing and said, "Don’t worry, Uncle, although we’re opening the shop in the town, braised dishes can be sold to restaurants in other towns or counties. It’s not just for the people in Qingfu Town."

Braised dishes are snack items everyone loves to pair with drinks. As long as they deliver braised dishes to the restaurants in the county and other towns when they open, she was sure the managers of those restaurants would come and place orders. Then there’s no worry about not making money.

Qi Kangming was very interested upon hearing this, and said, "Father, Mother, this business can be done. Don’t hesitate any longer, let’s do it."

"Do, do, do – your mother doesn’t hesitate." Gu Daya had already surpassed Qi Panzi, becoming the head of the household. With her decision, the matter was settled.

However...

"Xiao Yu, we can’t take this business alone. You’re providing the land, money, and recipe; this business should be split evenly between our two families. If you don’t agree, Aunt won’t open the shop." Gu Daya was very firm. Their family relied on her brother and Xiao Yu for everything they had today. If they were shameless enough to take this business entirely, what kind of people would they be?

She also said, "The land was bought by you, and when the shop is built, it’s your family paying for it. The shop should rightfully be yours, registered under your family’s name – Aunt’s family shouldn’t take it."

She was afraid Gu Jinli would refuse, so she added, "If you sincerely want to give the shop to Aunt’s family, then wait until Aunt’s family earns money to buy it from you later, okay?"

Gu Jinli wasn’t foolish and surely wouldn’t refuse the prospect of more money, so she immediately agreed, "Okay, then we’ll split the profits fifty-fifty. The shop and land can be bought from me by you guys once you’ve earned money."

Gu Daya was overjoyed, "Hey, hey, good, it’s settled then."

After the business for Gu Daya’s family was agreed upon, Gu Jinli began preparing the braising sauce the next day, getting ready to cook the braising broth.

While busy at home, someone suddenly knocked on her courtyard door.

The person knocking was quite rude, pounding loudly on the door, shouting, "Gu Family, open the door quickly, an old lady is bringing good news to your family."

After speaking, she raised her voice, singing a tune that Gu Jinli had never heard before.

The tune had a Peking opera style, and Gu Jinli could only understand words like "good times, two families, marriage coming."

She furrowed her brows and walked out of the kitchen, but Third Grandma already asked through the courtyard door, "Who are you? You might have the wrong house."

Gu Jinli couldn’t understand the folk song, but Third Grandma knew it. It was a wedding melody, traditionally sung only when two families had finalized an engagement or were getting married.

There were also some matchmakers who would sing it when visiting to discuss marriage, but that was only when both families had already agreed and wanted to have a lively occasion, allowing the matchmaker to be this high-profile.

None of the children in their home had discussed marriage with anyone. The matchmaker had arrived, singing this wedding melody, making Third Grandma quite displeased.