Chapter 53: Adapting to Survive, Not to Die
Wen Yao gave an embarrassed smile. “I’m not that smart, I’d better not. Otherwise, I’m afraid Doctor Jin might kick me out, and that’d drag my brother down. That wouldn’t be good.”
Which drew hearty laughter from Doctor Jin and Shopkeeper Qiu.
By now, Wen Yao had pretty much finished collecting from the medicine cabinets—she’d racked up nearly a thousand achievement points without realizing it.
Now that they’d arrived, she couldn’t loiter around the cabinet area anymore. So she brought out the sweet-and-sour crispy pork she’d made earlier—though, unfortunately, it had cooled.
On the way there, she’d kept it warm in her space. That’s why it was still hot when Hong Hai first saw it. But now they were at the clinic, and if it were still hot after all this time, it’d definitely raise suspicions.
Shopkeeper Qiu pointed toward the backyard. “There’s a kitchen out back.” In other words, she could go reheat it.
Wen Yao raised a brow. “That’s perfect. I’ll head out to buy some groceries and make lunch for you all.”
Doctor Jin and Shopkeeper Qiu exchanged a glance, then both chuckled. “Then we’ll look forward to tasting your cooking at noon.”
“No problem, leave it to me! I’ll go buy ingredients now.” Wen Yao dropped off the crispy pork in the back kitchen and took her basket out to the market.
Doctor Jin and Shopkeeper Qiu were both fond of Wen Yao. Once she had gone far enough away, they returned to their own tasks—Shopkeeper Qiu began reviewing the previous day’s account books, while Doctor Jin quizzed Wen Jun on what he had studied at home the night before.
Wen Yao made a beeline for Butcher Zheng’s stall.
“Uncle Zheng!”
Butcher Zheng smiled broadly when he saw her. “Yao Yao, here already? What would you like today? Just point, and I’ll cut it for you.”
Wen Yao picked out a piece of pork belly to make braised pork for lunch, then said, “Uncle Zheng, my dad is taking my brother to deliver his formal apprenticeship gift the day after tomorrow. Can you deliver the goods a little earlier tomorrow? And also the pork intestines we asked for—they’ll be for a celebration at my great-aunt’s family. My dad will be helping out, so we won’t be setting up our stall for a few days. Just letting you know so you don’t come for nothing.”
“Got it, already reserved for you. I’ll deliver them tomorrow evening. Once you’re back to running the stall, let me know—I’ll deliver again then,” Butcher Zheng replied.
Wen Yao thanked him and asked him to put the meat on her tab, then continued shopping for vegetables.
By the time she returned, the clinic had begun seeing patients. She saw Wen Jun attentively observing Doctor Jin treat someone. After greeting Shopkeeper Qiu and Hong Hai, she headed to the back to start cooking.
People came and went, and time passed quickly. Just before noon, delicious aromas began wafting from the backyard kitchen. Not only did the four in the clinic catch the scent—even the patients couldn’t help but sniff the air hungrily.
Shopkeeper Qiu left the front counter to Hong Hai and rushed to the kitchen.
“Yao Yao, what are you cooking that smells this good? We can smell it from the front!” he said as he stepped into the kitchen, where steam was rising from a pot on the stove—the source of the mouthwatering smell.
Wen Yao, holding a spatula, was reducing the sauce on the braised pork.
“Braised pork, Uncle Qiu. Want to try a piece?” She scooped out a piece, placed it in a bowl, and handed it to him.
Shopkeeper Qiu gave it a sniff and clicked his tongue in appreciation. “Smells amazing!”
Not just the aroma—it looked beautiful too. Alternating layers of fat and lean meat quivered slightly with every wobble of the bowl, utterly tempting.
He picked up chopsticks and took a bite. The fat was rich but not greasy, the meat tender and silky, melting in his mouth. His eyes widened as he nodded enthusiastically—this was the best braised pork he had ever tasted.
“Fantastic, just fantastic. Sweet but not cloying, perfectly cooked, melts right in your mouth. Yao girl, your cooking skills could rival the chefs at Drunken Immortal Tower!” he praised sincerely.
Wen Yao smiled. “Just a hobby of mine, I’m nowhere near professional chefs.”
Shopkeeper Qiu set down the bowl and wiped his mouth with a handkerchief, grinning. “We’re in for a feast at noon.”
Wen Yao finished plating the braised pork, then began preparing the rest of the dishes. “Once you and Doctor Jin are done, come back and eat.”
“Alright, I’ll go check on the front. Once there’re no more patients, we’ll come back.” He left in high spirits.
Wen Yao reheated the crispy pork, stir-fried two vegetable dishes, and made a tofu and egg custard soup. She arranged all four dishes and one soup neatly on the table.
Doctor Jin finished treating the last patient—who had actually been so lured by the aroma in the clinic that he cut his visit short out of hunger. After prescribing the medicine, he left promptly.
Though midday visits were rare, just to be safe, Shopkeeper Qiu had Hong Hai install a few planks across the entrance, leaving only a small door. That way, if any urgent cases arrived, they could still be let in without disturbing lunch.
The four of them chatted as they walked toward the backyard. Even from afar, the delicious scent made their mouths water.
“Whoa, Yao Yao, this all looks amazing!” Hong Hai was the first to charge into the kitchen. Upon seeing the four dishes and soup on the table, he swallowed several mouthfuls of saliva.
It didn’t just smell good—it looked good too. Just looking at it stirred the appetite.
Doctor Jin, having once served as an imperial physician, had tasted the rarest of delicacies. Compared to the others, he remained composed. Still, he stroked his beard and nodded approvingly. “Indeed, very nice.”
“Master, please have a seat.” Wen Jun politely pulled out a chair for Doctor Jin and helped him sit, then went to scoop rice.
“Shopkeeper, please sit.” Hong Hai followed suit.
Doctor Jin and Shopkeeper Qiu were happy to enjoy the younger generation’s attentive service. They chatted while waiting. Once everyone was seated, Wen Yao said, “Doctor Jin, Uncle Qiu, please try it and let me know if it’s good.”
Shopkeeper Qiu chuckled. “I already had a taste. Old Jin, it’s your turn.”
Doctor Jin picked up his chopsticks and sampled a piece under everyone’s expectant eyes. After a long moment, he nodded and said, “Not bad at all. I didn’t expect Yao girl, young as she is, to cook so well.”
Shopkeeper Qiu teased with a smile, “How does it compare to what the imperial chefs used to make?”
In her past life, Wen Yao had greatly admired skilled chefs who could make incredible food. Imperial chefs—now that was the pinnacle of culinary mastery. After all, they cooked for the emperor himself.
She looked at Doctor Jin curiously. “Doctor Jin, you’ve eaten food made by imperial chefs? Was it really that good?”
Doctor Jin smiled gently. “I was once honored with such a gift. Palace chefs are often from hereditary lines, though some are selected from the people. Yao girl, your cooking may not match the palace chefs yet, but it’s already exceptional.
Most importantly, you’re still young. If you truly pursue this craft, you’ll surely go far.”
After saying that, Doctor Jin looked at Wen Yao and added, “If you’re really passionate about this, keep studying. Though I’ve left the Imperial Medical Bureau, I still know a few imperial chefs. If you ever need, I could introduce you.”
Becoming a palace chef? That was probably every cook’s dream. But not Wen Yao’s. Having watched countless palace dramas in her previous life, she knew better than anyone just how terrifying the palace could be. Reality was always crueler than fiction.
They were adapting to this era in order to survive—not to throw themselves into the fire.
Wen Yao smiled and politely declined. “Thank you, Doctor Jin. I’m just cooking to please my own taste buds. I wouldn’t dare dream of becoming an imperial chef.”
