Chapter 30 Part 1

Chu Lingyue lifted her gaze and locked eyes with Tang Jin for a moment before slowly curving her lips into a smile. “A-Jin is a good person—someone worth entrusting your future to.”

【Ding! Rewarded one pot of Abalone Chicken Wing Stew.】

【Ding! Rewarded one pot of Garlic Honey Glazed Chicken Wings.】

“Wife, you’re too kind,” Tang Jin thought to herself, letting out a huge sigh of relief deep in her heart. Finally, it wasn’t Century Egg Lean Meat Congee.

But why had the System dumped twenty bowls of that stuff on her all at once before? Could it be…

A spark of realization flickered in her mind, and she wandered over to a fruit stall.

“Old timer, are these dried persimmons sweet?”

“Sweet as can be—every single one.”

【Ding! Rewarded one bowl of Century Egg Lean Meat Congee.】

Tang Jin stared at the extra bowl of Century Egg Lean Meat Congee that had appeared on her Goods Shelf, utterly speechless. A few more of these, and she could just open a congee shop.

It seemed the System wasn’t glitching. The reward conditions must vary somehow.

Nothing like this had happened with Chu Lingyue. The issue had to lie with these vendors.

Tang Jin quickly pieced together the clues, a vague theory taking shape.

She was meeting these vendors for the first time—complete strangers with no prior connection.

Chu Lingyue, on the other hand, was the original host’s wife, someone she’d lived with day in and day out, and currently her closest partner in this venture.

If she wasn’t mistaken, the System judged lies based on the relationship—or rather, how closely tied the liar was to her.

Familiar people or acquaintances triggered gourmet rewards. Strangers got her Century Egg Lean Meat Congee.

Convinced of her hunch, Tang Jin turned back to Chu Lingyue. “Wife, let’s head home.”

The sun had risen high, and by now, Grandmother and Tang Laidi should be up. It was time for breakfast.

This time, Tang Jin was generous. The moment they reached the restaurant, without waiting for anyone to prompt her, she dashed straight into the kitchen. In the blink of an eye, she emerged carrying a tray.

On it sat four bowls of Century Egg Lean Meat Congee.

“That was fast,” Tang Laidi muttered offhandedly. “Didn’t even hear you chopping meat.” She couldn’t wait to take a sip.

Then she started gulping it down heartily.

The century eggs were chewy and bouncy, the lean pork silky smooth, and the rice fragrant and tender. It was delicious.

Tang Laidi spoke without thinking, but Tang Jin took it to heart, suddenly on alert. From now on, before bringing out any dishes, she’d have to pretend to chop vegetables—or even light a fire…

Seeing Tang Jin lost in thought, Chu Lingyue smoothly chimed in. “I started the congee and let it simmer before we headed out. Grandmother, give it a try.”

Old Madam Tang chuckled warmly. “Alright, you good kids. I’ll dig in.”

After breakfast, Tang Jin had the perfect excuse to hole up in the kitchen with her book. “You all rest. I’ll go chop some vegetables.”

Soon, the sound of a kitchen knife thwacking against the cutting board echoed from the kitchen. At first, it sounded normal enough, but it grew increasingly off-rhythm.

Old Madam Tang frowned as she listened. Her unlucky granddaughter had always been one to slack off. One listen to that choppy hacking, and it was clear she wasn’t doing it properly. Who chopped vegetables that slowly? Hit or miss, no steady beat at all.

Noticing her expression, Chu Lingyue said understandingly, “We’ve got plenty of time before opening. A-Jin can take it slow—she’ll make it.”

Old Madam Tang’s face instantly lit up with a grin. “Lingyue’s right. As long as it doesn’t delay business, it’s fine. Tang Jin’s always been a slow one. You’ll have to keep an eye on her from now on.”

Chu Lingyue smiled and rose to clear the bowls and dishes, heading to the back courtyard to wash them.

Seeing this, Old Madam Tang followed suit. She set to steaming rice early and brewing tea, all the while watching Chu Lingyue scrub the dishes. The more she watched, the more satisfied she grew.

That left Tang Laidi alone in the main hall. She wiped down a table, then sprawled in boredom, waiting for lunch.

What would lunch be? Surely there’d be meat. She couldn’t wait.

“How is it congee again?” Tang Laidi’s excitement deflated. Where was the meat? The proper dishes? Fine, there was meat in the congee, but she craved hearty feasts.

Tang Jin kept a straight face. “We made too much this morning. It won’t keep, so everyone make do with it.”

This was nothing—thirteen bowls still sat on the Goods Shelf.

Tang Laidi forced a dry laugh. “I can make do, but what about Grandmother and Lingyue?”

Talk about stingy. Chopping vegetables all morning, and not a single dish to show for it?

Tang Jin said nothing, glancing instead at Old Madam Tang and Chu Lingyue.

Old Madam Tang, being older, preferred soft foods, and the congee was tasty enough. She had no complaints.

Chu Lingyue, however, remarked, “I like congee. It’d be nice if we had it again tonight.” As she spoke, her gaze flicked to Tang Jin, a subtle scrutiny lurking in her eyes.

The previous dishes had come one at a time. But ever since this woman kept asking, “What do you think of me?” Garlic Honey Glazed Chicken Wings and Abalone Chicken Wing Stew had become daily staples.

And this congee—eight bowls across two meals. If there was anything different about today compared to before…

Her mind flashed to the vegetable market scene, Tang Jin going stall to stall with her questions…

She thought she understood the trick behind this woman’s ability to conjure gourmet dishes out of thin air.

Oblivious to how close Chu Lingyue had come to the truth, Tang Jin beamed. “If Wife likes it, we’ll have congee tonight too. Plenty left in the pot.”

She wouldn’t splurge on anything else, but congee? Endless supply.

Wasn’t Chu Lingyue just the best?

Tang Laidi rolled her eyes in utter despondence. Suddenly, tomorrow’s meals held no appeal. She wanted meat! Big, juicy bites of meat!

Old Madam Tang’s face stiffened too. Tomorrow as well?

But since it was Chu Lingyue’s suggestion, she shot Tang Jin a sideways glare and held her tongue.

Only Tang Jin was thrilled. She’d decided: porridge every morning from now on. Just Century Egg Lean Meat Congee.

She’d tag along with Chu Lingyue to peddle those plates, then swing by the market to stockpile more.

After lunch, Old Madam Tang headed off for her afternoon nap as usual.

The remaining three sat in the main hall, staring at one another.

“A-Jin, today’s menu still needs writing,” Chu Lingyue reminded her mildly.

“On it.” Tang Jin stepped to the counter and picked up her brush.

Today was the sixth of the twelfth lunar month—a double-six day. Signature dish: Abalone Chicken Wing Stew, same as always—one pot divided into three portions. What about the other three?

She glanced at the ethereal Goods Shelf. Not much to choose from.

Fine then: a plate of Spicy Chicken Dice, a plate of Sweet and Sour Pork, and a plate of Pine Nut Corn. Done.

After posting the menu, Tang Jin mentally tallied her stock. Subtracting today’s six dishes left two pots of Garlic Honey Glazed Chicken Wings, one pot of Abalone Chicken Wing Stew, one steamer of Custard Buns, and thirteen bowls of Century Egg Lean Meat Congee.

Stockpiling was a long road ahead.

She sat back down, her thoughts drifting to tomorrow’s menu.

“Wife, are you full?”

Chu Lingyue looked up, her tone gentle. “Mostly.”

No System response. Tang Jin felt a twinge of regret but rallied. “Wife, we’ve been married a year now, right?”

What to chat about? Asking about Chu Lingyue’s past would surely yield rewards.

But the woman clearly carried more pain than joy from those days. Tang Jin couldn’t bear to pry at old wounds.

Chu Lingyue nodded. “A year, two months, and three days.”

She had arrived in Ping’an County last autumn. The day Tang Jin saved her was the sixth of the tenth month, and they wed three days later. Today was the sixth of the twelfth.

Surprise flickered in Tang Jin’s eyes. She remembered that precisely?

“Wife, do you recall the exact date we married?”

Chu Lingyue nodded again. “Sixth of the tenth.”

Tang Jin was stunned. The original host’s memories didn’t even hold the month or day. Was this woman blessed with perfect recall, or did she care that much?

Tang Jin now knew which direction to probe. No need to dredge up Chu Lingyue’s history—she could ask about the original host’s instead.

“Wife, what was your impression of me back then?”

The question landed, and Chu Lingyue’s thoughts stirred. She replied evenly, “A-Jin back then was…”

She paused, then slowly offered a few words.

“Outspoken and straightforward.” Always yelling at her without a care.

“Competitive and independent.” Prideful to a fault, suffering alone and ignoring everyone else—her included.

【Ding! Rewarded one plate of Meat Sauce Mashed Potatoes.】

【Ding! Rewarded one plate of Slippery Egg Beef Slices.】

A smile lit Tang Jin’s eyes. As expected, Chu Lingyue was the key to good dishes.

Chu Lingyue subtly observed her reaction, her suspicions solidifying. Sure enough, this woman’s food-conjuring ability was almost certainly tied to asking others questions.

Who would have thought such an outlandish thing existed in the world?

Nearby, Tang Laidi listened in, growing increasingly restless.

She glanced at Tang Jin, whose eyes sparkled with satisfaction over who-knows-what, then at Chu Lingyue, whose expression remained placid and inscrutable. Unable to hold back, she blurted out, “You two have been married over a year. Chat about the stuff you should—don’t be so boring with all this.”

One asking about wedding dates, the other about impressions. Could they be any more indirect?

With her impatient streak, she craved something juicier.

Tang Jin and Chu Lingyue both turned to her.

Tang Laidi flushed under their stares, fidgeting. “What? I’m just curious. I mean, I want some tips in advance.”

Chu Lingyue withdrew her gaze and looked toward the counter, saying nothing.