Qin Ke gently picked up a slice of tender fish with his chopsticks and placed it into Lu Youqing's bowl. After a moment's thought, he also added some bean sprouts soaked in the fragrant, mildly spicy broth. Looking at her expectantly, he said, "Try it, my lady."
He worried that people here had never tasted spicy food before and might find it hard to accept at first, so the boiled fish was only lightly spicy.
To be honest, even Lu Youqing—who usually did not favor strongly flavored food—had been drawn in by the enticing aroma of the dishes.
She put the food Qin Ke had picked for her into her mouth. The fresh, delicate fish seemed to dance on her tongue, its fine texture intertwining with the unique numbing heat, filling her entire mouth.
It was her first time tasting spice. Warmth slowly spread from her mouth down into her stomach.
"The flavor… is very novel."
Qin Ke turned his head and saw that the others had also dipped their chopsticks into the dish. At first their expressions showed surprise, but soon they couldn't help themselves and took another bite. Sweat beaded on their foreheads, their lips turned red, and they ate with the unmistakable air of people who found it more delicious with every mouthful.
Spicy food quickens the heartbeat and pulse, stimulates the secretion of gastric juices and saliva, speeds up digestion, and increases appetite, giving people a sense of pleasure and stimulation. That was why people often said the spicier it was, the more one wanted to eat.
Worried that Lu Youqing's stomach might be too delicate to handle it, Qin Ke instead picked up some shredded potatoes and put them into her bowl.
This time, she did not eat right away. She lifted the evenly cut potato shreds and examined them. Seeing how translucent they were, she asked, "Are these the potatoes you grew?"
"Yes. Potatoes are very high in starch, very filling, and there are many ways to eat them. Even steaming them plain works," Qin Ke explained.
They were crisp, tangy, and appetizing—an extremely refreshing side dish.
After tasting the shredded potatoes, Lu Youqing didn't wait for Qin Ke this time. She reached straight for the potato chunks stewed with pork.
The potatoes and cabbage in the pork stew had been cooked until very soft—if not quite melting in the mouth, then close to it. The potato chunks had soaked up the rich broth completely. Soft and fluffy, they broke down in her mouth with the aroma of pork. Paired with freshly steamed rice, each grain distinct, the taste was even better.
"It's very good."
A gentle happiness softened her eyes. Seeing the faint smile appear between her brows, Qin Ke knew she liked it.
While the two of them tasted each dish at an unhurried pace, Han Qi and the others reacted far more directly. Heads lowered, eyes fixed on their bowls, mouths chewing nonstop, their chopsticks moved rapidly between bowls and plates.
"There are many more ways to cook potatoes. I'll make them for you one by one in the future," Qin Ke said, finally tasting a flavor he had long missed and feeling deeply satisfied.
Beside them, Pei Xiu was already used to the couple's frequent displays of affection. Each time she tasted a dish, she closed her eyes and slowly savored it, judging how popular it might be if served at Caiyue Pavilion.
The plates on the table were cleaned spotless. Even the remaining broth from the stew was poured over rice and completely finished by Lei Zhong and the others.
Very good—judging by their reactions, everyone accepted these dishes extremely well. That meant it would be much easier to promote these never-before-seen vegetables.
The next stretch of time was spent overseeing the harvest of potatoes and chili peppers. Potato yields reached roughly 3,600 kilograms per mu.
Potatoes truly lived up to their reputation for high yield. A single mu could support several times more people than wheat or rice. They also required less fertile soil and were highly cold-resistant—an extremely important crop for a country with a large population.
Half of the harvested potatoes were stored directly in the warehouse. Of course, when no one was around, Qin Ke also quietly transferred portions into his own space.
He moved a little each day. Since new potatoes were carried in daily, no one noticed anything amiss. After all, no one knew exactly how many potatoes he had harvested.
As for the rest, Qin Ke found Pei Xiu and had her arrange transport to Liangzhou to serve as seed stock for the following year.
Chili harvesting progressed much faster than potatoes. The area was smaller and the process simpler—just picking them off the plants.
Soon, Qin Ke's courtyard turned into a sea of red. Every spare space was covered with drying chilies. When Chu Yi and the others first saw them, they curiously moved closer—only to be driven back by the pungent aroma, lowering their heads and sneezing repeatedly.
Seeing this, Qin Ke burst into laughter and mercilessly mocked them.
After that, they no longer dared approach the chilies, rushing instead into Lu Youqing's arms for comfort. She stroked their heads and shot Qin Ke a reproachful glance.
Qin Ke rubbed his nose. Seeing Liu Yue sprawled in front of Lu Youqing, belly exposed and waiting for her to rub it, he ground his teeth silently.
Tonight's dinner for them was canceled.
While Qin Ke was busy with the harvest, Lu Youqing began preparing for their move after the new year. The first matter to resolve was Li Nanqiao's employment contract.
After resting at home for a few days, Li Nanqiao returned. Lu Youqing called her into the study.
"Madam, is there something you wish to discuss?" Li Nanqiao asked, sensing that Lu Youqing wanted to speak privately.
After so long together, Lu Youqing was deeply reluctant. But she could not force Li Nanqiao to leave her homeland and move to distant Liangzhou. This was her home, where her irreplaceable family lived.
"Nanqiao, after the new year, my husband and I plan to go to Liangzhou."
Li Nanqiao's heart skipped. "Will you… come back?"
"We'll likely settle there for the time being," Lu Youqing said, her face tinged with reluctance.
Li Nanqiao fell silent.
She did not ask why they were leaving Qinghe Village for such a remote place. She knew they had their own plans and intentions.
She might not be very clever, but there were things she could still understand.
"Nanqiao, I know your family and relatives are all here. My husband and I never intended to force you to come with us to Liangzhou. The contract we signed can be terminated at any time," Lu Youqing said softly as she stood and walked over to her. "We've discussed this. After we leave, all the fields we own in Qinghe Village will be entrusted entirely to you. You may manage them as you wish, and all the harvest will be yours. That will be more than enough to ensure you and your mother never lack food or clothing."
Li Nanqiao knew that by these terms, she was gaining immensely.
They charged her no rent at all. Those dozens of mu of land were practically hers—few households in the village owned that much land.
Her master and madam were truly, truly good people. When she was struggling, they gave her a well-paying position.
Her madam even taught her to read and write in her spare time. And even as they prepared to leave, they did everything they could to arrange her future properly.
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