Chapter Thirty-Eight: Calling the Grapes Sour When You Can't Have Them

"Mr. Qin, what brings you here?" Lin Sangqian asked in surprise.

Though Lin Zhengde had asked her where she lived before, she never imagined that Qin Zhengde would actually come looking for her.

He chuckled, slightly embarrassed, and said, "Ah, it's my greedy mouth to blame. I simply can't forget Miss Lin's cooking. Last night, I craved it so much that today I had to come find you. I hope I'm not disturbing you?"

"Of course not," Lin Sangqian replied with a smile. "Please, Mr. Qin, come in and have a seat."

"Wait a moment," Qin Zhengde said, turning to glance behind him. "I'm waiting for my driver."

As soon as he spoke, the driver appeared in everyone's view, carrying a large sack over his shoulder.

The sack had just been sitting in the carriage. After tying up the horse, the driver quickly followed with the sack.

"Wow, what's in that huge sack?"

"Isn't it obvious? Must be gifts for the third Lin family."

"Could it be a sack of money?"

"Who knows!"

"Mr. Qin, please come inside," Lin Sangqian said, smiling.

Under the envious gazes of the onlookers, Qin Zhengde followed Lin Sangqian inside, with the driver close behind, lugging the sack.

Lai Ruyu and her daughter watched from the side, nearly driven mad with jealousy.

Why? Why did such good fortune fall to the third Lin family, to Lin Sangqian?

Standing next to Lai Ruyu, Lai Rufang couldn't help but mutter, "Sister, I never noticed before, but your niece is quite something."

"Hmph, what's so impressive?" Lai Ruyu replied with a dark expression. "Who knows what underhanded tricks she used!"

Someone overheard and remarked, "You shouldn't call the grapes sour just because you can't have them."

"That's right, it’s just jealousy!"

"You—what do I have to be jealous of?" Lai Ruyu fumed. "My daughter Shuimei is so beautiful, she'll marry a wealthy man sooner or later!"

"Mother! Please, let's just go," Lin Shuimei said, mortified.

Someone else added, "Just don't make another scene like last time."

"Exactly! The last time Mr. Qin came for Lin Sangqian, you tried to bring him to your own house, but he said he didn't even know Lin Shuimei. How embarrassing!"

"If it were me, I'd hide under the covers at home!"

"You people are too much!" Lai Ruyu shouted hoarsely.

Even Lai Rufang felt humiliated. She shot Lin Shuimei a look, and the two hurriedly dragged Lai Ruyu away.

As they walked, Lin Shuimei kept glancing back toward Lin Sangqian’s house.

Why did a wealthy man come looking for Lin Sangqian? What treasures had he brought?

If only those things were meant for her, how wonderful it would be!

Tian Liu, oh Tian Liu, why haven’t you come to teach Lin Sangqian a lesson yet?

As soon as Qin Zhengde arrived, he was warmly received by Lin Sangqian and her family.

After all, when Boss Bao Mingzhi refused to let Lin Wenyen and the others leave, it was Qin Zhengde who spoke up for them.

Besides, Qin Zhengde was a shopkeeper, yet he’d come all this way for a good meal—it made him seem almost… endearing.

"Mr. Qin, have you eaten lunch?" Lin Sangqian asked.

He shook his head. "No, I haven’t."

He’d been busy all morning, and after finishing his errands, he’d hurried straight to Shuangji Village, not even stopping for lunch.

"Then I’ll go cook something now."

She rolled up her sleeves, about to go to the kitchen, but Qin Zhengde quickly said, "Miss Lin, wait a moment."

As she turned back, he added, "I brought some ingredients with me—please have a look."

The driver promptly opened the large sack.

Lin Sangqian peered inside and saw about two pounds of rice, two pounds of flour, and, most importantly, a large slab of pork, a big piece of ribs, a generous portion of lamb, and an abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables.

She couldn’t help but admire the driver’s strength—carrying so much all the way here, he must be exceptionally robust.

She knew well that Qin Zhengde could never finish all this in a single meal.

He must have felt embarrassed to eat without giving anything in return, so he brought all these supplies. Beyond what he’d eat today, the rest would be left for Lin Sangqian’s family.

But since these were only ingredients, her family wouldn’t feel awkward accepting them.

Lin Sangqian smiled and nodded. "In that case, may I trouble you to take these to the kitchen, Brother Driver?"

Without a word, the driver shouldered the load and left.

Lin Sangqian headed into the kitchen as well, with Liao Shuxia following to help.

Qin Zhengde, having traveled many places in his younger days, had seen much of the world. Lin Hongda, Lin Wenyen, and their brothers chatted with him, listening to his tales with growing fascination.

In the kitchen, Lin Sangqian examined the ingredients and discussed the menu with Liao Shuxia.

First, she decided to make spicy sliced pork. She cut the pork into thin pieces, placed them in a large bowl, and rinsed them with water.

After draining, she added salt, cooking wine, pepper, and soy sauce, mixing thoroughly, then a bit of water, starch, and oil, and mixed again.

After marinating for a while, she chopped chili peppers, ginger, scallions, and garlic. Heating oil in the pan, she stir-fried the chili until fragrant, then added bean sprouts, stir-frying on high heat with a little salt before setting them aside.

Adding more oil to the pan, she sautéed scallions, ginger, garlic, and chili, then a spoonful of broad bean paste until the oil turned red. She poured in water, brought it to a boil, seasoned with salt, cooking wine, chicken essence, and soy sauce, then added the pork slices, gently stirring.

Once the meat turned white, she scooped it over the bean sprouts, poured over the broth, sprinkled with scallion, chili powder, and pepper, and finished with a sizzle of hot oil. The aroma filled the kitchen, making Liao Shuxia’s mouth water.

She had already eaten lunch, but now she found herself hungry again.

Next, Lin Sangqian made a homestyle tofu dish. She sliced the tofu and fried it in hot oil until both sides were golden. She chopped peppers and onions, sliced pork belly, and stir-fried the vegetables with a bit of salt before setting them aside.

She then sautéed scallions, ginger, and garlic until fragrant, added the pork belly, fried until it changed color, mixed in broad bean paste and the fried tofu, and added a bowl of water with oyster sauce, soy sauce, a pinch of salt and sugar. When the tofu softened, she thickened the sauce with starch, returned the peppers and onions to the pan, drizzled with a bit of sesame oil, and tossed it all together.

It was a dish perfect with rice—Lin Sangqian thought Qin Zhengde would probably have two big bowls.

She also made stir-fried lamb with scallions, a dish Qin Zhengde had enjoyed before, and a large bowl of winter melon and pork rib soup.

For the main course, she had Liao Shuxia prepare both steamed rice and flower rolls.