The Tofu Queen: A Modern Woman's Ancient Kingdom Journey

Strange encounters seemed to follow Jiang Huaiyu everywhere, but by now, she was oddly composed about it. It was as though she had adopted an air of unbothered detachment, mentally shutting the door on any disturbances with the thought: "Let the winds blow from all directions; I remain undisturbed behind closed doors."

Meanwhile, Qin Ziqin had proven surprisingly reliable. Despite his mercurial nature—half serious, half flippant—his work was efficient. The three storefronts he had acquired for the bath powder business required minimal renovations, as they had previously sold cosmetics and stationery.

However, when Jiang Huaiyu passed by the shops during a leisurely stroll, she found their interiors unsatisfactory. When the steward Qin Ziqin had assigned to the project visited her residence, Jiang Huaiyu wasted no time handing over a list of changes.

The steward was a composed woman in her thirties, with an air of quiet competence. As she accepted the list from Xiaocao, her expression betrayed a flicker of surprise upon reading its contents.

Still, she quickly composed herself, remembering the explicit instructions from Qin Ziqin's estate manager: agree to everything Jiang Huaiyu requested and relay every word back to the master.

She bowed respectfully. "Understood. If there's nothing else, I will take my leave."

"Go ahead," Jiang Huaiyu said with a casual nod.

Once the steward departed, Jiang Huaiyu let out a small sigh of relief. "She's capable, but all those formalities make me feel like I'm running a household as its matron."

"But, Madam, aren't you the mistress of this household?" Xiaocao asked earnestly.

"No, I'm the head of the household," Jiang Huaiyu corrected with a wry smile. "There's a difference, you know. I manage both inside and outside affairs. Got it, Xiaocao? And speaking of titles, why don't you call me Miss instead of Madam? All this Madam nonsense makes me sound old."

Xiaocao froze, her brow furrowed as she considered the change. Finally, she scratched her head and said hesitantly, "Since the day I met you, I've thought you were warm and kind... But if you prefer, I'll start calling you Miss."

Dedicated to becoming the best maid in the capital, Xiaocao strictly adhered to the principle that whatever Jiang Huaiyu said was absolute.

Jiang Huaiyu groaned in mock defeat. "Write two extra sheets of calligraphy today."

"Alright!"

To Xiaocao, this wasn't punishment—it was an opportunity. She set to work with renewed vigor, grinding ink and preparing her brush with enthusiasm.

Jiang Huaiyu reclined in her chair, resting her chin in her hand as she pondered her next move. With Qin Ziqin's involvement, the bath powder business now felt like a franchise. If she could build a loyal customer base among the city's women, her position would feel much more secure.

Still, she couldn't help but worry. Her beauty and innovative ideas made her a target, as evidenced by past encounters with merchants like Yan Er. Even though Da Yun was more egalitarian than many nations, powerful people still saw those without backing as pawns or prey.

In her case, being both resourceful and beautiful only made her a more tempting target.

Weak prey are always devoured, she thought grimly, glancing at the sleeping Sugar Bun and the studious Xiaocao. The warm sunlight streamed into the courtyard, but even its gentle glow couldn't chase away her troubled thoughts.

"Xiaocao!"

"Yes, Madam!" Xiaocao responded immediately, putting down her brush and walking over to Jiang Huaiyu.

"We're having red-braised pork for lunch!"

Xiaocao blinked in surprise. "Weren't we going to make Four Happiness Meatballs?"

"That's too much effort," Jiang Huaiyu said with a grin. "Red-braised pork is quicker, and it pairs better with rice. Eat your fill—we'll be busy this evening. After lunch, we're heading to a wine shop to buy some good wine."

Xiaocao nodded eagerly and hurried to the kitchen to prepare the meal.

After a quick lunch and a short rest, Jiang Huaiyu and Xiaocao ventured into the streets, searching for a suitable wine shop. In this part of the city, most small businesses were run out of family homes, with their offerings advertised on paper signs outside.

Walking past several options, Jiang Huaiyu paused to sniff the air. She rejected shops with scents that hinted at sourness or dilution and finally settled on one with a pleasing aroma.

"This one should do. Let's go."

Satisfied, Jiang Huaiyu placed an order for fifty jin of wine, paying one tael and two qian. She also arranged for the shop owner to deliver it to her home. On the way back, they stopped at a bamboo workshop to buy materials for crafting makeshift tools.

Back at the house, Xiaocao helped carry the supplies into the courtyard. She watched Jiang Huaiyu set up the equipment with wide-eyed curiosity. No matter how much she tried to guess her mistress's intentions, she always fell short.

"Madam is amazing!" Xiaocao thought, her admiration growing as she observed Jiang Huaiyu at work.

Jiang Huaiyu cleaned the large cooking pot, explaining to Xiaocao how the setup would work. Using bamboo, she had constructed a distillation system. The pot would hold eight jin of wine at a time, which would boil, evaporate, and condense into stronger liquor through the bamboo tubing.

As the process began, Xiaocao tended the fire, but Jiang Huaiyu soon sent her away to practice calligraphy and watch over Sugar Bun. The fumes from the wine might make her tipsy otherwise.

By the time the moon hung high in the sky, the first round of distillation was complete. Out of fifty jin of wine, only thirty jin of purer, stronger liquor remained. The rich, heady aroma filled the courtyard, making Jiang Huaiyu's efforts worthwhile.

The next day, she completed a second round of distillation, producing twenty jin of high-proof liquor. It wasn't perfect—some was lost in the process—but it would suffice for her purposes.

As she worked, the potent smell wafted into the surrounding neighborhood. Even passersby, unsteady from the mere scent, couldn't help but turn pink-faced.

Just as Jiang Huaiyu was sealing the last batch of liquor, a figure vaulted over the courtyard wall with practiced ease.

Qin Ziqin landed gracefully, his eyes immediately locking onto the wine jar. Ignoring Jiang Huaiyu's darkening expression, he approached the jar with barely contained excitement. "Jiang Huaiyu, what marvel have you brewed this time?"

Jiang Huaiyu's voice turned icy. "Does Qin Gongzi think himself above manners? Barging into a widow's home like this? Why don't I serve you this entire jar of liquor as punishment?"

Caught off guard by her tone, Qin Ziqin froze. Her words finally registered, and a wave of guilt washed over him. With an awkward cough, he stepped back, realizing the impropriety of his actions.

"My apologies—I was out of line," he said, retreating to the wall. Moments later, the sound of knocking echoed from the front gate.

Still fuming, Jiang Huaiyu took her time sealing the jars and tidying up before answering the door.

When she finally opened it, Qin Ziqin stood outside, his expression earnest. "I truly apologize for my rudeness earlier. It was thoughtless of me, especially considering your situation. Please forgive me."

Seeing his sincerity, Jiang Huaiyu relented. "Come in," she said curtly, stepping aside.

Inside, she gestured for Xiaocao to fetch water, then turned to Qin Ziqin. "So, what brings you here?"