Chapter 4 Where Did You Get the Money?

"Why hasn't my husband come back yet? Could it be that he's run off on his own?"

At the entrance to the courtyard, Chen Miaoyi stood on her tiptoes, scanning the distance anxiously. She both hoped for Xu Mo’s early return and was filled with restless unease.

Just as her thoughts grew tangled, a familiar figure appeared at the end of the street, instantly bringing a gleam to Chen Miaoyi’s eyes and easing her worried heart.

Lifting her skirt, she rushed out, surprised as she looked at him. "Husband, where did you get all these things?"

Xu Mo had not returned empty-handed. With the money he had earned, he bought a live hen, a fish, some white rice, and some white flour.

"I bought them at the market," Xu Mo replied.

Chen Miaoyi was puzzled, "Husband, where did you get the money?"

"I earned it!" Xu Mo said.

Just then, the hen in his arms began to flutter, nearly causing him to drop the rice and flour.

"Miaoyi, help me out, will you? This hen has been flapping about all the way home and is really in the way," said Xu Mo.

Chen Miaoyi intended to take the heavier items, the rice and flour, from him.

But Xu Mo refused, handing her the hen and the fish instead. "You’re not as strong. Let me carry the heavy things."

Chen Miaoyi was a bit bewildered. Was this really something her husband would say? How had he suddenly become so considerate?

As they walked home together, Xu Mo said, "Miaoyi, tonight I’ll cook something delicious for you!"

Chen Miaoyi snapped out of her daze and asked, "Husband, where did you earn the money? And how did you make so much at once?"

By her estimation, the hen alone cost about thirty coins, the fish ten, and the rice and flour together another thirty or so. That added up to more than seventy coins—more than a day’s wage for a strong laborer in town. No wonder Chen Miaoyi thought it a lot.

Xu Mo smiled, "Miaoyi, it’s a bit of a story. Let’s get inside and start on dinner, and I’ll explain everything."

Hearing this, Chen Miaoyi frowned quietly, anxiety rising once more. Her husband was certainly being slippery again. If these things had come by honest means, why wouldn’t he just tell her?

Once inside, Xu Mo went straight to the kitchen.

But upon seeing the shabby, ramshackle kitchen, he froze in place.

Half the space was taken up by a heap of firewood. The other half held a clay stove with a large earthenware pot on top—something like a modern frying pan, but a little deeper.

Beside the stove stood an old wooden cupboard, its doors long gone, revealing two jars and several mismatched earthenware bowls.

Curious, Xu Mo peeked into the jars. One held lard, though it was nearly gone. The other contained coarse yellow salt—large crystals, visibly mixed with impurities.

He glanced around and saw a large water jar in the corner, a dipper floating on its surface, a chopping board resting on the rim, and an old kitchen knife atop it.

"Husband, a gentleman keeps his distance from the kitchen. You’re a scholar, after all. Let me do the cooking," Chen Miaoyi said coolly.

But Xu Mo refused and insisted on cooking himself.

He set down the rice and flour and asked, "Miaoyi, would you rather have fish or chicken?"

After a moment’s thought, she replied, "Let’s have fish. The chicken can lay eggs; I’d like to keep it."

Xu Mo nodded, "Alright, as you wish!"

With that, he set about cleaning and gutting the fish.

Seeing this, Chen Miaoyi wanted to help, but Xu Mo shooed her away.

With no choice, she went to light the fire.

In no time, the fish was cleaned and ready. Chen Miaoyi was surprised—she hadn’t expected him to know how to prepare a fish.

She soon had the stove roaring. Xu Mo scooped three spoonfuls of lard into the pot.

Chen Miaoyi’s heart ached at the sight. "Husband, why so much oil? That’s enough for many meals!"

"You need plenty of oil to fry fish, or it’ll stick and won’t taste good," Xu Mo replied, unconcerned.

"No, that’s too much. We should pour some out," Chen Miaoyi said, reaching for the lard jar.

But Xu Mo was too quick for her; he slipped the fish into the pot.

A sizzling sound filled the kitchen, and the mouthwatering aroma of fried fish wafted through the air.

"You never know the cost of firewood and rice until you have a household," Chen Miaoyi muttered under her breath.

Her stomach rumbled, and she couldn’t help but swallow hungrily.

It was no wonder—she hadn’t tasted fish fried in lard in a long time.

As the aroma drifted from the courtyard, neighbors passing by stopped in their tracks.

"It smells amazing—isn’t that fried fish?"

"Yes, it’s fried fish. We only have that at New Year’s."

"Wait, isn’t Xu Mo deep in debt? How can he afford to eat fried fish?"

"What a wastrel! His wife works so hard to pay off his debts, and he squanders money like this!"

Inside, Xu Mo simmered the fried fish with water for over ten minutes, then reached for the salt jar and ladled in some coarse salt.

"Husband, don’t use so much salt," Chen Miaoyi protested, distressed over the expense.

Coarse salt wasn’t especially costly—about thirty coins per pound—but many common folk still couldn’t afford it.

Xu Mo said nothing, tossing some chopped greens into the pot. "It’s ready—come and eat."

With no serving bowl large enough, Xu Mo simply carried the whole pot to the table.

"Eat while it’s hot. If it cools, it’ll taste fishy."

The aroma was irresistible, the broth fragrant and savory.

Chen Miaoyi ate eagerly, mouthful after mouthful, but the more she ate, the more her eyes brimmed with tears.

At last, she couldn’t hold back. "Husband, tell me honestly—where did this money come from?"

Xu Mo reached out to wipe her tears, but she shrank away.

He sighed and recounted how he had sold pears that day.

When she finished listening, Chen Miaoyi was stunned; then her face filled with anxiety. "Husband, it was so hard for you to earn this money—how could you spend it so freely? You should have saved it to pay off the debt!"

In that moment, the fish before her lost its flavor.

Xu Mo said patiently, "Miaoyi, don’t worry about the money. I’ve already spoken with Young Master Ning. As long as I help him win the wager..."

"A wager?" At the word "wager," Chen Miaoyi’s heart filled with dread. She sprang to her feet, tears streaming down her face.

"Husband, do you see what has become of our family? How can you still think of gambling?" she cried, her voice thick with grief and anger.

Xu Mo saw her misunderstanding and quickly explained, "No, no—it’s not what you think. Let me explain..."

Soon, Xu Mo told her the whole story from start to finish.

"So that’s it... Husband, you nearly frightened me to death!" Chen Miaoyi pressed a hand to her chest and breathed a long sigh of relief.

But she soon grew anxious again. "Husband, do you truly have a way for Young Master Ning to win?"

Xu Mo replied with great confidence, "Rest assured, Miaoyi—I have a brilliant plan!"

Of course, Chen Miaoyi was not convinced. In her heart, she thought that if she were ever seized to pay off the debt, she would rather die than submit.

Seeing that Xu Mo was not eating, she said, "Husband, you should eat some too."

She ladled a bowl for him.

Xu Mo sipped the fish soup, smacking his lips thoughtfully. "If only I had some MSG, this broth would be even more delicious!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, an idea struck him. "Wait—MSG..."

Chen Miaoyi, curious, asked, "Husband, what is MSG?"

Xu Mo didn’t answer, but fell deep into thought.

Just as Chen Miaoyi was about to eat another bite, Xu Mo slapped the table, face alight with excitement. "Miaoyi, could you do me a favor?"