Chapter 65

While at work, Wang Xingjiang and Wang Xinghe received a call from their father, Wang Yuanyu, saying that Xiu’er, who had been missing for fifty years, had been found. She was now in Imperial Capital, and they needed to come home immediately.

Wang Xingjiang and Wang Xinghe were completely confused. Just yesterday at dinner, the family had brought up Xiu’er and sighed with sorrow. How had she suddenly been found within just half a day? Could it be that Wang Xiu’er had gotten news of the family and found her way back on her own?

Over the years, the Wang family had never given up looking for Wang Xiu’er. But when she went missing, it was still during the chaos of war. At that time, so many families were separated, and trying to find someone in that vast sea of people was unimaginably hard. After the founding of the country, things stabilized, but in the age of limited communication, searching for someone wasn’t much easier. And during the political campaigns, things became even worse—people lived in fear, and even leaving home required a letter of introduction. Trying to travel to another province to look for someone was unthinkable.

After the Reform and Opening-up, the Wang family managed to restart their business using their hidden gold and old connections. The two brothers would often take advantage of business trips to go to Guangdong Province, where their sister had gone missing. They even considered the possibility that she might return to their hometown of Wucheng and had asked friends there to keep an eye out, instructing them to notify immediately if anyone came looking for their family. But none of them ever imagined that Wang Xiu’er was actually in Imperial Capital all along—right under their noses.

After helping find the person, Qian Jianing quietly slipped away without taking credit. She went home right away—the lunch dishes hadn’t even been cleared yet—and needed to tidy up her home-style restaurant before opening time. Meanwhile, Principal Li and Liu Gang were uneasy—one was concerned about his teacher, the other about his old neighbor. The whole method of finding someone seemed too unbelievable. Although Wang Yuanyu and Wang Xiuling firmly believed they were long-lost family, Principal Li and Gangzi, acting out of protectiveness, followed them back to Wang Yuanyu’s home.

Grandma Wang clutched Wang Xiuling’s hand tightly. Amid her intermittent sobbing, Principal Li and Gangzi pieced together how Wang Xiuling had gone missing. Back then, the elder Wang family fled the war from Wujiang to Guangdong Province and settled in a relatively quiet small town. One day, a wealthy family in town was hosting a wedding and had invited a dragon dance troupe. Xiu’er, still a little girl, couldn’t resist the excitement and begged Grandma Wang to take her to watch. No one expected that halfway through the performance, Japanese soldiers would launch a surprise attack. In the chaos, Grandma Wang pulled Xiu’er into a nearby alley. A grenade exploded near the troupe. Though the two avoided the blast, bricks fell from a wall and knocked both unconscious.

Wang Xiuling wiped her tears and continued, picking up where Grandma Wang left off: “When I woke up, it was five days later, on a shaky boat. My adoptive father was fleeing through the area and heard me crying, eyes still closed. My mother was lying face down—he didn’t have time to check, just grabbed me and ran. He said the town had been occupied by the Japanese, and they were heading back to their hometown to seek refuge. But I was in a feverish coma and couldn’t be left behind. They were afraid I’d die. They had no time to help me find my family—everyone was fleeing for their lives. Saving me was all they could do. In the end, my adoptive father gritted his teeth and brought me with them back to Hunan Province. He was a traditional Chinese medicine doctor, and I studied medicine under him. After liberation, I studied at a TCM school in Hunan and worked there ever since. It wasn’t until ten years ago, when my husband was transferred for work, that we moved to Imperial Capital. I never imagined you were here too—I thought I’d never see you again.”

The three of them cried together again. Principal Li was moved to tears, removing his glasses to wipe his eyes. “What a fated reunion.”

Wang Xingjiang and Wang Xinghe had rushed over from work. As soon as they walked in, they saw their parents hugging a woman and crying uncontrollably. The brothers called out, “Dad, Mom,” but the couple was too overwhelmed to respond.

Wang Xingjiang sat on the couch and nudged Liu Gang. “Gangzi, what’s going on? How did my mom find my sister?”

Liu Gang gave a complicated glance at Principal Li beside him. “This afternoon Grandpa Wang brought home a girl in her twenties and said she was a master. She used the swaddling cloth your sister wore as a baby to guide us… and we found your sister.”

Wang Xingjiang and Wang Xinghe exchanged a skeptical look. Their eyes were full of doubt. “You’re telling me someone could find a person missing for fifty years? How can we be sure it’s really her?”

Liu Gang shook his head. “I warned the old man, but both your parents insisted she’s the one. They checked the birthmark behind her ear and said it matched.”

Seeing their suspicious gaze toward Wang Xiuling, Principal Li quickly stepped in. “Wang Xiuling is a teacher at our TCM university, not some kind of con artist! And the one who found her is one of our students—the top scorer in last year’s college entrance exam in Shandong.”

Hearing this, the two brothers looked somewhat reassured, but still couldn’t shake their doubts. The whole thing just seemed too coincidental. Finally, once the weeping trio had calmed down and wiped their tears, the brothers scrutinized Wang Xiuling again—and truly, they could see traces of the young Xiu’er in her face.

Wang Xinghe tested her: “Can you tell us apart?”

Xiu’er took a good look at them yesterday and pointed at Wang Xinghe. “You’re the eldest. You have a scar near your ear because when I got into a fight with the neighbor’s son, Erhuzi, he threw a sharp rock at me, and you stepped in to shield me. That’s how you got the scar.”

Wang Xinghe’s eyes widened. He instinctively looked at his father, who nodded slightly, indicating he hadn’t mentioned that story earlier.

Tears instantly welled up in Wang Xinghe’s eyes. “It really is my sister! We actually found her!”

Grandma Wang proudly declared, “Of course! Your father invited a master to help this time.”

Wang Xingjiang leaned in. “Sis, do you remember our childhood secret?”

Wang Xiuling smiled through her tears and nodded. “The two of us hid our New Year money in a seam of Mom’s trunk and tricked Big Brother into thinking it was lost so he’d buy us snacks. We kept it hidden for three years, only taking it out before we left for Guangdong.”

Wang Xingjiang laughed, full of nostalgia. “We used the money to buy a bunch of snacks and ate outside all afternoon until it got dark. We never told anyone.”

Wang Xinghe no longer remembered being tricked out of food by his siblings, but if Xiu’er hadn’t gone missing, Wang Xingjiang might not have carried that little memory his whole life.

Now that their childhood memories matched, along with the birthmark and facial features, the brothers fully accepted Wang Xiuling’s identity.

“This master is amazing!” Wang Xinghe gave a thumbs up. “Dad, where did you find this master? Our company’s about to build a new office. I’d like to ask her to check the feng shui.”

Wang Yuanyu waved a hand. “We’ll go to the master’s restaurant for dinner tonight—you can ask her then.”

Wang Xinghe was puzzled. “The master runs a restaurant too?”

Wang Yuanyu grinned.

The master’s principal quietly covered his face, silently reassembling his worldview.
—

Wang Yuanyu had spent a fortune to book out Qian Xiaomi’s Home-style Cuisine Restaurant. After hanging the “Reserved” sign on the courtyard gate, Qian Jianing began preparing dinner in the kitchen. The real purpose of the private booking wasn’t to host a grand feast, but to ensure Qian Jianing didn’t have to work during dinner and could sit down to eat with them. In reality, the guest list was quite small—just the Wang family, Principal Li Chengming, their neighbor Liu Gang, and a few of Wang Yuanyu’s foodie friends. Three tables were more than enough.

The dinner was set for 6 PM. By around 5:40, Wang Yuanyu had already brought everyone to the restaurant. Li Chengming, only now realizing what kept Qian Jianing so busy every day, looked around the courtyard with curiosity. It was still the cold season despite the holiday, so the courtyard didn’t show much scenery—just a very clean space.

Inside the main hall, the three central tables were already laden with dishes. Through the large clear glass window, Li Mingcheng saw Qian Jianing flipping a wok. Suddenly, flames flared up around the pan, wrapping the food inside. A few seconds later, the fire receded, and the dish was plated and served.

Wang Xinghe glanced around but didn’t see the master anywhere. He tugged on Wang Yuanyu’s sleeve. “Dad, where’s the master? I want to settle the matter before we eat. I’m afraid I’ll forget once we’ve had some drinks.”

Wang Yuanyu, in the middle of talking to his daughter, impatiently slapped Wang Xinghe’s hand away. “Didn’t you see the master’s cooking inside? What are you fussing about?”

Wang Xinghe suddenly looked up and stared at Qian Jianing in the kitchen for a while, blinking in disbelief. He blurted out, “Dad, isn’t this master way too young? Is she really reliable?”

As soon as he finished speaking, the old lady smacked him twice with her cane. “What do you mean not reliable? I’ve never seen a master more accurate than her.”

Looking at Wang Xiuling sitting between the elderly couple, Wang Xinghe nodded. “She is indeed quite accurate. But…” He looked up again at Qian Jianing. “She just looks too young to be a real master.”

“Of course she’s young! She’s a student at our University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. She ranked first in the entire department for the final exams—all perfect scores.” Li Chengming beamed with pride as he looked at Qian Jianing.

Wang Xinghe looked at Qian Jianing in awe. “So people like this really exist… Who did she learn from? How can someone so young be this skilled?”

Li Chengming shook his head. “I think someone like Qian Jianing is just born with extraordinary talent. That’s how she managed to find hidden masters among the common folk and learn such incredible skills. Some people, you really just have to admire. She only just turned twenty-one after the New Year and she’s already this amazing. She’s bound to shine even brighter in the future.”

Guests began arriving one after another, including Wang Xiuling’s bewildered husband and the families of her son and daughter. Wang Xiuling stood up, waved at her husband, then pushed her children toward Wang Yuanyu and the old lady. “Dad, Mom, these are my children—Cheng Ming and Cheng Li.”

Though Cheng Ming and Cheng Li were both in their thirties, Wang Xiuling still looked at them like they were kids. She pulled big red envelopes from her pocket and handed them each one. The two of them were happy that their mother had found her birth family, and after taking the red envelopes, they presented the gifts they’d brought. Both were already married and had brought their families and kids along. Now that the whole family had been reunited, the old lady couldn’t stop grinning.

At exactly six o’clock, the final three dishes were served. Qian Jianing took off her chef’s uniform and sat in the seat of honor that Wang Yuanyu had specially saved for her.

Wang Yuanyu raised his glass and stood. “Everyone here knows I’ve spent my whole life looking for my daughter. Honestly, I never thought I’d actually find her in my lifetime. I’m truly, deeply grateful.” His voice choked with emotion. “I want to especially thank Little Boss Qian. Thank you for reuniting our family.”

Qian Jianing scratched her cheek awkwardly. “No need for thanks—I was paid for it.”

Laughter softened the emotions, and Wang Yuanyu laughed along. “The payment was my happiness! A toast to everyone!” He downed his drink in one gulp, held up his empty glass to the room, then sat back down. “Alright, I won’t delay everyone from enjoying the food. The dishes Little Boss Qian makes are just as amazing as her face reading. Eat up while it’s hot!”
—

Qian Jianing never expected to become popular this way. Now, aside from regular diners, Qian Xiaomi’s Private Kitchen was also frequented by people wanting fortune-telling, feng shui consultations, or even ghost hunting. But Qian Jianing had a clear goal in learning these skills—to make enough money to send the Treasure Bowl back to the Immortal Realm. So she turned down all jobs that paid too little. She didn’t have that much time to waste. Fortunately, everyone knew that Elder Wang had given up a whole courtyard house as payment to find his daughter, so anyone looking to hire Qian Jianing came with some capital.

As spring bloomed, Qian Xiaomi’s Private Kitchen launched an afternoon tea service—only six spots available per day, each with a pot of tea, a plate of snacks, and some fruit, for 288 yuan. Guests had to pay in advance to reserve a spot. Rescheduling was allowed, but replacements were not. Qian Jianing made it clear: people lacking virtue couldn’t drink her tea.

This price startled even the wealthy regulars, who wondered what kind of tea could justify such a cost. Even more intriguing was the condition she attached. Everyone knew Qian Jianing was skilled in face reading and feng shui—so did that mean the tea was truly special?

Tea lovers were never in short supply, and the restaurant’s patrons were quite affluent. Remembering how the food here had never disappointed, several curious guests booked the very first afternoon tea.

At 3 p.m., six people entered the courtyard and saw rocking chairs arranged under the shade of trees, each with a small tea table beside it. It looked incredibly cozy.

When the guests arrived, Qian Jianing set a kettle of water on a bronze stove in the yard. Li Xiaoyu and Wang Yahan brought out the prepared snacks and fruits, placing them on the tables next to each guest.

Once the spring water was boiling, Qian Jianing opened a wooden tea canister and scooped two spoonfuls of tea into each of the six small teapots. She added, “This tea comes from a very unique tree. If you rinse the leaves, you’ll lose its special spiritual energy, so it must be brewed directly.”

She poured the hot water into the teapots, releasing an indescribable fragrance. The guests instinctively sat up straighter, their eyes fixed on the brewing tea. After placing a teapot on each table, Qian Jianing made one for herself and reclined in a rocking chair under the tree, eyes closed, enjoying a rare moment of peace.

Wang Yuanyu was now a full-blown Qian Jianing fanboy. Whatever she came up with, he was the first to try it. He poured tea into his cup, inhaled deeply, and took a cautious sip. Instantly enchanted by the flavor, he praised, “This is truly fine tea!”

All six guests sipped and praised the tea endlessly. When the first brew ran out, Li Xiaoyu came by with a kettle for a second round. Some guests nibbled on snacks while others ate fruit. Wang Yuanyu chuckled as he asked Qian Jianing, “Aren’t you going to class in the afternoons anymore?”

Qian Jianing sat up and took a sip of tea, smiling sheepishly. The school’s teaching pace was too slow. Her classmates were still memorizing herbs, and she really didn’t want to waste time there.

They chatted as they drank, shaded by trees in the cool, pleasant afternoon. With such exceptional tea, they ended up brewing seven or eight pots, reluctant to leave even when the flavor faded.

After the first day’s guests spread the word, tea lovers from all over the capital flocked to the restaurant. But with limited spots and the rule that only dining guests could book tea, Qian Xiaomi’s Private Kitchen was once again booming.
—

Before anyone noticed, the weather had grown hot. After being away for six months, Li Yujun finally got some time off. He went home, showered, changed into casual clothes, and headed straight to Qian Xiaomi’s Private Kitchen.

It was already 1:30 p.m. when he arrived, and the place was nearly empty. Qian Jianing was leaning on the prep counter, drinking tea and reading. The wind chime suddenly rang, and she looked up to see a tall man—around 1.85 meters—striding straight toward the kitchen. Li Xiaoyu was a second too late to stop him. He leaned pitifully on the serving counter, looking at Qian Jianing. “I want meat!”

Qian Jianing suddenly laughed. “Brother Li, you’ve gotten so much darker!”

Li Yujun touched his face, unconcerned. “This mission was in a sunny place—everyone got a tan.”

Her gaze swept over his face. Although tanned, it was a healthy bronze that didn’t look bad. With his well-defined features and captivating smile, the darker skin only made him look more masculine.

After seeing that his health and complexion were fine, Qian Jianing finally relaxed and asked, “What kind of meat do you want? Just say it directly, so I don’t make something you won’t like.”

Li Yujun had already made up his mind. Counting on his fingers, he ordered, “Spicy shredded rabbit, braised pork, grilled lamb chops, and a stuffed eight-treasure duck. I can’t eat too much on my own, so just start with these four.”

Qian Jianing looked at his selections with mild exasperation. “It’s already hot outside—aren’t you worried this will make you overheated?”

Li Yujun nodded firmly. “Don’t worry. I’d be more anxious if I didn’t get to eat.”

“Alright then!” Qian Jianing called out, “Xiaoyu, take our guest to table three and get him a pot of iced plum juice.”

Qian Jianing had all the ingredients ready, and since Li Yujun was the only one ordering, even though dishes like lamb chops and eight-treasure duck took a bit longer, she could just prepare larger portions of the earlier dishes so it wouldn’t delay his meal.

Li Yujun had worked up a sweat biking over, but after sitting for a while and drinking the plum juice, he finally cooled down. Just as he finished sweating, the spicy shredded rabbit was served.

The dish gleamed with oil, giving off a light aroma of red chili oil and crushed peanuts. Li Yujun brushed aside the cilantro, picked up a hefty bite of rabbit, and put it into his mouth. The first thing he noticed was the medium heat, then the firm and chewy texture of the rabbit. A tingling sensation quickly spread from his tongue through his entire mouth, filling it with a spicy, aromatic flavor that made him break into a sweat all over again. But the taste was addictive—he couldn’t stop eating, one bite after another.

The spicy shredded rabbit served as an appetizer, fully awakening his appetite. When the braised pork arrived, the rich aroma of the meat made him realize he was even hungrier. He eagerly grabbed a piece and stuffed it in his mouth, letting out a satisfied sigh as the savory meat flavor filled his mouth.

Qian Jianing glanced at him, scooped some rice from the pot, and handed it to Li Xiaoyu. “Take this to table three.”

After a couple bites of meat, just as he felt something was missing, Li Xiaoyu placed the bowl of rice beside him. Li Yujun’s eyes lit up immediately. He grabbed the rice, scooped several spoonfuls of meat and sauce on top, and quickly finished more than half the bowl. Though he ate fast, it didn’t look crude—watching him eat made others instinctively feel the deliciousness and wonder just how good the food must be to taste that satisfying.

Once the eight-treasure duck and lamb chops were ready, Qian Jianing also brought over a special mushroom soup she’d made just for him. The freshly grilled lamb chops were golden and glistening with oil, dotted with red chili flakes that made them even more tempting. Li Yujun pulled a chop apart with just a bit of effort. The outside was crispy and fragrant, the inside tender and juicy. One bite and the juices sizzled out, flooding his mouth with meaty flavor.

There was no denying it—Li Yujun had a serious appetite. Although Qian Jianing’s prices were on the higher side, the portions weren’t small. Normally, four dishes and a soup would easily feed three or four adults, but Li Yujun finished everything by himself.

He pulled out a napkin to wipe his mouth, took his wallet from his pocket, and asked Li Xiaoyu, “How much do I owe you?”

Li Xiaoyu hesitated. The custom at the Home-style Cuisine Restaurant was to pay before eating, but since Qian Jianing hadn’t mentioned anything about the bill, she hadn’t collected it. Just as she was about to go ask, Qian Jianing came out from the kitchen, carrying a digestion-aiding drink, and placed it in front of Li Yujun. “This meal is on me.”

Li Yujun looked a bit confused. “Why are you treating me?”

Qian Jianing smiled. “I heard from Chenchen that you’re amazing, so I wanted to treat you as a sign of respect.”

Li Yujun found himself unable to look away from her smile. Though he felt he ought to pay, he found himself nodding without quite knowing why. Reluctantly, he put his wallet away. He didn’t really understand what had just happened, but it didn’t feel right to just accept a free meal either. After thinking it over, he said, “Thanks for the meal. I’ll bring you a gift tomorrow to show my appreciation.”

As she watched him leave, Qian Jianing felt slightly uneasy—had he misunderstood something?

Early the next morning, punctual as ever, Li Yujun rang the doorbell. Qian Jianing, still in her training clothes, heard the sound and came out to open the door. Seeing Li Yujun standing there, she blinked. “Good morning. Is something wrong?”

Li Yujun handed her a box. “This is a thank-you gift for yesterday’s lunch.”

Qian Jianing gave a slightly awkward smile. “That’s really too honest of you. It was just a meal—you didn’t need to go through the trouble.”

Li Yujun shook his head solemnly. “Courtesy demands reciprocity. It’s only right.”

Since he’d gone out of his way, just like she had with the meal, it would be impolite to refuse now. Qian Jianing accepted the box and thanked him.

Seeing that she didn’t seem inclined to open it, Li Yujun coughed lightly. “Aren’t you going to take a look? I made it myself.”

At those words, Qian Jianing blushed a little and inexplicably felt a bit nervous as she looked down at the box in her hands. She gently lifted the lid. Inside was a tank made out of spent bullet casings.

In an instant, the blush and nervousness disappeared. She looked at the strange gift and, holding back a laugh, politely nodded at Li Yujun. “Thank you. It’s very realistic.”

Li Yujun breathed a sigh of relief. It was his first time ever giving a girl a thank-you gift, and he’d been a little nervous. Seeing Qian Jianing’s smiling eyes and happy expression, he smiled too. “I’m glad you like it. I’ll be going then.”

As Li Yujun turned to leave, Qian Jianing suddenly called out on instinct, “Wait, I made breakfast. Why don’t you stay and eat?” Worried it might seem too forward, she added, “I just finished my boxing practice and was about to eat anyway.”

“Boxing?” Li Yujun perked up—this was even more interesting than food. “You box? What style?”

Ever since learning martial arts, Qian Jianing hadn’t met anyone who could go a couple of rounds with her. Her eyes lit up. “Brother Li, I heard from Chenchen that you’re good at kung fu. How about a sparring match?”

Li Yujun’s eyes briefly landed on her fair, delicate arms, and he quickly looked away. “No way. I’m too strong—I might hurt you.”

Qian Jianing grinned proudly. “I’ve never lost in a strength match. Let’s see what you’ve got—no holding back!”