◎ Two Bowls of Sweet and Salty Tofu Pudding ◎

She hadn’t expected Sun Shoucheng to work so efficiently. Luo Wanqing was somewhat surprised, but thinking of Xie Heng’s status, she would have worked through the night to get things done too if she were in his position.

Having Xie Heng here to handle these matters was truly using a sledgehammer to crack a nut, but since he had come to Jiangnan, he naturally had his reasons. Luo Wanqing didn’t dare ask too much.

She lowered her head and agreed. Xie Heng put down the scroll in his hands, tidied up, and stood to leave.

Luo Wanqing followed him out of the main courtyard. Thinking of their destination, she hesitantly called out: “Young Master.”

“Mm?”

His response was unexpectedly gentle. Luo Wanqing was somewhat surprised, thinking that since Xie Heng had come to Jiangnan, his temperament had also improved. She brushed aside this oddity and inquired: “May I interrogate Zhou Chun and Sun Cui alone?”

“Official business or personal?”

With Xie Heng’s question, Luo Wanqing knew the answer. Xie Heng glanced at her and only said, “Don’t be hasty.”

“But…”

“If you ask, you’ll expose your purpose.” Xie Heng said slowly, “Your identity is best not revealed before your father’s case is overturned. You have too many enemies – don’t hand them a weapon.”

“Overturn the case?” Hearing this, Luo Wanqing couldn’t help asking: “Young Master will overturn my father’s case?”

“If it’s a wrongful conviction.”

Xie Heng didn’t give a definite answer, but to Luo Wanqing’s ears, this was as good as certainty.

She watched the young man raise his hand to push aside the drooping willow branches in front of him. The morning light of Jiangnan seemed to contain water vapor, falling on the young man’s handsome, cold features, gilding the person before her with a layer of gentleness.

Luo Wanqing’s heart settled, and she spoke with gratitude: “Thank you, Young Master.”

Her words of thanks were sincere – she had too much to thank this person for.

Xie Heng didn’t respond, only glanced at her lightly before leading her outside.

The two left the courtyard gate, but there was no carriage to be seen. Luo Wanqing was somewhat puzzled: “Young Master?”

“Let’s walk.”

Xie Heng spoke, and Luo Wanqing knew this was intentionally arranged by him. It seemed that even Xie Heng, upon arriving at a new place, would have the mood to sightsee and enjoy the scenery.

Luo Wanqing suddenly felt that the person beside her had gained some human warmth. Since the county office wasn’t far from here anyway, she could treat this as accompanying Xie Heng on a leisure stroll.

However, Xie Heng’s status was different after all. Previously, even when she was in prison, Fengyu Pavilion had found ways to assassinate him. Those who wanted to kill him were probably as numerous as carp crossing the river.

Luo Wanqing couldn’t help saying: “Young Master, when you go out, do you need to call Zhuque Envoy and others for protection?”

“No need.”

Hearing this, Luo Wanqing knew that today’s safety was entirely her responsibility. She immediately said, “Then let me prepare a mask for Young Master.”

“No need.”

Xie Heng said, turning to look at her: “Am I not fit to be seen?”

This question stunned Luo Wanqing, who quickly explained: “This subordinate is thinking of Young Master’s safety.”

“No matter.”

Hearing Luo Wanqing’s concern, Xie Heng looked away and walked ahead: “Nothing will happen today.”

If something happened, they’d all be finished.

Luo Wanqing grumbled inwardly, but since Xie Heng had decided, she couldn’t disobey and could only follow him down the street.

Neither wore masks, and as soon as they entered the main street, everyone around looked over. These people watched while quietly discussing among themselves. Hearing the content of their discussions, Luo Wanqing felt somewhat embarrassed.

In the past, Luo Wanqing had quite a reputation in Yangzhou. After all, she was beautiful and had good medical skills. Later, when the Luo family got into trouble, most people knew about it. Now, seeing a woman so similar to Luo Wanqing walking down the street with such an extremely handsome young man as Xie Heng, it was inevitable that people would talk.

Luo Wanqing pretended not to know, listening to the people beside them talking all the way.

“Looks like Doctor Luo…”

“But Doctor Luo went to…”

“Could she not be dead?”

“Impossible. If Doctor Luo wasn’t dead, wouldn’t Young Master Jiang be with her?”

“That’s right. With Young Master Jiang’s temperament, how could he let Doctor Luo walk with another man?”

The passersby spoke vividly, making Luo Wanqing feel even more embarrassed. Others didn’t know the details, but Xie Heng was completely clear about her identity.

Luo Wanqing spoke with difficulty: “Young Master…”

Xie Heng turned to look at her. Luo Wanqing wanted to explain, but after holding it in for a long time, didn’t know what to say. After thinking, she could only redirect Xie Heng’s attention: “Has Young Master ever visited Yangzhou before?”

“No.”

Xie Heng seemed to have heard nothing, but his whole demeanor was several degrees colder.

Luo Wanqing breathed a sigh of relief and quickly said: “Then shall this subordinate tell Young Master about it?”

“Yes.”

Hearing this “yes,” Luo Wanqing quickly began earnestly introducing Yangzhou to Xie Heng.

However, they were walking on the main street, which had no particular scenery to speak of, so Luo Wanqing could only introduce the shops here.

“This incense shop is excellent. I used to buy from here often…”

“That Osmanthus cake shop is good – sweet but not cloying, just that the lines are too long…”

“And at the entrance to that alley,” Luo Wanqing pointed to the tofu pudding at the entrance of an alley, “Young Master should try their tofu pudding. Unlike Yangzhou’s sweet tofu pudding or the Eastern Capital’s salty tofu pudding, theirs has both sweet and salty varieties with excellent seasoning…”

As they spoke, the two arrived at the county office entrance. Xie Heng looked at the tofu pudding she had introduced and said flatly, “You go in. If I go, they’ll be too nervous.”

Luo Wanqing agreed and turned to enter.

After she left, Xie Heng closed his eyes and suppressed his emotions. After a long while, he finally turned and walked to the tofu pudding stall she had mentioned, saying flatly: “Boss, two bowls of sweet and salty tofu pudding.”

Just now, she had been looking at this tofu pudding stall the whole time. Her gaze hadn’t lingered this long on any other stalls, so this must be one she particularly liked.

Since she liked it, he would try it.

Xie Heng ordered the tofu pudding and sat down at the stall.

The boss served the tofu pudding and said with a smile, “From your accent, you’re not local, right? How did you know about my sweet and salty tofu pudding?”

As he spoke, he placed the tofu pudding in front of Xie Heng. This tofu pudding combined the methods of both north and south, looking somewhat strange. Xie Heng tried a spoonful and found it had a unique flavor.

Southern tastes had always been a bit too sweet for him, but the sweetness in this tofu pudding was more like a flavor enhancer.

The tofu pudding quite suited his taste, and his tone softened somewhat: “A friend recommended it.”

“A friend? One of our Yangzhou girls?”

The boss was quite enthusiastic. Xie Heng responded: “Mm.”

“Then she must like you, right?”

Hearing this, for some reason, he suddenly felt somewhat flustered and nervous, only saying: “Why do you say that?”

“I can tell from your accent that you’re from the north. For this girl to find my place and get you a bowl of sweet and salty tofu pudding – that’s not putting her heart into it?”

The boss was serving tofu pudding to other customers, all of whom ordered the sweet kind. As he served, he continued: “This sweet and salty tofu pudding is unique to Yangzhou – only my stall has it. There used to be a female doctor who liked sweet tofu pudding, but the young master who came to Yangzhou with her liked salty tofu pudding. So she would always come to my stall and teach me how to make the Eastern Capital’s salty tofu pudding.”

Hearing this, Xie Heng suddenly sensed something. His movements paused slightly as the boss continued: “But how could I have those Eastern Capital ingredients she mentioned? I pieced things together, tried again and again, and finally came up with this sweet and salty tofu pudding. You know what? That young master ate it once and quite liked it. After that, I’d make it from time to time, but we locals still prefer local flavors. Those who love this are all northerners who came south.”

“That female doctor…”

Xie Heng gripped his spoon, suddenly finding it somewhat difficult to swallow. He opened his mouth to ask, but couldn’t get the words out.

However, the boss didn’t wait for him to ask and sighed: “Her surname was Luo. She was Yangzhou’s famous Jade Bodhisattva – beautiful and kind-hearted. Unfortunately, she was later implicated by her father’s salt smuggling, and now she’s gone.”

Xie Heng held his spoon motionless. The boss shook his head: “I don’t know where Young Master Jiang went either. Such a shame about that perfect couple.”

As they spoke, Luo Wanqing emerged from the county office carrying case files.

Seeing Xie Heng sitting at the tofu pudding stall from afar, she was somewhat surprised and quickly went over to bow: “Young Master.”

“Miss…” The boss heard Luo Wanqing’s voice and looked up with a smile to greet her, but froze upon seeing her.

Luo Wanqing turned her head and said calmly to Xie Heng: “I’ve retrieved the documents.”

“Have a bowl of tofu pudding first.”

Xie Heng calmly had her sit down. The boss stared at them both, not daring to blink.

Luo Wanqing pretended not to see the boss’s stare. Since Xie Heng called her, she sat down.

She hadn’t eaten before leaving, and by the time she reached the county office, she was already hungry. Since Xie Heng was interested in eating tofu pudding, she quickly took the opportunity to gulp down a bowl.

Having grown accustomed to fighting for food in prison and never having peaceful days afterward, her eating habits had long since abandoned the leisurely pace of the past.

Her actions gradually brought the boss back to his senses. Just then, a young man approached the stall and called out: “Boss, one bowl of sweet and salty tofu pudding.”

The boss came to his senses, somewhat surprised that so many people wanted this special flavor today, but he didn’t dare say much and quickly lowered his head to serve the tofu pudding.

Luo Wanqing quickly finished her bowl and looked up at Xie Heng, only to find he had barely touched his.

She couldn’t help feeling strange and asked carefully: “Young Master, not to your taste?”

“Mm.” Xie Heng stood up and only said, “A bit bitter.”

Luo Wanqing was startled. She was curious and couldn’t help using her spoon to take a small taste from the untouched part of Xie Heng’s bowl. After tasting it, she felt no difference.

She frowned, but thinking that everyone has different preferences, she didn’t bother to investigate further and quickly followed Xie Heng as he left.

The prison was some distance from the county office. Xie Heng hadn’t planned to walk and had already had Zhuque prepare a carriage waiting at the county office entrance.

He led Luo Wanqing into the carriage. Once inside, seeming to have a headache, he raised his hand to support his forehead as he sat in the high position, closed his eyes and said: “To the prison.”

The carriage sped away. When they left, in another carriage not far away, a young man respectfully offered freshly made tofu pudding: “Your Highness, the tofu pudding you requested.”

Li Guiyu took the tofu pudding and after eating two spoonfuls, couldn’t help looking up at the distant table and chairs again.

The people had already left.

“What kind of tofu pudding was Xie Heng eating just now?”

He suddenly asked a question that puzzled the serving youth. The youth was stunned, then recalled: “It seemed to be sweet and salty tofu pudding too.”

Hearing this, Li Guiyu closed his eyes. He took a moment to compose himself, then finally said: “Give the boss fifty taels of gold and tell him he’s forbidden from selling sweet and salty tofu pudding in the future. If he’s found selling it again,” Li Guiyu lowered his head and put the tofu pudding in his mouth, “kill him.”

Author’s Note:

[Mini Theater] Boss: One bowl of sweet and salty tofu pudding made three people bitter. She developed the tofu pudding for her ex-boyfriend, now she’s having her current boyfriend eat it, and I’m being threatened because of it. What am I? I’m so bitter.

Xie Heng: The tofu pudding she had me eat was developed for Jiang Shaoyan. What am I? I’m so bitter.

Li Guiyu: The tofu pudding she developed for me, now she’s having Xie Heng eat it. What am I? I’m so bitter.

Luo Wanqing: What’s wrong with you all? During work hours, my boss treated me to my favorite tofu pudding. I just wolfed down one bowl and want another! So happy!