TSWPF – Chapter 55 Education

When the shopkeeper smelled the aroma, he was already filled with anticipation. When Li Qingling brought out a plate of perfectly cooked, fragrant rabbit meat, his eyes immediately lit up.

He personally took the dish from her hands, set it carefully on the table, picked up his chopsticks, and eagerly began to eat.

After the very first bite, he couldn’t stop.

He had to admit — this rabbit meat was indeed better than what the restaurant’s own chefs could make. The meat was tender and fresh, and there was a unique flavor to it — something indescribable, but incredibly delicious.

“Shopkeeper, what dish is that? Smells amazing! Give me a plate too!” one customer, drawn by the aroma and the sight of the shopkeeper’s satisfied expression, called out.

“I’ll have one as well!”

“Me too!”

Before the new dish had even been officially launched, it was already in high demand. The shopkeeper grinned so wide that his eyes nearly disappeared.

After eating half a plate of rabbit meat, he finally put down his chopsticks and said to the customers, “This is our restaurant’s new dish. It’ll officially be launched tomorrow — you’re all welcome to come and try it then.”

Then he turned to Li Qingling and gestured politely, “Miss Xiaoling, this way, please. Let’s have a proper talk.”

Li Qingling calmly nodded, tugged lightly on Liu Zhimou’s sleeve, and the two followed the shopkeeper into a private room.

As soon as they sat down, the shopkeeper spoke first, “Miss Xiaoling, about that recipe — how much are you willing to sell it for?”

He had immediately noticed that the rabbit dish tasted completely different from what his chefs made. If he could get the recipe, their restaurant would surely explode in popularity.

The thought made his eyes burn with eagerness.

Li Qingling took a sip of tea before replying slowly, “The recipe isn’t for sale.” Seeing the shopkeeper’s expression falter, she smiled. “I’ll give it to Fumanlou.”

Tying herself to such a big restaurant could only bring her benefits.

“Huh?” The shopkeeper’s heart went through a roller coaster. Even his usually sharp mind went blank for a second. “You… you’re giving it to Fumanlou?”

“Yes, giving it,” Li Qingling nodded firmly. “But I have one condition.”

The shopkeeper calmed himself and cleared his throat. “What condition?”

“The rabbits my family raises — I hope Fumanlou will buy all of them. Don’t worry, Shopkeeper Uncle, our rabbits are all fat and healthy. The meat quality will be exactly like the one you just ate.”

Seeing her so confident, the shopkeeper’s eyes glimmered. He laughed heartily. “Miss Xiaoling, you really surprise me — first chickens, now rabbits! What else do you raise?”

The owner had good judgment indeed. This girl was full of surprises.

Li Qingling propped her chin on her hand and replied with a grin, “We also raise sheep… and a tiger. Who knows what else I’ll raise in the future?”

The shopkeeper thought she was joking — who in their right mind would raise a tiger?

Later, when he personally went to her house during an emergency and saw Ah Huang, he nearly jumped out of his skin — she really did raise a tiger!

“All right,” the shopkeeper said, chuckling. “I’ll make a promise now — no matter what Miss Xiaoling raises in the future, as long as it’s edible, Fumanlou will buy it all.”

He was genuinely curious about what other surprises she would bring.

Hearing that, Li Qingling’s smile grew even brighter. “Then I’ll remember those words!” Even if Fumanlou didn’t buy her goods, she was confident other restaurants would. Still, she added, “Now then, Shopkeeper Uncle, how much are you willing to pay for our rabbits? You’ve tasted the meat yourself — it’s not like the usual kind. It’s far more tender and flavorful.”

She briefly thought it might’ve been nice to keep one rabbit back home to let the children try, but since she’d brought them all, she doubted the shopkeeper would let her take one now.

The shopkeeper rubbed his chin thoughtfully and finally offered, “Thirty-five copper coins per jin.”

That was quite a high price — his way of showing appreciation for her generous gift of the recipe. Besides, he wanted to maintain a good relationship with Li Qingling — being stingy now would be foolish.

Li Qingling accepted the offer without hesitation and nodded.

She even asked him to write up a contract stating that Fumanlou would purchase all of their rabbits.

The shopkeeper agreed immediately, drafted the agreement, signed it, and handed one copy to her while keeping one for himself.

“All right then,” Li Qingling said, finishing her tea and standing up briskly. “I’ll go teach your chefs how to make this dish.”

The shopkeeper, all smiles, asked Liu Zhimou to wait in the private room while he personally escorted Li Qingling to the kitchen.

When the chefs saw her enter, their eyes lit up. They had all tasted the rabbit meat earlier and had to admit it was better than anything they could make.

They had wanted to ask her to teach them, but were too embarrassed. Now that she was here with the shopkeeper, their hearts beat faster in excitement.

“Miss Xiaoling, please pick two people to learn from you,” said the shopkeeper.

Li Qingling glanced around at the eager faces and laughed. “No need to pick. I’ll cook once in front of everyone, and I’ll tell you all the details. How much you learn depends on yourselves.”

Her words made the chefs tremble with excitement.

The shopkeeper gave her an approving look. “Everyone else guards their skills like secrets — but you’re generous. Well? What are you all waiting for? Thank Miss Xiaoling!”

“Thank you, Miss Xiaoling!” they chorused.

“You’re welcome,” she said cheerfully.

After teaching the dish step by step and confirming they had all memorized it, she finally left the kitchen.

As soon as she stepped out, the shopkeeper handed her a pouch. She took it without even looking inside and tucked it away.

He chuckled. “Aren’t you afraid I might cheat you?”

Li Qingling grinned. “I trust you.”

Those simple words made the shopkeeper’s heart soar. Watching her and Liu Zhimou leave Fumanlou, he turned back inside — already eager to report everything to his master.

Li Qingling had successfully sold the rabbits, and there was a smile in her eyes. “With the rabbits at home, we won’t have to worry about Xiaofeng and Zhiyan’s school fees anymore.” She would take good care of those chickens and rabbits — they were money, after all!

Liu Zhimou looked at her and couldn’t resist ruffling her hair gently. “Let’s go buy some things.”

“Okay~”

Every time they came to town to sell goods, she would always buy something afterward — he was used to it by now.

They returned home with bags full of treats, making the children jump with joy.

From that day on, Li Qingling became even more diligent in tending to their chickens and rabbits.

She got up early every morning to clean the coops and pens, and even asked the kids to dig up earthworms to feed the chicks.

“Xia… Sister Xiaoling, is Xiaofeng home?” one day, as Li Qingling opened the courtyard gate, a shy boy from the village named Dahe asked timidly.

Li Qingling smiled. “He’s home, come in.” She turned toward the house and called, “Xiaofeng! Dahe’s looking for you.”

Li Qingfeng answered and ran out of the house.

Dahe, seeing him, took out a small basket from behind his back. “Th-these are earthworms I dug up… for you.” He thrust it into Xiaofeng’s hands and hurriedly tried to run away.

Xiaofeng caught him. “Wait a second!” He dashed back inside, grabbed a few of Li Qingling’s homemade potato cakes, and ran back out, stuffing them into Dahe’s hands. “Here, take these and share them with your sister.”

Dahe blushed and ran off, clutching the cakes.

Li Qingling watched quietly from the side without saying anything. Xiaofeng glanced at her and grinned sheepishly. “Dahe’s kind of pitiful. His mom never lets him eat enough, so…” He trailed off, worried she might scold him.

Li Qingling knew about Dahe. His birth mother had passed away, and his father’s new wife treated him and his sister terribly — giving them little to eat, overworking them, and often beating them.

It reminded her of how things used to be when they lived with the old Li family. No wonder Xiaofeng sympathized with him.

She smiled gently and ruffled his hair. “If you can help your friend within your ability, then do it.”

People always need friends, and she wouldn’t stop him from making them.

Seeing that she approved, Xiaofeng’s smile grew brighter. He fiddled with his fingers and explained, “Dahe’s really nice. Once, when Li Qingfu bullied me, he even helped me!”

Li Qingling was glad her brother knew how to be grateful. She took the chance to guide him further.

“You’re growing up, so you can start making your own choices. Just remember — when you make friends, pay attention to their character. Be close to the ones who are kind and upright, and stay away from the ones who aren’t. Understand?”

“Yeah, I get it, sis.” He knew how to tell the difference — like those other kids in the village who secretly looked down on him and Zhiyan, but pretended to be friendly just to get snacks from them. He ignored those types.

But someone like Dahe, who treated him sincerely, he was happy to help.

Seeing how sensible her little brother was, Li Qingling smiled again, ruffled his hair, and went back to sweeping the yard.

Whatever Xiaofeng had said to Dahe, the boy started coming to their house every day. Each time, he brought a small basket of earthworms.

After visiting often, he became more familiar with Li Qingling and stopped being shy. Now, when he saw her, he could even greet her calmly.

Seeing how thin and pale he was, Li Qingling couldn’t help feeling sorry for him. Whenever there was extra food at home, she’d give him some — and each time, he would eagerly help her with chores around the house.

At first, she tried to stop him, but as he kept doing it, she eventually just let him be.