Chapter 2: Dessert Kitchen – Inheriting a Kitchen
Ah-miao’s mouth opened in shock.
With a tearful tone, she said, “So my guess was right?! Miss, you mustn’t! You are the dignified daughter of the Minister’s household; how could you endure such humiliation?”
Seeing the emotions welling up in Ah-miao’s eyes, Yihuan paused to think, then interrupted her. “Ah-miao, you’ve grown up with me since childhood. Although we are called master and servant, I have long regarded you as my sister.” She looked at Ah-miao and continued, “Now I can barely take care of myself. I truly can’t afford to hire anyone to serve me anymore. It’s better if you pursue your own future; there’s no need to follow me.”
Ah-miao immediately protested, “No! Miss, Ah-miao doesn’t want wages.” Tears welled up in her eyes. “Miss, please don’t sell yourself… If it must come to that, sell me instead. After all, I’m strong and can work hard. You could get a good price for me, and you and the young master could eat a few full meals.”
Hearing this, Yihuan’s nose tingled, and she felt a surge of emotion.
Seeing Ah-miao’s earnest face, which even carried a touch of tragic resolve, Yihuan couldn’t help but smile slightly and said, “Silly girl! What nonsense are you thinking?”
Her voice was like pearls and jade, each word clear and bright: “Don’t worry. I won’t sell myself, nor will I sell you! If you stay with me, I promise you won’t go hungry. And if you wish to leave, you’re free to go at any time.”
Ah-miao froze. She had never seen her gentle and delicate miss show such decisiveness.
Yihuan asked her, “Did Father leave anything for us?”
Ah-miao thought for a moment and replied, “Yes! The Minister once told me that before Madam passed, she left a storefront for you. It’s at the end of Changming Street. Since it’s private property and not tied to the Minister’s residence, it likely wasn’t confiscated. But…”
Yihuan asked, “But what?”
Ah-miao hesitated. “But beyond Changming Street is Tianshui Alley…”
Note: Tianshui Alley (Sweetwater Alley) is a euphemism for a red-light district, symbolizing a place of ill-repute frequented by courtesans and their patrons.
This so-called Tianshui Alley was, in truth, a district of flower houses and brothels, teeming with flirtatious courtesans and unruly libertines. How could a proper young lady possibly live in such a place?
Yihuan, however, smiled. “That location is perfect,” she said.
Ah-miao was puzzled. “Why?”
Raising her face, Yihuan replied, “Because there will be plenty of customers there.”
Her bright, confident eyes reassured Ah-miao, calming her nerves.
Yihuan had already made up her mind: she was going to open her dessert shop. After all, what girl doesn’t love desserts? The entrance to Tianshui Alley was an ideal spot.
“Ah-miao, take us there!” Yihuan said.
Ah-miao nodded. Just as the two were about to leave, they noticed Lin Yiran gazing longingly toward the southwest city gate. On the ground, two parallel wheel tracks stretched endlessly into the unknown distance.
This farewell marked the possibility of never seeing their father and elder brother again.
Yihuan crouched down and said to him, “Shall we bow three times to Father?”
Lin Yiran nodded.
The two knelt together, solemnly bowing three times in the southwest direction.
Yihuan said gravely, “Yiran, from now on, you must forget everything from the past and start a new life with Sister. Alright?”
Lin Yiran nodded, half-understanding.
Changming Street was bustling with storefronts. Teahouses, taverns, pawnshops, and workshops—everything imaginable lined the street.
But at the very end of the street, instead of the storefront Ah-miao had mentioned, they found a cluttered… hole.
“This is what you meant?” Yihuan asked in disbelief.
Ah-miao was equally speechless. “I only knew this property was abandoned. I didn’t realize it had been occupied…”
Yihuan stepped forward to inspect it. The shop’s door had evidently been broken long ago, exposing the main hall. It seemed the neighboring businesses, seeing the property unattended, had used it as a storage space.
The hall floor was piled high with items, including wine jars from the Jinxiu Tavern across the street and cold steel weapons from the blacksmith shop next door. The sight of the weapons was particularly eerie.
Walking further in, Yihuan noticed a second floor. However, the staircase leading up was locked.
Curious, she paused, and the ethereal voice in her mind reappeared: Congratulations! You have inherited a dessert kitchen.
A dessert kitchen on the second floor?
She had initially been startled by this mysterious voice, but by now, she was unfazed.
Glancing at the iron tools scattered on the floor, she picked up a blade. With both hands, she swung it forcefully.
Clang! The chain snapped instantly.
Ah-miao and Lin Yiran came over. “Sister, what are you doing?” Lin Yiran asked.
“I’m going upstairs to take a look. Wait for me here,” Yihuan replied.
Lifting her skirt slightly, Yihuan carefully ascended the staircase.
The wooden stairs creaked with age, and she stepped cautiously, making sure each step was firm before moving up. But as soon as she reached the second floor, her eyes widened in amazement.
What!?
In front of her was a small kitchen.
The kitchen was neatly organized, with a variety of utensils and two stoves: a small open stove and a closed one. It felt like stepping into a whole new world. Her heart leapt with excitement.
Upon closer inspection, the equipment and stoves looked nearly brand new, as if custom-made for her.
She thought about the long history of humans baking food, stretching back 30,000 years to when people first heated stones to cook meals. Later, they developed fixed ovens and kilns, often semi-enclosed, to concentrate heat and cook food faster.
Now, in this ancient dessert kitchen, Yihuan felt a sense of anticipation stirring within her.
At that moment, she heard voices downstairs.
Gathering her skirt, Yihuan gracefully descended the stairs. Below, a burly, dark-skinned middle-aged man had entered the shop and was arguing with Ah-miao.
“This is our family’s property! Why are you storing your iron goods here?” Ah-miao demanded.
The man sneered coldly. “Your family’s property? No one’s been here for ages—it’s become our warehouse now!”
Ah-miao retorted, “You’ve used it until now, and I won’t hold it against you. But from this day forward, we need it back. Move your weapons out!”
The man grew impatient. “Why should I? If this place is yours, show me the deed!”
Ah-miao froze. With the Minister’s residence seized, the property deed was out of reach. She stiffened, feigning confidence, and said, “Why should I show you? You’re the one occupying someone else’s property—you’re in the wrong!”
The man grabbed a weapon and snarled, “Keep talking, and you’ll lose your life!”
Yihuan, who had been watching, stepped forward calmly. She pulled Ah-miao behind her and asked, “Sir, is it absolutely necessary for these weapons to stay here?”
The man turned to look at her. Despite her simple attire and silver hairpin, her radiant presence was striking. Her composed demeanor demanded attention.
Startled, the man softened slightly but still refused. “And if I say yes?”
Yihuan’s eyes narrowed slightly, a smile playing on her lips. “Very well…”
Translator’s Note: Hello dear readers, I have made this map of the street’s mentioned above according to the description by the author. I hope you find it useful. Based on the description, I think that Lin Yihuan’s shop is in the area of the green box marked in the image.
