Secret Recipe | Chapter 204 | Leaning Together in the Gale | Novela.app

The gates of the Qiu Manor were being pounded just as the sky began to darken. The second young master of the Qiu family had been in a foul mood lately and had kept the gates closed to visitors for some time. The eldest son, who held an official post, was nowhere to be seen today. The entire Qiu Manor remained tightly shut, exuding an even greater sense of desolation and loneliness than usual. The servants had received orders from their master to refuse all visitors. Hearing the commotion, the gatekeeper initially intended to play dead, hoping the tactless guest would eventually leave on their own. However, the visitor was relentless, hammering on the door with every ounce of strength they possessed, as if determined to wake every dog and chicken within three blocks. Realizing he could no longer ignore it, the servant finally opened the door. The moment it cracked open, a thin, small shadow darted past his arm, charging into the inner courtyard like a vengeful spirit. Terrified, the servant scrambled to give chase. By now, Qin Jiuye was completely deaf to the noise behind her. The wind had buffeted her all the way there, fanning the flames in her heart until they roared, forcing her footsteps to quicken. "Xu Qiuchi!" She shouted as she plunged into the inner courtyard, skidding to a halt before a small pond. Gasping for breath, she looked around wildly. The servant finally caught up and was about to bark a reprimand when a green-clad figure appeared on the veranda, speaking before anyone realized she was there. "It is fine here. You may leave." Seeing Manager Liu, whose word was law, give the order, the servant immediately shut his mouth and retreated. Silence returned to the courtyard, broken only by the ragged, desperate gasps of the intruder. Liu Caiwu looked up. The small, thin woman before her was drenched in sweat, having clearly run a long distance without pause. She seemed to be carrying a blade on her back, though a closer look revealed it was only a scabbard. It should have clashed with her overall temperament, yet paired with those dark, bright eyes—now stained with fury and indignation—it possessed a strange, seamless harmony. "The two young masters visited you personally to offer their condolences a few days ago, yet Manager Qin turned them away. I wonder what business brings Manager Qin to our door today?" The other woman’s tone was polite yet distant, but Qin Jiuye did not falter. Instead, she stepped forward and bowed. "Greetings, Manager Liu. I have come abruptly to discuss urgent matters. Are the Protector and the second young master within the manor?" "The eldest master is not here." Liu Caiwu paused, seemingly considering whether to be truthful, before continuing, "However, the second young master is. He has locked himself in his room for a day and a night, refusing to see anyone. If you are determined, follow that moon gate straight ahead; his courtyard is there." Qin Jiuye was momentarily stunned that the woman not only declined to punish her for trespassing but also so readily provided the information she sought. She could guess at the Qiu family's current predicament, but she couldn't afford to care about that now. She desperately needed an ally, and at this moment, she had no one else to turn to but the Qiu Manor. With a quick bow, Qin Jiuye hurried away. After a few steps, she realized the green-clad woman had not followed but remained standing where she was. She glanced back once, then continued toward the rear courtyard without stopping. The Qiu Manor was exceptionally quiet today. As she passed the emerald-green pond, the bright schools of fish silently converged at the surface, stirring up a small whirlpool—a hidden surge beneath a calm exterior. Suddenly, a white blur rushed out from the side with a loud squawk, skittering across the water's edge. In an instant, it landed at her feet and clamped its beak onto the hem of her trousers. Qin Jiuye looked down and locked eyes with a familiar white-feathered duck. It was the same duck, though it looked a bit fatter. She wondered if its master was intentionally fattening it up to make a more delicious soup later... Qin Jiuye stared at the familiar duck for a long moment before saying in a low voice, "Lead the way." As if it truly understood human speech, the duck gave a loud quack, wiggled its tail, and waddled forward. It passed through the moon gate and dove into the courtyard, coming to a definitive halt before a certain door. Compared to its master’s high-profile style when he was out in the world, the courtyard looked far too plain. There was almost no greenery in sight; everything was barren, mirroring the courtyard of the eldest Qiu brother’s Protectorate. Qin Jiuye withdrew her gaze and stepped toward the door. It was locked from the inside. She pushed a few times to no avail. She was about to pound on the door and shout, but remembering Liu Caiwu’s words, she decided not to waste her breath. Instead, she looked around for a window, found a stray branch to use as a lever, and pried open the lattice. With one leg over the sill, she climbed inside. The room was dimly lit, and the air was stifling and acrid, thick with the smell of smoke and alcohol. She fanned the air with her hand, squinting forward, and suddenly froze. Xu Qiuchi sat with his back to her. The table before him was bare of ornaments, holding only an empty wine jar and a vermilion porcelain bottle. The color of that bottle was so distinctive that once seen, it was impossible to forget. The last time she had seen it was in the Su Manor... The wooden stick in Qin Jiuye’s hand hit the floor with a clatter. "You... you wouldn't..." The figure with his back to her stiffened. After a long silence, he turned around. That face, which usually wore a charming, intoxicating smile, now looked grey and defeated. When he spoke, his voice sounded as if it were drifting from a great distance. "Little Ye, why are you here? I went to find you before and you ignored me, and now you come here without even having someone announce you. Come to think of it, this is your first time at the manor, isn't it? I should have someone show you around..." Before he could finish, his vision blurred as the object on the table was snatched away. Qin Jiuye gripped the bottle tightly, her voice trembling. "What exactly have you done? This thing... who gave this to you?" Xu Qiuchi blinked, his gaze wandering before finally focusing on the bottle in her hand. "That Mister Ding clearly knows my brother’s airtight way of doing things. Fearing I wouldn't find what I needed to find, he delivered it right to my door." Qin Jiuye could hardly process his words. She tremblingly opened the bottle and peered inside. A fishy stench wafted out; the bottle was nearly full. Xu Qiuchi watched the expression on her face and said softly, "I was still hesitating, yet you chose this exact moment to arrive. Perhaps this is heaven's will." Qin Jiuye let out a visible sigh of relief, but she still wasn't satisfied. she picked up the wine jar and sniffed it inside and out. Seeing this, Xu Qiuchi added unhurriedly, "That is just ordinary Dalu Brew. I had it stored at the Xiaofu Residence last year. I felt bitter today, so I brought it out to drink." Once the woman was certain nothing else was wrong, she turned into a ruffled duck herself, her voice no longer hiding her fury. "He gives it to you, and you just take it? Where is the person who delivered it? Did you tell the Protector?" "Why shouldn't I take it? Since he dared to send it, I dared to receive it." Whether these were words of anger, drunkenness, or sincerity, Qin Jiuye was about to lose her temper again. However, her instincts as a physician made it impossible to ignore his paper-pale complexion and the dark circles under his eyes. The candles on the table had long since burned out, leaving pools of wax on the floor. The charcoal brazier was a heap of cold, white ash. Her heart skipped a beat as she realized what was happening. She took a few steps past him, threw open all the windows, and then flung the door wide. The wind instantly rushed into the room, making them both shiver. Qin Jiuye took a deep breath and asked in a low voice, "How long have you been in this room? Where is Miss Jiang?" Xu Qiuchi finally moved. He stood up, turning his head away, his voice laced with coldness. "I sent her to Dingweng Village to help you manage the funeral arrangements, yet she didn't even see your face. Such incompetence deserves punishment." Even though she had already witnessed his incompetence and immaturity in this relationship, Qin Jiuye couldn't help but laugh in exasperation. "You think making up an excuse to drive her away is for her own good? She is much stronger than you; she doesn't need this treatment! Do you think locking yourself in this wretched room makes you independent? If the Protector saw you like this, he’d whip some sense into you right now..." At the mention of Qiu Ling, a look of blatant mockery flashed across his face. "My brother? He has his official path to walk. How would he have time to look into my affairs? I thought Little Ye came today out of concern for me, but it seems you're only here to interrogate me." His tone was resentful. Qin Jiuye held up the dangerous red bottle, her voice filled with disbelief. "Interrogate you? Did you not see with your own eyes what happened to those people? Having seen it, how can you still have such thoughts..." "Why can't I have such thoughts? From the very beginning until now, I have had only one goal: to keep my father alive. Jiugao City cannot lose him. As long as he lives, there is hope for everything here..." "Just living? Is the Commandant, who now suffers from dementia, truly 'living'?" Qin Jiuye interrupted his murmurs with a raspy voice. She took a deep breath, trying to maintain her patience. "You must think clearly about the consequences. You went to Qionghu Island and then to the shipyard precisely because you were full of doubt about all of this, weren't you?" "But I have no other way!" Xu Qiuchi’s voice trembled, a hint of despair in his eyes as he looked at her. "I have tried every method I could, yet Father gets worse every day. Right now, this is my last and only choice!" As he spoke, he suddenly lunged forward, trying to snatch the bottle from her hand. Qin Jiuye had no choice but to hold onto it for dear life. In an instant, the two "useless" companions who had once faced life and death together on a flower boat were locked in a scuffle, neither gaining the upper hand. Qin Jiuye had been running all day and was caught off guard by the sudden physical struggle. Everyone in Jiugao City knew the second young master of the Qiu family was a profligate, but no one expected him to have such a streak of madness. The struggle, driven by that madness, was meaningless; it was clearly just an emotional release. After a few rounds, Qin Jiuye grew desperate. She bared her teeth and bit down hard on his fair, delicate hand. Xu Qiuchi cried out and finally let go, looking at her in disbelief. Qin Jiuye wiped her mouth, panting as she shouted at him, "How is this the last choice? Don't you still have me?! I promise you, there will be another way for this..." "Manager Qin is certainly full of confidence. If you truly have the certainty to solve this secret recipe, why shouldn't I let my father take it first?" Xu Qiuchi glared at her, clutching the back of his hand, his words becoming increasingly sharp and ugly. "Or is it that you don't actually know if you can do it, and all your previous grand words were just bluster? It’s no wonder. After all, Li Qiao has left. Without the determination to save that pretty boy, you surely won't be obsessed with this secret recipe anymore. If that's the case, what right do you have to stop me?" "I don't want you to regret it! Did you not see what happened to the Su family? What happened to Fangwai Temple? Did Su Lin ever regret his decision? Did Yuan Shuqing, now in the underworld, ever regret it?!" "The fact is, if given another chance, Su Lin would still make the same choice. If Qin Sanyou weren't lying in a coffin right now, but had one breath left and was waiting for you to save him, would you give up this only chance?" Xu Qiuchi’s eyes were bloodshot, but his voice was colder than ever. "You couldn't do it yourself, so what right do you have to advise me?" Qin Jiuye froze. She felt as if the blood in her entire body had turned to ice. She was back in the freezing waters of the Daixiao River, with Qin Sanyou struggling and calling for help nearby, before slowly sinking to the bottom... For a moment, she truly wanted to raise her hand and slap him hard. But she endured it and did not. She knew that even if she did, the man before her wouldn't do anything to her. But she shouldn't do it. That would just be an emotional vent—a way of trampling on someone in the same predicament as her. it wouldn't change anything. The "sailing in the same boat" they had agreed upon had fallen apart in just a few days. Wasn't this exactly why Ding Miao had given the secret recipe to the Qiu family? Wasn't this the very situation he was eager to see? And she had come here today for no other reason than to break this deadlock. "You are right. I indeed would not give up any chance to save my grandfather. But the premise is that the person I save is truly my grandfather, not a monster serving as a vessel for my own obsession. Ask yourself: do you truly want to save your father, or are you just desperate to satisfy your own wishes and use any means necessary to soothe your own guilt?" As her words landed, Xu Qiuchi continued to glare at her. He seemed to know she was right but couldn't get past his emotions. The woman, feeling that the man before her appeared calculating but was actually irrationally immature, glared right back without hesitation. The two stared each other down in fury, then simultaneously looked away. After a long while, Xu Qiuchi finally whispered, "The way you talk is becoming more and more like my brother. It’s truly annoying." Qin Jiuye stared at his face—arrogant yet revealing a hint of fragility. She couldn't bring herself to be harsh anymore. After a moment, she pointed at his nose and asked through gritted teeth, "If I hadn't come today, would you have truly fallen for Ding Miao’s trap and fulfilled his wish? Would you have turned the Qiu family into the next Su Manor?" Xu Qiuchi did not immediately answer. He stared at her hand, where the skin was scraped. After a long silence, he rummaged through a cluttered shelf and found a box of medicinal ointment. He silently took her hand and began to apply it. In this world, there aren't many "ifs"; every outcome is an inevitability. Today was the closest he had ever come to the cliff of his own life. Fortunately, someone had caught his hand before he plunged into the abyss. And for the woman, today had been an equally dark and bleak day. She had struggled through the gale, and had she not also found a destination to shelter from the wind in this lonely courtyard? The Qiu family's ointment was from Huichun Hall, costing ten taels of silver for a small box. He smeared half the box onto her hand and was about to continue when Qin Jiuye finally pulled her hand back. She was about to nag him about the wastefulness when she heard him speak in a low voice. "I'm sorry. I thought... you wouldn't care about me anymore." He lowered his head like a child who had done something wrong but was too stubborn to apologize. "I am sorry about Qin Sanyou. I thought you would never forgive me—for dragging you into this, for ultimately causing the death of the person closest to you." "The one who killed him was someone else." Qin Jiuye’s voice rang out deeply. Her eyes were brighter than ever, with a chilling light deep within her dark pupils. "I am going to collect this debt. Do you want to come along?" Xu Qiuchi finally looked up. "Why did you come to find me first instead of my brother?" Her soaring momentum interrupted, Qin Jiuye choked for a moment and told the truth. "I went to find him first, but I couldn't find him, so..." The pale young master lowered his head again, like a flower withered by frost. "Go away. This young master doesn't feel well. I'm going to wash up and sleep." "You... aren't you going to pay back your debt to me?" Qin Jiuye looked at his listless face, her anger rising. "Back at the shipyard, didn't you say you'd pay it back when the time came? I am now ordering you, as your creditor, to pull yourself together!" Xu Qiuchi raised an eyebrow and looked at her askance. "You’d better think this through. This whole affair won't end easily. Once you drag me in, you might end up owing me in the future. If this continues, I'm afraid the ill-fated connection between us will never end." "I've actually thought that through. Perhaps tormenting each other is our destiny. If you torment me and I don't torment you back, wouldn't I be the one losing out?" The woman spoke her crooked logic shamelessly. Getting excited, she stood up and pointed out the window where the wind was howling. "Mount Quexing isn't exactly a land of barren hills and treacherous waters, but it is remote and dangerous. Back then, you had never even traveled far and didn't have a single copper coin on you, yet you dared to steal a horse and ride into those deep mountains alone. I wonder if you still have even half that courage today?" The woman had walked through the gale until she was a mess, her hair like a bird's nest with several tufts dancing in the wind. Outside the window, the duck named Manager Qin was squawking as it hopped about. Xu Qiuchi stared at her face and didn't speak for a long time. Outside, the twilight was heavy, yet he felt as if the morning light had just broken. The exhaustion and confusion of sitting in silence for a day and a night vanished from his eyes in an instant, replaced by a surge of vivid energy. He looked down at the teeth marks on the back of his hand and finally began to understand what his proud, cold, and impossibly arrogant brother saw in this woman. "I won't make grand claims, but in all of Jiugao City, you likely won't find a second person as bold and obsessive as me." Having said that, he looked at the object on her back. "But that Granny Wang is indeed unreliable, giving that thing to you just like that. Won't my brother grumble at me again when he finds out?" Qin Jiuye noticed his gaze and instinctively touched the scabbard she had carried all this way. "This isn't the scabbard of the Qingwu Blade, but Granny Wang has indeed taken the item out. It might already be in the Protector’s hands by now. Are you not curious about its contents?" "My brother keeps such a tight watch on things. If he doesn't want me to know, I won't bother wasting my effort." Qin Jiuye remained silent. She also wanted to know what choice Qiu Ling would make next—whether he would return to find her as he had said at Guoran Residence, or if he would ultimately choose to walk the path alone. Not long after, Shi Huaiyu arrived upon hearing the news. The scene she saw upon entering the room was still enough to make one's heart race. Qin Jiuye didn't feel right leaving Xu Qiuchi alone, so after leaving the courtyard, she thought it over and decided to tell the woman everything. "...In short, Manager Shi should have someone keep an eye on him. The Protector might not be able to look after him, so it’s best to have Miss Jiang return as soon as possible." She finished in one breath. Shi Huaiyu did not show much shock or unease throughout the explanation. Instead, she sighed softly at the end. "Miss Qin may call me Aunt Huaiyu, just as the young masters do. Your family has just suffered a tragedy, yet you still trouble yourself so much for this matter; it truly makes me feel uneasy. You look to be only in your early twenties, yet you are far more sensible than those two in this manor." Though it was their first meeting, Qin Jiuye sensed that this Manager Shi was different from the others in the Qiu family. She was as gentle as a stone soaked in spring water—without sharp edges, yet incredibly firm. Perhaps because it had been a long time since someone had spoken to her with such consideration and tenderness, Qin Jiuye felt embarrassed. She smiled and said vaguely, "The second young master and I share a certain fate. He is quite shrewd when he is out in the world; I suppose he just had a momentary lapse in judgment." Shi Huaiyu shook her head, clearly disagreeing with her "verdict." "What use is doing things beautifully? He is but a child who cannot even see his own heart. Let us not speak of those two. It is late; why don't you stay the night at the manor, Miss Qin? I have already had a room prepared. If you don't mind, please follow me." Qin Jiuye paused, then remembered another important matter. After a moment's hesitation, she spoke up. "There is something I might have to trouble Aunt Huaiyu with. Later, I would like to see the Commandant..." She paused and quickly explained in a low voice, "It is like this: the Protector previously asked me to examine the Commandant. To my shame, I have been caught up in various affairs since then and haven't found the opportunity. Since I have already come to trouble you today, I might as well take this chance to see him. I just don't know if it is convenient?" Shi Huaiyu was stunned. After a long while, she murmured, "You are willing to examine the General?" Qin Jiuye nodded. Thinking the woman was worried about her medical skills, she explained, "The Protector told me some details before, and I have done some private study these past few days, so I am not entirely unprepared. However, I am indeed just an obscure physician; I might not be able to give a definitive conclusion in a single visit..." Her explanation was interrupted by Shi Huaiyu’s movement. The woman’s broad palm took her hand, patting it like an elder who had known her for years, then squeezing it firmly. "Thank you. Thank you for being willing to make this trip today." Qin Jiuye’s hand trembled slightly, but she did not pull away. "Actually, I should have come earlier, but the Protector said it wasn't the right time. I see he isn't in the manor today; I wonder if I should inform him first..." Shi Huaiyu smiled and shook her head, leading her outside by the hand. "I know that child. He didn't let you come before because he didn't want you to be hurt. Since he could open his mouth to ask this of you, he must recognize you more than anyone else. Set your mind at ease and rest for a while. After dinner, I will take you to the General’s room." As she spoke, she gently led Qin Jiuye through the Qiu Manor, introducing every plant and tree as they walked—from a single tree or stone to the swallows' nests under the eaves and the koi in the pond. She missed almost nothing. Qin Jiuye followed obediently, letting the woman lead her while listening to the rambling talk about trivial things. She became quite silent. The Qiu Manor likely hadn't had a guest in a long time, and for her, the "guest," it had also been a long time since she had heard such kind, motherly nagging. For some reason, she thought of Aunt Yang again, and her eyes began to sting. If her Aunt Yang were still alive, she would be around this age. She would likely comfort her with such care and tenderness, holding her hand and talking to her like this. "Look at me, going on and on. Don't find me too noisy." Shi Huaiyu finally stopped and smiled apologetically. Qin Jiuye shook her head quickly. "Not at all. Thank you, Aunt Huaiyu, for personally showing me around the courtyard. This place is so large; I truly would have had trouble managing on my own." After all, Guoran Residence only had a few rooms; the small kitchen of a great household was larger than her entire courtyard. Thinking of her arrival at the Su Manor, she couldn't help but drift off again. Shi Huaiyu watched her expression and said softly after a moment, "Miss Qin, did you come to find the two young masters because of the Black Moon matter from the past?" As expected, the woman before her was by no means simple. Though not a martial artist, her perceptiveness was likely on par with that profligate son’s. Qin Jiuye paused, then decided to tell the truth. "That is indeed the case. The matter the Protector is currently investigating is also related to the Black Moon’s past. Aside from the two young masters, I can think of no one else to walk this path with." Having spoken the truth, she was prepared to be questioned. After all, the task she intended to undertake was dangerous and secretive. One of the Qiu sons was already involved; by not letting the other one go either, she was essentially "wiping them out." But to her surprise, there was no displeasure on Shi Huaiyu’s face. The woman only nodded calmly. "No matter. Some battles simply must be fought. To be afraid before the fight begins—how could that be the way of a general’s house?" She looked at the two flourishing blood zelkova trees in the courtyard, a firm, unshakable will in her eyes. "Besides, if you want a fire to burn brightly, you must have the wind to aid it. Many things only reveal themselves in times of peril." Qin Jiuye followed her gaze and saw the two tall silhouettes of the trees leaning against each other. The sudden gale today had shaken loose a carpet of leaves. Without realizing it, the scent of autumn had entered the wind. The rains had not yet ended, and the season of parting was approaching. But now was not a time for individual sorrow or reflecting on departures. In the wild growth of midsummer, plants do not notice the other greenery around them. But when autumn comes and the great winds rise, they realize how fortunate it is to have a partner standing shoulder-to-shoulder beside them. *** | Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | 许秋迟 | Xu Qiuchi | The second son of the Qiu family. | | 柳裁梧 | Liu Caiwu | A manager/steward at the Qiu Manor. | | 石怀玉 | Shi Huaiyu | A senior steward/manager at the Qiu Manor, referred to as "Aunt" (Huaiyu Shen). | | 都尉 | Commandant | Refers to the father of the Qiu brothers (General Qiu). | | 督护 | Protector | Refers to the eldest son, Qiu Ling. | | 血榉木 | Blood Zelkova | A type of tree (Zelkova serrata) mentioned as a metaphor at the end. | | 大庐酿 | Dalu Brew | A type of wine. | | 小福居 | Xiaofu Residence | A local establishment/inn. | | 怀玉婶 | Aunt Huaiyu | Respectful address for Shi Huaiyu. | | 黛绡河 | Daixiao River | The river where Qin Sanyou died. | | 却行山 | Mount Quexing | A remote mountain location mentioned by Qin Jiuye. |