1. Pea Cake

June, the sun blazing fiercely.

Not a breath of wind stirred the air, and the cornfield was stifling and oppressive. After pulling weeds for a long while, Qin Jin’s sweat flowed like tiny streams down his body.

At the ninth hour—the equivalent of nine in the morning—he picked some corn leaves and hurried home.

Entering the kitchen, he first gulped down some cool boiled water from the stove, then scooped water from the jar into a wooden basin using a wooden ladle.

Carrying the basin, he went to his room and quickly wiped himself off.

Afterward, he washed his clothes and hung them out to dry in the yard, then returned to the kitchen.

On the kitchen table sat a ceramic bowl covered with a hemp cloth. Lifting the cloth revealed a golden-yellow pea cake, glistening like pure gold.

Inside the cake was a layer of candied jujube slices, making it all the more tempting.

He inverted the cake onto a slightly larger ceramic bowl, took a wooden knife, and cut off a small piece to taste.

Sweet and tender, it melted instantly on his tongue, just like the texture he remembered from his past life.

He was extremely pleased.

The first step to prosperity depended on this very pea cake.

He then cut off a quarter-sized piece, placed it in a coarse pottery bowl, and carried it to the neighboring Qin Bing’s house.

The old Qin family had four sons, with Qin Bing the eldest. Qin Jin was the youngest, or more precisely, the fourth son of the original family.

Last year, the Qin family split their household. Old Qin and his wife lived with the eldest son, Qin Bing, in the old courtyard.

As the youngest son, Qin Jin moved next door, to what was now his own yard.

The yard was small and somewhat dilapidated, but enough for him: three rooms made of mud bricks, a kitchen, and a storeroom.

In the neighboring yard, Qin Bing’s family and Old Qin had already gone to the fields. His mother, Wang Xiuqin, was sitting under the large locust tree, mending shoe soles.

“Mother, the pea cake turned out well. You, father, and eldest brother should all try some.” He handed the pottery bowl to Wang Xiuqin.

She looked up, pleasantly surprised by the appealing yellow cake. “You actually made it?”

“Yes, you should try it.”

“Wait until your father and brothers come back. Put it in the kitchen for now,” Wang Xiuqin said.

“All right.” Qin Jin carried the bowl to the kitchen as instructed.

“Later, you should go to the county gate to sell it. Be a bit more persuasive with customers,” Wang Xiuqin reminded him.

Qin Jin nodded.

“Oh, and send some over to Miao Ge’er for him to taste,” she added.

“...Okay.” Qin Jin scratched his head, feeling a bit uneasy.

Ye Miao was a young lad who had fallen into the water a few days ago. Under everyone’s watchful eyes, Qin Jin had pulled him ashore.

It was summer, so clothes were thin, and in the process, Qin Jin had touched places he shouldn’t have. This complicated matters.

The era he had traveled to was called the Great Jin. In this time, young lads and girls held the same social status and had to adhere to strict rules about interactions between genders. Since Ye Miao and Qin Jin had physical contact, Ye Miao was supposed to marry him.

Ye Miao was handsome, but undeniably a boy.

A boy!

Of course, Qin Jin insisted he bore no responsibility, and no one could argue otherwise.

But Ye Miao’s situation was precarious. His uncle in the village wanted to force him to be the concubine of a sixty-something landlord in the neighboring village, repeatedly causing trouble and almost forcibly taking him away once.

If Qin Jin refused to take responsibility, Ye Miao’s fate would be grim.

So, four days ago, Qin Jin summoned him to the foot of the mountain to ask if there was a way to have the best of both worlds.

But Ye Miao had no such solution. He looked at Qin Jin with a pretty face filled with anxiety mixed with hope, but when Qin Jin remained silent, his expression slowly faded into numb despair.

Seventeen years old, handsome and slender, yet standing before him like lifeless wood.

If Qin Jin refused to marry him, even if Ye Miao avoided the old landlord and married another man, as long as that man was narrow-minded, the incident in the water would forever be a stigma.

So unfair.

The thought of refusal circled his tongue repeatedly but was swallowed back.

He agreed to marry.

Wang Xiuqin was delighted. That very day she found a matchmaker to propose marriage, exchanged birth year notices, and chose an auspicious date.

The soonest auspicious day was three days away; otherwise, they would have to wait until winter.

Given that he was already nineteen—well into the marrying age—Wang Xiuqin decisively set the wedding date for three days later.

Yet the more he thought about it, the more uncomfortable he felt. He instinctively pushed the matter aside and focused on making money.

The Qin family was extremely poor!

A few years ago, Wang Xiuqin had fallen while gathering firewood in the mountains, injuring her leg and spending a great deal on medical treatment.

Last year, when the family split, the original Qin Jin had only two silver coins, but being lazy and greedy, he had spent them all.

After Qin Jin’s transmigration, he was truly penniless.

Feelings couldn’t buy silver, so he borrowed money from Qin Bing, intending to make some pastries to sell.

Qin Bing saw he was making progress and readily gave him fifty wen, explicitly saying it didn’t have to be repaid.

Using this fifty wen, he bought the necessary ingredients and after two days of effort, finally made the pea cake.

His heart was full of joy at the prospect of earning copper coins, and the thought of his upcoming marriage was nowhere to be found—until Wang Xiuqin reminded him to send some to Ye Miao.

“Miao Ge’er is diligent and handsome, and he doesn’t require a bride price. What’s your reluctance?” Wang Xiuqin urged, patting him with the shoe sole she was mending.

Thinking of that numb, hopeless face, Qin Jin answered with a nod and hurried home.

His home was in the southwest corner of Wuligou Village, with Qin Bing’s house to the right. To the left was once a deserted courtyard, which Ye Miao and his father had moved into after tidying it up, having nowhere else to go.

The courtyard walls were only waist-high fences, allowing a clear view inside.

Ye Miao sat at the doorstep sewing bridal clothes. His father, Zhao Feng, was nowhere to be seen—likely fetching water.

Qin Jin stood at the door for a few seconds before calling out, “Miao Ge’er.”

Startled by the familiar voice, Ye Miao nearly pricked his finger. Looking up and seeing Qin Jin, his beautiful oval face brightened with surprise.

He put the clothes into the sewing basket and quickly approached the door.

“Jin Ge.” His voice was soft and tinged with obvious restraint.

Seeing the contents of the pottery bowl, Ye Miao understood Qin Jin’s purpose.

He breathed a sigh of relief.

Four days ago, this man had promised to marry him, yet three days in a row—day before yesterday, yesterday, and today—he hadn’t been seen.

Their homes were so close.

This attitude suggested he might have regretted it.

But Ye Miao dared not confront him, which explained his distracted stitching and nearly pricked finger earlier.

Now that Qin Jin was bringing food, he must not be backing out.

“All right. I made a new treat called pea cake. You and Uncle Feng should try some.” Qin Jin offered the bowl.

“Pea cake?” Ye Miao’s eyes widened.

Having grown up in the county town, he had never heard of such a dish.

“I just made it up randomly. Didn’t expect it to turn out well. I made a lot and plan to set up a stall at the county gate later to see if I can earn some copper coins.”

Seeing Ye Miao’s curious expression, Qin Jin explained instinctively.

Ye Miao didn’t expect him to say so much. After a moment’s daze, his heart inexplicably lifted.

He knew Qin Jin didn’t like him. Other young men in the village would stare boldly at him if they dared; the shy ones wouldn’t look openly but would show it in words or gestures.

Only Qin Jin looked at him like any other man—with clear eyes and no special glances.

Besides, Qin Jin had only agreed to marry him out of helplessness.

He had prepared himself for Qin Jin to ignore or even dislike him.

Yet unexpectedly, Qin Jin explained so much.

Taking the bowl, he looked up at Qin Jin with his small face raised: “Really impressive. It looks delicious.”

“...I just made it up randomly.”

Under those sparkling eyes, Qin Jin felt inexplicably awkward and instinctively averted his gaze.

He had to admit, this Miao Ge’er was truly handsome, with a delicate, pale face no bigger than a palm.

His eyes flickered.

Was it abnormal to think this way?

Ye Miao’s slender hands rubbed the edge of the bowl a few times; he wanted to spend more time with this person...

“I can do any kind of work. Do you need my help?”

“No.” Qin Jin replied reflexively, eyes fixed on the weeds at his feet. “You should rest. I don’t need your help.”

Ye Miao: “...”

That rejection was like a bucket of cold water poured over him, instantly extinguishing his little sparks of joy.

Fortunately, having been tormented by Madam Ye before, this kind of disdain—barely even a scolding—meant little to him. He smiled immediately, “I wasn’t thinking clearly. Such a big matter is naturally up to you. I just said it casually; don’t take it to heart.”

His words had been abrupt. New recipes were always kept secret.

In skilled families, culinary techniques were passed down only to men, never to women or young lads.

Still, there was a pang of bitterness deep inside.

He had dreamed about what his future husband would be like, and now that dream had materialized into a tall, handsome man. How could he not feel a secret joy?

Qin Jin was lazy but had no fundamental flaws, and when his uncle Zhao Dafu tried to forcibly take him away, Qin Jin had simply tossed the man outside!

Moreover, he had saved him from the water; Ye Miao still remembered how reliable those hands had felt wrapped around his waist.

Not to mention, Qin Jin didn’t like him but had softened to agree to marry.

Such feelings were justified and well-founded, so the bitterness was inevitable.

But now, Ye Miao forced a brighter smile—no one liked to face a sour expression.

“Wait a moment, I’ll clear this bowl for you.” He turned and walked quickly toward the small shed used as a kitchen.

Yet the moment he turned, his face fell, full of regret. He shouldn’t have said that.

Look, he’d made Qin Jin dislike him.

He bit his lip.

Qin Jin stared at the weeds, turning over Ye Miao’s words in his mind, suddenly realizing something was amiss.

Not thinking clearly?

Had Ye Miao misunderstood?

He looked up, confused, toward the yard.

He saw Ye Miao come out of the kitchen carrying an empty bowl, his steps light, a faint smile lingering on his pale face.

Blinking, Qin Jin took the bowl and couldn’t help but say, “The pea cake is already made. I’ll carry it to the county gate to sell, so I don’t need you to do any work.

“Besides, you need to make the bridal clothes now.

“If you really want to help, after the wedding, you can make the clothes at home, and I’ll take them to the county to sell. After all, the wedding is in three days.”

Ye Miao paused, a bit incredulous.

Was this an explanation?

“I speak frankly. Don’t take it personally. I mean no offense. You’d better continue making the clothes. I’m leaving now.”

Saying this quickly, Qin Jin grabbed the bowl and turned away.

Although outwardly a boy, Ye Miao’s status was that of a girl, making his thoughts sensitive.

His earlier reaction had indeed been somewhat off...

Ye Miao stared blankly at Qin Jin’s retreating figure until he disappeared into the yard, then lowered his gaze.

He mulled over Qin Jin’s words, then couldn’t help but smile softly.

Qin Jin didn’t dislike him; it was just that the work was already done.

Nor was he afraid that Ye Miao would learn the recipe—Qin Jin was willing to let him learn.

And he had said the wedding!

In three days.

Thinking this, Ye Miao hurried back inside.

He had to finish the bridal clothes; nothing could delay such an important task.