The Sichuan-Spiced Little Chef

Her birth mother was violent and uncivilized, her birth father weak and selfish, and her adopted younger brother all fake smiles and empty pleasantries. Luo Qinglan said, “One comes, I beat one. Two come, I beat them both.” She opened a chain of restaurants and distinctive inns, bought mountains and fields to build vegetable farms, and launched a chain of cold-drink shops. Armed with her modern cooking skills and experience managing restaurants, she thrived in the ancient world. Her only problem was a man who insisted on eating her food every day. Later, he started eating her instead. As he got dressed and headed out, the man said, “Mapo tofu for lunch! And you for dessert tonight!” Qinglan: “Get out!”