The Princess Is Hungry Again [Food]

Food + farming + business management, a big-eating heroine who stocks up on supplies and a rugged, devoted hero

[Completed food novel: The Borderland Cook's Rise to Prosperity. Now serializing: the rural food novel with no powerful nobles, Mountain Wilds Eatery; coming soon: the breakfast business novel, Selling Breakfast in Ancient Times, and the hilarious, absurd comedy, The Entire Harem Shares My Feelings. Please add them to your favorites.]

Blurb:

Xin Rushuang, a powerful survivor from the apocalypse, was betrayed by her teammates and unexpectedly transmigrated into the fake princess sitting in a bridal sedan chair.

The real princess had just been found among the common people and refused to marry into the bitterly cold borderlands. So Xin Rushuang, the fake princess who had been raised in the palace for over a decade, was hastily drafted into the role and betrothed to Ye Zhao, the great general guarding the frontier.

She heard that his family was poor, he was rough in speech and manner, and he could eat eight bowls of rice in one sitting. If he couldn't fight, he would be nothing but a country bumpkin. Xin Rushuang thought that sounded great. She would have food, drink, and a dowry, and wouldn't need to risk her life fighting for supplies. She could just lie flat.

Food and clothing had been scarce in her previous life, so this time she would stock up enough to fill several warehouses. It was important to stay prepared for danger.

Later, she discovered that although the borderland weather was cold, the people were warmhearted. For the simple, hardworking folk on this dark soil, she couldn't just sit back and enjoy the fruits of their labor.

She would make the people plump and healthy, and the general's army strong and well-equipped. Ha! Let's see who dares call this place poor now!

-

On their wedding night, Ye Zhao opened the door to the bridal chamber and found that the delicate little princess of the rumors was crushing the last two walnuts on the bed with one hand and popping them into her mouth. He fell silent, then waved his big hand. "Servants, bring out the food!"

Sweet-and-sour pork, soy-braised beef bones, a whole fish braised with tofu; hotpot mutton, stewed green beans, and then a little barbecue!

It was only years later that people learned the rumors had been wrong. The one who could eat eight bowls of rice was clearly the general's wife!

-

On the second day of the marriage, the servants of the General's Residence stared at the broken bed, utterly stunned.

"Our general is so vigorous. Can Madam take it?"

Ye Zhao was innocent. She had clearly smashed it with one punch! How did this woman have so much strength she never ran out of it?

Later, when Ye Zhao was surrounded by enemy troops, Xin Rushuang came to his rescue with a huge stockpile of supplies, swinging two enormous spiked maces. Ye Zhao stared at her, dumbfounded.

"She's so strong. I love her so much!"

#I'm small, but I can eat#

#When it comes to dealing with scumbags, I'm a professional!#

Reading guide:

1. A lighthearted food novel about a couple who are perfectly matched in their love of eating and drinking, while casually building a business together in their everyday lives.

2. The heroine has no golden finger. She's just a little stronger than most.

3. An imaginary dynasty, marriage first and love later, happy ending, one-on-one.

Blurb for Mountain Wilds Eatery

○ No nobles, palace intrigue, or household infighting in this novel. It's all country life: seasonal cooking and the everyday comings and goings of village life.

On the winter solstice, a small eatery opened at the foot of Mount Sang. Surrounded by green bamboo and the burbling stream, it was called Mountain Wilds Eatery.

The villagers passing by all laughed at the young woman for not knowing how to make money. "Who opens an eatery in the mountains?"

Shen Hanqiu only smiled and said nothing. As a wage slave who had worked herself to death, she thought her new life had begun rather well.

She had a house from the start, though it was a crumbling brick-and-tile shack in desperate need of repairs.

Her family had a "luxury car": there, a decades-old ox.

No mortgage or car payments, and if one person ate their fill, the whole family was fine.

But an orphaned girl was bound to attract trouble. People coveted her dilapidated house, and others had their eyes on her old ox. Oh, and there was an even more shameless person claiming she was his "adopted daughter," whom he hadn't seen in over a decade.

To protect her property, Shen Hanqiu hastily opened this eatery, set up on her own, and cut ties with her family on the spot.

-

Since she'd opened an eatery by a twist of fate, Shen Hanqiu decided to accept what life had dealt her and make it her livelihood.

If you want to get rich, start by building roads.

The people of Zhuxi Village saw only the frail young Miss Shen carrying back baskets full of rubble day after day, gradually paving the muddy path from her courtyard to the main road and planting flowers and grass along the roadside.

After the road was fixed, Miss Shen went to the fork in the road to put up some thingamajig called a "signpost." And it really did bring in customers.

There was so much to do in the mountains, and there was work in every season. As long as you worked hard, there would be a harvest.

Digging bamboo shoots, picking toon shoots, gathering forsythia, harvesting lotus roots;

collecting chestnuts, picking walnuts, stuffing sausages, smoking cured meat.

Pork ribs and lotus root soup simmered slowly in a clay pot on a red clay stove, its fresh, sweet aroma wafting dozens of yards away.

There was also chicken hotpot, its broth rich and savory. Drink the soup first, then eat the meat, and afterward swish in frost-kissed greens. The fresh, sweet taste was so soothing that people couldn't help but sigh, "What can banish sorrow? Only good food."

Diners who liked bold flavors favored peppercorn fish slices, children loved the plum-glazed ribs, and scholars and refined guests were especially fond of seasonal dishes like Emerald Stream Soup and Forestside Delicacies.

Eat according to the seasons and nourish your health with seasonal ingredients. Sit around the stove, boil tea, and savor the brew. In the midst of the rising steam lay the leisurely life Shen Hanqiu wanted most.

There was no need for many customers. It was enough if they smiled after tasting her cooking.

But why did that sturdy hunter keep quietly bringing firewood, that handsome young gentleman keep coming to escape the summer heat in the mountains, and that cold-faced young constable from the county office keep gravitating toward her?

Also, why was this eatery getting busier and busier? She really didn't want to work overtime, okay?

*Reading guide

1. The male lead is already decided. This is not a ship-picking novel; one-on-one.

2. An imaginary dynasty, with many original worldbuilding details.

3. Some dishes are inspired by Shanjia Qinggong.

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Theme: Good food makes life better