The Little Diner Next Door to the Assassin

Announcement: My new novel, The Mountain King of Peach Blossom Spring, is now open. Please add it to your library!

1.

Zhu Yunzao, trained in traditional Chinese medicine, transmigrated with nothing but a copy of The Complete Cookbook in her haste.

Well, when in Rome.

One person, one donkey, a small plot of land, and a thatched hut. The times are tough, so why not return to the countryside?

Yunzao thought she could settle into a quiet, comfortable life in the country. Instead, by pure chance, she ended up living next door to the mysterious assassin organization known as the Snow-Wiping Tower…

The Snow-Wiping Tower.

A notorious organization in the martial world, it had carefully trained thirteen assassins, all of whom made their living by accepting lucrative contracts to kill. Its name was enough to make people tremble.

Rumor had it that its leader had a green face and fangs. His portrait sold so well that people used it to scare rabid dogs into silence and stop children from crying at night.

Though the Snow-Wiping Tower had a terrible reputation, its employees were actually treated very well.

1. Flexible working hours, with no need to clock in or sit around at the office.

2. Room and board included, plus travel and meal allowances for fieldwork.

3. Employees received shares and a cut of the profits.

…

It had plenty of benefits, but only two downsides:

1. It was dangerous.

2. The food in the cafeteria was bad.

The first problem could only be solved by employees training harder. The second, however, was Li Ye’s biggest headache, until a “magical little chef” moved in next door…

Day 1. Mint fried chicken? Delicious, and it also dispelled wind-heat and cleared the head!

Day 2. Astragalus and yam snowflake pastry? It cooled you down and beat the summer heat without depleting your energy and blood!

Day 3. Almond and white-bean pudding? Smooth and soft, it nourished the lungs, beautified the complexion, soothed the stomach, and strengthened the spleen!

Day 7. The assassins’ problem with fatigue from staying up all night and sleeping all day improved. They no longer had to worry about overheating during masked missions. Their backs and waists stopped aching, their dark circles faded, and even their complexions grew rosy.

Day 100. A crowd of food lovers patted their round bellies and belched one after another after meals. They even dared to suggest, “Boss, how about we put down our weapons and open a cafeteria?”

2.

Li Ye had two swords, one long and one short. He named the long one Chu Yi and the short one Shi Wu. His naming principle was simple: you might escape the first day of the month, but you wouldn’t escape the fifteenth.

But at that very moment, Zhu Yunzao was holding those two famous swords in the martial world, one in each hand. And she had to admit, they were so sharp they could slice through hair and cut through iron. Chu Yi could be used to chop firewood, while Shi Wu was perfect for cutting vegetables. They really were divine weapons.

Yunzao: I hereby announce that Chu Yi and Shi Wu have been requisitioned.

Li Ye: My wife may use them as she wishes. Just make me an extra meal tonight.

(You’d better mean an actual extra meal, and nothing else…)

@Reader’s guide:

1. A food-themed road-trip story with a small ensemble cast, about a little chef who uses medicinal cuisine to effortlessly win over a group of assassins.

2. Both leads are each other’s only partner, with a happy ending. The setting is entirely fictional, and the information is a mix of ideas that aren’t meant to be rigorously researched.

3. This is my first novel, so my writing still has room to improve. Please be kind if you spot any shortcomings.

7. The male lead is more of a background character. The first volume includes conflict with awful relatives. If that’s not your thing, feel free to skip it. Friendly discussion is welcome in the comments, but please don’t insult or attack anyone. Thank you! (bows)

Theme: Follow your heart without crossing the line.