The Little Lady Who Savorued Fine Food

She was born the eldest daughter of a scholar’s family, but the household had nothing but four bare walls, a cold pot, and a dead stove. Her mother had run away with a peddler; her father still clutched his books and bobbed his head while reciting classical phrases, as though books alone could fill their stomachs; her younger brother and sister were skin and bones; and she, the eldest sister, had already fainted from hunger. The onlookers all said: “That girl is probably going to starve to death.” Zhong Jinshu rose to her feet and picked up the old spatula. A handful of wild greens could be seasoned a hundred ways, and half a sack of coarse grain could be turned into exquisite dishes. Everything that flew in the sky, ran on the ground, or swam in the water became food on her table! From a food stall at the docks to the capital’s finest restaurant, she used her culinary skills to lead her whole family into a comfortable life. Later, even the Prince of Dingbei, famous throughout the capital for his eating disorder, became a regular at her restaurant and asked every day: “Madam, do you have any limited-edition new dishes today?” After being turned down for several days in a row, the Prince of Dingbei cornered her in the kitchen. “My patience is limited. I’ll marry you into my manor so you can cook and make soup for me alone.” Zhong Jinshu laughed in exasperation. “What princess consort still has to cook personally? Are you so poor that you can’t afford servants?” The Prince of Dingbei: “My ancestor! What if I cook for you every day?”