Chapter 28

Chapter 28

"Wang Daji did this on purpose!" Zhang Wu said angrily.

Xiaoyu calmly looked at Zhang Wu, "What will rushing over there impulsively solve?"

Zhang Wu's anger deflated immediately.

Xiaoyu said, "Don't worry, I have a plan."

"What plan?" Zhang Wu asked.

Seeing Zhang Wu's genuinely anxious and angry demeanor, Xiaoyu decided not to hide anything and shared his thoughts with Zhang Wu.

Zhang Wu, half-convinced, asked, "Will that really work?"

Xiaoyu, with a determined look, said, "Trust me."

Having no better solution, Zhang Wu nodded in agreement.

Only then did Xiaoyu say, "Let's not worry about them; we should focus on our own business."

"Alright."

Xiaoyu and his team got busy again.

By mid-morning, all the buns and spicy soup at Xiaohezi's Breakfast Shop had sold out, while Wang Daji's shop had already cleaned all the bowls and utensils and was happily counting their earnings.

"We had so many customers today!" exclaimed Wang Daji's father, excitedly.

Wang Daji's mother chimed in, "From now on, we don't need to sell porridge in the market. We can just do it at home."

"Yes," agreed Wang Daji's father.

"Daji is capable, he can make both buns and spicy soup," said Wang Daji's mother, brimming with pride.

Wang Daji was pleased with what he heard.

His wife, Mrs. Ma, murmured softly, "That's just stealing Xiao Yu's ideas."

Wang's parents didn't hear this and continued to praise Wang Daji.

Wang Daji, full of pride, slapped the copper coins on the table and said, "If we keep selling like this, our income won't be worse than that of Wangyue Restaurant!"

Wang's parents agreed with him.

"That's wishful thinking," Mrs. Ma interjected.

"What did you say?" asked Wang Daji.

Mrs. Ma looked at Wang Daji and said, "My dear, in food business, it's the taste that counts, not just the cheap prices."

"Aren't our buns, porridge, and spicy soup delicious?" Wang Daji asked.

"Everyone was praising them today," Wang's father unconditionally sided with his son.

Wang's mother nodded repeatedly in agreement.

Wang Daji, who had heard praises all morning, said, "With such good reputation, if we go back to our normal prices in three days, the business will surely be just as good!"

Mrs. Ma explained, "Customers say nice things when they get a bargain, but that's not always sincere. If our prices are the same as Xiaohezi's breakfast shop, we definitely won't sell as much, let alone compare with Wangyue Restaurant."

Wang's father's face immediately darkened upon hearing this.

Wang Daji, with a livid face, accused, "Do you just hate seeing me succeed?"

"I didn't mean—" Mrs. Ma tried to explain.

Wang Daji interrupted her sharply, "Our buns are no worse than theirs, our spicy soup tastes just as good. Don't forget, we also have our signature porridge. In what way are we inferior to them?"

"Even at the same price, we have our advantages," Wang's father chimed in.

Hearing the father and son's reasoning, Mrs. Ma began to doubt her own thoughts.

Wang's mother scolded sharply, "A foolish woman with long hair and short wit. Instead of making snide remarks, better you pray in the temple for a child. That's the proper thing to do, you good-for-nothing." She glanced disdainfully at Mrs. Ma's flat belly.

The topic of children was Mrs. Ma's sore point. She instinctively touched her belly and lowered her head in silence.

The family of three, Wang Daji, his father, and mother, basked in their joy, planning to make more buns, porridge, and spicy soup the next day. They aimed to attract more customers and establish the reputation of "Daji's Breakfast Shop." Even if they lost some customers when returning to regular prices, the remaining number would still be considerable.

So, the next day, they indeed prepared more buns, porridge, and spicy soup, attracting more customers and receiving countless praises, which boosted their confidence further.

While cleaning up, Wang's mother nodded towards the Xiaohezi Breakfast Shop across the street, covering her mouth to stifle a laugh, "Look, it's already late, and smoke is still coming from their steamer baskets. They haven’t sold out yet."

Wang's father scoffed, "Where else can they sell? All the customers are here with us."

Wang Daji, seeing Xiao Yu's place deserted, couldn't help but laugh.

"That Xiao kid must be crying by now," Wang's father said gleefully.

Wang Daji was even happier upon hearing this and decided not to dwell on Xiao Yu causing him to fall from the tree.

However, Xiao Yu was far from crying. In fact, he was having a relaxed day at the shop, playing with Minghe and Danzi. In the afternoon, he took out a drawing book he had bought and started learning with the two kids, unaffected by the day's business.

The next day, he deliberately reduced the amount of spicy soup and buns, selling out before the morning was over. With nothing else to busy himself with, he took the kids to visit Yuemother and the baby.

Passing by Daji's Breakfast Shop, he noticed Wang's parents lifting their chins high, as if they had won a victory.

Xiao Yu and his nephews paid them no mind and continued to the home of Song Sanwu, where they met Yuemother sitting in confinement and her baby.

Mrs. Liu specially brought the baby out for Minghe and Danzi to see.

Minghe fell silent at once.

"She's so tiny," Danzi remarked.

Mrs. Liu smiled, "Yes, and when she starts talking, she'll call you 'brother'."

"I'll really be a brother then?" Danzi asked excitedly.

"Yes, you will."

Danzi couldn't take his eyes off the baby and couldn't resist poking the baby's cheek gently.

Xiao Yu inquired about Yuemother's condition.

After answering a few questions, Yuemother said, "I heard that Wang Daji has opened a breakfast shop?"

"Yes," Xiao Yu replied.

Yuemother immediately became upset: "That good-for-nothing Wang Daji! Years ago, no one bought his buns and spicy soup. Now, seeing you make money, they've started copying you. Isn't this stealing your business? No, Xiao Yu, wait until your brother Sanwu returns from his escort mission tomorrow. Let him talk to Wang Daji's family. If that doesn't work, confront them directly. This is outright bullying!"

"Sister-in-law, you're in confinement, please don't get upset," Xiao Yu quickly consoled.

Yuemother was still angry: "They've gone too far."

Xiao Yu continued to soothe her: "Don't worry, take care of your health. I can handle this."

Yuemother looked at Xiao Yu: "How will you handle it?"

Xiao Yu smiled, "I'll tell you once there's a result. Really, don't be upset. Focus on your confinement, and after it's over, I'll cook for you."

Yuemother, eager to nourish herself and her baby, lamented her dietary restrictions. "I really want to eat something delicious," she said.

"Okay."

Yuemother added, "And if you have any trouble, don't hesitate to tell me or your brother Sanwu. You've helped me and the baby so much. You and your nephews, both in looks and character, are so likable. I'm more than willing to help you overcome any difficulties."

Happy to know people as kind and loyal as Song Sanwu and Yuemother, Xiao Yu nodded, "Alright, sister-in-law. You take good care of yourself."

Yuemother nodded: "Hmm."

The uncle and nephews returned to their shop.

Danzi kept calling out, "Brother, brother!"

Minghe remained silent throughout.

Xiao Yu asked, "What's wrong?"

Danzi replied, "Uncle Xiao, brother hasn't said a word."

Xiaoyu noticed Minghe looking downcast and asked, "Minghe, what's wrong?"

Minghe, unhappy, said, "Uncle, I don't want to get married."

"Who to?" Xiaoyu was confused.

Minghe repeated, "I don't want to marry Uncle Sanwu's daughter."

Xiaoyu looked baffled, "Why not?"

"She still has a runny nose."

"Ah?" Xiaoyu recalled that it wasn't snot, but water stains.

"Anyway, I'm not marrying her!" Minghe was very serious.

"Then I'll marry her!" Danzi declared.

Xiaoyu and Minghe both looked at Danzi.

"I'll wipe her nose, wash her face, and hold her," Danzi said earnestly.

Minghe frowned, "She's not pretty!"

"She is pretty!" Danzi insisted.

Minghe added, "She can't even talk."

"She will learn to talk later."

“……”

As the two children argued, Xiaoyu didn't interfere. He glanced at Daji's Breakfast Shop across the street, calculating. They would return to their regular prices tomorrow, and then he could start his counterattack. He began preparing immediately.

The next morning, as Zhang Wu arrived, he saw that the new stove was already lit, with Xiaoyu standing in front of one, stir-frying something.

He approached and asked, "Aren't you supposed to be making porridge?"

Indeed.

Xiaoyu's method of retaliation was to fight fire with fire.

Since Wang Daji was making money with his buns and spicy soup, Xiaoyu decided to make money with Wang Daji's porridge recipe. Fair and square. He smiled at Zhang Wu, "I'm making Eight Treasures Porridge."

"Is this how you make Eight Treasures Porridge?"

Xiaoyu explained, "A different method of making Eight Treasures Porridge."

Zhang Wu then said, "But you're clearly stir-frying."

"The water I added was less, so it dried up, making it look like I'm frying it," Xiaoyu explained while scooping the black and crinkly mixture from the pot to cool it naturally outside.

Zhang Wu, seeing this method of making porridge for the first time, asked in surprise, "What is that?"

"Kidney beans and black beans."

"Why do it this way?"

"To make the porridge thicker and tastier."

Zhang Wu couldn't comprehend the technique.

Xiao Yu said, "I've prepared the bun fillings. Today, you'll be responsible for making the buns."

"No problem." Focusing on the task at hand, Zhang Wu rolled up his sleeves, washed his hands, and started kneading dough for buns. However, he couldn't help but occasionally glance at Xiao Yu, who was washing rice, peanuts, glutinous rice, red beans, and wheat twice before pouring them into a pot of boiling water.

Boiling water!

It was his first time seeing someone use boiling water to cook porridge!

Then Xiao Yu added the wrinkled black beans and kidney beans he had just fried into the pot. After bringing it to a boil and skimming off the froth with a spoon, Zhang Wu couldn't help but ask, "Xiao Yu, do you need to skim off froth when making porridge?"

"For a smoother texture," Xiao Yu replied, covering the pot to prepare the spicy soup.

By now, Minghe and Danzi had woken up. As usual, they sat conscientiously in front of the stove, watching the fire.

After about half an hour, Xiao Yu lifted the lid, added a bit of rock sugar and red dates to the eight-treasure porridge, and stirred gently, then asked Minghe to turn down the heat.

In the time it took to drink half a cup of tea, Xiao Yu stirred the pot with a long wooden spoon. After another half cup's time, he stirred again... After stirring four times in total, he let the porridge simmer. The rich and sweet aroma of the eight-treasure porridge began to waft out.

Danzi smelled it and asked with a tilted head, "Uncle Xiao, is it sweet?"

"Yes, it's sweet," Xiao Yu replied.

"I want to try it," Danzi said, now as confident and open as Minghe under Xiao Yu's loving care, increasingly willing to express his thoughts.

Xiao Yu smiled, "Alright, I'll serve some for you and your brother."

Danzi suggested, "It's too hot. Let's eat outside where it's cooler."

"Okay."

Xiao Yu served two bowls of eight-treasure porridge on a small table outside the shop, then took out a brush and added two bowls of porridge to the shop sign, steaming and lifelike.

"Oh, are you making porridge now?" a customer inquired as they arrived.

"Yes, it's delicious," Minghe, now accustomed to greeting customers, stood up to introduce them before Xiao Yu could speak. He pointed to the two bowls on the table, "Look, how nice it looks."

The bright red, shiny, and thick appearance immediately caught the customer's eye. Just then, a breeze brought the sweet fragrance their way, piquing the customer's interest, who then asked, "How much for a bowl?"

"Five wen," Xiao Yu replied.

"Alright, give me a bowl and add two meat buns," the customer said.

Xiao Yu turned and served the customer the eight-treasure porridge and meat buns.

"Boss Xiao, this bowl is smaller than the one for spicy soup," the customer observed, looking at the porridge.

"The eight-treasure porridge takes more effort to prepare and costs more, so the serving size is different," Xiao Yu explained truthfully.

The customer seemed slightly dissatisfied at first, but after the porridge was served, he tasted it. The smooth liquid instantly moistened his mouth, followed by a subtle sweet aroma. A slight pursing of the lips revealed a soft texture caressing his tongue, with a faint graininess allowing him to discern the presence of glutinous rice, rice, red beans, and more, each distinct yet melded together.

Sweet but not cloying, rich but not heavy, fragrantly glutinous, smooth, and layered in taste.

It was his first time experiencing such a richly textured eight-treasure porridge. It was delicious!

Any initial dissatisfaction vanished. This small bowl of porridge was worth more than five wen – even ten or fifteen wen would be justifiable.

It was truly delicious!

He wanted to share this experience, but noticing that Boss Xiao wasn't at the doorway and the two kids were busily slurping their porridge, he found no one to talk to. Spotting familiar faces passing by on the road, he called out, "Old Xia! Old Qian! Old Xu! Come try this porridge, this eight-treasure porridge is exceptionally tasty!"

"Is there porridge here?" Old Xia asked.

"Yes, they're selling it for the first time today. Come and try it!" the customer enthusiastically recommended.

"We usually drink the porridge from Daji's place; we're used to it," Old Qian said.

"Trust me, this one tastes even better!" the customer said excitedly.

"Yes, yes, come and try it!" Minghe joined in.

"It's unbeatably delicious!" added Danzi.

Finally persuaded by their enthusiasm, Old Xia and his companions came in and were surprised upon tasting the eight-treasure porridge: "It's even better than the one from Daji's."

"See, I told you," said the customer.

Xiao Yu announced, "We also have sweet potato porridge today."

"What's the difference between this porridge and the eight-treasure porridge?" Old Xia asked curiously.

"The sweet potato porridge is thinner, simpler to make, but just as tasty," Xiao Yu explained.

Old Xia, already a fan of the buns and spicy soup from Xiaohezi Breakfast Shop, was now amazed by the eight-treasure porridge. Thus, he had no doubts about the sweet potato porridge and ordered, "Then give us four bowls of sweet potato porridge."

"Alright, just a moment."

Sure enough!

The sweet potato porridge was exceptional too!

The naturally sun-dried sweet potatoes, concentrating the sweetness of the tubers, released their flavor during the cooking process with rice, creating a sweet, aromatic broth. The sweet potatoes and rice were soft yet firm, a truly unique and delicious taste.

The four people couldn't stop praising the food.

Seeing this, Xiao Yu's confidence soared. He stood at the entrance of his shop, selling buns and attracting customers, while also mentioning that his shop offered not only porridge but also sweet potato porridge.

Meanwhile, Wang Daji had also prepared his buns, spicy soup, and porridge in large quantities. As soon as he opened his shop, an elderly man walked in.

To prevent any misunderstanding, Mrs. Ma clarified, "Uncle, today the buns are three wen, and both the porridge and spicy soup are five wen."

"Did the price go up?" the old man asked in surprise.

"No increase, just back to the original price," Mrs. Ma replied patiently.

"Then I won't have it," the old man said, turning to leave.

Wang Daji was taken aback and then scolded Mrs. Ma, "What are you doing?!"

Wang's mother also came over to berate Mrs. Ma, "Driving away customers first thing in the morning, how inauspicious!"

Mrs. Ma tried to explain, but Wang Daji shouted, "Just go work in the kitchen!"

Realizing that an explanation was futile, Mrs. Ma swallowed her words and turned back to the kitchen.

Wang Daji quickly put on a smile to welcome other customers, "Come in for a meal."

However, some customers had already heard that Daji's Breakfast Shop had returned to its original prices, and hesitated. Just then, they heard about the porridge and sweet potato porridge at Xiaohezi Breakfast Shop.

Given Xiaohezi's great reputation, they were all eager to try something new, especially since the prices were the same at both places. Consequently, one after another, the customers headed towards Xiaohezi Breakfast Shop.

Seeing this, Wang Daji became anxious.

Wang's mother hurriedly called out, "Buns! Hot steaming buns! We also have porridge and spicy soup, come and try!"

Minghe and Danzi heard her and stopped drinking their porridge, running to the shop entrance to see Wang's mother shouting with her hands on her hips.

Attracting customers like this... Humph! They wouldn't easily admit defeat. The two kids mimicked her, putting their little hands on their waists, opened their mouths to shout, but suddenly hesitated, not knowing what exactly to say.

"Brother, you shout!" Minghe said to Danzi.

"You're the older one, you shout first!" Danzi responded.

"What should we shout?" Minghe asked.

Danzi thought for a moment, unable to come up with anything, and simply said, "Let's not shout the same thing as her."

"Right, we won't be the same as her."

"So, what should we shout?"

Minghe furrowed his little brow in thought, then had a sudden inspiration. Turning to the street and waving his little hands, he called out in a sing-song voice, "Sir, come and eat!"

Xiao Yu, who was selling buns, was so startled that he almost dropped one on the ground.

All the customers in the shop turned to look.