Chapter 37

Chapter 37

The night market never closes. The sugar water vendor had previously told them to come at night, saying it would be even livelier than during the day.

Unfortunately, they lived far away, and Lin Chunyan didn't seek too much profit, choosing to return home after selling out. She had yet to experience the bustling night market.

Upon hearing this, Lin Taohong perked up, glancing over at Wang Yingniang's stall, only to find her absent today, which was odd.

"Probably tinkering with something at home again."

After mumbling this, she listened intently as Lin Chunyan spoke with the sugar water vendor.

Most people came to buy snails and tofu, especially the tofu. Many wanted to buy it, giving Lin Chunyan an idea of its popularity.

She decided to make more tofu when she returned, including items like bean curd sheets and tofu skin.

When her uncle's family visited last time, she made some fermented tofu and soybean sticks, storing them in the cellar. She calculated that they should be ready to eat by now.

While she was thinking, a stout old man approached, asking if she was Yan Niang.

Lin Chunyan nodded, and the old man quickly said, "Quickly weigh two catties of tofu for me. Yesterday, I went to my in-laws' house for dinner, and they served me this tofu. It was incredibly delicious."

Unlike others who wanted to taste it first, he clearly knew his food.

Before the old man could leave, a familiar voice called out. Turning around, he saw Zhao Guanren.

They exchanged greetings, but Zhao Guanren couldn't wait to buy tofu.

"Weigh five catties for me."

Lin Taohong, without stopping her actions, quickly replied, "At most two catties. We don't have much tofu, so we can't sell freely."

Zhao Guanren lamented, telling the old man, "You know how sensitive my children's noses are. Yesterday, I bought some for them, intending it as a side dish for wine, but those monkeys devoured it all."

The old man and Zhao Guanren had known each other for a long time, well aware of their children's appetites. Sometimes, he couldn't help but admire them, calling them little gourmets.

Just like Yan Niang's food, he hadn't discovered it before. If not for yesterday's dinner at his in-laws', he might have missed such delicious treats.

Thinking of this, the old man took out more money and bought some small river fish, crabs, and snails.

Zhao Guanren, knowing how to tease, added, "Previously, Yan Niang sold fried small river fish, which was absolutely amazing!"

The old man regretted it deeply, turning to Lin Chunyan and asking if she could make some fried small river fish.

Lin Chunyan didn't immediately refuse, "If I make some another day, I'll set some aside for you."

As they left, Mei Xiang, the maid from Hu Xiaolangjun's household, hurried over to buy two catties of tofu and small crabs.

These crabs were for the beautiful lady of the house. With her husband away on business, she was in charge and unafraid of ridicule, enjoying what Hu Xiaolangjun brought back yesterday.

Once she tasted it, she couldn't stop. While the tofu was good, the small crabs were particularly appealing—crunchy, slightly sweet, and spicy.

Today, she sent the maid to buy more, planning to serve them while inviting performers to sing at their residence.

"What's so lively here? Is there something new to see?"

Someone in front, noticing the crowd, stood on tiptoe to look, "Could it be Song Niangzi's fish soup?"

Song Niangzi's fish soup was famous, drawing boat merchants from afar to taste her cooking. This person, also from out of town, thought the crowd was for Song Niangzi's soup.

The person in front shook his head, "It's not Song Niangzi. This stall is run by someone named Yan Niang, selling various snacks, which are quite tasty."

Hearing Yan Niang's name and learning she sold snacks, he dismissed her, "She probably wants to imitate Song Niangzi, but not everyone can be like her."

Having tasted Song Niangzi's cooking, he held her skills in high regard and looked down on imitators.

Seeing his displeasure, his companion didn't mention Yan Niang again but couldn't help glancing over, wondering if there was still tofu available, planning to buy some later.

His wife and children, tired of the usual restaurant fare, loved new flavors. Yesterday, he brought some home, and they finished it quickly.

Just a few steps away, the boat merchant suddenly stopped, drawn by a strong aroma. Seeing people munching on tofu and crabs, he couldn't move.

He was surnamed Wang, a major merchant who had traveled extensively but had never seen crabs prepared this way.

On one hand, he found it crude, doubting if even a seven-year-old would enjoy it, given the lack of meat. On the other hand, the smell was enticing, making his mouth water.

Noticing his hesitation, his companion bought some, saying, "These are for my children, but Brother Wang, why not try some?"

Wang, about to decline, hesitated, his hand reaching out involuntarily.

The crabs were small but clean. He mimicked others, picking one up and putting it in his mouth.

"How is it? Delicious, right? Yan Niang's stall sells amazing things. I think she'll soon become famous in town."

Wang couldn't speak, feeling both spiciness and fragrance. After eating one, he wanted another.

After eating several, Wang finally stopped, embarrassed, and joined the queue at Yan Niang's stall.

"Miss, how do you sell these crabs? Did you use Sichuan pepper and cloves?"

Lin Chunyan nodded, briefly explaining the ingredients. She wasn't worried about imitation, as many of the spices weren't commonly used yet.

Tasting the crabs, Wang's mouth watered, and he closed his eyes to savor the flavor, deciding to buy all the remaining crabs.

Before Lin Chunyan could respond, those waiting to buy protested, "If you take them all, how will we buy any?"

Even the delivery men, commissioned by their patrons, disapproved of Wang's request.

Wang the merchant's face turned red, and his friend came over to smooth things over. In the end, they took two pounds of small crabs.

Before leaving, they also weighed out two pounds of tofu, one pound of spicy and one pound of five-spice. They weren't in a hurry to go to Song Niangzi's fish soup stall, so they ate and chatted along the way.

His friend laughed and teased, "Having eaten so much, shouldn't we find a place for some tea?"

Teahouses were common, and Wang the merchant nodded. The two found a quiet spot and ordered a pot of light tea.

The snacks in the teahouse were relatively expensive, but rich people didn't mind the cost. Wang the merchant ordered several dishes and asked the waiter if there were any specialties.

The waiter introduced them to Lin Chunyan's tofu, "Recently, guests who come here for tea always mention Yan Niang's tofu stall. It must be quite good. If you want to try it, just ask one of the idle men to run an errand for you."

Wang the merchant and his friend exchanged glances and both laughed, taking out their tofu and small crabs. "It seems everyone has the same idea."

After the waiter went downstairs, he reported to the manager, "Yan Niang's stall is incredibly popular. Even guests from other places know about it and bring tofu and small crabs here."

The manager put down his abacus, feeling somewhat worried.

Since yesterday, guests coming to their teahouse had been bringing tofu bought elsewhere, affecting the sales of their own snacks.

If this continued, what could they do?

Just then, another person entered the teahouse. The waiter hurried to greet him. This person casually found a seat, gave the waiter some extra money, and asked him to have an idle man buy some tofu.

"There's a long queue at the stall. Have an idle man buy two pounds of tofu, and the rest of the money is for your trouble."

The waiter naturally wanted to earn this money and quickly agreed, going out to find an idle man to run the errand.

The manager sighed again, staring at the few silver coins in his hand. Seeing the waiter return, he waved him over and instructed him to join the queue and buy some tofu.

Before leaving, he reminded the waiter to buy as much as possible.

Thinking that not just this guest but many others with money and a taste for food would want to try the tofu, he wished he could cooperate with Yan Niang.

The waiter hurriedly agreed and ran to Lin Chunyan's stall.

Today, there were many people, including several idle men. These idle men specialized in delivering food, and almost every major restaurant had such idle men.

Moreover, despite their job being simple delivery, the requirements were high—they needed to deliver quickly and without spilling any soup.

These idle men knew each other well; there were strong men and women who worked outdoors. They all stretched their necks to see the displayed items.

They knew very well which stalls in town had the best food and whose business was booming. However, they never thought they would one day be buying food from this particular stall.

"It must be delicious."

"Of course, just smelling it makes my mouth water."

Seeing their hard work, Lin Chunyan cut some tofu into small pieces and let them try it.

The idle men didn't refuse, instead praising Lin Chunyan for her generosity.

After eating the tofu, they couldn't say anything else, only feeling its lingering fragrance on their lips and teeth, making it even more delicious.

The Qingfeng Teahouse waiter, who wasn't tall, stood at the back of the queue, tiptoeing to watch. Seeing how much the others enjoyed the tofu, he swallowed his saliva.

The idle man in front of him heard the sound and turned around, offering him a piece. The waiter tasted it.

Hmm, this fragrance he had smelled for two days was truly delicious!

Many people before him had bought a lot, so by the time it was his turn, there wasn't much left. The waiter felt disappointed, fearing there wouldn't be enough to take back, so he quickly bought whatever remained.

He didn't understand the manager's intentions and said nothing more.

Only after all the tofu was sold did Lin Chunyan and Lin Taohong breathe a sigh of relief.

"Why are there so many people today?" Lin Taohong felt her hands were sore, but thinking of the copper coins they earned, she couldn't help smiling.

The old lady selling sugar water next to them and Fang Niangzi selling baked buns had also sold a lot. Both had smiles on their faces, relieved.

Lin Chunyan feared Mrs. Zhang might be overwhelmed at the dock, so seeing some snails left, she asked Lin Taohong to watch the stall while she went to the dock.

Arriving there, she saw Mrs. Zhang surrounded by many working men holding wooden bowls and steamed buns, waiting eagerly. Those who had already bought their food squatted nearby, eating noisily.

Seeing her, Mrs. Zhang quickly asked her to help collect money. The mother and daughter worked busily until past noon, finally able to catch their breath.

Mrs. Zhang didn't feel hungry, only feeling light-headed. She asked Lin Chunyan, "How did sales go at your stall?"

Lin Chunyan said they had sold almost everything. Seeing that snails and tofu sold the fastest at Mrs. Zhang's stall while small crabs didn't sell well, she planned to switch them tomorrow.

After catching her breath, Mrs. Zhang excitedly told Lin Chunyan about her experiences that day.

Lin Chunyan listened with a smile, noticing how much better Mrs. Zhang looked after just two days outside compared to at home, feeling content.

As Mrs. Zhang spoke, Jin Niangzi chimed in sourly, "The dock has never been this lively before. There have never been so many officials and nobles. Even Song Niangzi hasn't had such treatment."

Hearing Song Niangzi mentioned twice, Lin Chunyan looked where Jin Niangzi was looking and saw a beautiful, capable woman with a bun, not too old.

"Does Song Niangzi make fish soup?"

Jin Niangzi nodded, "It's a specialty of our town. Many food lovers praise it, even those from outside want to try it."

Unfortunately, Jin Niangzi rarely got to eat it herself. Despite running a stall, most of her earnings were saved up.

With many children at home, she needed money for their future, whether for property or settling down.

Mrs. Zhang ate her rice ball, enjoying the crisp cucumber and fragrant rice grains, sitting there, easily visible to passersby.

A lady pulled a small child past, and the child, seeing Mrs. Zhang eating something fresh, lingered and refused to leave, reaching out and shouting for some. The lady, perhaps feeling embarrassed, picked up the child and quickened her pace.

"This is delicious, but it's a bit dry," said Mrs. Zhang after finishing one piece, drinking some water from a bamboo tube. She then suggested to Lin Chunyan, "Next time, bring some snow-soaked beans in water; it will help with the heat."

Lin Chunyan looked at her with a half-smile, "Why aren't you saying it's wasteful now?"

Mrs. Zhang was slightly embarrassed and didn't mention it again. After she finished eating, Lin Taohong arrived.

Her face was flushed red, clearly from walking in the sun. Upon arriving, she sat down on the ground, refusing to move.

Lin Chunyan glanced at the basket and noticed that the small crabs inside had sold out. She praised her a few times and asked where the copper coins were.

Lin Taohong didn't want to hand over the money and pretended not to hear.

Seeing her stubbornness, Lin Chunyan reached out to hit her, which scared Lin Taohong into hiding behind Mrs. Zhang.

"Why do you always oppose your elder sister? I've already given you some money, yet you still insist on causing trouble."

Lin Taohong had pocketed the money and was reluctant to give it back.

But fearing Lin Chunyan's anger, she reluctantly took it out slowly.

Seeing her more obedient these days and not demanding new clothes, Lin Chunyan asked if she wanted some fish soup.

Lin Taohong immediately perked up, "Is it from Song Niangzi's place?"

Lin Chunyan nodded, and the sisters walked over to get three bowls.

Song Niangzi was a cheerful person. Regardless of her cooking skills, buying from her always left one in a good mood.

Even though it was past mealtime, there were still people lining up to buy her food, and many delivery men as well, indicating how successful her business was.

Seeing the two bring a bowl for her, Mrs. Zhang waved her hands, "You two eat. I'm already full."

Lin Chunyan insisted, handing her the bowl and urging her to have some more porridge.

She savored it carefully. The fish meat in the porridge was tender and fragrant, and the rice had absorbed all the flavors, with some vegetables added for seasoning. No wonder so many people came to buy it.

After drinking a few sips, Lin Taohong wiped her mouth casually, "I must say, Song Niangzi's fish soup is really good."

Mrs. Zhang agreed, feeling a mix of pleasure and sadness.

When Old Father Lin used to work at the dock, he loved drinking Song Niangzi's fish soup and mentioned it a few times when he returned home.

Back then, Mrs. Zhang didn't know what fish soup tasted like and thought Old Father Lin was exaggerating, not wanting to eat her cooking. This led to several days of resentment.

Old Father Lin never thought to bring the fish soup home for the family to try.

Who would have thought that the first bowl of fish soup would be bought by Lin Chunyan for them?

Mrs. Zhang felt her eyes moisten and hastily wiped them while pretending nothing was wrong. She then asked Lin Chunyan, "This porridge seems ordinary. Can Yan Niang make it too?"

Jin Niangzi, who had been watching their interactions, saw Lin Chunyan buy three bowls of porridge and couldn't help but be impressed.

She felt envious and wished she could taste the fish porridge too.

Over the past two days, she had talked a lot with Mrs. Zhang and learned about their family situation. She initially thought they were worse off than her own, but now she wasn't so sure.

Still, hearing Mrs. Zhang's words, Jin Niangzi couldn't help but laugh, "Old Sister, don't take this the wrong way, but Song Niangzi's fish soup has been a signature dish for years. Many have tried to replicate it, but no one can match its flavor."

She doubted that someone as young as Lin Chunyan could surpass Song Niangzi's years of experience.

Mrs. Zhang was displeased. She liked to exaggerate, turning a minor achievement into a grand one. With Lin Chunyan's actual skill being so good, Jin Niangzi's words felt like a slap in the face.

Noticing others looking their way, Lin Chunyan gently tugged at Mrs. Zhang's sleeve, signaling her to keep quiet.

"We're here to run our stall, not cause trouble. Besides, with Song Niangzi's fish soup already established, we can't compare. But I do know how to make a different kind of fish soup."

Jin Niangzi hadn't heard of this other fish soup and assumed Lin Chunyan was conceding defeat, so she didn't think much of it.

On the way back, Mrs. Zhang kept muttering about it, insisting on catching fish for Lin Chunyan to cook.

"It doesn't matter if it's not as good; I just don't want Jin Niangzi to feel superior."

Lin Taohong chimed in, "Elder Sister, why not give it a try? That porridge was so good, I haven't had enough! Even if it's not as good as Song Niangzi's, any fish soup is still fish soup."

Mrs. Zhang slapped her thigh, her eyes shining, "Right, even if it's just okay, it'll do."

Lin Chunyan smiled helplessly, "If that's the case, I'll give it a try."

Mrs. Zhang remembered to buy tofu, which Lin Chunyan needed for the fish soup, so they went together.

Hong Niangzi greeted them with a smile, "Still twenty pounds?"

Now they were her biggest customers, and Hong Niangzi had been making more tofu recently, happy to see them.

Moreover, Lin Chunyan paid directly with money, unlike most villagers who exchanged tofu for soybeans.

"Today, we need thirty pounds."

On the way, Mrs. Zhang had discussed with Lin Chunyan that the bean curd was selling well and their stock was running low, so they needed to make more.

Hong Niangzi's mouth opened wide, and her hand wavered as she cut the tofu.

"Why so much? It looks like your bean curd is doing great!"

The last part of her comment carried a hint of envy.

Who would have thought that Mrs. Zhang, with two young girls, could run such a successful business?

The business has been going well.

"There's about thirty-three pounds left; I'll sell it all to you. If you need this much again tomorrow, I'll make more."

After negotiating with Mrs. Hong, Mrs. Zhang lingered for a while and managed to get two coins off the price before leaving contentedly.

When she passed by the big tree, it was already full of people. Mrs. Zhang had once been a regular here, and upon seeing her, they all gathered around.

"Where have you been? We haven't seen you for two days. Your neighbor, Mrs. Zhao, said your door was locked."

Mrs. Zhang felt a bit embarrassed but straightened her back when she thought of the heavy copper coins. "I've been setting up a stall."

The women under the tree opened their mouths wide in surprise, looking at Mrs. Zhang and then at Lin Chunyan behind her, finally believing it.

They murmured among themselves, "It's so hot these days; it must be hard for you to go to town. Are things selling well?"

The last question was the real concern. Mrs. Zhang didn't understand and thought they were being considerate, so she started chatting with them.

Lin Chunyan, worried that Mrs. Zhang might slip up and reveal how much they earned, stayed nearby to watch over her.

She had warned her many times not to flaunt their earnings, unsure if Mrs. Zhang would remember.

Fortunately, Mrs. Zhang only boasted about how good Lin Chunyan's products were without mentioning any specific earnings.

But it seemed to be a strain on her.

The women exchanged glances and looked at Lin Chunyan a few times. Qian Niangzi, who had tasted her food, chimed in to support Mrs. Zhang.

"Is it really that good?"

"How could it be fake? My family bought some before, and my two little ones even fought over who got to eat more!"

Thinking about the food from that day, Qian Niangzi drooled, looking at Mrs. Zhang with a complex expression.

This woman truly has good fortune.

Worried that Mrs. Zhang might slip up, Lin Chunyan urged her, "Let's go home quickly; we still need to cook."

Carrying the tofu was heavy, so Mrs. Zhang didn't linger and looked at Lin Chunyan as if seeking praise when they were far away. "Did I say anything wrong today? Don't worry, I know what I'm doing."

Lin Chunyan: ...

Not wanting to discourage Mrs. Zhang, she nodded half-heartedly, "Much better than before."

Mrs. Zhang was delighted, like a child who had received candy, and her steps became lighter.

At home, Lin Taohong had already cut the watermelon. Lin Chunyan fetched water to wash herself and change clothes. Seeing that Mrs. Zhang hadn't washed up and had gone straight to bed, snoring loudly, she wondered why.

"Why did you fall asleep right away?"

Lin Chunyan took a bite of the melon, savoring its sweet taste and squinting in comfort, wondering why Mrs. Zhang was resting so early.

Lin Taohong was disgruntled and complained, "Mother said she hasn't slept well for the past two days and needs to catch up on sleep. She asked me to wash her clothes."

The basin contained not just outer garments but also underclothes and socks.

Lin Taohong looked disgusted, "Mother hasn't changed these for days; they're all sweaty."

Under Lin Chunyan's supervision, she had become very diligent, changing clothes daily and brushing her teeth twice a day.

Though it did use up a lot of soap and tooth powder.

Lin Chunyan didn't insist on Lin Taohong washing the clothes and instead asked her to come into the kitchen to teach her how to make bean curd.

Among the items sold at the stall, bean curd was the easiest to make.

Lin Taohong's face flushed with excitement, hardly believing Lin Chunyan. "Elder Sister, are you serious?"

Given how popular the bean curd was, it was natural to treat it as a family secret. Lin Taohong never imagined Lin Chunyan would teach her.

Lin Chunyan didn't know what Lin Taohong was thinking, nor did she care, as such recipes were easily found online and thus not unique.

When Mrs. Zhang woke up and saw someone busy in the kitchen, she assumed it was Lin Chunyan. Just as she was about to talk about the copper coins, she realized it was Lin Taohong.

In front of her was tofu, clearly already steamed, with prepared brine beside it.

Mrs. Zhang panicked, fearing Lin Taohong had come on her own and that Lin Chunyan would be angry if she found out.

"You silly girl, who told you to come in here? These are ideas from your elder sister; we shouldn't touch them. If Yan Niang finds out and gets angry, don't blame your mother for not taking your side."

Lin Taohong blushed, partly from embarrassment and partly from anger. "Mother, what are you talking about? Elder Sister told me to do this."

"Yan Niang taught you?"

Mrs. Zhang didn't believe it and tasted the brine. Though not as good as Lin Chunyan's, it was still decent.

Lin Taohong eagerly asked, "How is it? Is it pretty good?"

"It's okay," Mrs. Zhang replied evasively, quickly asking, "Did Yan Niang really teach you?"

"Of course she did. Elder Sister and I are close; she wouldn't keep secrets from me."

With a proud look, she added, "And Mother, you should wash your own clothes. I've already told Elder Sister."

Mrs. Zhang: ...

She went outside, deciding to wash her own clothes, feeling secretly pleased.

Lin Chunyan may not say it, but she cares about them deeply, showing her generosity.

Lin Taohong was always the one to stand out and loved to pick on others, yet it was surprising that the two sisters could still have such a good relationship.

Lin Chunyan took this opportunity to go up the mountain. It had rained a few days ago, so there were many people picking mushrooms. These young women greeted her with smiles when they saw her, and several of them came over to chat.

There were a few girls of her age whom she used to play with, and she smiled along with them.

"Yan Niang, you really sell things in town?"

"I heard you can make a lot of money now?"

"Why don't you buy flowers for yourself? Lihua from Zhao's house, after becoming a maid and earning some money, wears several flowers in her hair."

Lin Chunyan answered what she could while keeping an eye on the ground to pick mushrooms. When they looked again, they found Lin Chunyan's basket nearly full, while theirs were barely half full.

They glanced at each other, stuck out their tongues, and hurriedly started searching, fearing they would be scolded by their families for not finding enough.

Only one girl, wearing a light green dress, picked as much as Lin Chunyan. She didn't run far but stayed close to Lin Chunyan and asked shyly, "Yan Niang, do you want these mushrooms?"

Zhao Xinghua didn't hold much hope, since mushrooms were everywhere on the mountain, and one could just come up to pick them whenever they wanted.

But she still wanted to ask.

The other girls felt the same way. Lin Chunyan looked at Zhao Xinghua and said, "Yes, if you have any, give them to me. As long as they're edible mushrooms or wood ears, I'll take them."

Hearing Lin Chunyan say so much, the girls were shocked. They looked at each other, confirming the news was true, and then became excited.

"Oh, that's great! We can pick more in the future and earn a few copper coins."

Saving a few copper coins could buy quite a bit.

The girls' hearts were filled with excitement. They looked at each other and went off to pick mushrooms, their laughter echoing through the mountain, even more cheerful than before.

Zhao Xinghua stood nearby, her eyes filled with smiles, holding out her basket for Lin Chunyan to see. "Do you want these mushrooms today?"

"Yes." Lin Chunyan first checked and saw that Zhao Xinghua had cleaned the mushrooms thoroughly, so she counted out a copper coin from her pocket.

When they had talked about it earlier, the girls didn't believe it, but seeing the real copper coin made them all excited. They crowded around Zhao Xinghua to check if the copper coin was genuine.

"Can a copper coin be fake?" After their chatter, the girls scattered.

Those who had already picked mushrooms showed them to Lin Chunyan.

Lin Chunyan told them to bring the mushrooms to her house when they went down the mountain.

She continued walking around the mountain, picking some wild apricots to take home.

After Mrs. Zhang finished washing clothes, she saw the girls bringing mushrooms and Lin Chunyan paying them based on size and quantity. She thought it was absurd.

"Yan Niang, you like apricots, right? My grandmother has a tree; I'll bring some for you."

"My family has peaches; I'll bring some for you to eat."

Lin Chunyan chatted with them for a bit and sent the last girl away. Mrs. Zhang, who had been waiting impatiently, quickly stepped forward and asked, "Yan Niang, why do you need so many mushrooms? Why give them money when we can pick them ourselves?"

Lin Chunyan had noticed her expression and appreciated her restraint. She explained, "We don't have the time. These mushrooms seem plentiful now, but in winter, where will we find them? If we dry them now, we can use them later for various dishes."

Mrs. Zhang still didn't understand. "Why don't we have time? How many mushrooms do you need? I can go pick them now, and you can give me copper coins."

She was obsessed with earning copper coins and felt like Lin Chunyan giving them away was like cutting into her flesh.

Lin Chunyan agreed. "If you're not tired, you can go up the mountain."

Seeing it was still early and having just taken a nap, Mrs. Zhang indeed took a basket and headed up the mountain.

Knowing her nature and how tight she was with money, Lin Chunyan could only shake her head helplessly.

The tofu was already being prepared, and the sisters worked in the courtyard, processing the wild apricots and peaches, spreading out the mushrooms, and slicing the larger ones.

Little Hei circled around them, wagging his tail vigorously. The sun was setting, and the farmers were returning home. Someone sang a song, its melody pleasant and soothing, making the air feel cooler.

"How about wild vegetable dumplings for dinner?"

At the mention of wild vegetable dumplings, Lin Taohong lost her appetite. "What's so good about those?"

Lin Chunyan began preparing. "Try my wild vegetable dumplings; they're delicious."

Someone knocked on the door, and Little Hei barked a few times. Zhao Xinghua came over with a basin, looking around but not seeing Mrs. Zhang.

"Where's your mother?"

"She went up the mountain."

Zhao Xinghua breathed a slight sigh of relief and then became delighted. She handed the basin to Lin Chunyan. "Yan Niang, give me some of that tofu and small crabs."

Usually, when Mrs. Zhang was home, Zhao Xinghua didn't want to visit because she gave little and always had a gloomy face. They often ended up arguing.

If not for Lin Chunyan's skills, she wouldn't come here.

"Yan Niang, you're truly blessed. How come a girl like you isn't in our family?"

Thinking the same way, believing Lin Chunyan was blessed, was Mr. Huang from Qingfeng Restaurant.

During the day, he had sent a helper to buy some tofu. Though not much, it was fresh.

Even if no one wanted it, he could take it home himself.

Mr. Huang thought to himself and placed the items on the table.

Not long after he did so, someone came in for tea. They were originally going to order some snacks but, upon seeing the fresh food, couldn't help asking about it.

Mr. Huang explained, "This is the popular tofu skin that's been selling like hotcakes recently."

These people had heard of the tofu skin before. Since they saw it here, they decided to order two plates to try.

Mr. Huang quickly instructed his helper to bring the dishes over. The subsequent customers who arrived also ordered two plates each, following suit.

Before long, all the tofu skin and small crabs were sold out.

Mr. Huang was amazed.

He called over the helper and told him to wait for Lin Chunyan early the next morning. If she showed up, he should come back immediately to inform him.

Such good business must not be missed. Perhaps with this tofu skin and crab combo, he could surpass the other teahouses.

On the other side, Wang Chuizi's home wasn't very big. In the past, it was always noisy, with his sons fighting over food and lounging in bed most of the time, rarely doing any work.

Today, however, it was unusually quiet. Wang Chuizi didn't go to the market; instead, he sat by the bed sighing.

Next door, in the west room, lived Wang Yingniang. The west room suffered in summer, with sunlight beating down relentlessly, making the air feel scorching.

Wang Yingniang lay still, without shedding a tear. Crying required energy.

During the day, Wang Chuizi had planned to go to the market but found that everything in the kitchen was gone. Enraged, he stood at the door and cursed loudly.

Just then, Wang Yingniang came out with clothes to wash. Seeing her, Wang Chuizi vented his anger on her.

"Did you eat all those things? You lazy good-for-nothing, you can't even make anything..."

Wang Yingniang, usually silent when faced with such abuse, today whispered a few words in defense.

She didn't believe Wang Chuizi didn't know who had stolen those things.

Hearing her words, Wang Chuizi's face turned bright red, and his hand shook as he pointed at her.

"What did you say?"

How dare she contradict him?

Seeing Wang Chuizi like this, Wang Yingniang felt fear deep in her heart, and her body began to tremble.

But she didn't move.

In her mind, the image of Lin Chunyan appeared.

If it were her, she wouldn't be afraid.

Wang Chuizi walked over and slapped her across the face.

One shouldn't hit a woman's face, so Wang Chuizi always struck her back.

Someone in the house laughed softly, which sounded particularly harsh to Wang Yingniang's ears.

She ran back into the room, still trembling, and took a long time to calm down.

As night fell, the kitchen fire flickered and went out, and the scent of food wafted through the air, accompanied by faint laughter.

No one called her to eat.

Wang Yingniang sat in silence for a while. Finally, late at night, hunger drove her to the kitchen, but she found nothing. No one had left her any food.

Mrs. Zhang came down from the mountain as night fell, exhausted and thirsty.

The mountain path was difficult, with thorns everywhere. Mrs. Zhang rarely went up the mountain and wasn't familiar with the route. Walking down in the dark, she scratched her clothes and hands.

"Yan Niang, look how much these are worth?"

Mrs. Zhang put down her basket and collapsed, panting heavily.

Lin Chunyan didn't know what to say. She brought over a stool, looked at the mushrooms Mrs. Zhang had picked—still covered in mud—and, considering her effort, offered one copper coin.

"I'll give it to you after dinner."

Mrs. Zhang drank well water, caught her breath, and looked at her torn clothes, feeling regretful for not listening to Lin Chunyan. The atmosphere during dinner was somewhat somber.

However, having worked hard, she was starving and devoured the wild vegetable buns dipped in garlic sauce, finding them incredibly delicious.

"Are there any left? I'll take them to the dock tomorrow."

"There are some left. We'll have fish soup for breakfast."

Lin Taohong's eyes lit up. She had seen Lin Chunyan slicing fish earlier and hadn't expected to eat it so soon.

The kitchen fire kept burning, and the dry wind carried the aroma throughout. Little Hei, the dog, smelled the food and ran around the courtyard excitedly, no longer timid as when he first arrived.

Next door, the oil lamp in Mrs. Zhao's house, which had been extinguished, was relit. Her three-year-old child, smelling the food, cried out for something to eat.

Mrs. Zhao was annoyed and tried to soothe him, "Didn't you just eat some small crabs at dinner? Can't you fill your belly? Go to sleep now; tomorrow, Mother will find you something tasty."

"I want to eat this." The child wouldn't be fooled; he had an unusual obsession with food. "Mother, buy me this."

"You little spendthrift, already thinking about eating every day. Those things cost money."

The child opened his eyes wide, not quite understanding. "Lihua has money!"

He always heard Mrs. Zhao talking about how their family's current prosperity was all thanks to Lihua.

Upon hearing this, Mrs. Zhao got angry. "That money was hard-earned by your sister. Do you think it came easily?"

The child, frightened by Mrs. Zhao's shouting, started crying. Lihua's father, who was nearby, sat up with an unpleasant tone.

"What madness is this in the middle of the night? My son didn't say anything wrong. How is Lihua's work any harder than ours in the fields? If I hadn't sent her to town, she wouldn't be living as well as she does now."

After saying that, he fished out two coins from between the bed slats. "Since my son likes it so much, I'll buy some more tomorrow. You have to admit, it really is delicious."

He then got out of bed and opened a cabinet, taking out a piece of candy that Lihua had brought back last time. It had partially melted and leaked.

Finally, the child was calmed down, and Mrs. Zhao breathed a sigh of relief. She put away the coins, thinking that living here had its downsides too—always being tempted by such treats, even adults couldn't resist, let alone children?

Seeing that Mrs. Zhao wasn't angry anymore, the child climbed into bed with the candy, looking obedient. "Mother, when will Sister Lihua come back?"

"Who knows? With Qixi Festival coming up, it depends on whether her employer lets her return."

On the day before Qixi Festival, the streets became lively. In the morning, they had fish soup. This dish was not easy to prepare; it required first frying the fish bones and separately removing the fish meat.

Lin Taohong had seen Lin Chunyan take out the fish meat earlier and couldn't help but marvel at the effort involved just by watching.

She couldn't bring herself to say it was just a makeshift meal anymore.

After the fish bones were fried, hot water was added to make the broth thick and milky white. Then, ingredients like bamboo shoots, carrot shreds, and mushrooms were added until it became a thick soup.

Watching Lin Chunyan ladle it out, Lin Taohong couldn't help but swallow her saliva and eagerly took a taste. The fish soup was fragrant and delicious, with a rich texture.

Though different from Mrs. Song's fish soup, it was no less delightful.

Mrs. Zhang wished she had a cart to sell it too.