Chapter 37: Zhajiangmian

Chapter 37: Zhajiangmian

The noodle shop was indeed about to open, and Shen Miao had been so busy with the preparations that she hadn't had time to set up her stall at the bridge market.

Shen Miao had ordered four sets of square tables and benches from Old Man Yang, which had just been delivered. She arranged the tables and chairs in two rows down the middle of the shop, and along the walls on both sides, she had Old Man Yang nail two rows of long tables using extended wooden planks. Each could accommodate five or six small stools, allowing for more seating when the shop was crowded.

The Shen family's shop wasn't large, so Shen Miao didn't set up a separate L-shaped countertop. Instead, following a more contemporary approach, she removed half of the wall connecting the shop to the kitchen, creating a half-wall opening. The lower half of the wall was covered with thick wooden planks, serving both as a serving window and a counter, saving a lot of space.

To accommodate this, Shen Miao also made some adjustments to the kitchen layout. The makeshift dining table and cabinets were moved to the newly built front porch in the courtyard. Previously, the kitchen had four old-fashioned stove holes along the wall, with a long wooden workbench in the middle and corners cluttered with baskets and miscellaneous items, making the workflow inconvenient and messy.

Now, Shen Miao had Artisan He add two soup stoves between the four stove holes and combined the four stove holes into a single platform. This setup allowed for cooking and boiling water at the same time, saving both firewood and time. At the far end, she added a clay pot stove made of four combined burners, which could be used to cook specialty clay pot rice noodles and noodles.

The eight-layer bamboo steam baskets for buns and the low soup stoves were moved to the corner, providing space for steaming rice, buns, and other steamed dishes, as well as for simmering broth and braised dishes.

The original wooden workbench was badly burned, so Shen Miao had Old Man Yang make a new one. It was made of two workbenches combined, providing a spacious surface for both prepping and chopping vegetables. Under the table, she had a basket weaver measure and make four large baskets that fit perfectly, used for storing kitchen utensils, cloths, and brushes. On the other side of the kitchen, two rows of wooden shelves were installed along the wall, paired with baskets for storing fresh vegetables. Next to the shelves was the entrance to the Shen family's cellar.

Only after organizing the kitchen did Shen Miao discover the cellar!

And it wasn't small—it was quite deep, requiring a ladder to get down.

But it had already been emptied, leaving nothing inside. The cellar was cool and could be used to store perishable meats and vegetables, acting as a natural cooler.

Finally, she built two vegetable washing sinks with bricks, connected by bamboo tubes. She also made a hole in the corner, extending the bamboo tube outlet outside, so that wastewater would flow directly into the rain gutter and then into the city's extensive sewer system.

However, the bamboo tube used as a drainage pipe didn't have a bend, and the two bamboo tubes were joined at a right angle using mortise and tenon joinery, so they needed regular cleaning to prevent clogging. But this was still an innovative design that no other kitchen in any eatery had. Other kitchens had drainage ditches dug into the floor, but this often led to wastewater flowing everywhere, and if the owners were lazy and didn't clean daily, the kitchen would inevitably stink.

That day, while Artisan He was building the stoves, he was stunned when Shen Miao gestured to him, not only asking for two brick sinks but also a drainage pipe.

Next to the sinks, she placed two large water jars she had bought earlier, planning to buy two more later.

The lack of a well at home was indeed inconvenient, but digging a well wasn't an easy task. Not only was it expensive to dig, but it also required reporting to the authorities and obtaining a "Zeyu approval" before starting.

No one in Willow East Alley had a well at home. According to Aunt Gu, getting such approval would cost at least fifty strings of cash for bribing the officials, and that was the price from years ago—who knows what it would cost now.

Shen Miao didn't have the money—she simply didn't have it.

Fortunately, the water supply house wasn't too far away.

In any case, the kitchen Shen Miao had renovated was quite similar to the standard kitchens of later times. Such kitchens would usually have hanging cabinets, fans, and high-power exhaust hoods, but those weren't available now. For such a small shop, after arranging the seasonings, pots, pans, and utensils, Shen Miao felt it was sufficient for her use.

Outside the kitchen, there was an empty space next to the counter. Shen Miao stood there for a moment, then had Old Man Yang make a wooden drinks cabinet. She decided to partner with the tofu shop in the alley to sell simple soy milk. She would also work with Mei Sanniang to offer mung bean soup and sour plum soup, and with the Gu family to sell some small wines. These drinks could be stored in double-handled earthenware jars, placed alongside various jars of wine, and sold together.

The biggest change in the shop was that Shen Miao had laid bricks.

Although they were plain bricks she had bargained for from Artisan He—gray and without any patterns, with many bearing burn marks—they were cheap and practical. Laying bricks made cleaning and maintenance much easier, especially on rainy days, when customers wouldn't have to step into mud to eat their noodles.

All these preparations had cost over four thousand coins, nearly five strings of cash, and the opening date had been pushed back repeatedly. By the time everything was ready, it was already late May, and even the Dragon Boat Festival had passed.

But as Shen Miao looked at the small, well-organized shop, she felt that all the investment was worth it.

In business, you have to invest to get returns.

Fortunately, she had saved quite a bit of money from her stall, and of course, it also helped that the Xie family had bought two of her pastry recipes. Otherwise, she might have had to wait until next year to barely save enough money for the renovations!

Early that morning, after hanging up the peach wood talismans and cleaning the shop, she turned to wipe down the tables, chairs, floor, and counter. Looking at the bare white walls, she thought about having Ji Geer write two menus with simple illustrations of the dishes—although most people at the time couldn't read, it would make for good decoration, as the bare walls felt too plain.

Moreover, it would give her shop a scholarly atmosphere. Shen Miao stood proudly in the nearly finished shop, thinking, what small noodle shop at this time would have so many words on its walls?

Hand-drawn illustrated menus—what a cultured little place!

On top of that, Shen Miao bought two potted pines to place at the entrance and six oval-shaped copper lamps made from ox horns to hang from the ceiling.

She also went to the fireworks shop and bought forty to fifty firecrackers, tying the fuses together with a hemp rope. She then cut red paper into various shapes, threaded them with red string, and hung them on the plants as decorations. She also bought a foot of red cloth, tying a flower to the tail of the family’s little dog and a big red bow around Thunder’s neck.

A red fabric rosette was also hung on the signboard. She even went to the blind fortune-teller at Jinliang Bridge to calculate an auspicious time and date. Then, amidst the crackling firecrackers and smoke, the shop officially opened.

At that time, there was no tradition of sending flower baskets or lighting firecrackers for restaurant openings, so Shen Miao’s actions were quite unusual to passersby. The New Year-like firecracker sounds could be heard throughout the entire street. Even the little dog, startled by the firecrackers, ran around with a big red flower on its tail, drawing quite a crowd.

Curious passersby noticed that the shop entrance was flanked by two green pines, their branches adorned with festive paper decorations. An elderly man in a long gown approached and saw shapes like gourds, diamonds, squares, and flowers, with words like "wealth," "happiness," "fortune," and "good luck" written on them.

The handwriting looked like a child’s—not particularly skilled, but earnest and sincere.

It was quite endearing.

Many locals from Willow East Lane came to visit. Aunt Gu praised everything, while Aunt Li nitpicked everything, but no one could deny that Shen Da Jieer had done a great job with the shop, making it both clean and visually pleasing.

However...

Aunt Gu, holding Shen Miao’s arm, whispered, "Why not replace this signboard? It’s all blackened and full of wormholes. Why not ask Old Man Yang to make you a new one?"

Shen Miao looked up. The signboard indeed looked weathered, clashing with the newly decorated shop.

This signboard had been found in the crevices behind the stove.

After the tragic deaths of Shen’s parents, the signboard had been taken down, almost used as firewood by the merchant who rented the shop.

When it was first found, it was covered in soot. After cleaning, the once bright redwood had turned black. Shen Miao scrubbed and washed it but couldn’t restore its original luster. In the end, she took it to Old Man Yang, who planed away the uneven surface and repainted it.

When it was returned, it looked somewhat better, but the wood’s scars were still visible.

Shen Miao and Ji Geer stood quietly before the signboard for a long time. Finally, Shen Miao said nothing, only asking Ji Geer to bring ink and a brush to retrace the characters. Then, using a tall ladder, she rehung it.

Almost everything left by Shen’s parents had been destroyed, but this signboard remained, holding memories of Ji Geer and Xiang Jieer’s happy childhood under their parents’ protection.

On the opening day, Shen Miao held Ji Geer and Xiang Jieer close, standing amidst the crackling firecrackers, looking up.

The blind fortune-teller at Jinliang Bridge was quite skilled. The day was exceptionally clear, with bright sunlight shining unobstructed on the five large characters: "Shen’s Noodle Shop." Though scarred, the redwood sign now had a subtle, timeless glow.

"From now on, we truly have a home," Shen Miao said softly, pulling her siblings closer.

Xiang Jieer buried her face in her sister’s chest, while Shen Ji continued to gaze up at the familiar yet unfamiliar signboard, his eyes inexplicably moist. Who could have imagined that one day, he and Xiang Jieer would have a place they could call home again? It was truly unbelievable.

Before Shen Miao returned, he hadn’t even dared to dream of such a thing.

Amidst the sounds of firecrackers and the rising smoke, he could only manage a hoarse "Mm."

On the opening day of Shen’s Noodle Shop, not a single bowl of noodles was sold in the morning. Instead, the shop was bustling with neighbors from the lane who came to offer their congratulations. Though these neighbors often gossiped behind each other’s backs, on such a significant occasion, they were all eager to show their support and join in the excitement. Shen Miao received many gifts that morning—bowls, rice, flour, tofu, eggs, and even a few pounds of fresh meat—which soon filled the small front porch of the backyard.

Aside from the neighbors, the first to congratulate her were Mei Sanniang, who sold sweet drinks on Jinliang Bridge, and Miss Mi.

Shen Miao happily accepted their gifts—two large jars of jujube sweet soup and perilla drink from Mei Sanniang, and two wooden carvings of magpies on branches and spring flowers from Miss Mi. She warmly took their hands and led them inside.

"You didn’t have to bring gifts, no need to be so polite," Shen Miao said, beaming. "From now on, whenever you come for noodles, I’ll give you both half off."

"How stingy! I thought you’d say it’s on the house!" Mei Sanniang exclaimed dramatically.

Shen Miao looked at them, a bit shy. "I’ve become quite poor after opening this shop. But once I start making money, I’ll treat you to noodles for three days and nights, no charge, no questions asked!"

Mei Sanniang rolled her eyes skyward: "Do you think Xiaomi and I are cows with three stomachs? How cruel! Are you trying to stuff me to death just to save on soup cake money?"

"You’re accusing me unfairly! If you keep this up, I’ll have to go to Kaifeng Prefecture to lodge a complaint!"

While the two bickered, Miss Mi covered her mouth and laughed nearby.

After the teasing, Mei Sanniang finally looked around seriously, growing more and more amazed: "Your shop is really neat and has a unique charm." She walked around, finding everything fresh and new, especially praising the locked liquor cabinet near Shen Miao's counter. She said that once she saved enough to rent a teahouse, she’d make a similar cabinet to store expensive teas and tea sets—both beautiful and enticing for customers.

Then, she asked with concern, "After opening the shop, won’t you keep making steamed buns and roasted bread? It’d be a shame to stop!"

Shen Miao pointed to the small cart parked in the backyard and smiled, "Later, I’ll put a stove under this cart and steamers on top. I’ve even made a tall bamboo stool for Xiang Jieer to watch the cart."

She had it all planned: make the buns and bread at night, steam them in the morning when the shop opens, sell them for breakfast, and offer various noodles for lunch and dinner. This way, both are taken care of, and the cart won’t go to waste.

Additionally... Shen Miao poured tea for the two and whispered to Mei Sanniang, "As the weather heats up, the shop can’t go without refreshing drinks. But I’m running this shop alone, making buns, bread, and soup cakes, and I’m worried I’ll be swamped. How about I order some cool, thirst-quenching teas from you? You deliver them early each day, so I can save time, and you’ll earn a good income. Just one thing: don’t charge me market price; give me a good deal, and make sure it’s made with real ingredients and cleanly prepared. What do you think? If you’re not willing, I’ll ask other tea shops."

Mei Sanniang’s plump face lit up with joy: "Of course! I’ll go back and discuss it with my husband. Don’t worry, my Fat Sister’s Refreshing Drinks are famous on Jinliang Bridge—I’d never tarnish my reputation!"

Miss Mi, sipping her tea, nodded in agreement: "True, eating soup cakes makes you sweat. In the summer heat, without refreshing drinks, you’d lose your appetite."

The two sat for a while, but seeing people keep coming to congratulate Shen Miao, they decided to leave to avoid being in the way.

Ever since Shen Miao mentioned selling refreshing drinks, Mei Sanniang had been eager to get home, afraid of missing this big opportunity. Seeing the situation, she quickly pulled Miss Mi away.

Chef Fang from the Xie family had been learning from Shen Miao for days, mastering egg yolk pastries and cookies, and already saw her as half a teacher. Just as Mei Sanniang and Miss Mi left, he arrived with half a freshly slaughtered lamb, blood dripping all the way, startling her so much she nearly tripped.

Many regular customers from Jinliang Bridge also came. A burly man who often visited her cake stall brought a bolt of linen and sat down to eat soup cakes. Only then did Shen Miao learn this dark, unremarkable man’s surname was Bai.

And he had a strikingly clean name: Bai Xueshan (White Snow Mountain).

Shen Miao went into the kitchen to roll noodles. Hearing his introduction, she glanced through the counter window at his face, darker than Gu Tusu’s—so dark he wouldn’t need makeup to play Judge Bao. She silently chewed over his name in her mind.

What a lovely name for such a dark man!

He sat boldly on the stool closest to the counter, flashing a big white smile at Shen Miao and leaning over to chat: "You can call me Bai Laosan. Don’t let my looks deceive you; I’m only twenty-five!"

Twenty-five??

Shen Miao’s eyes widened. She couldn’t admit she had thought he was at least forty...

Bai Laosan seemed to notice and said with a pout, "I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I’ve always looked old, even as a kid, and I still do. My wife says I must have face-planted during reincarnation."

Shen Miao lowered her head, stifling laughter, her hands trembling as she kneaded the dough.

Don’t laugh at the customer, hold it in!

On her first trial day, Shen Miao only prepared two types of noodles: one was old Beijing fried sauce noodles, with the sauce pre-cooked and stored in a small jar sealed with oil paper, kept in the cool cellar of the kitchen. She scooped out a bowlful each day, which could last several days.

She figured that on the opening day, things would be busy, and fried sauce noodles were quick, easy, and delicious. The other was pork bone clear soup noodles, with the broth simmered overnight, the stove fire never extinguished, simmering until morning.

Pork bone soup cakes were common, and other shops had them, but Bai Laosan had never heard of "fried sauce mixed noodles" and ordered that. He curiously asked, "Madam Shen, what is fried sauce?"

Shen Miao thought about where "old Beijing" was at this time and smiled, "It’s a method from Yan Prefecture, so it’s not common in Bianjing. It’s a sauce made with pork, paired with shredded cucumber, scallions, radish, and bean sprouts. It’s very fragrant; you’ll like it!"

Even though Madam Shen didn’t elaborate much, Bai Laosan’s mouth was already watering.

Shen Miao finished rolling the noodles, and the oil pot on the stove was hot—it’s best to stir-fry the pre-made sauce again to evaporate the moisture, separating the oil from the sauce, making it incredibly fragrant. Sure enough, as Shen Miao stir-fried the sauce, before it was even done, Bai Laosan stood up, drawn by the aroma.

The sauce was stir-fried over high heat, the noodles were cooled and prepared in advance, and the pre-cut shredded vegetables were arranged on top. A large ladle of hot, sizzling sauce was generously poured over one side.

When she brought it out, Bai Laosan couldn’t contain his excitement anymore: "It smells so good! It really does!"

Shen Miao taught him how to mix it, and with Bai Laosan’s strength, he had it ready in just a few stirs. Each chewy, smooth noodle was generously coated with the rich, fragrant sauce. He took a big bite and could still taste the large chunks of meat, perfectly stir-fried with a mix of fat and lean, exuding a rich aroma and a complex texture.

He dove into the bowl, devouring the noodles, and before he could even swallow the last bite, he shouted, "One more bowl!"

Shen Miao smiled and went back in to make another bowl.

Just as she brought it out, an elderly woman and a young girl entered the shop. The elderly woman’s voice, though aged, was kind and gentle, and it rang out at the door: "Shen Miao, wishing you a prosperous opening..." Before she could finish, Thunder, who was in the backyard, reacted faster than Shen Miao. He stood up abruptly, so excited that he flung the three half-grown chickens dozing on his back into the air, and rushed into the shop in a few steps.

"Bark! Bark! Bark—"

Shen Miao turned around in surprise to see Auntie Wu, her hair streaked with gray, holding Xiang Guoer’s hand and carrying a basket of eggs, nearly knocked down by Thunder. Auntie Wu cried out in panic, "The eggs, be careful with the eggs!"

Xiang Guoer also jumped up and hugged Thunder’s neck: "Thunder! Sit down! You’ve put on weight! Grandma’s back can’t take it!"

Thunder obediently sat down, his tail still wagging incessantly.

Fortunately, Bai Laosan wasn’t afraid of dogs. He was holding his bowl of noodles, his mouth smeared with sauce, and watched the scene with curiosity.

"Auntie Wu, you’re finally here. Didn’t you say you’d visit Thunder often? So many days have passed, and I haven’t seen you."

Shen Miao chided her as she went over, helping her sit down, and pointed to Thunder, saying to Auntie Wu:

"You don’t know, ever since you left Thunder here, he’s been waiting for you at the backyard door, refusing to go inside or anywhere. About a few days ago, Xiang Jieer was playing on the front porch while I was busy inside. The child was hopping around and accidentally slipped, about to fall down the steps. Thunder, without hesitation, broke free from his leash and rushed in, using his own body to break the fall, so Xiang Jieer didn’t get hurt. When I came out, I saw blood on the ground and realized Thunder’s neck had been cut by the leash when he broke free, but he didn’t make a peep. Later, I kept him in the yard to recover, and he’s been fine ever since, no longer trying to leave."

Shen Miao spoke softly to her about Thunder’s little moments, and Auntie Wu’s eyes reddened again: "Ah, it’s not that I didn’t want to come, but the family issue hasn’t been settled yet, so I didn’t dare to come. Luckily, in the past few days, we’ve paid them some compensation, and after much persuasion, we signed an agreement, promising that Thunder would never return. Only then did they agree to let it go and not pursue whether Thunder was alive or dead..." She then held Shen Miao’s hand, thanking her repeatedly, "Thank you so much, Shen Miao. Thunder is now so shiny and healthy, all thanks to you! He’s a great dog, isn’t he? I didn’t lie to you."

"It’s all behind us now, and the days ahead will be good. No need to cry." Shen Miao gently stroked Auntie Wu’s back to comfort her, then smiled, "Of course you didn’t lie to me. I’m endlessly grateful that he saved Xiang Jieer! By the way, my shop has just opened. Sit down, and I’ll whip up some soup noodles for you and Xiang Guoer."

As she spoke, she pinched Xiang Guoer’s cheek: "Xiang Guoer, haven’t you been eating well? Your little face has lost its baby fat! Come by often and play with our Xiang Jieer. Not only can you keep Thunder company, but we also have another little dog at home! He’s naturally short and chubby, with yellow fur and a white belly, and a big, round face. He’s such a chubby little guy!"

Xiang Guoer, who didn’t like to eat much, was thin but had big eyes. She was a very delicate girl and was very intrigued by Shen Miao’s words, nodding repeatedly.

"Don’t go to any trouble. You’ve already helped us so much. How can I take advantage of you? Today, you’re busy. We’ll just sit for a bit and then head out, and we’ll come back another time to properly support your business." Auntie Wu stood up to stop Shen Miao from going to the kitchen and pulled out a large sandalwood statue of the God of Wealth from her cloth bag. Despite Shen Miao’s protests, she insisted on placing it on the counter.

"I got this for you from the Taiqing Temple in the suburbs. It’s been blessed and can bring you prosperity and wealth. The old Taoist there is quite powerful. Just place it here, and it will surely work."

After saying this, she bent down and rubbed Thunder’s furry head: "Thunder, be good. Protect Shen Miao and her family well. Don’t be stubborn anymore. Stay peacefully at Shen Miao’s house, and Grandma will come back to see you."

Thunder’s almond-shaped eyes, moist with emotion, reflected Auntie Wu’s aged face, and he let out a loud bark.

After that, Auntie Wu and Xiang Guoer left, looking back every few steps. But this time, Thunder didn’t follow. When Auntie Wu was far enough, he pushed open the curtain leading to the backyard and lay down in the yard.

The chicks had grown into half-grown chickens, and Thunder’s black fur was dense and thick. They flew onto Thunder’s back one after another, with the speckled hen being the fattest and eating the most. She had already started laying eggs—just yesterday, she had laid a warm egg right on Thunder’s forehead.

Later, a few more waves of customers came, and when the sauce she had prepared for the day ran out, she temporarily closed the shop.

She went out and, following the same pattern, signed supply contracts with Butcher Zheng, Manager Xu from the grain shop, and Mrs. Wang, who sold fruits and vegetables. Finally, she went to the Gu family’s house. Coincidentally, Gu Tusu had gone to the outer city to deliver wine, so Shen Miao explained her intentions to Aunt Gu. She wanted to stock a few types of small wines in her shop, preferably ones that were refreshing and not too intoxicating, and not too expensive.

This was something she had planned to do, but there had been so much to prepare recently. She had hinted at it a few times with these familiar shopkeepers and owners, but it hadn’t been fully settled, so it felt a bit rushed. Fortunately, they were all acquaintances, so it was easy to talk.

"Are you really going to sell wine? Your father’s shop only served well water for thirst, and besides noodles, they didn’t sell anything else." Aunt Gu teased her with a smile but still picked up the wine ladle and took Shen Miao to the front wine shop to taste the wines. Shen Miao tasted about seven or eight types and selected three. One was the most commonly drunk millet wine by ordinary people, and another was a refreshing cypress leaf wine.

The last one was slightly more expensive—the Sangluo wine. This wine was crystal clear, with a smooth taste, especially when chilled with well water. It was perfect for the hot summer.

Now that May had passed, Shen Miao had already switched to single-layer clothing. Eating noodles was the easiest way to break into a sweat, especially since she wanted to sell oil-splashed noodles, dandan noodles, and sauce-mixed noodles. She needed a soup drink to complement them.

By the time all this was done, it was almost dark.

Today’s soft opening sold about forty bowls of noodles, but she closed early in the afternoon, so it’s hard to tell if the business will be successful.

Tomorrow will mark the official start of a full day of operation, and Shen Miao is actually a bit nervous. She’s sunk most of her savings into this, and she’s unsure if the business will thrive in the future. Lost in thought about the future, she quietly made her way back to the shop with the lantern, preparing to carefully check the candles and door locks before securing the door.

Just as she turned the corner, she saw a plump, round boy in green clothes sitting on the threshold.

She shone the lantern on him and realized it was Yan Shu, who was with Ninth Geer, and called out in surprise, "Yan Shu, what brings you here?"

In the flickering lantern light, Shen Miao’s slender shadow swayed gently. Yan Shu jumped up, smiling and bowing, "Ninth Geer heard from Chef Fang that Shen Miao’s shop had opened, and he specifically sent me to congratulate you."

As he spoke, he shook out two pieces of silk cloth with writing on them.

"Oh, there’s no need for that, Ninth Geer is too generous," Shen Miao hadn’t yet seen what was written, but Yan Shu hurriedly pulled out a fragrant, gold-sprinkled name card, "By the way, on the fifteenth of next month, our family is hosting a big banquet with guests, and we’ve invited a variety show troupe—there will be acrobatics to watch! Ninth Geer said he also invites Shen Miao to bring Ji Geer and Xiang Jieer to our house to relax and have fun!"

With three items thrust into her arms, Shen Miao was momentarily speechless and instinctively asked, "Oh, has the academy let out so early for a holiday? Since you’re out running errands for Ninth Geer, has he taken a break?"

Yan Shu shook his head, sighing deeply with a pained expression, "The academy hasn’t let out for a break, it’s just that our Ninth Geer has had another streak of bad luck. A few days ago, he went with some students to Yaoshan Temple to watch the sunset over the golden mountain and was bitten by a snake—luckily it wasn’t poisonous; then, while descending the mountain, he fell while trying to save Meng San, who had slipped, but luckily he didn’t break his leg; unfortunately, on the way back to the city for medical treatment, Qiuhao was too anxious and overturned the carriage, but luckily Ninth Geer had anticipated it and skillfully jumped out; but while dragging Qiuhao out from under the carriage with a lame leg, he strained his arm, so he came home to recuperate."

"Ah?"

Shen Miao was stunned. That... that was just plain unlucky.