Chapter 123 City Streets 23

Chapter 123: City Life 23

Qin Rongshi arrived after his afternoon classes, accompanied by a dark-complexioned scholar of average height and build, dressed in a light brown traditional robe and a square headscarf—the unmistakable attire of a scholar.

This was Chen Qiaoyun's son, Li Youliang.

He followed Qin Rongshi to Liu’s Eatery. As dinnertime approached, the shop was bustling with customers, and a crowd had gathered around the prize wheel game at the entrance, their excited shouts audible from afar.

"I won! I won! A half-price red ticket!"

"Me too! Free pastries! Boss Liu, I won! What kind of pastries are these?"

"I heard the boss say these pastries aren't sold separately these days—they're a rare treat!"

…

Amid the lively chatter, Qin Rongshi and his companion squeezed through the crowd and entered the shop, just in time to see Qin Banban delivering two bowls of sweet dessert soup to a customer's table.

Qin Banban spotted him immediately and called out:

"Brother! You're done with classes?!"

Qin Rongshi nodded at her, about to speak, when several customers rose to settle their bills.

He quickly said to a flustered Qin Banban, who was holding a wooden tray and heading toward the counter, "I'll handle it. You go attend to other tasks."

Qin Banban nodded repeatedly, clutching the tray, and dashed toward the kitchen, calling out as she ran, "Mom, Brother Liu! Erlang is back!"

Li Youliang, standing awkwardly, instinctively tightened the strap of his satchel and said to Qin Rongshi, "Um… Brother Qin, you're busy. I'll head back now. My family is probably waiting for me for dinner!"

Qin Rongshi felt a slight discomfort with the address but nodded politely. Truthfully, Qin Rongshi hadn't invited Li Youliang to come along; he had insisted on following.

Just as he finished speaking, Liu Guyu emerged from the kitchen, first delivering two portions of freshly fried potato strips to customers before heading in Qin Rongshi's direction.

Li Youliang, on his way out, happened to see Liu Guyu. The young man was dressed in vibrant green attire, with a black-gray apron tied around his waist to protect against oil splatters. He was tall and slender, with delicate features and eyes brimming with warmth and cheer, like a lively young poplar tree.

Li Youliang stared as Liu Guyu walked toward the door, accidentally bumping into a customer who was entering.

"Hey, watch where you're going!"

Li Youliang snapped out of his daze, quickly bowed in apology, and said, "Sorry, sorry."

Qin Rongshi, who was keeping accounts, glanced up at the commotion, but Li Youliang had already scurried away, his face flushed with embarrassment.

Qin Rongshi turned his attention back to Liu Guyu and asked, "Are you managing alright today?"

Liu Guyu leaned against the counter, stretched lazily, and watched Qin Rongshi's hand as he wrote. "It's been hectic—didn't even have time for lunch! Thankfully, Mom and Banban are helping me."

Qin Rongshi frowned and said, "I told you we should've waited until my Mid-Autumn Festival break to open. I could've helped out more then."

Liu Guyu replied, "Whether we open early or late, we have to open eventually. Besides, the eatery is already set up—we can't just leave it closed and lose money on rent! We've been living off savings these days with no income. As for Mid-Autumn… I’m thinking we might need to hire help if it stays this busy. When you’re on break, come with me to look at some applicants."

"Alright," Qin Rongshi said, handing Liu Guyu four steaming lotus leaf-wrapped rice meals. "I figured you wouldn’t have time to eat. I bought these from a street vendor on my way back—they smell delicious. Go share them with Mom and Banban. I’ll handle things here."

He stood up to attend to a newly arrived table of customers, while Liu Guyu swayed cheerfully into the kitchen with the food.

"Mom, Banban, come eat! Erlang brought us lotus leaf rice meals!"

The lotus leaf rice meals were wrapped in lotus leaves, covered with oiled paper, and tied with hemp string for easy carrying.

Cui Lanfang, who was washing dishes, quickly brought out two plates and transferred the rice from the lotus leaves onto them.

"Come, come, eat quickly before it gets busy again!"

As the lotus leaves were opened, the aroma of rice, meat, and fresh lotus leaves filled the air.

The rice was stir-fried with potatoes, cured meat, and green peas, then wrapped in soaked lotus leaves and steamed slowly.

When served on a plate, the cured meat's oils coated every grain of rice, while the fragrance of potatoes, green peas, and lotus leaves melded together beautifully. A spoonful of this savory mix was truly delightful.

As the family enjoyed their meal, the Li household in Sweet Oil Balls Alley also sat down to eat.

The Li family had five members: Chen Qiaoyun and her husband, Li Youliang and his wife, and their two-year-old granddaughter.

Chen Qiaoyun's husband, Li Dacai, was a beekeeper who rented an abandoned house in Licuo Village, the closest village to the prefectural city, specifically for beekeeping.

Chen Qiaoyun had the skill of making Sweet Oil Balls, and Li Dacai knew beekeeping, so the family managed quite well relying on their talents.

"Sit, sit! Serve the dishes and let's eat!"

Chen Qiaoyun spoke these words, and as soon as she finished, Li Youliang flipped the hem of his robe and plopped onto a stool, propping his feet up and waiting for the meal.

But the table was still empty—no rice served, no chopsticks laid out, and the dishes were still on the stove, not yet brought over.

Li Youliang's wife, Sun Yueqin, spoke up. Leaning on her waist with one hand, she looked at Li Youliang seated at the table and sighed, "The dishes aren't even served yet. Couldn't you help bring a couple of plates?"

Li Youliang glanced at her impatiently and said, "A gentleman stays away from the kitchen. What man fusses around the stove? That's women's work!"

As he spoke, his father, Li Dacai, also sat down.

Sun Yueqin was displeased, but with her father-in-law seated, what could she say? It wasn't a daughter-in-law's place to lecture her father-in-law.

Chen Qiaoyun quickly chimed in, "Yes, yes! My son is right. My Youliang is a scholar! What scholar spends his time in the kitchen? You just sit there. Mom will bring the food right away!"

"Alright, alright, you say less! Take the child and go sit down. With such a big belly, aren't you afraid of bumping into something? Go on, go on. I'll serve the dishes. I was born to serve you all."

Sun Yueqin was seven months pregnant, her belly round and prominent beneath her clothes like a large watermelon.

She pressed her lips together, wanting to say more, but after a moment's hesitation, she remained silent.

Instead, her daughter, who had been holding her pinky finger, let go and toddled toward Chen Qiaoyun, saying in a baby voice, "I help Grandma get chopsticks!"

Chen Qiaoyun laughed delightedly, the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes creasing, and handed the bundle of chopsticks to the little girl, praising her, "Good, good! Our Yinzi is so well-behaved and sensible!"

Sun Yueqin said nothing, only supported her back and walked toward her daughter, taking her hand and leading her to the dining table.

Her daughter, Yinzi, was only two years old. Though she usually walked steadily, she was still young and prone to falling, especially while holding chopsticks. If she fell and accidentally poked her mouth or eyes, it would be a disaster.

She seated herself with the child, and Li Youliang patted his daughter's head, took the chopsticks from her hand, and said with a laugh, "My daughter is so good! See, even the child is more sensible than you!"

Sun Yueqin grew more upset and opened her mouth to retort, but just then, Chen Qiaoyun arrived with the dishes. Hearing Li Youliang's words, she smacked him on the back.

Chen Qiaoyun scolded, "Shut your mouth! Can't you say less? Yueqin is carrying your child. Are you trying to make her life difficult?"

Then, with a smile, she ladled a large bowl of pork trotter and soybean soup for Sun Yueqin, saying, "Here, eat more! Otherwise, these greedy father and son will finish it all, and my precious grandson won't get any!"

The large bowl of pork trotter soup was greasy, with pale, fatty trotter pieces floating in it, making Sun Yueqin feel nauseous.

She frowned and murmured, "Mom, it's too greasy. I can't eat it."

Chen Qiaoyun, however, seemed not to hear and added another piece of pork hock to her bowl, saying, "Eat! Eat more! Don't go starving my grandson! Hurry up, I heard eating pork knuckles makes the baby fair-complexioned! Can't let him turn out dark like Silver!"

Sun Yueqin, no mother wants to hear such words, immediately retorted, "That's because Silver's father is dark; she takes after him."

Chen Qiaoyun didn't respond, only urging her to eat more.

Then she turned to Li Youliang and added a bowl of soup for her son.

Sun Yueqin glanced over and quietly slipped the meat from her bowl to her daughter sitting beside her.

The little girl wasn't particularly fair-skinned, but she had big, bright eyes that grew even brighter at the sight of the meat in her bowl.

Sun Yueqin finally smiled and whispered gently to the child, "Eat quickly!"

With dinner underway, the family finally began to eat.

Li Youliang ate as he spoke, "Mom, you've been getting along well with our neighbor lately, right?"

Chen Qiaoyun: "You mean your Aunt Lanfang?"

Li Youliang nodded.

Chen Qiaoyun smiled and said, "Yes, quite well. We're from the same neighborhood, after all, and neighbors—closer relationships are better! Your Aunt Lanfang is a good person, honest and kind. The crispy fried pork on the table the other day was from her."

"It's just her dog... oh my, it's fierce! Don't know what's wrong with it—it just can't stand me. It's been a month now, and it barks every time it sees me! Just won't warm up to me!"

Li Dacai, sitting beside her, sneered and shoveled another mouthful of rice, his oily lips moving as he spoke, "Psh, who keeps a dog in the city? Don't they know how smelly it is!"

Chen Qiaoyun quickly said, "They're from a small village. Many families there like to keep dogs for guarding! They treat that big dog very well. The other day, I even saw it gnawing on a bone! In the summer, they even wash it with soap nuts! It's cleaner than you!"

Li Dacai continued to curl his lips disdainfully, "Treating an animal like royalty! That's how country folks are. Hope they don't start raising chickens in the yard! Wouldn't want them crowing early in the morning, so noisy! You better remind her—this isn't the village; they can't raise chickens in the city!"

Chen Qiaoyun glared at him but said nothing.

Li Youliang spoke up again, "Doesn't her family have a Young Geer? About twenty years old, quite good-looking."

Chen Qiaoyun nodded and said, "Liu Geer, right?"

Li Youliang quickly nodded, "Right, should be Liu! Their shop opened today—it's called Liu's Eatery! But the man next door is surnamed Qin, so why is he surnamed Liu? What's their relationship?"

Chen Qiaoyun had also been curious about this and had asked Cui Lanfang, so she knew a little.

She replied, "I heard Liu Geer was originally her eldest son's husband. But the Qin family's Da Lang passed away early, and your aunt couldn't bear to see him widowed, so she gave him divorce papers to let him go! But Liu Geer has a good heart and stayed with the Qin family. Now that the marital relationship is gone, your aunt treats him like her own brother!"

Li Youliang pushed his rice around and muttered, "So he's a widower."

Then he continued, "Hey, Mom, their shop is doing great business! I followed Qin Rongshi to take a look today. Oh my, all the tables were full! Who knows how much money they're making in a day!"

Chen Qiaoyun paused mid-bite, suddenly remembering the Sweet Oil Balls in the colander in the kitchen—the ones that hadn't sold today.

Sweet Oil Ball Alley is full of families selling Sweet Oil Balls, and business is getting harder and harder.

After a moment, she said, "It's their opening day; it's not surprising that people are trying it out for novelty."

"But business isn't that easy! Especially on Spring Street—there are so many dessert shops and preserved fruit shops, I can't even count them on my fingers! The food business in the city isn't like in a small town! They're newcomers from the country and don't understand this. They'll figure it out after a few more days!"

"Back then, your father and I also rented a shop, but it wasn't easy! The rent was so high! We closed in less than a year!"

Li Youliang listened to his mother and then said, "But I saw the business was really good. I heard customers saying the food was delicious! They even have some fresh foods that aren't common in the city!"

Chen Qiaoyun put down her chopsticks again and asked, "Really that good... what are they selling in the shop?"

Li Youliang shook his head.

Chen Qiaoyun frowned and glared at him, "Weren't you there? Didn't you see?"

Li Youliang quickly said, "It was crowded and noisy. I only stayed a minute and left."

Chen Qiaoyun clicked her tongue in disappointment and finally said, "Next time you go, take a closer look!"

Li Youliang could only nod in agreement. Meanwhile, the Liu Guyu family had finished their meal and were busy in the eatery, completely unaware that someone was keeping such a close eye on them.