Chapter 15: Clay Pot Tofu with Vermicelli

Chapter 15: Clay Pot Vermicelli and Tofu Soup

After coaxing him for so long, Lin Su was too worn out to argue. "Yes, yes. Whatever makes you happy. Can you sleep now? Go to sleep!"

He gently patted his back, and the person in his arms soon fell asleep, but Lin Su lay awake for a long time. His body clearly signaled it was time to sleep, but his brain just refused to shut down.

And so, he stayed awake all night.

At dawn, Xu Lei arrived with Xu Xiaohu, and Xu Shi came along too.

"I've been free lately, with nothing much to do. I heard you're going to set up a stall in the county town, so I thought I'd join in the fun."

Actually, Xu Shi was worried that Lin Su had never done business before, and her own son was a man of few words. If anything happened when they set up a stall in the county town, having an extra person to offer advice could be helpful.

"Aunt, it's really great that you can come." Lin Su casually closed the door. The shabby door didn't need a lock at all, and his place was too remote for anyone to come by.

He used a wooden stick for support, carrying a basket in one hand. Fu Yun also carried a backpack, both filled with ingredients, sauces, and borrowed pots, bowls, and utensils needed for the stall.

Xu Lei had a stove on his boat and lent it to him, so there was no need to worry about that.

"Brother Xu, this bucket contains the fish soup I made. Could you help me carry it?"

The group boarded the boat, and Xu Lei slowly poled it toward the Lin River toward the county town.

Lin Su noticed the current was gentle and the boat wasn't rocking much, so he lit the stove and set up the clay pot to cook the vermicelli.

The fish soup in the bucket was concentrated. Lin Su had also put the fish skin in. In the morning, he saw that the fish bones had completely softened, and the gelatin from the skin had fully dissolved into the soup. He spent a long time fishing out the solid residue.

So the fish soup was very thick. Cooking the vermicelli directly in it would be too greasy and unappetizing. Adding four or five bowls of water to one bowl of fish soup was just right.

He lined the bottom of the pot with a layer of radish slices. After the water boils, add the vermicelli and tofu, and let it simmer for about half a cup of tea's time. The excellent heat retention of the clay pot then showed its advantage: in a short time, all the ingredients became tender and flavorful.

Each person ladled a bowl, sprinkled with chopped green onions and cilantro, added chili sauce, and mixed it well. They slurped it down, and for a while, no one spoke. The fresh, spicy, and numbing aroma filled the boat.

After eating, Xu Shi wiped her mouth and said, "Su Xiaozi, your chili sauce is fermented really well. It's spicy, fragrant, and strong, yet it doesn't burn the nose or head. It warms you up."

She wanted to ask how he fermented it, but after thinking it over, she didn't. It was his secret to success.

"If Aunt likes it, I'll give you a jar of chili sauce later. It can be added to any dish, whether stir-fried, deep-fried, boiled, or braised, for seasoning." Lin Su replied casually, enjoying the river breeze, lazily holding Fu Yun's big hand.

"That's great! Auntie really loves your chili sauce."

Two hours later, they docked at the county town's pier.

The pier was very long. Many boats, big and small, were moored in front of the bluestone steps lining the bank. The boat next to Lin Su's was particularly large, a merchant vessel for transporting goods.

Many laborers on the boat were moving cargo. On the shore, streets were lined with shops, and the cries of peddlers and hawkers could be heard from afar.

Lin Su planned to set up the stall right on the boat, but that required paying a fee for mooring and vending.

Not only was he penniless now, but he also owed debts.

When you owe that much, you stop worrying. Lin Su shamelessly borrowed another eight wen and got a wooden token from the patrolling official, granting him the right to moor and vend for one day.

They set up and arranged the stove, pots, bowls, ingredients, and seasonings one by one.

Lin Su glanced at the sun; it was almost overhead, right when the boatmen were on their lunch break. He quickly cooked a pot of vermicelli. After it boiled, he didn't cover it, letting the aroma drift away by the river breeze.

"Huh? What's that smell?"

Several young boatmen wiped their sweat, greeted each other, and disembarked to find lunch. One short man suddenly asked.

Hearing their sharp-nosed buddy say that, the other four all sniffed hard. Like a pack of dogs, they sniffed around for a while. "It really smells good. Where is it coming from?"

"Look over there! It seems to be from that small boat. It must be selling food. Let's go check it out."

"Hey boss, what are you selling?"

Lin Su looked up and saw five tanned big men, arms around each other's shoulders, crowded in front of the boat, curiously looking at the clay pot.

Before he could say anything, Xu Shi immediately took over. "Folks, our small boat sells clay pot vermicelli and tofu soup!"

"It's made with soup from a sturgeon caught yesterday. It's very fresh. Add our secret chili sauce, and we guarantee you'll feel great all over."

The short boatman stared at the bubbling vermicelli and tofu in the pot, swallowed his saliva, and asked, "How much does this food cost?"

Xu Shi smiled cheerfully. "Large portion is ten wen, small portion is eight wen. These two sizes of bowls are filled to the brim. Whether you have a big or small appetite, you can eat your fill without waste."

This pricing was decided by Lin Su after discussing on the boat. The raw materials weren't expensive; the cost per serving was about two or three wen, but that was the wholesale price in their village. In terms of the county town's prices, it was naturally a few wen more. Setting the price at eight to ten wen was reasonable.

Sure enough, after hearing this, the short man and his companions had normal expressions. They didn't think it was expensive; instead, they felt it was a good deal because of the generous portions.

Of course, this was also because the boatmen had decent incomes, at least a hundred wen a day, so they were willing to spend.

"Then give each of us one, large size!" The short man consulted his companions and, with a wave of his hand, ordered five servings.

"Alright, please wait a moment!" Xu Shi agreed repeatedly.

Lin Su quickly picked up the vermicelli with chopsticks, filled half a bowl, then scooped soup along the edge of the pot and along the bottom. Soon, the five clay bowls were filled with tofu and radish slices.

He sprinkled chopped green onions and cilantro, then paused his hand over the chili sauce spoon. "Everyone, do you want to drink the soup first, or add the chili sauce first? Drinking the soup first gives you the freshness; adding the chili sauce first gives you the full flavor. It's all up to your preference."

"Let's drink the soup first. We're a bit thirsty."

Hearing this, the boatmen thought for a moment and chose to drink the soup first. The shopkeeper's fish soup was milky white and rich, so the ingredients and cooking must be good.

They weren't picky people. The shop's small boat was full of things and had no seats, so they took the bowls, sat on the stone steps, and slurped the soup.

As soon as it entered the mouth, the fish soup was rich yet refreshing. After sliding down the throat, the tip of the tongue suddenly filled with a fresh and delicious taste, leaving a lingering aftertaste. Unconsciously, they drank all the soup in the bowl.

The short man smacked his lips. This fish soup was really delicious, without any fishy smell. He was originally a bit picky, disliking the earthy fishy taste, and planned to add chili sauce after one sip to mask it, but unexpectedly, he drank it all in a few gulps.

He looked up from the bowl and saw that there was still plenty of fish soup in the clay pot. After hesitating a few times, he said, "Shopkeeper, can I add one more wen and have you fill it up with fish soup again?"

Lin Su casually ladled a spoonful of soup into his bowl. "Sure, if it's not enough, just ask for more."

After all, he still had a bucket of concentrated fish soup base. Diluted with water, it could make four or five buckets, definitely more than enough compared to the prepared ingredients.

The short man took another sip, then glanced out of the corner of his eye and saw a big bowl of bright red sauce on the deck. Was this the chili sauce? Why was its color different from the one they usually had at home?