“It’s so sweet~”
The Street Administrative Office’s facade wasn’t particularly imposing; with blue bricks and gray tiles, it had a bit more of the commoners’ hustle and bustle and a bit less of the official dignity found in government offices. There were no guards at the entrance, only two officials in soap-colored official uniforms with short sticks tucked at their waists, leaning against the door frame to chat. Sounds of laughter and playful noise wafted from the courtyard.
He Mingyu peered through the open courtyard gate. In the small courtyard, three or four officials in similar attire were focused on watching two others play chess, occasionally erupting into bursts of boisterous laughter or crude commentary. There was also a young, tender-faced official squatting under the eaves, holding a coarse ceramic bowl and eating “slurp, slurp,” while talking about which street’s gambling den had stirred up trouble last night.
She steadied her heart, wearing a smile that was neither humble nor overly ingratiating, and stepped into the courtyard.
Her appearance immediately drew everyone’s attention. Several gazes, whether curious or scrutinizing, fell squarely upon her, and the noise in the courtyard instantly subsided.
Facing these gazes, He Mingyu raised her voice slightly: “Excuse me, officers, I run a small bun stall on the street outside. I’m wondering… where should I pay the required fees?”
Zhao De, who was looking down at a register, looked up upon hearing her. Seeing a girl around his own daughter’s age, he began to observe her calmly.
Bianjing was prosperous, and commoners’ clothing was usually decent, at least in the fashionable style. However, the young lady before him wore a semi-old, light-cyan ruqun (traditional blouse and skirt). The style was quite dated, and although the collars and cuffs were washed clean, they were already beginning to fade, clearly worn for a long time yet kept neat with extreme care.
“What fee?” Zhao De asked. “I am the head official here, surname Zhao.”
The staff at the Street Administrative Office held no real official rank; at most, they were petty officials. In a place like Bianjing, where “a stone thrown could hit seven powerful people,” a petty official really didn’t count for much. Even so, it was a position with plenty of “oil and water.” Street vendors like He Mingyu, who sought protection, constantly made offerings, so these men never had to worry about their food and drink.
Having reached the position of head official, he likely had some backing.
“Greetings, Head Official Zhao.” He Mingyu carried the food box, curtsied slightly, and displayed just the right amount of helplessness: “My widowed mother and I rent a house in Donglizi Lane. My surname is He. I am currently running a bun stall near the Imperial Academy with my two younger siblings… We are new here and fearful of breaking the rules. I came today to pay my respects to you all and to ask how the ‘encroachment fee’ (stall fee) is paid, and how much it is per month?”
The courtyard went quiet for a moment. Everyone exchanged glances, a bit surprised. It wasn’t that vendors hadn’t come to pay respects before, but most only came to plead for leniency after causing trouble. Coming here with gifts while seemingly impoverished and with a stall not yet firmly established was rare.
The young official squatting under the eaves, about eighteen or nineteen with thick brows and large eyes, immediately stood up with his bowl upon hearing this, curiously observing He Mingyu and the food box in her hand, his nose twitching instinctively.
Zhao De’s fingers flipped through the register as if casually, his gaze lingering on one page.
There were only a few words on the register: He clan of Donglizi Lane, four women, newly moved in.
An orphaned mother and children…
Zhao De sighed internally, but his face remained unchanged.
The thick-browed young official couldn’t help but blurt out: “You… you mean, you came to pay the encroachment fee?”
Ordinary vendors would delay as long as they could. He had taken over his father’s position three months ago, and this was the first time he had encountered someone voluntarily paying. He couldn’t quite believe it.
“Exactly.” He Mingyu’s tone was certain. She set the food box on the stone table and said, “You officers are the most exhausted, patrolling day and night. If not for your presence, how could our Bianjing be so peaceful? Ultimately, we vendors can do business securely because of your hard work. Since that is the case, if I were to hold things back, wouldn’t I be failing you?”
Her expression was sincere, and her words struck a chord with everyone. As petty officials, they worked early and late, patrolling the streets and keeping watch at night. They considered themselves dedicated, yet they were not respected like proper officials, which left them with some lingering grievances. Now that He Mingyu had elevated their work to the height of “protecting the peace of Bianjing,” their hearts grew warm, as if they had finally found someone who understood them. A dozen burly men were nearly moved to tears on the spot.
Seeing that her words were well-received, He Mingyu quickly opened the food box. Immediately, a domineering aroma—a mixture of rice, meat, soy sauce, and the steam of wheat-based food—burst out, instantly overpowering the existing scents of leftover food and sweat in the courtyard.
Inside the food box, a large ceramic bowl contained steaming, flour-dusted steamed pork. Underneath was a bed of soft, glutinous yam, and the dark meat gravy soaked into every grain of rice flour and yam, glistening and tempting. Next to it were a few small steamers of “cicada-wing” buns, with pleats like flowers, and a flagon of cloudy wine, which, while not expensive, could warm the body and relieve fatigue.
It was evening, the time when every household was cooking dinner. The men of the Street Administrative Office were either famished from changing shifts or facing a duty that lasted until the third watch, and they were already ravenous.
“It is a hard duty for you all. If you don’t mind, please treat these homemade snacks and the wine as a small gesture of my appreciation to soothe your hunger,” said He Mingyu, who had spent years navigating modern society and knew exactly how to give people a graceful way to accept. “I consider my culinary skills passable. Please, taste them, and help me understand the tastes of the people of Bianjing.”
“This… is that really appropriate…”
Everyone looked as if they wanted to eat but were too embarrassed to move their chopsticks. Only the simple-minded young official leaned over the food box, sniffing around: “Really?”
“Ahem.” Zhao De cleared his throat. Usually, he might have declined, but today the fragrance of the steamed pork was too tempting, and the young officials were staring expectantly. He helplessly waved his hand: “Since it is the young lady’s gesture, brothers, share it. Don’t waste her kindness.”
As soon as he spoke, the young official grabbed a piece of steamed pork first. Not caring about the heat, he stuffed it into his mouth. The pork belly was steamed until soft and tender, melting in his mouth. The roasted and crushed glutinous rice and rice had absorbed the meat gravy, making it savory and chewy, and the yam underneath was sweet and tender, perfectly balancing the oiliness and leaving one wanting more.
“Mmph! Delicious! So fragrant!” he praised unintelligibly, grabbing a bun and stuffing it into his mouth. The thin, delicate skin and the rich soy sauce fragrance made his eyes widen.
Seeing this, the others crowded around. One bite of steamed pork, one bun, followed by a swig of cloudy wine, and everyone ate until their mouths were glistening with oil, feeling completely satisfied.
“How much for a bowl of this steamed pork?” an elderly official asked with a smile. “I’ll buy some tomorrow to take back for my wife to try.”
He Mingyu hadn’t expected this unexpected gain. She quickly calculated the cost: the yam at the bottom cost eight wen per piece and could fill three bowls; the fatty pork cost thirty wen per pound and could also fill three bowls. Added to the homemade rice flour, she felt that thirty wen for a large bowl was perfectly reasonable.
She carefully explained the portions and smiled: “A bowl at the stall is thirty wen. If you all want some, I can have my younger brother deliver it so you don’t have to make extra trips. Just set the time.”
“That would be great.” The old official calculated that thirty wen wasn’t much for him, and since the steamed pork tasted truly good and he guessed his wife would like it, he smiled: “Alright then, deliver two portions at noon tomorrow.”
He counted out sixty wen and handed it to her. He Mingyu happily accepted it.
Zhao De had also tasted a few bites and secretly praised her skills, which were indeed far superior to ordinary vendors. He looked at He Mingyu, who stood quietly to the side. She was sensible, skilled, and didn’t cause trouble. With such a vendor, he, the head of the Street Administrative Office, could worry less.
“Since the young lady understands the rules, it’s easy to talk. For the area near the Imperial Academy, you must pay monthly—seven hundred wen.”
The location near the Imperial Academy was prime land, so the monthly fee wasn’t based on earnings; seven hundred wen was the minimum, and if the stall grew larger, it would increase. Zhao De recalled that some stalls near the academy paid two liang of silver a month. Compared to that, the seven hundred wen he asked of He Mingyu was already very low.
Even though she had been mentally prepared, He Mingyu couldn’t help but mourn internally when she heard the specific amount:
Heaven! Seven hundred wen is way too much!!! This way, her monthly rent and encroachment fee would add up to nearly three liang of silver!
Making money, I must make money faster.
She kept a smile on her face, immediately counted out seven small diao of copper coins from her purse, and presented them with both hands: “This is the encroachment fee for this month. Please verify, Head Official.”
Zhao De signaled for someone to collect it and said in a low voice: “The money has been recorded. You can go about your business with peace of mind. As long as you follow the rules, do not block the path, and do not cause trouble, our Street Administrative Office will naturally not make things difficult for you.”
“Many thanks, Head Official Zhao. Many thanks to all the officers.”
When everyone had finished eating, Zhao De wiped his hands with a cloth towel, pointed to the two packs of pastries on the table, and said sternly: “Young Lady He, we appreciate your kindness. Since you made the steamed pork and buns yourself, we have accepted them as a small treat, and we’ll keep the wine for the brothers on night duty. But we truly cannot accept these pastries—you must take them back.”
He Mingyu was stunned: “Head Official Zhao, these are just common pastries, they aren’t worth much…”
Zhao De waved his hand to interrupt her, a concern almost like an elder’s on his face: “Making money is not easy. You should save where you can on such empty formalities. You have good skills and understand the rules. Just focus on your business, and pay the encroachment fee monthly. You must take these snacks back.”
His words were reasonable, and the other officials echoed him. The young official even picked up the pack of pastries and stuffed it back into He Mingyu’s hand: “Young Lady He, the boss is right, take them back!”
After some polite refusal, seeing their firm attitude, He Mingyu knew that insisting would appear pretentious. She said gratefully: “In that case, many thanks to the Head Official and all the officers for your understanding. I will certainly follow the rules and run my business well.” After bowing again, she took the empty food box and the pack of pastries, leaving the Street Administrative Office under the friendly gazes of the group.
Returning to the small courtyard in Donglizi Lane, the sky was near dusk. Wu Chunlan and the two children were eagerly looking forward to her return, relaxing only when they saw her. They were surprised to see she had brought back two packs of delicate pastries.
He Mingyu skipped over the parts about their scrutiny and pity, saying only that Head Official Zhao was an upright man who was very considerate of their hardship, so he only accepted the food and wine, and that she had even earned sixty wen on this trip.
She opened the oiled paper; inside were six neatly arranged mung bean cakes. Yingzi and Shitou were clearly fascinated. Yingzi carefully leaned in to take a bite, and her eyes immediately narrowed in happiness: “Sister, so sweet, so soft!”
The mung bean cakes weren’t made very finely and were a bit dry to eat, perhaps because they were cheap and made with less sugar. Only upon careful tasting did one get a slight aftertaste of sweetness.
But He Mingyu smiled too: “It’s so sweet~”