"Have you ever tried Bobo Chicken?"
Hearing Song Xinran's question, Huang Yun and her daughter Ding Sisi both showed puzzled expressions.
"What kind of dish is that?"
Ding Sisi's eyes lit up as she eagerly asked: "Is it similar to fried chicken pieces or roasted chicken wings?"
Song Xinran laughed and shook her head no.
Bobo Chicken simply involves various ingredients skewered on bamboo sticks, soaked in a container filled with broth. When customers come to buy, you just give it to them directly – convenient and quick.
After hearing her explanation, Ding Sisi seemed somewhat disappointed: "Oh, so what's the difference between that and boiled vegetables with dipping sauce?"
She had eaten enough of such dishes at home and wouldn't spend money to buy them.
Huang Yun tugged at her daughter's arm and said to Song Xinran with a smile: "Your idea sounds alright, but something that simple – will people actually come to buy it?"
"Besides, we've never seen this before, so we can't really help you much."
Song Xinran smiled: "When the time comes, if Sister Yun and Sisi could just come try it, giving me your feedback would be the best help."
Song Xinwen, walking alongside them during their stroll, couldn't help but speak up: "Xinran's cooking is exceptionally delicious. My son once got up in the middle of the night to sneak some food, ended up eating too much, got a stomachache, and had to go to the clinic."
Huang Yun had never tasted Song Xinran's cooking, only heard about it during meals together. She exclaimed in surprise: "Is the child alright now?"
Song Xinwen laughed heartily: "He's fine. Afterwards, he kept asking me every day when Auntie would cook again. He just has no luck with timing – when Xinran was here, he couldn't eat greasy food, and now that Xinran's gone…"
Unintentionally touching on an unhappy topic, Song Xinwen quickly changed the subject: "Anyway, you'll understand once you try it. No matter how much I say now, it's just empty words."
Song Yu, holding Song Xinran's hand, looked up and said: "Mommy's cooking is the most deliciousest."
He had been walking with the adults the whole time, behaving well without making noise or fuss. Despite all the stalls around, he didn't pester his mother to buy this or that.
Huang Yun occasionally glanced at him, noticing how he kept his round eyes wide open, looking around everywhere, then immediately turning back to check on everyone before continuing to observe his surroundings. Such a small child with quite the curiosity.
Now looking up again, speaking with such earnest baby talk, Huang Yun was utterly charmed. She bent down to tease him: "Xiao Yu is so adorable. Auntie cooks well too – would you like to come to my house?"
Song Yu's eyes widened instantly, tightening his grip on Song Xinran's hand as he shook his head nervously: "I, I live in Mommy's house."
Huang Yun burst out laughing: "Everyone wants a cute child like Xiao Yu. Come play at our house for a few days too."
Song Yu stammered: "No, I'm not cute. Auntie should find other children. Little Yang brother is very cute too – he really likes going to other people's houses."
When at his aunt's house, Cai Yang would run around everywhere – he had been to every household with children in the entire village.
At this moment, Song Yu was trying his best to promote someone else.
Hearing this, Song Xinwen couldn't help laughing, thinking that if Cai Yang were here, he wouldn't even need an invitation – he'd happily run over himself upon hearing there was good food at someone else's house.
Huang Yun struggled to contain her laughter: "But what if Auntie only likes Xiao Yu and doesn't like other children?"
Song Yu had no other choice now. Holding Song Xinran's little finger, he looked up at her with a pleading expression.
Song Xinran smiled and said, "Then Xiao Yu should invite Aunt Huang to our house more often from now on, so you can see Xiao Yu every day."
Song Yu felt as if a weight had been lifted off his shoulders and quickly mimicked his mother's words: "Auntie, come to my house to play."
He would be very happy if Aunt Huang came to their house to play, as long as he didn't have to leave his mother to stay at Aunt Huang's house.
Early the next morning, Song Xinran got up, took enough money, and carried a bamboo basket on her back.
Song Xinwen was surprised to see her dressed like this: "Where are you going so early?"
"I'm going to the market to buy groceries. The vegetables are fresher in the morning, and there's more variety."
Song Xinwen said, "We haven't finished last night's dishes yet."
Song Xinran smiled: "Sis, I'm planning to make Bobo Chicken today."
Song Xinwen was extremely surprised: "Are you going to sell it today? You don't have the tools or a cart, you're not familiar with the place, and you haven't practiced. Why not observe for a few more days before going?"
People in their area valued practicality—they always made thorough preparations before doing anything, especially something significant. Song Xinran had never set up a stall before and had no experience at all.
"Sis," Song Xinran said, "setting up a stall to sell things isn't a big deal. All you need is a table and a basin for the vegetables. It's not as complicated as you think. If you only watch without doing, fear and anxiety will grow inside you. But once you actually do it, you'll realize it's not that difficult."
Song Xinwen still couldn't help frowning: "What if something happens? We have no experience."
Song Xinran laughed: "If something happens, we'll deal with it. After solving it, we'll have experience."
"Sis, don't overthink it. I'm going out to buy groceries now. Xiao Yu is still sleeping."
Song Xinwen thought for a moment and still felt uneasy: "No, I'll go with you. We can lock the door and let Xiao Yu stay home by himself."
After all, she was Song Xinran's older sister—how could she not help her younger sister with such an important matter? Even though neither of them had experience, two people could accomplish more work than one.
"Mom, Auntie, I want to go with you." Song Yu had woken up at some point and ran to the door, looking at them with anxious eyes.
Song Xinran made the final decision: "Alright, let's all go together."
"Xiao Yu, the market is very crowded. Hold Mom's hand and don't get lost. Don't be afraid even if there are many people."
Song Yu's eyes lit up immediately, and he nodded vigorously: "Okay, I'm not afraid!"
It was market day. At 6:30 in the morning, the market was already bustling. The cooked food section, vegetable section, and meat section were all crowded with people.
Song Yu had never seen so many people before and felt a bit nervous, tightly holding Song Xinran's hand.
Song Xinran went to the vegetable section first. Most of the vegetables here were in season. She bought lettuce, winter melon, lotus root, oyster mushrooms, white radish, bok choy, and potatoes.
Classic ingredients for Bobo Chicken also included broccoli, kelp knots, and tofu puffs, but the market didn't have them. Song Xinran decided to check the supermarket later.
When it was time to pay, Song Xinwen tried to pay first but was refused by Song Xinran: "Sis, let me handle it. I need to calculate the costs and profits."
Afterward, they went to the meat section, where Song Xinran spotted Huang Yun at first glance and happily greeted her.
As she approached, Huang Yun spotted the vegetables in the basket and exclaimed in surprise, "Why did you buy so much? Are you having guests over?"
Song Xinran explained it wasn't for guests—she was planning to make Bobo Chicken.
"You two work so efficiently!" Huang Yun couldn't help but admire Song Xinran even more. She appreciated her go-getter attitude—thinking of something and immediately acting on it, which was far better than those who overthink and end up accomplishing nothing.
Having sold meat in town for years, Huang Yun had developed her own way of judging people. Song Xinran's personality clearly showed she was someone who got things done.
She couldn't contain her admiration: "This is exactly how things should be done. Once I finish selling this meat, I'll come help you!"
Song Xinran replied, "Sister Yun, just bring your appetite to help us. Bring your family too, and let them taste my cooking."
Huang Yun agreed, "Alright!"
"Sister Yun, give me three pounds of lean meat. I'll add it to the Bobo Chicken."
Huang Yun smiled, "I'll pick a good cut for you."
Hearing this conversation, Song Xinwen was utterly astonished. She had expected Huang Yun to advise Song Xinran to gain more experience first, never imagining she would be so supportive.
Huang Yun was a town resident with her own meat shop—surely she had more insight than villagers.
If even she thought this way…
Song Xinwen's previously firm beliefs began to waver.
After purchasing the meat, Song Xinran bought some chicken gizzards and hearts on Huang Yun's recommendation, which indeed turned out cheaper than other vendors'.
With the main ingredients mostly gathered, it was time to buy supplies for the broth.
For Bobo Chicken, the broth is the soul—it determines the entire dish's flavor.
Since traditional Bobo Chicken uses chicken broth as base, Song Xinran prepared to buy a chicken. Upon hearing this, Song Xinwen immediately said, "Why buy one? We raise so many at home. I'll go back and get one for you."
Song Xinran stopped her sister's idea, saying seriously, "Sis, don't go back. If you return now, brother-in-law will think you can't live without that family. He'll become even more unrestrained in his words and actions later."
Song Xinwen frowned, feeling somewhat uncomfortable, but then heard Song Xinran continue: "But I know how much you've done for that family. That household can't function without you. Just take brother-in-law—he can neither do laundry nor cook. He'll definitely come looking for you in a couple days, and then you'll have the upper hand."
"Sis, I don't want you to lose your bargaining position just to get me a chicken."
These words warmed Song Xinwen's heart. She truly had done much for that family. While Cai Yongde hadn't noticed her efforts, her sister had seen them and was now wholeheartedly considering her interests.
By comparison, Song Xinwen felt Cai Yongde was even more worthless.
"Alright, Xinran, we'll do as you say." Song Xinwen sighed, "You've changed so much after working at the glass factory for two years."
Song Xinran smiled without responding. She didn't actually agree with what she'd just said, but knew Song Xinwen would appreciate hearing it. Since she didn't want her sister returning early to face mistreatment, she'd tailored her words accordingly.
Being a chicken farmer herself, Song Xinwen knew how to identify free-range chickens. They bought a large rooster weighing seven to eight pounds, bargaining the price down to fifty yuan.
Song Xinran then purchased other seasonings for the broth. Finally, with a fully loaded basket on her back and both hands carrying additional items, they headed home completely laden.
"The cost of starting this business isn't low. These purchases must have cost one or two hundred yuan." Song Xinwen had been watching as they bought supplies, her heart aching with each banknote handed over.
Song Xinran: "Not that much – it totaled one hundred sixty."
Song Xinwen clicked her tongue in distress, wanting to say something. But remembering how Huang Yun and Song Xinran were unusually aligned in their support for setting up the stall, she wondered if the problem lay with her perspective and kept silent.
"Xinran, what do we do now?"
"First make the soup base, start simmering the chicken broth."
While Song Xinwen cleaned the rooster thoroughly, Song Xinran placed the whole chicken into the pot with ginger, scallions, and cooking wine, waiting for the honeycomb briquette stove to slowly simmer it.
Meanwhile, they began cleaning the ingredients – a tedious and complicated task, especially with so many purchases. Washing and cutting all the ingredients took two hours.
The chicken broth had long finished simmering. Song Xinran fished out the chicken, strained the clear broth, and prepared to make the sauce.
The sauce is crucial for Bobo Chicken, so Song Xinran worked meticulously. She heated rapeseed oil, added spices until they turned golden brown, then removed them, ready to pour the oil into the pre-prepared seasoning bowl.
The oil temperature is most critical when pouring – too low won't release the aromas, too high can burn the spices and create bitterness.
Song Xinran's mastery of heat control was exceptional. Even with only a honeycomb briquette stove, she could achieve the perfect oil temperature.
As the hot oil poured into the bowl, the chili flakes, Sichuan pepper powder, and sesame seeds erupted with intense fragrance, crackling loudly.
Song Xinran stirred the seasonings, heated the oil slightly more, and made a second pour. This time, the aroma grew richer, filling the entire kitchen.
Watching nearby, Song Xinwen couldn't help but swallow saliva just from the smell.
With the third oil pour, the ingredients in the bowl gleamed with oily shine, looking as if coated in golden radiance – not to mention how the aroma alone could make someone devour a bowl of plain rice.
"Who's cooking this early in the morning? The smell woke me up!" came a shout from outside the window.
Song Xinran smiled, recalling her previous life when her health improved enough for her parents to take her walking. She'd always sniff eagerly at others' cooking smells – genuine cravings.
Next, she mixed the prepared chicken broth with the chili oil, adding light soy sauce, salt, and other seasonings.
Many seasonings like green pepper oil weren't available in their small town, but each ingredient's combination matters equally. When balanced well, all flavors harmonize perfectly.
Song Xinran added ingredients sequentially by instinct, tasting and adjusting the overall flavor afterward.
Only after this process was the sauce properly prepared.
Seeing the full pot of shimmering red oil sauce, Song Xinwen asked: "This much? Can we finish it all?"
"We'll invite Sister Yun's family to taste some, and let the rest marinate the vegetables for selling tonight."
After finishing the sauce, they cooked the ingredients in sequence, since each required different cooking times to achieve optimal texture.
Song Xinran had risen before 6 AM, yet by the time they finished preparing everything, it was already noon. Some ingredients still needed skewering, but their lunch Bobo Chicken had marinated for an hour and was fully flavored.
Hearing their call, Huang Yun immediately responded: "Coming, I'll be right there!"
She urged her daughter who was in the bathroom: "Sisi, hurry up. Why do you always need to use the bathroom first every time you come home from school?"
Ding Sisi said, "The school bathroom is too smelly. I've been holding it for a long time. Mom, you go ahead first. I'll be right there."
"Alright, be quick."
After using the bathroom, washing her hands, and changing her clothes, Ding Sisi slowly made her way to Aunt Song's house.
She was in sixth grade at the town's central elementary school. Since it was market day today with many food stalls, she had bought a braised chicken foot to munch on right after school ended at noon—it was absolutely delicious.
Ding Sisi thought it would be nice if Aunt Song sold braised chicken feet too. There were no braised food stalls near Third Middle School. If one chicken foot cost fifty cents, she could buy two with her daily allowance.
Aunt Song said she wanted to make Bobo Chicken. Ding Sisi had never heard of that name before, but when she heard it involved adding various vegetables, she wasn't very interested. Ding Sisi was someone who couldn't enjoy a meal without meat.
As soon as she arrived at Aunt Song's house, Ding Sisi saw a table full of people eating together. Everyone was quiet, picking up food and putting it in their bowls before holding the bowls and eating voraciously.
Ding Sisi froze for a moment, then called out, "Mom." She then greeted the others one by one.
Huang Yun didn't even look up, only saying, "Sisi's here. Sit down quickly."
It was Song Xinran who smiled at her and said, "Sisi, come over here. We saved the seat next to your mom for you. We made Bobo Chicken today—give it a try."
Ding Sisi acknowledged her but felt a bit puzzled.
What was going on today? Not only did her mom not look at her when she arrived, but she wasn't even talking during the meal.
Huang Yun had always been a talkative person. When visiting others' homes, she loved helping the host with this and that, chatting away. Especially during meals, she would enthusiastically praise the host's cooking—her words so rich and her tone so exaggerated that Ding Sisi often found it astonishing.
"Mom, the taste is just average. You're exaggerating too much!" Ding Sisi would always say this after they left.
Huang Yun would then explain that it was politeness and courtesy, and that Ding Sisi should learn it too.
Ding Sisi would pout, thinking she could never bring herself to say things she didn't mean.
But what was wrong with her mom today? She wasn't praising the host or the food.
After sitting down, Ding Sisi nudged Huang Yun's arm and reminded her, "Mom, how's Aunt Song's Bobo Chicken?"
She was intentionally reminding her mom not to forget the social niceties, but Huang Yun only said, "It's delicious, really delicious. You should eat some too."
Ding Sisi pouted, thinking her mom was probably acting strange today. Well, if that was the case, she, as the daughter, would have to handle the pleasantries. After all, she was already in sixth grade.
"Aunt Song, your Bobo Chicken smells amazing! Just the aroma makes my mouth water. If you set up a stall, it would definitely sell well!"
Song Xinran looked at the little girl and thought it was incredible. Bobo Chicken wasn't like hot dishes where the aroma was easily released. Now that it had cooled and absorbed the flavors, the fragrance wasn't floating in the air but was soaked into the ingredients.
Even so, Ding Sisi could still smell it—her nose was really sharp.
She smiled and said, "Try a little. Your mom said you're a regular at the town's snack stalls and have the most discerning palate. Give me some feedback too."
Ding Sisi imitated her mom's usual polite tone and said, "Not at all! Just looking at it, I can tell it's delicious. How could I possibly have any suggestions? It's already perfect as it is!"
But Ding Sisi didn't overdo the pleasantries. She glanced at her mom again, who remained silent and focused on picking up food. Ding Sisi sighed inwardly.
Being a sixth grader is truly difficult.
"Aunt Song, I'm starting to eat now."
The large enamel pot was filled with a rich broth, its surface shimmering with a glossy layer of red oil and scattered sesame seeds, looking incredibly appetizing.
Ding Sisi picked up her chopsticks, intending to grab a piece of chicken, but when she lifted it, she found it was actually a piece of daikon radish.
Ding Sisi: …
She hated daikon radish the most, always feeling it had a strange taste, and no matter how long it was stewed, it never seemed to absorb flavors well.
But her parents had taught her that when visiting someone else's home, if you eat something unpleasant, just swallow it quietly and avoid picking it next time—that was good manners.
Ding Sisi stared at the radish in her bowl, feeling defeated. She closed her eyes, steeled herself, and shoved it into her mouth, ready to swallow it whole. But the moment it touched her tongue, she tasted the flavor.
Ding Sisi's eyes flew open. For a second, it felt as if every cell on her tongue had been awakened by the taste.
Numbing, spicy, savory, fragrant!
Instantly, those were the only words in her mind. What she once thought were ordinary terms now made her deeply appreciate the profound depth of the Chinese language.
Her teeth eagerly bit down. The radish she used to despise had now become incredibly delicious—perfectly cooked, neither too hard nor too soft, with a clear, sweet juice that blended with the rich, savory base of the broth, creating a burst of fresh, numbing spice.
Based on Ding Sisi's experience of tasting every street stall in town, spiciness and aroma usually came with greasiness. But strangely, the combination of radish and broth felt remarkably refreshing.
The moment her teeth crushed it, her throat eagerly swallowed it down.
Ding Sisi felt like she hadn't even fully tasted it before it was gone. No, she needed to try more.
Slices of lettuce, potato, lotus root…
One after another, she picked up only vegetables, but Ding Sisi no longer felt the initial disappointment. She had never imagined that vegetables could be made so delicious!
Each vegetable had its own unique flavor, enhanced by the numbing, fragrant broth, creating an even richer texture.
The lotus root was crisp and refreshing, the lettuce fragrant and light, and the thin potato slices were cooked to a translucent tenderness. Ding Sisi couldn't stop herself.
Finally, she picked up a piece of meat and eagerly brought it to her mouth. The meat was perfectly cooked—not dry at all—and soaked with the broth. With one bite, the richness of the meat and the savory broth combined into an unparalleled delicacy. Ding Sisi's eyes sparkled.
She swore it was the most delicious meat she had ever eaten!
As she ate nonstop, too busy to even speak, Ding Sisi finally understood why her mother hadn't said much at the beginning.
It wasn't that she forgot her manners—she simply had no time for them.
After trying everything in the enamel pot, Ding Sisi scooped a ladle of broth over her bowl. The grains of white rice were coated in a light, red-oiled soup. Just smelling it, she could detect a hint of chicken broth freshness and the numbing aroma of Sichuan peppercorns. But when she ate it, the flavors amplified thousands of times, making her wish she could swallow her own tongue.
By the end, Ding Sisi was truly too full to eat any more. Staring at the remaining food in the enamel pot, she gritted her teeth, thinking how she shouldn't have bought that Braised chicken feet after school today. If only she had saved more room for the Bobo Chicken!
"Xinran, your cooking is beyond words!" Huang Yun, also full, leaned back in her chair, not wanting to move an inch.
Song Xinwen shared the pride. "Xinran's culinary skills have improved so much—even better than when she cooks at home."
In just a few days, her progress had been remarkable.
She had originally thought the dishes Song Xinran cooked back in their hometown were already quite flavorful, but she never expected them to improve even further once they moved to the town. Could it be that the new house brought her better luck?
If Song Xinran knew what she was thinking, she would surely be amused. Her cooking skills hadn’t changed much—after all, she had worked in this field for over a decade in her past life. It was just that the meals she prepared at home were all home-style dishes, and no matter how delicious they were, people subconsciously assumed they were all more or less the same.
The Bobo Chicken they made today was something they had never heard of or tasted before. The novelty and freshness played a significant role, and coupled with its genuinely delicious flavor, it left them with a sense of amazement.
"It's just a pity…" Huang Yun began, frowning.
"What's wrong?" Song Xinran asked, thinking there might be some adjustments needed regarding taste or ingredients.
"Such delicious Bobo Chicken is a waste to sell at a street stall. It deserves at least a proper restaurant setting to match its flavor!"
Ding Sisi quickly raised her hand: "I disagree with Mom. We should stick to the stall. If we open a shop, I won't be able to afford it. A delicacy like this should be for everyone to try."
Song Xinran laughed. "Don’t worry, we’ll set up the stall tonight."
As for opening a restaurant—she’d definitely do that once she had earned enough money!
Everyone was too full to move and sat on the cool chairs chatting. Both Huang Yun and Ding Sisi expressed great confidence in Song Xinran’s venture.
Listening to them, Song Xinran felt as if they were lifting her up to the skies, thinking to herself how much this mother and daughter resembled each other.
Before long, it was time for Ding Sisi to head back to school in the afternoon. Song Xinran asked, "Sisi, are you allowed to bring snacks to your school and class?"
Ding Sisi replied, "Of course! We just can’t eat during class, but some students sneak bites anyway."
In these times, schools weren’t as strict as they would be in the future—otherwise, there wouldn’t be such a long line of stalls outside the school gates.
"I’ve prepared some Bobo Chicken for tonight’s stall. Why don’t you take some to share with your classmates?" Song Xinran suggested.
Ding Sisi was thrilled.
Huang Yun immediately declined. "That won’t do. This is meant for your business. How can we take it for free? If Sisi wants some, I’ll buy it for her."
Ding Sisi nodded eagerly—she was fine with buying it too! She even had her own little savings!
Song Xinran explained, "Sister Yun, here’s my thought: since I’m planning to run a stall and tonight is my first time, I’m worried no one will show up. If Sisi takes some to share with her classmates, it’ll help spread the word. She’s doing me a favor—how could I ask you to pay?"
Huang Yun said, "You’re worried about not selling any? Once people try it, they’ll be coming back for more!"
Song Xinran replied earnestly, "Sister Yun, I’m just afraid no one will take that first step. Even the finest wine fears a deep alley."
In the end, Song Xinran packed about twenty skewers—a mix of meat and vegetables—into a disposable container for Ding Sisi. As she left, Ding Sisi hugged the box, grinning from ear to ear, and exclaimed once outside, "Mom, Aunt Song’s food is so delicious, and she’s so kind to treat my classmates to Bobo Chicken. I’ll make sure to promote it well!"
Huang Yun, who had also enjoyed the meal, said, "Many people like Aunt Song. She’s clever and capable. Take this to your class and don’t eat it all yourself—help spread the word for Aunt Song."
Ding Sisi replied with feigned reluctance, "I know!"
At 4:30 in the afternoon, Song Xinran set up her stall on time.
Song Xinwen carried a table with both hands, Song Xinran held a large pot of Bobo Chicken, and Song Yu brought the sign and tablecloth as they headed to the spot they had scouted earlier.
The prime stall locations near Third Middle School were already taken by seasoned vendors. Not wanting to compete with them, Song Xinran opted for a low-profile approach and chose a spot at the very end.
Originally, the last spot belonged to a fried skewer vendor, but now it was hers.
Song Xinwen set up the table, Song Yu stood on tiptoe to spread the clean tablecloth as best he could, and Song Xinwen quickly smoothed it out. Then, Song Xinran placed the large pot of Bobo Chicken on top.
She positioned the sign in the most visible spot.
"There are still two pots at home. I'll go get them. Wait here for a moment," Song Xinran said.
Song Xinwen grabbed her hand: "Let me go instead."
She glanced around, feeling somewhat timid and anxious. In the village, Song Xinwen was considered highly capable—she grew the most crops in the area and was always praised by the villagers. Song Xinwen herself believed she was quite competent.
But when it came to setting up a stall in town, she lacked confidence. Especially when she saw on site that almost all other vendors had tricycles, or at least pushcarts, making their setups look proper, while theirs seemed too simple!
What if they couldn't sell anything? Not only would they lose money, but they’d also become a laughingstock.
But when she turned to look at Song Xinran, her younger sister was chatting and laughing with a child, seemingly without a worry in the world.
Song Xinwen pressed her lips together, wanting to do some work to distract herself from her worries, and hurried home to bring the other two pots of Bobo Chicken.
She had to be careful—each pot contained about two hundred skewers. According to Song Xinran’s current pricing, a pot of vegetarian skewers was worth about 40 yuan, and a pot of meat skewers 80 yuan.
Meanwhile, Song Xinran was tidying up the stall. Though simple, the basics had to be in place. She had gone to the bank to get change and specially brought a crossbody bag to carry.
Song Yu rested his hands on the edge of the table. Though naturally timid, he mustered up courage at the thought of accompanying his mother on her first day of setting up a stall, wondering how he could help later.
His eyes cautiously scanned the surroundings when suddenly he noticed someone approaching them. Song Yu quickly tugged at Song Xinran’s sleeve: "Mom, someone’s here."
Song Xinran looked up and saw a middle-aged woman in an apron walking up to their stall. The woman scrutinized them critically, then read the sign aloud: "Bobo Chicken, vegetarian skewers twenty cents each, meat skewers forty cents each."
Song Xinran said, "Hello, can I help you with anything?"
She had also noticed the fried skewer stall nearby and recognized the woman as its owner.
"I’m not buying," the woman said. "I just came to see what the new stall here is all about."
With that, she craned her neck to peer into the ceramic pot, catching only a glimpse of clear red oil and numerous bamboo skewers, most of the ingredients submerged and barely visible. "Isn’t this pretty much the same as our fried skewers? Hah, even the prices are identical."
Song Xinran detected the implied sarcasm and replied with a smile, "Really? I hadn’t noticed the prices. But this is called Bobo Chicken—it’s a completely different type of dish from fried skewers."
She showed no trace of timidity, speaking confidently and emphasizing the words "Bobo Chicken.The woman realized she had misread the characters and cursed inwardly, thinking, "Coming here to set up a stall and still acting all cultured."" Outwardly, she smiled and said, "You’re new here, aren’t you? I’ve been setting up a stall here for a year. I wasn’t here yesterday because of family matters, and today I see a new face—right next to us, too. What a coincidence."
Song Xinran pretended not to catch the sarcasm: "Yes, what a coincidence."
The woman pressed on, "You look quite young. Why are you out here setting up a stall? Young people these days could work in factories—that pays much better. Oh, is this your child? Why are there only two of you? Where’s your husband?"
Song Xinran replied without hesitation, "My husband is in the military. He sends back eight or nine hundred yuan every month and told me to just relax at home. But I can’t stand being idle, so I casually made some things to set up a stall for fun."
The woman's face stiffened, and she forced a dry laugh. "Is that so? You really can't stay idle. Well, I have matters to attend to, so I'll head back now."
The woman hurried away. Song Xinran chuckled softly, aware that the other had been probing into her family background. But when one was out in the world, wasn't identity merely what one claimed it to be?
Song Yu pressed close to her, clutching the hem of her clothes. His round eyes gazed up at her, dark pupils filled with confusion and incomprehension.
Song Xinran knew he could understand some of their conversation. She crouched down to his eye level and whispered gently, "Mommy told a lie just now. This way, no one will dare bully us. Can Xiao Yu keep Mommy's secret?"
Song Yu's eyes widened, and he nodded emphatically. "When I grow up, I'll protect Mommy."
Song Xinran smiled, ruffling the child's hair. "Xiao Yu is already very brave now. You even dare to help Mommy set up a stall and sell things."
Meanwhile, the woman returned to her own stall and immediately complained, "They're selling something called Bobo Chicken. I took a look—it's packed densely in the pot, doesn't even smell fragrant. The taste must be mediocre at best."
"And she puts on airs of being cultured, claims her husband is in the military and she doesn't lack money. Pah! Who knows if her husband has found mistresses out there?"
"Just wait—tomorrow they'll be scurrying back with their tails between their legs!"
The male stall owner laughed. "Alright, wife, you're really something. You managed to find out so much in such a short time. As long as they don't steal our business, that's fine. Saves me from having to take action."
"Enough now, hurry up and prepare the ingredient packages. The students will be out soon!"
When Song Xinwen arrived with the Bobo Chicken, he spotted the neighboring stall owner returning from their direction and quickened his pace. Setting the ceramic pot down on the table, he asked anxiously, "Xinran, what did that person want? Are they trying to stop us from setting up here?"
Seeing his nervous expression, Song Xinran smiled reassuringly. "No, she just came to ask a few questions. Don't worry, I've already checked—setting up stalls is permitted here. No one can drive us away."
Song Xinwen relaxed slightly. "There's still another pot at home. I'll go fetch it."
As he left, he glanced back at Song Xinran. Noting her calm demeanor, he thought to himself how much more steady his younger sister had become.
At 5:20 PM, the precise dismissal time for Sanzhong School's afternoon session, students poured out of the gates. They had one hour and ten minutes of break time before evening self-study sessions began, which would last until 8:40 PM.
The moment the bell rang, faster students surged out. Stalls in prime locations were immediately surrounded by crowds of students.
The arrival of these students was like a drop of water falling into sizzling oil—every stall owner sprang into action. Hawking, greeting, soliciting customers—the scene became incredibly lively.
Song Xinran had witnessed this bustling spectacle the previous evening, but seeing it in daylight was even more astonishing.
Stalls near the entrance enjoyed natural geographical advantages, yet some students specifically sought out their favorite vendors. This created a curious phenomenon: the third-to-last stall on the other side was doing better business than some of the prime-location stalls.
Song Xinran thought to herself, confirming her initial assumption: when setting up stalls near school gates, taste mattered more than location. Students, bursting with energy, considered an extra hundred-meter walk for their favorite snacks utterly insignificant.
Within a minute, every small stall had students gathered around—except for Song Xinran's, which remained completely empty. Even when a few students occasionally wandered over, they would glance at their stall, skim past the signboard, and then walk away.
Song Xinwen couldn't sit still any longer and whispered, "Xinran, is our stall too shabby? Or are our prices set too high? Why isn't anyone coming? Maybe when someone approaches later, we can offer them a free taste."
Song Xinwen had seen newly opened shops at the town market where the owners enthusiastically called out for free samples.
Song Xinran pointed to the plate of vegetarian dishes on their stall's table and said, "Haven't we already prepared free samples?"
"You need to be more proactive! Shout out, call people over!" Song Xinwen was practically exasperated. She had initially thought Song Xinran had become bolder and more composed, but it turned out she still couldn't let go of her pride.
As soon as she spotted students approaching, Song Xinwen immediately picked up the plate and called out, "Little sisters, come try some Bobo Chicken for free! It's free!"
She emphasized the word "free" because, in Song Xinwen's view, "free" was the most appealing. Back in town, whenever she heard those words, she would go take a look and try a sample, whether she ended up buying or not.
But strangely, the moment Song Xinwen called out, the two students who had been walking arm in arm immediately waved their hands and hurried away in a fluster.
Song Xinwen was stunned, bewildered, and couldn't believe it. "Why didn't they come to try it?"
Song Xinran said, "Sis, the students at Third Middle School are only thirteen or fourteen years old. They get shy easily."
She thought to herself that these girls seemed like well-behaved students—the type who are easily embarrassed. The moment they hear "free sample," they worry that if they try it without buying, others might think they're just trying to get something for nothing, so they simply avoid it altogether.
Plus, Song Xinwen's enthusiasm was a bit overwhelming and had likely scared them off.
But knowing her sister meant well, Song Xinran comforted her, "It's okay, sis. Let's just wait a little longer."
Song Xinwen sighed. "It's already been ten minutes. They only have a little over an hour after school, and they have to go back early. They don't have much time outside. We have three pots of Bobo Chicken here—what if we can't sell them? There are only three people in our family; we can't possibly finish it all."
Song Xinran smiled. "Sis, don't overthink it. There's still time."
Seeing her calm and confident demeanor, Song Xinwen's heart skipped a beat. "You don't have another plan, do you?"
Otherwise, why wasn't she worried? These Bobo Chicken dishes had cost a lot of money and effort.
Song Xinran said, "Soon."
As soon as she finished speaking, three or four students wearing Central Elementary School uniforms came running over from the other side. Their stall was at the very end near Third Middle School's entrance but closest to the road leading to Central Elementary School.
"I want ten skewers of Bobo Chicken! Oh no, make it fifteen!" The first to reach the stall was a boy, panting as he spoke, his eyes fixed on the pot. When he saw the gleaming red oil, he couldn't help but swallow hard.
Song Xinran asked, "Would you like meat or vegetable dishes? We have a wide variety here; you can choose any."
Before she could finish, another girl who had caught up interrupted, "I want ten pork skewers!"
"Hey! I was here first! Bao Xin, don't cut in line!" the boy complained, turning to shout at her.
Bao Xin snorted coldly. "You're too slow—I couldn't stand it! Boss, pack mine!"
As she spoke, she directly handed over four dollars.
Song Xinwen was so shocked his eyes nearly popped out, completely baffled as to how the stall that had been empty just moments ago was now nearly mobbed.
She quickly took the money, deftly counted out ten pork skewers, bagged them, and handed them to the girl.
The girl shot the boy a triumphant look before walking away.
"Boss, I want two winter melon skewers and one chicken skewer!"
"I want one pumpkin skewer, one mushroom skewer, one chicken gizzard skewer, and one chicken blood curd skewer!"
As soon as the girl got her order, several more students called out.
The boy grew frantic: "Hey, hey! Don't cut in line—I was here first!"
Other students mimicked the girl's earlier tone: "Who told you to be so slow? I couldn't stand watching! Haha, boss, I want five chicken skewers and one potato skewer!"
"Brothers, buy more so Yao Xu can't get any!" another student jeered, promptly ordering his own food and completing the transaction on the spot.
Yao Xu cursed angrily: "Get out of here! You already snatched what Ding Sisi gave me in class today, and now you're trying to take this too!"
Fearing he'd miss out, Yao Xu anxiously scanned the menu, torn between all the items he'd craved but failed to eat in class earlier. Unfortunately, having bought cards earlier, he now had only two yuan left!
He was so frantic he nearly stamped his feet!
Just then, a gentle voice chimed in: "No need to rush. Take your time deciding what you'd like. We've prepared plenty—there's enough for everyone."
Yao Xu looked up and met the stall owner's smiling face. His agitation seemed to ease almost instantly.
Yao Xu ordered several skewers and calculated mentally—the total came to exactly two yuan.
Song Xinran packed the skewers into a bag and handed it to him: "Come again next time."
Yao Xu took the food to the side and immediately started eating. As the familiar, delicious flavor hit his tongue, he was so moved he nearly shed tears.
It tasted exactly the same as what Ding Sisi had brought to class!
Ding Sisi was right—the boss really was a kind, soft-spoken auntie. See, she didn't serve those who cut in line and specifically asked what he wanted before packing it for him.
The boss is so touching, wuwu.
And this Bobo Chicken is incredibly delicious, wuwuwuwu!
The four of them had been the first to dash out of the classroom and the fastest runners. They sprinted all the way here and were the earliest to pick their skewers. Right after they finished ordering, the main group arrived—students in Central Elementary School uniforms swarming toward the stall in a neat, almost military-training-like formation, at least twenty or thirty of them.
The owner of the neighboring fried skewer stall naturally noticed this and hurriedly said, "They're here—get everything ready! What's the occasion today? So many elementary school students!"
The stall wife quickly pulled out plastic bags and added more chili powder and other seasonings to the trays. Glancing at the remaining ingredients, she remarked, "Business is so good today, we might even sell out!"
"Hey, how's the stall next door doing? I saw it was completely empty earlier, hehe. And they still thought they could set up shop here!"
The fried skewer boss stayed silent.
"Say something!" the wife called out, then looked up herself. The next second, her eyes widened in disbelief.
Wait! Why are all these elementary school students crowding around that Bobo Chicken stall next door?
"Boss, I want ten potato skewers!"
"Boss, this Bobo Chicken is so delicious! How do you make it? I'm going to ask my mom to try making it at home too!"
"Your mom could never make anything this delicious!" Ding Sisi ran over too, her tone extremely proud. "Only Aunt Song can make this! I ate so much at Aunt Song's house at noon!"
"Ahhh I'm so jealous of you!"
"I wish my mom knew an Aunt Song too."
Song Xinran picked up a pork skewer and handed it to Ding Sisi: "Sisi, have some too. You must be hungry after a whole afternoon of classes."
Remembering her mother's words, Ding Sisi repeatedly waved her hands: "No need, Aunt Song, I'm not hungry."
"Have some. I want to thank you for promoting my food so well, otherwise no one would have come to buy."
Ding Sisi quickly shook her head: "I didn't even need to promote it! This afternoon when I went to class and took out the food, everyone immediately gathered around. None of them had seen Bobo Chicken before, except Yao Xu in our class who often goes to the city to eat it. At first he said the taste was just average, but then…"
Recalling the scene, Ding Sisi couldn't help bursting into laughter: "I originally saved a skewer for him since he's our group leader. But after Bao Xin ate one, she immediately exclaimed how delicious it was! The rest were snatched up in the blink of an eye. Poor Yao Xu only ended up with half a potato slice that had fallen into the lunchbox."
Ding Sisi laughed so hard she nearly doubled over: "All afternoon today, Yao Xu kept asking me between classes if there was any left. When school ended, he ran faster than a dog, just to come buy Bobo Chicken."
"Hmph, let's see if he still dares to say the taste is average!"
Watching the girl's vivid expressions, Song Xinran chuckled softly: "Sisi, you tell the story so vividly, I can almost picture the scene. Thank you, Sisi. Without you, I wouldn't know how to promote this. Before you all came, there wasn't a single person here."
Ding Sisi immediately blushed from the praise. Her mother praised her at home too, but no one had ever said "without you, such and such wouldn't have happened," making Ding Sisi feel like she had really accomplished something remarkable!
Moreover, Aunt Song's gaze was so gentle and she spoke so sincerely that Ding Sisi's face grew hot and she didn't know what to say: "N-no, it's nothing really, I didn't do much…"
"Here, have a meat skewer."
"Oh, okay…" Taking the meat and eating it, her taste buds were the first to react, and only then did Ding Sisi suddenly realize.
Ahhh! How could she have accepted food from Aunt Song again!
Her mother had clearly told her that Aunt Song had already treated them to plenty. If Aunt Song offered more later, she shouldn't take it anymore—Aunt Song was running a business and had invested quite a bit of capital.
Ding Sisi thought for a moment, then pulled four ten-cent coins from her pocket and quietly placed them on the table.
This way, Aunt Song wouldn't lose money!
Aunt Song's food was really delicious, and she was such a nice person. Tomorrow she would go promote it to friends in other classes!
With the influx of elementary school students, Song Xinran's Bobo Chicken stall suddenly became lively. Passing middle school students saw the crowd and gathered around too.
People naturally follow the crowd—even adults tend to choose restaurants with more customers.
When the Third Middle School students saw the prices weren't expensive, they decided to buy two potato skewers to try.
The moment they tasted it, they were amazed by the heavenly potatoes!
Good heavens, how could potatoes be this delicious!
A friend nearby asked: "How does it taste? If it's good, I'll go buy some too."
The student didn't say anything, but swiftly returned to the Bobo Chicken stall and handed over a five-yuan note: "Boss, give me all the potatoes!"
Friend: !!!!
What had she just heard?
Five yuan worth of potato slices—could she really eat 25 skewers of potatoes!
Before she could even question or marvel at this, the next moment she realized what it meant! This Bobo Chicken tasted absolutely amazing!
Her friend quickly handed over one yuan: "I want potatoes too, um… and meat, add one skewer of pork slices as well."
Scenes like this had occurred more than once. In the short hour after school ended in the afternoon, Song Xinran's Bobo Chicken stall had completely emptied two entire pots.
When the evening self-study bell rang at Third Middle School, all the students entered the campus, and the stalls in front of the school became quiet again. Only at Song Xinran's stall were there still scattered adults coming to buy.
A woman holding a three or four-year-old child came to the Bobo Chicken stall, coaxing the little girl with reddened eyes: "Alright, stop crying. Didn't Mom bring you to buy some since your sister wouldn't give you any?"
At that moment, another woman recognized her: "Oh, Wu Fei's mom, you're here buying too?"
"It's all because of my eldest. She brought some food home, called Bobo Chicken, and said it was incredibly delicious. She wouldn't share with her little sister, so the younger one cried until I came out to buy some. Sigh, you too?"
"Same here!"
"Is this stuff really that delicious?"
The two adults took a bite, and their previously somewhat helpless and puzzled expressions immediately froze, then completely vanished. They silently took out their money: "Boss, give us a few more skewers!"
The last pot of Bobo Chicken, which hadn't been much to begin with, was thus sold out piece by piece, not even lasting until the end of the evening self-study session at Third Middle School.
"Sold out." Song Xinwen stared blankly at the ceramic pot containing only the broth.
How did so many people come all at once? Two full pots sold out in just an hour, and the remaining small pot was gone in less than another hour!
Is this what word-of-mouth is like?
From overhearing customers' conversations, Song Xinwen roughly guessed that most of the later buyers were parents of elementary school students.
She had originally thought setting up a stall would be very difficult, full of challenges, but now Song Xinwen felt that those difficulties might have just been her own imagination.
"Yes, sold out. Sis, let's pack up and go home," Song Xinran said.
Looking at her sister's calm expression, Song Xinwen couldn't help but ask: "Xinran, did you anticipate all this?"
Song Xinran smiled: "No, but I thought that if the food is delicious, business naturally wouldn't be bad."
This has been true throughout history. Moreover, she had done some promotion too. In her previous life, when she made things, she didn't need to promote them—people came anyway, relying on word-of-mouth.
Song Xinwen looked at her smiling face, feeling somewhat dazed. In the blink of an eye, the little sister who used to hide behind her had grown more capable than she was.
They cleaned up the trash on the ground, which actually wasn't much—most students would take their bamboo skewers and other waste to throw in the trash cans.
After cleaning the area, Song Xinran carried three pots in a bucket, Song Xinwen took the table, and Song Yu held the remaining small items like plastic bags. The three of them walked back together.
Compared to when they came, all three were in much better spirits on the return trip.
Song Xinwen no longer had any worries and walked with light steps.
Song Yu, carrying things in both hands, hopped and skipped a few times, a bright, cheerful smile on her face.
As soon as they got home, Song Xinran first washed all the items, sorted and stored them properly, then ate the leftover Bobo Chicken from lunch before preparing to bathe and rest.
The first day of setting up the stall had been like fighting a battle, and now she was tired.
But Song Xinran was excited—everything was sold out, and now it was time to count the money!
She placed the black crossbody bag on the bedside table, spread a bedsheet on the bed, sat on it, grabbed the bag, and turned it upside down. Instantly, banknotes fluttered down all around.
Sitting on the other side of the bed, Song Yu widened his eyes and opened his mouth in disbelief at the sight before him. So much money!
Ten cents, twenty cents, fifty cents, one yuan, two yuan… the largest bill was ten yuan.
Song Xinran beckoned to the child, and Song Yu immediately crawled over, his eyes sparkling as he looked at her: "Mom."
"Xiao Yu, let's count the money together with Mom." Song Xinran took out a ten-cent bill. "Does Xiao Yu know how much this is?"
"I know!" Song Yu nodded, his voice crisp and clear. "Ten cents!"
Song Xinran: "That's right. Can Xiao Yu count ten ten-cent bills and put them together? Just like Mom is doing."
She demonstrated for Song Yu, who watched intently and nodded: "Yes!"
Song Xinran suddenly thought of something: "Does Xiao Yu know how to count from one to ten?"
After all, the child was only three years old and hadn't started school yet.
Song Yu said: "I can!"
He immediately demonstrated, even counting all the way to twenty-three in one breath!
Song Xinran quickly stopped him, looking at him in surprise: "Xiao Yu is so smart!"
The child smiled shyly, pursing his lips, but his eyes shone brightly.
Song Xinran asked again: "Does Xiao Yu recognize money?"
Song Yu nodded again, picking out the scattered bills one by one and correctly stating their values. Finally, he held up the ten-yuan bill: "Mom said yesterday, this is ten yuan!"
Yesterday, before going to sleep, Song Yu had given his aunt the money she had secretly slipped him to his mother. Song Xinran had been somewhat moved at the time and mentioned the value, never expecting Song Yu to remember it.
Song Xinran was amazed and patted Song Yu's head. He was a little genius baby!
Since that was the case, Song Xinran assigned Song Yu the task of counting the ten-cent bills. It wasn't difficult because the Bobo Chicken meat skewers were sold for forty cents each and the vegetable skewers for twenty cents each. Since twenty-cent bills were still in circulation, there weren't many ten-cent bills in the bag.
Song Xinran began counting the larger denominations.
The mother and son were engrossed in counting money. By the time all the scattered bills were sorted and organized, Song Xinran looked up and suddenly noticed that Song Yu had already finished counting the ten-cent bills.
The child had arranged them neatly, stacking them in an orderly fashion. He was now counting the twenty-cent bills, holding the money in his small hands, head bowed, his little face full of concentration. If one listened carefully, they could hear his tender voice counting: "1, 2, 3, 4…"
Song Xinran's heart softened, and she said gently: "How many has Xiao Yu counted?"
Song Yu waved his little hand to the side: "All of these are what I counted!"
Usually shy and reserved, he rarely spoke with such pride. Song Xinran immediately feigned surprise and praised him: "Wow, that's amazing! Xiao Yu counted so many! And he arranged them so neatly. Xiao Yu has been a huge help to Mom! Xiao Yu is Mom's capable little assistant!"
Song Yu blushed at the praise, couldn't help but giggle, and asked in his childish voice: "Mom, how much money did we make today?"
Song Xinran said: "We made one hundred and seventy-two yuan!"
Song Yu didn't have a strong concept of money. In his mind, the largest amount was yesterday's ten yuan. One hundred was much, much bigger than ten, so they had made a lot, a lot of money!
The child's eyes sparkled: "Mom is so amazing!"
Song Xinran couldn't help but laugh: "Xiao Yu is amazing too."
She stroked her little one's soft hair, which had grown a bit long. She decided to take him for a haircut tomorrow.
The clothes he was wearing now were old, frayed, and faded. Before Song Xinran returned, he didn't even have a separate set of pajamas.
She would buy him a set of pajamas too!
Song Xinran quickly arranged the money, placed the counted cash in the cabinet, removed the bedsheet that had just been used to cushion the money, and immediately lay down on the bed.
Song Yu lay beside her, his body obediently still, hands folded over his stomach. Only his pair of dark, gleaming eyes moved as they darted around. He thought happily to himself:
Auntie used to say that Mom wasn’t with him because she had to earn money. Now he was with Mom, and she could earn lots of money too.
That meant he could stay by Mom’s side from now on, right? He would work very, very hard to help Mom make money!
This thought etched itself deeply into the child’s heart at that moment.
After resting for a while, Song Xinran turned over, picked up the notebook from the bedside table, and leaned against the headboard to start calculating the accounts. Today, she had sold 172 yuan worth but spent 160 yuan.
At first glance, the profit didn’t seem high, but a closer look revealed:
Buying chicken was expensive—it cost 50 yuan. However, the family had eaten quite a bit of it, and there were still two chicken legs left that they could eat tomorrow, nourishing both herself and Song Yu.
She also spent 35 yuan on three large ceramic pots. These weren’t one-time consumables; they could be used again in the future.
The lunch they’d eaten was also Bobo Chicken, which could be sold for at least 50 to 60 yuan.
Besides these, Song Xinran carefully calculated the profit margin for each type of dish. The cost of meat dishes was too high: a jin of lean meat cost 5 yuan, and after cooking, it could make about 25 skewers. Each meat skewer sold for 0.4 yuan, excluding labor and other seasonings, resulting in a gross profit of only 50%—too low.
But vegetable dishes were completely different. Take potatoes, for example: a jin of potatoes cost 0.2 yuan. Sliced, each skewer held 3–4 pieces, and a jin of potatoes could make 20–25 skewers in total, selling for 4–5 yuan. The profit was extremely high!
Moreover, most students preferred buying vegetable dishes because they were cheaper.
Although the books showed only a 12-yuan profit today, Song Xinran knew in her heart that setting up a stall to sell Bobo Chicken was quite profitable. This business was feasible!
She put down the notebook, lay on the bed, and felt very happy. Life was truly full of hope!
At 8:40, the evening self-study session at No. 3 High School finally ended. A crowd of students rushed toward the food stalls at the entrance, with several heading straight to the farthest end. But they wandered back and forth, hesitating about something.
The fried skewer stall owner, seeing the flow of customers, quickly called out, “Come buy fried skewers! Delicious and cheap fried skewers!”
“Classmate, want a skewer?”
The student who was called seemed uncertain and said to his friend beside him, “What about that Bobo Chicken? I heard it was right here, but I don’t see it.”
“Yeah, the class monitor bought some, and I had a taste. I’ve been thinking about it all through evening self-study!”
“Maybe they’ve left already.”
“Ah!” someone wailed, “No way! I haven’t gotten to buy any yet!”
“How about buying some fried skewers to fill your stomach?” a classmate suggested.
The person next to him looked over, and the fried skewer stall owner quickly said with a smile, “Buy some! They’re cheap and tasty! This is an old stall!”
“Forget it, I’ll save my money to buy Bobo Chicken tomorrow,” one student said. “Will Bobo Chicken be here tomorrow?”
“Definitely,” another chimed in. “Let’s not eat today—we’ll eat more tomorrow.”
“Let’s go home!”
Fried skewer stall owner: ???
I hope that damned Bobo Chicken doesn’t come tomorrow!