"You fool! Can't even handle such a simple matter." Lin Changshou pointed his finger directly at Hu Shi.
Upon hearing this, Hu Shi stiffened her neck and instantly became spirited, raising her voice sharply in retort: "Hmph, that Lin Yao kept insisting on dragging me to see the magistrate, and there was some scholar who came out of nowhere, offering to help her draft a lawsuit. Look at her behavior—exactly like her flirtatious mother, carved from the same mold!"
Whenever she mentioned her sister-in-law Jia Shi, Hu Shi couldn't control the jealousy and resentment in her heart.
Before marriage, Jia Shi had been the most elegant young lady in the surrounding villages. As the only daughter in her family, she was the sole recipient of her parents' doting affection. By the time she reached marrying age, suitors came in an endless stream, nearly wearing out the family's doorstep.
When Lin Changshou was about to start a family, he took a liking to Jia Shi and begged his parents to propose to the Jia family. However, Jia Shi's parents politely declined the match, saying their daughter was still too young. This rejection planted a thorn in Lin Changshou's heart and left Hu Shi perpetually resentful about the matter.
What no one expected was that two years later, Jia Shi and the Lin family's second son, Lin Changkang, fell for each other and happily married. After their wedding, the couple was inseparable and soon gave birth to a healthy baby boy.
Lin Changshou slammed his teacdown heavily, the lid clattering loudly. "So you got scared just because she threatened to see the magistrate? Utterly useless! What's there to panic about? As long as we insist this is our old Lin family's ancestral recipe, even if our parents find out, would they really side with those little jinxes?"
Hu Shi trembled slightly at his words. "You're absolutely right, husband. But now this matter has already caused such a stir, everyone knows about it. Using this method again might not work."
"Leave this matter to me." Lin Changshou waved his hand, his murky eyes gleaming with cunning.
~
Early the next morning.
Before Lin Yao even reached her stall, she spotted several familiar faces from a distance. Among the crowd, Xu Zhiheng stood tall and straight, accompanied by his servant, making them particularly conspicuous.
"Lady Lin, you've kept us waiting quite a while today," Xu Zhiheng said.
Lin Yao quickly set down her carrying basket. "My apologies. I specially prepared an additional new food item today, which took some extra time."
"A new food item again? Lady Lin, your ingenuity is truly admirable. I'll take two portions of the new item, plus two large servings of fried rice and half a kilogram of Lu Zhu Xia Shui. Please make them quickly so I can satisfy my cravings." Xu Zhiheng fanned himself with a flourish, thinking himself quite dashing as he strolled to the neighboring congee shop. He found an empty seat and ordered two bowls of plain congee.
Seeing how readily Xu Zhiheng had ordered two portions of the new food without even asking what it was, others began to feel tempted too. However, not being as wealthy as Xu Zhiheng, some hesitated before asking: "Little lady, what's this new food you're offering today?"
"It's Sweet Potato Pancakes. Two coins each, or three coins for two." Lin Yao answered while deftly pulling out the semi-finished Sweet Potato Pancakes she had prepared at home from her basket.
"Isn't this just sweet potato? These grow everywhere in the mountains. How can they cost two coins each?" someone remarked.
"Our sweet potato pancakes are made with sugar, giving them a unique flavor," Lin Yao said as she scooped a spoonful of sweet potato cubes onto the griddle, gently spreading them into several pancakes with a spatula. As the temperature rose, the sugar in the sweet potato cubes gradually melted, blending with the natural sweetness of the potatoes and releasing a rich, fragrant aroma that wafted straight into the nostrils of those nearby.
The edges of the sweet potato cubes slowly turned golden, gradually transforming into an enticing caramel color.
Lin Yao cut the freshly made sweet potato pancakes into small pieces and invited the people in front of the stall to try them. "Everyone, feel free to taste—it’s a free sample, no charge."
Lin Cheng felt a bit reluctant, as these were made with high-quality lard, white flour, and maltose candy. But his sister had said, "You can’t catch a wolf without sacrificing a child."
The people in front of the stall had initially hesitated, but everyone had seen Lady Lin scoop a generous spoonful of lard while frying the sweet potato pancakes, not to mention the added sugar. With such ingredients, it was hard to imagine them not being delicious. At this thought, they hesitated no longer and eagerly reached out. In the blink of an eye, the freshly made sweet potato pancakes were snatched up.
"So fragrant!"
"Indeed, I never imagined sweet potatoes could taste this good."
Praise and compliments rose one after another from the crowd.
While everyone was enjoying the sweet potato pancakes, Lin Yao skillfully prepared the dishes Xu Zhiheng had ordered and brought them to him. "Young Master Xu, all your dishes are served. The sweet potato pancakes are a new addition to our menu today—we’ve included two extra for you. I hope you enjoy them."
Xu Zhiheng stood up to take the sweet potato pancakes from Lin Yao. "Thank you, Lady Lin."
No sooner had he set them down than Jin Yu grabbed one and stuffed it into his mouth, chewing and swallowing hastily. "Lang Jun, eat quickly—they won’t taste as good once they cool." As Xu Zhiheng placed the pancakes down, Jin Yu, unable to wait, snatched a piece and urged eagerly, "Lang Jun, you must try them while they’re hot—that’s when they’re at their best. Once they cool, the texture won’t be the same."
Xu Zhiheng closed his folding fan and tapped Jin Yu’s head in exasperation. "All you ever think about is eating. I’ve never seen you put this much enthusiasm into anything else."
Thanks to yesterday’s promise to reduce the price of each snack by one coin, the stall was livelier than usual. Many who had previously hesitated due to the cost seized this rare discount to satisfy their cravings. Lin Cheng and Lin Yao were busy slicing Lu Zhu Xia Shui and frying pancakes, spinning around like tops, their spatulas nearly sparking from the speed.
"Lady Lin, I’d like a 'Full House Blessing' bun," a gentle female voice drifted softly from amid a group of boisterous young men, standing out starkly in the noisy commotion.
Hearing the voice, Lin Yao quickly looked up. "Sister A Yu!"
A Yu smiled shyly. "I’ve long heard that your 'Full House Blessing' buns are exceptionally delicious. My grandfather has been craving one for a while and specifically asked me to buy one so he can try it."
"I’ll make it for you right away, and I’ll add extra Lu Zhu Xia Shui," Lin Yao said, feeling quite fond of this bashful young girl.
A Yu looked a bit embarrassed. "Thank you, Lady. Next time, I’ll make sure to prepare more buns for you in return."
Seeing her sincerity, Lin Yao found her even more endearing.
Though Lin Yao now inhabited the body of a twelve-year-old girl, her soul was that of a twenty-four-year-old woman. This caused her to unconsciously adopt a more mature perspective whenever she encountered teenagers.
Just like at this moment, facing the smiling Lin Yao, A Yu felt a strange sensation welling up inside her. In a daze, she thought this little sister’s smile carried a hint of inexplicable "motherly affection."
Lin Yao handed over the freshly made buns. "No need to be so polite. This is also to thank Wang Daye for helping the three of us siblings yesterday."
~
A Yu hurried back to the steamed bun stall. "Grandpa, I’m back!"
Wang Shan looked at his granddaughter, her cheeks flushed from the brisk walk, his eyes filled with affection. He reached out to take the buns she handed him, then took out a small knife and carefully divided one bun into two equal halves. He offered the larger half to his granddaughter. "Here, eat."
A Yu took a big bite, and the rich flavors burst in her mouth.
Seeing his granddaughter savoring the food with such delight, Wang Shan couldn’t help but ask, "A Yu, is business good at Lady Lin’s stall?"
A Yu, her cheeks stuffed with food, mumbled, "Mm! It’s so lively—there’s a crowd of people scrambling to buy her buns! I overheard some customers chatting, saying Lady Lin introduced a new dish today called Sweet Potato Pancake. Everyone’s raving about how delicious it is. It’s a pity the line was too long, and I didn’t have time to buy one."
Wang Shan took out a clean handkerchief and handed it to his granddaughter to wipe her mouth. "Grandpa wants you to become her apprentice."
A Yu had just raised the bun to her mouth, about to take another bite, but upon hearing this, her movements froze. Slowly, she lowered the bun, her eyes filled with hesitation and self-doubt. She murmured, "But… but will she really take me? Grandpa, I’m not clever at all. I’m clumsy in everything I do. If I go, I’ll embarrass you. I… I don’t think I can do it."
Listening to his granddaughter’s disjointed words, Wang Shan felt a pang of sorrow wash over him. His son and daughter-in-law had passed away too soon, leaving this lonely granddaughter to rely solely on him. Over the years, to support the family, he had to wake up before dawn every day to make buns, then rush out to set up his stall and earn a living, barely having a moment to rest.
As a result, he had very little time to spend with his granddaughter, and she often had to stay alone in their empty home. Over time, her personality grew increasingly timid and withdrawn. She only felt slightly at ease in his presence, but whenever she encountered strangers, she would easily become nervous.
On ordinary days, when others saw A Yu, they would often praise her for being gentle and well-behaved, saying she would surely grow up to be a virtuous wife and loving mother. In the past, Wang Shan had been pleased to hear such comments, hoping that when A Yu was older, he could find a reliable family to marry her into with dignity, so she could live a stable and worry-free life.
But ever since he met Lin Yao and saw how she energetically managed her business, skillfully navigating the marketplace and handling situations with ease, his perspective had quietly shifted. He increasingly felt that a woman’s way of living was far more varied than just being a virtuous wife and mother.
He had never received an education, but he knew that if A Yu's temperament was too soft, and if she could be as independent and resilient as Lin Yao, she might have a different future. However, he also understood that this craft was not easily passed on to outsiders. His greatest hope was to temper his granddaughter's character, even if it meant just assisting Lin Yao.
"In your grandfather's eyes, A Yu is the best." Wang Shan patted A Yu's head. "Don't worry, A Yu. Lady Lin is a good person—intelligent, strong-willed, and thoughtful. I only hope you can learn from her how to conduct yourself. If Lady Lin is willing to take you as her apprentice and teach you a few dishes, you'll have a skill to rely on."
Hearing this, A Yu slightly raised her head, met Wang Shan's expectant gaze, and nodded gently.
Meanwhile, the three Lin siblings were bustling with activity. Even the youngest, Lin Song, was helping collect money. By the time everything was sold out, it was already well past the hour of Wei (1–3 PM).
Just as they finished tidying up the stall, Lin Yao noticed Wang Daye and A Yu standing nearby. "Grandpa Wang, Sister A Yu, is there something you need?"
Wang Shan's palms were slightly sweaty, but thinking of his granddaughter's future, he gritted his teeth and spoke up, "Lady Lin, I apologize for disturbing you. I have a favor to ask, and I'm shamelessly begging for your help."
Lin Yao was puzzled, thinking to herself that she was merely a street vendor struggling to make a living—without wealth or influence—and couldn't imagine how she could be of assistance. "Grandpa, please don't say that. You've been helping us since we started this stall. If there's anything I can do, just say the word. As long as it's within my means, I won't hesitate."
Hearing Lin Yao's response, Wang Shan felt slightly less anxious. "Lady Lin, to be honest, I've come today to shamelessly ask if you would take my granddaughter A Yu as your apprentice. Just teaching her one or two dishes would be enough. If you have any tasks that need an extra hand, feel free to assign them to her—consider it a chance for her to gain experience."
As soon as the words left his mouth, Wang Shan knew his request was somewhat abrupt and presumptuous. Fearing Lin Yao might take offense, he quickly added, "If you find the idea of taking an apprentice inconvenient, having A Yu work here, assisting you and learning along the way, would also be wonderful."
Lin Yao had actually been considering hiring help for some time. Juggling multiple roles alone, with many more dishes she wanted to create, even with extraordinary abilities, it was hard to manage everything. However, hiring someone meant paying wages, and given their current financial situation, affording such an expense was difficult. Taking an apprentice, on the other hand, was different. Apprentices would be more dedicated to learning and reliable in their work, and the cost would be much lower than hiring help. Thinking this way, taking an apprentice seemed like the perfect solution for now.
Lin Yao didn't consider herself a selfless saint. She was grateful for the help she had received but never let emotions cloud her judgment.
The matter of taking an apprentice could be significant or trivial, but she only cared about character and ability. Someone with poor character might scheme against her after learning her skills, and she feared that. As for those with weak abilities and no foundation, she was too busy with the stall's daily operations to spare time teaching them from the basics.
Lin Yao trusted Wang Daye's character; what remained was to see how skilled A Yu was in the kitchen.