Shen Xihe said, “Da‑Wa truly keeps his word…”
Da‑Wa scratched the back of his head. “This is what I should do. Little Uncle, don’t praise me.”
Shen Xihe’s chest felt heavy. He nodded. “Eat.”
In the basket were two pancake rolls wrapped in oiled paper. The Shen family’s stall was close to the academy, so the rolls were still steaming hot.
Shen Xihe took a bite. The pancake skin was like the scallion flatbread he’d eaten before—crispy and soft outside, filled with baby bok choy and crumbled tofu. The skin had soaked up the juices, making it delicious. He looked down at the roll and asked, “Did your little aunt make this?”
Da‑Wa said, “No, I made it.”
Shen Xihe lowered his lashes. “…Mm. Then where is she? Is she in the county?”
Da‑Wa frowned. “Who?”
Shen Xihe pressed his brow. Who else could it be? “Your little aunt!”
“She’s at the pancake stall. It’s the first day, so she came to check.” Da‑Wa’s eyes lit up. At his age, he should already be thinking of marriage. His studies weren’t good; he had no great skills, but now he’d learned to make pancake rolls that could earn money. Perhaps before long he could marry. He imagined being like his little uncle, marrying someone who thought only of him.
Shen Xihe’s heart sank. Gu Xiao had come to the county, yet not to the academy.
“I understand.” Shen Xihe quickly finished the roll. “Go back.”
Da‑Wa carried the basket home. At the street corner, the pancake stall was surrounded by customers.
Gu Xiao truly hadn’t felt at ease. Madam Chen was at home cleaning, Madam Li was heavily pregnant, Second Brother and Da‑Wa were men—none of them knew how to sell things.
Since Gu Xiao also needed to sell fans, she had come along. Her worry wasn’t unnecessary. Second Brother had never done business before—he stood there rubbing his hands, unable to say a word. Eldest Brother just stared blankly. Madam Li stood timidly behind Gu Xiao. In the end, it was Gu Xiao who called out loudly.
One pancake roll for one coin. A thin sheet of dough, brushed with scallion oil, pressed on the pan until golden.
There was also a pot of bok choy stewed with tofu, prepared earlier. A pancake skin was spread with sauce, then filled with a big spoonful of vegetables, wrapped up plump and full.
Before Second Brother and the others even reacted, the roll had already been sold.
Gu Xiao said, “Why are you standing there? Get the oiled paper, take the money.”
Da‑Wa quickly wrapped the roll in oiled paper and pocketed the coin. The stall was open for business.
Gu Xiao made two portions, then handed the work to Madam Li. Second Brother tended the fire, Madam Li cooked the pancakes, Da‑Wa rolled them. Though clumsy at first, they soon worked smoothly.
At noon, Da‑Wa went to deliver Shen Xihe’s meal. Gu Xiao lent a hand. The stall still had plenty of customers, though the rolls were nearly sold out.
Da‑Wa squeezed in. “I’ll do it, Auntie. You take a rest.”
Gu Xiao stepped aside. Next to them was a scallion‑cake stall—plain cakes for one coin each. Pancake rolls also cost one coin, but looked bigger, so business was even better than the scallion cakes.
One pot of stewed vegetables made forty rolls. By midday, nearly all were sold.
When the last was gone, Second Brother dumped the ashes, let Madam Li and Gu Xiao sit on the cart, then pushed it home.
At home, Madam Zhou was anxious. “Look at the time—why aren’t they back yet?”
Old Master Shen smoked his pipe. “Stop pacing. Business isn’t so easy.”
Madam Zhou sat on the kang. “If it doesn’t work, we’ll think of another way. No matter what, Third Brother must study!”
Old Master Shen said nothing, took another puff. He had only a small pouch of tobacco left. After that, he would quit.
By midday, nearly the hour of Wei, there was finally noise outside the gate.
Madam Zhou’s ears pricked; she hurried out. At the door—it was Second Brother and the others. She wanted to ask but didn’t dare. Second Brother was taciturn, Madam Li didn’t know how to speak, and Da‑Wa only grinned foolishly.
Madam Zhou grew anxious, slapping her thigh. “So did you sell them or not?”
Gu Xiao said, “Mother, we sold everything. Once the food was gone, we came back.”
The words struck Madam Zhou’s mind—sold everything? Her face broke into folds of laughter. “Xiao Xiao, quickly, tell me how you sold them. Explain to me properly.” She pulled Gu Xiao into the house. Second Brother helped Madam Li down; Madam Li touched her belly. “Let’s go inside too.”
Madam Zhou walked quickly. Gu Xiao said, “Mother, our business was even better than the scallion‑cake stall. We gave Husband two rolls, ate six ourselves, and sold thirty‑two coins’ worth. The flour was from home—five coins a jin; we used less than two jin. Two blocks of tofu, one coin each. We used lard too, about six coins. We earned fourteen coins. If we’d brought more flour, we’d have earned even more.”
Each pancake roll used less dough than a scallion cake. They sold well because they looked big and tasted good.
The cabbage was home‑grown, tofu cheap. Rolled up, it looked plentiful but cost little. The flavor came first from the scallion oil on the pancake skin—lard‑fried scallion oil, rich in meat and onion aroma —and second from the sauce. The bean paste was Madam Zhou’s own, and Gu Xiao added chili oil and lard. Those two were the most expensive parts.
Madam Zhou had never bought scallion cakes, but she had seen the crowds around those stalls—quite a lot. And their business was even better. “Xiao Xiao, tomorrow we’ll make more and sell more!”
Gu Xiao said, “We definitely need to bring more. Mother, I thought about it—we’re the first to sell pancake rolls. But later, others might copy us.”
On the street, there were already several stalls selling scallion cakes. Just thinking of that, Madam Zhou’s joy vanished. She scowled. “Shameless people!”
Gu Xiao said, “Everyone wants to earn money to eat. It can’t be helped. As long as ours taste good, customers will come to us.”
Madam Zhou was silent for a while. “This looks simple. Anyone can learn.”
Second Brother and Da‑Wa could roll them—others could learn just as quickly.
Gu Xiao tugged Madam Zhou’s hand. “That’s why we must focus on flavor. Cabbage and tofu can be rolled, but so can eggs, meat—anything can be wrapped in a pancake!”
Madam Zhou had silver in hand now, so whatever Gu Xiao said, she listened. “Do as you see fit. You tell Second Brother to handle it! You’ve been running back and forth—aren’t you tired?”
Gu Xiao shook her head. “If it earns money, I’m not tired. The more we earn, the better Husband can eat, the more peacefully he can study.”
That morning, Gu Xiao had gone to the bookshop and sold two fans. She had no pigments and couldn’t always borrow Shopkeeper Zhang’s, so each fan sold for two hundred coins. She kept one hundred for herself, and had already saved one tael of silver.
Madam Zhou had spent five taels to buy Gu Xiao. The original girl had lived in the Shen household for three years. Gu Xiao needed to save seven taels. If the Shen family lived well, it would be easier for her to leave later.
Hearing this, Madam Zhou’s heart ached. “You only think of Third Brother!”
Gu Xiao smiled, dimples showing. “Not at all. I’m thinking of you, Mother.”
Madam Zhou felt comforted. She said, “All of you remember—this idea was Xiao Xiao’s. When life gets better, don’t forget her!”
Madam Li immediately said, “Mother is right. It’s thanks to Xiao Xiao.”
Madam Chen’s face was less cheerful. Eldest Brother had carpentry work, Madam Li was pregnant, and as the eldest sister‑in‑law, she had to mind the household. By rights, the money earned now should go into the family pool. But later, when the family divided, skills learned would be her own.
Madam Chen said, “Mother, why don’t I help too?”
“You go, then who will do the housework? You expect me, an old woman, to do it all?” Madam Zhou scolded her.
Madam Chen gave an awkward smile. “I’m just anxious. Second Brother isn’t young anymore—he should share the burden for the family.”
Madam Zhou was about to scold again, but Gu Xiao said, “Mother, Eldest Sister‑in‑law is thinking of the family too. Business is good now, but one day we might be too busy. Then we’ll surely need her help.”
Madam Zhou snorted. She knew Madam Chen’s little schemes. The only one truly devoted to the family was Xiao Xiao.
Madam Chen sighed, grateful, and looked at Gu Xiao. “I’m the eldest daughter‑in‑law. Everything must be for the family first. Serving my parents‑in‑law, I dare not slacken.”
Madam Zhou wanted to scold again, but Gu Xiao leaned close and whispered, “Mother, if business grows, maybe we’ll sell at the academy gates. With so many students, who wouldn’t want hot food? Then we might need Eldest Sister‑in‑law.”
Madam Zhou shifted uneasily on her seat. “Mm. Fine. I won’t take the money for now. Buy what needs buying. In the west room there’s paper and ink—keep the accounts. Da‑wa, come.”
Da‑wa and Er Wa had studied for three years; they could write.
Gu Xiao thought for a moment—she should keep accounts too. She only wrote a small note: five taels for her sale, two taels for three years of food and lodging, one tael and one qian saved now, six taels remaining. Once finished, she blew on the paper and tucked it under the bed.
No one would enter the west room, and Shen Xihe would never look under this bed. Gu Xiao felt secure. Shen Erlang went out to buy flour, lard, and pork, while Gu Xiao stayed inside polishing fan handles.
May was approaching. The court would begin canal works, and the rains were increasing. Gu Xiao thought of selling umbrellas.
Fans couldn’t fetch high prices, but umbrellas could be sold to young ladies of noble households—perhaps earning more silver. The bamboo she had cut wasn’t yet dry. She polished a few fan handles, then went out to teach Madam Li how to braise meat and eggs.
Second Brother had bought two jin of pork and two jin of lard. It was the first time Madam Li had seen so much meat, and she didn’t know where to begin.
The household had sugar, scallions, ginger, and garlic, but little else. Gu Xiao had to improvise. She explained step by step, while Madam Li listened carefully.
Gu Xiao said, “Once it’s done, put it in the broth to braise. If we add more meat, charge one extra coin—two pieces of meat. Add an egg, that’s another coin.”
The braised meat wasn’t meant to be eaten, but Gu Xiao secretly gave Madam Zhou a piece to taste.
Madam Zhou held Gu Xiao’s hand. “Xiao Xiao, if you miss Third Brother, go see him.”
Gu Xiao froze. “Mother, don’t worry. I will.”
Miss Shen Xihe? That stiff little scholar… she must be mad.
The next day, Second Brother set up the stall at the same spot: one pot of vegetables, one jar of braised meat, the aroma even richer. They had brought more food today, and customers never stopped coming. By noon, Da‑Wa nearly forgot about delivering the meal. “Auntie, I’m too busy here. Please take Little Uncle his food.”
Second Brother and the others had to cook themselves, so all morning Gu Xiao just handled the money and passed things along. She nodded. “Give it to me.”
In the basket were two pancake rolls—one with meat, one with egg. She went a bit late. Shen Xihe was already waiting under the tree.
Gu Xiao walked over. “Third Brother, the stall was busy. I’m a little late.”
Shen Xihe’s fingers clenched, then quickly loosened. His mind heated, and he blurted out: “Why is it you today…”
Gu Xiao drew a deep breath. Shen Xihe thought she wanted to come? “The stall is busy. Tomorrow Da‑Wa will come again. Take the rolls—I’m leaving.”
The rolls were wrapped in paper, not served in bowls. Only Da‑Wa would wait until Shen Xihe finished eating before leaving.
But hearing Gu Xiao say she was leaving, Shen Xihe froze.