With just one sip, Old Village Chief’s cloudy eyes suddenly lit up: “This porridge tastes different, doesn’t it? Once it goes down, my whole body feels warm.”
Old Village Chief held the bowl, taking one mouthful after another, and before long, he had finished the entire bowl of yam and millet porridge.
His hearty appetite left his sons and grandsons staring in astonishment.
Su Zhen also smiled. Of course, this bowl of millet porridge was different—she had a Golden Finger, after all. The Medicinal Cuisine she made by hand not only tasted better but was also ten times more effective. Old Village Chief only needed to eat one bowl for his stomachache to disappear immediately and his appetite to return.
With his stomach feeling comfortable, Old Village Chief was in a better mood.
He stroked his graying beard and told his eldest son to pack half a bag of cornmeal: “Girl, Grandpa won’t eat your porridge for nothing. Take this cornmeal back with you. You’ve just split from the family, and times are tough right now. Grandpa will help however he can.”
Su Zhen hadn’t come to ask for food and refused adamantly: “Village Chief Grandpa, with our whole family, relying on your help isn’t a long-term solution. To be honest, I want to try my luck in the city. You see, my cooking is passable—what if I get lucky and some restaurant takes a liking to me?”
Though Old Village Chief was old, he wasn’t muddle-headed and immediately understood what she meant: “Girl, while there are more opportunities in the city, money isn’t easy to come by. If you really want to give it a try, Grandpa happens to know an old friend. Whether you succeed or not will depend on your own luck.”
Su Zhen thanked him repeatedly. After much back-and-forth with Su Changgen, she still didn’t take the half bag of cornmeal. Instead, she asked for a piece of dried tangerine peel that the village chief’s wife had sun-dried on the windowsill.
Su Changgen placed the cornmeal by his feet, grinning as he looked at his father’s ruddy complexion: “Dad, is Su Zhen’s cooking really that good? Your stomach really doesn’t hurt at all? Even the medicine the doctor prescribed wasn’t this effective.”
Old Village Chief patted his stomach, his lips moving slightly as if savoring the aroma of the yam and millet porridge: “That girl is bold, daring, and decisive. The Su family will regret driving them out sooner or later!”
Meanwhile, Su Zhen and her brother didn’t head straight home but turned toward the back mountain instead.
The village children often went up the mountain to pick mushrooms and gather firewood. Su Zhen clearly remembered that there were several wild hawthorn trees on the mountain. Although this year’s fresh hawthorns hadn’t grown yet, the dried ones she could pick up from the ground would be enough.
Her younger brother, Su Anyu, wasn’t idle either. Despite being thin and wiry, he had some strength in him. He broke branches and bundled firewood, enough to last their family for three days of cooking.
As the siblings walked home together, Su Anyu couldn’t hold back his question any longer: “Sis, are you really going to the city to sell millet porridge? Will city folks even look twice at something like that?”
Even though the yam and millet porridge his sister made was indeed fragrant, could it compare to meat? City folks had eaten everything—would they really spend money just to buy porridge?
Su Zhen held a bowl filled with dried hawthorns and helped her brother adjust the bundle of firewood on his back: “Don’t worry, Sis’s porridge will definitely sell. But for this first trip to the city, I’m not selling porridge. I need to earn some quick money first.”
Su Anyu’s curiosity was piqued, but his sister refused to say another word, leaving him utterly frustrated. After much pestering, he finally managed to get her to agree to take him along to the city.
It was still early in the day, and if they hurried, they should be able to reach the city before lunchtime.
Su Zhen returned home and immediately got busy. After washing the hawthorn berries clean and removing the pits, she tossed them into a pot along with dried tangerine peel to boil.
There was no rock sugar at home, but Su Zhen wasn’t worried. She had already planned everything out in her mind, rehearsing what to say and do in town many times over.
Once the hawthorn and tangerine peel water was ready, Su Zhen carefully ladled it into a clean jar, packed it into a basket, and set off for town with Su Anyu.
There was an oxcart from Su Family Village to Ping’an Town, costing one copper coin per person. The siblings didn’t have a single coin between them, so they had to walk. Even if they had money, they would have been reluctant to spend it on the ride.
After more than half a shichen, the siblings finally entered Ping’an Town.
The town was bustling, with both sides of the street packed with vendors. Some sold chickens and ducks they had raised themselves, others sold vegetables they had grown, and hunters hawked various wild game.
This was actually Su Zhen’s first time in town, and everything seemed new to her. Her big eyes darted back and forth curiously.
Su Anyu, on the other hand, remained much calmer, staying close behind his sister to protect the jar of soup in the basket, afraid someone might bump into it and spill it.
Su Zhen didn’t forget their purpose, though. While taking in the lively scene, she sweetly asked for directions: “Auntie, is the restaurant called Yingkelai this way? Thank you, Auntie! With such a kind heart, you’re sure to make a fortune!”
The siblings asked their way along and finally arrived at the entrance of Yingkelai.
Looking up at the three-story, luxuriously decorated Yingkelai, Su Anyu swallowed nervously. “Sister, is Steward Lin that Old Village Chief mentioned really from this restaurant? Will they even let us in?”
Su Zhen hadn’t expected Old Village Chief to have such good connections either. Judging by Yingkelai’s decor and customer flow, it was practically a modern five-star hotel. Could ordinary people even enter?
Still, they had to try. After all, they were already here!
Su Zhen straightened her clothes and led her brother inside.
As soon as they stepped onto the stairs, they were stopped by a young waiter, his tone dripping with disdain. “What are you two doing here? If you’re selling farm goods, go to the west side of town. Our restaurant doesn’t buy that stuff!”
Su Zhen’s basket did indeed contain a jar, and their clothes were patched and worn. Though their hair was neatly combed, the ends were dry, yellow, and split—clear signs they were poor village children.
Su Anyu, only twelve years old and hot-tempered by nature, flared up immediately at the waiter’s mockery. “Who do you think you’re looking down on? You’re just a waiter—what’s there to be proud of?”
“Are you trying to cause trouble?”
The doorman of this five-star hotel wasn’t to be trifled with either. The waiter immediately signaled to the bouncers waiting by the entrance.
Seeing the situation turning sour, Su Zhen quickly spoke up. “We’re not here to cause trouble. We have business with Steward Lin.”
The waiter looked them up and down, unconvinced that Steward Lin would know such poor children. “Steward Lin knows you? Don’t tell me you’re just making up lies to fool people!”
Su Zhen was here to earn money, but this waiter was being unreasonable, so there was no need to be polite with him.
She glanced at the crowded dining hall full of customers and replied with a laugh that carried a hint of threat. “I’ve heard Yingkelai is the largest restaurant in Ping’an Town. Since you’re open for business, there’s no reason to drive customers away, right? If some commotion were to happen at the entrance and ruin the guests’ dining mood, do you think the manager would drive you out too?”
Such a good job, the young assistant certainly didn’t want to be driven away. He snorted and actually went into the shop to find Steward Lin.
Not long after, a tall and thin middle-aged man walked out, looking at Su Zhen and the other person with surprise. “You’re looking for me?”
Su Zhen had thought that Old Village Chief’s friend would also be an elderly person, but she hadn’t expected him to be so young, and she couldn’t help but feel puzzled.
Fortunately, after they mentioned Old Village Chief’s name and their purpose, Steward Lin readily took the two of them to find the shopkeeper.