“Breakfast?” A steady, low male voice sounded, with a trace of confusion that Yun Yin could clearly hear.
Yun Yin gave a light cough. “Sorry, I didn’t explain clearly. I’ve set up a food stall nearby. I happened to run into you, so I came to ask whether you’d like something to eat.”
The man glanced in the direction she pointed, raising his brows slightly. “You know martial arts, miss? Why would you set up a food stall here?”
He still looked wary. Yun Yin replied helplessly, “I know a bit of self-defense. As for the stall, of course it’s to make a living.”
The man said nothing, but she could tell from his eyes that he didn’t believe her. She glanced at the dozen or so people in his group—such good business, likely lost. This man was far too cautious.
Shrugging, Yun Yin said, “Well then, if you want breakfast, you can come to Yun Ji Eatery. We have plain noodles and scallion oil mixed noodles.”
Before the man could respond, someone behind him ran forward, sniffing the air. “Boss, why don’t we eat here before we go? I smell bone broth!”
The man shot him a glance, then looked back at Yun Yin, who stood alone. “Only your nose is that sharp. Fine—everyone’s worked hard. Let’s eat before we leave.”
Seeing they had agreed, Yun Yin beamed and led them to the stall, explaining as she walked, “We just opened, so we don’t have many options yet—only noodles for now.”
“Would you like plain noodles or scallion oil noodles?”
The man arranged for some to watch the goods and horses, then brought the rest to sit. Looking at the pot of bubbling bone broth, he said after a moment’s thought, “Give each of us a bowl of both.”
Yun Yin nodded and called Zhang Lin to attend to the guests while she washed her hands and began pulling and cooking the noodles.
Her movements were swift and practiced. In no time, she had stretched several large portions of dough and tossed them into the pot. As the noodles neared doneness, she added cold water, waited for it to boil again, then scooped them into bowls, added a spoonful of scallion oil, and sprinkled chopped scallions on top.
Zhang Lin quickly served the mixed noodles. “Gentlemen, please enjoy the mixed noodles first. The plain noodles will be ready shortly.”
“Oh, and would you like eggs in your plain noodles? It’s two extra wen per egg.”
Fu Wang took a bite of the scallion oil noodles. The simple yet delicious taste instantly whetted his appetite. Hearing the question, he nodded. “Two eggs in every bowl.”
Yun Yin moved quickly, finishing the mixed noodles, then brought out another pot. While frying eggs, she cooked the plain noodles. By the time they were ready, each bowl held two golden eggs.
Only after everyone had begun eating did Yun Yin sit down briefly to rest.
From her seat by the stove, she observed the group of armed travelers, wondering where they came from and what they did.
“May I ask your name, sir?”
After the man finished eating, Yun Yin stood and poured him a cup of water.
He accepted it, sniffed lightly, took a sip, and said, “My name is Fu Wang. And yours, miss?”
Yun Yin smiled. “I’m Yun Yin. I hope you won’t laugh—I noticed your bearing was different from ordinary merchants, so I overreacted a bit.”
Fu Wang studied her for a moment. “Not at all. I was overly cautious.”
“Still, it’s good for you to be careful. We heard there are bandits in the area. Seeing you alone by the roadside, I worried it might be a trap.”
He glanced around the simple stall. “But why choose to set up here? With your skills, you’d do better in the county or prefectural city.”
Yun Yin shook her head. “It’s not bad here—backed by mountains and water, no worry about food. And it’s near the main road, so passing merchants can provide some income.”
Fu Wang looked at her meaningfully. “I think you understand what I mean.”
Yun Yin pretended not to and changed the subject. “You don’t seem like merchants. What do you do?”
She added quickly, “Of course, if it’s inconvenient to say, you don’t have to answer. I’m just curious.”
Fu Wang shook his head. “It’s nothing secret. My brothers and I are escorts—bodyguards for transport. We’re just passing through.”
Realization dawned on Yun Yin. No wonder they felt different—there was a sharp, soldier-like aura about them.
She didn’t blame herself for being wary earlier.
Fu Wang set down his cup. “Miss Yun, even if you know some martial arts, you should still be careful. Bandits have recently appeared on the road to Long’an County. I only found out after rescuing a merchant caravan not long ago.”
Yun Yin frowned. “But we’ve seen caravans passing by these days. No one mentioned it.”
Fu Wang sighed. “That’s because you don’t know—there used to be many caravans daily. But how many do you see now?”
“Those bandits carry blades—military-grade, different from ours. There’s little population around here, and you’re only two people. Be extra cautious.”
Yun Yin nodded. “Thank you for the warning. I’ll be careful.”
Seeing they were about to leave, she called out, “Mr. Fu, if you still have a long journey ahead, why not take some of my mushroom sauce? It goes well with dry rations.”
Fu Wang paused, meeting her hopeful gaze. After a moment, he sat back down. “In that case, I’ll give it a try.”
Yun Yin quickly brought out two dishes of sauce—one vegetarian, one with meat—and handed him chopsticks.
He sniffed the aroma, noticing it was unlike the bean paste he’d had before. After tasting it, he called the others over. Seeing their approval, he nodded. “The flavor is indeed good. What’s the price?”
Before Yun Yin could answer, the sharp-nosed man said, “Boss, buy more! I’m sick of dry rations.”
“Today’s noodles were great, but I thought we wouldn’t get food like that again. With this sauce, the road won’t be so miserable.”
Fu Wang shot him a look. “Wang Shitou, have I treated you poorly?”
“Not at all, boss—but being on the road so long, our mouths are tasteless. I’m just thinking of the brothers!”
Yun Yin couldn’t help but smile at their banter.
Noticing, Fu Wang coughed lightly. “Miss Yun, please prepare thirty jars for us.”
“Vegetarian sauce sells for sixty wen, meat sauce for eighty. But since you’re buying in bulk, I’ll give you a ten-wen discount per jar. Which would you like?”
“We’ll take the meat sauce,” Fu Wang replied, stepping forward to help carry them. “They’re all meat lovers.”
Yun Yin nodded. “Please rest—I’ll have Zhang Lin help.”
Zhang Lin hurried over. “Let me handle that, sir—you’re our guest.”
Soon, thirty jars were laid out.
“Thirty jars total—two thousand four hundred wen,” Yun Yin said.
Fu Wang nodded. “I only have silver. Is that okay?”
She accepted it, asking, “Is this official silver?”
“It is,” he explained. “It’s easiest to use on the road. Other silver might be adulterated.”
Yun Yin fetched his change. “Thank you for your patronage. Please come again—next time, we’ll have more dishes.”
Wang Shitou returned just in time to hear this. “Great! We’ll definitely stop by again if we pass through!”
“Too bad we have to hurry today, or we could try that pickled fish the young man mentioned.”
Fu Wang glared at him, then nodded to Yun Yin. “Farewell.”
“Safe travels,” she replied with a smile.
After seeing them off, Yun Yin sat down to count the day’s earnings.
The mushroom sauce brought in 2,400 wen, with a profit of about 900. The noodles, though cheaper, earned just over 300.
Relying on noodles alone wouldn’t bring in ten guan anytime soon. Thankfully, the mushroom sauce sold well. But since it wasn’t mushroom season, she would have to keep buying dried mushrooms from villagers.
She wondered if straw mushrooms could be cultivated—then she wouldn’t have to worry about supply. Thinking of the farming manual she had hidden, she considered looking it up.