In the afternoon, Sheng An continued preparing for her first stall setup tomorrow morning.
She thoroughly washed the purchased bowls, spoons, and kitchen utensils, boiling water to completely soak them for sterilization.
Then she cleaned the pork bones, chopped them into small pieces with an axe, and simmered them in two pots of cold water.
In less than half an hour, the aroma of meat filled the entire courtyard.
After simmering for another half hour, Sheng An promptly removed them from heat.
Once the two pots of bone soup cooled, she transferred both soup and bones into clean wooden buckets, covered them, and placed them in a shady corner.
In the evening, Sheng An made hand-pulled noodles, using the bone soup as base to cook a pot of fragrant noodle soup.
Paired with a plate of refreshing spicy and sour cucumber strips, the family of three ate with great satisfaction.
Knowing his daughter-in-law planned to set up a wonton stall to earn money, Xu Chenglin felt deeply guilty:
“Good child, the Xu Family has burdened you, making you manage the household livelihood so soon after marrying in.”
Sheng An quickly shook her head: “Father, you exaggerate. I’m also part of the Xu Family, it’s only right I contribute.”
Her original purpose for setting up the stall was entirely to secure a better life for herself, while incidentally preparing for her Sheng family parents’ retirement.
Even without her, the Xu father and son could manage their lives.
“Sigh, we’ve still made you endure hardship after all.”
Xu Chenglin patted his legs, then clenched his hands, his face showing a glimmer of hope:
“My health has improved these past couple days. If this continues, I might walk again someday. When that time comes, I’ll assist you.”
Hearing this, Sheng An immediately smiled: “Wonderful! With Father’s help, we’ll surely earn more money.”
Xu Chenglin also laughed, instructing his son: “Don’t sleep in tomorrow morning, lend your Niangzi a hand too.”
Xu Jinnian sighed helplessly: “Father, when has your son ever slept in?”
Since beginning his studies, he had never overslept once.
Only during these newlywed days, concerned about disturbing his Niangzi, had he delayed his waking time.
Xu Chenglin laughed heartily: “As long as you’re aware. Just remember to be considerate of your wife – her marriage into our family hasn’t been easy.”
If they couldn’t provide her with fine clothes and food, at least they shouldn’t make her bear all household burdens alone.
He wasn’t like that old woman from the Sun family, who took pleasure in tormenting her daughter-in-law.
After working busily all day, Sheng An went to bed right after bathing.
Before returning to her room, she specifically went to the study to remind Xu Jinnian:
“I’m bad at estimating time, remember to wake me tomorrow morning.”
Though the soup base was ready, she needed to rise early to knead dough and roll wrappers, and the wonton filling had to be freshly prepared.
The next day, Xu Jinnian woke after the rooster crowed twice.
Hearing the steady breathing beside him, he hesitated uncharacteristically before gently pushing Sheng An: “Niangzi, time to get up.”
Only after calling three or four times did Sheng An slowly awaken.
Though her eyes opened, her mind remained foggy. Instinctively rolling over, she directly tumbled into the man’s embrace: “So sleepy~”
Catching her completely in his arms, Xu Jinnian felt how slender and petite she was. His raised hands stiffened slightly, and after a moment he softly suggested: “Shall we set up stall tomorrow instead?”
Hearing “set up stall,” Sheng An’s mind instantly cleared: “No way!”
As if injected with adrenaline, she sprang up like a carp leaping from water: “We can sleep when we’re dead! Money must be earned immediately!”
Sheng An moved with whirlwind speed, dressing and styling her hair in mere moments as if she’d grown three extra hands.
Only when the room fell completely silent did Xu Jinnian finally collect his thoughts.
Shaking his head with a mix of amusement and resignation, he also threw off the covers and began to dress.
Sheng An kneaded the dough and rolled out the wrappers, while Xu Jinnian stoked the stove to brew medicine for Xu Chenglin.
Each was busy with their own tasks, neither getting in the other’s way.
Then the courtyard gate knocked, and Zhang Da Kui, the eldest cousin from the Zhang Family, arrived with the morning dew, delivering freshly slaughtered pork.
Zhang Da Kui was sturdy and brawny, only seventeen this year but already a seasoned butcher of three years, his father Butcher Zhang’s most reliable helper.
Somewhat shy by nature, he grinned bashfully at Sheng An bustling in the kitchen and handed over the pork from his basket:
“Sister-in-law, this is the front leg meat you asked for, nine parts lean to one part fat, just as you said. Will this work?”
Sheng An took the basket and glanced casually, smiling her thanks to Zhang Da Kui: “This is exactly what I needed. Thank you, Cousin Da Kui. I appreciate you making the trip.”
Zhang Da Kui flushed and waved his hands: “No trouble at all, no trouble. From now on, I’ll bring fresh pork to you every morning, and I’ll save the pork bones for you too.”
His parents had reminded him: it wasn’t safe for his sister-in-law, a woman, to cross several streets before dawn every day to fetch pork from their home.
He, on the other hand, was a man who’d been butchering for three years—if he roamed outside late at night, it was others who ought to be scared.
In a hurry to get back and handle the next pig, Zhang Da Kui rushed off without even a sip of water.
Sheng An couldn’t help remarking to Xu Jinnian with feeling, “Auntie’s family is so good to us.”
Though she hadn’t met her Zhang uncle-in-law or the other two cousins, judging by this eldest cousin’s attitude, she could tell the father and his sons were easy to get along with.
Hearing his wife’s approval of his aunt’s family, a touch of nostalgia surfaced on Xu Jinnian’s face:
“Uncle and his family are all very kind. When I was little and Father occasionally went on long trips, he’d send me to Auntie’s house. Uncle treated me just like his own three sons.”
As a boy, he hadn’t been exactly well-behaved, often joining his three cousins in mischief around the neighborhood.
Whenever aggrieved neighbors came knocking, Uncle would scold all four of them with a stern face.
He never exempted Xu Jinnian from punishment just because he was a guest.
This impartiality, seemingly strict, was in fact a form of care—teaching him as his own, fearing that lack of discipline might lead him to grave mistakes in the future.
For their first day vending, unsure of the customer flow, Sheng An prepared only about five hundred wonton wrappers.
Zhang Da Kui had brought four jin of pork, and with Xu Jinnian’s help, Sheng An quickly prepared a full basin of finely minced filling.
By the time they finished, the horizon was tinged with the light of dawn.
After loading the stove, large pot, firewood, and all other items onto the pushcart, Sheng An felt something was still missing.
Circling the cart twice, she suddenly smacked her forehead: “We’re still short a table and stools!”
Hearing this, Xu Jinnian dug out a small square table and four little stools from the storage room.
Sheng An was overjoyed: “So we had them at home all along!”
Xu Jinnian nodded: “Glad they’re useful.”
With that, he fetched a cloth to wipe the dust off the table and stools.
When Xu Jinnian was small, his legs too short to reach the dining table, Xu Chenglin had specially hired a carpenter to make him this set of child-sized table and stools.
Once Xu Jinnian grew tall enough for the regular table, the small set was stored away in the storage room, saved for future grandchildren.
Who would have thought that before any grandchildren were even on the horizon, they’d found a new purpose.
Pushing the fully loaded cart to the market and finding a suitable spot to sell wontons, the sun was already peeking over the horizon, and the streets were gradually coming to life.
Xu Jinnian lit the stove and poured yesterday’s Bone Soup into the pot. He wanted to stay and help, but Sheng An waved him away:
“Didn’t you say you need to go study at the teacher’s place during the holiday? I can manage by myself. If it really becomes too much, I’ll ask for help. You should go back without worry.”
Xu Jinnian wasn’t entirely reassured and could only remind her: “Your uncle’s stall isn’t far away. If anything comes up, go ask them for help.”
He looked back every few steps until Sheng An’s figure completely disappeared into the bustling crowd, then he left with lingering concern.