The earthenware pot was sizzling hot on the clay stove. Inside, the shrimp heads had long been fried to a crisp, and glistening shrimp oil bubbled out, mingling with the aroma of minced garlic that wafted straight into one’s nostrils.
Wei Jinyun moved quickly, scooping a ladle of freshly boiled hot water and pouring it with a splash into the pot. The broth turned milky white, bubbling and rolling together with the shrimp she had just added.
She grabbed a handful of noodles and tossed them in, stirring twice with bamboo chopsticks before cracking a few eggs into the pot. The golden yolks nestled in the broth, gradually forming tender white edges.
Once the shrimp were simmered and the broth had finished rolling, she plucked a handful of washed and trimmed wormwood from the bamboo basket. The green leaves softened instantly upon contact with the hot broth.
“It smells so good.”
Wei Fuling had already moved a chair beside the clay stove, bowl in hand, her eyes fixed on the noodles rolling in the earthenware pot as if she wanted to dive right into it. “Is it ready yet? Is it ready yet?”
Wei Fuqu, standing nearby, removed her handkerchief and washed her hands, sighing repeatedly that Wei Fuling was like a newly adopted kitchen cat, as if she had never eaten noodle soup before.
The two aunties who had been sweeping and cleaning inside the house had just paused their work when they followed the enticing aroma into the courtyard.
The round-faced aunt smacked her lips. “What delicious thing have you made? The smell alone is enough to steal one’s soul.”
The other aunt laughed as she washed her hands clean. “Isn’t that the truth? Just from the aroma, you can tell it’s incredibly fresh. No wonder it’s drawn this kitchen cat over.”
Wei Jinyun responded with a smile, already scooping the noodles into porcelain bowls. The trembling eggs nestled in the broth were handed to her younger sisters.
Wei Fuling blew hard on her bowl, poked the wobbly egg with her chopsticks, stirred it around, and then brought it to her mouth. She always liked letting the half-cooked egg yolk flow into the noodle soup and mixing it all together before eating.
Wei Fuqu picked up a piece slowly, but after tasting it, her eyebrows lifted slightly.
The smooth noodles slid into her mouth, tender yet chewy, each strand soaked in the flavor of the broth.
Biting into the egg nestled at the bottom of the bowl, the yolk mixed with the soup, its creamy richness wrapped in the freshness of the shrimp, flowing warmly down her throat.
The wormwood was perfectly blanched, crisp and tender with a hint of sweetness, crunching softly with each bite.
“It’s quite tasty.”
She lowered her head and spoke softly.
“Sister Qu is always so awkward with her words.”
Wei Fuling lifted her face, flushed and sweaty from eating. “If you want to praise our sister, just say it properly… I wouldn’t trade the noodle soup our sister made for any divine delicacy. That’s how you should praise her.”
“You’re the one who’s good with words.”
The two sisters bickered back and forth, their banter making everyone laugh.
The two aunties, who had been sweeping and cleaning for so long, rarely had their employers invite them to eat together. Usually, their portions were set aside separately, and they ate on their own.
Now, chatting idly with Wei Jinyun and the others, and teasing the two little girls who looked identical but had such different personalities, they found today’s work rather enjoyable.
The two younger sisters buried their heads in their noodles, their faces flushed red from the hot soup.
Seizing the opportunity during the conversation, Wei Jinyun smiled and inquired, “I happen to have something to ask you, aunties. In our Pingjiang Fu, where is the best place to buy things like pots, bowls, ladles, sewing supplies, and fabrics? We’ve just settled in and don’t even have a bed yet. We should really get some things.”
The round-faced auntie slurped her noodles noisily and replied, "If you ask me, don't go get fleeced at the shops in front of Tianqing Temple or along Shantang. Head to the Caoshi outside the city—guaranteed to be cheaper. Take Louhe Market, for example. Folks from nearby villages bring their unused items to sell there. Bamboo baskets, clay bowls—all priced fairly, not like the city shops that always tack on a few extra coins."
Another woman chimed in, "That's right! The Caoshi near Chang Gate has even more variety—fabrics, hemp thread, iron pots… even thimbles for needlework. Most of the stallholders are small-time vendors. If you ask a few more questions and bargain a bit, they'll usually sell. The other day, I bought a new clay pot there for two coins less than in the city. It stews food wonderfully—never leaks or burns the bottom."
Wei Jinyun nodded repeatedly and asked further, "What's the best time to go to the Caoshi?"
"Go early!"
Both aunties answered in unison. "The market opens before dawn and is liveliest before the sun rises. The goods are fresher too. If you go late, all the good stuff will be picked over! With your bargaining skills, Miss Wei, you're sure to get the best goods for the fairest price."
The round-faced auntie finished her noodles and even drank two bowls of the broth.
The broth, simmered with shrimp heads, was so savory it made one's tongue tingle. Paired with the refreshing taste of mugwort, it wasn't greasy at all—just a clear, bright deliciousness that rivaled any noodle shop in town.
Wei Fuling mumbled through a mouthful of noodles, "If we buy new bowls, Sister can make us noodle soup every day."
Wang Qiulan, seeing her round belly, quickly grabbed her hand as she reached for more noodles. "If you eat any more, you won't be able to sleep tonight."
This little one, provoked by Wei Fuqu, was determined to stuff herself today. If not watched, she might end up with indigestion.
After the hot noodle soup, the aunties felt warmth in their stomachs and worked with even more vigor. They swept and cleaned the shop inside and out, almost completely wiping away the mold stains on the walls.
This was even more effective than some modern cleaning agents. Wei Jinyun wanted to ask about the recipe in their basin but got nowhere.
The aunties joked with her that it was a secret recipe. If she really wanted some, they could mix a batch just for her.
After another hour of work, Wei Jinyun paid them their wages, concluding the day's sweeping and cleaning. But looking at the empty shop, the four of them—grandmother and grandchildren—could only laugh helplessly.
The moldy cabinets were completely unusable. The few benches they managed to salvage creaked and groaned, threatening to collapse at any moment and send someone tumbling.
Their belongings weren't many, and they had brought the few cotton quilts they owned. With no beds in sight, they pushed the benches together, spread the quilts on top, and made a makeshift bed.
This 'pieced-together bed' was hard and uncomfortable. Whenever Wei Jinyun turned over, the wooden benches would wobble back and forth. Wang Qiulan used a Palm fan to swat mosquitoes away from the two sisters while humming a few lullabies.
When she was little, her grandparents had done the same for her.
Perhaps most children in the Jiangsu-Zhejiang region grew up this way, unchanged since ancient times.
She had about fifteen strings of coins left. She needed to visit the Caoshi early tomorrow morning and then figure out how to spend the money more wisely.
Raindrops began to fall again at night. The small latticed windows at home were left open to air out the long-uninhabited rooms.
She had already placed a wooden basin under the leak in the house so the rainwater wouldn't spread everywhere.
Raindrops fell into the wooden basin, "drip-drip-drip." Wei Jinyun was calculating finances in her mind, but as she was truly exhausted today, she drifted off to sleep while thinking.
Thus, the first night in Pingjiang Fu slowly passed.
As soon as the sky showed the faintest hint of light, Wei Jinyun rose early. Her younger sister and grandmother were still asleep, so she carefully tucked in their blankets.
Being newcomers, it was only natural they wouldn’t adjust easily, and how could they be accustomed to sleeping on wooden benches? Throughout the night, she kept hearing the sounds of them tossing and turning.
Today, she had to buy beds first. Otherwise, with her grandmother’s age, how could her back endure such strain?
Wei Jinyun carried the newly bought wooden basin to the courtyard and washed her face with some leftover water from the day before.
She brushed her teeth while carefully examining the well. The continuous rain had caused the water level to rise to the edge, so she could reach it with her hand.
Although the top layer of water was clear, since the well hadn’t been used for decades, she figured there must be a lot of silt accumulated at the bottom. She would need to hire someone specialized to go down and clear the debris, unclog the gaps between the well walls, and repeatedly draw water to drain the murky water before it could be used again.
She spat out the poria cocos water and slapped her forehead—another labor expense to pay.
After finishing her morning routine, Wei Jinyun pushed the main door open ever so gently.
The front door of their house also needed proper repairs. The lock inside was worn out, so she had to tiptoe out; otherwise, the door would let out a loud "moo," and without needing a rooster at home, it would wake her two younger sisters.
Liji Cooked Food Shop had already opened early. The brick-and-mud stove in the shop had begun braising poultry, filling the air with a mouthwatering aroma.
When Wei Jinyun stepped out, Meng Ge'er, finding it too hot inside, had moved a small stool to the doorway to eat his porridge.
He was enjoying his breakfast thoroughly—plain congee topped with pickled tender ginger shoots, salted small cucumber strips, and glistening braised goose skin, nothing skimpy.
As he chewed happily, he spotted Wei Jinyun and grinned, greeting her, "Good morning, sister."
The curtain of the Wenfang Sibao Shop on the left was lifted, and out walked a handsome young man adjusting his collar.
His hair was neatly tied back, and he wore a moon-white robe with ink-bamboo embroidery along the collar and cuffs. A small green jade pendant hung from his waist.
Zhang Renbai had originally intended to buy books, but when he looked up, he happened to see the shop next door, which had been closed all along, now open. A young woman dressed in green was quietly pushing the door open.
The morning light fell on her temples as she cautiously hunched her back, carrying a basket on her back, slowly squeezing through the door crack as if she were up to something mischievous.
Her behavior was genuinely somewhat adorable.
Zhang Renbai watched for a moment. After she exchanged greetings with Meng Ge'er from Liji Cooked Food Shop, she turned around and met his gaze directly, nodding with a faint smile.
A faint blush first crept up from behind his ears, spreading quietly across his cheeks. He hurriedly lowered his head and walked past.
"Is Brother Renbai feeling so hot?"
After taking a few sips of porridge, Meng Ge'er noticed Zhang Renbai’s face tinged with pink. He handed him a palm fan and said, "Take this and fan Brother Renbai to cool him down."
Wei Jinyun didn’t pay much attention to this person, noting from his attire that he seemed like a scholar. Once she finished shopping today and tidied up the shop, she would deal with the neighborhood relationships.
The Caoshi near Chang Gate was even livelier than when she had arrived yesterday.
Early in the morning, the breakfast stalls were the noisiest. Steam rose from steamed cakes and shaomai in the steamers, while the sizzle of pan-fried buns echoed as vendors sprinkled them with sesame seeds and scallions. Soy milk sellers carried their buckets on shoulder poles, calling out, "Two coins a bowl!"
Wei Jinyun ordered a basket of meat shaomai and drank a bowl of sweet soy milk, sitting by the river to eat alongside most of the other customers.
The stalls here were packed tightly together, leaving no room for tables and chairs. Diners either squatted or sat wherever they could find a spot—just securing a place was already a feat.
The freshly steamed meat shaomai had wrappers as thin as cicada wings, pinched into a gathered floral shape. The steamed dough was translucent and glossy, faintly revealing the filling inside. Lifting one gently, it wobbled slightly from its plumpness.
With a single bite, the savory aroma of meat juices spread across the tongue, mingling with crisp bamboo shoot cubes—fresh and not at all greasy.
Wei Jinyun ate swiftly, finishing the entire basket in no time, then downing the sweet, hot soy milk in one go.
Ah, satisfying—this was exactly that fresh, delicious flavor!
After her meal, she planned to do some shopping and pack breakfast to bring back for her grandmother and younger sisters.
Just a few steps away were various stalls. Wei Jinyun rolled up her sleeves—now that she was full, she had the energy to get to work and start haggling.
"No, no, young lady, you’re cutting the price way too harshly! This iron skillet of mine doesn’t stick when frying fish and won’t burn when stewing meat. Selling it to you for three hundred wen, I’m already taking a loss!"
"Two hundred and twenty wen. If you sell, I’ll take it. If not, I’ll look elsewhere. I just saw that ironware shop over there—seems livelier than yours."
"Two hundred and eighty wen!"
"Two hundred and forty wen, and throw in a spatula."
"Two hundred and fifty wen!"
"I’m leaving now."
"Fine, fine, fine! You know your stuff—I’ll sell at a loss! But don’t pick too big a spatula!"
Lu Lan started his duties very early and rarely ate at home, often coming to Chang Gate Caoshi to buy breakfast.
He had just bought a few crabapple cakes from Granny Cen when he heard a nearby vendor shouting hoarsely, "Fine, fine, fine…"
A small crowd had gathered, and the voice sounded so distressed that he thought something serious had happened.
Before he could approach, an even louder voice than the vendor’s cried out, "Deal!"
Amid the crowd, a slender figure in blue stood out—how could such a loud voice come from her? It was louder than when he shouted catching thieves.
And she looked somewhat familiar.
Author's Note:
[Poor thing] Meat shaomai is really delicious [cat paw]