Shen Qingyin was curious and asked, “Do you know the man next door?”
Lu Jinyou shook his head. “Not really. I only heard that his name is Zhou Sheng. He joined the army when I was two.”
“But my elder brother grew up with him. My elder brother mentioned him before and said that he did not talk much, had a lot of strength, and used to help our family carry water. He is a good person.”
Shen Qingyin found it amusing. “Even your elder brother says he is a good person, so why do you still want to avoid him?”
Lu Jinyou immediately put on the serious expression of a little adult and said, “I have never truly known him myself. Besides, ten years have passed. Even a good person can become a bad person, so being cautious is simply a way of preventing trouble before it happens.”
Shen Qingyin nodded and smiled. “Got it.”
He really was a little adult with a mind of his own.
As the sun set, an oil lamp was lit inside the house.
After wiping herself down, Shen Qingyin went to the kitchen to simmer the bone broth.
While the broth was cooking, Lu Jinyou walked to the kitchen doorway and asked, “Sister in law, why are you making bone broth so late? Don’t people usually start simmering it around the fourth or fifth watch?”
Shen Qingyin replied, “I was thinking that we don’t have many customers because the soup base and toppings aren’t good enough, so I thought I would try improving them.”
“In the words you scholars use, it’s called something like being too… what’s the word?”
Lu Jinyou answered, “Sticking to old ways.”
“Right, right, that’s the word. Your elder brother taught me a few characters before, but I just can’t seem to remember them. When you have time, teach me some too. Otherwise, once you pass the provincial examination and become a successful scholar, people will say that your sister in law is an ignorant woman who cannot even read.”
Lu Jinyou immediately became unhappy when he heard this. “Who would dare say anything bad about you behind your back? I would cut off all contact with that person!”
Shen Qingyin looked at him and smiled.
At least Shen Yingniang’s efforts had not been wasted.
Lu Jinyou continued, “Whenever you want to study, I have time.”
“There’s no need to rush. Just teach me a few characters every day.”
Upon hearing this, Lu Jinyou immediately ran back to get his books.
To make sure that her ability to read later would not seem strange, Shen Qingyin stumbled through recognizing a few characters as well.
“Sister in law, go rest. I’ll watch the fire. I can also study by the light of the fire while I’m here.”
Shen Qingyin did not really approve of reading under such dim light because it was bad for the eyes. But then she thought about how everyone in this era had to work hard to gain scholarly honors.
If you did not work hard, there were plenty of others who would.
The advice on the tip of Shen Qingyin’s tongue was ultimately swallowed back. Instead, she returned to the main room, brought out another oil lamp, lit it, and placed it on the stove.
Lu Jinyou hurriedly said, “Sister in law, the firelight is enough. There’s no need to waste lamp oil.”
“Leave it lit. It’s too dark, and that isn’t good for your eyes. You still have to take the examinations in the future, so you cannot ruin your eyesight.”
“Once this soup comes to a boil, it needs to simmer over low heat for an hour. If you get tired, call me.”
Lu Jinyou replied, “Sister in law, go rest. I usually study until the tenth watch anyway, and it isn’t even close to the tenth watch yet.”
Hearing him say this, Shen Qingyin did not intend to disrupt his routine.
She simply reminded him that even when the time came, he did not need to put out the fire. He could leave the embers burning to keep the bone broth warm.
Shen Qingyin left the kitchen and washed her hands outside in the courtyard. She glanced toward the neighboring courtyard and saw that there was still a light on in the bodhisattva like man’s courtyard. He had not gone to sleep either.
Shen Qingyin withdrew her gaze and made her way back into the house through the darkness.
In ancient times, without money, there was no entertainment at all. Once night fell, there was nothing to do except go to bed.
Shen Qingyin tossed and turned in bed for a long time before finally managing to fall asleep.
The sky was not yet bright when the rooster crowed and Shen Qingyin woke up.
She got out of bed, lit the oil lamp, washed and tidied herself, and then left the room.
While washing up, she vaguely heard some sounds coming from the neighboring house. Listening carefully, they seemed to be the sound of something being swung through the air.
Although she was curious, there was no way she would do something as improper as spying.
Before long, the oil lamp in Lu Jinyou’s room also lit up.
The child went to bed late and got up early. He really was working hard.
She had just finished washing up when Lu Jinyou also came out of his room.
“Good morning, Sister in law.”
Shen Qingyin nodded and moved aside so he could wash up.
Carrying the oil lamp, she entered the kitchen and lifted the lid to check the bone broth.
She had simmered it for an hour the previous night and then left the embers burning so it could continue cooking. The broth had turned slightly white.
It still was not thick and milky enough, but compared with the clear broth Shen Yingniang had made before, it was already much better.
She did not know how long it would take to sell all the broth, and even though the weather was still fairly cool, she was worried it might spoil. So she brought it to a boil again, since boiling it would help it keep longer.
While reheating the broth, she chopped the scallions and washed the greens.
There was a small flat cart in the courtyard that the original owner used to transport tables, chairs, pots, bowls, and other things.
She filled two wooden buckets about seven tenths full with bone broth and tied the lids firmly with rope to prevent the hot soup from splashing out and scalding anyone.
The two buckets were placed on the cart. Lu Jinyou also came over to help carry the tables and chairs onto it. Together, they secured the buckets and furniture tightly.
As the sky began to lighten, Lu Jinyou slung his school bag over his shoulder and went out to the stall with his sister in law.
Shen Qingyin pulled the cart from the front while Lu Jinyou pushed from behind.
The noodle stall was not very far from Qingshi Alley, and they arrived in less than half an hour.
The sister in law and brother in law unloaded everything from the cart and carried it to the stall.
Once the stall was set up, Shen Qingyin asked Lu Jinyou to watch it while she went to the nearby market to buy scallions and one jin of meat for the topping.
She returned quickly and immediately set up the earthen stove. She put the noodles into clear water and boiled them.
After taking them out, she sprinkled scallions over the noodles and poured hot broth directly on top.
She made two bowls of soup noodles for the two of them to eat for breakfast.
After breakfast, it was not yet time for Lu Jinyou to go to school, so he sat on a small stool nearby and studied.
More and more people appeared on the street, so Shen Qingyin began chopping meat and frying the topping.
As long as the aroma drifted out, it would attract customers.
The minced meat had only just begun frying and had not even released its fragrance when a customer appeared in front of the stall.
“Two bowls of noodles with scallion scented minced meat topping.”
The deep, cold voice sounded strangely familiar.
Shen Qingyin looked up from the topping she was frying and followed the voice. She saw a man sitting slightly sideways to her, dressed in a black round collared robe. His back was straight, both arms braced against his thighs, and he sat with the imposing posture of a crouching dragon.
Even without seeing his face, Shen Qingyin recognized the man next door from his physique and imposing presence alone.
According to what Lu Jinyou had said yesterday, his name seemed to be Zhou Sheng.
However, she had never mentioned to him that they sold noodles with scallion scented minced meat topping.
Could he have heard it yesterday?
A customer had come. Why bother thinking about anything else?
Shen Qingyin immediately responded with a bright smile. “Coming right up.
Please wait a moment.”
After thinking about it, she added, “The noodles with scallion scented minced meat topping are twelve wen per bowl.”
Zhou Sheng pressed his lips together without saying anything. He simply took out his money pouch, pulled out twenty four wen, and placed the coins on the table.
Shen Qingyin could hardly explain that she was merely telling him the price per bowl, not suggesting that he could not afford it.
But a customer had arrived, and he had ordered two bowls at once, so she immediately became busy.
The aroma gradually spread along the street. Some people followed the fragrance and sat down, but they were only willing to order one bowl of plain noodles.
Once the topping was ready, she added a little oil to the hot pan and stir fried the scallions a few times. After releasing their fragrance, she placed them over the noodles together with the minced meat topping.
Lu Jinyou wanted to come and help, but Shen Qingyin stopped him.
“Keep studying.”
Zhou Sheng glanced slightly to the side, his eyes landing on Lu Jinyou. After only two looks, he withdrew his gaze.
Shen Qingyin brought a bowl of noodles and a bowl of broth sprinkled with scallions to the man’s table and placed them in front of him.
“Please enjoy.”
After setting down the noodles, she looked up at the man.
Only when she saw him up close did she notice how high and straight his nose was and how deep his eyes were.
Such deep eyes should have been striking, yet they held almost no emotion. They were cold.
Zhou Sheng raised his eyes and met hers without any expression.
She had been caught staring at him yesterday, but Shen Qingyin was not embarrassed. She simply pretended not to recognize him and smiled.
“The noodles taste better when you mix them together. I’ll bring the other bowl over in a moment.”
Zhou Sheng gave a faint hum, picked up his chopsticks, and did not look at her again.
Shen Qingyin thought to herself that with such an intimidating physique and face, he had turned out to be a cool and taciturn man as well.
She took the coins and returned to the cooking table, happily putting them into her money pouch before glancing toward the man.
After mixing the noodles, the man took his first bite. He paused slightly, then began eating quickly and in large mouthfuls. Perhaps it was because his handsome face made even such a manner of eating look refined, but he did not appear the slightest bit crude.
Seeing him eat so quickly, she immediately prepared the second bowl and brought it over, then boiled the plain noodles for the other customer.
She drained them, sprinkled on scallions, poured over the bone broth, and it was done.
Passersby saw the noodles the man was eating and swallowed hungrily at the enticing aroma. They stopped to ask how much a bowl of noodles with such a topping cost.
When they heard that it was twelve wen, they settled for plain noodles instead. Several people would come by, but only one would order the noodles with topping.
A regular customer came to eat noodles. After taking a few bites, he raised his head and said to the woman at the stall, “Widow Shen, the noodles at your stall seem to taste much better now.”
The moment Shen Qingyin heard that form of address, she almost put on a cold expression, but she restrained herself.
Without even looking up, she simply replied, “If you like them, order another bowl.”
The man chuckled. “Widow Shen, if you’re treating me, I’ll have another bowl.”
Shen Qingyin fell silent.
Who was joking with him?
If she continued answering him, people might think she was flirting with him.
Lu Jinyou said coldly to the man, “If you want to eat, pay for it yourself!”
The man’s expression immediately darkened. “Do you know how to do business or not? Why are you giving me such a cold face?”
Lu Jinyou was about to say something when Zhou Sheng, who had finished his noodles, stood up and looked at the man.
The man noticed his gaze and immediately felt the hairs on his body stand on end. He could tell that Zhou Sheng was not someone to provoke, yet he still puffed out his chest and pretended to be fierce.
“What are you looking at?”
Zhou Sheng glanced toward Lu Jinyou, then coldly warned the man, “Don’t cause trouble.”
“Who are you? Does it have anything to do with you?”
Shen Qingyin also looked toward the man. She had not expected such a cold faced man to actually be quite warm hearted.
“I’m with the county office.”
As he spoke, he picked up the saber beneath the table and looked at the man.
Only then did Shen Qingyin notice that he was carrying a saber.
So he really worked for the county office.
After seeing the saber, no one doubted the truth of his words.
The man’s neck immediately shrank like a quail, and he did not dare say another word.
Zhou Sheng walked over to Lu Jinyou.
Lu Jinyou looked up at the man who towered over him like a giant, and his heart tightened involuntarily.
Zhou Sheng lowered his gaze toward him and said, “Your father was half a teacher to me, and your elder brother and I grew up together. If you ever run into trouble, come find me. If I can help, I will.”
After saying this, before Lu Jinyou could react, he turned around and left with his saber.
Shen Qingyin watched the man leave and thought that since he was an acquaintance, worked for the county office, and lived right next door, she would not have to worry about petty criminals anymore.
In the years after the original owner’s husband died, there had only been a delicate and beautiful woman and a nine year old child in the household, so naturally there had been people with bad intentions.
Some had only dared to think about it, while others had actually acted.
One man had even climbed over the wall in the middle of the night, intending to violate the widow. The original owner had fought with everything she had and managed to injure the man’s arm with a knife, saving herself.
After that, the original owner always kept a kitchen knife beside her bed, specifically to protect herself from thieves and other ill intentioned men.
Shen Qingyin came back to herself after emerging from those heavy memories and continued working.
They had not even been open for half an hour, yet they had already sold ten bowls of noodles, three of which were the twelve wen bowls.
It was a good beginning.
However, after that good beginning, things did not go as well as she had hoped.
Customers came only sporadically. In the end, only three customers had come during that half hour.
Shen Qingyin could only comfort herself by thinking that if they found the soup noodles delicious, they would surely become returning customers.
The number of customers would gradually increase, so she could not be too impatient.
As she guarded the stall, noon soon arrived.
The number of people coming to eat noodles gradually increased around noon, but most of them still ordered only a bowl of plain noodles.
Shen Qingyin looked at the large amount of topping still left in the pot and felt worried.
Just as she was fretting over it, a familiar figure suddenly appeared in her line of sight.
A smile immediately spread across her face. When that person sat down at her stall with two colleagues, her smile became even brighter.
“What would you gentlemen like to eat?”
Apart from Zhou Sheng, whose robe had not changed, the other two men were dressed in the black uniforms of the county office. At a glance, it was obvious that they were government officers.
Zhou Sheng spoke.
“Three bowls of noodles with scallion scented minced meat topping.”
“Coming right up!”
She answered cheerfully, her lips curved into a smile and the corners of her eyes crinkling. Her already radiant face seemed even more beautiful.
One of the officers in black stared at the widow in front of the stall as though he were completely captivated by her. He did not even blink as he lowered his voice and said, “This widow is really beautiful, and she has a good figure too. If she were willing to remarry, I bet there would be a long line of men coming to propose. If she were willing to marry me, I’d take her home as my wife.”
The other officer in black secretly glanced at Zhou Sheng, who sat expressionlessly at the same table, and quietly kicked his colleague under the table.
Their superior was right there, yet he actually dared to say such shameless things.
The man who had been kicked turned his head toward his colleague. When their eyes met, he saw the warning in his colleague’s expression.
It took him a moment to understand before he suddenly came to his senses. He immediately realized that the person eating at their table was not one of their usual colleagues with whom they could freely make lewd jokes.
Once he realized this, the officer immediately shut his mouth.
Shen Qingyin brought out three bowls of noodles and placed them in front of the men with a smile.
“Please enjoy.”
The two officers in black looked at the bowls in front of themselves, then at each other’s bowls, and finally both looked toward their superior’s bowl.
The two men fell silent.
That bowl of noodles had more of everything, both the portion of noodles and the amount of topping.
Was this widow acquainted with their superior, or was it simply because their superior had such a handsome face?
The officer who had just said he wanted to marry the widow desperately hoped it was the latter.
If it was the former…
One was an unmarried man, while the other was a widow whose husband had died. What exactly was their relationship?
Just thinking about it made cold sweat break out across his back.
They were nervous and terrified, but their superior seemed completely unaffected. His expression did not change at all as he picked up his chopsticks and began eating.
It was as though, in all the world, nothing mattered more than filling his stomach, and he had no interest whatsoever in whatever wild thoughts they were entertaining.