Chapter 18 Sweet Potato Pancake - A New Product!

"You idiot, you can't even handle this little thing." Lin Changshou pointed his finger directly at Hu Shi.

Upon hearing this, Madam Hu stiffened her neck and instantly perked up, retorting in a shrill voice, "Hmph, that Lin Yao keeps saying she'll drag me to see the officials, and there's some scholar who popped up out of nowhere offering to help her write her complaint. Look at her, she's just a carbon copy of her flirtatious, seductive mother!"

Whenever her younger brother and sister-in-law, Jia, were mentioned, Hu could not contain her jealousy and resentment.

Before her marriage, Jia was the most beautiful young lady in the surrounding villages. As the only daughter in her family, she was the apple of her parents' eye. When she reached marriageable age, suitors came in droves, almost breaking down her doorstep.

As Lin Changshou was about to get married, he took a liking to Jia Shi and begged his parents to go to the Jia family to propose marriage. However, Jia's parents said that their daughter was still too young and politely declined the marriage. This refusal planted a thorn in Lin Changshou's heart, and it also made Hu Shi resentful about the matter.

What was even more unexpected was that two years later, Jia and Lin Changkang, the second son of the Lin family, fell in love and got married. After their marriage, the two were inseparable and soon had a big, healthy son.

Lin Changshou slammed his teacup down, the lid rattling loudly. "She said you're scared of seeing the officials? You're more trouble than you're worth! What's the panic? As long as we stick to the fact that this is our Lin family's ancestral recipe, do you think our parents would help those little jinxes?"

Upon hearing this, Madam Hu trembled slightly. "What you say is absolutely right, sir. However, this matter has already become a hot topic and is known to everyone. I'm afraid this method will no longer work."

"You don't need to worry about this." Lin Changshou waved his hand, a sharp glint in his cloudy eyes.

~

The next morning.

Before Lin Yao even got close to the stall, she spotted several familiar faces in the distance. Among the crowd, Xu Zhiheng stood out with his tall and straight figure and his servant beside him.

"We've been waiting for Miss Lin quite a while today," Xu Zhiheng said.

Lin Yao quickly put down her basket. "I'm sorry, I specially prepared an extra fresh dish today, which took a little longer than expected."

"There's something new to eat again? Miss Lin's cleverness is truly admirable. I'll have two portions first, then two large portions of fried rice, plus a pound of braised pork offal. Miss Lin, please make them quickly so I can have a good meal." Xu Zhiheng, fanning himself, strolled to the porridge shop next door, found an empty seat, and ordered two bowls of congee.

Seeing Xu Zhiheng's straightforwardness—ordering two portions of the new dish without even asking what it was—the onlookers were also eager to try it. However, unlike Xu Zhiheng's generosity, some hesitated for a moment before asking, "Young lady, what is this new dish that's being offered today?"

"It's sweet potato pancakes, two coins each, three coins can buy two." Lin Yao answered while deftly taking out the semi-finished sweet potato pancakes she had prepared at home from the basket.

"Isn't this just a sweet potato? Sweet potatoes are everywhere in the mountains, why does it cost two coins each?" someone said.

"My family's sweet potato pancakes are made with sugar, so they taste different." As she spoke, Lin Yao scooped out a spoonful of sweet potato pieces and placed them on the hot plate. She then gently spread them into several pancakes with a spatula. As the temperature rose, the sugar in the sweet potato pieces gradually melted, blending with the sweetness of the sweet potato itself and emitting a rich, sweet aroma that filled the nostrils of those around her.

The edges of the sweet potato pieces slowly turn golden, gradually transforming into an enticing caramel color.

Lin Yao cut the freshly made sweet potato pancakes into small pieces and invited people in front of the stall to try them. "Everyone can try them. This is a free sample."

Lin Cheng was a little reluctant, as these were made with the finest lard, flour, and maltose, but his sister had said, "You can't catch a wolf without risking your cub."

The people in front of the stall were initially hesitant, but they all saw that when Lin Xiaoniangzi was frying the sweet potato pancakes, she had scooped out a huge spoonful of lard, not to mention the sugar she added. With such ingredients, it would be hard for them not to taste delicious. Thinking of this, everyone stopped hesitating and reached out. In the blink of an eye, the freshly made sweet potato pancakes were all gone.

"It smells so good!"

"Yes, I never thought sweet potatoes could taste so good."

Everyone chimed in with their own words, and praises rose and fell in waves.

While everyone was enjoying the sweet potato pancakes, Lin Yao skillfully prepared all the dishes Xu Zhiheng had ordered and brought them to him. "Young Master Xu, all the dishes you ordered have been served. These sweet potato pancakes are a new dish at our shop today. We'll give you two extra; we hope you like them."

Xu Zhiheng stood up and took the sweet potato pancake from Lin Yao's hand. "Then thank you very much, Miss Lin."

He had just put down the sweet potato pancake when Jin Yu stuffed it into her mouth, chewed it, and swallowed it. "My lord, eat it quickly, it won't taste good when it gets cold." As soon as Xu Zhiheng put down the sweet potato pancake, Jin Yu couldn't wait any longer. She grabbed a piece, stuffed it into her mouth, and urged him impatiently, "My lord, please try it quickly. It's best when it's hot. It won't taste good when it gets cold."

Xu Zhiheng closed his folding fan and tapped him on the head with a look of exasperation. "All you ever do is eat. I've never seen you use that gluttony for anything else."

Because of yesterday's promise to reduce prices by one dollar per serving, the stall was much busier than usual today. Many people who usually hesitated because of the prices took advantage of this rare discount to buy a serving to satisfy their cravings. Lin Cheng and Lin Yao were busy cutting braised pork offal and making pancakes, spinning around like tops, their pancake spatulas practically sparking.

"Miss Lin, I'd like a 'Family Reunion' steamed bun." A gentle female voice drifted out from among a group of loud young men, sounding particularly abrupt amidst the noise.

Upon hearing the voice, Lin Yao quickly looked up, "Sister A-Yu!"

Ah Yu smiled shyly, "I've long heard that the 'Family Reunion' steamed buns from your family are incredibly delicious. My father has been craving them for a long time, so he specially asked me to buy one so he could try them too."

"I'll make it for you right away, and I'll add extra braised pork offal." Lin Yao had a great liking for this easily shy girl.

Ayu was a little embarrassed. "Then thank you very much, madam. I'll make you more steamed buns next time."

Seeing how honest she was, Lin Yao suddenly found her even more adorable.

Although Lin Yao now has the appearance of a twelve-year-old girl, she has the soul of a twenty-four-year-old. This causes her to unconsciously place herself in the perspective of an older person whenever she meets teenagers.

Just like now, facing the smiling Lin Yao, A Yu felt a strange feeling welling up in her heart. In a daze, she felt that there was a kind of inexplicable "kindness" in the little girl's smile.

Lin Yao handed over the steamed buns she had made, saying, "No need to be so polite. This is also to thank Uncle Wang for helping the three of us siblings yesterday."

~

Ah Yu hurried back to the steamed bun stall. "Grandpa, I've bought them!"

Wang Shan looked at his granddaughter, whose cheeks were flushed from walking so fast, and whose eyes were full of tenderness. He reached out and took the steamed bun from his granddaughter, then took out a small knife from the side and gently cut the bun in half. He handed the larger half to his granddaughter, saying, "Darling, eat."

Ah Yu took a big bite, and the rich flavors surged through her mouth.

Seeing his granddaughter enjoying her food, Wang Shan couldn't help but ask, "Ayu, is business good at Lin Xiaoniangzi's stall?"

Ah Yu's cheeks puffed out. "Hmm! It's very lively. There are so many people crowding around, scrambling to buy steamed buns! I overheard the diners next to me chatting, saying that Lin Xiao Niangzi launched a new dish today called sweet potato pancakes. Everyone praised how delicious it was, but unfortunately, there were too many people in line, so I didn't have a chance to buy any."

Wang Shan took out a clean handkerchief and handed it to his granddaughter to wipe her mouth. "Grandpa wants you to become her apprentice."

Ah Yu had just raised the steamed bun to her mouth, about to take a bite, when she heard these words and her movements froze instantly. She slowly put down the bun, her eyes full of hesitation and lack of confidence, and stammered, "But...but, will she really accept me? Grandpa, I'm not very bright, I'm clumsy at everything, if I go, I'll embarrass you, I...I'm afraid I can't do it."

Listening to his granddaughter's incoherent words, Wang Shan felt a pang of sorrow wash over him. His son and daughter-in-law had passed away too soon, leaving him and his lonely granddaughter to depend on each other. Over the years, to support his family, he had to get up before dawn every day to make steamed buns, and then rush out to set up a stall to earn money, keeping himself constantly busy.

As a result, he had very little time to spend with his granddaughter, who was often left alone in the empty house. Over time, the granddaughter became increasingly timid and taciturn, only feeling slightly at ease in his own presence, and easily becoming nervous around strangers.

People would always praise Ayu for her gentle and obedient nature, saying she would surely become a virtuous wife and loving mother in the future. In the past, Wang Shan would also be happy to hear these words, hoping that when Ayu grew up, he could find a reliable family to marry her off in a grand manner, and then their lives would be peaceful and worry-free.

But ever since he met Lin Yao and watched her run her business with such efficiency and skill, her ability to navigate the streets with ease, his thoughts began to change. He increasingly felt that there were many ways for a woman to live, far beyond just being a virtuous wife and loving mother.

He was illiterate, but he knew that if A-Yu's temperament was too weak, and if she could be as independent and strong as Lin Yao, she might have a brighter future. However, he also knew that this skill was not easily passed on to outsiders, and his greatest hope was to train his granddaughter's temperament, even if it was just to help Lin Yao.

“In my eyes, Ayu is the best.” Wang Shan patted Ayu’s head. “Ayu, don’t worry. Lin Xiaoniangzi is a good person. She is intelligent, strong, and thoughtful. I just hope that you can learn from her how to conduct yourself. If Lin Xiaoniangzi is willing to take you as her apprentice and teach you some dishes, you can have a skill to rely on.”

Upon hearing this, Ayu slightly raised her head, met Wang Shan's expectant gaze, and nodded gently.

Over here, the three Lin siblings were extremely busy, with even the youngest, Lin Song, helping to collect money. By the time everything was sold out, it was already past noon.

Just as Lin Yao finished tidying up her stall, she saw Grandpa Wang and A Yu standing by her stall. "Grandpa Wang, Sister A Yu, is there something you need?"

Wang Shan's palms were slightly sweaty, but thinking of his granddaughter's future, he gritted his teeth, steeled his heart, and finally spoke, "Miss Lin, I'm really sorry to bother you, but I have something I'd like to ask you for help with, even if it's a bit shameless."

Lin Yao was puzzled. She thought to herself that she was just a street vendor making a living, with no money or influence, and she really couldn't think of any way she could help. "Uncle, please don't say that. You flatter me. You have helped us a lot since we started our stall. If there is anything I can do to lend a hand, please just ask. As long as it is within my power, I will do it without hesitation."

Hearing Lin Yao's answer, Wang Shan's anxiety lessened a bit. "Miss Lin, to be honest, I've come here today with a heavy heart to ask you to take my granddaughter, A Yu, as your apprentice. You only need to teach her one or two dishes. If you need help with any chores, feel free to ask her. Consider it an opportunity for her to gain experience."

As soon as he said it, Wang Shan knew that his request was a bit abrupt and presumptuous. Fearing that Lin Yao would be displeased, he quickly added, "If you find it inconvenient to take on a disciple, then it would be best if A Yu could find a job with you, assist you, and learn from you."

Lin Yao had actually been planning to hire someone for a while. After all, she was juggling multiple jobs and had a multitude of dishes she wanted to cook, and even if she had three heads and six arms, it would be too much for her to handle. But hiring people would mean paying wages, and given their family's current financial situation, they simply couldn't afford that expense. However, if she took on apprentices, the situation would be quite different. Firstly, apprentices would be more dedicated to learning and more reliable, and secondly, the cost would be much lower than simply hiring people. Thinking about it this way, taking on apprentices became the best solution for the moment.

Lin Yao doesn't consider herself a selfless saint. She is grateful for the help she has received, but she never acts on emotion.

Taking on apprentices is a big or small matter, but she only considers character and ability. She fears that if she teaches someone of poor character, she might be taken advantage of; and for those with weak abilities and no foundation, she is too busy making a living at her stall to find the time to teach them from the most basic knowledge and skills.

Lin Yao trusted Grandpa Wang's character; the rest depended on Ah Yu's cooking skills.