Chapter 6 Wild Onion and Egg Pancakes: A New Flavor! ...

Seeing that she had achieved her goal, Lin Yao wiped away the remaining tears on her face and quietly turned to leave while everyone's attention was still on her aunt.

Along the way, the villagers looked at her with pity, their previous aloofness and avoidance completely gone. Several aunties even pulled her aside to talk to her, telling her not to take it to heart and to let them know if she ever had any difficulties in the future. Lin Yao agreed to all of them, pretending to be a well-behaved person.

When Lin Yao got home, she saw Lin Cheng and Lin Song waiting at the door. Lin Yao said, "It's done." Lin Cheng breathed a sigh of relief.

Lin Yao patted Lin Song's little tuft of hair on his head. "Brother, Song'er, let's not delay any longer. Let's quickly prepare the ingredients we need for tomorrow's stall."

Lin Cheng grinned and replied, "Okay!"

Lin Yao picked up her shopping basket and prepared to go out: "I'll go up the mountain to pick some fresh chives and make more pancakes tomorrow."

Lin Song shouted from the side, "Second sister, I want to help too!"

Lin Yao hurried up the familiar mountain path. A breeze from the mountain made her feel a bit of her fatigue dissipate. When she reached the field where she usually picked chives, the chives were growing lush and green. She squatted down and deftly cut off bunches of tender chives. In no time, her basket was full.

Next, Lin Yao dug up some leek roots as well. She carefully wrapped the dug-up leek roots in a cloth, put them in the vegetable basket, and led Lin Song down the mountain.

After walking a few steps, Lin Yao suddenly saw a patch of wild onions not far away, growing extremely lushly.

After a moment's thought, she led Lin Song to the edge of the wild onion bushes and dug up quite a few wild onions by the roots.

Whether in modern times or ancient times, people's tastes vary. Some people like to eat chives while others don't. Making a wild scallion and egg pancake might attract diners who don't like chives.

On the way, Lin Song asked curiously, "Sister, why are you bringing these roots back?"

Lin Yao smiled and patted his head: "Song'er, these chives and wild onions grow quickly in the wind. Let's plant the roots in the wasteland behind the house, and we won't have to worry about not having fresh chives in the future."

Back home, Lin Cheng was repairing bamboo arrows used for hunting. Hunters here mostly use sharpened bamboo to make arrows. Although metal arrowheads are more useful, they are expensive, and the Lin family cannot afford them at present.

Seeing the two of them enter, Lin Cheng quickly took the vegetable basket, saw the vegetable roots inside, and understood his sister's plan: "After we finish eating, I'll go and plant these."

Lin Yao continued, "Brother, tomorrow we'll not only make chive and egg pancakes, but also some wild scallion and egg pancakes to sell together. Although they're both egg pancakes, the taste is quite different. More variety will attract more customers."

Lin Cheng nodded repeatedly: "You've thought this through perfectly, let's do it this way!"

Lin Yao washed her hands, then rinsed the wild scallions she had dug up. The slender scallions carried a unique, fresh scent from the mountains. She chopped them and placed them in a bowl; they were vibrant green and tender. Next, she cracked a few eggs, the yolks golden and clear, and poured them into the bowl of scallions. She then sprinkled in some flour and salt, added water, and stirred. As she stirred with chopsticks, the batter gradually thickened and became smooth, the pale yellow batter coating the chopped wild scallions.

Lin Cheng heated the pot and added lard. As the lard melted in the pot, even though it was just a faint smell of meat, Lin Yao felt that the whole room was filled with fragrance.

She slowly poured the batter into the pan, and it spread out, with tiny bubbles appearing around the edges. Holding a spatula, she pushed the edge of the pancake to ensure it heated evenly, until the bottom turned golden brown and crispy. Before long, a wild scallion and egg pancake was ready.

Lin Song was already craving it and stared longingly at the pancake. Lin Yao smiled and divided the pancake into several pieces, handing them to the two brothers.

Lin Song took a bite, her eyes widening instantly, and exclaimed indistinctly, "Second Sister, this is delicious! It tastes even better than chive and egg pancakes!"

For a chef, nothing is more gratifying than receiving praise for their cooking. "Eat more if you like it," Lin Yao said, picking up a piece of wild scallion and egg pancake.

The unique spiciness of wild onions blends perfectly with the rich flavor of eggs. The tip of your tongue first touches the crispy outer layer, then the aroma of the soft and chewy interior explodes in your mouth, and after swallowing, there is a slight sweet aftertaste.

Lin Cheng nodded as he ate, "This tastes really good, it will definitely sell well tomorrow."

After dinner, the moonlight shone into the courtyard. The three of them went to the field behind the house by the moonlight, planted the chive roots, and watered them thoroughly. Lin Yao then planted wild onions in a corner of the yard and tamped the soil down.

The next day, before dawn, Lin Yao, Lin Cheng, and Lin Song got up. After a quick wash, they took the ingredients and utensils they had prepared the night before and hurried towards the dock.

When we arrived at the dock, it was already bustling with activity. Workers unloading cargo were shouting loudly, vendors were enthusiastically hawking their wares, and boats were coming and going on the river, their splashes shimmering in the morning light.

Aunt Li, who runs the porridge shop, spotted them immediately and waved enthusiastically, "Oh, you've finally arrived! I didn't see you yesterday!"

Lin Yao quickly walked over and replied, "Something came up at home yesterday, which delayed me for a long time, so I couldn't set up my stall."

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Lin Yao and the other two quickly set up their stall.

Lin Yao skillfully greased the hot pan, and once the oil was at the right temperature, she poured the prepared chive and egg batter into it. A sizzling sound instantly filled the air, and a familiar aroma immediately wafted through the air. Soon, customers began to arrive.

Lin Yao looked up and saw that it was the first customer who had come to buy cakes earlier.

The man rubbed his hands together and said, "Young lady, give me a chive and egg pancake."

Lin Yao quickly wrapped one up and handed it over with a sweet smile: "Big brother, we also made some wild scallion and egg pancakes today. They taste great. Would you like to try one?"

The customer's eyes lit up: "Oh? There's a new flavor? I'll have one too." He paid for it, took the pancake to Aunt Li's porridge shop, and ordered a bowl of hot porridge.

"Is Chief Escort Wu's agency very busy lately?" Aunt Li asked him familiarly as she served him porridge.

"Yes, I got a big order yesterday, and I'm leaving tomorrow," Wu, the镖头 (bodyguard), replied.

Wu, the镖头 (bodyguard), placed the wild scallion and egg pancake on the table, gently breaking it open. Steam rose, carrying with it a rich aroma of scallions and eggs. He took a small bite; the crispy outer layer cracked between his teeth, revealing a soft, chewy pancake filled with tender wild scallions and smooth eggs—a multi-layered flavor that instantly exploded on his tongue. Wu couldn't help but exclaim, "Hey, this tastes even better than the ones from Qian's Pancake Shop in town!"

His shout drew the attention of many diners nearby. Just then, several bodyguards who had just finished a delivery and were looking for food were turning around when they heard the familiar voice. They saw their leader eating heartily. One of the younger bodyguards chuckled and teased, "Boss, what's so delicious that you're drooling over? Why don't you share with the brothers?"

Wu, the镖头 (bodyguard), swallowed the food in his mouth and cheerfully pointed to Lin Yao's stall: "Go, buy a few of those wild scallion and egg pancakes, and a bowl of hot porridge for everyone, it's all on my tab! I guarantee you'll eat your fill!"

Upon receiving the order, the bodyguards quickly rushed towards the stall.

The young bodyguards each ordered a chive and egg pancake and a wild scallion and egg pancake, earning twenty-four coins in one go. Lin Cheng helped pack the pancakes and collect the money, his eyes crinkling with laughter.

As soon as the bodyguards left, the man behind them stepped forward. "I'm so glad to run into you today! I bought a pancake from you the other day, it was so delicious! I came here specifically to buy some yesterday at noon, but you weren't out, and I was really craving it." With that, he took out his money and bought a chive and egg pancake. He really wanted a chive and egg pancake, even though it wasn't cheap at three coins.

Lin Yao was pleasantly surprised, not expecting that someone would come specifically to buy their pastries. "I had something to do at home yesterday, so I couldn't set up my stall. From now on, I'll be setting up my stall here. Please come back when you've had yours!"

People on the roadside, having overheard Wu the镖头 (bodyguard) and the customer's conversation, craned their necks and asked, "Is it really that delicious? Are you two shills?"

Wu, the head镖师 (bodyguard/escort), swallowed the food in his mouth and said loudly, "I am the head镖师 of Humen镖局 (escort agency), do you think I'm short of money? Their chive and egg pancakes are crispy on the outside and soft and chewy on the inside, very fragrant! And their wild scallion and egg pancakes are also quite good."

Dong the peddler also said, "Although I am not as domineering as Wu the镖头 (bodyguard), I would not stoop to cheating people for a pancake. You'll see once you try!"

Lin Yao's hands moved non-stop as she made pancakes while enthusiastically greeting customers, "Our pancakes are made with the finest ingredients. Why don't you buy one and try it?"

The passerby felt a little embarrassed, bought a wild scallion and egg pancake, and couldn't help but praise it after taking a bite.

Seeing that even those who had initially doubted were now enjoying their food, the customers who were still hesitant also gave up their concerns. Before long, a small line of people formed in front of Lin Yao's stall, and Lin Cheng beamed with joy as he collected the money.

Before long, all the pancakes were sold out.

"Thank you all for coming. We've sold out of pancakes today, and we'll be setting up our stall here again tomorrow!" Lin Yao said as she packed her wares into her basket.

Those at the back of the line were disappointed when they didn't get any cakes. "Young lady, you should prepare more cakes tomorrow."

Lin Yao readily agreed, and the people in front of the stall gradually dispersed.

Today, we prepared twenty more pancakes than the first day, thirty each of chive and egg pancakes and scallion and egg pancakes. However, we closed the stall earlier than the day before. Lin Cheng looked at the empty stall and couldn't stop smiling. He counted the heavy copper coins in his hand, and his voice was full of undisguised excitement: "Ayao, business is even better today than the day before!"

"Young lady Lin, you've really boosted this old woman's business today! This bowl of porridge is on me, please drink it while it's hot to soothe your throats." Aunt Li from the porridge stall came over carrying a bowl of steaming hot porridge.

Lin Yao hurriedly accepted the pancakes, thanking them repeatedly: "You're too kind. If it weren't for the fact that our porridge shop is next to yours, our pancakes wouldn't be selling so well!"

After saying goodbye to Aunt Li, the three siblings packed up their stall and headed home.

As soon as she entered the house, Lin Yao put her basket down in the corner and collapsed onto the old stool in the yard, letting out a long sigh. Although business was good today, standing for most of the day had left her with a sore back and aching muscles.

Lin Cheng carefully took out the money bag. Lin Yao counted today's income, which totaled 180 coins. Today, she used 15 eggs, which cost 30 coins, and flour and lard, which cost 25 coins. Today's net income was 125 coins.

Upon hearing this, Lin Cheng was overjoyed, his rough hands repeatedly rubbing the money bag as if it were not copper coins but a treasure that could hatch golden eggs.

A note from the author:

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