Although we made an extra bucket today, it sold out even faster than yesterday.

In just an hour and a half, the three large buckets of spicy soup were sold out.

Some people who didn't get to eat looked regretful.

Grandma Ye said with a smile, "I'm sorry, we're sold out for today. Please come back tomorrow."

The crowd dispersed in disappointment.

Ye Caiping was tidying up the table when a slightly overweight middle-aged man walked over and placed his empty bowl in front of her.

Thank you for your patronage.

"Hey, aren't you that young lady who sells ginseng?" the slightly chubby man said.

Ye Caiping recognized him too; this was the same Fang, the manager of Ping An Tang, who had bought her ginseng last time: "Yes, it's me."

"This spicy soup is really delicious. Did you put Sichuan peppercorns and black pepper in it?" Manager Fang asked.

Grandma Ye and the Jin'er sisters paused in their act of clearing away the bowls, their expressions changing slightly.

Ye Caiping nodded frankly: "Yes, the character 'Hu' means pepper."

"Oh, young lady, you have such a wonderful idea! You know how to use medicinal herbs in food. I'll come back for more tomorrow."

"Okay, thank you."

After Manager Fang left, Old Lady Ye and the Jin'er sisters anxiously gathered around.

Grandma Ye whispered, "Caiping, he... he figured out our secret recipe?"

Although she didn't know what pepper and Sichuan pepper were.

Ye Caiping answered irrelevantly: "Did Mother notice what my sister-in-law put in the cabbage she cooked last night?"

Grandma Ye was taken aback for a moment, and Ye Huan'er quickly answered, "We stir-fried it with pork cracklings!"

"And what else? Tell me everything that needs to be placed here."

"Hmm... First, you have to add cabbage and pork cracklings, then... salt, lard, and soy sauce too."

Ye Jin'er added, "I also tasted a sour flavor, so I added some vinegar."

Ye Caiping nodded and looked at Grandma Ye: "Look, isn't it obvious? Everyone has a sense of taste, and can probably tell what's in it. My hot and sour soup is the same."

“But…we don’t understand what those powders of yours are…” Old Mrs. Ye frowned.

Ye Caiping laughed and said, "That's because you're not a doctor, Mother. Even if ordinary people don't recognize medicinal herbs, the shopkeepers, waiters, doctors, and herb gatherers in those pharmacies can guess the general idea just by tasting them."

"Then...won't the secret recipe for Hu spicy soup be revealed?"

Grandma Ye was very nervous, and even Ye Jin'er and her sister looked uneasy.

Ye Caiping said, "They can guess most of them, especially the obvious flavors of pepper and Sichuan pepper, which can be guessed after just one taste. As for the other dozen or so spices, even those with exceptionally good taste cannot guess them all."

"Besides, even if you guessed it all, there's still the ratio. It's not something you can easily taste. And everyone's taste is different. Even a plate of stir-fried cabbage will taste different depending on who cooks it."

"Some are hard to eat, while others are delicious. So, there's no need to worry."

The three of them, including Grandma Ye, breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this.

Grandma Ye laughed and said, "It's just that I'm getting senile."

"Oh, what are you chatting about?" Just then, the plump aunt next door walked over with a smile, holding a plate of meat buns in her hands. "Here, have some buns."

Ye Jin'er and Ye Huan'er were stunned and looked at her suspiciously.

They were well aware of how hostile Aunt Fatty had been to them these past few days. And now she was actually giving them steamed buns to eat?

Aunt Pang's husband stepped forward with a smile: "We really owe you a lot today. Our steamed buns and fried dough sticks sold out in just one hour! Before, we would have to sell them until noon and still not be able to sell them all."

Ye Caiping smiled and said, "Spicy soup with fried dough sticks is always a perfect match! Of course, steamed buns and dumplings are also good."

Aunt Pang's husband suddenly remembered what Ye Caiping had said yesterday. Ye Caiping had said that their business would get better and better in a few days.

At the time, he thought it was just a polite remark, but little did he expect that just a few days later, their business would pick up the next day!

This is all thanks to the popularity of spicy soup!

"Little sister, please don't blame me. I was ungrateful yesterday. This is an apology and a thank-you gift. Please forgive me."

Aunt Pang is also a straightforward person; her temper flares up quickly but subsides just as fast.

When anger is warranted, one can hate the other person intensely. When gratitude is due, one can let go of past grudges and express sincere thanks.

Ye Caiping accepted it: "Okay, thank you then."

The plump aunt and her husband waved goodbye and turned back to their stall.

They still have more than half a bucket of brown rice porridge left; let's see if they can sell it all before noon.

Ye Caiping distributed the meat buns to Grandma Ye and the other two.

Grandma Ye licked her lips and smiled, "We ate yesterday, so we don't need to today. I'll take it home for Yong'er and the others."

Although Ye Jin'er and Huan'er really wanted to eat, they put the buns back on the plate because they remembered that Old Man Ye and the others hadn't eaten yet.

Ye Jin'er said, "My cousins ​​haven't eaten yet, let's leave it for them."

Ye Caiping smiled and said, "No need, you guys eat! I'll buy a few more later so my family can have some. We're closing up early today, and your Uncle Bajin is still in town, so let's have him take us back ahead of time."

"good!"

"You guys pack up here, I'll go buy some things and call him."

After Ye Caiping finished speaking, she left with her basket on her back.

The town was busiest at that time of year. Ye Caiping bought 20 meat buns, 10 steamed buns, 14 pieces of osmanthus sugar, and 5 catties of pork belly on the street.

After thinking for a while, he went to a pottery shop and bought a large earthenware pot. Only then did he go to find Ye Bajin.

In the open space where the oxcart was parked, Ye Bajin was leaning against the cart, yawning. He was somewhat surprised to see Ye Caiping.

"Sister Caiping, what brings you here? Did something happen at the stall?"

"No, we've closed up shop early for the hot and sour soup. Why don't you take us home first?"

Ye Bajin looked at the sky and the shadow of the long pole not far away. It was past 10 a.m., so it was still early.

Yesterday, he dropped the villagers off at noon and then came back to pick up Ye Caiping. Now, the order can be reversed to avoid that time.

"Okay, let's go now!"

...

The Ye family.

As soon as Ye Daquan saw the oxcart slowly drive into the gate, he excitedly rushed over and diligently helped carry things.

"Oh my, how come there are steamed buns?" Ye Daquan suddenly exclaimed as he discovered a basket of large white steamed buns and mantou.

"This is today's lunch." Ye Caiping smiled and brought down another casserole dish.

Inside was a pot full of brown rice porridge, which Ye Caiping bought from Aunt Pang's house.

Feeling that steamed buns were neither a good option nor a bad choice, I bought some steamed bread and a pot of porridge to take home for lunch.