At the market entrance of Qingfeng Town, people were still coming and going in the morning, carrying loads on their shoulders and setting up stalls, selling all kinds of things. Liang Shuyan chose a spot and instructed Erniu: "Erniu, set up your stall, and we can open for business!"
Zhang seemed to be used to it, and she was the first to stand aside and shout out.
"The jelly noodles are beautiful and delicious, and there are also piping hot wild vegetable pancakes!"
Liang Shuyan walked around and found some wooden planks at a nearby construction site. She put them on the donkey cart and instructed Zhang Shi, "Eldest daughter, tie the donkey to that tree and prepare some grass so that the donkey can rest for a while."
Zhang picked some grass from the nearby meadow and gave it to the donkey. Seeing how much the donkey enjoyed eating it, she stroked it tenderly and whispered, "You've really worked hard!"
At this time of year, the sun was like a giant fireball, making people's backs burn.
People from the neighborhood who came out to do business just wanted to join in the fun. They would take a look, ask a question, and then turn around and leave without lingering for long.
As before, free samples are available, but quantities are limited!
Jin Erniu shouted loudly, "Delicious and pretty cold noodles! One hot vegetable pancake is enough to fill you up!"
For some reason, when Jin Erniu shouted like that, people crowded around and asked him questions.
"How much is a vegetable pancake? I'll have one!"
"The jelly and vegetable pancakes are both five coins each. Five coins won't break the bank; it's a good deal and you'll be full!"
Upon hearing that each vegetable pancake cost five coins, everyone scrambled to buy them. Liang Shuyan nodded, "Whether it's cold noodles or vegetable pancakes, they'll all be sold eventually, so it's fine!"
The paper bag she had prepared was a bit too small, since it had previously contained small steamed buns, but now it contained vegetable pancakes. Liang Shuyan had no choice but to tear open the paper bag, roll up the pancakes, and say with a smile, "Try my vegetable pancakes. They're made with vegetables grown in my own garden, so they're fresh and delicious!"
A chubby man holding the flatbread exclaimed in surprise, "Wow, I never expected there to be such a big flatbread! These five coins are well worth it."
The man took a bite; it was glistening with oil. He slurped it up and exclaimed, "Mmm, not bad! Soft and delicious, and a generous portion. I've never seen such a delicious pancake before. Mmm, so good!"
As the man spoke, he casually handed five coins to Liang Shuyan!
The man's praise immediately attracted more people, and two women carrying baskets came over as well: "Auntie, do you still have such delicious pancakes? Give me two pancakes, my husband said your pancakes are delicious!"
Liang Shuyan hadn't expected that this man was so fast; he had just bought a pancake and left, and now he had sent his wife over.
"Hmm, if it tastes good, that's good. Five coins isn't expensive, is it?"
"It's not expensive at all! Everyone makes it at home, which involves burning firewood, using up oil, and making flour, right? And the result is still not as good as what they make here. It doesn't cost more than five coins."
In a flash, more than half of the basket of pancakes were sold. Erniu stood to the side, smiling, and said, "Mom, so our vegetable pancakes have become another specialty!"
The morning passed quickly. Most of the pancakes had been sold, and only a few bowls of cold noodles had been sold. Liang Shuyan glanced at the cold noodles in the wooden bucket and said, "It seems we'll have to sell these cold noodles at the entrance of Shengming Academy!"
"Erniu, pack your things, we're heading to Furong Town!"
Jin Erniu pulled the donkey cart and said, "We'll see my older brother when we get to the school gate soon, sister-in-law, are you nervous?"
Zhang's face immediately turned bright red: "Erniu, what nonsense are you talking about?"
Liang Shuyan glanced at Erniu: "Just keep driving. If you don't speak, do you think anyone will think you're mute?"
Jin Erniu stopped talking, sat on the donkey cart, brandishing a whip in his hand. With a snap, the cart started running, and the donkey made a clattering sound.
After passing through the city gate, a bustling scene came into view. Indeed, this place was much more prosperous than Qingfeng Town. Even the school gate was very lively. Several vendors selling writing brushes, ink, paper and inkstones had already set up their stalls. The plump woman sat on a stool, holding some needlework in her hand. When there were no students buying things, she had time to do some needlework.
Seeing Liang Shuyan and her two children approaching, the plump woman put down her work and said with a smile, "Oh, you've finally arrived! I've been waiting for you so long these past few days!"
"What's wrong, ma'am? Do you want some of my cold noodles, or what?"
The plump woman sighed, "I've seen your son come out of school several times, looking for you. He seemed really anxious! He's been coming every day for the past two days, asking if you've come yet."
Liang Shuyan's hands suddenly trembled twice. For some reason, she felt that Dashan must have been bullied at school, otherwise why would he keep coming out to find her?
"Oh, thank you, sister-in-law! I'll go find my son right away and see what happened to him."
Zhang noticed that her mother-in-law's expression was off, so she quickly jumped off the donkey cart: "Mother, what's wrong? Did something happen in the mountains?"
Liang Shuyan shook her head: "It's okay, you and Erniu set up the stall and start selling. I have to go to the school!"
Jin Erniu looked unhappy: "What's wrong, Mother? Did someone bully my older brother?"
Liang Shuyan didn't say anything and walked into the school.
When they arrived at the school gate, an old man came out and asked, "Excuse me, who are you looking for?"
Liang Shuyan looked the old man up and down and said, "Excuse me, sir, I'd like to find Jin Dashan, the student you recently took on who can paint."
The old woman's face darkened: "So you're Jin Dashan's mother. I can tell. To be honest, we haven't heard from the child for two days. The teacher went out to look for him this morning, and this matter has even alarmed the county magistrate!"
"What? Jin Dashan has been missing for two days! What happened? I want to see Zhao Heng!"
"Zhao Heng has been arrested and taken back by the county magistrate. He probably won't be coming to the school. You should wait a while until the teacher returns and see what he says."
Liang Shuyan pondered for a moment, realizing that so much had happened since she hadn't been to school for two days. She recalled that she had argued with Zhao Heng that day, and Zhao Heng had shown a lot of resentment towards Jin Dashan. She suspected that Dashan's disappearance was related to Zhao Heng.
"No, I must go to the county government office, find Zhao Heng, and see if I can find Da Shan!"
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