Aside from the city's specific morning markets, if you're looking for the most vibrant and lively place, this is it.
The delicious aroma of the wontons wafted through the air with the rising steam.
Grandma Wu paused in front of the wonton stall for three seconds, shook her head, and left. "No, it's too soupy; it'll spill easily."
"Xiaolongbao, plump and white xiaolongbao, cheap and inexpensive, only 3 mao a basket."
"Roujiamo (Chinese hamburger), roujiamo, top-quality pork belly, come and buy!"
Old Mrs. Wu had walked past a few stalls when she heard two hawkers calling out their wares, one after the other. She peeked out to take a look.
It turns out that the two vendors selling xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) and roujiamo (Chinese hamburger) were next to each other. Since they were staple foods, people who bought xiaolongbao would not buy roujiamo, and vice versa.
Seeing that Old Lady Wu had stopped between the two, the vendor who had sold the steamed buns immediately called Old Lady Wu to his side.
"Auntie, all my steamed buns have thin skins and lots of filling. Just buy some, you won't even hear yourself eating them. And the best part is they're cheap!"
"Tch! The total amount of money is only seven tiny things the size of a baby's fist, and you're selling it for three cents? You think that's cheap? You have the nerve to say that?"
The roujiamo vendor curled his lip, mercilessly exposing the loophole in the xiaolongbao vendor's scheme.
"What did you say! You think you're so great? You're selling them for 50 cents each? Go ask around the streets and see who sells roujiamo (Chinese hamburgers) for 50 cents each? Are you Sun Erniang (a notorious woman known for her wickedness)?!"
The two of them spoke louder and louder, each taking a step, and a few sentences were even shoved directly into each other's faces.
Grandma Wu was exasperated. She was just buying breakfast, how did she end up in this mess?
But having mostly eaten soup along the way, she now needs something substantial to fill her empty stomach.
"I'll buy them all! I'll buy them all..."
The two immediately turned their heads, "Really?"
"Really, eight baskets of xiaolongbao and eight roujiamo."
Wow, a big customer! The two of them forgot about their argument and hurriedly went back to their stall to prepare what Grandma Wu needed.
Passersby glanced at Old Lady Wu with surprise.
There's nothing we can do. Putting aside her appetite, there are two strong young men to feed. They say a half-grown boy can eat his father out of house and home.
Huang Xiaofu and Huang Xiaoqiang were at the age when they were young and had a good appetite.
Amidst the shopkeeper's beaming smile, Grandma Wu, carrying two full bags of groceries, circled around again. On her return, she also bought three scallion pancakes—yes, a full three.
Huang Xiaofu recovered and craned his neck, staring intently in the direction where Old Lady Wu had disappeared. "Tell me, Mom, where did she go? Why isn't she back yet?"
"Didn't Mom just say that you can just wait patiently?"
'Gurgle gurgle gurgle...'
Huang Xiaofu clutched his stomach, wanting to say something, but then his eyes fixed on the person approaching and he paused.
"Hello, are you a family member of Aunt Wu?"
Hearing the soft, sweet voice, Huang Xiaoqiang remained vigilant, his expression serious. "What do you want?"
Huang Xiaofu looked her up and down. "Isn't she just a little girl? Why are you being so fierce?" He pulled his timid younger brother aside. "What's wrong? Do you need her for something?"
Gu Qing didn't speak, but kept looking at Huang Xiaoqiang, whose dark eyebrows were tightly furrowed.
Well, Huang Xiaofu slapped his thigh and said nothing more.
During the stalemate, Old Lady Wu returned carrying two bags of things.
"Aunt Wu?"
Um?
Grandma Wu was taken aback when she recognized the person who called her. "It's you."
After handing the items to Huang Xiaoqiang, Old Lady Wu glanced around and saw that she was carrying a small rattan suitcase. She opened her mouth, but didn't know what to say.
"Um...you only brought this little bit?"
Gu Qing smiled shyly, "Yes, my dad said it's inconvenient on the way, so we can just buy whatever we need when we get there."
Judging from this, he must be from a well-off family.
During the conversation, Huang Xiaofu kept swallowing as he smelled the continuous aromas that were wafting into his nose, his eyes darting back and forth between Grandma Wu and the food.
Seeing that Grandma Wu was talking to the little girl, and not daring to disturb her, nor daring to steal a bite herself, she stared longingly at the grease that had spilled onto the bag.
When Huang Xiaoqiang turned around, he saw that Huang Xiaofu's eyes were practically popping out of the bag, and his lips twitched.
"No problem. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have been able to buy a sleeper ticket. Otherwise, sitting for two days and one night would have left me completely exhausted."
Gu Qing smiled shyly, "I forgot to introduce myself, my name is Gu Qing."
Grandma Wu opened her mouth to introduce herself, but suddenly remembered that she had just called out her surname. She blinked, touched the train ticket in her pocket, and immediately realized what had happened.
She shook her head and smiled, pointing to the bag in Huang Xiaoqiang's hand, and asked her, "Want to eat something together?"
Gu Qing quickly waved her hand, "No need, I'll eat at home."
Grandma Wu nodded, and under Huang Xiaofu's eager gaze, she gave each of them two baskets of xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) and a roujiamo (Chinese hamburger).
Seeing that there were still things in the bag, Grandma Wu explained in advance, "Eat first, there's more if you're not full."
Wow!
Huang Xiaofu stared at his steamed buns and roujiamo (Chinese hamburger) with shining eyes, and started eating right away.
The mother and her two children ate happily. Under the intimidating gaze of Old Lady Wu, Huang Xiaofu barely restrained himself. Although he ate quickly, he did not look disheveled.
Because Grandma Wu had given advance notice, Huang Xiaofu ate two baskets of xiaolongbao (soup dumplings), two roujiamo (Chinese hamburgers), and two eggs that Wang Huijun had given him.
Having eaten until his stomach was full, Huang Xiaofu let out a happy burp.
Huang Xiaoqiang, who was standing next to him, did not hold back either, and had one more egg than Huang Xiaoqiang.
In the end, there was one basket of xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) and one roujiamo (Chinese hamburger) left.
Gu Qing sat quietly to the side. Although she didn't look at them intentionally, she was still shocked to learn that the mother and her two children had eaten half a month's worth of her food.
From a young age, her stomach was like a bird's; she would get full after eating only a little, so she envied those who could eat a lot.
Grandma Wu and the others didn't notice the sparkling look in Gu Qing's eyes as she looked at them.
Huang Xiaofu said to Grandma Wu with a satisfied look, "It's better to stay with Mom. You can eat your fill anywhere. If I stayed at home with Dad, I wouldn't be able to eat my fill. I might even go hungry three times out of nine meals."
Huang Xiaoqiang nodded in agreement, "That's true."
"You brat! What did you say?!"
As soon as Huang Xiaofu finished speaking, he hallucinated Huang Mancang's voice. He must have heard correctly.
The thought had barely formed when a familiar face loomed in front of him. "Dad, Dad?"
Huang Mancang snorted, "I was worried you hadn't eaten breakfast, so I got up early to make it and bring it over. What a waste!"
Grandma Wu rolled her eyes at him, wondering who was sleeping so loudly in the morning? Taking all the credit for herself.
Thinking of Wang Huijun, who was busy in the kitchen early in the morning, I wonder who made breakfast and who sent it. It's still undecided.
After finishing speaking with the two brothers, Huang Mancang took the steamed buns and pickled vegetables from Wang Huijun's hand, looking ingratiating, "I asked Huijun to make these for you, especially for you to eat on the road."
Old Mrs. Wu didn't bother with him and said directly to her two daughters-in-law, Wang Huijun and Li Jin'e, "Alright, I know, go back now."
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