Chapter 21 The Visitor is the first important female character in the original novel. ...
Over the past few days, Yu Man's idea of opening a food stall became increasingly clear. One evening, she briefly discussed this idea with Yu Chengfu and Deng Sanniang. Although Yu Chengfu was somewhat worried about the difficulties women face in business, seeing his daughter's determined gaze and the family's genuine need for more income, he didn't object, only reminding her to be careful. Deng Sanniang was even more supportive, patting her chest and saying she would go to the embroidery shop where she usually worked to inquire and see if anyone knew of a suitable shop in the county.
In the days that followed, Yu Man asked the familiar broker from his previous visit to set aside a day to accompany him in looking at shops in the county. They visited several places, but either the location was too remote, the rent was outrageously high, or the shops themselves were dilapidated, requiring substantial repairs. It wasn't until he saw a small shop near the south of the city, not too far from the Yuelai Restaurant, that Yu Man truly took a liking to it.
The shop's location isn't top-notch, but it's situated at the entrance of a small alley leading to several nearby residential areas, ensuring a steady flow of people and customers. The storefront isn't large, but it includes a small dining area that can fit three or four tables, and a narrow yet fully functional kitchen in the back. Best of all, there's a sweet water well in the backyard, making water access extremely convenient. The only downside is that the rent is a bit higher than expected.
The shop that Deng San Niang inquired about at the embroidery workshop was either in a worse location or was only for rent and not for sale, and its conditions were not as good as the one that Yu Man had her eye on.
On the mule cart back to the village, Yu Man and Deng San Niang sat side by side, carefully planning their next steps. They were still short of capital, so perhaps they could start with a small food stall and gradually accumulate wealth; they could try negotiating the rent for the shop with the landlord again.
The mother and daughter were so engrossed in their discussion that they didn't come to their senses until the mule cart stopped in front of their own courtyard. As soon as they got off the cart, they saw the village chief, Yu Zhengde, walking out of his yard with a thoughtful expression on his face. When he saw them, he simply nodded and didn't say much. He only turned back to Yu Chengfu, who had seen him out, and added, "Chengfu, you should think about this matter carefully. After all, it concerns a major issue for our village."
Once the village chief was out of sight, Deng Sanniang immediately pulled Yu Chengfu aside and asked, "Husband, what brings the village chief here? What important matter has happened in the village?"
Yu Chengfu's face was not good. He sighed and said in a muffled voice, "What else could it be? It's Chenglu... who asked the village chief to come." He glanced at Yu Man, his tone filled with suppressed anger, "It's still about Aman's sauce recipe! They said... the Chen family from Fengyu Grain Store in the county offered a deal: if Aman would hand over the recipe, they would not only give us a share of the year-end bonus, but also promise to pay for the repair of our village's ancestral hall! The village chief... has obviously been persuaded to go there and is now putting pressure on me."
Even faced with the tempting offer of the village chief and the promise of repairing the ancestral hall, Yu Chengfu remained defiant, his attitude resolute: "I told the village chief that this belongs to Aman herself, it's her livelihood! Not even if it were the Emperor himself, let alone me, her father, I couldn't take it from her!"
Yu Man listened, feeling both warm and heavy-hearted. She poured her father a bowl of water, handed it to him, and calmly analyzed, "Dad, don't be angry. It's normal for Uncle Village Chief to be tempted, but this matter isn't as simple as it seems on the surface."
She paused, then spoke clearly and logically: "The Chen family suddenly wanted to open a restaurant opposite Zuixianlou, clearly intending to compete. Now they're in a hurry to get my sauce recipe. Don't you find that strange? For a restaurant to survive, it needs its own signature dishes. But what about the Chen family? They're only focused on their rivals and want to rely on foreign recipes to boost their reputation. This shows that they themselves are not confident. Even if such a restaurant opens today, can it last long? If I give them the recipe, forget about profit sharing, I probably won't even make a ripple. Instead, I'll just ruin my own business."
Seeing her father and stepmother's thoughtful expressions, she continued, "The most important thing for us now is to stay calm and build up my own food stall and shop step by step. Having real income is better than any empty promises."
Although Yu Chengfu and Deng Sanniang didn't understand business, they knew the importance of being down-to-earth. After hearing what she said and thinking it through, the former said, "You don't need to worry about the village chief. I'll handle that for now. You can focus on your work."
The next day, Yu Man and Deng San Niang discussed it and made a decisive decision: they would take over the shop with a dining area and a small courtyard. Although the rent was considerable, the location and layout were truly exceptional. They then went with the landlord to the government office to register the deed. Deng San Niang's embroidery business wasn't too demanding, so she often came over to help her daughter clean and tidy up. Pan Yue happened to be delivering wild produce, and seeing that Yu Man was overwhelmed, he simply took over all the work, from carrying heavy objects to repairing corners of the walls. After several days of hard work, they finally managed to tidy up the shop inside and out, making it look brand new. The stove was rebuilt, and the tables and chairs were scrubbed clean, making it look bright and spacious.
Yu Man wiped the sweat from his forehead and couldn't help but sigh. Fortunately, the shop had previously been a food business, so the main layout didn't need to be changed. The owner, seeing that they signed the contract readily, even left them the best tables and chairs.
After tidying up the shop, Yu Man went to see Carpenter Liu again. She gestured and described what she wanted—a wooden cart with wheels, a place to put the stove, cutting board, and various condiment bowls and dishes, and a dust cover. Although Carpenter Liu found the idea novel, it sounded practical, and after thinking about it for a while, he agreed to make her a sturdy and convenient one.
Next came the most crucial step—deciding on the dishes. Yu Man pondered for a long time, combining the available ingredients with her own skills, and decided on several novel yet affordable dishes. For the main course, she decided on multigrain and mushroom pancakes, which were not difficult to make. She would mix millet and bean flour into a batter, spread it into thin pancakes, wrap them with stir-fried wild mushroom strips and crisp bean sprouts, and brush them with a special savory sauce. They were soft on the outside and crispy on the inside, with an irresistible aroma. The next dish was Xuanzi jelly: made from pea starch, it was crystal clear, smooth, and chewy. It was scraped into thin strips using a special "xuanzi" tool with many small holes, and then topped with chili oil, vinegar, garlic water, crushed peanuts, and stir-fried pickled mustard greens. It was sour, spicy, and appetizing, especially suitable for summer. As for soups, she opted for bone broth wontons, made with pork bones simmered over low heat to create a milky white, rich soup. The wonton wrappers were as thin as cicada wings, and the filling consisted of finely chopped pork mixed with a touch of crisp shepherd's purse, sprinkled with chopped green onions and ground pepper. The soup was flavorful and the filling tender. After much deliberation, she decided to make some braised tofu as a staple snack. The tofu soaked up the broth, was inexpensive, and yet satisfying.
These foods are made with common ingredients and are priced affordably. Pancakes and jelly noodles cost three to five coins a serving, wontons cost eight coins a bowl, and snacks are even cheaper, making them affordable for ordinary people.
After nearly half a month of purchasing ingredients, adjusting the flavors, and preparing the utensils, "Manxin Food Shop" was finally ready to open. For the first three days, Yu Man offered a simple promotion: "Buy a bowl of wontons and get a free snack" or "Pancakes and cold noodles with this dish for two coins less." Madam Sun was also very generous, praising Yu Man's skills to everyone she met, which attracted many regular customers from Yuelai Restaurant who came out of curiosity to try it.
This inexpensive, delicious, and hearty food quickly spread throughout the southern part of the city. The brand-new wooden cart in front of the small food stall was always surrounded by people, and the few tables for dining in were rarely empty from morning to night. "Manxin Food Shop" was a thriving success.
...
Zhang Hu had always disliked Yu Chengfu, who was a quiet and reserved person, but his employer loved to assign him work, simply because that man had a scholar as a son-in-law.
He couldn't help but take a bite of the dry biscuit with resentment, and as he listened to the others praising "Manxin Food Shop," Yu Chengfu wore another silly grin.
Is it really that delicious? Aren't you afraid of overpraising it and ruining it?
On his day off, Zhang Hu told his mother to eat first and not wait for him. He then headed towards the Manxin Food Shop, remembering their previous conversation. He was determined to find something to criticize. Before he even reached the alleyway, he was startled by the massive crowd in front of the shop. The brand-new wooden cart was surrounded by layers of people, and the small square tables inside were packed. Many others held small bamboo tags with numbers on them, squatting or standing in the shade, chatting while their eyes frequently glanced towards the shop entrance.
"Goodness, this is quite a sight..." Zhang Hu touched the slightly prickly fake beard he had specially glued on for disguise, feeling a bit uneasy. He had initially thought it was just a small stall run by a country girl; what kind of business could it possibly have? He hadn't expected it to be so bustling. He mingled in the crowd, listening to the people in front of him discussing:
"Excuse me, I'd like to get a number. I'd like to dine in."
"I'd like two pancakes, to go."
A young man, wearing a clean apron and moving nimbly, deftly collected money while taking out small bamboo tags from a tube next to him and handing them to customers in order, all the while calling out: "Dine-in customers, please have a seat, we'll call your number as soon as a table becomes available! Takeout customers, line up here, it'll be ready in a minute! It's hot, so customers waiting in line can have a free bowl of our shop's homemade plum juice to cool off!"
Sure enough, on a small table nearby, there was a large wooden bucket and several rough earthenware bowls. Those who were waiting impatiently scooped out a bowl, gulped it down, and found it refreshing and thirst-quenching, which calmed their anxiety considerably.
Zhang Hu was secretly amazed. This daughter of Old Yu really had some skills, turning this small stall into something like a high-class restaurant in the city, and even knowing how to use plum juice to appease customers. He patiently waited for almost half an hour, his legs aching from standing, before he finally heard his number called.
He pulled his straw hat down low, squeezed to a small square table that had just been vacated, and deliberately ordered two things he thought were easiest to find fault with: "A multigrain and mushroom pancake, and a bowl of swirl-shaped cold noodles!"
"Alright! Please wait a moment, sir!" The helper noted it down and quickly called out to the kitchen.
While waiting, Zhang Hu casually glanced around. The dine-in customers were men, women, young and old, eating in various ways, but most wore expressions of satisfaction. Those who had just gotten their hands on pancakes took a bite, the pancakes crackling loudly, their aroma filling his nostrils; those eating cold noodles slurped them down with gusto, sweat beading on their foreheads, yet their faces beaming with enjoyment. The air was filled with the enticing aroma of food, making his stomach rumble with anticipation.
Finally, his pancakes and jelly were served. The pancakes were golden and crispy, revealing the rich filling inside; the jelly was crystal clear, soaked in a bright red broth, and topped with emerald green scallions and golden-brown crushed peanuts, looking refreshing.
Unexpectedly, the person carrying the tray to serve the dishes was none other than Yu Chengfu, wearing an apron and sweating profusely! It turned out that Yu Chengfu felt sorry for his daughter's hard work, so he took the initiative to come to the store to help serve dishes and assist her on his days off.
The two men locked eyes, and a hint of guilt and embarrassment flashed across the coworker's face. Yu Chengfu, on the other hand, smiled憨厚ly, said nothing, and steadily placed the food in front of him.
Zhang Hu snorted inwardly, picked up his chopsticks, and first took a bite of cold jelly, then put it into his mouth with a picky attitude—the next second, his eyes widened suddenly!
The jelly was smooth and chewy, the hot and sour sauce stimulated the taste buds just right, the garlic was rich, the crushed peanuts added fragrance, and the pickled mustard greens enhanced the flavor. The flavors were distinct yet blended together perfectly. One bite and the summer heat was gone, and the appetite was whetted! This... this was even better than the best jelly stall in town that he had eaten before!
Unconvinced, he took another bite of the pancake. The outer layer was crispy and fragrant, while the filling of mushrooms and bean sprouts inside was incredibly flavorful with a unique savory sauce. It had a satisfying chewiness and a rich texture, becoming more fragrant with each bite—completely unlike the dry and bland pancake he had imagined!
All the nitpicking he had prepared—"the pancake is too hard," "the noodles are tasteless," "there's not enough filling"—was stuck in his throat, and he couldn't utter a single word. He subconsciously quickened his chewing pace, taking a bite of pancake and a bite of cold noodles, eating with gusto until sweat beaded on his forehead.
He had long forgotten about his pretense, and his fake mustache was crooked from eating so fast. He even imitated the people at the next table, beckoning for a bowl of free plum juice, which he gulped down. The sweet, sour, and icy taste washed away his previous heat and pickiness.
When the bowls and plates were empty, Zhang Hu rubbed his slightly full stomach, looking at the busy Yu Man and Yu Chengfu who was helping to wipe the table, his face burning with embarrassment. He silently put down the money for the meal, pulled his hat down low, and slunk out of the crowd.
On the way back, Zhang Hu had only one thought in his mind: This old man Yu really raised a good daughter! Her skills are amazing! From now on... he'll probably be a regular at "Manxin Food Shop".
Wait, I forgot to pack one for Mom?
...
As dusk settled, the bustling "Manxin Food Shop" finally quieted down after a long day. Yu Man saw off the last auntie who had packed up some braised tofu to add flavor to her home. She felt a sharp pain in her back and arms, almost too weak to lift. As she bent over to tidy up the greasy utensils on her cart, preparing to close up shop, a soft, slightly hesitant, and somewhat scholarly female voice sounded beside her:
"Excuse me... is this 'Yu Family Restaurant'?"
Yu Man straightened up and looked in the direction of the sound. She saw a young woman standing in front of the stall, about sixteen or seventeen years old, dressed in a simple, moon-white ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), with a light blue half-sleeved garment over it. The fabric was soft and delicate, unlike anything found in ordinary farmhouses. She had delicate features, fair skin, and an air of quiet detachment rarely seen in ordinary village girls or town women, as if she had been immersed in books and ink for many years. Her hands were slender and clean, with neatly trimmed nails. Her gaze fell on Yu Man, carrying a subtle hint of scrutiny and confirmation.
Yu Man thought for a moment and confirmed that this was not today's customer. She nodded and said in a calm tone, "The shop is indeed run by the Yu family. And you are...?"
Upon hearing this, the woman seemed to breathe a sigh of relief, took another step forward, and spoke in a soft voice, yet with an indescribable mix of emotions. She looked at Yu Man and spoke clearly, word by word:
"Are you Madam Yu Man? My surname is Chen." She paused, as if it would take a lot of effort to say the next words. Her slender fingers curled up unconsciously before she continued, "I am... Senior Brother Pei Ji's classmate."
Yu Man had never heard Pei Ji mention this person before, but she found out the moment later.
The electronic pet alarm went off: [Warning! Key figure detected—Chen Jingshu! The first important female character in the original story! Identity: Only daughter of the headmaster of Shanqing Academy, harboring long-standing admiration for the male protagonist! Relevance: Extremely high! Threat level: Medium-high! Host, please be vigilant! Repeat, please be vigilant! *Buzz—!*]
A note from the author:
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The next chapter will be available for purchase, updated on Thursday, and will be a combined three-chapter release. Thank you for your support, my darlings! [pat on the head] Daily updates after purchase.
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