"Master, look, they're all eating tofu pudding and fried dough sticks. They look delicious," Shi Tou said to Min Yueqing after looking at them.
Min Yueqing felt very relaxed in this atmosphere, and immediately took out her purse and said to Shi Tou, "Then you go and order, order all the things you think are delicious to try."
Stone was overjoyed at this, and dashed off to the landlady to order food.
Breakfast portions are usually small, and with Shi Tou's appetite, he could easily finish several servings by himself. Therefore, Min Yueqing waved her hand and told him to go all out, assuring him that he wouldn't be able to finish it.
A short while later, Shi Tou returned carrying a tray in both hands, followed by the proprietress, who was also carrying a large tray.
Other customers immediately teased, "Oh, why is the proprietress doing it herself today? It's infuriating to compare ourselves to others; we all went to get our own food."
The proprietress didn't back down either, immediately retorting, "I do what I want, so what? You have a problem with that?"
Of course, no one else dared to object. They were all regular customers of the shop, and most of them were locals. Don't be fooled by the owner's bad attitude; she was a skilled cook. When it came to breakfast on this street, no one could beat her.
At this moment, after being rebuked by her, the people who had just spoken burst into laughter, saying, "No, how could we dare to have any objections? Hahaha."
Min Yueqing then realized that she had been treated like a VIP. She smiled at the proprietress and said, "Thank you for your kindness, proprietress."
The proprietress deftly placed the items from the tray onto the table, waved her hand magnanimously, and said, "I can tell you were just passing by. It's quite a coincidence that you came into my shop. Doing this little thing is nothing. Enjoy your meal, and come back for more if you need more." With that, she took the tray and left.
Min Yueqing thought the proprietress had a very straightforward personality.
Pei Ji rarely met such a forthright woman and found it quite unusual. He watched the proprietress walk away silently, thinking that it was no wonder that books say it's better to travel ten thousand miles than to read ten thousand books, and his father had also said that many scholars had a tradition of traveling for study, as traveling around could broaden one's horizons.
Shi Tou first served Min Yueqing and Pei Ji each a bowl of tofu pudding, urging them, "Try it quickly, the proprietress said it tastes best when it's hot."
This is the salty tofu pudding from the North. Min Yueqing took a bite with a touch of nostalgia, and it was indeed the same taste as before—tender and smooth, full of bean flavor, and with a hint of saltiness from the broth.
Pei Ji felt that this tofu pudding was a little different from what he had seen before. The family had made tofu pudding before, but it was topped with a little osmanthus honey and was crystal clear. But this bowl in front of him was black.
Seeing how much Min Yueqing and Shi Tou were enjoying their food, he still took a spoonful with some skepticism. The taste was indeed completely different from what he had eaten before. However, Pei Ji pursed his lips and found it not bad at all. He even tasted a hint of flavor he hadn't noticed before, so he naturally accepted this new method.
The little cub thought to himself, "Not only can you not judge a book by its cover, but you can't judge food by its appearance either."
Besides the tofu pudding, the fried dough sticks, pancakes, and steamed buns at this shop were also quite delicious. The three of them ate their fill, and Shi Tou couldn't help but exclaim, "They're much better than what we make at the inn!"
Although the stone isn't picky about food, it doesn't mean it can't distinguish between good and bad taste. If the food isn't tasty, it's simply about filling its stomach; if the food is tasty, it's about satisfying both its stomach and its taste buds.
Upon hearing this, Min Yueqing and Pei Ji shared the same sentiment, realizing that everyone has their own area of expertise.
Once outside the store, Min Yueqing began to stroll around. There were many vendors along the way, and some of the things they sold were quite interesting.
Suddenly, Min Yueqing was drawn to a small stall on the edge of the street. The stall owner was an old man, and in front of him was a simple wooden frame. On top of the frame were exquisite paper-cuts that were completely out of place with the simple atmosphere of the stall.
Min Yueqing walked towards the stall without thinking. As she got closer, she could see it more clearly. In front of the old man were three red paper-cut works: one was a double happiness character with flowers in full bloom, another was a picture of fish playing among lotus leaves, and the third was a magpie standing on a treetop.
The three works contain a variety of elements such as text, flowers and birds, and plants, yet they are not at all out of place. The details are depicted so vividly that each one is exquisite.
Min Yueqing was mesmerized by the sight, and her only feeling was that it was truly heaven's help that no one cared about such a work!
Judging from their size, these works should be intended for window decorations or wall decorations, but Min Yueqing doubted whether she would be willing to put them up after buying them.
The reason is simple: it's just too exquisite, practically an art form. Posting it out would feel like a waste.
Pei Ji saw Min Yueqing staring intently, but the wooden frame was a bit too high. Even when he stood on tiptoe, he could only see a rough outline. He was so anxious that he grabbed Min Yueqing's hand and said, "Mother, what is it? I want to see it too."
Min Yueqing was brought back to her senses by the little boy, and only then did she realize that the little boy couldn't see. She picked him up and asked the stall owner, "Sir, how much are these paper-cuts?"
The old man's surname is Lin, and most people call him Lao Lin.
Old Lin saw that Min Yueqing had been standing in front of the stall for a long time without saying a word. If it weren't for her refined and beautiful appearance, he probably would have already told her to leave.
Hearing her speak politely, he replied calmly, "Fifty coins for one piece."
Min Yueqing's first thought was that it was too cheap, so she quickly said, "I'll take all three of them. Do you have any more paper-cuttings like these?"
Seeing that she genuinely wanted to buy it and wasn't even haggling over the price, Old Lin suddenly felt that there were still people in the world who knew their stuff. "I have a few more at home, some large ones that can be used as wallpaper or quilt covers, and some small ones that would be perfect for making fan surfaces."
Min Yueqing immediately took out a silver ingot, which weighed about ten taels, and placed it directly on the shelf in front of Old Lin, saying, "Old man, I'll take everything from your house. If this ingot isn't enough, I'll make up the difference later."
Old Lin was startled. He picked up the silver and tried to put it back at her, scolding, "You young people, how can you be so bad at counting? Where would I get so many paper cuttings? Take this money back right now, it's all you owe me!"
Min Yueqing was both amused and exasperated. She finally understood why the old man's stall was so deserted. Customers paid him but were instead lectured. Most people would find that unbearable.
Min Yueqing quickly explained, "Grandpa, I really love your cooking. Please keep this money for now. If you end up with too much, you can just give me the change, right?"
Old Lin couldn't retaliate after hearing this.
Normally, when people come to inquire about his price, they either shake their heads and leave when they hear that a piece of paper cutting that is neither edible nor drinkable costs fifty coins, or they curse him for overcharging and not knowing his own worth. It's rare to find someone who genuinely appreciates his craftsmanship and speaks so kindly about it.
Old Lin was flattered to the point that he suppressed his temper and stopped worrying about the silver ingot. Instead, he started thinking about how many paper-cuts he had at home.
Actually, Old Lin wasn't always so poor. In his younger days, he made quite a bit of money with his family's traditional craft and even opened a small shop. Life was pretty good. Unfortunately, his good luck ran out, and he encountered a heartless wretch. Alas...
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