"If it’s convenient," Tian Sangsang replied, "but the fare must be doubled."
Seeing that Li Zhengxiong was about to refuse, Tian Sangsang quickly continued without giving him a chance to speak, "If it were just a coincidence, not paying once or twice would be fine. But now it’s no longer a coincidence. Brother Li, if you don’t accept the money, I’ll feel uneasy. I’d rather walk back."
"Alright then." Li Zhengxiong had no choice. He looked at her intently and said, "A round trip, five cents. We’re all from the sa place, I won’t cheat you."
Tian Sangsang humd in agreent. That was indeed very cheap; it was practically a friends-and-family discount.
ng Shuyan waved his little hand, his peach blossom-shaped eyes curving as he smiled. "Goodbye, Uncle Li."
Li Zhengxiong’s body stiffened sharply. The child’s soft milky voice turned his brain to mush instantly. Stumbling over his words, he managed to say, "G-Goodbye." Then, as though fleeing from the scene, he hurried away.
"Mom, Uncle Li is so strange. He seems like he’s afraid of ," ng Shuyan said, pouting.
Tian Sangsang chuckled, "He’s not afraid of you. He likes you! When you see him in the future, talk to him more."
"Alright." ng Shuyan agreed, then added, "Uncle Li is pretty nice. He’s good to both and Mom."
At their usual spot, Tian Sangsang spread a piece of cloth on the ground. ng Shuyan held onto one corner, helping to pull it taut. Two earthen jars were carefully lifted out of a bamboo basket. Each jar stood about forty centiters tall and thirty centiters long—not too big. Their dark brown surfaces gave off a rustic charm. The mont they were opened, a rich aroma filled the air.
To make her offerings more visible, Tian Sangsang had specially cleaned a large glass milk bottle, placing a small sampling of each item inside for display.
She also prepared a bowl, filling it with so braised tofu for tasting. The tofu pieces were deliberately cut into small cubes—giving away too much wouldn’t be worth it. The idea was for people to try the flavor. If the tofu’s fragrance could draw them in, then delicacies like pig trotters and chicken legs would surely seal the deal!
"Missy, what are you selling? It slls amazing!" At this hour, there were hardly any other vendors around—just a few folks selling surplus produce from their hos. An auntie nearby was one of them.
"Homade pig trotters, duck feet, duck necks, chicken legs, chicken wings—all sorts of odds and ends," Tian Sangsang said as she pulled out a white cardboard sign she’d prepared. On it, she’d written in bold characters: Braised Food. Seven cents and five per pound. Free samples available.
"Is it braised?" the auntie asked.
"Yes, it is."
"We braise stuff every Chinese New Year at ho too, but it’s never as fragrant as yours. Yours slls incredible!"
Tian Sangsang blinked innocently, "Auntie, to be honest, this is made with my family’s secret recipe. The flavor, of course, is naturally rich."
"A secret recipe, huh?" The auntie nodded knowingly. Secret recipes always promised sothing special.
Perhaps the price was a bit steep. Passersby would glance at the white signboard, then at ng Shuyan, and finally at Tian Sangsang—without stopping. So, unable to read, would inquire about the price. Upon hearing it was seven cents and five per pound, they’d exclaim, "Way too expensive! Not buying, not buying!" and walk off. How could such things cost so much?
Tian Sangsang was speechless; it was worth the price, after all.
"Pig trotters, pig trotters—delicious pig trotters, seven cents and five per pound! Chicken legs, chicken legs—fragrant chicken legs, seven cents and five per pound! Duck feet, duck feet—aromatic duck feet, seven cents and five per pound! Free samples of tofu! Free tofu tasting, completely free! If it’s not good, don’t buy it. But once you taste it, you’ll want more!" Left with no choice due to the lack of business, Tian Sangsang started calling out to attract custors.
"Hey, young lady, it’s you again!" A familiar woman from the other day approached, grinning from ear to ear. "I haven’t seen you in two days. That green bean cake you sold last ti—it was delicious! I regret not buying more. My son kept complaining that there wasn’t enough."
"Sister, I’ve been waiting for you!" Seeing a familiar face, Tian Sangsang felt a rush of warmth.
"Do you still have the green bean cakes?" The woman looked around as she spoke, taking a deep sniff. Her eyes imdiately locked on the jars. "What’s that? It slls incredible!"
"Sister, no green bean cakes today. But I do have braised food, made with our family’s secret recipe. Pig trotters, duck necks, duck feet, chicken legs, chicken wings—and braised eggs! They’re perfect with rice. Plus, you can try a free sample of the tofu to get a taste. Want to give it a go?" Tian Sangsang explained patiently.
The woman was already tempted just by the sll. Hearing about the free sample, she couldn’t resist. She quickly grabbed her chopsticks to pick up a piece of tofu. After savoring it, its rich aroma lingered on her palate, tantalizing her taste buds. Unable to help herself, she picked up a second piece.
Tian Sangsang: "..." Didn’t we agree on just one?
"Delicious! So delicious!" The woman squinted her eyes in delight, nodding repeatedly. "I’ll take so! How much per pound?"
"Seven cents and five per pound," Tian Sangsang replied.
However, upon hearing the price, the woman hesitated. "Young lady, that’s a bit pricey. A pound of pork only costs seven cents and five."
"Sister, pork is good, sure, but this is premium!" Tian Sangsang raised an eyebrow and gestured toward her jars of braised food. "Look, when you buy pork, you still have to cook it yourself. But what I’m offering is ready-to-eat. Just pair it with rice and enjoy. Plus, you have so many options—picking a leg, munching on a wing—it’s much more versatile. Only eating pork gets boring."
The woman smacked her lips, "It’s still a bit expensive. Young lady, I’m practically your regular custor. I’ll definitely co back to buy again. Let’s say seven cents and two per pound, deal? I’ll buy two pounds."
"Sister, everyone’s got to make a living. I also have a son to raise," Tian Sangsang said, sighing. "Two pounds—how about this: seven cents and three per pound. That’s my lowest offer."
The ntion of her son froze the woman in place. Her focus imdiately shifted. Following Tian Sangsang’s hand, the woman finally noticed the little boy wearing a hat. He lifted his head, his clear, bright eyes shining like a tranquil lake. With his fair, chubby cheeks, the woman couldn’t help exclaiming, "What a handso child!"
ng Shuyan, tasked only with looking cute, maintained his usual dazed and calm expression in front of strangers. Despite this, his presence was undeniably captivating.
Hearing her son being praised, Tian Sangsang couldn’t help but feel proud. Finally, the woman asked, "Is he really your son?"
Tian Sangsang, knowing what the woman was getting at, didn’t elaborate. She simply nodded lightly. This won the woman’s trust, and she swiftly bought two pounds with a big grin, saying, "I’ll be back for more next ti. Make sure to have those green bean cakes again!" Casting another fond glance at ng Shuyan, the woman left.
With the woman paving the way, it wasn’t long before another custor arrived. However, unlike the woman, this custor was less chatty. After sampling the tofu, they decisively paid without much conversation. Tian Sangsang didn’t mind; this was typical for her. People generally responded to her in this reserved way.
(Sorry everyone, I previously set the tiline too late. A big thank you to book friend Rou Song ng ng Da for the 1,000-point reward, Xi Dao Fei Fei for the 500-point reward, dear Zi Chu for the support, and Shu Cheng book friend "Qu Yi Warm Years" for your generosity. Thank you, mwah! The story’s pacing seems a bit slow in the beginning—please be patient~)
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