The custors this ti were rather unusual—burly n, their tank tops soaked with sweat, carrying a strong odor of perspiration.
The leader scratched his head and asked the person behind him, "Is this the place?"
The one in the back sniffed the air. "Judging by the sll, this must be it."
They had imagined the maker of such delicious food to be a nimble-fingered young lady. Who would’ve thought...
After a brief daze, the group shook off their surprise, and the leader stepped forward to greet her. "Miss, we’re Li Zhengxiong’s coworkers. He recomnded your place to us. The braised food you make is just fantastic. I tried so earlier and couldn’t even wait to eat my lunch—I rushed over to buy more to go with my als!"
During lunch earlier, Li Zhengxiong had shared so of the food he brought, and everyone had tried a bite. The taste was incredible. Comparing it to their own boring side dishes, they found their als nearly inedible.
Tian Sangsang imdiately caught on—Li Zhengxiong had brought her new business.
"Ah, so you’re Brother Li’s friends! Since we’re all acquaintances, I’ll give you a discount. Originally, it’s seventy-five cents a pound, but I’ll make it seventy-two cents for you. If you like it, make sure to co back next ti!"
"We will, sure!"
Each man picked what they wanted to buy and then paid.
One big man wiped his sweaty forehead and said, "The food is delicious, but it’d be better in winter. With the sun blazing like this, I can’t eat too much. Miss, don’t get wrong—it’s not that your food isn’t good. Quite the opposite! The flavor is fantastic. It’s just this heat!"
Tian Sangsang thought for a mont—it made sense. In this sweltering sumr, people usually didn’t have much of an appetite for heavy, greasy foods. Instead, they craved water, popsicles, or a slice of waterlon.
Popsicles and waterlons were rare in this small town. If she could sell these items during the sumr, she might make a decent profit. Still, popsicles were out of the question due to sourcing challenges. Juice seed more feasible, but where would she get the fruits? Buy them? She did grow so fruits in her space, though the variety wasn’t large, and she still needed to get seeds. It seed like she shouldn’t prepare too much braised food next ti—selling pastries would be better. Those could be enjoyed year-round.
"Yanyan, are you hungry? Let’s have lunch now."
Sitting here by the roadside wasn’t very convenient. Once she saved enough money, she would buy a proper shop! Tian Sangsang took out the lunch she brought—it wasn’t much, just rice served in a wooden bowl, paired with so braised dishes and her homade cucumber salad.
ng Shuyan kept picking at the cucumber salad, only eating one braised egg. It seed the heat had killed his appetite as well. They didn’t have a thermos, nor could they carry water. Seeing her little boy occasionally purse his dry, pale lips, Tian Sangsang felt a pang of heartache. Using the ti while eating, she entered her spatial pocket with her consciousness.
The mont she entered her space, it was as if the air conditioning turned on—cool and refreshing.
She floated over to the supermarket area. Opening the fridge, she found a variety of popsicles and chilled drinks. Tian Sangsang grabbed a bottle of sour plum drink, paid 10 greening coins, and then found a glass bottle. This type of glass bottle was practical—like the old glucose containers—with a large bottle body and a cork stopper. She poured the sour plum drink into the bottle, and it felt cool to the touch.
"Here, son, have so sour plum juice." Tian Sangsang acted as if she pulled it from under the cloth beside her, her face beaming with a smile as she spoke.
ng Shuyan was already used to his mother’s habit of magically producing things out of nowhere. He touched the bottle with his small hands, and his eyes lit up imdiately. "Mom, it’s cold!"
"That’s right. Cold drinks can quench your thirst."
He held the bottle carefully in both hands, took a few big gulps, and then handed it back to her. "Mom, you drink too."
Tian Sangsang, thirsty herself, took a sip before returning it to him, letting him hold it to stave off the heat.
"Daddy, it slls so good~~~!" A little girl’s sweet and clear voice drifted over, growing closer to their spot. Tian Sangsang quickly looked up.
"Qianqian, slow down." A man’s warm, gentle voice accompanied the girl.
Their gazes t silently in midair. Xu Yiyuan froze for a mont before breaking into a soft smile at Tian Sangsang. "It’s you."
"Oh!" The little girl in a pink puffy dress suddenly stopped in her tracks as if frightened and darted into the man’s arms. "Daddy, she’s scary!"
Xu Yiyuan crouched down, cradling his daughter while gently patting her back. "Qianqian, don’t be scared—it’s an auntie."
He turned to Tian Sangsang and offered an apologetic smile. "I’m sorry. My daughter doesn’t know any better—please don’t take it to heart."
"It’s nothing." After all, she was thick-skinned; it didn’t bother her. "Your daughter is beautiful." Truly, the little girl was like a pristine Little Tangyuan, flawless and endearing.
"She slled the food and ca running." Xu Yiyuan glanced at her and said, "You’re not selling mung bean cakes today? She really loves the ones you make."
The little girl’s wide, almond-shaped eyes sparkled with unshed tears. She peeked at Tian Sangsang curiously but still seed to find her intimidating. So, the mung bean cakes were made by her? But... she’s so scary!
ng Shuyan bit his lip and frowned at the girl’s expression, which seed to regard his mother as so kind of monster. His bright, inky-black eyes flashed with indignation. He hadn’t forgotten those words she said about his mom!
"Tomorrow I’ll sell mung bean cakes—today, it’s braised food." Tian Sangsang asked, "Would you like so, sir?"
"Sure." He nodded, his gaze lowering as he carefully looked over the options, speaking in a low voice. "Chicken feet, chicken wings, duck webs, duck necks..."
"Daddy, I want a drumstick too." Xu Qianqian lifted her head shyly and whispered in her father’s ear. She thought no one else could hear her, but both Tian Sangsang and ng Shuyan caught every word.
Tian Sangsang smiled softly and added a drumstick to the order. Only then did Xu Qianqian smile widely, but she quickly rembered sothing and resud her aloof deanor, averting her eyes again.
"What a handso little brother~~~!" Xu Qianqian exclaid in awe.
Both father and daughter turned their gazes to ng Shuyan.
"Yanyan, say hi to Uncle and Sister." Tian Sangsang patted his fluffy little head, encouraging him with a gentle tone.
Typically, ng Shuyan was very charming and polite. But this ti, for so reason, he stayed mute, pressing his lips into a tight line and refusing to utter a word, his gaze carrying a faint trace of hostility.
Tian Sangsang could only explain, "Sorry, my son is shy around strangers."
Xu Yiyuan smiled warmly and shook his head to indicate it was no problem.
He bought two dollars’ worth of food. As he was about to leave, he suddenly asked, "Did you write this?"
Tian Sangsang followed his gaze to the handwritten white cardboard sign and looked up in slight confusion. "Yes."
"Your handwriting is very elegant," he said.
Standing so close together, she could even catch a light, clean fragrance from him. Her face heated up instantly, though fortunately, her naturally darker complexion should mask the blush.
"They say handwriting reflects the writer. But in my case..." Tian Sangsang sighed with a hint of self-deprecation. Her handwriting was indeed praised throughout her school days. She had even taken amateur calligraphy classes and competed in city-level contests.
"No matter—it’s a sign of inner refinent." Xu Yiyuan remarked softly before walking away, carrying his daughter in his arms.
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