Chapter 27: Second Update

With Zhao Huiru’s assistance, Lin Xuexia found her day much more comfortable. For the most part, she stayed at the side to collect payments, even helping Gao Chunyan when the latter was too busy. With three people working together, washing the dishes and chopsticks went much faster.

Entrusting Gao Chunyan to manage the stall, Lin Xuexia had gone out early in the morning to select some high-quality pork belly and plum blossom pork. Meat that everyone scrambled for couldn't be left for the afternoon; by then, it would be too late, and the best cuts would already be picked over. Beef, on the other hand, could be bought as a bargain in the evening—whatever was left, she would take, often at a reduced price. Like fresh produce, most meat was expensive in the morning but reached standard prices by the afternoon. After six or seven in the evening, whatever remained would be heavily discounted; the later it got, the cheaper it became. Of course, what was left were usually the bruised and withered scraps, as the good produce had long since been picked clean. Many people went out after dark to hunt for bargains, but not everyone had the time. Furthermore, if too many people went looking for deals, the prices didn't stay low, and anything worth buying was usually sold out early.

Unable to use the small shop’s freezer, Lin Xuexia had to swallow her pride and keep borrowing the refrigerator at Gao Chunyan’s house. She would head back at noon to help store the meat; given the local climate, fresh meat would easily spoil if not refrigerated.

There was no char siu that day, but the braised beef rice was still packed with customers. Beef has high protein content and takes a long time to digest, making it very satiating. Eating just a few pieces of beef, paired with some greens, rice, and an egg, was enough to keep one from feeling hungry all afternoon. Previously, when there was no meat to be had, many people would eat several large bowls of rice or many steamed buns just to fill their stomachs. However, rice and flour were mostly carbohydrates; they digested quickly, and hunger would set in just as fast. Lin Xuexia’s braised beef rice was cheap, delicious, and incredibly filling, earning her many repeat customers after only one day.

She and Zhao Huiru had boiled the eggs early on, cutting them all in half and keeping them warm in a steamer. When someone came to buy a meal, it was a bowl of white rice topped with half an egg, a portion of braised beef, a side of savory cold dish, and fresh greens with soy sauce, all drizzled with a spoonful of rich sauce that made it look incredibly appetizing. As Zhao Huiru served the food, she couldn't help but swallow her own saliva; this job, if nothing else, was a real "feast for the eyes."

Lin Xuexia had expected to have some left for the evening, but there were so many customers at noon that the meat sold out quickly. The vegetables were all gone, too!

"Little boss, your braised beef rice is delicious, but it would be even better if you could add some chili."

Many of the customers who came to buy food were chili lovers. Although they had chili sauce at home, they were tired of it. It would be perfect if the meal came with a different kind of chili sauce.

Gao Chunyan chimed in, "If you want chili, I'll add a spoonful for you." She was very generous, offering the chili for free to anyone who asked. Personally, she also loved adding chili when she ate the braised beef rice Lin Xuexia prepared. Seeing this, Lin Xuexia began to ponder making some spicy side sauces, such as chopped chili with garlic or shredded radish with chili—nothing too salty or too spicy, just something rich and fragrant to go with the rice.

After the food was sold out, Lin Xuexia’s bag was once again stuffed with loose change, which put her in a great mood. She sat down with Gao Chunyan and Zhao Huiru to have lunch. Since it was a late lunch, Lin Xuexia didn't skimp; she didn't want to deprive herself. The braised beef was gone, so she cooked something fresh. She had kept a small piece of pork belly from the morning, about 120 grams, and simply stir-fried it into a "twice-cooked" pork dish, accompanied by chives with eggs and stir-fried greens. The cost of the ingredients was just over a yuan, less than two. She divided all the food into three equal portions in separate bowls.

Lin Xuexia said to Zhao Huiru, "Lunch is provided here, so you can eat with us. You can take home whatever we don't finish."

Zhao Huiru was pleasantly surprised. She didn't really need to take food home, but being able to eat some meat with her boss every day was a benefit she couldn't have asked for. Not to mention that the food Lin Xuexia cooked was better than the stir-fry at any restaurant; for a moment, Zhao Huiru felt like she was in heaven. She couldn't wait to work even harder, determined to scrub all the pots and pans clean that afternoon.

"Here, try this."

Gao Chunyan brought out her homemade sour and spicy chopped chili with ginger strips as a side dish. It was very spicy, and most people couldn't really handle it. Zhao Huiru took a bite and immediately gasped, unable to bear it. "This is too spicy, way too spicy!"

The heat of the chopped chili and the sharpness of the ginger made her tongue feel like it was on fire; she felt as if she were about to smoke. Tears welled up in Zhao Huiru’s eyes. "Do you just eat this straight? You guys can really handle your spice."

Gao Chunyan and Lin Xuexia couldn't help but laugh.

Lin Xuexia said, "Eat a little of this with noodles. If you're afraid of the heat, soak it in the noodle broth for a while, and it won't be as spicy."

Zhao Huiru ate with tears in her eyes. She felt it was truly spicy, but it was also incredibly stimulating, making the rice and vegetables taste even better. After finishing one piece of ginger, she couldn't resist picking up another; the more she ate, the more she wanted.

Mindful of her pregnancy, Lin Xuexia tried to avoid pickled foods, so she didn't try any. Seeing this, Gao Chunyan asked, "Why aren't you eating? Go ahead, try some."

Lin Xuexia replied, "I haven't been feeling well lately, so I can't eat anything too spicy."

"Oh, take care of yourself, then. Make sure to get some rest." Gao Chunyan expressed her understanding without asking further; there were many reasons why a woman might not be feeling well.

In the afternoon, the wind suddenly picked up, making the rain canopy overhead clatter and causing a sense of unease. It looked like the weather was turning; there might be rain in the night. Seeing the signs, Gao Chunyan couldn't help but sigh. Rain was troublesome—when running a street stall, the greatest fear was wind and rain, or a typhoon. If a typhoon came, it wasn't just about the stall; you couldn't even leave your house.

"Xuexia, your sticky rice and porridge have become famous. This morning, some elementary school students even detoured to buy some, saying yours is better than what they sell at the school gate. My eldest daughter’s school isn't too far from here..."

There were two elementary schools and a kindergarten nearby, plus a private nursery. One elementary school was public and one was private. Gao Chunyan and her husband had gone to great lengths, begging everyone they knew, to get their eldest daughter into the public school. Their son was in the preschool class attached to the public school, which would allow him to advance directly to the elementary school—much easier than trying to transfer in later. To handle their children's education, the couple had spent a significant portion of their savings.

Business had been good for these past few days, easing Gao Chunyan’s urgent needs. Seeing the rain approaching, which would inevitably affect business, she sighed, "I hope it doesn't rain tomorrow. That’s the trouble with street stalls—if the rain is too heavy, you can't really set up."

"It doesn't get too cold here in the winter, but those nasty winds are something else."

Lin Xuexia suggested, "Auntie Chunyan, once we earn more money next month, let's get a better rain canopy—the kind with stainless steel pipes that can block the wind on three sides."

"That's a good idea," Gao Chunyan said with a straight face. It was a good idea, but it was expensive, and her heart ached at the thought.

Lin Xuexia insisted, "We need to change what needs changing. We can't skimp on these things. With a better environment, we'll get more customers. Look at how many repeat customers we've had these past few days."

Although many people in this area came to the market, it wasn't like a train station where business was one-off. There was a small department store along the road and a farmers' market nearby, which had three floors of various vendors. With so many permanent sellers who didn't go home for lunch, if they kept things clean and affordable, they wouldn't have to worry about a lack of repeat customers.

"I think we shouldn't just wash these dishes and chopsticks by hand. It's better to get a large pot and boil them to disinfect them. People are becoming more particular these days, and clean dishes will give them peace of mind." Lin Xuexia hadn't been that fastidious before, but having lived in luxury for so many years, she couldn't bring herself to eat if the dishes weren't disinfected or at least scalded with boiling water.

Gao Chunyan wanted to object, thinking it was too much trouble, but she had to admit that Lin Xuexia was right. Normal people liked cleanliness and hygiene, and she was no exception. Being in a clean and tidy environment naturally improved one's mood and increased their appetite. Previously, she had been working alone and couldn't keep up, so she kept things simple. Now that Lin Xuexia had hired Zhao Huiru, they had the extra hands, so disinfecting the dishes wouldn't be too much of a chore. Besides, Gao Chunyan thought to herself, since she had hired someone, she couldn't let her be too relaxed; having her do more work made it worth the cost. Thinking this way, she felt as though she had gotten the better end of the deal. However, many of the bowls, chopsticks, and steamers Lin Xuexia used were Gao Chunyan’s, which saved her some expenses, so it was a mutually beneficial arrangement.

Gao Chunyan pondered it over and over, suddenly feeling that Lin Xuexia was a broad-minded girl who dared to think and act. Spend a little to earn a lot—that was the logic.

"Xuexia, I'll listen to you." Gao Chunyan suppressed her heartache and made up her mind. "I'll take care of changing the rain canopy. You don't need to pay for that; save your money to buy the freezer."

Lin Xuexia smiled. "Okay."

Although the weather had changed, it didn't rain. A young man came over to tell Lin Xuexia, "Sister-in-law, Brother Wei said he'll send you a freezer this evening."

"Is that so? Thank you for making the trip." Once she thanked him, most of the food at the stall was sold out. Feeling bad about letting him leave empty-handed, she wanted to invite him to have a bowl of rice noodles at Auntie Chunyan's, but the young man declined. Lin Xuexia remembered there were two or three boiled eggs left, so she gave him one and kept the rest for Fu Wei.

"Thank you, sister-in-law." The young man smiled and rode off on his bicycle.

*

Fu Wei had taken on a job helping someone build a house and had organized a renovation crew to handle painting and decorating for several unit offices. He oversaw everything and went to check on the progress every day. He was currently at the construction site, where Zhong Xiangdong and Xue Xiaoshan had helped him haul a batch of building materials.

They happened to run into the young man who had delivered the message. The young man couldn't stop praising her: "Sister-in-law is truly young and beautiful; Brother Wei is a lucky man." He added, "This boiled egg is what she gave me just now."

Zhong Xiangdong hadn't met Fu Wei’s partner in person yet. Hearing everyone who had seen Lin Xuexia describe her as beautiful and virtuous, he couldn't help but feel envious and jealous. If one person said it, it might be a lie, but if everyone said it, it had to be true. At the very least, it was true that he had found a beautiful wife!

Fu Wei said, "I'm going to check the goods."

He took off his thin shirt, rolled it up, and placed it right in the center of a chair, rather than on the plastic bag on the ground or the back of the bamboo chair. As Fu Wei went to count the materials, Zhong Xiangdong glanced at his clothes and his eyes lit up. He noticed something on Fu Wei’s shirt—a boiled egg. Remembering what the young man had said, it was obvious where the egg came from; it must have been sent by his wife.

Zhong Xiangdong quietly picked up the egg, thinking, *As good brothers, eating one of your eggs shouldn't be a big deal.*

He peeled the egg, took a bite, and his face turned green.

*Fu Wei, your wife is trying to poison me!*