Chapter 64

Chapter 64: Benefactor

It was market day again.

They prepared more ingredients than last time. Before the sky had fully brightened, they were already on the rickety ox cart, rolling into the county town with stiff backs and warm hands.

They found the same spot with practiced ease. The movable cart opened with familiar creaks, and they had barely hung up the sign—Always Smiling Eatery—when someone hurried over.

“Oh my, little boss, you’re finally here,” an auntie said, beaming. “Ever since I tasted your cooking, I don’t want anyone else’s pancakes. You should come sell in town every day. I’ll camp right here to eat.”

Li Tao Hua laughed. “Auntie, you’re early. What do you want today?”

“A roujiamo, a scallion pancake, and a shouzhua pancake,” the auntie said promptly. “Add an extra fried egg on the shouzhua pancake—my old man loves it.”

With only one guest at first, Tang Lu Wu took the order, but she couldn’t manage everything alone. Qin Hui Yin and Li Tao Hua moved in beside her, hands quick, rhythm smooth. The auntie walked away hugging her food like treasure.

As soon as she left, more customers arrived.

Last time they’d made a name for themselves, and returning customers came looking for them without being coaxed. And once you had returning customers, you didn’t fear an empty stall. The fragrance alone did the rest—skewers simmering, spices blooming in hot broth—drawing greedy mouths like a hook.

Seeing that most nearby stalls sold vegetables, Qin Hui Yin called out to the guests waiting in line. “Honored guests, if you want vegetables, you can buy them while you wait. Go to the aunties on either side—fresh produce, big and crisp. You won’t be disappointed.”

Some stall owners had been jealous at first, watching the line form like a dragon. But the young miss wasn’t competing with them; she was helping them. That softened hearts quickly.

The quickest-witted auntie grinned and said, “Young miss, I see you’ve got a lot of vegetables in that pot too. If you run short, come to me. I’ll give you a better price.”

“Great,” Qin Hui Yin said warmly. “Thank you, Auntie.”

She fished out several vegetarian skewers from the mala tang pot and had Tang Lu Wu carry them to the stall owners on both sides. The market was crowded, and their line clogged the lane, but once the neighboring sellers tasted the benefits, any complaints died in their throats.

Then a commotion rose not far away.

People in line turned at once. When they saw uniforms, they scattered as if the ground had caught fire. In the blink of an eye, the “dragon” vanished, leaving only the stall and the smell of food hanging in the air.

A group of yamen runners strode straight toward them.

The lead runner stopped in front of the cart and eyed the skewers. “What is this? I’ve never seen it before.”

Li Tao Hua picked up a skewer and offered it with both hands. “Sir, these are breakfasts we came up with ourselves. You work hard handling cases—it’s tiring. Consider this our small token of respect.”

The runner took a bite. His eyes brightened at once. “Tastes good,” he said around the mouthful. “How much?”

Qin Hui Yin stepped forward, polite and steady. “Meat is two wen per skewer, vegetables are one wen. We truly shouldn’t charge you, since you constable brothers work hard for us commoners. But we’ve heard the county magistrate is strict and fair, and he keeps a tight rein on his men. If we didn’t take your money, we’d be putting you in a bad position. So we’ll sell at a cheaper price—to show our admiration and gratitude.”

Li Tao Hua nodded. “Whatever you sirs want, we’ll sell it to you at cost.”

The yamen runners exchanged looks. In the end, the lead runner ordered briskly: 20 meat skewers, 50 mala tang skewers—30 meat and 20 vegetable—and 12 bowls of cold noodles. No packing. They would eat on the spot and leave afterward.

They pulled the tables and chairs closer and took over every seat the stall had prepared.

Just then, a young man dressed like an attendant from a wealthy household strode over and stopped in front of the sign.

Qin Hui Yin recognized him immediately. “Brother Ying Hai. Are you here to eat too?”

Ying Hai smiled. “What a coincidence. I’m running an errand nearby and saw you, so I came over to say hello. What are you making? It smells amazing.”

“Whatever you want is on me,” Qin Hui Yin said. “Try the skewers first. If they’re not good, you can smash my sign.”

“Brother Ying Hai,” the lead runner called, surprised. “You know them?”

“Of course,” Ying Hai said with a laugh. “This young miss did a favor for our chief steward, and he specifically told us to look after her business.” He turned toward the lead runner. “Brother Feng, we’re on the same side. When you pass by on patrol, help take care of them a bit.”

“That’s no problem,” Feng said, mouth already watering again. “If they’re the chief steward’s friends, then they’re my friends too.”

Ying Hai pulled out a silver ingot. “Constable Captain Feng, I’ll pay their bill.”

Feng’s expression tightened. “No, no. Wouldn’t that be making us commit wrongdoing? The young miss just said it—the county magistrate is strict. If we take commoners’ things, we’ll be punished.”

“We’re friends,” Ying Hai said, waving it off. “What’s wrong with treating a friend? Tomorrow you treat me to wine. I won’t refuse—and I’ll pick the expensive stuff on purpose.”

Feng stopped protesting. He leaned in and began eating with big, satisfied bites.

Qin Hui Yin stared at the ingot in Ying Hai’s hand. “This is too much,” she said, alarmed. “I can’t make change.”

“No need to make change,” Ying Hai said easily. “Just pack up everything that’s left for me.”

Qin Hui Yin blinked. “All of it?”

“Yes.” After tasting the food, a thought had struck him like lightning. If he brought it back for that lord, he might earn another great merit.

Qin Hui Yin raised her voice without hesitation. “Mom, Sister Lu Wu, Younger Brother—pack everything. Third Grandpa, help deliver the goods. Take it all to Brother Ying Hai at Ou Yang Manor.”

“No need to haul it all the way to Ou Yang Manor,” Ying Hai said. “But it’s good if you help me carry it. I didn’t bring a servant boy this time, and I can’t move it alone. Later I’ll point out a place, and this sir can give me a hand.” He nodded toward Feng without ceremony.

Qin Hui Yin’s eyes narrowed with curiosity. “Brother Ying Hai, I just heard you mention the chief steward. Did the Second Steward get promoted?”

“Thanks to you,” Ying Hai said, smiling wider, “his old man is now the top hand in the inner courtyard at Ou Yang Manor. Funny enough, he mentioned you last night. I didn’t expect to run into you today. When I go back and tell him, he’ll be thrilled.”

As he spoke, he pulled out another ingot, heavier than the first.

“That’s too much,” Qin Hui Yin said again, firm this time.

“The first one definitely isn’t enough,” Ying Hai replied. “I don’t feel like hunting down loose silver. Consider this a pre-order for the next batch. Prepare more next time. I’ll send someone to pick it up.”

Qin Hui Yin accepted with both hands, then dipped her head. “All right. Thank you for looking after our business, Brother Ying Hai.”

They moved all the prepared food onto Third Master Tang’s ox cart. Third Master Tang drove off with Ying Hai, and the lane swallowed them as quickly as it had swallowed the crowd earlier.

When the dust settled, their stall was left with raw pancake ingredients and the skewer ingredients that hadn’t been grilled yet.

So they wiped their hands, took a breath, and turned back to what remained.

Next, they could only sell barbecue and pancakes.