Butcher Fulang’s Noodle Shop - Chapter 13
A ship reached Qingjiang Town Pier.
Lin Zhihang, the young owner of the North and South Trading Company, strolled to the ship’s railing, where a canopy provided shade, and gazed into the distance.
Coming from the south, the waterway transformed from rugged and steep to wide and smooth. When the sun’s rays touched the water, it shimmered with a thousand golden lights, and the mountains on the shore were cloaked in lush greenery.
The majestic ambiance lingered over the water, gradually alleviating the oppressive heat.
Qingjiang Town served as a crucial transit point between the north and south. The wharf was grandly constructed, with red sandstone steps extending upward from the riverbank. Many porters, carrying sacks, ascended these steps, their figures diminishing into the distance like ants.
This journey marked Lin Zhihang’s first business venture. He wasn’t accustomed to the hardships endured by the working class and sighed, “It would be wonderful if these steps were less steep. Climbing these over a hundred steps is quite challenging!”
Manager Xiao Li, who stood beside the young master, explained, “These steps will be covered by floodwater during the rainy season if they’re not elevated. Without raising them, it would be submerged for most of the year.”
“I see. So, that’s the reason.”
Upon the ship’s arrival at the pier, the steward Xiao Li had already instructed his seasoned workers to efficiently manage the unloading process. Soon, porters began moving cargo from the ship, laden with fine Hangzhou silk.
Lin Zhihang followed the porters up the steps. As he ascended, perspiration poured from his body, and he found himself panting. However, he soon discovered he had arrived in a spacious square.
In order to facilitate unloading, there were no trees planted, not even a single one in the open space, except for a vast green area with stone slabs reflecting the sun’s scorching heat.
Some old trees were planted around the square’s perimeter. Under the tree shade, food vendors operated carts, and several men were gathered there.
The Lin family was affluent and particularly discerning about their food and attire. Lin Zhihang usually paid no attention to food stalls where the laborers and boatmen ate and drank. These places were often bustling and sweaty, and Lin Zhihang found them unattractive.
However, today was an exception. Despite himself, Lin Zhihang’s legs seemed to have a will of their own, propelling him into the crowd. He peered over to see what the stalls were offering. The smell was so tantalizing.
The men held bowls in their hands, savoring either hot dry noodles or three-fresh tofu skin, and dispersed contentedly. When Lin Zhihang arrived, the stall was near closing. Only a small portion of noodles remained on the chopping board, and a fragment of tofu skin lay discarded, waiting for the vendor to keep it for himself.
“Is it already sold out?” Lin Zhihang inquired mournfully.
He couldn’t help his greediness. Over the past twenty days on the ship, aside from the plain food and fish soups, his meals were limited to basic gruel, and he couldn’t stand the fishy scent any longer. The aroma wafting from the food stalls and the sizeable bowls of other diners nearby were irresistible.
Song Shi’an, experienced in business, rarely encountered such a pitiable tone. He glanced up to find a handsome young master and warmly comforted him, “It’s a bit unlucky that you came at this time. I’m about to close up, and these are the only portions left… If you don’t mind, I can make a fresh batch for you and you can decide how much to pay.”
With a casual tone, he spoke with pursed lips and awaited Lin Zhihang’s response.
Lin Zhihang was taken aback.
Song Shi’an had striking features, including red lips, white teeth, and eyes like autumn water. He hadn’t expected to encounter such a good-looking person in a transit town. Song Shi’an prompted him a few times in bewilderment before he nodded as if awakening from a dream and deposited broken silver into the vendor’s basket.
“Hey, that’s quite a lot!”
As he weighed the broken silver, he realized it was more than a mere trifle. Song Shi’an hadn’t brought a scale to measure the exact change.
Lin Zhihang took a bowl, scooped up some noodles, and lost himself in the delicious taste.
The first bite had a slightly unusual taste, but it was fragrant. By the second bite, it was delicious, with the tangy mix of sour beans and spicy radish adding a refreshing crunch. The third bite… and it was gone.
The three-fresh tofu skins were equally delectable, especially the dried bamboo shoots mixed in with the glutinous rice, providing the finishing touch.
Lin Zhihang held the same bowls and chopsticks used by the other porters without hesitation. He savored the last remnants of dried tofu dices at the bottom of the bowl with focused concentration.
Once the bowl was empty, Song Shi’an opened a wooden barrel. Given the hot weather, he had wrapped the outside of the barrel in an old quilt and served Lin Zhihang a generous bowl of mung bean and lily soup, chilled by the well water on their voyage.
Lin Zhihang enjoyed the soup thoroughly and gazed at Song Shi’an with increasing admiration. However, he saw Song Shi’an clearing the table, taking a piece of braised pork from beneath, and swiftly slicing it into thin pieces. He then poured on some sauce, sprinkled it with white sesame seeds, and added freshly washed wild vegetables.
Just as Song Shi’an was about to begin assembling the cakes, Lin Zhihang approached eagerly.
“Little boss, it’s clear you still have food left. Why not sell some to me?”
Song Shi’an was taken aback by the request, his face blushing slightly, and he replied hesitantly, “These are leftovers from a while ago. It’s…”
He couldn’t express certain thoughts aloud, but the porters who had playfully engaged with him earlier now listened intently.
Lin Zhihang was not to be discouraged. He retrieved his money pouch with pride, and the silver ingots made a clear jingling sound.
“Little boss, don’t worry about whether I can afford it. Just name your price.” Lin Zhihang had never smelled an aroma as enticing as the one wafting from the braised pork, and his family, which had connections spanning from north to south and a professional cook, had never served anything like it.
“It’s not about money.” Song Shi’an was so flustered that he handed over two pieces of meat. “That’s it.” The meat was braised until tender but not overcooked, with the meat’s fibers remaining intact. It exuded a delightful fragrance and flavor.
Lin Zhihang savored it in two bites, but he still wasn’t satisfied. He looked at the remaining meat, almost drooling as a sign of his genuine interest.
Song Shi’an was growing increasingly uneasy. He tried to cover the egg pancake with a thin cloth to keep it safe from mosquitoes. However, Lin Zhihang took advantage of the opportunity to seize his hand.
It would be wonderful to hold delicate, slender fingers in your grasp.
An observant porter spotted something happening but couldn’t warn him in time, and then he noticed a tall man approaching.
When he saw Lin Zhihang reached out expression instantly darkened. And moved to cover Song Shi’an small hand under his big pale palm.
Manager Xiao Li rushed over, seeing an incident involving the young master’s family unfold. He feared the possibility of the strong man getting angry and assaulting the young master’s family.
When Lin Zhihang initially took hold of the fingers, they felt slightly cold, smooth, and soft like jade, but a bit thicker. It wasn’t until he saw the man was significantly taller than him that he realized what had occurred. The hand wasn’t from the little boss!
His face turned weird and his predicament left him neither able to advance nor retreat.
Before Steward Li could interject, Xu Zhongyue spoke in a stern voice, “Is this how the rules work in a wealthy family? Offending another man’s wife in public?”
He had to express his disapproval in front of everyone, adhering to the local customs.
This was because there was a war ahead and the custom among the people became looser. If it were a few decades ago, women and shuangers would be teased in the street and their reputation would be ruined without any hope of good marriage. Some would hang themselves or drown into the river to show their innocent.
There were many people in the pier, if you don’t explain things clearly, people would talk behind other’s back.
Manager Xiao Li protected his young master behind him and responded hurriedly, “I’m sorry, I really am sorry. My young master has been detained on the ship for a long time. He only grabbed the food hastily because of hunger. I offended your wife, I’m really sorry.”
He described his young master as a hungry dog, which clearly slapping the young master’s face in public.
Xu Zhongyue’s face softened slightly. Song Shi’an was used to do business and not afraid of trouble. He stopped the man and said, “It’s okay. I just served a bowl of hot dry noodles and tofu skin. He ate it all in three bites. He must be very hungry.”
He looked at Xu Zhongyue’s beautiful jade fingers and smiled, “Besides, he didn’t offend me. He offended you. You are a man, don’t argue with him.”
Xu Zhongyue’s thin lips twitched a bit. He sighed then wiped his hand with the rag on the cart. He took the egg pancake made by Song Shi’an, the skin was crisp and tender, it was very delicious with braised pork wrapped inside.
After this commotion, everyone knew that Butcher Xu in the town was Song Shi’an’s fiancée. The butcher was rich, so it wasn’t strange that he gave little shuanger a pair of heavy bracelets.
The relationship between the two took a clear path and several old customers who secretly worried about Song Shi’an, put down their hearts.
No one paid attention to Lin Zhihang, who was dragged back by Manager Xiao Li, the young master kept turning back every step of the way.
That person was really good-looking….
And the food he made was very delicious…
Alas…
.
Two days ago when Xu Zhongyue came to his house, he asked Song Shi’an to rest a few days before opening his stall again. However, Song Shi’an did his calculations and found out that after a busy month of working, he earned more than five taels pure profit.
Everyday he worked hard to get money, the sudden holiday left him felt uncomfortable.
Xu Zhongyue offered to pick him up every day after the busy morning hour, to help bringing his cart home. Song Shi’an accepted his care and took initiative to leave the man this a braised pork burrito wrapped in pure egg pancake.
It was made from meat pork. The taste was extraordinarily good. after eating it, Xu Zhongyue pushed the cart and walked steadily.
When turning from the main road to the small road, the bluestone paving was not so smooth. Song Shi’an had to push extra hard on this road but Xu Zhongyue calmly pushed the cart on the uneven road.
Watching the straight and powerful back of Xu Zhongyue. Song Shi’an was lost in thought.
Xu Zhongyue walked for a while and noticed the shuanger had falling behind him. He turned around and asked him, “Does your leg still hurt? If so, do you want to sit on the cart with cloth as cushion? I would push you together.”
How is this good idea?
Song Shi’an smiled and wave his hands repeatedly, feeling cared and protected in every way.
Upon returning home, Xu Zhongyue purposely left the courtyard door open to convey that nothing inappropriate had happened at his shuanger’s house. Song Shi’an had a fondness for noodles, so he prepared another pot of hot noodle soup for both of them with crispy pig ears as side dish.
The vegetables in the garden were flourishing and the leafy green grew the fastest. He cut a bundle, grabbed an egg from the chicken coop and cracked it open to prepare a delicious stir-fry.
The two enjoyed their meal, without taking a break, Song Shi’an prepared to cut the whole hind leg and the finest ribs from a pig. He filled a basket to be delivered to Aunt Liu.
Xu Zhongyue didn’t say much but followed him, indicating his willingness to accompany him.
On the way, Xu Zhongyue, who was typically reserved, became more talkactive. Song Shi’an inquired about how he earned his living before.
The man recounted his experiences of going into the mountains and hunting for silver foxes and leopards. Song Shi’an listened with great interest.
As they walked through Huamei Alley, many people observed Xu Zhongyue and Song Shi’an. The man was handsome and powerful, the shuanger was delicate and beautiful. Such a gorgeous pair stood up in the crowd.
Just as they were about to knock on Aunt Liu’s house, her eldest daughter coincidentally came out to deliver some freshly washed clothes. When she saw them, she exclaimed softly and cheerfully, “Cousin. Cousin’s husband.”