Butcher Fulang’s Noodle Shop - Chapter 5
People became increasingly enthusiastic as Song Shi’an’s stall was set up. After a few early customers, his hot dry noodles quickly gained popularity. The customers slurped down the noodles with enthusiasm, and the morning breeze carried the delicious aroma throughout the area.
This enticing scent attracted more people, and soon, a crowd had gathered around his stall.
Song Shi’an had prepared twenty clear-flowered, wide and shallow porcelain sea bowls for the noodles. These bowls made the noodles look generous and were easy to mix.
When all twenty portions of noodles were sold, the first few customers who had finished eating returned their empty bowls and chopsticks.
Song Shi’an had set up two additional buckets for this purpose. One contained clean water for rinsing the bowls, and the other had a hook with a loofah for scrubbing them. This simple washing method left the bowls as clean as new.
In contrast to modern health standards, this washing technique might not pass inspection, but in the context of the time and the people’s circumstances, it was accepted. The customers noticed that Song Shi’an, the owner of the noodle stall, was a fair-skinned shuanger.
His clothes, though worn, were clean, and his hands for washing dishes were slender with no dirt under his fingernails. The wooden cart he used had a charcoal stove and a clean countertop, giving a sense of cleanliness and order.
The customers compared this to their experiences at Old Liu Tou’s cooking cake shop, where they saw the cook blow his nose and handle money without proper hygiene. They appreciated that Song Shi’an maintained a high level of cleanliness.
Over time, Song Shi’an had developed the ability to be observant and judge people’s intentions. He could differentiate between customers trying to shortchange him and those who left after enjoying their meal.
There was a young man who tried to pay two pennies less. Song Shi’an noticed this and responded with a friendly smile. The young man felt a bit ashamed and added the missing amount. Song Shi’an handed over the noodle bowl, expressing his gratitude.
The young man was surprised that Song Shi’an didn’t berate him and realized that despite his gentle demeanor, the man had a certain strength in his eyes, which deterred him from further mischief.
Before all the customers in the second round had finished their meals, a boat approached the dock, and the dockworkers quickly abandoned their bowls and ran to their work. The bustling scene around the noodle stall cooled down as the noodles nearly sold out.
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After cleaning the dishes and chopsticks, Song Shi’an didn’t rush to leave but observed the busy porters and the cargo being transported from the ship. He marveled at their strength and skill as they handled heavy goods efficiently, making the land-to-water transport process seamless.
Each worker received a wooden sign with a number to record their trip as they loaded and unloaded cargo. This system ensured fair compensation based on the number of trips completed, highlighting the professionalism and dedication of the porters.
Song Shi’an found himself reflecting on the stark differences between this time and the modern world, where manual labor and expertise played an essential role in everyday life. Witnessing the bustling dock scene was a humbling experience that gave him a newfound appreciation for the hardworking people of Qingjiang Town.
This thriving, human-powered commerce was a far cry from the automated systems he knew from his own time.
As the work on the boat continued, Song Shi’an watched with great interest and inquired about the boat from a nearby porter who wasn’t involved in the work. He learned that this type of boat was called a Maoban boat, known for its simple assembly and disassembly. The wood that was dismantled from these boats was sold on the spot and often used for transporting goods such as silk, salt, raw lacquer, and pig iron. These boats also served as a source of wood for various purposes.
It made sense why many in Qingjiang Town were involved in carpentry work, and Song Shi’an found this aspect of the local economy intriguing.
After a successful day’s work, the porters pocketed their earnings, with smiles on their faces. An older man, Old Hu, seemed to be experiencing stomach discomfort. His companions suggested that he warm his stomach by having a bowl of hot dry noodles, mentioning that it had left them feeling full and satisfied.
Old Hu considered their advice and checked his earnings, realizing he had thirty-five cents. The idea of filling his stomach with a bowl of hot dry noodles was starting to sound more appealing.
Hot dry noodles were often referred to as “carbohydrate bombs,” packing a significant calorie punch. Even a small bowl was enough to provide a substantial meal. Knowing this, Old Hu decided to give it a try.
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Before Song Shi’an closed his stall, a fresh wave of customers arrived. He quickly stoked the furnace and prepared to serve more customers. With only seven bowls of noodles left, he served the satisfied customers who had managed to secure a portion. As the morning crowd dispersed, one man inquired about Song Shi’an’s plans for the next day, suggesting that he bring more noodles, as the men had hearty appetites.
Song Shi’an assured them that he would return the following day with more noodles. He was overjoyed with the success of his venture. In a single morning, he had sold forty-seven bowls of hot dry noodles, earning a total of two hundred and thirty-five cents. He had covered his initial costs and even earned an extra fifteen cents, ensuring that he would soon turn a net profit. This was a welcome change from his financial struggles in his previous life.
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After returning home, Song Shi’an took a well-deserved nap before retrieving the pig’s head from the well. The head had retained its freshness in the cool well water, and Song Shi’an meticulously removed its hair. He then simmered it in brine until the meat was tender and flavorful.
As he prepared a bowl of hot noodle soup, he cracked a poached egg, added a spoonful of chili pepper, a handful of wild vegetables, and a generous portion of the stewed pig head meat. Dining alone at home, he was free from the strict rules imposed for shuanger. He savored his meal, feeling content and satisfied.
For two consecutive days, Song Shi’an’s noodle stall enjoyed a booming business, earning him over 700 cents in total. He meticulously counted his earnings, using a straw rope to handle the coins and keeping them safe.
With the revenue he had earned, he planned to make more cakes and purchase some pork, intending to visit his aunt soon.
However, as Song Shi’an returned to the pier on another day, he noticed several groups of newcomers who had set up stalls in the area. He had anticipated that his growing success would attract competition, but this was sooner than he had expected.
These new stalls offered various food items, from pancakes to wontons, and even some sold dry noodles. However, Song Shi’an noticed that the competitors’ noodles lacked the same rich color, flavor, and texture as his hot dry noodles.
The presence of competition was undeniable, but Song Shi’an was confident in the quality of his product.
Challenges arose as some customers began to compare prices and inquire about the difference in cost between his hot dry noodles and offerings from the competitors. Song Shi’an, however, defended the quality of his noodles, emphasizing that they were made from real ingredients and used high-quality oil.
While some customers were enticed by the lower prices of the competitors, many continued to appreciate the superior taste of Song Shi’an’s hot dry noodles.
Despite the competition, Song Shi’an managed to sell out of his noodles and was pleased with his sales. He realized that while the competitors might offer cheaper alternatives, his product’s quality kept customers coming back.
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Back home, Song Shi’an worked tirelessly to make his signature breakfast items, ensuring that he wouldn’t be abandoned by customers seeking variety in their meals. He decided to make tiger-skin eggs, fry noodles and fried dough sticks, create braised pork pancakes, and prepare a large pot of lily and mung bean soup for a change.
The hens at home were trying their best and after a few days, they had saved twelve eggs. Adding the eggs from aunt Liu, there were seventeen eggs. He simply made the all into tiger-skin eggs and fried them until they were golden with tiger stripes. Feeling generous, he picked ten of the eggs he had made to Xu Zhongyue.
Song Shi’an was in hurry because he wanted to make the other dishes to sell the next day. He knocked on Butcher Xu’s door and the neightbour’s aunt happened to come over with a pile of dry clothes that had been washed.
She saw a fair-skinned and beautiful shuanger, stuffing a large bag of things into Xu Zhongyue’s arms. Then, he turned his head and ran away.
She laughed as she handed the clothes to Xu Zhongyue, “I am so used to see shy shuangers. But I have never seen someone with tender skin and delicate face. Hey, what is this? It smells a little weird.”
Xu Zhongyue didn’t know and he didn’t like to talk. But he was very generous man. He often gave something for this neighbor aunt like a small piece of fat pork, pig tail or things like that. Unexpectedly, this time Xu Zhongyue didn’t even say anything and didn’t give a single thing for the aunt.
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The next day, Song Shi’an set up his new cart at the dock. He still offered hot-dry noodles but had reduced the number of servings. He also introduced a new menu item—braised pork burritos. They were made with sliced noodles, plenty of pork broth, finely chopped wild vegetables, a spoonful of braised sauce, and sprinkled with chopped peanuts and broad beans.
A small bowl of spicy condiment was available for those who liked it. The new addition garnered attention from the returning porters.
As the porters returned, the other stalls became less busy, causing some of the other stall owners to express their frustration. Song Shi’an, on the other hand, was focused on serving customers and couldn’t afford to be concerned about competition.
But in the midst of his busy work, he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his scalp. Someone had grabbed his hair from behind. It was a rather strong grip, and a voice out.
“You bastard! You actually mingled into a group of wild men!”