boyutpedia Chapter 62 Old Yang's Surprise Visit
Chapter 62 Old Yang's Surprise Visit
Chen Feng looked at the two bowls of wontons. The wrappers were thin and the fillings were generous. The soup was sprinkled with scallions and seaweed and was steaming hot.
He looked at the old man again; the old man was smiling and had a kind expression on his face.
Chen Feng did not refuse again, took one bowl, handed it to Chen Jun, and picked up the other bowl for himself.
"Thank you, Uncle."
The old man squatted down beside him, took out his pipe, lit it, and slowly smoked.
"Young man, is this your first time setting up a stall?"
Chen Feng nodded: "First time."
The old man took a drag of his cigarette, thought for a moment, and decided to remind him.
"Braised food is indeed a good thing, but it's a pity that two cents could buy a few ounces of wine or a few pieces of cloth."
Chen Feng didn't speak. He knew the old man was telling the truth. If it were him, he wouldn't be willing to part with it either. But why would people buy from a peddler selling goods for 1.2 yuan a pound?
Ultimately, it was his first time back, and the food wasn't very good.
The old man, afraid of discouraging him, changed the subject: "Take your time, don't rush. Practice makes perfect. After a few more times, people will recognize your taste and naturally buy from you."
Chen Feng looked up at the old man and smiled.
"Uncle, I like hearing you say that."
The old man laughed and tapped his pipe.
"Alright, you guys keep eating, I'm heading back now."
He stood up, packed up his load, and walked away slowly.
After finishing his wontons, Chen Feng put the bowl aside.
He took out a portion of braised pork intestines, wrapped it in a lotus leaf, and walked to the old man's stall.
"Take this braised pork intestine back with you and let your aunt try it too."
Chen Feng and his companion felt embarrassed because they had just eaten the other person's wontons.
The old man was bending down to pack his load when he heard the sound, looked up, and was stunned when he saw the lotus leaf package in Chen Feng's hand.
"Hey young man, what are you doing?"
The old man didn't expect anything in return when he gave the two of them wontons; they were just trying to make a living, and it wasn't easy for them.
Seeing these two boys reminded him of his younger self.
Before the old man could react, Chen Feng shoved the lotus leaf package into his hand.
"Uncle, I can't just eat those two bowls of wontons for nothing. Please take this large intestine back and try it. If there's anything I could improve on, please give me some pointers."
The old man waved his hands repeatedly: "That wonton ...
Chen Feng laughed: "Uncle, you just said this is a good product, and good things should be tasted by those who know. You've been running this stall for so many years, your palate is definitely more discerning than mine. If you taste it and tell me where it's not quite right, I'll fix it next time. Isn't that better than me figuring it out by myself?"
The old man looked at the lotus leaf package in his hand, then at Chen Feng, and the smile on his face gradually deepened.
"Alright, then I won't stand on ceremony. I'll let your aunt try it later; she's picky, so if she says it's good, then it's really good."
Chen Feng nodded: "Then I'll leave it to you, Uncle."
The old man carefully placed the lotus leaf bundle into the carrying pole, then glanced at Chen Feng again.
"Young man, what's your name? Which village are you from?"
"Chen Feng, from Chenjia Village."
The old man nodded: "Chenjia Village, I'll remember that. Next time you set up your stall, I'll give you some wontons."
Chen Feng smiled and said, "That won't do. If I keep eating your food, I'll have to give you all my large intestines."
The old man laughed heartily and patted him on the shoulder.
"Okay, see you later."
He picked up his load and walked away slowly.
Chen Feng stood there, watching the old man's figure disappear into the alleyway before turning around and walking back.
"Fengzi, you gave him the large intestine?"
Chen Feng nodded.
Chen Jun took a sip of soup, smacked his lips, and said, "That's two cents a serving, and we only have three left..."
Chen Feng patted him on the shoulder.
"Second brother, that's not how you do it."
Chen Jun scratched his head, not quite understanding, but since the items weren't his own, he couldn't continue to interfere like this.
Chen Feng walked back to the stall, put the remaining two portions of large intestine into the basket, and covered them with a white cloth.
"Let's go home."
Chen Jun was taken aback: "They're back already? There were two more copies..."
Chen Feng smiled and said, "Take them back, one for you and one for me."
Chen Jun's eyes lit up when he heard this.
He chuckled twice, then looked a little embarrassed: "That wouldn't be right, I'm just here to help..."
"You spent the whole morning with me today, I can't let you come all this way for nothing."
Chen Jun wanted to decline, but upon smelling the braised large intestine, he changed the subject: "Alright, I'll take it back for your sister-in-law to try, so she can know that my brother is successful."
It smells so good. He had never been willing to buy it before, but he never expected that his younger brother had this skill.
Chen Feng then took Chen Jun to a place that sells large intestines.
Working in the mountains in winter is not easy, but now that he has this skill, he can make a profit if he doesn't lose money. If all else fails, he can work in the mountains while his wife sells braised food, which can also add a lot of income to the family.
The meat market still smelled of that same fishy, gamey odor, so Chen Feng headed straight for the woman's stall.
The woman was tidying up her desk when she heard footsteps. She looked up, saw it was him, and smiled.
"Hey young man, you're here again? How was the large intestine from yesterday?"
Chen Feng nodded: "It's alright. Is there any more today?"
The woman pointed under the table: "Yes, a pig that was just slaughtered this morning, I saved it for you. It's still a little over two pounds, take a look?"
She bent down and pulled out a large intestine from underneath, then hung it on the scale.
"Two pounds and five ounces, I'll give you a fifty cents back."
Chen Feng took it and looked at it. It was fresh, clean, and even plumper than yesterday's.
He took out fifty cents from his pocket and handed it over.
"Okay, this is it."
The woman took the money, threaded the large intestine through a straw rope, and handed it to him.
"Or should we make braised dishes?"
Chen Feng nodded.
The woman smiled: "Do a good job, this business will become more stable as time goes on."
Upon entering the village, Chen Jun parted ways with Chen Feng at the alley entrance and carried the portion of large intestines home.
Chen Feng carried the basket home.
Lin Xiu was washing clothes in the yard when she saw him come back. She stood up and wiped her hands on her apron.
"How's it going? Sold out?"
Chen Feng put down the basket and lifted the white cloth.
Lin Xiu was taken aback when she saw that there was still a little bit left in the basket.
"Business is pretty good?"
"Sold five portions, one dollar each."
Chen Feng pulled out some money from his pocket and explained, "It looks alright. I was thinking of buying another batch of braised dishes. Practice makes perfect. It's a good business!"
Lin Xiu took the money, counted it, and after deducting the money from selling the sausage, she had 50 cents left.
I still have some star anise left from yesterday, and the braising liquid is still there, so it should be faster to make it today.
As for the other two unsold portions, Chen Feng explained to Lin Xiu: one portion was given to her older brother, and the other to the old man who sold wontons at his stall.
Lin Xiu carefully put the five cents into her pocket, took the large intestine from Chen Feng's hand, and walked towards the kitchen.
"I'll soak it first, and then I'll clean it up tonight."
Chen Feng nodded and followed him into the kitchen.
Just as I put the large intestine into the basin and poured in the water, I suddenly heard footsteps in the yard.
"Chen Feng! Is Chen Feng home?"
Chen Feng was stunned when he heard the voice.
So familiar.
He quickly wiped his hands and walked into the yard.
An old man in his fifties was standing at the gate of the courtyard. He was wearing an old cotton-padded coat, and his left leg was obviously injured. He was supporting half of his body with a cane.
It was the same old Yang who had sent him off to walk in the snow.