Chapter 34
Early morning she woke up feeling energetic probably because of the spring water although Xiao Ming was restless in his sleep she still felt refreshed. She entered the kitchen as usual and started packing everything she was going to need at the market. She immediately remembered that she had forgotten to pick the lotus leaf she would use to package the fairy tofu for people that bought one or those that wanted to taste.
Just as she was thinking of what to do, Xiao Shan entered with the bamboo tubes and lotus leaf and said.
"Here are the bamboo tubes you asked for. I figured out you would forget about the lotus leaf so I got them for you"
He handed them over to her and she smiled gratefully at him and put it all into her basket. Remembering that there was nothing to eat she cut two large pieces of fairy tofu enough for them to eat and told him how to make it savoury by adding scallions before leaving. Xiao Shan stared at her silhouette walking away and felt warm at the woman thou busy still always thought about them. Placing the fairy tofu in the kitchen he went back to his room and started reading as he no longer felt sleepy.
Su Ying made her way to the village entrance to see six women already waiting for the ox cart. She remembered it was the weekend which meant a lot of people would go to the market today so she greeted them and stood a bit far waiting for old man Shao to arrive. Soon, old man Shao arrived and they'll entered and paid making the cart stuffy. A woman sarcastically said.
"Old man Shao I think it's time you stop letting some people into your cart before it breaks"
The other women giggled knowing whom she was referring to and she snorted. Su Ying just glanced at her and kept quiet but the woman feeling ignored became more unrestrained and said.
"Carrying a basket to the market who knows if you're not going to meet some wild man and using the basket at a coverage".
Saying that she cast a disdainful gaze at her and the other women looked suspiciously at her. Su Ying looked at the woman and remembered her as Sang Luo whose daughter was infatuated with Xiao Shan but unfortunately he didn't like her before the original host made her move and married him making them resentful at her.
"Auntie Sang I know you're bitch in heat but please control yourself in public and don't let us all know"
The women in the ox cart burst into laughter at Su Ying retort while Auntie Sang Luo face alternated between green and red and she could only utter.
"You... You...You...
Feeling speechless and listening the snicker from the other women she was about to curse but Old man Shao intervened and said.
"Alright that's enough. Sang Luo don't you feel ashamed bickering with a girl your daughter's age? Let's go already"
Being scolded by Old Man Shao she could only shut up resentfully glaring daggers at Su Ying who just closed her eyes to rest. The ox cart sawyed in the bumpy road and Su Ying felt like her bones was breaking apart but luckily they arrived and everyone got off and entered the county market. Su Ying headed the same way as yesterday and was surprised to see a small crowd waiting for her.
Immediately they spotted her coming, they rushed up to her and everyone started talking.
"Finally you have come".
"Miss I came first".
"No, I came first".
"Did you bring more fairy tofu than yesterday?"
As she was bombarded with questions she felt like a celebrity encountering paparazzi. She calmed the people down and said.
"Calm down everyone. There is enough pieces to reach everyone so don't worry".
Hearing her affirmation they felt happy and made way for her to set the stall. Setting up everything she told them to queue up and started attending to each person, exchanging with people she felt had the things she needed at the market price and those who paid in cash the crowd quickly dispersed. She hid another piece in the basket and gathered her things to go to the black smith store to get her woks.
She made her way to the blacksmith shop and entered to see him forging a weapon. He looked up and recognizing her dropped the knife and came to her.
"Miss you are here. I'm already done with the wok so you can take it with you"
Examining the wok she was satisfied with the size, she paid the remaining five hundred wen and left. Entering an alley she put it into her space and decided to wander around a bit since it was only 10 in the morning and the ox cart would arrive at 11 meaning only an hour from now. As she walked she thought of what next to do because she knew the reason why she was selling well was because it was summer and people were still interested in the dish because it was new but once the novelty is gone and it's winter it won't be feasible anymore.
As she passed she stopped at a restaurant and decided to have breakfast. Just as she was about to enter the restaurant she was stopped by the security who looked disdainfully at her. Su Ying saw the mocking look in their eyes and remembered what she experienced at the medicine shop she retracted her steps and left not saying anything. She walked for some minutes and arrived at a run down restaurant looking old and lacking ambiance. Walking inside she noticed there was no customer and the place looked deserted.
A young girl seemingly who was washing plates saw her and dried her hands then walked up to her and asked.
"Miss, what would you like to have?"
She requested for a bowl of noodles and she quickly went to prepare it. Looking around she saw that the shop was in a good location but for some reason it was not doing well. A thought came to her and she decided to talk to the owner after eating. The young girl brought her noodles still steaming and she started eating. The noodles was not bad but it lacked a certain taste making her sure of her guess so she ate everything and called the girl over and paid before asking.
"Could you please call the owner as I want to discuss something with her"
Although confused at why she wanted to meet her boss she still nodded at went to call her boss. Su Ying sat down for ten minutes before the boss arrived. Sizing him up she saw he was a bald man with a shrewd look in his eyes and the man also looked at her observing her temperament and aura before concluding that she was someone extraordinary. Cupping his fist in greetings he began saying.
"I'm Shu Xing the boss of the restaurant may I know why this young lady inquires of me?"
"I'm Su Ying and I have a deal for you"
Seemingly interested the man sat down opposite her and told the young girl to serve tea. Su Ying had a sip and dropped her cup before asking.
"How much to buy your restaurant?".
Hearing the question the man looked disbelievingly at her before asking back
"You want to buy my restaurant?"
"Yes"
Concise and straight to the point. The man pondered why and Su Ying kept quiet letting him consider while occasionally sipping her tea.