Xu Duoyan and Lu Lingbi—
Thinking about it, there really weren’t any food stalls selling this kind of dish at the market now.
Food is different from other goods; it’s a daily necessity.
Any innovation is bound to attract attention. Fried rice already holds a unique position in novelty alone.
As for the flavor, it truly is fragrant and appetizing—not some obscure taste, but something that leans toward popular preferences.
Not only that, the ingredients are simple, and the preparation isn’t complicated.
If one wanted to start a small business, the cost wouldn’t be very high.
It really seemed suitable for setting up a small stall.
Originally, Xu Duoyan thought Cao Wen was just boasting about his skills, but on further thought, it actually seemed quite feasible.
After lunch, Xu Duoyan eagerly fetched paper and pen to start estimating costs.
The main ingredients for fried rice are rice and eggs.
Since they didn’t have rendered lard, they had to use meat directly to render the fat for stir-frying rice—these were all indispensable ingredients.
Rice itself isn’t expensive—fourteen wen per sheng—but you need to husk it yourself.
For fried rice, the rice must be good with no husks remaining; otherwise, it would certainly affect the texture.
Although they could husk the rice themselves, husking good rice takes a lot of time, and the time cost is hard to estimate.
So, they roughly used the price of refined rice—thirty wen per sheng.
Eggs cost five wen for two; lapmeat was twenty-five wen per jin.
Then there were miscellaneous items: chopped scallions, pickled vegetables, and seasonings like salt and shrimp powder.
If they kept costs at about sixty percent, a serving of two to three taels of fried rice would sell for around twenty wen.
After calculating, the business was doable.
In the bustling season, food wouldn’t stay long before being sold, so there was no excuse to delay this money-making idea.
July’s weather was as hot as burning fire in the sky.
The three from the Cao family hurriedly gathered all the ingredients and headed to the market before dawn.
The Fengzhen market was somewhat chaotic, unlike a county seat where someone manages everything.
Here, stalls could be set up wherever there was space on the street.
They arrived at the market while it was still dim and cold.
The streets were eerily quiet, with only a few pedestrians preparing to set up their stalls.
Though they hadn’t run a stall here before, they knew that the market street was lively.
Seeing many others doing business, they quickened their pace toward the large roundabout at Sifang Street.
Right in the center of Sifang Street stood a tall banyan tree with lush leaves that provided ample shade.
But such a prime spot had long been taken.
Cao Wen chose a decent corner beneath a camphor tree, leaning against a teahouse to set up their stall.
To keep costs low, their stall was quite simple.
The canopy was made from torn and sewn-together maodai, offering little shade.
But when setting up under a tree, they had to be wary of falling leaves and insects.
Even though it was a street stall, customers wouldn’t want to see two bugs in their food.
With bamboo poles crossed to support the cloth, a simple shelter was erected.
At the front, they flipped the two empty bamboo baskets upside down, placed a wooden board on top, and used it for chopping and washing ingredients.
Next to the workstation was the stove, holding a heavy iron wok, giving the stall a decent appearance.
Though less convenient than those with pushcarts, they had to be frugal at this stage.
If the business succeeded, they could invest in better equipment.
If it failed, buying a pushcart would only be a waste.
Xu Duoyan set up two low tables under the canopy with stools. Rather than tables, they looked more like two long wooden benches with widened boards.
Traditional four-legged tables allow people to sit facing each other, but Cao Wen thought that strangers sitting opposite each other at a street stall felt awkward.
Their stall couldn’t fit two tables anyway.
Early customers each took one table.
Later ones saw the seats were taken; although some space remained, they disliked sharing tables and gave up eating there.
It was better to turn the square table into a long bench: narrow but fitting people in a row, avoiding the awkwardness of sitting face-to-face and reducing discomfort with shared seating.
“Ah Wen, everything’s ready.”
Though Cao Wen had wiped down the tables and stools several times at home, Lu Lingbi was meticulous.
After the stall was set up, she wiped the tables, stools, and workstation repeatedly.
She also double-checked the prepared ingredients to make sure nothing was dirty.
“All good.”
The stall was set up, and daylight grew brighter.
Early breakfast stalls along Sifang Street were already steaming, and some stalls had customers.
Cao Wen wiped his hands, seeing they had no customers yet, so he divided the work.
He naturally took charge of cooking fried rice; Xu Duoyan greeted customers and served food, while Lu Lingbi cleaned tables, washed chopsticks, and chopped vegetables.
Even though it was their first time running a stall, the three were quick and efficient, able to handle the workload without stress.
Cao Wen felt confident.
Watching other stalls gradually fill with customers, Lu Lingbi glanced around several times but felt shy to call out.
She really was a bit embarrassed and didn’t know how to advertise their novel dish.
It would be easier if they sold noodles or buns.
Xu Duoyan stood in front of the stall for a while, then went out to scout.
Coming back, she told Cao Wen, “We have to heat up the wok first.”
“How can we heat the wok with no customers?”
Lu Lingbi stepped forward, worried.
“No problem, we can fry some lapmeat cubes first. It’ll speed things up when cooking fried rice later.”
Saying that, Cao Wen turned up the fire.
In summer, the wok heated quickly.
The cubes of fatty and lean lapmeat went into the pan.
Since the lapmeat was salted and smoked, frying it released a far more fragrant aroma than fresh meat.
Without adding any seasoning, the smell of the rendered fat was enough to drift for two li.
Right then, a few people came over, curious.
“What kind of wok is this?”
“The meat smells really good.”
“Wow, this early in the morning!”
As the crowd grew, Xu Duoyan seized the moment to call out, “Egg fried rice, twenty wen a serving!”
The onlookers murmured, “Twenty wen? That’s not too expensive, is it?”
Xu Duoyan smiled confidently.
“Our fried rice is unmatched in the market. We use a specially made iron wok, with meat, vegetables, and egg. One serving beats a full table of dishes.”
“Really? That’s quite a claim.”
Xu Duoyan lifted her chin.
“Talking is useless. You have to try it yourself to know. The first three customers get a special price of eighteen wen a serving, how about that?”
No sooner had she spoken than two eager customers squeezed forward.
“Me! Me! I want to try!”
Lu Lingbi originally thought twenty wen was a bit high for market prices.
Even though in Yi’an, a single dish at a tavern could cost dozens or even hundreds of wen, and a full banquet could run into thousands, this was a backwater place and just a street stall—it couldn’t compare to restaurants.
But after Xu Duoyan’s shout, some people really were willing to try something new.
It was understandable.
People loved new things in such a dull, remote place.
The townsfolk lived monotonous lives and naturally were curious about anything novel.
Even a traveling storyteller who came to the market would attract listeners who circled around three deep.
Lu Lingbi focused and quickly led customers to sit, pouring water and setting chopsticks.
Cao Wen skillfully cracked an egg into the wok, then added three generous scoops of rice. He seasoned and stirred vigorously, tossing the wok high, drawing cheers from the onlookers.
The white rice turned golden yellow as it mixed intensely with the egg.
A sprinkle of chopped scallions made it a feast for both eyes and nose.
Xu Duoyan served the hot fried rice to seated customers at the back.
Those crowding around the stove craned their necks, eyes following the fried rice all the way to the diners.
Cao Wen finished one batch and added some water to the wok to wash it. Watching the curious crowd, he casually cleaned the wok.
“Any more customers want to try?”
“Try then! Even if we don’t eat tonight’s tofu, we can try this once.”
“The next customers will have to pay twenty wen per serving.”
“Twenty wen it is!”
Cao Wen glanced at the new customers coming in and efficiently cleaned the wok to make more fried rice.
Besides anything else, cultivating good relations with the logistics troops and occasionally sneaking into the cooks’ quarters to watch others cook not only gave him access to special dishes back then but now provided him with a means to make a living.
All in all, it was a worthwhile investment.
Evening.
After a bustling morning, Xu Duoyan sent off the last customers, having served five in total.
Though not many, it was a good start.
More importantly, all the customers praised the fried rice and said they would return.
Breakfast customers were still few; the taverns and restaurants usually opened closer to noon.
The main business was in the afternoon and after.
After this wave of customers, Xu Duoyan went to the teahouse to order three bowls of tea. The three drank and rested for a while.
As noon approached, Cao Wen again prepared lapmeat cubes to fry and attract customers just like in the morning.
The midday sun was scorching hot, and there were few people in the market.
Those eating had either gone to restaurants or, if at stalls, chose spots with shade.
Few came to Cao Wen’s stall. It wasn’t just theirs—the small stalls all suffered a lull in business.
Seeing other stall owners were not overly worried, Cao Wen guessed they were used to this seasonal slow-down and waiting for the evening crowd.
Still, their stall had an edge: several customers from the teahouse behind had already ordered fried rice, so midday business was passable.
In the afternoon, there were even fewer people.
Flies buzzed everywhere, unbothered by the sun, hovering annoyingly over the food.
Lu Lingbi covered the ingredients with a clean cloth and sat off to one side, fanning herself and shooing flies.
“Where are you going?”
Cao Wen was fanning himself when he saw Xu Duoyan suddenly stand and head outside.
He quickly stopped fanning.
Xu Duoyan raised an eyebrow.
“The outhouse. Want to come?”
Cao Wen cleared his throat and silently sat back down.
Xu Duoyan found the outhouse at Sifang Street and hesitated briefly at the door, looking down at her clothes.
She finally crouched down and went to the men’s side.
The row of outhouses was divided into small cubicles.
At this hour, there was almost no one inside.
She picked an empty cubicle and prepared to relieve herself when suddenly a man appeared from next door.
A clear sound of water echoed, and the man flinched, just about to fasten his belt, but felt a chill beside him.
Turning, he nearly stepped into the bucket.
He looked at the face beside him—familiar but subtly different.
He looked again toward the outhouse door to confirm he hadn’t come to the wrong place, then stared wide-eyed.
“Xu Duoyan?!”
Zheng Kui wasn’t sure if the person beside him was really someone he knew.
He scrutinized her from head to toe.
Seeing the familiar cold and disdainful expression, he was certain it was Xu Duoyan.
Zheng Kui was amused.
His gaze fixed on her hand, which seemed about to undo her belt.
“Yo, couldn’t find another spot? Or are all the others occupied?”
He smirked, eyes roaming freely over Xu Duoyan.
“So, have you cut ties with that Cao Wen kid? If you want to be with me now, I’m still willing to take you back.”
Xu Duoyan’s brow tightened at the familiar voice.
Seeing Zheng Kui’s face still bore fresh bruises, she ought to pity him, but the injuries did nothing to hide his sleazy expression.
“Looks like it’s been a while. You seem even more charming—truly makes one pity you.”
Zheng Kui didn’t even fasten his belt, strolling out of the cubicle boldly, intending to block Xu Duoyan from leaving.
Xu Duoyan, thinking of all the past grievances, felt a spark of mischief.
What a coincidence to meet an old acquaintance today—if she didn’t return a little fire, what was the point of knowing him?
“Whether I’m charming or not is another matter.”
She looked straight at the bulge below Zheng Kui’s belt.
“But forgive me for saying, yours is really a bit…”
She didn’t finish, but smiled faintly and raised her pinky.
“Stop talking nonsense! Who’s small? I’m a man standing tall and proud!”
Zheng Kui suddenly realized what she meant.
His eyes widened as he pointed at her incredulously.
“You can talk like this?”
“Well, what else?”
Xu Duoyan raised an eyebrow, then glanced again.
“Not sure about ‘standing tall and proud,’ but it’s definitely…refined.”
Zheng Kui’s face flushed red.
For a moment, he lost his vulgar nature, hurriedly fastening his belt.
“Where are you looking?”
He hugged his belt and turned away, trying to avoid her inspecting gaze.
“Shameless!”
“Why hide it? What you have, I have too.”
Zheng Kui’s eyes opened even wider.
“You’re a man?”
“Otherwise?”
Xu Duoyan smiled sweetly at Zheng Kui.
“Zheng Ge, your hands are shaking so much. Can’t even fasten your belt. Want me to help?”
“I warn you, Xu Duoyan, don’t come near! If you come closer, I’ll scream!”
Zheng Kui saw the hands suddenly reach out and shrank back in fright.
“Scream what? Didn’t you used to like me? Now there’s no one else around, Cao Wen’s not here. Why don’t we catch up?”
“What, you mean all those things you said before were lies? And now that I believe you, you regret it?”
Zheng Kui saw Xu Duoyan smiling and stepping closer.
Though it was the same handsome face, at this moment it was terrifying—more unsettling than debt collectors at the door.
Regretting all the lewd things he’d said to her before, he took several steps back.
“If you come any closer, I’ll scream for Cao Wen.”
“Why call him? That yellow-haired kid doesn’t know anything. Come on!”
“Ahhh!”
Zheng Kui couldn’t hold it anymore and broke into a run.