Chapter 586: As If an Old Friend Passed By
Outside Taian Temple, in a fly-ridden street of roadside eateries...
Perhaps it was the recent sweltering weather, or maybe the afternoon hours didn’t draw many worshippers. It could also be that the livelihoods and economy of Yidu had clearly declined.
But whatever the reason, the eateries on this street were all rather quiet. Few people sat inside to eat, while the entire street buzzed with flies. Some shopkeepers waved around their fans to drive them off, while others simply ignored them, too lazy even to glance at them.
Song You picked a shop that at least made an effort to swat the flies and sat down. He wanted to eat meat, but didn’t dare order fresh cuts, fearing what he’d be served might not be all that fresh. So, he ordered a plate of cold-dressed fish mint and asked the shopkeeper to boil some cured meat to slice.
Naturally, he also asked for a bowl of mao’ertou[1].
“You got it!” The shopkeeper beamed.
This street’s usual clientele consisted mostly of worshippers, small vendors catering to them, and common townsfolk drawn in by the vendors. Wealthier worshippers, after paying respects, would head to restaurants. The ones who stayed to eat here were just the everyday folk.
Mao’ertou was the best-selling item here. Many laborers and vendors, or parents bringing their kids into town for the market, would treat themselves to a bowl if they had some spare coins. Adding a plate of vegetables was already rare, and ordering meat even more so.
The shopkeeper looked young but worked deftly. The mao’ertou had been steamed earlier, but he didn’t serve it right away. The fish mint was tossed together in two or three swift moves, but that too was set aside for now.
First, he pulled some cured meat down from the beam, scraped and washed it clean, then boiled it. Only after that did he bring over the cold fish mint and mao’ertou, and then returned to slice the meat quickly and thinly. Before long, everything was served, and they hadn’t had to wait long at all.
“Enjoy your meal, sir.” With that, the shopkeeper picked up his palm fan again and resumed swatting at the flies.
Song You rolled the chopsticks in his palm to smooth them, then picked up the bowl of mao’ertou. The snowy white rice was mixed with a bit of crushed millet and broken mung beans. The golden glutinous millet and jade-green mung beans added a burst of color and made it look much more appetizing. It was still heaped high in the bowl, and compared to the mao’ertou that Lady Wu had once treated him to while they were out of town, this version had a bit more variety.