Chapter 10: Hawking

After paying the city entry fee, they walked south for a while to reach the market of Changhe Town.

Zhao Mengcheng had thought they arrived early enough, but upon reaching the site, he saw that the stalls were already packed. There were established shops doing business and villagers selling their own vegetables and fruits, making for a very lively scene.

Wang Ming felt a bit frustrated. “We’re late. All the good spots are taken.”

Zhao Mengcheng scanned the area. “Let’s go over there.”

He pointed toward a corner. Although it was a bit secluded, the area was spacious enough for them to set up their stall.

Just as they finished setting up, a market official¹ wearing a vest came over to collect the fee. Two wen² wasn’t considered expensive.

Seeing that they paid obediently, the official asked, “You two look like new faces. Which village are you from? Is this your first time here?”

The official was just a low-level clerk managing the market, but he carried himself with quite an air of authority. Wang Ming didn’t even dare to speak in his presence.

“We’re from Qingshan Village, just doing a little business to support our families. Brother, this is our homemade tofu. Please take a piece home to try,” Zhao Mengcheng said, picking out a block of tofu and handing it to him.

The official accepted it naturally. Looking at the tofu with curiosity, he asked, “How do you eat this?”

Zhao Mengcheng explained the preparation methods in great detail.

“Then I’ll thank you for it.” The official didn’t mention paying, only nodding at him. “My name is Zhang Dahu. You can just call me Brother Hu. If anything comes up, you can find me at the teahouse up ahead.”

After saying that, he strolled away, dangling the block of tofu.

Once he was gone, Wang Ming let out a long breath. “Brother, you really are a man of the world³, being able to talk to him like an old friend.”

Zhao Mengcheng smiled. “We’re all just out here trying to make a living. It’s best to maintain harmony.”

Wang Ming sighed. “Sigh, I’m just clumsy with my words and can’t speak like that.”

Because the location was too secluded, they waited for a while before anyone even approached. People would ask a question or two and then leave.

Wang Ming scratched his head in anxiety. “What should we do? This tofu is so delicious, why aren’t they buying any?”

Zhao Mengcheng knew this was because people were slow to accept new things, especially the traditional folk of ancient times.

Looking around, he quickly came up with an idea.

“Wait for me a moment,” he said, before heading toward a nearby wonton stall.

“Hey, Brother!” Wang Ming called out but couldn’t stop him. Guarding the stall alone made him even more nervous. On the rare occasion someone came to ask a question, he couldn’t even speak fluently.

The potential buyers took one look, shook their heads, and walked away.

The more this happened, the more dejected Wang Ming became. Fortunately, Zhao Mengcheng returned after a short while, carrying a stack of bowls and chopsticks.

“This is something new. The people in town haven’t tasted it before and don’t know it’s good, so we have to let them try it first,” Zhao Mengcheng explained as he scooped out a block of tofu.

“Right, once they taste it, they’ll definitely buy it,” Wang Ming said, regaining his confidence.

Zhao Mengcheng cut the tofu into small pieces, putting only a shallow layer at the bottom of each bowl. However, once sprinkled with chopped green onions and soy sauce, it immediately looked high-end.

He habitually arranged the presentation, and at a glance, it looked quite impressive.

“Brother, how do you even know how to do this? You’re amazing,” Wang Ming said with admiration.

He then asked, “Do you know the people at the wonton stall? Did they actually let you borrow these bowls and chopsticks?”

Zhao Mengcheng didn’t answer. They hadn’t lent them for free; he had paid for the privilege. It was also a lapse in his own planning, as he really should have brought them from home.

Having prepared the samples of tofu with green onions, Zhao Mengcheng cleared his throat and began to hawk his wares.

“Tofu for sale! Fresh, delicious, and nutritious tofu! The same tofu eaten by the nobles in the capital, found only here in Changhe Town!”

“Tofu is delicious and cheap! Five wen for a large block! Buy one and it can feed you for a whole day!”

“It nourishes the vital energy, clears heat, and detoxifies the body. Good for both adults and children! Free samples available now! Don’t miss out as you pass by, it costs nothing to try!”

Zhao Mengcheng had never worked as a street hawker before, so he felt a bit awkward at first. However, he quickly adapted, and his voice became crisp and loud.

Wang Ming watched in stunned silence. He had always known Brother Mengcheng was an educated man, but he never expected him to not only have a secret recipe but also be so skilled at business, even being able to cast aside his pride to hawk in the street.

Inspired by Zhao Mengcheng’s voice, Wang Ming also plucked up the courage to shout along. He wasn’t as fluent, but he made up for it with his loud voice.

Amidst the string of shouts, passing pedestrians quickly gathered around.

“Is this tofu? Did it really come from the capital?”

“Can it really clear heat and detoxify? Is this tofu or medicine?”

“Is it really free? Then I’ll definitely have a taste.”

“Five wen for a block is too expensive. Meat is only eight wen per catty.”

“Sir, one block of tofu weighs over two catties. That works out to only about two wen per catty, which really isn’t expensive. Besides, the taste is exceptional.”

Zhao Mengcheng answered selectively and shouted again, “Free samples! It won’t cost you a penny! If it’s not good, you don’t have to buy!”

Immediately, the first person stepped up to try. The man picked up a bowl and shoveled the contents into his mouth, smacking his lips afterward.

“How does it taste? Is it good?” the people nearby asked impatiently.

The man grinned and said, “The taste is alright. Hey, I ate it too fast to really catch the flavor. How about giving me another bowl to try?”

Zhao Mengcheng replied with a smile, “That won’t do. I’m running a business here. If you like it, buy a piece to take home. It’s delicious served cold with dressing, and even better braised. I have a few recipes right here you can follow.”

Everyone looked and saw a sign standing prominently in front of the cart, listing several simple recipes.

Most of the onlookers who came to buy vegetables were illiterate, but seeing written words made them feel that this tofu seller was no ordinary man. Perhaps he really did come from the capital.

The man laughed heartily. “Then give me a piece. This tofu is indeed soft and tender. My old mother will surely like it.”

“Coming right up! Here you go.” Zhao Mengcheng completed his first sale.

Once the ice was broken, the onlookers began to try the tofu one after another. Almost everyone who tasted it ended up buying some. After all, the tofu really did taste good, and with Zhao Mengcheng’s extravagant praise, it felt like they were missing out if they didn’t buy any.

“I don’t need that much. Can I get half a piece for two cents?”

“Of course! I’ll sell half a piece too.”

“Then I’ll take half a piece as well. Give me a generous cut, and if it tastes good, I’ll come back tomorrow.”

“Sure thing, I’ll give you a larger piece.”

The smile never left Zhao Mengcheng’s face as his hands moved even faster.

Wang Ming had been helping with the shouting at first, but as more people came to buy tofu, he simply took over cutting and wrapping while Zhao Mengcheng handled the money.

One sold and the other collected the coins, the two of them coordinating perfectly.

People tend to follow the crowd. The more people bought, the more others gathered. The tofu stall went from being the quietest to the most bustling, and even the neighboring vegetable vendors couldn’t resist coming over to buy a piece.

Half an hour later, Wang Ming looked at the empty board in a daze. “It’s all sold out already? If I’d known, we should have made more.”

Some people even missed out and made promises to come back and buy some the next day.

Zhao Mengcheng also laughed. “It looks like this business is viable. You must be hungry. Come on, let’s go have a bowl of wontons.”

“No, eating in town costs too much. Let’s just go home and eat,” Wang Ming said quickly.

But Zhao Mengcheng said, “It’s my treat.”

Without waiting for Wang Ming to say anything else, he shouted toward the wonton stall, “Boss, two large bowls of wontons! Make them meat-filled!”

The owner of the wonton stall replied with a smile, “Brother, your business is doing quite well!”

“Not as good as yours. I’m just selling something new,” Zhao Mengcheng said as he sat down and waved Wang Ming over.

Wang Ming had no choice but to tidy up the stall and push the cart over.

Zhao Mengcheng returned the borrowed bowls and chopsticks. A large bowl of wontons contained ten pieces, each the size of a gold ingot⁴ and bulging with meat filling. A large bowl like this cost only seven cents.

The vegetable-filled ones were even cheaper, at only five cents.

Wang Ming sat down and continued to grumble, “These wontons are too expensive. This much money could buy a whole piece of meat.”

“Alright, we’ll go buy meat in a bit. Try them first and see if they’re good,” Zhao Mengcheng said, pushing a bowl in front of him.

“That’s not what I meant,” Wang Ming said helplessly. He lowered his head to take a bite and couldn’t stop, though he still muttered, “They’re good, just expensive.”

Zhao Mengcheng also thought the taste was quite good. Anyone who could make a living at the market had some skill. The wontons were meat-filled, but they had more vegetables than meat and seemed to have some water chestnuts added, making them extremely fresh and delicious.

When he had the chance, he would bring the children here for a meal too, Zhao Mengcheng thought to himself.

“Are you full?” Zhao Mengcheng felt he could eat a few more bowls, but he restrained himself when he thought of the price.

Wang Ming nodded quickly. “I’m full.”

“Let’s go buy some meat then,” Zhao Mengcheng said with a smile as he stood up.

Wang Ming followed him. “Brother, you should just buy some for yourself. I’m not buying any.”

Zhao Mengcheng had already reached the meat stall. They hadn’t arrived particularly early, so the fattest cuts were already sold out, but there was still pork belly left.

“Give me two pieces of pork belly.” He also asked for all the meat bones. Everyone in the Zhao family, young and old, was lacking calcium and needed some nourishment.

After Zhao Mengcheng finished his order, he turned back and said, “It’s not for you to buy. I’m giving this to Uncle Wang and Auntie Wang. If it weren’t for their constant care during this time, I wouldn’t have been able to pull through.”

Without waiting for Wang Ming to refuse, Zhao Mengcheng added, “Take the time A-Mao was sick, for instance. If Uncle Wang hadn’t rushed him into town in the middle of the night to see a doctor, the boy’s brain might have been fried from the fever.”

Wang Ming sighed. “Brother, you’re being too polite. My parents will definitely scold me when they find out.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll be the one to tell your parents. You can’t be the only ones helping me while I do nothing in return.”

Zhao Mengcheng smiled, having already decided to maintain a good relationship with the Wang family. Reciprocity was the only way to build a lasting bond.

Besides the meat, Zhao Mengcheng had wanted to buy some oil and seasonings, but such items were expensive. Since the tofu business had only just begun and his children were still worrying over every penny, he decided to set the idea aside for now.

On the way back to the village, Wang Ming insisted that Zhao Mengcheng sit on the cart. “You haven’t fully recovered yet,” he said. “I have to push the cart anyway, so adding your weight won’t make much of a difference.”

Zhao Mengcheng was indeed feeling a bit weary. Seeing Wang Ming’s persistence, he didn’t refuse and climbed onto the cart.

Wang Ming finally smiled. “That’s the spirit. If you keep being so formal with me, I won’t be able to stomach this meat.”

He added a moment later, “Let’s bring more tofu tomorrow. I’m sure we can sell it all.”

“That sounds good, though it’ll be hard on you.” Grinding tofu was backbreaking work, and since Zhao Mengcheng wasn’t strong enough yet, the burden fell entirely on Wang Ming.

Wang Ming patted his chest confidently. “It’s not tiring at all. How can I be tired when we’re making money?”

The two of them chatted and laughed all the way back, quickly arriving at Qingshan Village.

“Dad!”

Before they even entered the village, the three children came rushing toward them in a flurry.

Zhao Chun was the most anxious. “Dad, did we sell all the tofu?”

Zhao Mengcheng hopped off the cart and patted the boy’s head with a laugh. “Every last bit. Come on, let’s go home and count our earnings.”

Translator’s Notes