The Princess of Northern Land-Chapter 35 - First Meeting (1)_1
Chapter 35 -35: First Meeting (1)_1
Chapter 35 -35: First Meeting (1)_1
“Wake up, we need to get up early to go to the market.” Early in the morning, before dawn, Lin Changting and Lin Yanzhi were roused from sleep as well.
“Okay, let’s go to the market.” The night before, Lin Changting knew that he could go to the market with his family. He was so excited he barely managed to fall asleep.
Lin Yanzhi was somewhat drowsy, but he knew following Lin Ziyin to the market meant they would get to eat something delicious, which made him very happy.
“Delicious.” said Wu Dayou, laughing as he ate his tofu pudding. “We will travel by ox-cart later, it won’t be tiring.”
“Thank you for your help.” said Lin Changshu, gratefully. The ox-cart belonged to Lou Zheng’s family, and it wouldn’t be appropriate for the Lin family to borrow it. But Wu Dayou, being a closer relative to Lou Zheng, was shameless enough to borrow it.
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Wu Dayou had volunteered the use of the ox-cart for the Lin Family, which touched Lin Changshu deeply.
“Is this all we’re taking?” Lin Zige asked, carrying a bag of bamboo sticks, and helped Lin Ziyin to pack the seasonings they had ground the day before in a basket.
“Tasty.” Wu Dayou ate two big bowls of tofu pudding and two large steamed buns before he put his bowl down. The tofu pudding the Lin family made now was much better than before, and they were very generous with the soup ingredients. The soy milk was even boiled with large bones.
“Cover the kids well.” Guo Huiniang dressed the children in several layers of old jackets and fetched a gown for the old man. “Grandfather, it’s cold outside, wear more layers. Sister, don’t catch a cold.”
Lin Ziyin was touched knowing she had not forgotten to care for her. Guo Huiniang played the role of sister-in-law flawlessly.
“We’re ready to go.” Seeing his family settled in the ox-cart, Lin Changshu loaded several baskets of tofu onto the cart. Then, driven by Wu Dayou, the ox-cart started moving.
Since it was the busy season for farming, there were not many people in the village who could spare the time to go to the market.
Lin Ziyin and his family set out early, so they didn’t run into anyone from their village on the road.
By the time they reached the market, they were among the early arrivals.
Having had some experience with open-air markets at temples, Wu Dayou and Lin Changshu paid the ground rent to the market manager, delivered tofu to Ding’an Temple, and then moved out the stove and firewood kept in the temple.
Soon, many more pilgrims arrived. These people included ordinary folk, merchants from all over the place, and some beautifully dressed ladies.
Before long, there was a line of horse-drawn carriages at the foot of the mountain, and vendors started to call out loudly, advertising their goods.
“Little sister, let’s start the fire.” Seeing others already doing business and nothing was happening on their side, Lin Zige started to feel anxious.
“No need to hurry.” Lin Ziyin replied with a grin. “Let’s light the fire first.”
“What are you selling?” asked the noodle-seller next to them.
“Just some snacks,” Lin Ziyin said, smiling gently while getting to work, “Sister-in-law, put the flat pan on the fire.”
“Okay, it’s coming,” Guo Huiniang replied, putting a large, flat pan on the stove.
Lin Changshu had never done business before and was a little nervous. “Little sister, will it work?” he asked.
“No problem.” Lin Ziyin replied with a slight smile. It wasn’t surprising the others were nervous: all the money they’d made selling tofu in the past few days had been spent on this large pot. They were practically penniless now.
Lin Ziyin tied up her coloured apron that Zige had made for her the previous day, took a knife, and skilfully cut the tofu into uniform pieces. She poured some lard into the flat pan, put the tofu in, and flipped it once it was heated and ready to serve. She finished by adding her own seasonings.
