Chapter 10

“So… if we sold these skewers on the street, do you think people would buy them?”

“Would they cost the same as those fried skewers?”

Ling Chuxia thought about the prices of fried skewers at street stalls, then considered the cost of her own ingredients. After a moment’s hesitation, she said, “The prices would be about the same.”

“Then I’d definitely choose these,” Grandma Ling said. “They smell so much better than those greasy fried skewers. And those get sickening after a few bites, but these just get tastier the more you eat. You can’t stop wanting more!”

Ling Chuxia smiled genuinely. “Exactly! But I went to the market too late today and didn’t get enough variety. I’ll go earlier next time and make some different ones for you to try.”

Grandma Ling looked at the skewers on the table—potato slices, lettuce stems, lotus root slices, cucumber sticks, green beans, cauliflower florets, duck gizzards, and duck liver—and couldn’t help but say, “Is this not enough variety? We usually only have two dishes on the table at home.”

“This is different from our usual meals,” Ling Chuxia explained. “The more variety, the better. More choices will attract more customers.” She had already asked around at the market and learned that some vegetables had to be bought as early as five or six in the morning.

Grandma Ling paused, then said, “You mentioned wanting a small tricycle the other day, and now you’re getting all this stuff. Chuxia, what are you planning?”

“I want to set up a street stall and sell skewers,” Ling Chuxia replied with a smile.

Grandma Ling was shocked. “Chuxia, I have my retirement pension. I can support you just fine. And don’t worry about college either. Teacher Wang told me that if you go to a teachers’ college, you won’t have to pay tuition, and they’ll even guarantee you a job after graduation. You’re a serious student, you shouldn’t be doing something like running a street stall.”

Even though China had begun its reform and opening-up policy, many people still looked down on street vending and small-time business as undignified. No wonder Grandma Ling reacted so strongly.

Ling Chuxia nodded. “I know, Teacher Wang told me the same thing. But I don’t want to go to a teachers’ college. I want to go to a different university and study something I’m really interested in.”

Due to her health issues, Ling Chuxia had only been able to attend school sporadically in her previous life. Although her family had hired tutors to help her catch up, she never had the chance to take the college entrance exam. Going to university was her dream.

Grandma Ling was taken aback again. She looked into Ling Chuxia’s earnest eyes, hesitated for a long moment, and finally swallowed the words of caution she had been about to speak.

The two chatted about other things as they ate, and the large pot of cold pot skewers was soon emptied.

The next morning, Ling Chuxia took Grandma Ling’s largest shopping basket to the market early. This time, she managed to buy the dried kelp, dried mushrooms, bean curd sheets, dried tofu, winter melon, and pig liver she had missed the day before.

As she returned to the residential area with her full basket, she happened to run into Yang Yu, who was also out shopping.

A younger middle-aged woman was with Yang Yu, their similar features suggesting she was Yang Xia, Yang Yu’s third sister.

The sisters walked arm in arm, looking quite close.

When Yang Yu saw Ling Chuxia, she rolled her eyes and pulled Yang Xia around her to avoid her.

As they walked away, Yang Xia glanced back at Ling Chuxia’s slender figure. Once they were out of earshot, she whispered, “Elder Sister, your eldest daughter is even prettier than Xiaoman. Don’t you think it’s a shame to just kick her out like that?”

“What’s there to regret?” Yang Yu said. “Just looking at her makes me sick. You don’t know, those dark eyes of hers give me the creeps every time I meet her gaze. I always feel like something’s off about her. That girl’s like a jinx, with no real connection to anyone in our family. We’re better off getting rid of her.”

“But feelings can grow over time,” Yang Xia argued. “She’s so pretty. In a couple of years, she’ll definitely marry well, and the bride price will be substantial. Old Zhang’s second daughter next door married a ten-thousand-yuan household, and they got several thousand yuan just for the bride price.”

Yang Yu was stunned. “Several thousand? Really?”

“Of course it’s true.”

Yang Yu’s interest was piqued. “So being pretty has its advantages after all.”

“Exactly! Who doesn’t like pretty things? But don’t worry, Elder Sister. Even if she’s kicked out, you’re still her mother. When she gets married, you’ll definitely get your share of the bride price.”

Ling Chuxia had no idea the Yang sisters were already scheming over her future bride price. As soon as she got home, she started preparing the second batch of skewers.

Because she was more skilled than yesterday, this batch of skewers was even more fragrant. Grandma Ling even cooked noodles in the broth, leaving both of them flushed with satisfaction.

In the afternoon, Ling Chuxia went to the secondhand shop to pick up the tricycle and table and chairs she had reserved.

The tricycle was indeed a bit old, but all the parts were in good working order. Before selling it, Boss Feng had even taken it to a repair stall to get new tires.

Ling Chuxia happily paid for the items. With Boss Feng’s guidance, she practiced riding the tricycle around the block a few times and quickly got the hang of it.

“Xiao Ling, now that you’ve got everything, are you really going to set up a street stall?” Boss Feng asked. “Everyone on this street knows you. They’ll all come to watch the spectacle. Aren’t you worried about losing face?”

How could an eighteen-year-old student really bring herself to set up a street stall?

But Ling Chuxia replied earnestly, “The more people, the better. That’s how business thrives. I’ll have a trial run the day after tomorrow. I’ll invite you to taste my cooking then, Boss Feng.”

After two days of preparation at home, Ling Chuxia had scrubbed the tricycle spotless. On the afternoon of her trial run, she rode it out into the street.

Grandma Ling, worried about her, insisted on coming along to watch.

When Ling Chuxia arrived at the market, the sun was already setting, casting long shadows. She found a clean spot, set up her table and chairs beside the tricycle, and propped up the large sign Teacher Wang had written for her. With that, she was open for business.

It was still early, before most people got off work, so the streets were quiet. Ling Chuxia wasn’t in a rush to attract customers. Instead, she calmly simmered the soup base in a large pot on a coal stove. She then filled a plate with skewers and took them to Boss Feng, who ran a nearby shop, to let him try the new dish.

By the time she returned to the tricycle, the fragrant aroma of the simmering soup had already drawn a small crowd.

“Cold-pot skewers? Never heard of that before. Is it any good?” a young man asked curiously.

Grandma Ling, nervous, couldn’t speak. Ling Chuxia immediately stepped forward. “It’s delicious! Spicy, savory, and fragrant—a family recipe passed down through generations. You’ll have to try it to believe it.”

“Vegetarian skewers are three for a dime, and meat skewers are one for a dime?” the young man asked, glancing at the prices on the sign. “Not bad. I’ll take three vegetarian skewers to start.”

Fried skewer stalls charged the same prices, but Ling Chuxia’s costs were higher due to using bone broth for the soup base. To compensate, she cut the ingredients on her skewers extra thin.

“Over here, pick what you want,” Ling Chuxia said, handing the young man a plate. She filled it with the dried tofu, lotus root slices, and kelp he’d chosen, then pointed to two condiment jars on the small table. “The white jar has chili oil. Add more if it’s not spicy enough. The jar next to it is vinegar.”

“No need, no need. I’ll try it plain first,” the young man said, standing there and finishing three skewers in just a few bites. “Hey, this is really good! Give me a few more.”

Skewers are the kind of thing that gets better with each bite. Plus, Ling Chuxia had prepared a wide variety. The young man tried oyster mushrooms, potato slices, lotus root slices, pork liver, duck gizzards… He only stopped after eating seventy cents’ worth.

After paying, he scratched his head. “Can’t eat any more. I’m out of money.”

“I’ll be setting up here every day,” Ling Chuxia said, pulling out a skewer of green beans from the big pot that the young man hadn’t tried. “If you’re still hungry, come back tomorrow. You’re my first customer today, so this one’s on the house.”

The onlookers, seeing how much the young man had eaten, asked him, “Is it really that good?”

“So good!” the young man said with a grin. “Too bad I’m out of money, or I’d have another skewer. This flavor really packs a punch. It’d be even better with a soda.”

His words reminded Ling Chuxia that she could stock up on soda to sell tomorrow.

Just then, Boss Feng came over to return his plates. Spotting the remaining skewers in the big pot, he grabbed one of each kind, added a dash of chili oil, and sat down to eat.

“Little Ling, your cooking is truly amazing,” Boss Feng praised, savoring each spicy bite. “This is so delicious, I could drink the broth dry!”

The onlookers, who had been hesitant at first, couldn’t resist any longer. They immediately stepped forward to buy a few skewers to try.

To their surprise, they couldn’t stop once they started. Each person ate several skewers worth of coins before reluctantly leaving, still wanting more.

Grandma Ling, who had been worried about whether anyone would actually eat the skewers, finally felt her anxiety ease. She joined in the bustling activity, helping out with the work.

After five o’clock, as people streamed past on their way home from work, business boomed even more. The two small tables filled up quickly, and those who couldn’t find a seat stood nearby, balancing plates in their hands as they ate.

Ling Chuxia handled the money and kept track of the sales while Grandma Ling helped clear the plates and skewers. When the plates were nearly empty, they carried them in a bamboo basket to Boss Feng’s shop to use his sink for washing.

Since it was their first day, Ling Chuxia hadn’t prepared too many skewers. But people ate them up quickly, finishing more than half in no time.

Even the young man selling clothes at the next stall came over to try a few skewers, and he said they tasted great.

By six o’clock, all the meat and vegetable skewers were sold out. A few customers who hadn’t had enough looked disappointed.

“I’ll be back tomorrow afternoon with more,” Ling Chuxia promised with a smile. “I’ll make sure everyone gets their fill.”

After packing up, the grandmother and granddaughter rode their bikes home. Grandma Ling was still a bit dazed.

“I never thought so many people would eat them,” she said.

“Now that people have more money, they like to spend it on snacks,” Ling Chuxia replied, sitting down to count the money and balance the books.

To her surprise, after deducting the costs, they had made fifteen yuan on their first day.

Considering that workers earned just over a hundred yuan a month, this was a very good start.

Feeling confident, Ling Chuxia bought twice as many ingredients the next day.

It was still before six o’clock when all the skewers were sold out, and the day’s net income reached thirty yuan.

After setting up her stall for several days in a row, Ling Chuxia gradually figured out the right amount of ingredients to prepare. She started her stall promptly at 4:30 PM each afternoon and was always packed up and heading home by 6:30 PM.

Business was even better on Saturdays and Sundays, but Ling Chuxia stuck to preparing the same amount of ingredients. Those who missed out were encouraged to come early the next day.

This slight touch of scarcity marketing actually boosted her skewer stall’s popularity even further. People from other districts even came specifically to try her skewers.

Every day after five o’clock, the skewer stall was swarmed by hungry customers.

One day, as Ling Chuxia was working frantically, she looked up and saw several familiar faces approaching the stall: Luo Meili, He Tianyu, and a few others from her class.

The students’ faces were filled with shock as they took in Ling Chuxia’s frilly apron.

Luo Meili gasped, covering her mouth in disbelief. “Ling Chuxia! You’re the owner of this skewer stall? Are… are things really that tough for you? How could you end up like this…?”