Chapter 14: Do a Favor for a Little Cost
The Jiang matriarch first examined the noodle stall, then turned her gaze to Ye Ning, observing his manners and listening to his words. A satisfied smile spread across her face, and she exclaimed in surprise, “Free refills of noodles and broth?”
Ye Ning nodded, pointing to the wooden sign inside the stall. The sign, with bold and decisive handwriting, clearly stated the free refill policy. It was unmistakably written by Zhang Zhiyuan and even included explanations.
In truth, most people in Qingtian Village were illiterate. Otherwise, the Zhou family would not have used such tricks to deceive the Ye family and the original owner. Ye Ning, however, wanted to avoid any disputes, so he made the pricing transparent and recorded everything clearly.
Ye Ning explained, “Yes, if you eat noodles at the stall and don’t take them away, you can have free refills of both noodles and broth. But if two or more people share a single bowl, refills are not allowed.”
The wooden sign inside the stall spelled out the rules for refills clearly. Anyone entering the stall could order one bowl per person and enjoy unlimited refills of noodles and broth, as long as it wasn’t taken out. Sharing a single bowl among multiple people meant no refills—except for small children.
Ye Ning ran the stall cheaply. The fish and shrimp were all caught by himself, while bamboo shoots and mushrooms were plentiful and inexpensive in Qingtian Village. The biggest expense was the noodles, but even two coins could buy a decent amount. Some customers ate more, some less, so overall, he didn’t worry about losses. His main concern was a lack of customers.
Since the small stall had just opened, the first priority was to attract people and build its reputation.
Most villagers in Qingtian Village were self-sufficient and didn’t need to eat out. Ye Ning had to think of a creative way to draw in customers, and naturally, he came up with the idea of free refills.
Not only was this unheard of in Qingtian Village, even the Jiang matriarch had never seen a stall offering unlimited noodles and broth for free. It was novel and curious.
The matriarch smiled. “Bring me a bowl, and give my household servants a bowl as well.”
The maids and attendants standing nearby had already smelled the delicious broth and were drooling silently, eyes wide with desire. But with the matriarch present, they dared not act recklessly.
Clearly in a good mood, the matriarch prompted the servants, who happily replied, “Thank you, Matriarch.”
Yesterday, the stall had earned no money, but today it was already attracting business. Ye Ning immediately began preparations. He first boiled water to cook the noodles, then brought out a few small plates. One plate was placed on the matriarch’s counter, which was the only wooden table in the stall.
It was a plate of small, roasted fish, fragrant and golden.
When cooking the broth, Ye Ning naturally used small fish and shrimp. There were often leftovers, so he roasted them into small dried fish. He brushed them with sauce, and once roasted, they turned golden and fragrant. The local fish had one major flaw—they were full of bones, making them hard to eat. Roasting solved this perfectly: even the bones became crispy and aromatic, complementing the firm, chewy fish meat, adding texture without needing to pick out bones.
These small roasted fish were also for sale. Since they were not well-known, Ye Ning planned to offer a small portion for free to noodle customers, letting them taste it and spread the word. This would help build a reputation for future sales.
Ye Ning placed the plate in front of the matriarch. “This comes with your noodles—small fish strips.”
The fish strips were not only roasted to a fragrant golden finish, but were also cut thoughtfully into small pieces. Anyone could pick one up and eat it without getting their hands messy. It was perfect as a snack or with drinks.
The matriarch leaned forward to smell them, fanning gently with her hand, a gesture full of elegance. She normally avoided seafood, fearing the smell would linger on her hands and clothes—a nuisance far worse than craving. She usually set aside taste for the sake of appearance.
But now, the aroma had no trace of fishiness, only a subtle, gentle fragrance. The fish strips were dry and not sticky. She cautiously picked one up, bringing it to her lips and biting gently. She expected it to be hard and take effort to chew, but instead, it was just firm, pleasantly chewy, and broke easily without straining her teeth.
The flavor was rich and fresh, the sweetness of river fish spreading naturally. Roasting had enhanced its unique taste, leaving nothing to hide.
The matriarch’s eyes widened in delight. Previously, it wasn’t that she disliked seafood—it simply wasn’t enticing enough. She tasted one strip and smelled her fingers—there was no fishy odor. Instantly, she was pleased. Her usual conflict between beauty and taste was gone here; today, Ye Ning’s food delighted her completely.
She laughed. “These fish strips would make excellent snacks.”
Ye Ning busied himself with the noodles, scooping them into bowls and pouring over the broth. He first served the matriarch, then distributed the remaining bowls to the maids and attendants.
The noodle stall was no bigger than the space to turn around, with only one wooden counter. Although the Jiang matriarch was friendly and had no airs like the family’s master, the household servants dared not eat at the same table with her. Instead, they carried their bowls of Pien’er Chuan outside the stall to eat.
Zhang Zhiyuan kindly found some wooden planks and set them up as makeshift seats so that at least they could sit down.
Passersby villagers saw that the small stall, which had been quiet and deserted yesterday, was now packed with people. It was a spectacular sight—some standing, some sitting—but everyone held a steaming bowl of noodle soup, the aroma gathering and drifting lazily on the summer breeze.
Even the two oldest and most disciplined maids next to the matriarch couldn’t help but savor the Pian’er Chuan once they tasted it.
“Wow, it smells amazing!” a passing villager remarked. “Where is this? When did a stall open here, and why are there so many people?”
“Don’t you know? That’s Ning Ger’s noodle stall. The previous stall run by Fang Niulao didn’t do well and closed, so Ning Ger reopened it.”
“I thought there’d be no business, yet look at all these people eating noodles!”
“Goodness, aren’t those the Jiang family?”
“I think I saw the Jiang matriarch! Such a high-ranking person, and she’s eating at Ning Ger’s stall?”
“Look at them—they’re chatting and laughing. Is Ning Ger’s noodle really that good?”
Villagers rarely saw members of the Jiang family. Though the Zhou family often made appearances in the village, when it came to the most influential household in Qingtian Village, it was the Jiang family. They were the village’s benchmark, commanding respect and attention.
Today, seeing the Jiang matriarch eat noodles at the stall fascinated everyone. They all wondered what kind of miraculous taste Ning Ger’s Pian’er Chuan could have.
The Jiang matriarch ate elegantly, wiping her mouth with a handkerchief. In truth, she had only come to see the stall that could entice her son to eat. She hadn’t intended to eat herself, but before she realized it, she had eaten quite a lot. Her stomach was clearly full, yet her mouth still craved more.
Still savoring the flavors, she asked, “Could I buy some of these fish strips? I’d like to take some home.”
Ye Ning smiled apologetically. “The fish strips are only for tasting today and aren’t officially for sale. They’ll be added to the menu tomorrow.”
The matriarch looked a little disappointed, but Ye Ning quickly added, “However, there are still some fish strips left. I can pack some for you to take home, though I hope you won’t mind that they’re just sample portions.”
The matriarch’s eyes lit up. She was sharp and clever, instantly realizing that Ye Ning was using this as a teaser: tempting customers’ appetites while subtly promoting future sales and maintaining face.
Nodding, she looked at Ye Ning a few more times. He truly was smart, insightful, and meticulous—perfectly capable of running a stall.
Ye Ning packed the fish strips for the matriarch and sent her on her way. Villagers who had been watching saw her leave, smiling and flushed with color. Clearly, she had enjoyed the food immensely.
Unable to resist any longer, they rushed into the stall, calling out: “Give me a bowl!”
“I heard you have free refills of noodles—is that true?”
“Me too, I want a bowl…”
The stall, which had made no money the day before, suddenly became bustling. Ye Ning was nonstop, cooking noodles and ladling broth, while Zhang Zhiyuan collected money, wiped tables, and recorded every transaction carefully.
By the afternoon, all the noodles were sold, and the stall closed early.
With the stall running, Ye Ning stayed in the small room behind the counter and no longer needed to return home. Zhang Zhiyuan, however, had to go back. He had no place to stay and it wouldn’t be proper to sleep in the stall with Ning Ger who hadn’t gone out.
Early the next morning, those who had missed the noodles the previous day all rushed over, treating the Pian’er Chuan as breakfast. Qingtian Village was small, and the villagers loved to gossip. Word spread quickly, and by evening, the stall’s reputation had grown. People had heard that even the prestigious Jiang matriarch had approved of the taste. For only two coins, with unlimited refills, everyone wanted to try it.
Soon, there were not enough seats to accommodate people, and a line formed, winding along the riverbank. Business was thriving.
“Ah, Ning Ger’s father!”
Someone with sharp eyes spotted Ye Ning’s parents making their way through the crowd, crossing the small bridge with heads down. From their appearance, it wasn’t clear that they had come to eat noodles.
“Fang Niulao, I’ve supported your family plenty. Go tell Ning Ger to let me in first!”
Ye Ning’s parents, however, remained silent, their faces full of grievance. They entered the stall directly. Mother Ye grabbed his wrist while he was serving soup, nearly pulling his hand onto the edge of the boiling pot.
All the customers in the stall watched them.
Mother Yelowered her head in shame, looking utterly embarrassed, and spoke softly: “Come home with me at once!”
Ye Ning shrugged off her hand. “Mother, why are you here? I don’t have time right now. We can talk later.”
Father Ye thumped his cane on the floor and scolded, “You little brat! Haven’t you embarrassed yourself enough? Look at what you’ve become! Hurry back home!”
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