Preparing for the First Sale

It was a relatively smoke-free area, which was better for Dou Dou's health.

Pointing to the spot on the map, she asked the staff, "How much is this stall?"

The staff member glanced at it and said, "30 yuan per day."

Rong Xuelan nodded and then pointed to another stall farther inside the market. "What about this one?"

"That spot is a bit less desirable. It's 20 yuan per day."

After some consideration, Rong Xuelan realized that the 10 yuan difference could be offset by selling just two more bowls of tofu pudding a day.

She decided on the first spot she had picked. "I'll take this one. Let's start with a one-month lease."

After signing the contract with the management office, Rong Xuelan received a small permit tag, completing the process.

She then headed straight to the market and purchased stainless steel containers and insulated buckets for making tofu pudding.

Since she had to bring Dou Dou along to the night market, she also spent 700 yuan on a tricycle to transport her supplies.

Meanwhile, a coworker's relative, who was previously a chef, heard that Rong Xuelan's construction site was hiring kitchen staff with decent pay.

He came to apply for the position.

The man appeared honest and dependable, and though his skills weren't as good as Rong Xuelan's, they were passable.

The new foreman was satisfied and signed him on.

Before leaving, Rong Xuelan passed along a few tips to the new chef.

Carrying simple luggage and with Dou Dou strapped to her back, she returned to their new home near the university.

That first night, Dou Dou cried until 1 a.m. before finally falling asleep.

Worried about her son, Rong Xuelan didn't sleep well.

By 5 a.m. the next morning, she was already awake.

Dou Dou stirred not long after, his little nose still red from crying.

After feeding him some formula, she strapped him onto her back and headed to the vegetable market downstairs.

She purchased soybeans and coagulant for the tofu pudding, along with old hens, mushrooms, chili peppers, osmanthus syrup, raisins, and dried longan for toppings.

She also picked up some vegetables and eggs for her own meals before returning home with Dou Dou.

Using the landlord auntie's metal rack as a base and placing an induction cooker on top, Rong Xuelan set up a makeshift cooking station.

She cooked a quick bowl of vegetable and egg noodles for herself and then began preparing the tofu pudding.

She started by cleaning two old hens and placing them in a stainless steel pot with ginger, green onions, and mushrooms.

She set the pot on the induction cooker to simmer into a rich broth.

She sorted through the soybeans carefully, removing any damaged or shriveled ones, and soaked the remaining plump beans in warm water to speed up the soaking process.

While waiting, she organized toppings for the sweet tofu pudding, such as raisins, dried longan, and hawthorn slices, into small jars.

For the savory tofu pudding, she sautéed diced mushrooms, carrots, and fermented black beans, thickening them with cornstarch for a fragrant topping.