First Customer

Three hours later, when she lifted the lid off the chicken soup pot, a rich and mouthwatering aroma filled the room.

Unable to resist, Rong Xuelan swallowed a gulp of saliva.

She ladled the golden chicken broth, glistening with a layer of oil, into an insulated container.

She shredded the tender chicken into fine strips and added them to the broth.

The soybeans had fully soaked by then.

She blended them into a soybean paste, filtered it through a cloth to extract fresh soy milk, and brought it to a boil in a stainless steel pot.

After mixing the soy milk with coagulant dissolved in warm water, the tofu pudding was ready.

Finally, she heated a pan and made chili oil using chili powder.

When she looked up at the clock, it was already 4 p.m.

The university students would soon be finishing classes and heading out for food.

Not wanting to miss the crowd, Rong Xuelan strapped Dou Dou to her back, loaded her tricycle, and headed for the night market.

She rode slowly to avoid discomforting Dou Dou.

When she arrived, the night market wasn't yet crowded.

She located her designated stall between a milk tea stand and a cold noodle stand.

The cold noodle stand was run by a middle-aged couple who were busily preparing food.

They had set up a few simple tables and plastic stools nearby, where several customers sat waiting.

To her left, the milk tea stall was manned by a silver-haired young man.

When Rong Xuelan smiled at him, he ignored her and shifted his gaze away with a blank expression.

Unfazed, she parked her tricycle and propped up a cardboard sign on it that read, "Savory and Sweet Tofu Pudding."

All that was left now was to wait for customers.

Rong Xuelan had been busy the whole day and finally found some time to spend with Dou Dou.

She shifted the baby carrier from her back to her front.

Dou Dou, with his bright black eyes wide open, curiously observed the bustling passersby.

Suddenly, he seemed to spot something interesting and began punching his chubby little legs with his tiny fists, babbling excitedly.

Seeing Dou Dou's adorable antics, Rong Xuelan couldn't help but smile and leaned down to plant a kiss on his chubby cheeks.

She then continued watching over her stall.

She noticed that many women passing by would glance at her repeatedly.

Was it because of Dou Dou?

When the street became busier, Rong Xuelan raised her voice and called out, "Savory tofu pudding! Sweet tofu pudding! Delicious tofu pudding!"

She called out several times, drawing attention, but no one stopped at her stall.

"Tch."

The sound came from her left.

Turning her head, Rong Xuelan saw only an expressionless face.

She didn't take it to heart and continued intermittently shouting for another 20 minutes.

Finally, a big, tall boy with a buzz-cut hair approached her stall.

"Umm, how much is the tofu pudding?" the boy ask.

Rong Xuelan flashed a bright smile. "Ten yuan per bowl."