A Sweet Start

The boy was visibly surprised, and for unknown reason his face suddenly turned red.

After a moment of hesitation, he said, "I'll have one bowl of savory tofu pudding."

Using a large ladle, Rong Xuelan scooped a generous portion of tofu pudding into a disposable bowl, added rich chicken broth, shredded chicken, and toppings. She then asked, "Do you eat scallions, garlic, cilantro, or chili?"

"A little chili, just cilantro," the boy replied, his gaze fixed on Rong Xuelan's face.

She carefully added a small spoonful of chili oil, sprinkled some cilantro, and handed the bowl to the boy.

The white, tender tofu pudding was topped with shredded chicken and a mix of red and black toppings.

The chili oil's vibrant red and the cilantro's fresh green made the dish visually irresistible.

The boy paid for her tofu pudding and, unable to wait, took a bite right there.

The tofu pudding melted in his mouth and the lightly spicy broth bursting with complex flavors.

The shredded chicken was chewy, while the carrots and mushrooms were crisp and fragrant.

The combination of fermented black beans and chili oil created a symphony of flavors that blended perfectly in his mouth.

Before he had even swallowed his first bite, the boy eagerly stirred the tofu pudding to mix the flavors and took another spoonful.

The mixed flavors were even richer—savory, spicy, tender, and crunchy, creating an incredible taste experience.

He couldn't resist and stood by the roadside, finishing the entire bowl of savory tofu pudding in one go.

After sipping the last drop of broth, he still felt unsatisfied.

However, the portion he had just eaten was generous, and he knew he couldn't finish another bowl.

He asked Rong Xuelan, "Sister, will you be here tomorrow?"

"Yes, I'll be here every day," Rong Xuelan replied, knowing he would return for more.

Her heart filled with joy, and she couldn't help but beam a dazzling smile.

The boy was momentarily dazzled by her smile.

His slightly flushed face turned completely red again as he gave a low reply and quickly walked away.

Just then, a young man at the cold noodle stall next door had finished slurping up his bright-red noodles and was fanning his tongue while exclaiming how spicy it was.

His companion said, "The tofu pudding at the next stall looks good. Why don't you get a bowl to ease the spiciness?"

The young man handed Rong Xuelan ten yuan and asked for a bowl of sweet tofu pudding.

When she mentioned that there wasn't a chilled option, he grumbled.

"It's my first day here, so I wasn't fully prepared. I'll make sure to have chilled tofu pudding available tomorrow," Rong Xuelan said apologetically.

Looks like she would need to buy another insulated container from the market tomorrow, specifically for storing chilled tofu pudding.

The young man nodded and watched her prepare the sweet tofu pudding.

"What are you adding to it?" he asked.

"There's dried longan, hawthorn slices, raisins," Rong Xuelan said as she added the toppings and then poured a generous spoonful of syrup. "This is osmanthus syrup."