And it wasn’t even a large bowl.
Sometimes, Madam Ning would joke that Fanlou could have just robbed her directly, but instead, they gave her a bowl of soup-how considerate.
But this little shop had managed to make such a delicious mutton soup for just thirty wen!
What a bargain!
Moreover, this soup was different from others she had tasted.
It didn’t contain spices like Sichuan pepper or star anise-it seemed to only have scallions, ginger, and salt, simmered over low heat.
As a result, the soup tasted clean and pure, with only the richness of the broth.
Madam Ning happily took another sip, savoring it with a small meat bun, her eyes closing in delight.
Halfway through the soup, she ate a piece of the mutton.
The meat didn’t disappoint-it was tender and fragrant, with no gamey taste.
After finishing, she felt content and got up to pay.
She couldn’t help but praise Shen Miao as she came out to clear the dishes:
“Your skills are exceptional. This bowl of mutton soup is as delicious as Fanlou’s, but not as expensive. I’ll definitely come back for more.”
Shen Miao didn’t downplay her skills but smiled openly.
“Thank you. If you like it, come often.”
She had put a lot of effort into this seemingly simple soup, and it deserved the praise.
Although mutton was expensive, the people of Bianjing loved it.
Running a shop wasn’t the same as setting up a stall—it required dishes at different price points.
Shen’s Noodle Shop was located in the inner city, in a good area near the Great Xiangguo Temple and Horse Street, both bustling with people.
After careful consideration, Shen Miao decided to offer mutton soup and mutton noodles, pricing them at the higher end of her menu.
To make this mutton soup, Shen Miao had visited mutton stalls all over Bianjing, inside and outside the city, and learned about the sources and quality of Song Dynasty mutton.
Most of the mutton in Bianjing came from a few places: one was the salt pond sheep from Xingqing Prefecture (Ningxia).
Whether in the Song Dynasty or later, Xingqing’s sheep were famous for being almost game-free, with tender, bright red meat that was delicious whether boiled, stewed, roasted, or fried.
However, due to the distance, transporting and slaughtering Xingqing sheep in Bianjing was expensive.
The second source was lamb from Longyou, Qinzhou.
The Longyou region had vast mountains and lush pastures, and the local sheep grazed on grass and medicinal herbs from birth.
It was said that their meat was not only game-free but also had a medicinal aroma, making it perfect for braised mutton.
The third source was Hengshan mutton from Yongxing Military Circuit (Shaanxi).
These sheep from the old Qin region grazed on pastures filled with sand leeks and thyme, resulting in fragrant, chewy, lean meat with low fat content-ideal for stewing.
Hengshan mutton could make the richest mutton soup.
After comparing various options, Shen Miao signed a long-term supply contract with a stall owner in the outer city who specialized in Hengshan mutton.
First, Hengshan mutton was cheaper than the other two types.
Second, for stewing, she naturally chose the most suitable meat.
Third, after visiting many stalls, only this one, which sounded like a blacksmith’s shop-“Niu Dachui’s Hengshan Mutton Stall”-was willing to let her bargain.
In the end, she secured a deal for eighty-eight wen per jin of mutton, with two bones included.
With the mutton secured, Shen Miao first removed the meat and used the bones to make the base broth the night before.
Early the next morning, she cut the meat into large chunks, blanched it, and stir-fried it in hot oil to render out excess fat.
She then added a splash of wine from the side of the pan and continued to stir-fry with scallions and ginger until the aromas were fully released.
Stir-frying the meat before stewing it ensured that the soup wouldn’t be greasy, and the rendered fat would enhance the flavor.
Finally, she boiled the stir-fried meat with the bone broth over high heat, skimmed off the foam, and simmered it over low heat until the broth turned milky white.
Today’s mutton soup was made with Hengshan mutton, which had been grazed on sand leeks and other aromatic herbs.
However, Shen Miao didn’t dare to make too much, preparing only one pot for fear of not selling it all.
If the mutton went unsold, she, Ji’er, and Xiangjie would probably end up eating it until their noses bled.
After that, she sold seven or eight bowls of fried sauce noodles and then had some free time.
Early in the morning, there weren’t many customers for noodles.
Instead, Xiangjie’s stall outside was bustling.
Some were regular customers from Golden Beam Bridge who had come to buy red bean buns; others were passersby drawn by the aroma, buying a few meat buns and hurrying off; and some were neighbors who, seeing Xiangjie, a little girl, sitting seriously behind the stall, busy and cheerful, came over to chat and bought a few buns to eat.
Brother Ji often went out to help Sister Xiang with accounting and collecting money, and then he would take the initiative to help Shen Miao wash the dishes.
After finishing, he would grab a broom and a cloth to wipe the tables and sweep the floor.
Shen Miao thought she was quite particular about cleanliness, but Brother Ji seemed to have an even more severe case of cleanliness obsession.
Before the results of the Imperial Academy were announced, apart from practicing calligraphy and reading, he spent all his time helping out at the shop.
While Shen Miao made noodles and prepared ingredients, he took care of all the miscellaneous tasks-carrying water, sweeping the floor, washing dishes and vegetables, and sorting ingredients keeping himself as busy as a spinning top.
Unable to send him away, Shen Miao had no choice but to work alongside him.
As she turned the washed dishes upside down to dry, she recalled last night.
During the half-day trial operation, she had sold over forty bowls of noodles.
After closing, she and Brother Ji washed an endless pile of dishes, pots, and utensils.
She told Brother Ji to take a break, but the boy wouldn’t listen, stubbornly insisting on working.
His hands had been soaked in soapberry water for too long, and his fingers were rubbed red.
Thinking about today’s situation, Shen Miao pondered.
In her previous life, when she ran a restaurant, dishes could be put into large dishwashers or outsourced to professional dishwashing companies.
Some small shops even used disposable tableware, eliminating the need to wash dishes altogether.
But in the Song Dynasty… washing dishes had become a major problem.
Whether Brother Ji passed the Imperial Academy exam or not, even if he didn’t, she planned to send him to study under a good teacher in the future.
At the very least, even in families where education wasn’t a priority, no one would treat such a young child like a workhorse.
Perhaps she should hire a helper.
She remembered that during the busiest brewing seasons in spring and autumn, Aunt Gu would go to the “Xing Lao” to hire temporary workers for employers and laborers.
It seemed that the daily wage for such help was around ninety to one hundred wen.
There were also idlers gathered at places like the teahouse at the bridge market, waiting for employers to pick them for work.
However, these people were mostly “temporary workers” who might run off at the slightest disagreement, making them a poor choice.
It was still early, and no customers had come for noodles yet.
Shen Miao instructed Brother Ji and Sister Xiang,
“If you’ve sold all the buns, push the cart back to the backyard. I’m going to Aunt Gu’s house. Keep an eye on things, I’ll be back soon.”
The two were busy serving buns to customers and responded without turning their heads,
“Got it!”
Shen Miao planned to take a detour to Aunt Gu’s house to inquire about hiring workers through the “Xing Lao,” so she wouldn’t be clueless and potentially scammed by smooth-talking middlemen.
But as she reached the backyard gate of Aunt Gu’s house, she heard arguing inside and stopped in her tracks.
She faintly heard Aunt Gu scolding Gu Tusu,
“How old are you already? Still not married? Do you want your father’s lineage to end? The eldest son of the Liu family next door, who makes tofu, is the same age as you, and his son is already as tall as a table! What on earth are you thinking?”
Gu Tusu remained silent.
In the dead silence, another woman’s voice spoke up,
“Alright, alright. Since your family hasn’t reached an agreement yet, I’ll come back another time. Forced matches don’t end well. The girls I’ve found are all good, and their families value them too.”
“They wouldn’t want to marry in a rush. Aunt Gu, consider this trip a waste of my time. I’ll be leaving now.”
Shen Miao quickly lifted her skirt and ran back home, hoping Aunt Gu wouldn’t think she was eavesdropping.
But as she turned around, her heart nearly leapt out of her throat-Aunt Li had somehow appeared behind her like a ghost, also craning her neck and listening intently.
Seeing Shen Miao suddenly turn, she put a finger to her lips, her eyes gleaming as she whispered,
“Don’t make a sound, let’s keep listening.”
After a pause, she added confidently,
“I saw Matchmaker Ning entering the Gu family from afar and knew something was up. Sure enough! Don’t worry, Matchmaker Ning is a distinguished guest. The Gu family will surely see her out through the front door, not the back.”
Shen Miao was on the verge of tears.
She really hadn’t come to eavesdrop!
Now she had unwittingly become Aunt Li’s accomplice!
Embarrassed, she waved her hand and hurriedly slipped back to her own house across the street.
Fortunately, she returned just in time.
The shop had suddenly been flooded with over a dozen people.
They were either sitting or standing, all wearing Fan Yang hats, with aprons tied around their waists, dressed in narrow-sleeved short jackets, and carrying long sticks, quivers, or large knives on their backs; they were soldiers from the local garrison!
Under their hats, they all looked fierce, some with scars on their faces.
Brother Ji and Sister Xiang had just finished selling breakfast and pushed the cart back to the backyard when these people rushed in.
The two children were so frightened their faces turned pale, and they were frantically looking for her!
Shen Miao peeked through the curtain and quickly hid them in the room, then brought Leiting over to guard the door,
“Stay inside, I’ll go see what’s going on. It’ll be fine.”
Sister Xiang clung to Leiting’s neck in fear, tugging at Shen Miao’s sleeve,
“Be careful, sister.”
Brother Ji, however, had a dark expression, showing the same fierceness he had when he heard she was bullied by the Rong family.
He rolled up his sleeves and said seriously,
“Sister, if anything happens, just shout. I’ll go to the kitchen and grab a knife. We’ll fight them if we have to!”
“No need, no need. We haven’t done anything wrong. Just stay calm!”
She took a deep breath, put on a smile, and lifted the curtain to enter the shop,
“Good morning, officers. What’s the matter?”
She had only been open for a day.
Surely she hadn’t committed any offense?
She quickly ran through all the food she had sold yesterday and this morning in her mind, wondering if someone had gotten sick and reported her.
But her ingredients were fresh, and she was very careful about hygiene.
She even used separate clothes for different tasks and never mixed them.
Besides, her family ate the same food she cooked.
How could there be a problem?
After quickly considering the worst-case scenarios, Shen Miao remained calm on the surface, though her heart was pounding.
At this moment, the authoritative middle-aged man sitting in the center, surrounded by the other soldiers, spoke in a deep voice,
“Are you Madam Shen?”
“Yes,” Shen Miao instinctively straightened her back, not wanting to show any fear.
The man looked up at her, silently scrutinizing her from head to toe.
His face was weathered, and he was not one to smile easily.
His sharp, eagle-like eyes added to the pressure Shen Miao felt.
After staring at her for a while, he glanced at the menu on the wall, then took the saber from his waist and placed it on the table, saying:
“Bring twelve bowls of that… fried instant soup noodles.”
Shen Miao was so nervous she didn’t catch it at first and instinctively responded,
“Huh?”
“What do you mean, ‘huh’? The boy said the address was here. I’ve walked all over Willow East Alley, and yours is the only Shen family. Your shop closed too early yesterday, making me waste a trip.”
“Hurry up, twelve bowls of instant soup noodles-the kind you can eat by just pouring hot water over them.”
A younger soldier gestured excitedly to the middle-aged man, “Just bring the dry noodles and hot water, we’ll do the rest ourselves!”
Then he turned to the middle-aged man, seeking approval,
“Coach, since you’re free today, I’ll show you how it’s done! It’s really fun, like magic. In the blink of an eye, it turns into a bowl of thick soup noodles.”
The other soldiers burst into laughter,
“Look how eager this kid is! He’s been talking about it non-stop for so long. We’ve been hearing about it every day, and our ears are about to grow calluses. Madam Shen, hurry up and make it, or this kid’s drool might flood your shop.”
The young soldier blushed and scratched his head.
The middle-aged man they called “Coach” finally cracked a slight smile.
“Alright, I’ll bring it right away,” Shen Miao let out a long breath of relief, patting her chest as she turned around.
That had scared her to death!
The water was ready, and the instant noodles had been pre-fried.
She grabbed a handful of dried vegetables roasted in the earthen kiln, then sliced some braised meat and eggs, dividing them into twelve portions.
It took her several trips to bring everything out.
The young soldier was already loudly demonstrating the “magic” of pouring hot water to his comrades.
Shen Miao quietly returned to the backyard from the kitchen.
She pushed open the door to the room where Brother Ji and Sister Xiang were hiding, and seeing Brother Ji still clutching a kitchen knife as if ready for battle, she couldn’t help but laugh,
“Brother Ji, what did you say to those patrolling soldiers when you went for the exam?”
Brother Ji, still holding the knife, was momentarily stunned,
“Nothing much. They asked where I bought the soup noodles, and I told them to come here.”
Shen Miao silently gave him a thumbs-up.
That was some hardcore advertising-it had nearly scared her soul out of her body.
She returned to the shop, where the burly soldiers were already slurping their noodles.
The entire shop had turned into a sea of braised instant noodles, and the smell made her feel a bit hungry herself.
She stepped outside the shop to get some fresh air when she suddenly heard a commotion not far away, at the entrance of another eatery with a sign that read “Deng Wu’s Fresh Fish Soup.”
A plainly dressed woman in her fifties was tightly holding the hand of a tall, sturdy girl who looked about seventeen or eighteen.
They were being roughly shoved out by a waiter from the shop, who waved his arms impatiently as if shooing away flies:
“Are you here to mock us? Your daughter is clearly a fool, not even as smart as a three-year-old. How dare you come here looking for work? Get out! Get out! Don’t come back! Go away! What a bad omen first thing in the morning. Don’t ruin our business!”
The woman’s eyes were red with anger, tears welling up in her tired, sagging eyes.
But in the end, she said nothing, just tightly gripped her daughter’s hand and turned to leave.
The mother and daughter walked heavily, the mother dragging her daughter, who was a head taller than her, past Shen Miao’s shop, their heads hanging low.
As they passed by, Shen Miao caught a glimpse of the pair.
Her heart ached as if someone had squeezed it.
Both mother and daughter were dressed simply, in coarse brown short jackets and matching narrow-legged pants.
The mother looked much older than her actual age, thin and slightly hunched from overwork.
Yet she had raised her daughter to be tall, strong, and healthy, with a rosy complexion.
However, the girl’s appearance was somewhat unusual-she had wide-set eyes, a flat nose, and a vacant expression.
She kept her mouth slightly open, as if trying to speak, but could only produce short, indistinct sounds.
“Ma… Ma…”
Shen Miao heard her struggling to call out to her mother.
The woman lowered her head, and the tears she had been holding back for a long time finally fell.