Republic of China, 1928: Starting from a Wonton Shop

The wheels rolled on, crushing the remaining snow on the road.

Before long, Shunzi's car came to a steady stop not far from Li Chunsheng's stall.

It was already past ten o'clock, and there were fewer customers in front of the stall, but the rich aroma still wafted into Zhou Zhengnan's nostrils.

Zhou Zhengnan got out of the car but didn't sit down immediately. Instead, he stood a few steps away and examined the stall in the dim light.

Indeed, as the driver said, this stall was somewhat different.

Although the tables and chairs were old, they were wiped clean and not greasy at all; the young boss in charge of cooking wore a faded apron, his nails were neatly trimmed, and his hair was combed neatly; even the young girl helping out next to him always had a rag in her hand, and she would immediately go and wipe it as soon as the customer left.

What surprised Zhou Zhengnan the most was the young boss's demeanor.

Although he was making a living in the bustling city, the young man's demeanor didn't suggest he came from a poor family, nor did he look like a struggling peddler. Instead, he seemed more like... a scholar.

"Sir, please have a seat." Li Chunsheng had noticed Shunzi and Zhou Zhengnan long ago, so he took the initiative to greet them and wiped the already clean tabletop again with a rag.

Zhou Zhengnan nodded, placed his briefcase on his lap, protected it with both hands, and then sat down: "Boss, a bowl of noodles, please. Keep it light and don't add too much chili oil."

"Alright! One bowl of chicken broth ramen, clear broth, less oil!" Li Chunsheng called out.

He kneaded the dough while observing the customer discreetly.

In my past life, I ran a restaurant, which honed not only my culinary skills but also my keen eye for reading people.

Although this man was dressed in a long robe and looked like a schoolteacher, he sat upright, and even when he was relaxed, his legs were one in front of the other. Moreover, although his eyes were gentle, he was constantly scanning his surroundings, as if he was ready to get up and leave at any time.

He's no ordinary person.

Li Chunsheng had a plan in mind, but his hands didn't stop moving.

In no time, a bowl of chicken noodle soup was ready.

"Sir, your chicken noodle soup is low in oil and has no chili."

The bowl of noodles was placed on the table, the soup was clear, the noodles lay neatly at the bottom of the bowl, and there was a piece of pork belly with alternating layers of fat and lean meat, which looked refreshing.

Zhou Zhengnan looked at the bowl of noodles, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

He took off his glasses, blew on them gently, and took a sip of soup.

The hot soup slid down his throat into his already aching stomach, and in that instant, Zhou Zhengnan felt as if he had come back to life.

"Good." Zhou Zhengnan couldn't help but murmur a single word of praise.

He picked up his chopsticks, took a bite of noodles, and put it in his mouth. The noodles were smooth and delicious, and the light yet rich broth made every bite a comforting experience.

He ate quickly, but not in a wolfing-down manner.

In no time, they finished the soup and noodles completely.

Zhou Zhengnan put down the bowl, took out a handkerchief to wipe the corner of his mouth, and put his glasses back on.

"Boss," Zhou Zhengnan said, taking a large coin out of his long gown pocket and placing it on the table, "Keep the change."

This price is far more than the cost of a bowl of noodles.

"Sir, this is too much. It's just a bowl of noodles." Li Chunsheng quickly waved his hand.

"Not much." Zhou Zhengnan held the money, looked up at Li Chunsheng, and said, "In this chaotic world, it's not easy to maintain cleanliness and do things so meticulously. This craftsmanship is worth the price."

Li Chunsheng's heart stirred, and he no longer refused. He generously accepted the money and cupped his hands in greeting to Zhou Zhengnan: "Sir, you flatter me. I'm just trying to make a living. Since this is a gift from you, I'll accept it. If you want a hot meal in the future, please come often. My place may be simple, but I guarantee it will be clean and the food will be delicious."

"Okay, there will be opportunities." Zhou Zhengnan nodded, picked up his briefcase, and stood up.

At this moment, Shunzi had already pulled the car up to them.

"Sir, shall we go?"

"Let's go."

Zhou Zhengnan got into the rickshaw, pulled down the windshield, and the rickshaw slowly drove into the dark street, heading towards Xuanwumen, with Li Chunsheng watching him go.

Li Chunsheng stood in front of the stall, holding the large coin in his hand, lost in thought.

"Brother Li, that gentleman is a good person," Ya Ya suddenly whispered as she was tidying up the table.

"Oh? How did Ya Ya know?" Li Chunsheng asked with a smile, snapping out of his daze.

"His gaze wasn't fierce, and..." Ya Ya pointed to the stool Zhou Zhengnan had just sat on, "When he left, he gently pushed the stool back. Those old men who drank earlier always kicked their stools around after they finished eating."

Li Chunsheng was taken aback for a moment, then patted Ya Ya's head and smiled, "Ya Ya is so smart, that's right, he's a good person."

At that moment, a cold wind swept down, carrying snowflakes.

"It's snowing." Li Chunsheng looked up at the sky.

"Manager Li! Do you have any noodles left? Give me a bowl! I'm starving!"

In the distance, several patrol officers who had just finished their night shift strolled over, breaking the brief silence.

"Yes! Gentlemen, please have a seat! The noodles will be here shortly!"

Li Chunsheng snapped out of his thoughts, put the money in his pocket, and picked up the dough on the cutting board again.

No matter how turbulent the world may be, for him now, running this small stall well and taking care of the people around him is the most real way to live.

-----------------

As night deepened, the snow fell heavier and heavier.

Shunzi pulled the cart, running very fast, his cloth shoes crunching on the snow.

Inside the carriage, Zhou Zhengnan lifted a corner of the curtain and looked at the street scene rushing past the window.

"This master."

"Yes, sir! What are your orders?"

"If I need to use the car again in the future, or if I want to eat noodles, can I go to that stall to find you?"

"That's great! I work around that area, so you're sure to find me if you go there! If you can't find me, you can ask Manager Li; we're neighbors!"

By 11 p.m., the hustle and bustle of Qianmen Street had finally cooled down, and the cold wind, carrying snowflakes, was blowing straight into people's collars.

"Let's pack up and go." Li Chunsheng glanced at the sparse figures on the street; even rickshaw pullers were rare these days.

"Mmm," Ya Ya replied crisply.

Although the little girl was small, she was quite good at her work. She helped Li Chunsheng neatly stack the cleaned porcelain bowls into the wooden box, and carefully placed dry straw in between them.

Li Chunsheng looked at Ya Ya and felt a mix of emotions.

In later times, a seven-year-old child would be pampered by her parents like a little princess, and would cry and fuss for half a day over a doll. But in this era, seven-year-old Yaya has already learned how to read people's expressions and how to struggle to survive in the cold wind.

"Ya Ya, you don't need to carry that, it's heavy." Li Chunsheng snatched the coal stove that Ya Ya was about to lift, picked it up with one hand, and placed it steadily on the wheelbarrow.

"Brother Li, I'm not tired, I have plenty of energy." Ya Ya raised her little face, wanting to prove that she was useful and not just a freeloader.

Li Chunsheng didn't say anything, but simply reached out and touched her hair. "Let's go home."