Republic of China, 1928: Starting from a Wonton Shop

In Beiping (Beijing) in 1929, on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the Lantern Festival.

People in Beiping call this day the Lantern Festival, also known as the Shangyuan Festival.

Before nightfall, despite the chaotic times, all sorts of lanterns had already been hung on Qianmen Street, including revolving lanterns, rabbit lanterns, and ice lanterns, adorning this ancient street with dazzling lights.

Every household is cooking glutinous rice balls. (Actually, I prefer the savory kind...)

On this day, the backyard of Li's Restaurant was exceptionally lively, as the meticulously crafted elegant private room, Liuxianglu, was finally completed.

Carpenter Wang's craftsmanship was impeccable. The wooden house had an exquisite structure with lattice windows on all four sides. The window paper was made of the finest Korean paper, which allowed light to pass through while blocking the wind. Inside the house was a mahogany round table and a dozen chairs. Guests here couldn't possibly sit on backless stools.

"Master, I think we should ask Mr. Mei to inscribe a plaque for the three characters 'Liuxianglu'," Old Wu said with a beaming smile as he strolled around the courtyard with his hands behind his back.

Li Chunsheng was standing in the courtyard, smiling and nodding: "Mr. Wu is right, we can't skimp on appearances. Let's do it next time, we have to close early."

Li Ji usually closes at 8:30 pm, but today, for Shen Nian, also known as Ya Ya, Li Chunsheng has set the closing time to 5 pm.

"Mr. Wu, Big Tiger, are you going to be out tonight?"

"Kong, what are your orders, boss?" Da Hu asked with a smile.

Li Chunsheng waved his hand and said, "Since there's nothing else, let's get Yaya some new clothes! Tomorrow is the sixteenth day of the first lunar month, which is the start of the spring semester at Jingwen Girls' School. As the saying goes, going to school should bring a fresh start, and this old saying emphasizes a complete makeover from head to toe."

"Chunsheng, this money..." Yunniang hesitated, wanting to say something but stopping herself.

"Sister-in-law, money can never be earned enough," Li Chunsheng said, taking off his apron and walking into the main hall. He cupped his hands in greeting to the diners who were still enjoying their meals. "Gentlemen, old neighbors, I'm truly sorry for today! My little sister starts school tomorrow, and I have to rush off to buy some things. Li's Restaurant needs to close early today. If you didn't get any food, please come back tomorrow!"

Although the diners were somewhat disappointed, upon hearing that it was about sending their children to school, most waved their hands readily, saying, "Manager Li, this is a serious matter and cannot be delayed!"

Amidst good-natured laughter, Li's Restaurant hung up its closing sign ahead of schedule.

The group of five walked along the bustling Qianmen Street. It was the quietest time of day, the Lantern Festival, but it was still the most prosperous area in Beiping.

"Brother Chunsheng, am I really going to school?" Yaya looked up, clutching the sugar painting Li Chunsheng had bought for her, licking it every now and then.

"How could this be fake?" Li Chunsheng smiled and patted her head. "Our mission today is to buy everything, from head to toe, nothing can be left behind. Look, we're here."

Ya Ya looked up at the Neiliansheng signboard, her eyes full of curiosity.

There's an old saying in Beiping: "Wearing Ma Juyuan on your head and Neiliansheng under your feet."

This is definitely the top choice for buying shoes for children.

"Shopkeeper, pick out a pair of shoes for this child." Li Chunsheng carried Ya Ya to the low stool for trying on shoes.

Looking at the mahogany and gold-lacquered counter, Yunniang tugged at Li Chunsheng's sleeve somewhat awkwardly: "Chunsheng, the shoes here are too expensive. Let's just buy a pair of ordinary cloth shoes. The child grows so fast..."

"Yunniang, these shoes are quite special," Old Wu explained with a smile. "Scholars walk the path to success, so these shoes are like walking on air, with steady steps, just like when you go to school. They're Neiliansheng shoes, with thick soles and tight construction. It's Yaya's first time entering the school gates, so this first step has to be solid."

The shopkeeper took out a pair of shoes with a blue cloth upper and a thousand-layer sole, with flowing cloud patterns embroidered on the side. After putting them on, Ya Ya walked around on the ground a few times and didn't want to take them off at all.

"These are the ones!" Li Chunsheng readily took out his money. Originally, Yunniang wanted to pay for them herself, but Li Chunsheng refused.

There's no need to buy clothes; I just bought some for the New Year, and the school will also provide uniforms.

The most time-consuming thing was buying a schoolbag.

It was a leather goods shop run by an old craftsman in the alley. Li Chunsheng didn't buy the expensive briefcases from foreign firms, but instead chose a shoulder bag made of cowhide and coarse canvas.

"Master, please sew the straps on this bag wider so the child won't feel any strain on their shoulders when carrying it," Li Chunsheng carefully instructed.

"Chunsheng, we still need to get a food box for Yaya," Shen Xiuyun reminded him.

Girls don't go home for lunch; they mostly eat at school. Li Chunsheng specially chose a small red wooden box with a copper liner inside to keep the food warm from the sun.

"For your first lunch tomorrow, I'll make you braised pork over rice, plus a golden coin egg." Li Chunsheng winked at Ya Ya, "So your classmates will smell the aroma and be green with envy."

Shen Nian chuckled, "Brother Chunsheng, won't they steal my food?"

"If anyone dares to steal it, come back and tell Brother Da Hu, and Brother Da Hu will go to the school gate to keep watch for you!" Da Hu patted his chest.

When they returned to the restaurant carrying large and small bags, Ya Ya was already so tired that she fell asleep on Li Chunsheng's back, still clutching her new schoolbag tightly in her hand.

Looking at the new items on the table, Yunniang suddenly bowed deeply to Li Chunsheng.

"Chunsheng, on behalf of Yaya and on behalf of myself, thank you. I owe you for the rest of my life."

Li Chunsheng helped her up. "Sister-in-law, it's nothing. We're just looking out for each other. Alright, take the child and rest. We'll take her to school early tomorrow morning."

February 25, 1929, the sixteenth day of the first lunar month, happened to be a Monday.

Although the Rain Water solar term has passed and the Awakening of Insects is just around the corner, the weather in Beiping is still very cold.

Shunzi got up before dawn.

He didn't go to Qianmen to look for work today. Instead, he first cleaned up the rickshaw, and then at 5:30, he waited at the entrance of an alley outside Xuanwumen.

When Zhou Zhengnan came out, he exhaled a large puff of white breath. He was wearing a neat navy blue woolen overcoat and had a briefcase tucked under his arm.

"Good morning, Mr. Zhou!" Shunzi greeted him, then put down the handlebars. "Hold on tight, where are we going?"

"Shunzi, you've worked hard," Zhou Zhengnan said as he got into the car and pulled the cotton curtain to block out the cold wind. "Let's go to Jingwen Girls' School. No rush. If we go too early, the school gate won't be open yet. Let's stop at the breakfast stall near the school gate."

"Alright!"

The wheel of the trolley crunched on the broken ice.

"Shunzi, what do you think of Boss Li?" Zhou Zhengnan asked casually.

Shunzi, slightly sweating from running, replied with a smile, "Manager Li? Absolutely! Every rickshaw puller and porter outside Qianmen speaks highly of him. He's honest and doesn't cheat people in business. Look around, nowadays, who runs a restaurant and sends their little girl, who doesn't have any connections, to school? Especially not to such a fancy girls' school. Tsk tsk, Manager Li is a man with great ambitions."

Shunzi paused for a moment, then continued, "I heard someone overhear that girl saying she wanted to marry Manager Li when she grew up!"