3. Calabash Leaf Soup

The young boy looked to be about the same age as Wen Mengdong, wearing a hood that completely covered his ears.

The woman, unable to refuse her child, walked over and looked at the golden grains in the cloth bag. "Young lady," she asked, "is this popcorn? Is it edible?"

Wen Zhongxia immediately used a scoop to ladle out a few grains and smiled. "This lady, you’ll know once you taste it. You won't find this anywhere else."

The popcorn, glazed in syrup, had taken on a golden hue. The boy couldn't wait; he grabbed two and stuffed them into his mouth. With one bite, the sugar coating shattered into bits—sweet and incredibly delicious.

The woman’s expression turned to one of approval. This snack was fun and tasty, unlike melon seeds, which were a chore to crack and could even chip one's teeth.

"Young lady, what is this popcorn made of?"

"My apologies, but that is a secret recipe and I’m afraid I cannot disclose it."

The secret to popcorn lay in the raw ingredients; the method itself wasn't difficult, and an experienced cook could probably guess it after a bit of trial and error. Naturally, Wen Zhongxia knew that copycats would emerge soon. She didn't intend for popcorn to be a long-term business, but she wanted to drag it out for as many days as possible. She needed to seize the opportunity to earn back the rent money first.

"Mom, I want more, I want more!" The boy hadn't had enough and began to fuss.

"Alright, alright, don't make a scene," the woman soothed her son and asked, "How much is it?"

Wen Zhongxia replied, "Five coins a portion."

"That’s too expensive," the woman exclaimed. "A meat bun only costs four coins!"

Xu Xiu’s heart jumped into her throat, terrified that the customer would be scared away. In truth, she had also thought the price was a bit high at first, but her sister-in-law had convinced her by saying, "Scarcity creates value."

"My lady, it is not expensive at all. The popcorn is coated in syrup, and sugar is quite pricey these days. Besides, the portions are generous, and it can last you quite a while. We’re just earning a bit of hard-earned money."

"Most importantly, my family’s popcorn is truly the only one of its kind in the Eastern Capital. Even the wealthy haven't tasted it. If you take it home, it’s perfect for both children and adults to pass the time, and it’s quite presentable if you use it to treat guests."

The woman clicked her tongue in amazement. "You are not only a beauty, but you have a sharp tongue. You’ll surely make a fortune in the future."

"I shall take your kind words to heart," Wen Zhongxia laughed.

The woman thought for a moment and said, "Very well, give me two portions. I have a little girl at home; if I don't buy her some, she’ll kick up a fuss later."

"Coming right up, two portions of popcorn!" Wen Zhongxia announced loudly as she deftly packed the snacks.

"Your child is truly blessed to have a mother like you."

"Oh, nonsense. They’re all born of my own flesh and blood; I love them all the same."

"Since you are my first customer today, I’ll pack a little extra for you. If you like it, you are welcome to come back."

The woman was very pleased. "Then many thanks, young lady."

After packing it up, Wen Zhongxia handed it to her and added, "Make sure to keep the popcorn wrapped tightly when you aren't eating it; otherwise, it gets soggy easily. It’s best not to leave it for too long."

The woman nodded, paid, and left with her child. They hadn't gone far before the boy started clamoring for more, and the woman’s helpless scolding drifted back on the wind.

Xu Xiu looked at the ten copper coins in her hand, her voice trembling slightly. "We earned money! We succeeded!"

Little Wen Mengdong was also infected by the joyful atmosphere and jumped up and down in excitement.

Wen Zhongxia chuckled. "Sister-in-law, this is only the beginning."

After the initial success, customers kept coming to inquire and purchase, most of them accompanied by children, along with some young women. Young women loved sweets and enjoyed trying new things, and soon a group of five or six came over, calling to one another.

From being too shy to even call out to customers, Xu Xiu was now busy packing and collecting money, smiling from ear to ear. What was stage fright? She had never heard of it.

By the time the hour of the Monkey (3:00 PM) arrived, they had sold out of their entire bag of popcorn. In the busy street, one shouldn't flaunt their wealth, so they didn't dare count the money in public. However, they had started with forty sheets of paper, and counting now, only seventeen remained—which meant they had sold twenty-three portions.

"Dong'er, let me test you," Wen Zhongxia asked. "Twenty-three portions, five coins each. How much did we make in total?"

Wen Mengdong had begun his studies at four and knew a little arithmetic, but only the basics. This problem was still too difficult for him; he had finished counting on his ten fingers and didn't know where to go from there.

"Sister, I can't figure it out," he said, drooping his head in frustration.

Wen Zhongxia stroked her little brother’s round head and smiled. "It’s one hundred and fifteen coins."

"Sister, how did you calculate it so quickly?"

"There are techniques for arithmetic. I’ll teach you slowly in the future."

Xu Xiu’s heart surged. To have earned over a hundred coins in less than half a day was well beyond her expectations.

"We should make more tomorrow. We should be able to earn enough for the rent in three days."

Wen Zhongxia said, "Perhaps we won't even need three days. I plan to come out and sell again tonight."

There was no curfew in the Great Song, and the night markets of the Eastern Capital were famously bustling. Even on windy, snowy, or rainy days, the night markets remained open, and the excitement would last until the third watch of the night.

Xu Xiu thought about it; her sister-in-law was right. They couldn't miss any opportunity to earn money now.

...

Even though Wen Zhongxia had spent several years in a first-tier city in her past life, she couldn't help but be moved by the night market of the Eastern Capital. The title "City That Never Sleeps" was truly well-deserved.

Shops on both sides of the street were hung with colorful lanterns, the lights shining toward the heavens in a dazzling display of prosperity that seemed to stretch on forever. The number of street vendors was no less than during the day. Despite the cold, the common folk still wandered about in families or small groups. The saying "work at sunrise, rest at sunset" didn't really apply to the people of the Eastern Capital.

"Fresh and delicious gourd leaf soup! If it's not tasty, it's free!"

Ahead, a vendor selling gourd leaf soup was shouting. A large iron pot sat at the entrance of the eatery, with a roaring fire beneath it. Tongues of flame licked the edges of the pot, the white broth boiling inside, and the rich, savory aroma could be smelled from far away. Gourd leaf soup was essentially mutton soup with the leaves of a certain gourd added. The tender green leaves boiled with fresh mutton created a rich, flavorful broth that wasn't greasy.

The owner used a copper-colored long-handled ladle to scoop the boiling soup into a bowl, sprinkled on a few cilantro leaves, and carried the tray steady as a rock, delivering it to a diner in three quick steps.

"Enjoy your meal, sir."

The diner didn't fear the heat; he lifted the bowl, blew on it twice, and took two large gulps, squinting his eyes with an expression of both agony and ecstasy. He sighed, "Wonderful!"

On a cold night, drinking a bowl of such mutton soup warmed one from the inside out. However, mutton was expensive; a bowl cost eighteen coins.

Across from the gourd leaf soup, sesame flatbreads were being baked. The owner pulled the bread from a large round oven and dumped it onto a table, stacking it like a small mountain—it looked incredibly fragrant. A bit further down was a stall selling shredded chicken noodles...

A line of eateries burned with rolling waves of fragrance, the owners and waiters shouting at the top of their lungs—if you shouted loud, they had to shout even louder. The customers caught in between were left bewildered by the cacophony of hawking and the enticing smells, unsure of what to choose.

Wen Mengdong pursed his lips, swallowing saliva repeatedly. Wen Zhongxia was hungry too; the three of them had been living on steamed cakes for lunch and dinner, which cost one coin each. Until they earned the rent money they owed, they didn't dare spend a penny.

She pulled her little brother away from the food stalls; if they kept looking, the hunger in their bellies would only grow worse. Earn money—they had to earn money quickly.

They followed the flow of the crowd, looking for a spot, and soon arrived in front of a brightly lit two-story building. This was a *Wazi*, an entertainment hub of the Great Song, filled with all sorts of performances: operas, acrobatics, storytelling...

Two waiters stood at the door, welcoming guests as waves of people poured in. Even at the door, one could faintly hear the sounds of music and singing from within.

Wen Zhongxia found a spot near the main entrance. "Let’s sell here. There’s the most foot traffic."

Xu Xiu had no objections; she now felt that whatever her sister-in-law said was right.

"The young lady has chosen well. The customers here are generous and rarely haggle," said an elderly man selling miscellaneous goods nearby. He had graying whiskers and was puffing on a long water pipe.

Wen Zhongxia asked with a smile, "How long have you been setting up here?"

"A few years. Just enough to get by." The old man tapped his pipe against his heel and said slowly, "Young lady, you can set up here with peace of mind. The guards patrol every half hour, but it's best not to stay too late. Once the hour of the Bo (9:00 PM) passes, there are more drunken guests, and you’re bound to run into a few ruffians causing trouble."

Xu Xiu grew nervous at this, but Wen Zhongxia reassured her, "We’ll be heading back before the hour of the Bo, whether we sell out or not."

She scooped a large ladle of popcorn and handed it to the old man. "Thank you for the kind reminder. This is a snack we made; please, have a taste."

The old man accepted it with both hands and thanked her.

Just as Wen Zhongxia expected, several customers attracted by her hawking didn't even ask the price before buying. Eating popcorn while watching a play or listening to music was like a movie essential—it was a perfect match.

The night air was cold. Worried about leaving Wen Mengdong home alone, Xu Xiu had tied a scarf around him, winding it twice until almost the lower half of his face was covered; he looked even more like a rice dumpling. Wen Mengdong kept his hands tucked into his sleeves, doing as his sister said and bouncing up and down occasionally to keep warm, appearing quite content.

"I, this young master, have traveled north and south for so many years. There isn't much I haven't eaten, but I’ve never heard of 'popcorn'."

A young man who had been about to step into the *Wazi* heard the call of "the only one of its kind" and turned around. He looked young, dressed in silk robes with priceless jade inlaid in his hair crown, and a young servant followed him closely.

"Popcorn? Is it made of rice, or is it made of flowers?"

Wen Zhongxia knew that *Yanei* was a title for the sons of officials; these people were the most willing to spend money. She offered her standard smile. "Young Master, what it’s made of isn't important; what matters is that it’s delicious. Have a taste and you’ll know."

Feng Xin thought she was being overly arrogant—how good could such a plain-looking little snack be? But after tasting two grains, his eyebrows arched.

*Oh?* Sweet and crunchy—this was interesting.

"Give me..." He looked up and saw that she was a beautiful young woman, causing him to linger a moment longer. Suddenly, he asked, "Have I seen you somewhere before?"

Xu Xiu’s heart tightened as she scrutinized the man opposite her. Had this young master been to the Wen household before? Could he have recognized her sister-in-law?

"There are many people in this world who look alike; you must have mistaken me for someone else, Young Master," Wen Zhongxia replied, her expression unchanged. "How many portions would you like?"

"Give me five—no, six. I’m with friends, there are many of us."

"Coming right up. Please, just a moment."

Feng Xin watched her, wondering if he really had mistaken her. That made sense; the people he associated with were noble ladies—how could he possibly know a woman selling snacks on the side of the road?

"Here you go. That will be thirty coins," Wen Zhongxia said, handing them over with both hands.

The servant stepped forward to take the popcorn and pay.

Feng Xin looked at her again, shook his head, and walked toward the *Wazi* with his hands behind his back. Wen Zhongxia quickly counted it—it was forty coins. She called out, "Young Master, you gave me too much!"

The servant turned back. "Our Young Master Feng is in a good mood. The extra is a tip."

"Xia'er, should we take this money?" Xu Xiu was worried. She feared that the young master might have truly recognized her sister-in-law as the daughter of the former Minister of Rites. If that got out, it would harm her reputation.

"Why wouldn't we take it?"

Wen Zhongxia had considered that he might have seen the original owner of the body, but so what? Since she dared to run this business, she wasn't afraid of being recognized. In fact, she hoped to meet more generous customers like him.