Father Tang was ranting and raving in the east room again. Tang Xianling had grown accustomed to it, letting the words roll off him like water off a duck’s back. He didn’t even bother to listen. Whatever Jiang Yun said must have hit the mark, because Father Tang’s tirade abruptly stopped, and the entire east room fell silent.

Tang Xianling felt a bit unsettled by the sudden stillness.

The steamed buns were fried, yet the east room remained quiet. Tang Xianling:? What mischief is the old man brewing now?

He weighed the large ladle in his hand and headed toward the east room.

Before he reached the doorway, Jiang Yun’s voice drifted out: “…In less than an hour, Wu-ger earned over two hundred wen. He’s become quite the hand now. This morning, many people came to buy—even Old Man Cui came.”

“Cui Dabao? He loves to eat. He must have come for my mutton soup and steamed buns.” Father Tang snorted, skeptical of Jiang Yun’s words. He raised his eyebrows and narrowed his eyes, saying, “You’re just afraid I’ll call Wu-ger a good-for-nothing, money-losing brat, so you’re singing his praises now. I’ve been running this shop for years in the neighborhood. Who doesn’t give me a little face? They see the shop open and buy a few buns. Is that because Wu-ger makes them well? It’s because they’re doing me a favor.“

”Just him? Hmph. Just wait. In a few days, there won’t be any customers left. He’s a disaster. When he ruins my dumpling shop’s reputation, I’m telling you, tomorrow when we open, he’s not allowed to use my name…”

Another fit of coughing punctuated his accusation—had Jiang Yun heard it?

Tang Xianling entered the room, clutching a large iron ladle. “Who needs your reputation?” He knew Jiang Yun wanted to “prove something” to Father Tang—to show that Wu-ger wasn’t a jinx or a money-losing liability.

But Tang Xianling couldn’t care less about some old man’s opinion.

He had no emotional bond with Father Tang. Had Father Tang been a kind father, showing more affection to the original Wu-ger, then Tang Xianling might have looked out for Father Tang more for Wu-ger’s sake. But now—

Tang Xianling snorted twice. Who couldn’t deliver a bit of sarcastic jibe?

“You little pest! You think you can kill me?” Father Tang was livid, gasping as if his lungs were about to burst when he saw Wu-ger charging at him with a large iron ladle.

Tang Xianling: …Kill you? That’d land me in prison and cost me my life. Not worth the loss. No way.

“Wu-ger, hold your tongue,” Jiang Yun interjected, smoothing her husband’s ruffled feathers. “He meant no offense—probably just calling me to eat.”

Tang Xianling, both annoyed and amused, announced, “Mother, lunch is ready. Let’s eat.”

“You eat first. Just save me a portion,” Jiang Yun hurriedly replied. Truthfully, she’d been thinking earlier that with outsiders in the shop, she’d have to eat in the front room. For Wu-ger’s reputation, she couldn’t let the neighbors gossip. But now, with her husband like this, she couldn’t slip away easily.

Tang Xianling nodded, exited the east room, and headed straight for the kitchen. He scooped a large bowl of steamed buns for Jiang Yun first, then served Huangfu Tieniu, Gouwa, and himself. Carrying the tray with three large bowls, Tang Xianling headed to the shop.

Xu Gouwa couldn’t sit still. Seeing Master Tang arrive, he rose early to greet him, taking the tray. “Master Tang, let me carry this. Your cooking smells amazing—I caught the aroma just now.”

“Ha ha, it’s nothing fancy—just stir-fried steamed buns. Something to tide us over.” Tang Xianling motioned for the two to sit. “Mother’s tending to Father in the back courtyard. Let’s eat.”

The shop door opened, letting in the midday light that spilled onto the square table.

Huangfu Tieniu felt a bit stiff. He glanced at Tang Fulang, who happened to be looking at him. After a moment, Huangfu Tieniu averted his gaze, his face flushing slightly. He thought, Thank goodness I’m dark-skinned; Tang Fulang probably can’t see it.

“Don’t be so formal,” Tang Xianling said cheerfully to Xu Gouwawa, though inwardly he thought Huangfu Tieniu was just like his name—seemingly incongruous at first glance, yet oddly fitting when applied to the man himself.

A hunter who roamed the mountains, he possessed a youthful handsomeness and a steady demeanor. Perhaps because hunting demanded patience, he wasn’t overly talkative. Yet, with that face and physique, he didn’t seem like your average hunter.

Tang Xianling was curious about Huangfu Tieniu, but first things first—eat!

He’d nearly starved to death in his previous life.

Xu Gouwa had just eaten two lamb buns to satisfy his hunger, yet now he was drooling over the steamed buns in front of him. Seeing Tang Fuling dig in, he no longer held back. Grabbing his chopsticks, he shoveled a mouthful into his mouth. The moment it touched his tongue, his eyes lit up, and he exclaimed, “Delicious!”

“It is delicious,” Tang Xianling remarked, pleased with his own cooking.

The three ate and chatted, Tang Xianling’s natural warmth making the conversation flow effortlessly.

“Did your sisters give you your share of the money?”

Xu Gouwa’s cheeks bulged as he nodded, swallowing his mouthful before replying, “My eldest sister said I worked hard running errands and offered me twelve wen. But I didn’t take them. I still split the earnings with them—picking and gathering wild greens was all my eldest sister and fourth sister’s work.”

“That’s good. Helping each other like that makes sibling bonds stronger,” Tang Xianling remarked.

Xu Gouwa shoveled down the steamed bun cubes, so delicious he could practically swallow his own tongue. He could only nod and grunt in response. Only after finishing his mouthful did he find time to say, “Tang Fulang, how did you make these steamed bun cubes? They’re absolutely delicious.”

“Just the usual stir-fry—cold steamed buns, salted duck eggs, wild greens, all cooked in lard. What can I say? I’ve got the knack. Anything I touch turns out with an extraordinary flavor.” Tang Xianling’s confidence swelled.

Coming from Tang Xianling, these words didn’t feel the least bit obnoxious; instead, they were downright amusing.

Xu Gouwa chuckled. “Tang Fulang, your cooking is delicious, and your words are amusing too.”

“Just telling it like it is,” Tang Xianling replied with a grin.

He casually topped up Xu Gouwa’s cup, then turned to Huangfu Tieniu’s cup, which had remained untouched. As his hand moved toward it, he caught Huangfu Tieniu’s cold gaze flickering toward him before quickly averting. The man seemed unsure where to look, eventually burying his face in his bowl.

Heh heh.

Tieniu really was a bit simple-minded.

But because Tieniu was handsome, it wasn’t the kind of simple-mindedness that came from being stupid.

“Tieniu, can you read?” Tang Xianling suddenly asked Huangfu Tieniu, feeling justified in wanting to treat everyone equally. He’d been chatting with Gouwawa and neglecting Tieniu.

Huangfu Tieniu paused his chopsticks and looked up. “Yes.”

Tang Xianling noticed that Gouwa glanced at Huangfu Tieniu upon hearing this, a hint of surprise flitting across his face. Gouwa wasn’t close with Tieniu and hadn’t known the hunter could read.

In fact, contrary to Tang Xianling’s assumption, Xu Gouwa had only learned last time that the village hunter Tieniu actually had a surname—Huangfu. He’d never even heard of that surname before.

He’d assumed hunters took the surname of the old hunter they followed.

“You look like someone who can read,” Tang Xianling chuckled. “Guess I was right.”

Huangfu Tieniu hummed in acknowledgment and resumed eating, though his pace slowed slightly, as if waiting for Tang Xianling to ask something so he could respond.

“After we finish eating, could you do me a favor? Consider it payment for today’s meal,” Tang Xianling said, then hurriedly added, “Don’t worry, this isn’t some rip-off joint. I won’t shortchange you.”

Huangfu Tieniu glanced over, saw the smile on Tang Xianling’s face, and grunted as if scalded. He added, “Go ahead.”

“Write ‘Brother Tang’s Breakfast’ on my shop door,” Tang Xianling said.

Old Man Tang wouldn’t let him borrow the shop’s reputation, and now he wanted Old Man Tang to piggyback on his traffic!

Huangfu Tieniu nodded and agreed.

Lunch vanished in a whirlwind. Xu Gouwa belched repeatedly, having eaten so fast he nearly choked. Embarrassed, he clutched his cup and gulped water.

“Hold on, I’ll fetch ink and brush.”

Tang Xianling headed to the backyard, retrieved the writing tools, and handed them to Tieniu.

Huangfu Tieniu took the brush, dipped it in ink, and stepped outside the shop. Turning his head, he asked, “Where should I write it?”

“Let me see.” Tang Xianling led Huangfu Tieniu to the door by the oven, pointing to the door panel against the wall. “Write it here.”

“Don’t add the word ‘Young’.”

Huangfu Tieniu paused, his brush tip suspended. Tang Xianling offered no explanation, only stating, “I sell breakfast based on my skill. Anyone who nitpicks about this—they’re welcome to stay away.”

“Do you also think it’s inappropriate?” He looked at Tieniu.

If Tieniu thought it was inappropriate, Tang Xianling gritted his teeth.

“Nothing’s inappropriate. It’s your business. If you like it, that’s all that matters.”

“But if it’s for a ger, it should say ‘Tang Fulang’s Breakfast.’” Huangfu Tieniu picked up the brush, gesturing for him to indicate which one.

Tang Xianling: …

Tieniu actually knew what he was thinking and was being quite obedient. Now he wore an expression that said, ‘Whether it’s for a man or a ger, just tell me, and I’ll write it.’

“Tang Wu-ger’s Breakfast, then.”

After writing it, Tang Xianling smiled and thanked him. Seeing Tang Xianling’s smile, Huangfu Tieniu suddenly didn’t know where to put his hands or feet.

“I’ll take the brush and ink inside,” Huangfu Tieniu said, entering the shop. His back view showed his hands and feet moving awkwardly in sync.

Hehe, still young—he’s already shy.

Watching Tieniu’s retreating figure, Tang Xianling lingered before returning to the shop. His gaze fell upon the five characters on the door panel. Though no master calligrapher, he recognized the quality of the writing: Tieniu’s characters were neat and upright, bold and forceful, decisive and uncompromising. Excellent.

Thus, feeling rather pleased with himself and his experience flirting with handsome young men, Tang Xianling strolled back to the shop, hands behind his back.

Truth be told, Huangfu Tieniu was seventeen this year, while Tang Xianling was twenty-one. If calculated by his previous life’s age, Tang Xianling was indeed a bit older—he’d been twenty-five back then!

Then he wouldn’t feel embarrassed!

Tang Xianling chattered away in his mind, forgetting his own cowardly nature in reality. This was only because they were currently engaged in simple, casual chatter, and Huangfu Tieniu was quiet and straightforward. If it came to real, serious matters like romance, Tang Xianling would be the first to chicken out.

Back at the shop, they began sorting through the wild greens Xu Gouwang had brought and settling the payment.

Xu Gouwang had just eaten Tang Fulang’s meal. He’d spent the whole journey thinking about how awkward it would be to deliver the greens, and now he stammered, unable to speak—clearly, one can’t bite the hand that feeds them. Tang Xianling saw right through him and spoke first: “Gouwa, your home is far away, and with summer approaching, you probably don’t have many wild greens left. After we settle this payment, you won’t need to bring any more.”

“But what about your business, Tang Fuling? Won’t this delay your work?” Xu Gouwa worried.

Tang Xianling replied, “If there are no wild greens, I’ll trade for other vegetables. Fengyuan City has plenty of produce. Don’t worry.”

Xu Gouwa finally relaxed. Then he thought of something and said, “Mr. Tang, I ate your meat-filled steamed buns and lunch today. Twenty-five wen will be enough.”

“Take it.” Tang Xianling didn’t short Xu Gouwa a single coin. His gaze shifted upward, meeting Tieniu’s handsome face. With a smile, he said, “It’s rare for me to visit the West Market. Meeting you lot was fate. Even if I don’t buy your vegetables anymore, if you ever come to Fengyuan City, come to my place for breakfast. Or if you run into any trouble, you can come too.”

“Tieniu, you too.”

Huangfu Tieniu glanced over. The silver money clutched in his palm hesitated for a moment at Tang Xianling’s words, but he ultimately didn’t pull them out. Tang Xianling didn’t want to be overly formal or distant with them; their exchange had already made them seem like friends.

If that was the case, could he come find Tang Xianling next time?

But he had no reason to seek out Tang Xianling either—he wasn’t a vegetable seller.

“Well then, Mr. Tang, we’ll be on our way. Truly, thank you for today.” Xu Gouwā was overjoyed.

Everything had gone smoothly today.

“Until next time. It’s just that your journey is so long, and you arrived late. Otherwise, I’d have insisted you try my pot-sticker buns. I’m bragging, but they’re delicious—they always disappear in no time.”

“Alright, Gouwa, don’t go blurting out promises again!” Tang Xianling hurriedly interjected.

Xu Gouwa: !!!

How did Tang Fulang know he was about to say he’d come earlier next time to buy breakfast?

If he came early, he’d have to travel all night.

Xu Gouwa chuckled, started walking out, then paused after a few steps. “Brother Tieniu?”

Huángfǔ Tieniu nodded to Tang Xianling, as if bidding farewell, then lifted his feet to follow Xu Gouwa. Their backs disappeared into the crowd within moments.

All the way home, Xu Gouwa kept chattering: “Tang Fulang really knows how to cook. I’ve never tasted such delicious stir-fried bread cubes before. Who knew you could even stir-fry bread cubes? I’ll ask Grandma to make them when we get back. Hopefully, they’ll taste as good as Tang Fulang’s.”

“Tang Fulang is so kind and hospitable, inviting us to eat.”

“My dad always said city folks are cunning and might fool me for a fool. He told me to be sharp and not trust people easily. But he was wrong. Tang Xianling is from the city, yet he’s different…”

Huangfu Tieniu listened as Xu Gouwawa praised Tang Xianling with every sentence. He nodded imperceptibly, agreeing with every word.

But he couldn’t shake the question: Why did he keep wanting to find Tang Xianling again?

When Gouwa first sought him out, it was just a coincidence—if Gouwa could keep up, they’d travel together. But the second time, Gouwa came days in advance to plead for another trip into town, even promising five wen from vegetable sales.

Tieniu naturally refused.

He hadn’t said yes or no. After listening to Xu Gouwa talk for a while, he only said, “In a few days, if I manage to hunt something, we’ll go together.”

Xu Gouwa didn’t know that after saying this, that very night, Tieniu had ventured deep into the mountains.

Having hunted a deer, Tieniu breathed a sigh of relief. Now he had a reason for going into town a second time.

But what about next time? Entering town would be possible, yet it wouldn’t be the same.

“And Brother Tieniu, I didn’t dare ask before—your surname is Huangfu? That’s such a unique surname, and it’s only two characters! Last time I went back, I only told my family, didn’t mention it to anyone else.” Xu Gouwawa hurriedly explained.

Huangfu Tieniu: “It’s fine.”

Xu Gouwa was curious. Not just in their village, but in the neighboring villages, his sister-in-law’s village, and all the surrounding villages—there was no one else with the surname Huangfu. Where exactly did Brother Tieniu come from? He’d heard from his grandmother that the old hunter had found a child five years ago, and that child was Brother Tieniu.

Huangfu Tieniu knew Xu Gouwa was curious, but he didn’t want to explain much.

That’s right. He never wanted to talk about his origins. When his foster father first found him, they waited in Tingjiang Prefecture for a full half-month searching for his family. Back then, his head was injured, and he couldn’t remember his home. Besides the clothes he wore and a jade pendant left by his mother, all his other belongings had been washed away.

It wasn’t until two years ago that fragments of memory began to surface. His foster father asked if he wanted to go to Lujing to reunite with his biological father. Tieniu thought about it all night, but in the end, he shook his head and refused.

Huangfu Chen had died five years prior.

Tieniu was Tieniu, yet when Tang Xianling inquired, he answered truthfully.

Tang Xianling found the name Huangfu Tieniu intriguing, so he never mentioned the name Huangfu Chen.

Why… exactly?

Little Boss Tang was unaware that a pure-hearted Tieniu was wrestling with a hundred thousand whys. Busy at the moment, he closed the shop door and sorted the vegetables Gouwa had delivered, first laying them out to dry—the table they’d moved to the courtyard was still there. He and Jiang Yun ate their meals out there, too lazy to move.

Now was the perfect time to spread them out flat for drying.

Jiang Yun had just finished feeding Father Tang. Even though the steamed buns were slightly cold, her husband took a bite and was clearly astonished by Wu-ger’s skill. He refused to admit it aloud, muttering, “He never cooked like this before.”

Then he added, “But it’s just a bowl of ordinary steamed buns. Still far from perfect.”

Jiang Yun remained silent. Seeing her husband wolfing down his food, she understood—Wu-ger’s cooking was truly exceptional.

After finishing drying the vegetables and washing the pots and bowls, Tang Xianling went to fetch water.

“Mother, I’d like to have some rice tonight.”

Jiang Yun: “But we’re out of rice, aren’t we?”

“We made money today. I’ll buy some rice and vegetables to celebrate our successful opening. Let’s have a proper meal.” Tang Xianling never skimped on his own meals. Back in college, with his monthly allowance of fifteen hundred yuan, his roommates spent theirs on gaming, dating, saving for shoes, or special forces trips.

But he? He only treated his own mouth.

Naturally, his Special Forces roommate would say: “Don’t you want to try XX’s local specialty? They say it’s amazing!”

So the money he earned from part-time gigs during breaks? Tang Xianling spent it all on eating his way across the country.

Feeling down today? — Eat a meal.

Passed an exam? Celebrate — Eat something nice.

Heh, brought an umbrella in the rain? Time for hotpot.

…There was no excuse he couldn’t find to eat well.

His Engel coefficient hit the max.

During the apocalypse, Tang Xianling was beaten to a pulp countless times by mutant trees, rolling on the ground in desperation as he fled. He’d lament: Why did they give him such a useless ability? Why not wind, fire, lightning, or thunder? Or at least make him stronger?

But when he hugged a tree, used its tender leaves to cook a meal, and smelled the aroma, he chuckled while eating: “Food Spirit Root isn’t so bad after all. Pretty good, pretty good.”

Mealtime is the happiest time.