“No, I didn’t mean you’re an elder or that you’re old. You don’t look old at all—you look really young, honestly.”

“I… I’m just happy you hid food for me.”

Huangfu Tieniu’s explanation came out a bit flustered.

Seeing this, Tang Xianling’s anger vanished instantly. He curved his eyes and said, “You guessed right. I’m baking a whole oven just for us to eat—not for sale.”

“For us?” Tieniu murmured softly, his face flushing again.

Tang Xianling, that sly fox with his words, heh heh heh.

Tieniu was surprisingly innocent.

So the two of them proceeded to bake bread properly in the shop. Tang Xianling worked while casually asking Tieniu if he’d bought the mule yet. Why hadn’t he brought it over?

“It’s at the Mule and Horse Office in the East Market. I’ll pick it up when I return.” After saying this, Huangfu Tieniu stole another glance at Tang Xianling and added, “I went to the West Market and had a signboard made for Brother Tang’s breakfast shop, plus a small plaque announcing opening hours from Chen hour till noon, five days a week.”

Tang Xianling’s hands paused, his eyes burning as he looked at Huangfu Tieniu.

Tie Niu felt so scrutinized that he didn’t know where to put his hands. “Don’t blame me for acting on my own, and don’t give me money. It wasn’t much—you already treated me to bread.”

“They’ll be ready this afternoon. I’ll pick up the mule and bring the plaque over on my way.”

“It’s very cheap. The plaque’s wood isn’t anything special—don’t dwell on it.”

Huangfu Tieniu’s flurry of explanations, even “depreciating” the value of his gift, was solely to ease Tang Xianling’s reluctance to accept it. Tang Xianling replied earnestly, “I won’t refuse it.”

“Thank you, Tieniu.”

“Your gift is wonderful. I like it very much.”

Just those three sentences made Huangfu Tieniu’s heart pound violently again. His limbs froze in place, unsure how to move, and he could only manage a dumb-looking “Mhm.”

“Honestly, we’re on the same wavelength here. It’s like we’re telepathic. I was thinking of making a sign too,” Tang Xianling said with a twinkle in his eye.

This time, Huangfu Tieniu couldn’t hold back. His face flushed crimson.

Tang Xianling: Hehe.

Tieniu really is pure-hearted.

He, the theoretical master, holds the reins!

On the other side.

Lu Sanniang had smelled the aroma that morning and knew Brother Tang had cooked something delicious again. Hearing the price of seven wen per roasted bread outside the crowd, she thought it over, resisted her craving, and returned to her family’s shop without asking her parents or older brother for money to buy some.

Lu Dalang, however, caught the scent and asked, “Sanniang, what tasty treat is the neighbor making again?”

“Nothing much,” Lu Sanniang replied.

Lu Dalang raised an eyebrow. “Oh? Not telling your big brother the truth anymore?”

“Big brother, it’s roasted bread. I caught a glimpse from afar—golden brown, but I didn’t recognize it.” Lu Sanniang swallowed at the memory, her small face still calm as she said, “I already ate breakfast, and I’m not very hungry. Big Brother, you shouldn’t eat it either. Wu-ger’s business is booming; it was almost sold out by the time I got back.”

Lu Sanniang spread her small hands helplessly. “If you go now, it’s definitely gone.”

Lu Dalang understood immediately. “Expensive?”

Lu Sanniang didn’t answer. Curiosity piqued, Lu Dalang pressed his sister, “How expensive? Six wen? More than those pot sticker buns?”

“Seven wen,” Lu Sanniang nodded emphatically. Seeing her brother frown, she quickly added, “It’s no wonder Uncle Tang charges so much. I heard him say he spent half the night making some kind of oil from cow’s milk. You only need a little bit, and the rest goes to waste.“

Lu Dalang: ”No wonder Aunt Tang delivered fresh milk to our house so early this morning.“

”All that trouble really is no easy feat.”

Lu Sanniang nodded too, propping her cheek with her small hand. “Big Brother, when I grow up and earn money, I’ll buy you bread too. It’s not Wu-ger’s fault for charging so much—it’s just that I’m too poor.”

This expression made Lu Dalang chuckle. He ruffled his sister’s hair and said, “Why wait until you grow up to eat bread? Tomorrow, or when Erlang comes back at the month’s end, we can save up and buy some to eat.

Lu Sanniang had heard the price and immediately turned back. Afraid of showing her greed when she couldn’t afford it, she naturally missed Tang Wu-ger’s later mention of non-buttered bread costing five wen each the next day.

The siblings discussed bread in the backyard.

Up front at the shop, Jiang Yun carried a basket holding bread, and the Lu family’s bowls—Tang Xianling had asked for dough starter yesterday, and the Lu family had provided their own bowls to hold it.

Now Jiang Yun and Chen Qiaolian were engaged in an intense tug-of-war.

“Sister-in-law, take it back! A single piece of starter isn’t worth any money—why are you giving this away?” Chen Qiaolian pushed the bread in the bowl, trying to return it to Jiang Yun’s basket.

Jiang Yun shielded the basket with one arm, refusing to let Chen Qiaolian return it. “It’s made by Wu-ger. Let the child try some. Oh, be careful not to drop it.”

“Sister-in-law, you’re being too formal. You brought us milk this morning. I feel bad taking your bread for free.” Chen Qiaolian knew these loaves cost seven wen each. The shop next door did brisk business, its aroma wafting down the entire street. Customers who came to her place for steamed buns would remark, ”Brother Tang Wu’s bread is truly fragrant, but it’s pricey—seven wen a piece!”

Such an expensive treat, and Jiang Yun had sent them two loaves.

Chen Qiaolian couldn’t possibly accept them.

Jiang Yun insisted, “Forget the milk. Brother Wu-ger said to deliver this bread. If you don’t take it, how could I ever ask for your starter again?”

“Just take it. Consider it a sweet treat for Sanniang.”

Chen Qiaolian refused again, saying, “Sister-in-law, what are you saying? Helping each other is only right.”

The two tugged back and forth. Finally, customers arrived to buy steamed buns. Jiang Yun said, “Customers are here. You go ahead and tend to them. I’ll be on my way.” She hurriedly slung her basket over her shoulder and left Lu’s Steamed Bun Shop.

Chen Qiaolian let out an exasperated sigh, unable to chase after her.

On the table, two golden loaves of bread were crammed into a coarse ceramic bowl.

A customer buying steamed buns asked curiously, “Madam, have you changed your steamed buns?”

“Of course not! These are freshly baked loaves from our neighbor, Brother Tang Wu,” Chen Qiaolian replied. She then called toward the back yard, “Sanniang, come here!”

She turned back to the customer, asking what he’d like.

His eyes never left the loaves in the bowl—golden with emerald green scallions, their aroma making his stomach growl. “Give me a few meat buns,” he said.

“How many?”

“Four, I suppose.” The customer eyed the loaf. “This bread looks unusual. Is it baked steamed bun flavor?”

Chen Qiaolian noticed the customer kept asking about the bread. Normally, she’d offer a sample of other dishes, but she knew Sanniang would love this and wanted to save it for her daughter.

“I’m not sure. I heard it’s a new creation,” Chen Qiaolian replied.

Fortunately, Lu Sanniang, summoned by her mother, scurried over to the shop.

“Take the bread Auntie Tang delivered to the back yard,” Chen Qiaolian instructed.

Lu Sanniang: !!!

Her eyes lit up with excitement!

“Got it, Mother.” Clutching the bowl, Lu Sanniang carefully made her way to the rear.

The customer’s gaze finally shifted away—because he couldn’t see it anymore!

That aroma was so intensely enticing, it practically forced its way into your nostrils. Once customers bought their steamed buns and took a bite of the savory ones, they’d find them utterly tasteless. They’d turn right around and head to the neighboring Tang family shop.

The door was closed.

Brother Tang’s breakfast always sold out fast, closing early.

This customer was a late riser. He’d heard tales of Brother Tang’s pot-sticker buns being incredibly delicious, but his appetite was modest. Getting up early for a bite of bread? Not his thing.

But today, he happened to catch the scent of bread—

Was this bread made from flour? It looked baked, and that golden, fluffy filling peeking out—he didn’t know what it was, but it had scallions, which he recognized. And there was a distinct scent of milk…

The aroma lingered tantalizingly around his nose.

Maybe he should get up early tomorrow to buy one?

At the Lu Family’s Backyard.

Lu Sanniang arrived before her joyful voice: “Big Brother, Big Brother! Guess what I got!”

“Mother bought you bread?” Lu Dalang muttered after speaking. “But that doesn’t make sense. Father went out of town to haul grain today, and Mother had to watch the shop. She wouldn’t have time to buy bread.”

Lu Sanniang arrived with her bowl. “Big Brother, Auntie Tang gave them to us!”

“Two?” Lu Dalang leaned closer, his hands still dirty. “What do they taste like?”

Lu Sanniang sniffed the bread’s aroma, swallowing hard.

In the end, the siblings didn’t eat first, deciding to wait for their father’s return so the whole family could share them at noon.

After delivering bread to the Lu family, Jiang Yun carried her basket straight to the end of the street to deliver bread to the Zhu family. She had promised yesterday, and as she walked, she felt inexplicably content and happy.

Arriving at the Zhu family shop, another round of polite exchanges ensued.

“I can’t possibly accept this,” Zhou Xiangping protested.

Jiang Yun insisted, “I promised yesterday. Take it.”

As they spoke, passersby noticed the fresh treats in the basket—patterns they’d never seen before—and asked, “What is this? Smells delicious.”

“It’s a new creation, sold at Brother Tang Wu’s breakfast shop,” Zhou Xiangping explained briskly.

Jiang Yun smiled, “We’re sold out today, but if you’d like some, we’ll have more tomorrow.”

“Brother Tang’s Breakfast Shop? Where is it?”

“It used to be the Tang Family mutton soup and steamed buns shop. Now my ger runs the breakfast place.” Jiang Yun gave detailed directions. The customer looked unfamiliar, likely from another neighborhood.

The passerby nodded, eyes fixed unwaveringly on the basket. Zhou Xiangping, wanting to help Wu-ger’s business, offered, “Would you like to try one, sister-in-law?”

“No need. I’ll give you one.” Jiang Yun pressed the oil-paper-wrapped bread into Zhou Xiangping’s arms.

Zhou Xiangping was an outgoing and warm-hearted person. She had just been arguing with Sister Tang for a while, but seeing that Sister Tang genuinely offered her bread, she readily accepted it. She broke off half with one hand and handed it to the passerby, inviting them to try the fresh treat. It was also a way to promote Wu-ger’s breakfast shop.

But as soon as she broke it open, she realized this wasn’t like a steamed bun—it was fluffier, with something inside, and the aroma was irresistible.

The passerby initially waved it away, but the scent was too tempting. Their hand moved on its own and took it.

“Sister-in-law, try some?” Zhou Xiangping offered to break off a piece for Jiang Yun.

Jiang Yun declined with a smile, “We have some at home. You eat it, try it.”

Zhou Xiangping thought, if she insisted, it would seem like she was giving Tang family goods back to the Tang family—a bit too polite. So she beamed, “Then I’ll try Wu-ger’s new creation,” and lifted the bread to her mouth.

After one bite, Zhou Xiangping immediately regretted it.

She regretted giving that passerby such a large piece earlier!

Jiang Yun noticed Zhou Xiangping eating silently, her eyes widening and brightening. She knew it was delicious. Whatever Wu-ger made turned out fragrant; even an ordinary bowl of rice or porridge could be cooked with an extraordinary flavor.

Not to mention the passerby.

“What’s inside this?” The traveler took a bite, finding it more fragrant with each chew. “It’s like a baked mantou, yet not quite. It carries a milky aroma, a peculiar fragrance, and the scent of meat—meat that melts in your mouth.”

Jiang Yun explained, “It’s the pork floss made by my Wu-ger.”

“Shopkeeper, would you kindly show me the way? I wish to purchase some of this bread.” The passerby bowed respectfully.

Jiang Yun’s face clouded with regret. “It’s all sold out.”

Passerby: “What?”

Zhou Xiangping quickly handed the bread back to her husband before explaining, “Sir, you must understand—on this street, Brother Tang’s breakfast shop is the most popular. At this hour, everything’s gone.”

“If you want some, you’ll have to wait until tomorrow.”

Jiang Yun continued, “My Wu-ger said he’ll make more tomorrow, but he’s out of butter. That butter took half the night to churn from twenty jin of milk. My Wu-ger’s arms were sore from getting up so early, and there’s still a lot of milk left. It’s expensive too—”

“How much?”

“Seven wen each,” Jiang Yun replied.

Zhou Xiangping, listening nearby, clicked her tongue in surprise. That expensive? She regretted giving that stranger such a large piece.

The stranger heard this, chuckled, and shrugged it off. “Such flavor is worth it.”

“Exactly. It’s just hard to make. Wu-ger worked half the night, and his body couldn’t take it. Tomorrow he’ll make some without butter, which will be cheaper, the same price as the pickled plum vegetables pot stickers,” Jiang Yun explained.

Zhou Xiangping murmured, “Wu-ger really works so hard.”

The traveler grew impatient, eager to find out where the shop was. Jiang Yun saw this and led the passerby back to the shop. Zhou Xiangping walked them part of the way. Once they were gone, she turned to see the man munching on the bread in his hand.

Zhu Si stared at the bread in his hand, his face full of wonder and surprise. “This meat floss is made from tenderloin, right? How is it done? It’s golden and shiny, doesn’t get stuck in your teeth, is full of meaty flavor, and is not fishy at all. It’s really delicious.”

“It really is delicious. I’ve never tasted anything like it. Look at that traveler earlier—he was well-dressed, probably from a wealthy family.” Zhou Xiangping’s mouth still held the flavor of the meat floss, making her crave more. “Give me some more. Leave the rest untouched—save it for home.”

Zhu Si remarked, “Strange how this bread gets more flavorful the more you chew it.”

He usually disliked sweet, milky foods, finding them cloying, but this bread offered a milky richness without being sickly sweet—the kind you crave more of.

“Let’s buy a couple tomorrow, too. Sister Tang said they’re five wen each.”

Zhou Xiangping agreed, “Alright.”

When Jiang Yun led the stranger to her shop, the door was tightly shut. A wisp of aroma drifted out, and the stranger inhaled deeply—it smelled divine.

Jiang Yun knocked.

Tang Xianling opened the door just a crack. “Mother, come in quickly.”

“Wu-ger, this customer wants to buy bread—” Jiang Yun began. Why was the door opened so narrowly? Peering through the crack, she saw someone else standing behind Wu-ger—tall and imposing. Instantly, Jiang Yun was terrified.

Wu-ger and Tieniu were in the shop!!!

Tang Xianling saw Jiang Yun’s expression change in an instant, her face written with panic. He immediately turned around, covering something and stammering nervously, “I’m terribly sorry, but we’re not selling bread today.”

“I smelled the aroma,” a passerby remarked.

“…” Tang Xianling.

Jiang Yun had misunderstood!

He and Tieniu were truly, genuinely just baking bread.

His mandarin duck bellyband wasn’t draped over Tieniu’s shoulder—oh, right, he wasn’t wearing a bellyband. Tang Xianling could still tease himself about that. He pushed the door open wider and explained earnestly, “I baked some for our own family, not for sale. I closed the door because I feared the aroma might escape and attract customers.”

Passersby: …

He actually wanted to buy some.

“Come in, sir.” Tang Xianling invited the person inside. Glancing at this passerby-customer—dressed in a long robe, around thirty-something, with a beard, quite well and easygoing—he stated plainly, “You want to buy bread? I only have two left. That’s all I have.”

Passersby:!

“Thank you,” the man bowed in gratitude, introducing himself, “My name is Song Jie. Thank you, shopkeeper.”

Tang Xianling turned to pack the bread, instructing Tieniu to close the door quickly.

Song Jie thought to himself, This shopkeeper is truly peculiar. While others would kill to attract customers, he fears patrons drawn by the aroma. Just as he pondered this, he indeed saw passersby drawn by the scent entering the shop.

“Sold out today,” Huangfu Tieniu announced, adding, “My apologies. Please come early tomorrow.” Only then did he close the door.

Tang Xianling turned to ask, “I made a mushroom and minced meat filling. These mushrooms I bought yesterday—they only appear when it rains. Such ingredients are rare. This bread isn’t for sale. Since his mother brought him here, he must have tasted the one sold this morning?”

Jiang Yun nodded. “A customer I met just now at the pork stall.” Seeing Wu-ger and Tieniu both neatly dressed, she relaxed. She must have misunderstood.

“I’ll still charge you seven wen per meat sauce bun. We also have sweet-salty red bean ones—I worry customers might not like them. Would you like some?”

Song Jie: “Yes, please pack them all for me. Thank you.”

Tang Xianling wrapped the bottom in oil paper and handed it over. “Be careful, it’s hot. This bread tastes good both warm and cold—whichever you prefer.”

“Thank you.” Song Jie took the bread.

Huangfu Tieniu opened the door to see him off. Song Jie clutched the bread as if he’d just made some secret deal, stepping out of the shop. The bright light outside struck him as odd. He glanced back at the shopfront and muttered to himself, “Buying food like a thief. How amusing.”

He lingered for a moment, the aroma wafting from his embrace drawing glances from passersby.

Now Song Jie understood. As the saying goes: Good wine needs no bush. This breakfast shop’s craftsmanship was exceptional, its scent truly distinctive—no wonder it never struggled to sell.

Tang Xianling felt like a thief, too, but he really didn’t want to just watch others eat!

The shop door closed, filling the space with the magical blend of butter, milk, and mushrooms. Tang Xianling swallowed hard, unable to contain his excitement: “Mom, Tieniu, bread time!”

Who could have known? The bread had just come out of the oven, tempting him to dive right in, when the doorbell rang.

Right now, at this very moment, Tang Xianling could finally eat bread.

Today’s bread was generously buttered, its entire loaf infused with the rich aroma of creamy butter. The mushrooms were naturally savory, blended with meat sauce and peppered for a hint of spice. Topped with pork floss and salad dressing, each bite delivered a symphony of flavors—

Then came the red bean paste and pork floss—sweet and savory.

The first bite delivered the savory pork floss, followed by the sweet, sticky warmth of bean paste and brown sugar coating his tongue, all melding with the milky bread—

“Absolutely incredible!” Tang Xianling nearly wept as he cradled the bread.

Little did he know, while he was immersed in savoring the food, Huangfu Tieniu, eating his own bread, watched him. The bread in his mouth seemed infused with Tang Xianling’s smile, its flavor unlike anything Huangfu Tieniu had ever tasted before.

Huangfu Tieniu’s heart pounded again.

If only he could watch Tang Xianling eat for the rest of his life. Huangfu Tieniu thought to himself.