The old lady, exhausted from the journey, washed up and retired to Uncle Zhao’s room. Unaware of her early sleep, Uncle Zhao discussed the day’s events with his wife, eldest son, and daughter-in-law in the main hall.

“You’ve probably heard bits and pieces,” Uncle Zhao began, glancing at his eldest son. “Our sister-in-law from the city wants to arrange a match for Xiao Lang.”

Zhao Dalang’s face darkened, his brow furrowing.

“The Zhao family in town is several degrees removed from us. If they were to give away good things, it certainly wouldn’t be us. Why would such a great opportunity come to our family?” Uncle Zhao’s daughter-in-law chimed in, adding, ”I know Xiao Lang well. He’s a simpleton, but he listens to his elder brother and is strong. He won’t starve working the fields here in the village. But if he goes to the city to do business? He’ll just get taken advantage of.”

Zhao Dalang nodded at his wife’s words. “Merchants are full of tricks and schemes, always calculating. I think it’s better for my brother to stay in the village. Father, Mother, that’s what I mean. It’s not that I’m jealous of Xiao Lang marrying a city ger.”

“You’re my son. How could I misunderstand you?”

Zhao Xiaoshu nodded in agreement, sharing his wife’s sentiment. “Our ancestors toiled in the land, sweating and laboring. Whatever the fields yield is ours by right. We don’t covet what isn’t meant for us.”

“My sister-in-law keeps praising Wu-ger. Perhaps he is decent, but when I questioned her this afternoon—just ask your mother, and you’ll understand—”

Zhao’s younger sister-in-law chimed in: “It wasn’t even that Wu-ger’s family found her to make the introduction. I reckon it’s your sister-in-law—she’s all hot-headed—who knows what schemes she’s cooking up in her head, using your brother as a pawn. The way your brother is… honestly, we’re honest, hardworking folk. We’d hate to ruin a good family. I never considered finding him a wife. What if he gave birth to a child with disabilities? When your father and I are too old to manage, it would only burden you.“

Zhao Dalang’s eyes welled up. ”Mother, why say such things? I never thought of my brother as a burden.”

The eldest son hadn’t thought about it, but he had a wife and children. Over the years, how could resentment not build up inside him? Why should he have to support his younger brother’s family?

Besides, would a clever, capable husband who runs a thriving business willingly spend his life tending to a mentally disabled spouse? Uncle Zhao and his wife didn’t believe it. They trusted blood ties more—they trusted their eldest son.

Approaching the eldest son and daughter-in-law now was also a way to broach future matters upfront, to prevent future sibling strife.

Uncle Zhao said to his eldest son, “Your mother and I have discussed it. When your sister-in-law arrived, I was tempted to find a wife for your younger brother. But as your mother said, it’s best to let it go. We don’t seek anything from others; we just want to live peacefully.”

“Your mother and I are still capable now. Everything we save, every penny we put aside, this house, these fields—it all belongs to you, Dalang. There’s just one thing: when your mother and I are gone, you must take good care of your younger brother for the rest of his life. Make sure the children are there for him at the end.”

Supporting a younger brother is different from supporting an entire family.

Zhao Dalang’s eyes reddened. His parents’ affection for his younger brother showed how much they valued him. He immediately knelt and kowtowed to his father, swearing with unwavering resolve, “I promise.”

Uncle Zhao and his wife both breathed a sigh of relief, their mood lifting.

With everything laid out in the open, the family felt harmonious and peaceful.

“Father, Mother, how did you refuse that aunt from the city?” asked the eldest daughter-in-law. She was naturally relieved. Supporting the mentally impaired younger brother was manageable—just a matter of feeding him. But if he were to marry and have children, as the mother-in-law had warned, what if they had a child with the same condition? Wouldn’t that fall on her, the eldest daughter-in-law, to bear the responsibility?!

Her husband was the most responsible man, and he would surely take the blame.

Now, with things as they were, she breathed a sigh of relief.

Uncle Zhao: “I’ll just refuse outright tomorrow.”

“Oh dear, we can’t completely disregard our sister-in-law’s feelings. I think we should find a reason to decline. Otherwise, if she hears about it, she’ll say we’ve worked ourselves into stupidity in the fields and can’t tell right from wrong anymore,” said Uncle Zhao’s wife.

This distant sister-in-law came visiting the village without even bringing a box of pastries. She looked down on them with pity in her eyes. Pfft! She’s just a small-time shopkeeper in the city. The farmers are honest and upright—they’d never do anything to earn a bad reputation.

So the next day, the old lady from the sugar-oil pancake shop was stunned.

“Didn’t we agree yesterday? Why are you backing out now?”

Zhao’s younger brother’s wife chimed in: “Sister-in-law, you’re wrong. We never agreed. This isn’t the match you’re trying to arrange for Xiao Lang—”

“Sister-in-law, to be perfectly honest, my wife and I never planned to marry Xiao Lang off,” Uncle Zhao said.

With things laid out so plainly, the matter should have ended there.

But the old lady from the sugar-oil pancake shop misunderstood. She thought Uncle Zhao’s family was greedy—wanting to marry off their child without paying a dime. She interpreted their words through her own lens, convinced they were using the “no marriage” line to pressure her into covering the matchmaker’s fee.

“Now that’s not fair! I’m only thinking of the child’s future. Such a good match—just hiring a matchmaker! The Wu-ger family owns two large shops, worth many taels…”

“No matchmaker, no matchmaker. We won’t spend a penny.”

The conversation went round and round, and the old lady spent the entire morning trying to persuade them.

 ━━ 🐈‍⬛ ━━

Fengyuan City, Baxing District.

Yesterday, Tang Xianling finished work early. With Tieniu helping out, the job was a breeze. By eleven in the morning, he was done. Two days of rest had clearly done him good. Tang Xianling stocked up heavily. Just yesterday, he made seventeen hundred wen from red bean pancakes and bread alone. After deducting half the cost—eight hundred and fifty wen—he still managed to save half the profits.

Tang Xianling’s 850 wen hadn’t even cooled when, as usual, they bought lunch—steamed dumplings and pot stickers. Jiang Yun cooked a pot of millet porridge. The three had just finished eating when the shop door was knocked on.

“I’ll see who it is,” Huangfu Tieniu said.

Tang Xianling also set down his bowl and chopsticks. “Probably the delivery guy.” He mentally reviewed the orders—eggs and sawtooth greens had already been delivered, so what else could it be?—

Then the door opened. It was Little Wang, the shopkeeper, pushing a wooden handcart with a cast-iron pot on it.

“Mr. Tang, your delivery’s here,” Wang Tieniu announced.

Tang Xianling: …He remembered now.

“I paid six hundred wen as a deposit. The balance is seven hundred, right?”

“Correct.”

Thus, Tang Xianling’s barely warmed eight hundred fifty wen took a big hit, leaving him with only one hundred fifty. 

Tang Xianling: …Want to get rich? You gotta work hard.

Come to think of it, at least he saved on litigation fees.

“Tieniu, move the pot next to the oven,” Tang Xianling instructed.

Both Wang Tieniu and Huangfu Tieniu sprang into action. Exchanging a glance, Huangfu Tieniu guessed, “You’re called Tieniu too?”

“Yep.” Wang Tieniu finally caught on, grinning. “What a coincidence.”

Tang Xianling: …This is no battlefield!

“Let me handle it,” Huangfu Tieniu declared, firmly clutching the cast-iron pot. “I know where it goes.”

Tang Xianling found Tieniu’s “forceful claim of the cast-iron pot” amusing, though he kept his expression neutral. He settled the final payment with Boss Wang first. Ever-kind Jiang Yun offered Boss Wang a drink of water before leaving, but Boss Wang, clutching his payment, waved it off and sped off on his cart.

This was just a minor interlude.

Once Jiang Yun was out of earshot, Tang Xianling grinned. “What are you thinking about, Tieniu?”

“I was thinking…” Huangfu Tieniu looked at Tang Xianling, who was smiling and joking. He knew exactly what Tieniu was thinking. That sly smile was like the most agile little cat in the mountains teasing him, but he was happy to be teased and played with. Looking at him now, he said, “Good thing you asked my name that day. I told you my surname was Huangfu.”

Compared to Wang Tieniu, Huangfu Tieniu was still a little different, wasn’t he?

Tang Xianling: Hehe.

This silly ox!

“Not all Tieniues are you.” Tang Xianling quoted an advertising slogan, smiling and raising an eyebrow as he said, “Rest assured.”

Huangfu Tieniu’s heart began pounding again, and he gave a slightly embarrassed hum.

That afternoon, Tang Xianling first sliced a two-jin piece of pork belly into long strips. He smoked them over a wood fire mixed with cypress leaves, preparing the meat filling for the egg-stuffed pancakes the next morning. While the meat smoked, he made pork floss over the large stove.

As he worked, he asked Tieniu when he planned to return home.

“…I’m not rushing you. You’ve been a huge help here. It’s just that staying at the inn is expensive and uncomfortable. Plus, you’re traveling alone—what if something gets stolen from home?”

Huangfu Tieniu shook his head. “I live in the mountains, just a mud-brick cottage. The villagers are kind-hearted; there are no thugs or ruffians around. Plus, the village is quite far from the deep mountains. Usually, villagers only gather firewood at the mountain’s base.”

“That’s good.” Tang Xianling watched Tieniu’s earnest expression and felt mischief stir within him. He deliberately sighed, “Oh dear, oh dear. I haven’t even married Tieniu yet, and I’m already starting to worry about his money bag~.”

Huangfu Tieniu understood the implication, and his face slowly flushed crimson.

After they married, it was only natural that Tang Xianling would manage the household finances.

“I have money, but I didn’t bring it all this time.”

Tang Xianling: “I have money too. Don’t give it to me just yet.” He was just teasing Tieniu. When Tieniu actually offered to hand over all his savings for Tang Xianling to spend, Tang Xianling felt a bit awkward. He changed the subject: “Master Yuan and Advisor Song are truly kind. I asked the cheapest old lawyer before, and he wanted two taels of silver. Now Advisor Song helped me draft the lawsuit, so I saved that money.”

“We have enough money at home.”

“Don’t worry.”

Huangfu Tieniu: “I have enough money too.”

Hearing this, Tang Xianling understood Tieniu’s implication: ‘I have enough money to stay at the inn, so don’t kick me out.’ His heart immediately lifted with joy. But… he’d always been clear about finances with others—even close friends from university days kept accounts separate.

Only with Tieniu was it different.

“I think,” Tang Xianling said slowly, “once the Hu family comes to make trouble and files a lawsuit, even if it’s not settled, we should send gifts to Master Yuan and Advisor Song. Master Yuan definitely won’t accept money.”

Upon hearing his ordeal, Master Yuan grew indignant. This official was both righteous and meticulous—he’d instructed Advisor Song to draft the lawsuit precisely to spare Tang money. Offering them money now would only insult Master Yuan’s goodwill.

“I’ll consider it. I’ll prepare a box of pastries for Master Yuan and Advisor Song.”

Huangfu Tieniu: “Alright.”

“I’ll need your help,” Tang Xianling said with a smile.

Huangfu Tieniu agreed decisively and happily: “Sure!”

He enjoyed working for Tang Xianling.

After finishing the smoked meat and pork floss that afternoon, there was little else to do. Seeing Jiang Yun idly daydreaming, Tang Xianling suggested she go to the East Market bathhouse. Worried she might feel embarrassed or timid, he added, “Or shall I accompany you? I’ll wait outside.”

“No need,” Jiang Yun replied immediately. She couldn’t understand why Wu-ger insisted she travel far for a bath. At twenty wen per wash, wouldn’t scrubbing at home be simpler?

“If I don’t go—”

“Mother, you should go wash.” Tang Xianling certainly wasn’t concerned about her odor. In truth, Jiang Yun was quite clean—ever since Old Tang became paralyzed, she scrubbed herself even more diligently, dreading any hint of smell that might make others wrinkle their noses in disgust. Now he said, “I went once. After washing, I felt wonderfully refreshed. I want you to try it too.”

“We’ve saved on legal fees at home, and I’m covering most of our food and drink expenses. You need some leisure time too. Otherwise, I’ll feel too guilty to enjoy myself anymore.” Yeah, right.

He still loved spending money on indulgences.

After encouraging Jiang Yun, Tang Xianling saw her wavering and gave her one last push: “We’re running low on tooth powder and fragrant beans at home. It’d be perfect if you could grab some on your way back from the bathhouse.”

“Alright… I’ll go then.” Jiang Yun nodded in agreement, gathered her things, and was about to leave when she couldn’t help but worry about Old Tang.

Tang Xianling: “Mother, go early. That way, you’ll be back in time for the evening meal. If you delay any longer, it’ll be too late.”

“Alright, I’m off.” Jiang Yun carried her basket out the door, her heart still uneasy. She hailed a cart on the main street, riding all the way filled with fear and worry—though she couldn’t pinpoint exactly what she feared. It was just a vague sense of dread. She carried this dread all the way to the East Market Xiangtangzi bathhouse, paid her money, and bathed.

 ━━ 🐈‍⬛ ━━

That afternoon, Tang Xianling was making venison patties.

A piece of yesterday’s fresh venison remained. Worried it might spoil, he’d placed it in a basin set over the water vat—the cool temperature of the vat could preserve it for a while. Today, it definitely had to be eaten.

He’d also boil some venison bone broth.

Huangfu Tieniu had gone to the market to buy vegetables. Such a big man carrying a small vegetable basket—it looked so tiny in his hands. Tang Xianling chuckled to himself while kneading the dough, picturing that scene.

Making venison patties required special dough, including a flaky pastry layer. That way, they’d taste delicious—no wasting the last piece of fresh venison.

In the mixing bowl, half the flour was kneaded with hot water, while the other half was mixed with cold water and dissolved sourdough starter. These cakes didn’t need to rise like bread dough—that would make them too fluffy. The goal was a crispy, crunchy texture with a satisfying chew.

While the dough rested, Tang Xianling began mincing the meat. The piece he’d saved was mostly lean with just a hint of fat. Soon after, Huangfu Tieniu returned with the vegetables. Seeing Tang Xianling finish mincing the meat with a knife and then pounding it with a rolling pin, he washed his hands and offered, “Let me take over?”

“Your turn.” Tang Xianling stepped aside, shaking his arms—they were indeed starting to ache.

Huangfu Tieniu began pounding the meat with a steady thump-thump-thump. Tang Xianling started preparing the vegetables. He’d asked Tieniu to buy radishes—those would make soup with the deer bones. Cucumbers would be smashed with garlic paste for a quick salad. Potatoes would be shredded for a spicy-sour stir-fry. A pot of millet porridge would round out the meal perfectly.

Before they knew it, dusk had fallen.

Tang Xianling stepped out of the kitchen to look at the sky. “Shouldn’t my mother be coming back soon?”

Hope nothing went wrong.

“Don’t worry, I’ll go look outside.”

Tang Xianling called out to Tieniu. “Fengyuan City is crowded with people and vehicles. If you go out, what if my mother returns just then? Wait a little longer.”

“Alright.” Huangfu Tieniu listened to Tang Xianling.

Tang Xianling lit a new stove to make pancakes. His venison pancakes weren’t baked but pan-fried in oil until golden and crispy on both sides. Coated in flaky pastry, each bite revealed a crunchy exterior giving way to fragrant meat filling mixed with scallions—

He was already salivating.

This style was sold in modern times, too, though the filling was beef. Deer meat had a texture similar to beef but was more delicate and less tough—a superior version.

The kitchen curtain fluttered open, releasing the aroma.

Next door, the Lu family was also having their evening meal, though theirs was just a simple home-cooked dinner. Before, it never seemed particularly unappetizing—just filling. But today was different. Lu Dalang and Lu Sanniang, bowls in hand, were shoveling rice into their mouths. As they ate, the aroma drifting over from next door made it impossible to swallow.

It smells so good.

“Wu-ger must be cooking something delicious again,” Lu Sanniang couldn’t help but say.

Lu Dalang: “That greasy, meaty smell—”

“Brother, I heard it’s venison. Yesterday, Wu-ger roasted some venison.”

“It smells so good.” Lu Dalang was genuinely tempted. If he and Brother Tang were together, their families lived close by, both in the trade business—he could support them. But most importantly, Wu-ger was an amazing cook.

Chen Qiaolian coughed. The siblings stopped talking and buried their heads in their bowls.

“There’s a noise at the door,” Huangfu Tieniu said. “I’ll go check.”

Tang Xianling: “Alright, the pancakes are almost done. They’re best fresh off the griddle.”

Outside the shop.

Jiang Yun looked refreshed—not because of new clothes, but her spirit seemed different. Returning home, she met the milkman. After paying him for the delivery, she carried the bucket and bumped into Old Man Cui.

“Perfect timing—the milk just arrived,” Jiang Yun remarked.

Cui Dabao arrived with his own jug. “I came after dinner, thinking I was too late, but here we are!”

So the two of them stood in front of the shop, pouring milk.

Huangfu Tieniu called out to his aunt, “I’ll do it.” He carried half a bucket of milk with one hand, effortlessly.

In the kitchen, Tang Xianling finished frying the last pancake, served it, and carried it to the front. Dinner had been delayed today, so they’d have to light candles and eat in the shop.

Cui Dabao had clearly received a jar of milk and had clearly eaten his evening meal before arriving. Yet now, he pretended to be unable to move, feigning ignorance: “Has Mr. Tang not eaten his evening meal yet?”

Tang Xianling, holding the tray: …

He really was amusing.

Old Man Cui truly had the blessings of a foodie.

His venison cakes had just come out of the oven when this customer happened to arrive.

Cui Dabao’s eyes lit up as he eyed the food in Master Tang’s hands. “Looks fried?”

“Pan-fried venison cakes,” Tang Xianling replied.

The moment Cui Dabao heard ‘venison patties,’ his heart fluttered. The aroma was so tempting he couldn’t care less about saving face. “Mr. Tang, could I buy three patties? Venison is expensive—I’ll pay twenty wen each.”

“I can’t spare three—” Tang Xianling knew Old Man Cui, the number one foodie in the Cui household, would ask for more. “I’ll sell you two.”

“Fine, fine, fine.” Cui Dabao produced his coins swiftly.

Tang Xianling grabbed a clean bowl and portioned out two patties for Cui Dabao, collecting forty wen. It seemed venison truly was expensive, and it also showed that Old Man Cui was a savvy, dealable foodie.

Cui Dabao grabbed his cakes, one hand clutching the milk jug and the other holding the bowl, hurrying home. On the way, he thought: Thank goodness it’s getting dark and the streets are empty. Otherwise, people would be asking questions—

What are you carrying? Those cakes smell delicious! Where did you buy them? And so on.

All questions that would only delay his early return to enjoy the cakes.

“Close the shop! Close the shop! Let’s eat quickly.” As soon as Old Man Cui left, Tang Xianling called out. Huangfu Tieniu chuckled and deftly shut the door.

Tang Xianling was truly adorable.

Candles were lit in front of the shop.

Jiang Yun’s face also held a smile as she said, “I bought back the fragrant beans and tooth powder for Wu-ger. I put them in the back. I also bought tooth powder and a toothbrush for Tieniu.”

“Alright, Mother, let’s eat.”

Tieniu: “Thank you, Auntie.”

Finally, they could eat.

Tang Xianling picked up a bun, puffed out her cheeks to blow on it, and mumbled to the two, “Careful, it’s hot.” Then he took a bite with her two adorable, pearly white front teeth.

Just watching Tang Xianling eat made Huangfu Tieniu happy.

Tang Xianling: !!!

So delicious.

Absolutely perfect.

At the Cui Family.

Cui Dabao rushed home, shoved a milk can into Douzi’s hands, and said, “I bought venison cakes! Try one—you take the first bite!”

“Huh? You eat it. I already had dinner. Dad—”

“Just bite it!” Cui Dabao couldn’t resist the aroma. His mouth watered as he blurted, “Dad, have one. We’ll split it. Just take a bite.“

That ”just take a bite“ even sounded a bit fierce.

But Sun Douzi didn’t take it to heart. Dabao wasn’t really scolding him. So he opened his mouth and took a bite. The moment it touched his tongue, his eyes lit up. Cui Dabao saw this and immediately beamed with pride. ”Isn’t it fragrant?”

Sun Douzi, his mouth full of the savory blend of meat and pastry, could only nod repeatedly.

Cui Dabao then took a big bite right where Douzi had bitten, chewing and chewing with a look of pure satisfaction. It was so delicious—the meat, the pastry, the scallion fragrance, the spices…

“Dad, eat the pastry!”

Father Cui: “I already ate my evening meal. I’m stuffed. You and Douzi eat.”

“Deer meat pie—here’s half for you to try.” Cui Dabao forcefully divided it with his father.

Once again touched by his son’s devotion, Father Cui savored every bite of the exquisite pastry, exclaiming repeatedly, “Master Tang’s craftsmanship is truly exceptional. He makes it so well.”

Ever since Brother Tang opened his breakfast shop, his son had lost interest in the Eastern and Western markets. Instead, they frequented Brother Tang’s place for breakfast, which ironically saved them quite a bit of money.

 ━━ 🐈‍⬛ ━━

This particular morning.

At the Tang family shop, the young assistant arrived early once more, bustling about with boundless energy. Before long, the aroma of freshly baked bread wafted through Master Tang’s establishment.

“Mother, with this helper, I see Wu-ger’s business running more smoothly than ever. He even ordered a large iron pot yesterday—apparently planning to sell something new.”

With business booming like this, who would want to sell the shop?

Madam Li grew anxious, too.

The bustle of bread sales resumed. Some customers wondered aloud: “Where’s Old Man Cui this morning?” 

“Right, right! I came early and didn’t see him.” 

“Has he lost his appetite?”

Tang Xianling thought: Old Cui got two venison patties yesterday, so he probably isn’t hungry this morning.

The customers didn’t know, speculating that Old Man Cui had grown tired of the bread. They figured he’d be back in a few days, but if he didn’t, well, that meant more for them.

While baking the second batch of bread, Tang Xianling finished the last batch.

Huangfu Tieniu carried the stove from the kitchen to the shopfront, fetched the iron skillet, and began setting up tables. He laid out eggs, jars of sauce, and freshly washed and dried cabbage slices. Jiang Yun brought smoked pork belly to the shopfront.

Customers glanced over: “Mr. Tang, what’s this for?”

“I remember now—Mr. Tang said he’d add pancakes today.”

“Then I’ll skip the red bean pot cake. Sweet stuff for breakfast isn’t quite right. I’ll have one of the new pancakes—” The customer paused mid-sentence and asked, “Mr. Tang, these new ones are savory, right?”

Tang Xianling: “Yes, egg-stuffed pancakes. Six wen each. Fried in oil, made fresh to order.”

No one complained about the price—if it was too expensive, they wouldn’t buy it. The customers who stayed were mostly curious about Brother Tang’s new egg-stuffed pancakes.

“I want one! I want two!!!”

From afar, Cui Dabao’s voice preceded his arrival.

Other customers:! Cui Dabao again?

Those who’d hesitated at the price now scrambled like competitors—though Tang Xianling couldn’t fathom why. Before long, the shopfront echoed with: “Me too!” “Mr. Tang, I said it first!”

“I want one! I want one!”

Tang Xianling: …

Hehe.

By the time Cui Dabao reached the shopfront, seven or eight new customers had already joined the queue. He couldn’t help but feel annoyed—if only he’d gotten to the front of the line first before announcing his purchase.

Damn it, damn it. Boss Tang’s pastries really are something else.

Amidst the crowd, Cui Dabao thought he spotted a familiar face. Looking closer, it really was—

“Ding Quan! What are you doing here?”

“Brother Cui, I came yesterday! How could I not try that pork floss bread you mentioned? I got one late yesterday, and it was absolutely delicious.”

Cui Dabao beamed with pride. The kid had good taste.

“Let me tell you, Master Tang’s pastries are incredibly fragrant. You won’t regret buying them.”

Ding Quan stood behind Cui Dabao. “Brother Cui, you haven’t even tasted them yet, and you’re already raving about the aroma?”

Yesterday’s venison pastry had nearly made him swallow his tongue—so fragrant it still made Cui Dabao’s mouth water at the memory, stirring his appetite. Of course, he couldn’t very well say that out loud—

Mr. Tang sold him these homemade treats privately. If he shouted it from the rooftops, it’d make things awkward for Mr. Tang. Venison was expensive, after all, and hard to come by.

So Cui Dabao simply said, “Everything Master Tang makes is delicious. Just wait and see.”

“Alright, I’ll have an egg-stuffed pancake too,” Ding Quan called out.

Tang Xianling: …The line hasn’t reached you yet. Wait for your turn.

The dough kneaded together that morning had now risen perfectly. Greasing his hands, he tore off a portion, rolled it out, folded it over, kneaded it again, then flattened it into a thin, round pancake. Once the oil sizzled hot on the griddle, Tang Xianling slid the pancake dough onto the surface with a satisfying crackle. His hands swiftly sliced through the smoked pork belly, cutting two thin slices that he placed along the edge of the griddle to fry.

Cracking an egg, he whisked the yolk and white. With chopsticks, he pierced the pancake’s surface, creating a small opening. He poured the egg mixture inside, then flipped it over.

The sequence of actions was swift and precise. Now, the pancake on the griddle, infused with egg, glowed a tender yellow. Sizzling with oil, it crackled as the aroma of egg mingled with the pancake’s fragrance wafted up.

Tang Xianling dipped his secret sauce and brushed it on. The pan-fried smoked pork belly was golden brown on both sides, slightly charred—perfectly charred, neither burnt nor greasy. He placed both slices of pork on the pancake, added a cabbage leaf, folded the pancake three times with tongs, and wrapped it in oil paper.

“All done, customer.”

Cui Dabao, standing midway in the line: !!!

He could already smell the aroma.

Damn it, damn it—I came too late.