Reborn in a small village in the 1990s

A while later, Zhao Tingliang drove off to buy cement—or rather, to buy cement on credit. He hadn't brought any money with him, and whether he could get it on credit was entirely up to luck.

Zhao Da'e got off the truck, marked his 200-jin coal bag, and then told Zhao Tingliang that he was going to buy some things. Zhao Tingliang told Zhao Da'e not to wander around and to just call out if he needed anything. Anyway, there were many people at the market, and the place was small. It was such a small market that if he shouted, the whole Dongshao Town could hear him.

Zhao Da'e nodded, then tightened his scarf, put on a pink hat, and blended into the crowd.

It has to be said that there were a lot of people at the market that day. There were all sorts of vendors: selling potatoes, cabbage, thirteen-spice powder, whole grains, and even sesame cakes and tofu pudding.

Zhao Da'e leisurely walked to the stall selling fried dough sticks. The stall owner was an old man surnamed Kong, and everyone called him Old Kong. Old Kong was from Zhangjingyingzi, and Zhao Da'e had loved eating his fried dough sticks in his previous life. Old Kong's fried dough sticks were always freshly fried, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, and very delicious.

The stall was set up by the roadside, with two small round tables in front and two very old stools next to them. Fried dough sticks cost one yuan per jin (500g), which was quite expensive, but there were still many people buying them.

A few people were gathered around the table, drinking tofu pudding and eating fried dough sticks. They were telling stories from all over the country and recounting the past of so-and-so.

Zhao Da'e squeezed in and said to Lao Kong, "Two jin of fried dough sticks to go. And another jin of fried dough sticks to eat here, and a bowl of tofu pudding."

"Alright," Old Kong said enthusiastically, "Find a place to sit."

Zhao Da'e then squeezed to sit down next to the table.

"Should I add chili powder to the tofu pudding?"

"add."

"Where's the cilantro and garlic sauce?"

"No garlic juice."

A moment later, Old Kong brought over a tray with a bowl of tofu pudding and six fried dough sticks to Zhao Da'e: "I'll get you those two jin of fried dough sticks later when you leave."

Zhao Da'e nodded, grabbed a hot fried dough stick in one hand, stirred the tofu pudding with a spoon in the other, and began to drink it.

Slurp, slurp~

As expected, it's still the same as always. It's very hot when you first put it in, and as you go down your esophagus, the hot and spicy feeling is very pleasant.

Fried dough sticks and tofu pudding are extremely popular in northern China. In the past, most morning markets sold fried dough sticks and tofu pudding, or sesame seed cakes and tofu pudding. Of course, soy milk was also available along with tofu pudding. It was only later, as living standards improved, that shops selling steamed buns, stuffed pancakes, and even more comprehensive porridge shops gradually appeared.

However, a bowl of steaming hot tofu pudding with a few fried dough sticks is the soul of this cold season.

Zhao Da'e then remembered things from the past. She had always longed to go to the market, eat some fried dough sticks, and drink a bowl of tofu pudding. But back then, she was bad at eating and her family was very poor, so most of the time she couldn't go. On the rare occasions her father, Zhao Tiesheng, would buy her two fried dough sticks, and she would eat them as if they were the most precious thing in the world.

ah~

Zhao Da'e sighed, taking large bites of fried dough sticks and gulping down tofu pudding. But he could no longer recapture that cautious feeling he once had.

It's nothing more than filling your stomach. As for the taste, it's very good, but it just feels like something is missing.

"How much, boss?"

Old Kong put down his work: "Two jin of fried dough sticks to go, I ate one jin, that's three yuan in total. Tofu pudding is five mao a bowl, that's three yuan and fifty cents in total."

Zhao Da'e paid the money and then strolled off to explore the depths of the market.