Republic of China, 1928: Starting from a Wonton Shop

Inside Li's Restaurant, the place was bustling with activity.

A large pot of braised pork was simmering on the stove next to the counter, bubbling and steaming. The aroma was so enticing that all the diners couldn't tear themselves away.

"Boss! Another bowl of rice, and extra broth!"

"Okay! Please wait a moment!" Yunniang replied softly. Since what happened yesterday, Yunniang had become much more clear-headed. The past is the past, and living well in the present is the most important thing.

Li Chunsheng was busy in the kitchen, his spatula flying up and down. The freshly cooked shredded potatoes with vinegar hadn't even been plated yet when he had to add braised potatoes.

The braised pork was even more potent than Li Chunsheng had anticipated.

Thirty copper coins for a serving of braised pork belly wasn't cheap back then; it was equivalent to half a day's wages for an ordinary laborer. But for people who rarely ate anything oily, this bite of fatty yet not greasy, melt-in-your-mouth pork belly was a heavenly taste that could only be enjoyed during the New Year.

Watching the diners eat with gusto, their mouths greasy and their heads down as they shoveled rice into their mouths, Li Chunsheng felt incredibly satisfied.

Amidst the commotion, the cotton curtain at the door was gently lifted.

A gust of cold wind swept in, and then a guest walked in.

This is a middle-aged man who is around forty years old.

He was dressed quite elegantly, wearing a long, bluish-gray silk robe. Although the cuffs and collar were somewhat worn and frayed, the material was clearly of high quality. He wore a black mandarin jacket over it and held two walnuts in his hands that had been polished to a jade-like appearance.

As soon as this person entered, instead of shouting like the other laborers, he stood at the doorway, squinted, and observed the surroundings.

Yunniang was doing accounts behind the counter when she looked up and saw a customer. She quickly came out to greet him.

"Sir, how many are in your party? Please come in, there are seats available," Yunniang said politely, wiping her hands.

The middle-aged man glanced at Yunniang, his gaze lingering for a moment on her still charming face before he looked away and said indifferently, "Just one person. Find a quiet place."

"Alright, sit by the window, it's bright here." Yunniang led him to a square table in the corner.

After the man sat down, he didn't rush to order food. Instead, he stretched out a hand and gently wiped the table.

There was no dust or grease.

He nodded in satisfaction and put the walnuts in his hand on the table.

"Where is the shopkeeper?"

Li Chunsheng happened to be carrying out a plate of food when he heard the noise and came over: "Sir, I'm the owner here. What would you like to eat?"

The man sized Li Chunsheng up and down: "It smells good, but I don't know if the cooking is authentic. I see your sign says 'Braised Pork'?"

"Exactly," Li Chunsheng said with a smile. "It's a secret recipe, without soy sauce, relying entirely on caramelizing sugar."

"Oh?" The man raised an eyebrow, seemingly intrigued. "No soy sauce? Interesting. In that case, I'll have a braised pork belly, the three-layered kind, with a good balance of fat and lean meat; and a stir-fried liver tip. Remember, the liver must be tender, and the sauce must be thin. If it's overcooked or fishy, ​​I won't pay."

He's an expert!

Li Chunsheng secretly praised him. These days, someone who can order dishes so meticulously is either a master chef or someone who has been to wealthy families before.

"Don't worry, sir. If it's not done well, you don't need to tell me, I'll take down the sign myself!" Li Chunsheng replied confidently.

"Hmm, do you have any Shaoxing wine? I'd like it warm."

"Sorry, sir, our shop only sells strong liquor."

The man frowned slightly. "Alright then, bring me a pot of strong liquor."

"Okay! Please wait a moment!"

Li Chunsheng turned and winked at Yunniang, who then specially selected the best pork belly, which was bright red and had a good balance of fat and lean meat.

The dishes were ready in no time.

A bowl of bright red braised pork, a plate of stir-fried liver tips with a deep reddish-brown color and a strong garlic aroma, and a pot of strong liquor were placed on the somewhat old square table.

The middle-aged man didn't rush to pick up his chopsticks; instead, he first picked up his wine glass and took a small sip.

As the spicy liquor went down his throat, a look of satisfaction appeared on his face. Then, he picked up a piece of braised pork.

The meat was cut into neat squares, about two centimeters in size, and wobbled slightly on the chopsticks. The layer of dark red caramel glistened enticingly in the sunlight.

Put it in your mouth.

The man paused for a moment.

It lacks the heavy saltiness of soy sauce, instead offering a unique sweet and slightly bitter caramel flavor, mixed with a hint of spiciness from dried chili peppers, instantly stimulating the taste buds.

"Um..."

The man closed his eyes. The taste reminded him of the cherry pork he had eaten twenty years ago. Although the cooking methods were different, both dishes tasted excellent.

He picked up another slice of liver.

Smooth, tender, and crisp.

There was not a trace of fishy smell; the cooking time was perfectly controlled—any more and it would be overcooked, any less and it would be raw.

"Excellent craftsmanship," the man couldn't help but exclaim.

The man ate very slowly and carefully during the meal.

Unlike the laborers next to him who wolfed down their food, he took a sip of wine and a bite of food, chewing slowly and deliberately.

The surrounding noise seemed irrelevant to him; he was immersed in his own world, and in his every move, one could still vaguely discern a trace of his former nobility.

Time passed slowly, and the customers in the restaurant changed wave after wave.

It wasn't until after 1 p.m., past lunchtime, that the shop became a little quieter.

The plate in front of the man was empty; he even used the broth from the braised pork to mix with the last bite of rice and ate it all up.

He put down his chopsticks, took out a slightly yellowed handkerchief, elegantly wiped the corner of his mouth, then picked up his wine glass, poured the last sip of wine into his mouth, and let out a satisfied burp.

The man let out a long sigh, his face flushed from the alcohol, and leaned back in his chair, picking up the pair of walnuts again.

Yunniang had been keeping an eye on the area, and when she saw that the guests had finished eating, she took the bill and went over.

"Sir, are you finished eating?" Yunniang asked with a smile. "The braised pork cost thirty copper coins, the stir-fried liver tip twenty-five copper coins, the rice was free, and the drinks were free for the opening. That's fifty-five copper coins in total. Would you like to pay in silver dollars or copper coins?"

Fifty-five copper coins could buy ten catties of flour in those days.

When the man heard that it was time to pay the bill, his hand holding the walnuts paused slightly.

He raised his eyelids, glanced at Yunniang indifferently, and slowly adjusted the cuffs of his long robe.

"Keep it in the books," the man said casually.

"Keep accounts?" Yunniang was stunned.

This shop just opened, where would a regular customer come from to keep track of things? Besides, this person looks unfamiliar; I've never seen him before.

"Sir, I'm sorry," Yunniang explained with a smile, "we're a small business and don't offer credit. Besides... we don't know you."