Chapter 37: Unexpected Message

At 12:00 noon, Wen Wan, carrying her small handbag, happily walked out of the supply and marketing cooperative.

Following the route provided by Li Yumei, Wen Wan quickly found her destination.

Wen Wan was stunned: In the entire alley, there was only one stall; no other options.

“Miss, would you like some scallion pancakes? Freshly made,” Zhang Tao, the stall owner, greeted Wen Wan with a smile as soon as he saw her standing at the entrance of the alley.

His eyes were as sharp as an eagle’s, able to spot potential buyers among the passersby with a single glance.

Wen Wan walked forward. The stall was simple: a yellow clay pot with a chipped iron pan on top. Oily scallion pancakes were placed on a bamboo basket beside it.

“Miss, one?” Zhang Tao asked cheerfully. “I can toast it for you to heat it up.”

Wen Wan glanced at them indifferently and nodded. “Toast it until it’s dry.” She didn’t want too much oil.

Zhang Tao quickly lifted the pan. “Miss, rest assured, my family has been making pancakes for decades. You’ll want more after you eat one.”

Wen Wan smiled without speaking. She guessed that Li Yumei had bought her scallion pancakes here this morning.

While waiting for the pancake, Wen Wan casually asked, “Boss, why are you the only one with a stall on this street?”

“Oh, miss, if you want to buy vegetables and food, you have to come early. At this time, it’s just me,” Zhang Tao flipped the pancake in the pan.

Wen Wan asked again, “Is this a black market?”

“Miss, don’t talk nonsense. We are operating legally. We dare not sell at high prices; that’s a crime,” Zhang Tao emphasized seriously.

“Legally operating? Doesn’t the state prohibit buying and selling?” Wen Wan pretended not to understand.

Zhang Tao chuckled, wrapping the pancake in oiled paper. “Miss, we’re registered with the street office. We set up a small stall to make a living.”

Of course, he knew that they could register to set up a stall because a distant relative worked in the government department, allowing them to try.

If they were lucky and no one bothered them, they could continue to set up their stall. If not, at most, they would have to hand over their earnings. Anyway, he was earning a living from his craftsmanship.

Wen Wan took the scallion pancake, took a bite, and gave a thumbs-up. “Boss, as expected of someone who’s been doing this for decades, the pancake is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, fragrant with scallions.”

Zhang Tao happily accepted the compliment. Without the skills, he wouldn’t dare to set up a stall.

His family had been doing this since his grandfather’s generation. As soon as he heard that they could set up stalls, he begged his grandfather to teach him and practiced at home for over a month before he became proficient.

However, according to his grandfather’s standards, his pancakes still lacked something.

“Boss, could you elaborate on what you said earlier?” Wen Wan’s eyes flashed, and she spoke sincerely.

Zhang Tao looked around and said honestly, “Miss, if you want to set up a stall, there’s no space left. There are only ten spots in the whole town, and they’re all taken.”

After a moment of thought, he added, “However, you can buy a spot from someone else, but the price will be higher. If you’re interested, I can introduce you.”

After hearing this, Wen Wan’s restless heart calmed down.

It was April 1978. In a few months, the country would be fully open. It wasn’t necessary for her to spend money on a spot.

Even if she got a spot, what about the supplies? Simply buying and selling agricultural products to make a small profit wasn’t worthwhile.

“Boss, forget about the spot. We don’t have the money to buy one yet,” Wen Wan stated frankly.

Zhang Tao didn’t persuade her further. “Miss, come again. I’m open from 7:30 am to 5:00 pm every day.”

Wen Wan waved her hand and returned to the supply and marketing cooperative.

Time passed minute by minute. Throughout the afternoon, people came to the supply and marketing cooperative wanting to buy things they didn’t have, only to leave empty-handed.

As soon as it was time to get off work, Wen Wan helped put things away. After Wu Sen locked the door, everyone went their separate ways.

On the way home, Wen Wan found an empty alley and slipped into her space.

Seeing the potatoes and radishes that had ripened in her space, Wen Wan took a bamboo basket, filled it with more than ten potatoes and several large radishes, and carried it.

“Knock knock… Grandma Guo, I’m back.” Wen Wan knocked on the door, about to step inside.

A curious neighbor asked, “Girl, are you Zhou Haoting’s fiancée?”

Wen Wan calmly nodded. “Yes, I am.” She could see that the women were just curious.

“I live on this street too. Just call me Fat Aunt. If you need anything, just ask,” Fat Aunt readily pointed to her yard.

Wen Wan smiled. “Hello, Fat Aunt.”

Then, following Fat Aunt’s introduction, she greeted the other women with a smile.

When Grandma Guo heard the sound and came out of the kitchen, wiping her hands, she saw Wen Wan and Fat Aunt chatting and laughing at the door.

“Xiaowan, you’re back from work. I just put the rice on, it’ll be ready soon.”

Wen Wan said goodbye to Fat Aunt and the others, then walked into the yard in a few steps. “Grandma Guo, I bought some potatoes and radishes.”

She hadn’t had a proper meal all day, and she didn’t want to eat sauerkraut and pickled vegetables again for dinner.

“Xiaowan, do you like your potatoes shredded or sliced?” Grandma Guo picked up two large potatoes and threw them into a basin to wash.

Wen Wan sat in front of the stove, picked up the fire tongs, and casually said, “Grandma Guo, I like potatoes however you make them.” Even boiled potatoes were fine.

“There’s some leftover oil residue at home. I’ll use it to fry the potato slices; it’ll be more flavorful,” Grandma Guo skillfully sliced the round potatoes into thin slices.

After the sweet potato porridge in the pot was cooked, Grandma Guo ladled all the porridge into a clay pot to cool.

“Xiaowan, turn up the heat in the pot,” Grandma Guo picked up the lard jar. Seeing her granddaughter-in-law’s fair face, she added a little more lard to the pot.

In just a dozen seconds, after the oil was hot, Grandma Guo added dried chilies, bringing out the aroma before adding the potato slices.

Soon, the aroma of lard and potatoes filled the kitchen.

Wen Wan couldn’t help but swallow. Her clear eyes stared intently at the potatoes in the pot.

After ladling the rice, Grandma Guo and Wen Wan each sat at the table with a large bowl.

“Eat…” Grandma Guo smelled the aroma and urged them to eat as soon as they sat down.

Wen Wan’s stomach was already rumbling. She didn’t hesitate and started to eat.

Wow, it was so delicious! She had never tasted such delicious potatoes—soft and smooth, making her feel relaxed.

Bite after bite, both of them were immersed in the joy of eating.

“You… eat,” Wen Wan picked up her chopsticks and offered the last potato slice to Grandma Guo.

Grandma Guo blushed slightly. “Xiaowan, then I’ll eat it.”

“Grandma Guo, your cooking is so good. I think it’s even better than Old Master Lin’s,” Wen Wan put down her chopsticks and sincerely praised her.

Hearing this, Grandma Guo said hesitantly, “Xiaowan, I think it’s because the vegetables you bought today are good.” She knew her own cooking skills very well.

“Oh…” Wen Wan’s eyes flashed. “Grandma Guo, don’t be humble. I think they’re just ordinary potatoes. It’s still your skill. If I cooked them, they wouldn’t be this delicious.”