Chapter 32: In Yuzhou, You Must Not Drink a Bowl of Peppery Soup

Li Yonggang took Lin Junwan to the county seat. Naturally, the first steps were to fill out the paperwork and have their wedding photos taken.

Meanwhile, Lin Junsheng arrived in town, riding on the back of Liu Siyao’s bicycle. The local market was already bustling with noise and activity. Liu Siyao and Lin Junsheng wove through the throng of people, pausing from time to time to stop at various stalls. There were freshly steamed buns, piping hot soy milk, hand-woven baskets, and vibrant bolts of fabric—every corner was brimming with the pulse of daily life, leaving them dazzled.

Liu Siyao was particularly drawn to a hawthorn candy stall. The bright red hawthorn fruits were skewered on bamboo sticks, coated in a translucent, crystalline sugar glaze that shimmered with an alluring luster under the sun. She couldn't resist buying one and taking a small bite; the blend of sweet and sour exploded in her mouth, instantly transporting her back to the carefree days of childhood. However, after only a few bites, she handed it to Lin Junsheng, finding it too cloying.

"It’s too sweet, I can't finish it," Liu Siyao complained softly.

That was the nature of hawthorn candy. In the past, it had been a strategic commodity, much like winter cotton—rare items that most ordinary people seldom saw. But now, with the Reform and Opening-up, the nation was improving, and both sugar and cotton had become affordable. They were no longer such rarities.

Time slipped away like sand through fingers. When Liu Siyao raised her wrist again, the elegant watch face clearly displayed 9:00. "Oh no, it's almost nine!" she exclaimed, then looked at Lin Junsheng. "We have to hurry to the bookstore. Jingjing is still waiting for us there."

Lin Junsheng nodded. He felt the envelope in his pocket, which contained the manuscript he had meticulously prepared—*The River Without Navigational Beacons*—intended for *Harvest* magazine. Although he longed for them to recognize his talent for writing, he felt it was better to remain low-key until he had actually made a name for himself.

The two picked up their pace, cutting through the crowded market, and finally arrived at the bookstore entrance. Liu Jingjing was there, leaning against a somewhat weathered bicycle beneath the bookstore’s sign. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, dappling her hair and adding a touch of tenderness to her appearance.

"Jingjing, you're here!" Liu Siyao waved excitedly and hurried forward.

Seeing them, a brilliant smile bloomed on Liu Jingjing's face. "Have you guys eaten yet? I’m so hungry, I feel like I could swallow a cow!"

"Haha, then let’s go fill our stomachs," Lin Junsheng suggested.

They strolled along the street and were eventually drawn to an ordinary-looking breakfast shop. Though the storefront was unremarkable, the queue at the entrance signaled its popularity. The aroma of *hulatang* (spicy soup) drifted on the breeze, whetting their appetites. However, upon stepping inside, the sight before them was startling. The shop was packed, every table filled with patrons. A thick, indescribable layer of grease seemed to permeate the floor, the furniture, and even the very air.

Lin Junsheng frowned, secretly muttering to himself, "These days, the hygiene in street-side eateries is truly worrisome."

They waited patiently for five or six minutes before finally finding an empty spot in a corner. As soon as they sat down, Lin Junsheng noticed the state of the tabletop. A thick, aged layer of grease seemed like an indelible mark of history; when he lightly scratched it with his fingernail, the grime peeled away like a plowed field, revealing an even more unsightly surface underneath. Liu Siyao shook her head at the sight, but this was just how dining in the countryside went. As long as it tasted good, it was fine. After all, a little dirt never hurt anyone.

"Oh, forget it, let's just make do," Liu Jingjing said with surprising open-mindedness, picking up a napkin to carefully wipe the table.

Lin Junsheng stretched out his arm and called out, "Boss, we’d like to order!"

A middle-aged man immediately pulled himself away from the bustle, his face wreathed in a warm smile. "Coming, coming! Take a look, we’ve got plenty of local specialties here. What would you like to have?"

Lin Junsheng’s gaze swept over the stained menu on the wall. "Hulatang, potato-stuffed flatbread, chive pockets, pan-fried buns, deep-fried dough sticks..." the boss recited, listing them off like a treasure. With every item mentioned, Lin Junsheng couldn't help but swallow his saliva. It had been far too long since he’d had these things, and he felt a wave of nostalgia.

In the end, he chose a few familiar flavors: "One bowl of spicy soup, two pounds of pan-fried buns, and one pound of deep-fried dough sticks." These were the most modest joys in his heart.

Nearby, Liu Jingjing and Liu Siyao also ordered their favorites; Jingjing opted for mung bean porridge. Two pounds of pan-fried buns and a pound of dough sticks were plenty for them. Liu Siyao chose the same spicy soup as Lin Junsheng, along with a potato-stuffed flatbread. The three sat around the table, waiting for the feast.

The middle-aged boss efficiently noted the order and trotted back to the stove to get to work. Lin Junsheng’s thoughts drifted back to the days just after his rebirth. Because the family had been in debt, they saved every penny, and the food he ate every day felt like chewing grass—life had been incredibly difficult.

Now, although his life after rebirth hadn't undergone a cataclysmic change overnight, at least he could sit here and enjoy a simple breakfast to his heart's content.

"It’s good to have money; you can eat whatever you want," Lin Junsheng mused to himself. To truly change his family’s fate and provide them with a better life, relying solely on the stable income from writing would never be enough. The prize money from the essay competition had become a lifeline in his mind.

Just then, the waiter arrived like a timely rain, holding two bowls of steaming, alluringly colored spicy soup with a steady hand. The rich aroma seemed to have magic, instantly piercing through the shop’s pervasive oily scent and replacing it with an irresistible fragrance that made their mouths water.

Lin Junsheng, Liu Jingjing, and Liu Siyao were all simultaneously drawn to the two bowls. Soon after, the waiter brought the mung bean porridge, pan-fried buns, dough sticks, and potato-stuffed flatbread. The porridge was clear and bright, emitting a faint bean fragrance. The pan-fried buns were golden and crispy, fried to perfection on the bottom, with soft dough on top encasing a succulent filling. The dough sticks were crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, a delight to the taste buds. The potato-stuffed flatbread was unique, a perfect marriage of crispy bread crust and well-seasoned potato strips.

Lin Junsheng couldn't wait. He picked up his spoon, scooped up a bit of the spicy soup, and took a sip. At that moment, the freshness, spice, and savory richness exploded in his mouth, sending a warm current straight to his head and awakening his long-dormant taste buds. He closed his eyes, savoring the feast, as if the entire world had narrowed down to the flavor of that bowl of soup. The spice was not the stinging heat of chili, but a gentle, perfect warmth. The richness was not the intensity of heavy spices, but the deep, natural essence of the ingredients.

Liu Jingjing gently blew the steam off her mung bean porridge and took a careful sip. "Delicious."

Liu Siyao took a large bite of her potato-stuffed flatbread. "This is also really good, Jingjing, you should try one."

Lin Junsheng picked up his chopsticks, lifted a golden, enticing pan-fried bun, and took a bite. The juicy, savory flavor made him break into a satisfied smile. If one could live a life and be satisfied like this, it was more than enough.