Mountain and Sea Canteen - Chapter 6

On the opening day, Ying Linglong placed a promotional sign outside the door that read, “New Store Opening, 20% Off All Items This Week.”

The sign was made by Chongming using wooden strips and paper, with the words handwritten by Ying Linglong.

There was no other way-it all came down to one word: poverty.

It was already ten o’clock, and still, not a single customer had entered the store.

Ying Linglong thought painfully, should she buy another string of firecrackers to set off? It would liven things up and let the nearby residents know about the new store. She had also observed the area; there were plenty of residential buildings around, so there shouldn’t be a lack of potential customers.

The owner of Fuduo Supermarket peeked out. He had noticed the restaurant next door opening earlier, with a rather peculiar name: Mountain and Sea Canteen.

The two stores weren’t far apart. Jia Zhiwen had wanted to go over and say hello, but seeing that the owner was a young woman, he worried that being too friendly might make her uncomfortable, so he had held back.

Now, seeing the owner of Mountain and Sea Canteen pacing outside, Jia Zhiwen finally couldn’t resist. He grabbed a palm-leaf fan and sat under the awning outside his supermarket.

Sure enough, she walked over and asked, “Uncle, I’ve noticed there aren’t many restaurants along this row of street-facing shops. Is it because the location isn’t good?”

Jia Zhiwen was happy to explain, “It’s not that it’s not good-it’s actually too good. The rent is just too high, which is why there aren’t many restaurants here.”

“Didn’t you notice? Ahead of us is a university, Jiangyu University, with tens of thousands of students! Over there,” Jia Zhiwen pointed, “are the faculty housing buildings. The property prices in these neighborhoods have skyrocketed.”

“I don’t know if you did your research before renting this shop, but although this area is bustling, this particular street has the least foot traffic. Students don’t come this way.”

Jia Zhiwen gestured as if drawing a map, vividly explaining, “To the north of Jiangyu University, there’s an entire food street and a commercial district. If restaurants want to attract students, they have to cluster over there-that’s where the action is! We’re on the south side of Jiangyu University, in a residential area with nothing particularly fun or tasty. Students rarely come out of the south gate. Plus, summer break isn’t over yet, and the weather’s scorching, so there are even fewer people around.”

Hearing this, Ying Linglong actually felt relieved.

The store had just opened, and word hadn’t gotten out yet, so it was normal for there to be few customers. What she feared most was being in a remote location with no people at all. Having a university nearby was even better-college students are willing to spend time and money on food, and her place wasn’t high-end, so students could afford it.

Not long after, Ying Linglong came over again and handed Jia Zhiwen a handful of grilled skewers. “Uncle, would you like to try our barbecue?”

Jia Zhiwen was a straightforward man. When Ying Linglong had come to his store a few days ago to buy a mop and bucket, he had even given her a discount. Whenever she needed to borrow tools, he never hesitated.

The grilled skewers Ying Linglong brought over included fish balls, meat skewers, and vegetables-a little of everything for him to taste. Jia Zhiwen accepted them with a word of thanks.

He grabbed a can of chilled beer from the drinks cooler, planning to enjoy it with the skewers. When he turned around, Ying Linglong had already gone back. Huh? Wasn’t she here to hear his opinion?

Jia Zhiwen sniffed the air. The lingering aroma of the grill hung in the air. He took a bite of the meat and his eyes widened in surprise.

Just this small piece of meat-somehow marinated to perfection-was slightly charred at the edges. With one bite, it felt as though it was wrapped in a layer of juice, incredibly tender and smooth. The seasoning was just right, enhancing the flavor without overpowering the natural taste of the meat. Unlike some places that drown their low-quality meat in heavy seasoning, leaving you with nothing but the taste of spices.

He devoured the skewers in no time, only remembering to take a sip of the chilled beer afterward. He let out a satisfied sigh. So refreshing!

Next, he tried the chewy and bouncy fish balls, followed by the high-quality shrimp, which were seasoned with just a sprinkle of salt. Finally, he crunched on the lettuce wrapped around the skewers to cut through the richness.

Jia Zhiwen reached out for more, only to find the skewers gone. He had finished them all, barely touching his beer.

He smacked his lips, feeling that the small taste had only whetted his appetite. It was the kind of unsatisfied hunger that left you craving more.

He considered going straight into the store to order dozens of skewers but worried it might give Ying Linglong the wrong impression, as if he were freeloading.

His heart itched as if being scratched by a hook. Finally, he restrained himself. Tomorrow! Tomorrow evening, he’d bring his wife and go to the store openly for a proper meal!

At noon, a few customers finally trickled into the store. Chongming looked at the leftover ingredients with concern. “Boss, will these still be fresh tomorrow?”

Ying Linglong remained calm. “If we don’t sell them, I’ll eat them.”

Chongming glanced at the large pile of ingredients, then at Ying Linglong, and didn’t dare say a word.

“What are you looking at? My primary goal in opening this store is to pay back Boss Huang’s money. Eating enough comes second,” Ying Linglong sighed. “The reason our sect is so poor, aside from lending money to you all, is that I’ve eaten us into bankruptcy.”

Chongming stared intently at Ying Linglong’s face. “Boss, are you a Tao Tie¹?”

“I’m human!” Ying Linglong frowned. She was clearly a human, so why did everyone keep mistaking her for a Yaoguai?

She glanced at Chongming’s tight, slit top and tactfully reminded him, “This is a proper establishment. It’s best not to give customers too much room for imagination.”

Chongming was taken aback, his expression drooping. “When I used to dress like this, my livestream would get a lot more lively.”

“I know you mean well, but go change into something else.”

She pulled up a chair and sat down, complaining about the scorching weather outside. “It’s because it’s so hot and the sun’s so fierce that no one wants to go out to eat.”

Not long after she sat down, a sudden clap of thunder echoed through the clear sky. Dark clouds quickly gathered, and a heavy rain poured down. It came and went just as fast, leaving behind a refreshing coolness in the air.

Summer storms were nothing unusual, and Ying Linglong was actually pleased. Now, she thought, more people would venture out.

She didn’t notice, however, that behind her, Golden Crow was frowning slightly, his gaze fixed on her back with a hint of confusion.

In the evening, a familiar face arrived.

The “Little Junior” who had been delivering groceries to the Tianwu Sect every day was actually the son of Boss Huang, the wholesale vegetable king. An only child, he just happened to have the nickname “Little Junior.”

When he was a child, he had fallen ill under some mysterious affliction and nearly died. It was Ying Linglong’s Master who saved him. Her Master hadn’t asked for any reward but instead struck a deal with Boss Huang: he would send someone to deliver vegetables, meat, and grains up Liqiu Mountain every day.

It was all supposed to be paid for, but Boss Huang never treated it as a business transaction. Even when Ying Linglong’s Master hadn’t sent payment in a long time, he never said a word.

If it hadn’t been for Huang Baihao’s loose lips, Ying Linglong would still be in the dark about this.

Now that Ying Linglong had come down from the mountain and her Martial Uncle didn’t know how to cook, there was no need to trouble Boss Huang with deliveries anymore. Ying Linglong had informed Boss Huang, who then pressed her about why she’d come down and if she needed any help. She explained that she’d opened a restaurant.

Today was the first day of business, and although Boss Huang couldn’t make it in person due to prior commitments, he sent his son instead. He specifically told Huang Baihao not to make it too formal-just act like a regular customer.

Huang Baihao, only eighteen, wasn’t exactly versed in the nuances of business etiquette. He showed up with a few buddies, empty-handed, and genuinely just came to eat.

He had considered buying a flower basket but then looked at his rowdy friends and worried they’d tease him if they saw him giving flowers to Ying Linglong. In the end, he consoled himself with the thought that while he hadn’t brought a flower basket, he’d brought a few “food enthusiasts,” which still counted as a gesture of sincerity.

“Little Junior? What are you doing here?”

Huang Baihao quickly pulled Ying Linglong aside. “My dear sister, my friends are here. Don’t call me that-give me some face, please.”

Ying Linglong glanced at him indifferently. “If your dad knew you were calling me ‘sister,’ he’d tan your hide.”

Boss Huang could certainly afford to hire porters, but Huang Baihao’s frequent trips to the Tianwu Sect weren’t about that-it was because his father wanted him to join the sect.

With his level of talent, the idea of becoming Ying Linglong’s junior brother was pure fantasy. Even if he wanted to study under her, she wouldn’t take him.

Huang Baihao was taken aback. “Then what should I call you…? Oh, right, you’re the Sect Leader now, but I can’t just call you ‘Sect Leader.’ That’d be weird!”

Ying Linglong rolled her eyes. “Call me Boss.” She loved being called “Boss”-it sounded rich and powerful.

She pushed Huang Baihao to sit down with his friends at the table and handed him the handwritten menu. “Order something.”

Huang Baihao said he was treating, and his friends didn’t hold back. The menu featured not only various grilled skewers but also home-style dishes made by Ying Linglong. They ordered plenty of skewers and a few other dishes. It wasn’t until the menu reached the last person that these young men, who didn’t bother checking prices, noticed something.

“Why are the fish balls so much more expensive than the meat skewers?”

Grilled fish balls were rare in barbecue joints. The frozen fish balls sold in the market weren’t suitable for grilling-they were prone to mishaps. If not thawed properly, they’d burn on the outside while staying raw inside. And once thawed, they spoiled easily, so most places didn’t bother selling them.

“Hand-scraped, that’s why they’re expensive,” Ying Linglong explained succinctly.

Made fresh? The guy holding the menu was intrigued and immediately added twenty skewers of fish balls.

As Ying Linglong jotted down the order, Huang Baihao casually asked, “Boss Ying, are you planning to keep this place open for good?”

Ying Linglong gave him a puzzled look. If she wasn’t planning to keep it open, would she shut it down after a few days?

Seeing her expression, Huang Baihao brightened up.

But if there was one person in the world who most wanted Ying Linglong to come down from the mountain, it was Huang Baihao!

Ever since he was twelve, whenever school was out, Huang Baihao had to wake up early to climb Liqiu Mountain. Back then, he was too young to carry much, and an adult had to accompany him. As he grew taller and stronger, he started lugging nearly twenty pounds of vegetables and meat up the mountain every day, transforming a pale, skinny kid into a muscular, sun-tanned young man.

After finishing his college entrance exams this year, his classmates scattered across the country like wild horses let loose. But Huang Baihao? The very next morning at 5 a.m., his dad dragged him out of bed to make his usual trek up Liqiu Mountain with a heavy load.

However, Huang Baihao glanced around and asked, “There are so many people in the sect. Did only those two come down with you? If my family stops delivering food to the mountain, what will the others do?”

The road up Liqiu Mountain only extended halfway. Huang Baihao always delivered the food to the midpoint, where Ying Linglong would meet him. Based on the amount of ingredients he delivered daily, he estimated there should be at least a dozen people in the Tianwu Sect. Why, then, did Ying Linglong come down alone, and why was the food supply no longer needed?

Ying Linglong brushed him off. “They’ve started growing vegetables on the mountain. It’s enough for them.” She couldn’t very well admit that she’d been eating all that food herself.

While she was chatting with Huang Baihao, an elderly couple walked into the shop, quietly discussing what to order. Perhaps overhearing Ying Linglong’s mention of hand-scraped fish balls, they ordered two bowls of Baby Bok Choy Vermicelli Fish Ball Soup.

Good taste! The best ingredients today were the seafood Ying Linglong had bought from Youyu Fishery!

Footnote:

1. Tao Tie(饕餮):Beast face and human body, insatiably greedy.