The enticing aroma of the chili sauce pancakes roused customers’ appetites. One customer, after receiving his pancake wrapped neatly in oiled paper, took a bite and exclaimed, “Delicious! The flavor is spot on.” Before leaving, he asked, “Will you be here again tomorrow?”
“Yes,” He Zifeng replied. “We’ll be here as long as it doesn’t rain.”
“Great, I’ll come back tomorrow.”
After the customer left, Little Ranran enthusiastically fetched a square stone, climbed on top, and pressed his hands on the money box. His eyes sparkled as he surveyed the crowd.
Qiu Yu, noticing this, said, “Aren’t you bored? Maybe you should stay home tomorrow.” He worried that their son might find it tiresome.
“No way,” Little Ranran replied stubbornly, much like his father.
As more people began passing by, He Zifeng stayed busy cooking pancakes and brushing them with chili sauce. The freshly made pancakes were stacked neatly for display.
“How much for one?” a passerby asked.
“Six wen each,” He Zifeng replied.
“I’ll take one.”
Soon, a small crowd gathered around their stall. While some customers waited for freshly cooked pancakes, others bought the warm pre-made ones.
The initial batch of pancakes sold out quickly, and latecomers had to wait as fresh dough was prepared. The demand was higher than expected; even the twenty pancakes they’d prepared in advance weren’t enough.
Kneading more dough required effort, so He Zifeng took over the task. With his strong hands, he kneaded the remaining half-bag of flour into five large dough balls, which he then divided into smaller portions.
Little Ranran, still exploring the novelty of the county, was fascinated by everything around him. He listened to vendors loudly advertising their wares:
“Fine rouge! High-quality rouge!”
“Hot bean buns for sale!”
“Sweet and crispy cucumbers from the provincial capital!”
Ranran’s eyes sparkled as he turned to his fathers. “Dad, we should shout too!”
Qiu Yu, being naturally shy, hesitated, and even He Zifeng wasn’t one to call out. But their four-year-old son was brimming with courage.
“Why don’t you give it a try?” they encouraged.
“Okay!” Little Ranran replied quickly. He gathered his courage and called out softly, “Selling pancakes…” His voice was so faint that only his parents could hear.
He Zifeng couldn’t help but chuckle.
Embarrassed, Little Ranran’s cheeks turned red as he jumped off the stone and buried his face in Qiu Yu’s arms. “Dad laughed at me!”
He Zifeng quickly reassured him, “Dad wasn’t laughing at you. You’re braver than both of us.”
Encouraged, Ranran climbed back onto the stone. This time, he called out louder, “Selling pancakes!”
His clear, sweet voice caught the attention of a passing middle-aged bodyguard. “How much for one of these pancakes?”
“Six wen each,” Qiu Yu explained.
“I’ll take three,” the bodyguard said cheerfully, his voice hearty and straightforward. He paid upfront and added, “Cook them while I grab some tofu pudding from the fried dough stand.”
“Eighteen wen,” Little Ranran said in his soft voice as he accepted the money.
The bodyguard was amused. “So young, and already doing calculations!”
Ranran glanced at He Zifeng for reassurance. His father had taught him, and now he could confidently calculate prices for up to five pancakes.
Despite his burly frame, the bodyguard wasn’t intimidating to Little Ranran. Puffing up his chest, the boy said firmly, “I’m not a little kid—I’m already four years old!”
The bodyguard burst into hearty laughter. “Alright, you’re a man!”
Hearing this, Ranran stood even taller, his chest puffed out with pride.
The bodyguard finished his tofu pudding and returned to pick up his pancakes. Back at the escort agency, he unwrapped the oiled paper. Though the outer crust had lost its crispness from being wrapped, the rich chili aroma had fully permeated the pancake.
He bit into the soft, chewy dough, savoring its hearty texture and the distinct flavor of the grains. The chili sauce added a slightly spicy kick that was irresistibly fragrant. It was so good that even someone with his appetite couldn’t finish all three pancakes in one sitting.
The enticing aroma quickly drew the attention of his fellow guards.
“Hey, Liu, what are you eating?”
“I’m starving!”
“What’s that?”
Three younger guards came over, their eyes filled with curiosity. Despite their usual hearty meals, they found this simple pancake surprisingly appetizing.
The bodyguard, already feeling full, pushed the remaining pancakes toward them. “The fried dough stand has a new pancake seller. Pretty good stuff. You guys can have the rest.”
“Thanks, Liu!”
“You’re the best, Liu!”
The young guards eagerly devoured the pancakes, their eyes lighting up after the first bite. They were used to lavish meals during their assignments, but this simple pancake surpassed them in flavor.
Still hungry, they immediately decided to buy more.
“Get me two,” one said.
“Bring back two for me too,” another added.
Their chatter caught the attention of some senior guards. “What’s all the commotion about?” one asked, frowning.
“The pancakes Liu bought are amazing! Just six wen each,” one of the younger guards replied.
“Oh? Get us ten, then,” the senior guard said casually, treating the cost as a minor expense.
The younger guards hurried off to buy more. Within minutes, they returned with an oiled paper package. “They’re still cooking more, so we brought what’s ready.”
The seniors nodded approvingly as the aroma filled the room. When they unwrapped the pancakes, the rich scent made everyone pause for a moment in appreciation.
The chili sauce was the star, perfectly complementing the hearty dough. Bite after bite, the guards found themselves unable to stop eating.
Although they were well-paid, their job was dangerous and physically demanding. As the head guard often said, they were “mountain pigs who couldn’t appreciate fine grain.” They didn’t care for luxurious meals, but these simple pancakes were a revelation.
“Wake up the others and let them try. No point in sleeping until noon and getting stomachaches,” one senior suggested.
“Got it,” another replied.
As more guards woke up and tried the pancakes, they quickly became hooked. Five pancakes were nowhere near enough for so many people.
“Where are Xiao Li and Xiao Hu? Why aren’t they back yet?” someone grumbled.
Just then, the two guards returned, each carrying an armful of pancakes. They froze, seeing the entire agency gathered.
They hadn’t even taken a bite yet, and judging by the crowd, there clearly wouldn’t be enough to go around.
Why Are All the Brothers Here Today?
The guards eagerly unwrapped the chili sauce pancakes, still warm and fragrant. But with so many people and so few pancakes, they were quickly gone, leaving everyone unsatisfied.
“Go get ten more,” someone suggested.
Xiao Li, who had fetched the last batch, shook his head. “There aren’t any left. I got the last ten when I went.”
“How’s that possible? Weren’t there plenty earlier?” Liu, the middle-aged guard, asked in disbelief.
“You don’t know how folks in our county are,” Xiao Li replied. “Once someone starts buying, everyone jumps in.”
The taste had left everyone craving more. Someone suggested, “Let’s order thirty for tomorrow so we can all enjoy them.”
“Thirty? That’s not enough! I can eat three myself!”
“Same here,” another agreed. “Not getting my fill this morning feels like I could eat an entire cow.”
Liu chuckled. “The boss wasn’t wrong when he called you lot bottomless pits. Fine, each of you give me five wen, and I’ll handle the order.”
“Five wen won’t cut it. These pancakes are going to be a hit here for a while. Since we just got paid yesterday, let’s each chip in a hundred wen. Liu can manage the funds and order enough pancakes daily. That way, we’re not scrambling for change every time.”
“Sounds good,” everyone quickly agreed.
Liu headed back to He Zifeng’s stall, where he found a crowd of customers surrounding it. Qiu Yu was busy explaining to newcomers, “Sorry, we’re sold out for today. Please come back tomorrow.” Slowly, he managed to turn away the disappointed crowd.
Liu stepped forward and declared, “I’m ordering forty pancakes. I’ll pick them up at this time tomorrow!”
It was Qiu Yu’s first time handling business, and he was both nervous and excited. Hearing Liu’s large order, the surrounding onlookers grew even more curious about the pancakes, vowing to come early the next day to try them.
He Zifeng nodded. “Alright, but we’ll need half the payment upfront. Forty pancakes will be 240 wen; you can leave 120 wen as a deposit.”
Liu, ever straightforward, handed over the money without hesitation.
Before noon, they had sold all their pancakes and packed up their stall. What they’d prepared for a full day had sold out far faster than expected.
On the way home, Little Ranran dozed off on He Zifeng’s back, exhausted from the excitement.
Qiu Yu’s eyes sparkled with joy. Even after walking for over an hour, he was still brimming with excitement. “We’ve made money!”
He Zifeng, pushing the cart with one hand and supporting his sleeping son with the other, replied with a grin, “This is just the beginning.”
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