The next day, before dawn, Yang Ruxin was up and about, checking her things before preparing to head out, pushing the cart. A pancake wrap would do for breakfast.
"Big sis." Just as she reached the door, Erni ran out after her, "Let me come with you."
Yang Ruxin looked up in surprise, "You..." Erni seldomly left the house, so why the sudden desire to come and set up the stall with her?
"I... I’m afraid you won’t be able to manage alone, I can help you out..." Erni began timidly, reasoning that at home she could only help with cooking at most. But now that their mother was able to do it and with Aunt Feng’s assistance, she wanted to help her big sister. In truth, she knew her sister looked down on her personality; logically, as the second sister, she should be the one to take care of the home in her sister’s absence. However, Ruxin never left her any tasks, always handing responsibilities over to their younger sister instead. Erni envied Mengmeng for that, and after thinking it over all night, she decided perhaps it was time for a change.
"Alright," Yang Ruxin nodded. In fact, the younger siblings also wanted to come with her yesterday, but she had refused them, not knowing how the business would fare and not wanting too many to suffer needlessly. But now, seeing Erni’s expression, she agreed, thinking it would be good for her to get some practice.
The sisters took almost two hours to reach the town with the cart; the roads were uneven, and they couldn’t go fast, especially with a bucket of bone broth on board – walking alone might’ve been faster.
Fortunately, the streets of the town were paved with stone slabs, making the task much easier.
"Big sis, where shall we sell?" Erni looked around the bustling town with visible excitement.
"Let’s head to the docks," Yang Ruxin observed the sky as it was just getting light – it was the perfect time to head there.
Together, the sisters pushed the cart near the docks.
And indeed, the area was lively, though there were not many selling goods, mostly people waiting to offer their labor. Most of the workers brought their own steamed buns and pickles, taking bites during breaks.
Yang Ruxin didn’t rush to call out for customers but decided to make a pancake wrap for herself and Erni to eat first.
Erni was quite embarrassed, "Big sis, this..."
"Eat up, you need a full stomach to work hard," Yang Ruxin devoured her wrap, but regretted the lack of chili – some chili sauce would have made it taste heavenly, but she could only sigh to herself. She didn’t know where to find chili seeds, let alone if they even existed in this era.
Erni initially ate tentatively, but drawn in by the aroma and watching her sister eat so heartily, she could no longer hold back, especially as her stomach growled, and she began to eat with big bites too.
"I’ll have one too," a voice sounded from behind them at that moment.
Yang Ruxin turned around delightedly, "Gu Qingheng, what brings you here?"
"Big brother was worried about you," Gu Yao said with a twist of his mouth as he pushed Gu Qingheng in a cart.
Yang Ruxin smiled and quickly made two wraps, wrapping them in parchment paper and handing them to Gu Qingheng and Gu Yao.
In fact, many had already noticed the strange small cart here but didn’t know what it was for, so most were just watching.
"Pancake wraps, roujiamo..." Gu Qingheng ate with elegant manners, but his speed was not slow, and he soon finished the wrap, followed by a bowl of bone broth, letting out a satisfied sigh. Just as Yang Ruxin was considering whether to start calling out to customers, he spoke up, "Delicious and inexpensive, with free bone broth..."