Chapter 45: Wontons for Eight Cash a Bowl

After the four of them left the bookstore, Sun Bomin finally breathed a sigh of relief and said with a sigh, "Ge'er, Shanzi, you two must study diligently. We've spent a lot of money today, so if you don't apply yourselves, you'll be doing a great disservice to these hard-earned coins."

Third Uncle Sun chimed in from the side, "Big Brother is right. Hmph, Guang'er and Yong'er simply waste all my effort and care. Ge'er, Shanzi, don't you two dare learn from them."

Ge'er patted his small chest with confidence and said, "Father, Uncle, don't worry. Shanzi and I will study hard. If Shanzi doesn't apply himself, I'll report it to you both."

Then he turned to Sun Shan and said, "Shanzi, I'm going to keep an eye on you. You mustn't be lazy and waste the family's money."

Sun Shan looked at Ge'er speechlessly. The braver his words sounded now, the harder his face would sting when reality hit later.

Ge'er, you better remember what you said today; you are going to regret it for sure.

Sun Shan made up his mind: rather than struggling through his studies all by himself, he might as well drag Ge'er into it with him. True brothers fight tigers together; father and son go into battle side by side.

Ge'er, let's put in the effort together.

Sun Bomin believed Ge'er's words. After all, a man knows his own son best. As for Shanzi, whether it was because he was born prematurely or not, not only did he look short and scrawny, but even more absurdly, he always had a blank, dim-witted expression, not looking smart at all.

Ge'er was different—lively and quick-witted. Among all the young boys in the Sun family, he was by far the best at winning people's affection.

Even his wife, who secretly didn't get along well with Madam Zheng, would beam with smiles whenever she saw Ge'er and was always willing to give him treats to eat.

By high noon, the four of them were feeling a bit hungry and wanted to find a place to eat.

Leaving the West District, they walked over to the East District.

Sun Shan saw a vast, open area here, lined with rows of small brick-built adjoining huts. They sold everything imaginable—food, clothing, drinks, and even funeral goods.

The small huts formed a circle, enclosing a large open space in front of them, which was divided into neat grids by white painted lines to provide temporary stalls for small vendors to sell their goods.

Sun Shan's admiration for the magistrate of Huangyang County grew even stronger. Such a clear, well-planned, and zoned layout was a remarkably progressive approach.

Sun Bomin asked, "Shanzi, Ge'er, what would you two like to eat?"

There were wonton shops, rice noodle shops, regular restaurants, and steamed bun shops. Small and run-down though the county town was, it offered a remarkably diverse array of foods, with everything one could possibly want.

Ge'er swallowed hard and said, "Uncle, I want to eat steamed buns."

Then, as they passed a wonton shop, he changed his mind and said, "Uncle, I want to eat piping-hot wontons instead."

Third Uncle Sun cast a sideways glance at his fickle, food-craving son and scolded angrily, "Just have the wontons. It's cold out; eating something piping hot will warm up your body."

Sun Shan was also leaning toward having wontons, as he hadn't eaten them in a very long time.

Madam Su and Madam Huang did not know how to roll out wonton wrappers, so the family had no way to make wontons at home.

The four of them walked into the wonton shop, and a waiter greeted them with a beaming smile, "Welcome, honorable guests! Come right in, what would you like to eat?"

The small shop was not big, just about large enough to fit four tables. Perhaps because it wasn't a market day in the county town, there weren't many people dining in.

Of the four tables, only two were occupied.

Third Uncle Sun asked with practiced familiarity, "What is the specialty of your house?"

Sun Shan and Ge'er sat down on a long wooden bench, looking around the shop with curiosity. Near the entrance sat a stove where broth was simmering and boiling away, giving off a rather appetizing aroma.

The waiter enthusiastically replied, "Our shop's wontons are famous throughout the entire Huangyang County! The wrappers are thin and the fillings are generous; even the county magistrate himself loves eating them. Honorable guests, how about starting with a bowl of plain wontons?"

The waiter wasn't entirely lying; the county magistrate had indeed tasted the wontons from his shop before. As for whether they were delicious or not, the magistrate hadn't commented, but in business, a mix of truth and falsehood was inevitable—one always led with the most pleasing words.

Neither Sun Bomin nor Third Uncle Sun believed him. Sun Bomin asked, "How much are the plain wontons? How much are the wonton noodles?"

There was no price list in the shop, and even if there were, it wouldn't have mattered much; since most of the country folk were illiterate, it was much more direct to simply ask the boss for the prices.

True to a man whose livelihood depended on welcoming guests, the waiter didn't mind the endless questioning at all. Flashing a professional smile that revealed eight teeth, he said, "The plain wontons are eight wen, and the wonton noodles are also eight wen. They are very large bowls, guaranteed to fill you up."

Hearing the price, Sun Bomin clicked his tongue in astonishment. Had he really been away from the county town for too long? Why had prices outside become so exorbitant? One had to know that a pound of pork cost only ten wen, yet a simple bowl of wontons cost a staggering eight wen.

Sun Bomin felt like turning on his heel and walking right out, feeling as though the waiter was treating them like wealthy fat fish waiting to be carved up.

Third Uncle Sun reacted with utter calm, saying, "I'll have a bowl of wonton noodles, and Ge'er will have plain wontons. Big Brother, what would you like?"

Sun Bomin exchanged meaningful glances and made subtle hand gestures at Third Uncle Sun.

Third Uncle Sun asked in confusion, "Big Brother, did something fly into your eye? You've been blinking nonstop. Do you want me to blow on it for you?"

He actually leaned forward, intending to blow into Sun Bomin's eye.

Sun Bomin said with a mixture of exasperation and amusement, "Never mind, I'm fine. I'll have the same as you—wonton noodles for me, and wontons for Shanzi."

As a grown, robust man, a bowl of plain wontons probably wouldn't keep him full, so he needed noodles to fill his stomach.

Young boys were different; a bowl of wontons should be enough to satisfy them, especially Shanzi, who had always had a smaller appetite.

The waiter said cheerfully, "Honorable guests, please wait just a moment. I'll go prepare them right away."

Whistling a tune, he walked over to the stove and proceeded to put on a live demonstration of how to cook wontons.

Sun Bomin lowered his voice and said, "Third Brother, don't you think eight wen for a bowl of wontons is awfully expensive?"

Third Uncle Sun asked back with genuine puzzlement, "Expensive? When I came into the county town to see the lantern festival during the Lantern Festival, they cost twelve wen a bowl. The price has actually dropped by now."

Before Sun Bomin could reply, Ge'er piped up, "Father, when did you go see the lantern festivals? How come I didn't know about it?"

Third Uncle Sun stammered evasively, "You heard wrong. Your father didn't say anything just now."

Seeing Third Uncle's reddening face, a wave of sudden realization washed over Sun Shan. No wonder that night during the Lantern Festival, Third Uncle and Third Aunt had asked Grandma Madam Huang to look after Guang'er, Yong'er, and Ge'er, claiming they wouldn't be coming back that evening, and had even asked Eldest Aunt Madam Su to take care of their three sons' meals.

So the couple had sneaked off to the county town to see the lanterns and enjoy a romantic two-person date.

Sun Shan carefully appraised Third Uncle Sun. How should he put it? Third Uncle was far from a model father, son, or brother, but he was unquestionably a model husband. His love for Madam Zheng was genuine—a rarity in Sun Family Village.

Then he glanced at Sun Bomin. As for Father and Mother, Sun Shan couldn't detect any passionate romance between them; all he saw was mutual respect and steadfast companionship through thick and thin—perhaps that was simply the norm for couples in Sun Family Village.

The wontons were served shortly after, coming in large, overflowing bowls. Sun Bomin took a bite of a wonton; it was tender, succulent, and full of flavor, proving that the eight wen was indeed well spent.

Just as he was about to spoon some wontons from his own bowl into Sun Shan's, Sun Shan crisp and clear refused, "Father, eat your own. I have plenty in my bowl."

The proprietor was honest; the portions he served were both large and plentiful, making the eight wen truly worthwhile.

Though Ge'er was small, he ate fast. In no time at all, he had polished off an entire bowl and was already eyeing a second.

Third Uncle Sun scolded, "All you ever think about is eating! Look at Shanzi; he's younger than you yet far more sensible. Shanzi always eats precisely what he's given."

Even as he scolded, he scooped some wontons from his own bowl and divided them into Ge'er's.

Sun Shan also spooned a few of his own wontons into Ge'er's bowl and placated him, saying, "Ge'er, don't eat your fill just yet. We're going to get steamed buns later."

Before leaving home, Sun Shan had brought several dozen wen with him, intending to buy some local treats to bring back for the women of the family.

Naturally, seeing the steamed buns earlier had made Sun Shan crave them too; he planned to buy a few later and share them with Ge'er.

Sure enough, Ge'er stopped fussing immediately. Beaming with joy, he said, "Shanzi, I knew you cared about me the most—even more than my own father."

Hearing this, not only the members of the Sun family burst into laughter, but even the other diners and the shop waiter chuckled aloud.