Transmigrated as a Peasant Baby Who is Pampered by All

Chapter 449: Chapter 278: Little Foodie

Earlier she didn’t notice it, but when Yingying followed Jiang Yu into the spicy hot pot street, she finally realized that there were a few people following not too far behind.

These people were all dressed in plainclothes, no wonder she hadn’t spotted them on the main street. This street was quite off the beaten path, hardly anyone around, which made them easy to spot.

The street was filled with stalls selling niche items rarely seen in busy markets, like brooms, wooden tubs, candles, joss paper, and other household goods for everyday people.

The spicy hot pot store was further inside the street, near the other end by the city wall, generally very quiet.

Yingying curiously looked around: ”Does your family live here?”

Jiang Yu nodded: ”Temporarily staying over here. I’m not from Fuzhou; I came here for the academy exam and am staying at an uncle’s shop.”

Yingying was surprised: ”Academy exam? You’re taking the academy exam at such a young age?”

She looked him up and down, he wasn’t much taller than her, probably around twelve or thirteen years old at most.

Taking the academy exam at such a young age, regardless of passing or not, just having the courage is admirable.

As far as she knew, the youngest she’d heard of taking the exam was fourteen!

Jiang Yu smiled: ”Our teacher said we should come to see what it’s like this year; the real exam is next year.”

Yingying’s mouth gaped open, then shut it forcefully, shaking her head after a while: ”You’re much better than my brother. He’s eighteen and spends his days playing around; he hasn’t taken the exam even once!”

She looked exasperated as if someone wasn’t living up to expectations.

Jiang Yu just smiled and said nothing, since it was a personal family matter.

They quickly arrived at the spicy hot pot shop; a new sign was already up, and there were already customers eating. Seeing Jiang Yu, the patrons weren’t surprised.

The spicy hotpot didn’t advertise much, the patrons were mostly regulars or came by word of mouth. Everyone knew that there were academy exam candidates staying in the courtyard.

”Liu’s Spicy Hot Pot?” Yingying looked around curiously, took a deep breath and exclaimed: ”It smells so good, such a unique aroma.”

Master Yang was cooking noodles while preparing bowls and laughed as he asked: ”Xiao Yu is back! And this young lady is?”

”Yingying, we met earlier at the bookshop. She heard that Xiao Mi could hunt and wanted to meet her.”

He then signaled Yingying to come inside: ”Would you like to try some, Miss Yingying?”

Yingying nodded eagerly: ”Yes, yes. Anyway, your sister isn’t back yet, we can eat while waiting.”

She was indeed hungry, even if she wasn’t very hungry, the aroma made her feel extremely hungry.

Now the shop not only served noodles and vegetables but also added buns and rice, though they were all made of coarse flour and rice.

If they used refined flour and rice, the cost would go up, and ordinary people wouldn’t be willing to afford it.

Sometimes a few people would order a large bowl of spicy hot pot and then each get a bowl of rice or a bun to fill up, and importantly, it wasn’t expensive.

Jiang Yu explained how to eat spicy hot pot to Yingying, took the initiative to take a skewer of each vegetable, and asked Master Yang to cook fewer noodles.

”This feels so fresh.”

Yingying sat down with Jiang Yu and looked around. Downstairs, because of the many bowls, vegetables, and utensils, there wasn’t much room for eating, but it was clear that the upstairs should be more spacious.

”It is indeed fresh, mainly because it’s cheap. The people who come here to eat are all poor folks. Sometimes they’re too tired to cook themselves, so they come here to rest a bit.”

”What would you like to eat, sirs? Our spicy hot pot shop hasn’t been open long; would you like to try some?”

It was the voice of the innkeeper; Jiang Yu looked up and saw it was the people who had been following Yingying, likely worried when they saw her enter someone else’s place, they hurried to the doorstep.

”Yingying.” Jiang Yu called her to look at the people at the door.

Because Yingying was seated with her back to the door, she hadn’t seen them.

Yingying waved: ”There are seats upstairs, order what you like. Report to the housekeeper for reimbursement when you get home.”

”Thank you, miss.” The group apologetically bowed in unison, startling the other customers.

There were six of them, although they were dressed in common clothes and weren’t particularly big and strong, the moment they clasped their fists and bent over, their strong arm muscles were evident.

Clearly, they weren’t to be messed with.

Finally, four of them went upstairs, two stayed downstairs. Yingying pouted a little, seeming displeased but said nothing more.

The spicy hot pot quickly arrived, and Yingying inhaled deeply: ”It really smells great, unlike anything I’ve tasted before.”

The waiter brought over two empty bowls, Jiang Yu handed her a pair of chopsticks: ”Be careful, it’s a bit hot.”

Yingying nodded and couldn’t wait to take a bite, her eyes lighting up immediately: ”I’ve never tasted anything like this!”

Then she quickly invited Jiang Yu: ”You eat too! I see others eating together as well, I can’t finish all this, eat with me.”

Indeed, at the door, three people were eating together.

Jiang Yu, having grown up in the countryside, knew etiquette but wasn’t overly rigid. With Yingying’s invitation, he naturally took a pair of chopsticks.

”Would you like some buns? They’re made with cornmeal and refined flour, and taste really good with the hot pot.”

Yingying was clearly used to fine dining, eating only the best of everything, Jiang Yu worried she might have a stomachache from suddenly eating too much spicy hot pot.

A little corn bun would help cushion it, making her feel much better.

”Yes, yes, bring one over, I haven’t tried a bun made with corn yet.”

While speaking, the waiter had already brought over two, and when they were placed on the table, Yingying’s mouth dropped open: ”Such big buns!”

They were almost the size of half her head!

The buns she usually ate were petite and delicate, like pastries. This giant bun left her at a loss for how to start eating.

Jiang Yu noticed her awkwardness and stood up: ”You sit for a moment, I’ll step inside.”

Saying this, he took the two buns into the inner yard.

After a short while, when he returned, the buns had been cut into small pieces. Meanwhile, Yingying was devouring the hot pot, eating and blowing on it at the same time, not forgetting to ask the waiter to bring her some ice water.

Jiang Yu put down the buns and sat back opposite Yingying: ”You should stop drinking ice water, girls shouldn’t drink too much of it, otherwise it will be uncomfortable for the body in the future.”

Yingying chewed with her mouth full, raised her hand, and then clamped a piece of bun, waiting until she swallowed before explaining.

”I can only drink a bit while I’m out. At home, my parents strictly control it; I can’t even drink two glasses a month.”

Well, that’s good. Jiang Yu nodded slightly, allowing Yingying this moment of indulgence.

Yingying ate more than half of the spicy hot pot and half a bun, burping contentedly after finishing.

Finally, she remembered her main purpose: ”Jiang Yu, when is your sister coming back?”

Jiang Yu was dealing with the last piece of bun; having suffered hardships in the past, he couldn’t bear to waste food.

”She’s already back, should be home soon.”

It was Master Yang cooking spicy hot pot at the entrance.

”Brother, Second Sister and Brother Ze said you came to find.... Eh? Who is this young lady?”