txolops Chapter 81 Visiting the Morning Market
Chapter 81 Visiting the Morning Market
Sunday morning.
The open-air morning market near the urban village was bustling with activity.
The sounds of vendors hawking their wares, chopping meat, and haggling mingled together, creating a vibrant atmosphere reminiscent of everyday life.
Lin Chen pulled a small folding trolley with one hand and held Tangtang's hand with the other, walking into the somewhat crowded aisle of the morning market.
"Daddy, there are so many people here."
Tangtang, wearing overalls, held Lin Chen's hand tightly, turning her little head left and right, curiously looking at the stalls filled with all sorts of things on both sides.
"Hold onto Daddy's hand tightly, don't let go."
Lin Chen slowed down and shielded his daughter from the crowd of passersby.
"Okay!"
Tangtang nodded obediently.
Tangtang stopped in her tracks as she passed a seafood stall.
Several large blue plastic basins were placed in front of the stall, with oxygen pumps inserted inside, and water bubbles bubbling and rolling upwards.
"Daddy, look at that big fish, its mouth keeps moving."
Tangtang pointed to one of the water basins with her little finger.
"That's a carp, it's breathing."
Lin Chen stopped and stood with his daughter in front of the basin of water.
"And what about the one next to it?"
Tangtang then pointed to another basin with a shallower water level, which was filled with fresh prawns.
The voice just fell.
"Clatter!"
A rather large prawn suddenly flicked its tail and jumped out of the basin, landing on the wet cement ground at Tangtang's feet, where it bounced around incessantly.
Tangtang was startled and instinctively took a step back, tightly hugging Lin Chen's thigh with both hands.
"Hey! It jumped out!"
Tangtang poked half her head out and stared at the shrimp on the ground.
The seafood stall owner was a middle-aged man wearing a waterproof apron.
He came over with a long-handled net, happily scooped up the shrimp from the ground, and threw them back into the basin.
"Little girl, were you scared?"
The owner said with a smile, "These shrimp were just brought in this morning, they're very lively."
Tangtang shook her head and stepped out from behind Lin Chen's legs: "I wasn't scared."
"Uncle boss, why did it jump out?"
The owner smiled and went to greet the other customers while tidying up the basins.
Lin Chen looked down at his daughter and said softly, "The water basin is too crowded, it wants to come out for some fresh air."
"Oh……"
Tangtang nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.
Lin Chen led her forward and they arrived at a pork stall.
"Boss, take two pork chops and chop them into small pieces."
Lin Chen pointed to the fresh pork ribs on the cutting board.
The boss picked up the boning knife and, with a few swift strokes, chopped the ribs into even pieces.
"Alright! This is perfect for sweet and sour pork ribs."
The shopkeeper deftly tore off the plastic bag, packed the contents, and placed it on the electronic scale. "Thirty-eight in total."
Lin Chen took out his phone to scan the QR code to pay and put the ribs into the small cart behind him.
Upon hearing the words "sweet and sour pork ribs," Tangtang's big eyes lit up instantly. She tilted her little face up to Lin Chen and asked, "Daddy, are we having sweet and sour pork ribs for lunch?"
"Yes, I promised you yesterday."
Lin Chen patted her little head.
"Yay! Thank you, Daddy!"
Tangtang happily shook Lin Chen's hand.
As noon approached, the early summer sun rose higher and higher, and the morning market was crowded with people, making the air somewhat stuffy.
Lin Chen sensed the change in temperature.
He glanced down and saw that Tangtang's forehead and nose were covered in a fine layer of sweat.
Lin Chen stopped, took out a tissue from his pocket, and bent down to wipe the sweat from his daughter's face.
"Is it hot?"
Lin Chen asked.
It's a little hot.
Tangtang gently fanned her face with her little hands.
Lin Chen straightened up and glanced at the streets of the morning market.
The weather is getting hotter, which is a problem that cannot be ignored.
He sells fried rice with broken gold pieces in the square every evening.
Fried rice is a type of food that requires high heat to stir-fry, so it is inherently high in calories.
In spring or when the weather is cool, guests feel very comfortable eating a bowl of hot fried rice.
However, the temperature is rising day by day.
Those white-collar workers would sweat and feel irritable standing in line in the sweltering heat after get off work.
At this point, eating a whole serving of steaming hot fried rice can easily make you feel a bit greasy after you've eaten half of it.
Although there is free clear soup, hot soup is obviously not enough to cool you down in the hot summer, and may even make you feel hotter.
We need to add something refreshing and palatable.
Lin Chen's eyes searched the surrounding stalls.
Soon, his gaze settled on a vegetable stall diagonally in front of him.
A clean, damp cloth was laid out on the stall, on which a pile of freshly pulled white radishes were neatly stacked.
The radish skin is snow-white, still covered with a bit of fresh soil, and the radish top is emerald green and glistening.
The stall owner, an older woman, was spraying water onto the radishes with a spray bottle, making them look fresh and crisp.
Next to the white radish, there were several small bamboo baskets.
The baskets contained bright red millet peppers, fresh tender ginger with soil still attached, and plump purple garlic.
Lin Chen stepped forward, picked up a white radish, and gently pinched the end of the radish.
"Click."
With a crisp sound, the juice overflowed.
Very fresh.
"How much are the white radishes, ma'am?"
Lin Chen asked.
The vegetable vendor put down her watering can and greeted the vendor warmly: "One yuan fifty per jin!"
"They were just pulled from the ground this morning, so juicy and crisp!"
Lin Chen grabbed a large transparent plastic bag and opened it.
"Give me ten."
Lin Chen picked out the radishes, saying, "They should be straight and have smooth skin."
"Alright! Ten big radishes!"
The older woman happily helped pack the items into the bag.
After packing the radishes, Lin Chen pointed to the small bamboo basket next to him.
"Half a pound of small red chilies and half a pound of tender ginger."
Give me two pounds of purple-skinned garlic.
The woman weighed out the portions one by one and put them into several small plastic bags.
"The radish weighs more than fifteen jin, so let's say fifteen jin."
Chili peppers, ginger, and garlic... thirty-two yuan in total.
The woman wiped her hands on her apron and quoted the price.
Lin Chen took out his phone and scanned the QR code to pay.
He lifted the bag full of radishes and ingredients and placed it steadily into the small cart behind him.
The cart's chassis was sturdy, and it could easily hold the load of over ten kilograms without affecting his ability to lead Tangtang.
Tangtang stood to the side, looking at the large plastic bag filled to the brim in the cart, and blinked her big eyes in confusion.
"Daddy."
Tangtang pointed her little finger at the cart and asked, "Why are we buying so many big radishes?"
"There's too much for the two of us to finish."
Lin Chen pulled the cart and took Tangtang's hand again.
"It's not for us to eat."
Lin Chen answered as he led his daughter toward the exit of the morning market.
"Who's that for?"
Tangtang tilted her head back and asked.
"For the uncles and aunties who buy fried rice from our stall."
Lin Chen said.
Tangtang tilted her head and asked, "Should we cut the big radish into small pieces and stir-fry it in the rice?"
Lin Chen shook his head and explained in a way his daughter could understand: "The weather is getting hotter, and everyone will feel thirsty after eating hot fried rice."
Dad plans to use these radishes to make them a chilled side dish.
"Like jelly?"
"Crispered than jelly."
Lin Chen looked down at his daughter and said, "Cut it into small pieces, marinate it with sugar and white vinegar, and put it in the refrigerator."
Take a bite, and you'll experience a sweet and sour taste with a satisfying crunch.
When people feel hot after eating fried rice, eating a piece of radish will make them feel much better.
Tangtang couldn't help but swallow as she listened to Lin Chen's description.
"It sounds delicious!"
Tangtang's eyes lit up. "Daddy, do we have to charge the uncles and aunties for those radishes too?"
"No money required."
Lin Chen replied, "It was given to them free of charge to go with their meals."
Tangtang clapped her hands happily: "Daddy is so good!"
The uncles and aunties will definitely be happy to eat chilled radishes!
"Um."
Lin Chen nodded. "Then I'll help out when we get home!"
Tangtang volunteered, "I want to help Daddy wash the radishes!"
I washed it very clean!
"Okay, when you get home you can help Dad wash the radishes."
A smile appeared on Lin Chen's lips.
The father and daughter held hands, pulling a cart full of fresh ingredients, and walked slowly towards their rented house under the early summer sun, through the bustling morning market.