Chapter 637: Wonton Stall

Chapter 637: The Dumpling Stand

Soon, two bowls of red oil dumplings were placed before them. Yang Xiaohai picked up a pair of chopsticks and plucked a dumpling from the glossy red broth—its pale white shell resembled tiny boats on the water.

As he bit into the dumpling, garnished with scallions, Yang Xiaohai couldn’t help but nod in approval. Though wrapped in rich red oil, it wasn’t at all greasy; instead, it filled his mouth with a subtle spiciness and intense aroma—truly delicious.

Even from the perspective of a cook, these dumplings were made to perfection.

In such bitter cold weather, nothing could compare to finishing a steaming bowl of dumplings. One after another, the dumplings disappeared into his mouth, and the couple enjoyed themselves immensely.

“Master, can you make this too?” the wife asked.

“I can, but not as well as this place. I bet they have some secret recipe,” Yang Xiaohai replied, secretly eyeing the stove in the distance. He noticed several sticks floating in the pot and immediately grew curious about what kind of sticks they were.

While Yang Xiaohai continued eating and covertly observing, an old woman with trembling hands and white hair approached the stall, leaning heavily on her cane.

“Old lady, would you like some red oil dumplings?” the vendor asked.

She licked her cracked lips and glanced at the bubbling dumplings in the pot. “Um, I’ve eaten already, but could I get a cup of hot water? How much will that be?”

Yang Xiaohai glanced at the woman, noting her ragged clothes and patches sewn onto her garments, her whole being resembling a withered locust tree.

“Why, that’s nothing! Just sit down, I’ll pour it right away!”

After thanking the vendor profusely, the old woman looked around and sat at the table next to Yang Xiaohai.

When a cup of hot water was brought to her, she opened her cloth bag and took out a small black ceramic jar. She sipped a little water from the edge of the cup, then pulled out a pair of chopsticks and carefully picked out a black stone that dripped with dark liquid.

“Hey, master, look at that—she’s eating stones!”

Yang Xiaohai turned to see her placing the stone in her mouth and sucking on it with great satisfaction.

Once the stone had lost all its black color, she spat it back into the ceramic jar, then took a sip of the hot water from the edge of the cup.

When she put another stone in her mouth, Zhao Xiumei, looking somewhat uneasy, said to Yang Xiaohai, “Let’s give her some dumplings. How can someone survive on stones alone?”

“Mm.” Yang Xiaohai nodded slightly. He couldn’t bear to see anyone go hungry. After all, he knew firsthand what hunger felt like when he was once a beggar.

Of course, he didn’t dare give too much. At most, he’d offer her a bowl of food—after all, he still knew the rule of not showing off one’s wealth.

When the eight taels of dumplings were served, Yang Xiaohai carried the freshly cooked dish over to the old woman. “Grandma, please try this. It’ll fill you up better than your stone.”

The old woman blinked in surprise, then smiled with her toothless gums painted red. “Child, thank you so much. I don’t need it—I’ve got everything I need. Look, this stone tastes like braised pork ribs, this one is like eight-treasure duck, and this one... this one is like braised pork knuckle.”

She held up various-shaped stones from the ceramic jar, displaying them proudly, then walked over to where the monkey show was taking place and handed the dumplings directly to the three monkeys.

The monkeys, clearly starving, lunged forward and began devouring the dumplings. Within moments, even the red oil in the bowl was licked clean.

Yang Xiaohai’s expression was complex as he turned and walked back to his seat, watching the old woman continue to suck on her stone.

After a moment, he sighed and said to Zhao Xiumei beside him, “Do you think this old lady is just like Brother Li—crazy in the head?”

“She’s got mental issues, yet she wanders around like this. This family’s descendants are truly disrespectful,” Zhao Xiumei said with irritation.

“If she were like me, without family, what would you do?”

“...” The two fell silent.

Regardless of their emotions, as strangers, they had done all they could. They couldn’t take a lunatic along on their journey.

Though kind-hearted, the couple wasn’t that kind.

They resumed eating, but for some reason, the dumplings no longer tasted as good as before.

One by one, the dumplings disappeared into their stomachs. When they finished, they stood up to leave.

Just then, an old Taoist riding a black donkey approached with two disciples. His long beard fluttered in the wind, giving him an air of celestial grace.

“Master, let’s eat here today,” one of the disciples said.

“Hmm, fine. Speaking of which, the last time I ate dumplings, I also did justice—called upon the Thunder God to strike down two night demons who plagued the world.”

At these words, everyone in the stall turned toward the Taoist, eyes filled with awe.

“That’s right! My master is no ordinary man—he’s a sage who will soon attain immortality. He hates evil more than anything,” one of the young Taoists praised enthusiastically.

Upon hearing this, one of the monkeys looked at the owner eating his second bowl of dumplings, gritted his teeth, yanked on his chain, and began squawking loudly.

He even knelt down, bowing repeatedly to the Taoist, his voice trembling as he finally spoke in human words. “Save… save me!! Help!!”

“Hmph?” The Taoist slapped the table with one hand, frowned, and his face instantly radiated authority.

Realizing his disguise had been seen through, the monkey trainer slammed the table, drew a short knife from his sleeve, and prepared to fight. “Damn it! You old goat, what do you want?!”

But seeing the man’s eyes turn red, the Taoist trembled violently, his gaze wandering elsewhere, and he remained seated without moving.

This scene surprised everyone—including the monkey trainer, who had planned to fight.

“Heh heh! So you’re just a show-off!” he laughed, then grabbed the kneeling monkey and kicked it to the ground, blood spewing from its mouth.

“You dare report me?! I’ll let you report! I’ll let you report!” He kept slapping the monkey’s face until the skin was nearly torn off.

Just as Yang Xiaohai hesitated, a stone flew through the air and struck the monkey trainer’s arm, breaking it in two.

As he screamed in pain, the old woman spat forcefully, sending the stone from her mouth straight into the trainer’s open mouth, shattering bones and splattering brains.

Under the gaze of all present, the old woman bent over and walked to the bleeding monkey, tearing open the monkey skin to reveal a child’s blood-soaked skull beneath.

These monkeys were actually real people, merely wrapped in monkey skins.

“Oh… how pitiful… how pitiful…”

She took out a white cloth and gently wrapped it around the monkey-child’s head. “Come now, this world is full of suffering. Believe in Grandfather Shidu. Only by believing in him can you be reborn into a good life.”

Next chapter updates at 11:30 PM.

(End of Chapter)