During the day, she arranged the secret recipe theft plan properly. That day, while selling food at the stall, Feng Man remained calm and composed, but the two women beside her were one excited and one nervous, with their emotions written all over their faces.
Dong Xiaojuan, her eyes wide with excitement, muttered nonstop: “Do we need to keep watch tonight? Should I watch from home or from outside?”
“Will someone come from You Jianyuan’s side?”
Feng Man laughed at her cousin-in-law: “Cousin-in-law, you don’t have much of a role tonight. Just relax and come with me to chat and stroll next door.”
Dong Xiaojuan looked quite regretful: “…”
Yuan Qiumei was entirely different. She stayed vigilant all morning and afternoon, her whole body in a state of alert: “I’m worried our Old Zhou won’t handle this well and mess it up.”
The inside-outside cooperation involved pretending to open the door for Slim Monkey. When Yuan Qiumei learned her husband had to act as a spy, her heart raced with anxiety.
“Relax, Sister Qiumei. Brother Zhou is so capable; this task is no problem for him.” Feng Man recalled Cheng Lang’s evaluation of Zhou Yuejin: he stuck to his principles rigidly, and no one could dissuade him. Once he took on the task, he would handle it perfectly.
After reassuring the two women, Feng Man moved all the utensils back to the courtyard with the now-calmer Dong Xiaojuan and Yuan Qiumei. After washing up, she packed up and headed out.
She put on a full act, displaying the professionalism of an actress: “Little Aunt and Xiaoshan, take Little Yellow out for a walk. Sister Qiumei, Cousin-in-law and I will go next door to ask about catching fish. You help keep watch tonight and also prepare the dough that needs to rise for tomorrow.”
“Sure.” They chatted loudly at the courtyard entrance. Once Feng Man and Dong Xiaojuan left, Cheng Yulan and her grandson Fan You Shan led the big dog away on its leash. The courtyard instantly held only Yuan Qiumei.
This outing was not entirely an act for Feng Man and Dong Xiaojuan. Their neighbor Fang Hong next door did have something to discuss: whether they wanted to buy fish from her.
Peace Street No. 5 housed four households in total. Besides the main house occupied by the landlord, the east and west wing rooms were all rented out, partitioned into many rooms, making the courtyard lively.
Fang Hong’s family of three lived in the leftmost room of the east wing. The living room and bedroom were cramped together—not too big or small, but enough space to settle.
However, after her husband’s death, her younger cousin sister had come to stay with her child. They set up an iron frame bed in the living room, curtained off, and the mother and daughter nested in that small space.
“Sister Hong.” Feng Man called into the room. Soon, Fang Hong came out with a smiling face to greet them.
“Little Feng, Sister Xiaojuan, come in quick! Have you eaten?” Fang Hong enthusiastically invited them inside and signaled to her cousin sister: “Brew two cups of tea.”
“Right away!” Fang Hong’s cousin sister had farmed in the countryside year-round. Though under thirty, her sallow, emaciated face on an oval visage made her look more haggard than Fang Hong. Seeing her cousin’s important guests arrive, she glanced stiffly and hurried to make tea.
“No need to trouble yourself; we’re just sitting for a bit.” Feng Man declined politely. They were there to kill time, giving the next door theft a chance, and also to hear about Fang Hong’s fish supply.
“It’s no trouble; it’s me troubling you.” As Fang Hong’s cousin sister placed two cups of tea on the coffee table, Fang Hong quickly introduced her: “This is my cousin sister Fang Yue. Her husband just died, so she’s brought the child to stay with me and look for work opportunities. You’re selling fish soup, right? Back in the countryside, my sister was an expert at catching fish—one grab, one catch. She’s especially quick at gutting, cleaning, and slicing them. She has no education or other skills, so factory work is hard. My stall’s business isn’t great either, barely scraping by. If you need help with the fish soup, she can catch fresh fish daily and handle all the prep for you.”
Fang Hong spoke sincerely, laying out all the details without hiding anything.
Feng Man stewed fish soup daily and needed ten fish. Currently, they bought directly from fishmongers at the riverside fresh produce market—grass carp at four fen per jin, crucian carp at five fen per jin, black carp at six fen per jin. Unprocessed, Dong Xiaojuan fetched them every morning, and she and Yuan Qiumei handled the gutting and cleaning. But neither was a professional fishmonger; with little experience, mornings were always busy.
Handling fish themselves was tedious. If someone could bring fresh fish daily and prep them all, that would be ideal—especially cheaper than the market.
Feng Man didn’t agree outright; she needed to see the skill: “Then tomorrow morning, have Sister Yue bring ten fish, help gut and slice them. We’ll pay a day’s wage at the market fishmonger’s rate.”
Fang Hong knew this meant it was on: “No problem! My sister will handle it perfectly!”
Feng Man and Dong Xiaojuan sat at Fang Hong’s for a while, watching the sunset slowly slide behind the mountain, night tinting the sky with faint ink. They figured things at home should be underway by now.
……
Zhou Yuejin greeted Liu Lei first. He’d learned from his wife Yuan Qiumei earlier that Feng Man and Dong Xiaojuan would leave together for a while, so he contacted Slim Monkey to steal the “secret recipe.”
He went to his wife’s place himself, covertly covering for Slim Monkey while unnoticed, letting him smoothly take the “secret recipe.”
Liu Lei had been promoted by You Jianyuan. Though he’d found the two men himself, he didn’t fully trust them yet. He watched from the small shop across from Peace Street No. 6, pretending to buy cigarettes.
He saw Zhou Yuejin arrive, chat with Yuan Qiumei a bit, then the couple went inside together. Yuan Qiumei, wary from the recent thief incident, locked the main gate securely.
Ten minutes later, Slim Monkey pretended to pass by, whistled at Feng Man’s door. Soon, the locked gate opened from inside. The skinny Slim Monkey darted in like a real monkey and vanished instantly.
Liu Lei watched from across the street. By the time he lit a Hongta Mountain cigarette from his fresh pack, smoked off a section, Slim Monkey emerged successfully, grinning, and quickly melted into the night.
Liu Lei finished his cigarette and left Peace Street. Back at Liberation Mine District, he ran into Slim Monkey handing off the task, joyfully pocketing twenty yuan and greeting him as he left.
“Director You, I watched tonight’s operation—no issues. Zhou Yuejin provided cover, and Slim Monkey stole it smoothly.” Liu Lei recounted the theft, which took under three minutes in detail: “Especially since Zhou Yuejin wheedled the recipe’s hiding spot from his wife early, saving Slim Monkey a lot of trouble.”
You Jianyuan held the “secret recipe” from Slim Monkey— a single sheet in a yellow envelope, convincingly deceptive. Who’d suspect such a gem hidden among a stack of envelopes in Feng’s drawer?
“You did well on this.” The inside-outside cooperation was brilliant. You Jianyuan examined the paper: full spice ratios and gram measurements. Ignorant of cooking, even he could see the care and secrecy in the detailed data. “With this recipe, find someone to compete head-on with Feng’s. Use the best ingredients, price half of hers. Recipe, quality, cheaper price—I want Feng’s out of the Mine District!”
“Yes.” Liu Lei took the task, planning to find a good cook. But clutching the prize, he bumped into You Jianyong, You family’s relative who contracted the Mine District Canteen, right outside the office.
You Jianyong’s grandfather and You Jianyuan’s were brothers. Leveraging kinship, he’d snagged the canteen contract from You Jianyuan.
The canteen was lucrative; in a few years, You Jianyong had grown fat, waddling like he shook the earth.
“Secretary Liu, what are you up to?” You Jianyong excelled at reading people. He spotted Liu Lei eyeing something, clutching an envelope like treasure.
“Looking for a cook.” Liu Lei was pondering whom to pit against Feng’s—right into You Jianyong’s sights.
“Cook? Our canteen’s full of them! Come, brother, drink and chat. Good liquor, good food—let’s talk.”
Free meal? Liu Lei agreed gladly. After a few shots of liquor, You Jianyong pried out the whole story: Feng’s “secret recipe” in hand, You Jianyuan funding a cook to open a rival stall.
You Jianyong knew his cousin had money. Helping him meant skimming some profit—irresistible, especially with Feng’s hot recipe buzz outside the district. Over days, he sent Liu Lei a carton of Hongta Mountain and a bottle of Maotai, successfully reeling him in.
You Jianyuan didn’t probe his subordinates’ choices. Liu Lei equivocated well: “Brother Gang’s run the canteen well for years; his cooks are skilled. Better to use known quantities, so I handed it to him.”
“Mm, known quantities indeed.” You Jianyuan trusted no outsiders.
……
The “secret recipe” was successfully stolen, and Feng Man was very satisfied.
After all, it was the “secret recipe” she’d carefully devised—essentially a cooking method, with key tweaks in minor spots.
With the matter settled, the whole family had played their parts. Now, they most cared about You Jianyuan’s follow-up.
Dong Xiaojuan mused: “He’ll definitely use the recipe to open a stall like ours selling food.”
Disgusting to think about.
Feng Man didn’t mind: “Not necessarily bad; maybe it’ll even help us.”
Fan You Shan, loyal to his cousin-aunt: “Cousin-aunt, with my pocket money, I’ll buy yours. I’ll bring the whole class!”
Feng Man laughed helplessly, telling her cousin-in-law: “Looks like pocket money circulates freely in your little home now.”
Everyone burst into laughter. Feng Man led like a boss, praising verbally and rewarding substantially: “Everyone worked hard this time. Little Aunt and Xiaoshan walked the dog several laps outside. Sister Qiumei and Brother Zhou put on a great show. Cousin-in-law and I timed it chatting at Sister Hong’s next door. Everyone contributed; thanks on behalf of the family. I’ve prepared small gifts.”
A couple days prior, Feng Man had gone to the Department Store, bought winter clothes, plus socks, gloves, ear muffs—for family and friends. Perfect as gifts: thoughtful without extravagance.
Her words warmed hearts. Family didn’t care about gifts, but affirmation worked wonders. Everyone felt valued; Fan You Shan buzzed like at a TV drama commendation.
They accepted the gifts happily—practical ones. Cheng Yulan got thick, soft socks and cotton shoes. Dong Xiaojuan and Yuan Qiumei received Pechoin Pearl Cream. Zhou Yuejin got tea via Yuan Qiumei. Her cousin got a bottle of Wuliangye. Xiaoshan eagerly awaited his: a set of comic books!
After “persuading” Slim Monkey and Zhou Yuejin, Cheng Lang hadn’t interfered in planning. Seeing Feng Man orchestrate the theft flawlessly, he felt assured.
Once everyone dispersed, the early-benched Cheng Lang asked: “Your plan this time left me with nothing to do?”
Feng Man took Dong Xiaojuan out, Yuan Qiumei stayed as Zhou Yuejin’s entry excuse, Little Aunt and Xiaoshan strolled, even the big dog had a role…
He got nothing.
Feng Man had just recapped the lineup as if directing the play, overlooking Cheng Lang working normally at the mine. Easy to forget the closest when scheming—her oversight.
Sensing accusation in his words, guilty Feng Man couldn’t chill her top contributor’s enthusiasm. She eyed his stern face, then tiptoed to peck his cheek.
Her soft red lips brushed and left, warm.