Camellia Sprout Scrambled Eggs 1

"Wait... are you actually here to work a part-time job?" Fei Qingyu leaned against the service window, peering at Wen Jiu inside.

"What else would I be doing? Practicing cultivation?" Wen Jiu replied with a gentle smile, though her words carried a sharp, mocking edge.

"Oh."

Fei Qingyu felt that he shouldn't have held high expectations for Wen Jiu in the first place; it was a complete waste of his time. However, leaving now felt like a loss, so he simply sat down in the cafeteria, curious to see what kind of items Wen Jiu’s stall would actually sell.

Meanwhile, Wen Jiu began her preparations for the day.

As Qiao Shishi peeled potatoes, she glanced at the young boy sitting in the chair with a disgruntled expression and whispered to Wen Jiu, "Who is that?"

"I don't know him either," Wen Jiu replied, busy picking the yellowed leaves off a bunch of shepherd's purse.

Since Wen Jiu didn't know him, Qiao Shishi stopped asking and turned her attention back to her work. Just as Wen Jiu finished removing the wilted leaves from the remaining shepherd's purse, she noticed another bundle of vegetables had appeared on the shelf. She remembered the student she had spoken with earlier saying that ingredients were distributed to the stalls by the teachers every week. Today was Monday, and not only had she received shepherd's purse and Gulu beast meat at noon, but now more ingredients had arrived for the evening?

Puzzled, Wen Jiu sent a message to Li Qinzhen to ask, but Li Qinzhen was still in class and did not reply. Wen Jiu set her concerns aside and picked up the bundle of vegetables to inspect it. A faint, unique aroma drifted from the reddish-brown branches and leaves, and she quickly identified it as another wild vegetable: toon sprouts. Unlike the clean, sweet scent of shepherd's purse, toon sprouts carried a distinct, heady fragrance. They were also rich in nutrients and known for their medicinal properties, often used to treat symptoms like wind-cold, rheumatic pain, and stomach aches.

Unfortunately, there wasn't much of it. If she made scrambled eggs with toon sprouts, she would likely only get seven or eight servings at most. Still, it wasn't a major issue; it would be first come, first served. Wen Jiu hadn't tasted toon sprouts in a long time, so she efficiently washed and chopped them. The sprouts released an even more intense, fragrant aroma once minced.

The method for making scrambled eggs with toon sprouts was simple: mix the chopped sprouts into the beaten eggs until well combined. Once the wok was hot, she poured in the mixture and quickly stirred until the eggs turned a golden yellow. Wen Jiu skillfully tossed the wok, used her spatula to break the set egg mixture into smaller pieces, and gave it a few more quick tosses over high heat before sliding the finished dish onto a plate.

Qiao Shishi had already caught the scent. As soon as she finished peeling the potatoes, she grabbed a pair of chopsticks and helped herself without an invitation.

"What is this? It smells so good." Just the aroma alone made Qiao Shishi’s mouth water.

"Scrambled eggs with toon sprouts." Wen Jiu didn't have time to taste it herself; she had already picked up another peeled potato and started dicing it. "If you're hungry, just eat."

Though Qiao Shishi felt a little embarrassed, her appetite had already been stirred by the fragrance, so she couldn't resist picking up a piece of the golden egg and popping it into her mouth. A unique flavor she had never experienced before exploded in her mouth; the golden, savory eggs enveloped the fragrant vegetables, carrying the essence of spring straight to her senses. It was as if she had been transported to a lush, blooming forest in the heart of spring.

She was only jolted back to reality when a rhythmic tapping on the transparent window echoed through the room.

"Hey, what are you eating?"

Qiao Shishi looked toward the window to see the same young boy who had followed Wen Jiu to the cafeteria pressed against the glass, his head nearly poking inside.

Fei Qingyu had been torn between heading back to his dormitory and staying, but just as he decided to leave, a strange, intoxicating aroma drifted from Stall 18. The scent was like a trap, and he, like prey wandering into a deep forest, found himself ensnared. When he located the source, he realized it was coming from the mysterious food Qiao Shishi was eating.

"Why aren't you saying anything?" Fei Qingyu, unable to taste what he could smell, felt an inexplicable surge of frustration. "Are you selling what you're eating?"

Qiao Shishi thought the person before her looked like a greedy little kitten, desperate enough to reach out and scratch at her. Not being the one to make such decisions, she turned to ask Wen Jiu. After receiving a nod of approval, she turned back to Fei Qingyu: "It's 30 star coins. Do you want it?"

Fei Qingyu didn't waste any words. He paid immediately, impatient to taste the delicacy. Wen Jiu didn't mind making a profit; since he had placed an order, she quickly stir-fried another plate and handed it to him.

"You..." Fei Qingyu was speechless to see Wen Jiu serving him. But then, reminding himself that he had paid for the food and it was only right to eat, he took the plate and walked back to his seat. He studied the dish; he didn't know what it was, and while its appearance was a bit strange, the aroma was truly heavenly.

Fei Qingyu picked up a piece and took a small bite. The outer layer of the scrambled eggs was fragrant and crispy, while the inside remained tender and smooth. The bits of toon sprouts mixed within released a rich, mellow flavor as he chewed. The charred, crispy, and soft texture made him take another bite, and another, and another.

Before long, he had polished off the entire plate, not even sparing the tiny crumbs, yet he still felt unsatisfied.

"One more serving!"

Having been completely conquered by the flavor, Fei Qingyu rushed back to the window to buy another.

"I'm not selling you any more," Wen Jiu said, resting her chin on her hand as she leaned against the window, meeting his eyes. "If you're still hungry, you can order something else."

Fei Qingyu couldn't understand why she refused to sell him a second helping. Sensing his confusion, Wen Jiu explained quickly, "There isn't much of this ingredient left. If you buy too many servings, there won't be any left for others."

"But I have money," Fei Qingyu insisted. "I can buy all of it!"

"If you're that rich, why focus on just one dish? Shouldn't you be exploring more delicious flavors?" Wen Jiu curled her lips, her eyes sparkling. Well, well, it seemed this kid was a big spender.

Fei Qingyu thought about it and decided that what Wen Jiu said actually made some sense. "Then what else do you have?"

"Shepherd's purse dumplings and crispy potato wedges," Wen Jiu said, her smile deepening. "Want to try them? They’re just as delicious as the toon sprout eggs you just had."

"I'll take one of each, then." Fei Qingyu nodded, paid the money, and waited obediently by the window.

Wen Jiu finished the two dishes quickly, though this time Qiao Shishi placed them on the counter for him, as Wen Jiu was busy preparing more ingredients. Fei Qingyu didn't pay attention to who served him; all his focus was on the two new, unfamiliar dishes. Although they didn't release a powerful aroma like the toon sprout eggs, the way they looked was enough to make his appetite soar.