On the table before him, slices of mutton were piled like a little mountain in an enormous bowl, the fat white and the lean pink. He sprinkled on seasonings and stirred gently with his chopsticks. Steam rose, and the slices threatened to spill over the rim, forcing him to guard them with his left hand.
Li Qingxian remembered seeing this man before. He had run into him the first time he came here with Zheng Hui and the others for mutton offal soup.
Zheng Hui had looked distinctly displeased at the sight of him. Afterward, Li Qingxian had asked Zheng Hui about it, but Zheng Hui said he did not know the man. Li Qingxian had never figured out why Zheng Hui had given him such a sour look.
Seeing that the other tables were far too crowded, Li Qingxian sat down across from the man and called, "Old Zhang, a large bowl of mutton soup, some chopped flatbread, and pick out a salted duck egg with an oily yolk for me."
"Coming right up... oh, an official! Haven't seen you before. Is there anything else you'd like?" Old Zhang and his son hurried over. Ninth Rank officials were a rare sight here.
"I'm Zheng Hui's friend. I've been here before. Don't mind me, just carry on as usual," Li Qingxian said.
"Right you are! One large mutton soup, chopped white flatbread, and a salted duck egg!"
"Greetings, sir." The Subordinate Tenth Rank military officer across from him took his left foot off the stool and cupped his fists, looking uncomfortable from head to toe.
"Mm." Influenced by Zheng Hui, Li Qingxian could not be bothered with the man.
While waiting for his soup, Li Qingxian looked around at the other diners. Steam rose from every table.
The mutton and