The stall owner, a woman, had a haggard face and disheveled hair.
Despite her appearance, she seemed to be in good spirits.
She couldn't quite understand this man, Xu Yun. He was well-dressed, yet he wanted one of her pancakes for free.
But she smiled and said, "Of course. One pancake isn't worth much, anyway.
What would you like in it? How many eggs? Do you want some pork loin?"
"One egg and some pork loin."
"How about some vegetables and salad dressing?"
"Sure."
Xu Yun watched the woman as she started making his pancake. Behind her were two small children, a boy and a girl.
The boy was sitting in a rocker, while the little girl stood nearby, tethered by a rope tied to her mother's waist.
He asked, puzzled, "Are those your children?"
"Mhm."
The woman seemed used to this question. She nodded with a smile and explained, "Sometimes I get too busy to keep an eye on them, and I'm afraid they might wander off. Tying her to me is just safer."
"What about the kids' father?"
