System, you're quite great!
Wang Fan awkwardly tugged at his pants to cover his embarrassment, then got up, washed up quickly, and headed out again.
When he arrived at Shuofeng Park, he was taken aback.
Someone had taken over the spot where he usually set up his stall.
Upon closer inspection, the one who took over his spot seemed to be the steamed bun vendor he used to work alongside.
Wang Fan had seen those steamed buns before; they weren't handmade, just those semi-finished ones you steam in a basket. He used to have them occasionally in his past life.
The taste was neither good nor bad, and he wasn't sure if they were healthy; as long as they filled him up, that was enough.
The only downside about those buns was that the skin was too soft, with no chewiness at all.
The vendor looked like he was in his forties, not very tall, and when he saw Wang Fan, he instinctively avoided eye contact.
Wang Fan glanced at him but didn't pay any attention. This spot was, after all, first come, first served; it wasn't a rented stall.
Wang Fan casually found another empty spot, parked his food cart, and set up his stall.
By this time, the usual vendors who frequent the area had begun arriving. Auntie Shen Yun, who sells crepes, saw Wang Fan as soon as she arrived.
But the young man wasn't at his usual stall location.
Frowning, she glanced over and saw that Old Mo, the steamed bun seller, had occupied his spot.
She rolled her eyes helplessly; Old Mo was up to his lousy habits again.
This wasn't Old Mo's first time doing this. Whenever he saw someone's business doing well, he'd have designs on their spot, and it wasn't just once or twice.
But there was nothing anyone could do about this stubborn old fox; they just had to swallow the bitter pill.
Shen Yun approached Wang Fan and comforted him, "Young man, don't bother with that scoundrel. We're civilized people, we won't stoop to his level."
Wang Fan was passionately pushing boxes when he heard the voice, looked up, and smiled, "It's okay, Auntie, it's not like I bought the spot, whoever comes first gets it."
Shen Yun chuckled and said, "It's good you think that way. That rascal never learns, but your food will sell well no matter where you set up."
Wang Fan smiled and said, "Thank you for the compliment, Auntie. Your crepes are delicious too."
Shen Yun said, "Auntie wasn't just being polite; I'm telling the truth. Since you started setting up here, even Auntie's business has improved, several times I've sold out of crepes."
What Shen Yun said came from the heart. Although Wang Fan's stall attracted most of the customers, he closed up early.
People started arriving around six, and by seven, he was already done for the day, so the customers at eight or nine couldn't even see him there.
Although he left, the unique fragrance of his rice rolls lingered in the air, staying around long enough for many customers to smell it as soon as they got off the bus.
That aroma was so enticing that even those who were full felt they could eat another serving, let alone those who were already hungry.
Upon smelling it, their stomachs would growl, and they had no choice but to buy some food.
It benefited people like them.
Many customers also inquired about the source of the aroma, and Shen Yun truthfully told them, creating a win-win situation.
Seeing that Wang Fan had a good attitude, Shen Yun didn't say more. However, when she went back to her stall, she couldn't help giving Old Mo another glare.
Old Mo "tch'd" in his mind, assuming Shen Yun's disdain was a compliment to his handsomeness, and seeing a busload of early commuters, he shouted loudly, "Steamed buns, get your steamed buns here! Pork and scallion, beef and mushroom, Orleans chicken buns. Three bucks won't let you down or cheat you; these big buns are healthy and nutritious."
Wang Fan glanced at Old Mo and felt a little envious of him.
His skin wasn't as thick; if he had to hawk like that, he really couldn't bring himself to do it.
Yet he had his own methods.
He opened the steamer and placed a few rice rolls inside. As soon as the heat was turned on, the enticing fragrance of rice began to waft in the air.
Words were futile; nothing beat the power of that aroma.
Qian Tong got off the bus and immediately smelled the familiar rice fragrance.
He had smelled it for the past three days already; today was the fourth.
In the previous days, he had been trying to trace the source of the aroma, and it was the crepe-selling Auntie who told him it was the fragrance of rice rolls, sold by a young man.
Qian Tong had wondered why he never saw the vendor, and the Auntie told him the rice rolls were too popular; the seller usually closed up by 8 am, and if he wanted to taste them, he had to come at six or seven.
As soon as he got off, he started looking around, and when he saw Wang Fan's stall, his eyes lit up.
Got you! Getting up at five wasn't in vain.
Today I must try these rice rolls and see if they're worth waking up early for. Otherwise, you'll need to see if I'll invite you for a Demacia Greatsword!
"Boss, how much are the rice rolls?"
Wang Fan quickly put away his phone and cheerfully introduced, "Pork rice rolls are 10 bucks each, squid rice rolls are 11 bucks, beef and shrimp rice rolls are 12 bucks, and shrimp porridge is 3 bucks a cup."
Looking at the rice rolls in the refrigerated bin and smelling the irresistible aroma, Qian Tong couldn't help but swallow.
"I'll have a squid rice roll and a cup of shrimp porridge."
Qian Tong's favorite snack was teppanyaki squid, and he had no resistance against it. Hearing about squid rice rolls, he ordered without a second thought.
"Okay, one moment please."
After speaking, Wang Fan quickly picked up a piece of squid rice roll and, with a few swift motions, sliced it into six equal parts.
Qian Tong was amazed at the sight and couldn't help but praise, "Boss, nice skills! That's at least a single 20-year's mastery."
"I've been single for 40 years!"
Wang Fan thought helplessly to himself.
Qian Tong took the rice rolls and left because a bus headed to his company had just arrived.
Their company started work at 10 am, and by taking this bus to the office, he'd arrive by 7 am, with time to catch a nap.
There were still plenty of seats on the bus, so after swiping his card, he found a corner seat to settle into.
As he lifted the lid of the rice roll container, a rich and tangible fragrance wafted into his nostrils with the steam. He couldn't resist taking a deep breath, inhaling the rich aroma into his lungs.
Qian Tong's appetite skyrocketed!
A somewhat melodramatic Qian Tong mentally shouted.
The scent, like a tease, not only made his mouth water profusely, but also caused his entire stomach to twitch, itching to yell at his brain, "I'm starving! Get your hand to deliver that wretched rice roll to me now!"
The brain got the stomach's request and immediately ordered the hand to deliver a piece of rice roll to the mouth.
The stomach was satisfied, eagerly awaiting the rice roll to fall in.
But no matter how much it waited—left, right, up, or down—the rice roll never arrived.
Staring in disbelief, it realized the mouth had intercepted it!
"Hey! Darned mouth, give me back my rice roll!"