By the time Vincent drove his truck out of the park that afternoon, he was drenched in sweat but smiling ear to ear. Sold out again. Completely.
He headed straight for the market, the weight of his cashbox heavy but comforting.
"You again?" the man asked, setting down his cleaver. "Didn't you just haul away half my stock yesterday? Don't tell me you already ran out."
Vincent gave a sheepish smile. "Ran out completely. The crowd just keeps getting bigger. I need even more today."
The butcher let out a low whistle. "In all my years, I've never seen anyone come back for this much, two days in a row. What are you feeding them, gold?"
"Nothing fancy," Vincent chuckled, "just fresh ingredients and good cooking."
The butcher stared for a moment, then broke into a grin. "Well, I won't complain about good business. I'll cut the best pieces for you."
The butcher shook his head in amazement but quickly got to work. By now, other vendors around were also treating Vincent with unusual warmth. One offered to throw in some extra herbs for free. Another called out, "If you ever need bulk supplies, just talk to me first!" They weren't just being nice—they saw the potential in securing him as a long-term customer.
Word spread quickly among the vendors. One fruit seller slipped him a handful of fresh lemons for free. Another fishmonger shouted, "If you ever need seafood, I'll give you my best price!" Everyone suddenly wanted him as a long-term customer.
Vincent loaded his purchases, returned home, and spent the afternoon prepping. By evening, his tiny kitchen smelled of marinated beef, simmering sauces, and fresh bread. He went to bed exhausted but satisfied. Tomorrow was another day of cooking, and by the way things were going, it might be even busier.
- - -
The next day, as expected, a massive crowd had gathered by the time he reached the park. Vincent barely had time to breathe as orders flew in. The sizzling of beef, the clatter of spatulas, the sweet, smoky aromas—all blended into the soundscape of his new life.
Then, a ripple of murmurs passed through the line. A man with slick hair, a microphone, and a cameraman approached, narrating as if the crowd didn't exist. His voice was calm, polished, practiced.
"Ladies and gentlemen," the man said smoothly, "today we're checking out this so-called legendary street vendor that's been blowing up online. You've all been asking me to investigate whether this hype is real or if people are exaggerating. So here I am, live, and I'll be giving you my honest verdict."
Gasps rippled through the crowd. A few whispered his name with wide eyes—Ethan Gray, a well-known food critic and livestreamer whose brutal honesty had shut down restaurants before.
Ethan joined the line like any other customer, answering questions from his live chat as he inched forward.
"See this crowd? This isn't staged. Look at how long the line is. These people are waiting an hour just for one meal. If this food is trash, you'll see it here first."
Comments scrolled across his livestream feed so quickly they were almost a blur:
"If Ethan says it's trash, I'm saving my gas money."
"Nah, Ethan's face never lies—watch him fold."
"Bro, I skipped lunch just to watch this, don't disappoint me."
After almost an hour, he finally reached Vincent's stall.
"One of everything, please," Ethan said without hesitation. "I want the full experience."
Vincent blinked but got to work. The sizzling beef, the golden fried rice, the rich aroma of truffle burgers—all of it made Ethan's audience practically drool through their screens. Soon, his tray was full.
He sat nearby, camera zooming in as he unwrapped the truffle burger first.
The moment he bit in, his eyes widened. He chewed slowly, then laughed under his breath. "Alright… this is no joke. The truffle is rich but not overwhelming. Juicy patty, perfect bun. Balanced. I've eaten burgers at diners that don't come close to this."
The live chat exploded:
"Wait, he SMILED. Ethan NEVER smiles."
"What kinda sorcery burger is that???"
"I'm pulling up tomorrow, I don't care if the line's long."
"No way a street vendor made something better than diners."
"If I don't get this tomorrow I'll riot."
Next, Ethan tried the loaded fried rice. One spoonful in, he leaned back, groaning. "Oh… oh, wow. This… this is insane. Smoky, savory, packed with flavor. Easily one of the best rice bowls I've had. You can taste the freshness in every bite."
He went on, giving glowing reviews for the bulgogi bowl and teriyaki chicken bowl. "These two are strong contenders, hearty and satisfying. The teriyaki's sauce is slightly sweet, balanced with tender chicken. The bulgogi? Just brilliant. Whoever marinated this beef knows what they're doing."
When he tried the truffle chicken burger and fries, he gave them a nod of approval. "Solid. Not as mind-blowing as the truffle burger or the fried rice, but absolutely worth it."
Finally, he sipped the hibiscus iced tea. His eyebrows shot up. "Refreshing, floral, lightly sweet—this is perfect alongside the heavier dishes. Honestly, I'd drink this every day. The lemonade's nice too, sharp and cooling, but between the two? Hibiscus wins for me, absolute must-have."
His verdict was clear: "This vendor isn't just hype. This is the real deal."
The crowd erupted in cheers. Vincent nearly dropped his spatula in disbelief as people clapped, chanting his name. Ethan wrapped up the stream by encouraging his massive audience to come try it themselves.
Comments flooded in live:
"I'm coming first thing tomorrow, no way I'm missing this!"
"Bro, line's about to get even crazier."
"Forget tomorrow—I'm camping in line tonight."
"Save me a truffle burger, please!!"
"This man about to break the park with his crowd."
- - -
Meanwhile, at the local police station, two officers who had eaten there the day before were excitedly telling their colleagues about the food.
"You don't understand," one said, "best burger I've had in years. Better than half the diners in the city."
At first, the others laughed it off—until the critic's review went viral right before their eyes. Immediately, they were convinced.
Within minutes, they had rallied five more colleagues. "Come on, we're going right now. If we wait, we won't even get food."
And so, seven uniformed officers marched into the park not long after, cutting through the line. The chatter around them hushed.
When Vincent spotted them, his heart skipped a beat. Seven? At once? Did something happen?
But instead of stern expressions, they smiled. One of them waved casually. "Relax, kid. We're just here to eat. Word is, your food's too good to pass up. Mind if we cut the line? We'll be quick."
The tension drained from Vincent's shoulders. "Ah… o-of course. What would you like?"
"Two truffle burgers, three bulgogi bowls, two fried rice. And hibiscus tea. Lots of it."
Vincent moved fast, plating the meals. When the officers took their first bites, their faces softened into disbelief.
"This is insane," one muttered. Another shook his head. "Where's this kid been hiding?"
Their laughter and satisfied nods said more than words. After finishing, one officer patted the counter. "We'll definitely be back. Keep cooking like this, son."
Vincent exhaled deeply as they left.
By late afternoon, his stall was picked clean once again. A handful of customers still lingered, groaning at the sight of empty trays.
"Sold out already?" one sighed.
"I brought twice as much as yesterday," Vincent said apologetically. "I didn't expect this many people to show up right after Ethan Gray's review."
A young woman shook her head. "That review's going to make tomorrow ten times crazier. You better bring double."
"Triple," another customer added with a grin. "We're coming early this time. Don't you dare sell out before we get here."
Vincent chuckled wearily. "I'll do my best. But no promises."
Then someone asked, "Hey, do you do delivery? I'd love to order your food for my office."
Vincent gave a small laugh and shook his head. "Not yet. It's just me running everything right now, so I don't have the bandwidth." He thought for a moment before adding, "Maybe when I open a restaurant, I'll think about it. We'll see."
"So there's a chance?" another customer pressed.
Vincent shrugged with a grin. "Who knows? If things keep going like this, anything's possible. But for now, you'll have to come here if you want a taste."
"Then we'll just keep coming here," another said firmly. "Restaurant or stall, we're not missing your food."
Their words lit a quiet fire in him as he packed up for the day. Tomorrow would be tougher, busier, maybe even overwhelming.
But as Vincent drove his truck home under the fading sky, one thought carried him forward:
Tomorrow wasn't going to be just another busy day.
It was going to be a battlefield.