Chapter 42: New Items at the Fried Rice Stall

Chapter 42: Chapter 42: New Items at the Fried Rice Stall

...Of course, the scene above was all a product of the customers’ imaginations.

Some kind of radiant halo, an aura of otherworldly purity.

All of it was just the light glinting in the foodies’ eyes when they saw the Food before them!

As for Nan Zhi, she was simply baffled.

Not because so many people were lining up in front of her fried rice stall.

But because of the look in their eyes...

Why were they looking at her like she was some great hero?

’Did I do some monumental good deed that even I don’t know about?’

Nan Zhi actually began to ponder it seriously.

Xiao Qian, who was standing not far from Nan Zhi, was the first to speak up.

"Boss, are you okay?!"

Her words seemed to open the floodgates, and everyone started chiming in one after another to show their concern for Nan Zhi.

"Don’t let those malicious people online get to you, Boss!"

"Yeah, that’s right! We all believe in you!"

"Please don’t stop running your stall because of this!"

"Boss, you’re beautiful and kind, and your cooking is delicious! We all love you!"

"Boss, I love you more!"

"..."

The few people who had spoken exchanged glances—

’What?’

’This guy is actually sucking up to the boss?’

’I can’t lose to him!’

...In the blink of an eye, they were caught in a strange sort of internal competition, a silent battle of one-upmanship.

Sensing the turbulent undercurrents around her, Nan Zhi found it rather amusing.

Of course, she knew what little schemes they were up to, but she wasn’t annoyed. In fact, she was happy to see it.

"Don’t worry, I’ll be open for business as usual tonight."

She paused for two seconds before adding,

"...and I’ll be adding new items to the menu."

The sudden surprise left all the customers completely stunned!

’A new menu?’

’Did we hear that right?’

After all, not everyone loves egg fried rice.

There are all kinds of people in the world; some don’t like eggs, and some are even allergic to them.

So, no matter how famous Nan Zhi’s Golden Egg Fried Rice became, some people still refused to come because her menu was too limited.

She had even encountered difficult customers who insisted she add new items, saying they’d pay any price.

But Nan Zhi had always refused.

Her answer was:

"We’ll see how I feel."

So capricious!

And yet, the customers could only fume in silence.

Who could they blame? In this world, there are only customers who starve, not chefs.

Who would have thought Nan Zhi would actually add to her menu!

Someone, filled with a sliver of hope, suddenly asked:

"Boss, will there still be a purchase limit?"

Nan Zhi nodded.

"Of course. The old rules still apply."

In an instant, many people pulled out their phones and started making calls:

"Hurry, hurry, come to the night market! The Golden Egg Fried Rice stall has new stuff!"

"I know you don’t eat egg fried rice, but she’s added new items to the menu!"

"Buy some for you? No way! I can’t waste my precious spot on you!"

"..."

Amid the noisy chatter, Nan Zhi, a faint smile on her lips, walked around to the back of the food cart and took out a sign she had prepared earlier.

Just then, Nan Yi, who had been standing there quietly the whole time, tugged on the corner of Nan Zhi’s shirt.

"Can I do it?"

He made his request cautiously, constantly watching Nan Zhi’s expression.

Nan Zhi noticed.

But she also knew this was a habit that couldn’t be corrected in a day or two.

So she readily agreed.

"Of course you can!"

The sign was hung a little high, so Nan Yi definitely couldn’t reach it on his own.

Seeing Nan Zhi’s slender arms, a customer offered to help.

Nan Yi shook his head so vigorously it was a blur.

Nan Zhi had expected this and personally lifted Nan Yi up, letting him sit on her arm.

Nan Yi blinked shyly and wiggled his bottom a little, not quite used to it.

Nan Zhi asked, "Ready?"

Nan Yi was reluctant to let go of this novel experience, but he didn’t want to tire Nan Zhi out for too long.

He quickly reached out his little hands, took down the old sign, and hung up the new one—

[Golden Egg Fried Rice - 20 yuan]

[Beef Fried Rice - 28 yuan]

[Shrimp Fried Rice - 28 yuan]

When the crowd of customers saw the prices clearly, they gasped in unison, "That’s so cheap!"

Someone even muttered, "She might as well sell it for fifty or sixty a serving and get rid of the purchase limit."

Some of the nearby vendors heard this and silently grumbled—

’This price is cheap?’

’The deluxe fried rice with extra vegetables and meat at other stalls in the night market costs 20 at most, okay?’

’But then again,’ they thought, ’Boss Nan has the skill to charge that price. You have to admit it!’

Sitting on his mother’s arm, Nan Yi cautiously scanned his surroundings.

The world he had known before had always been shallow and harsh, hiding a pervasive malice.

But now, everyone he saw had a sincere, happy, wonderful smile on their face.

’So... Food is really that powerful?’

Nan Yi also knew, of course, who it was that could create Food that so thoroughly won over the customers.

So, he leaned close to Nan Zhi’s ear and whispered:

"They all really like you, Mama."

There was a faint hint of pride in his voice.

Nan Zhi couldn’t help but smile, and she lowered her voice to match his.

"Of course. It’s because Mama is outstanding."

Nan Yi froze.

’Because she’s outstanding... so they like her?’

’You don’t need to curry favor?’

’And you don’t have to let yourself be wronged?’

Lost in a daze, Nan Yi was set back down on the ground by Nan Zhi.

Nan Zhi, in turn, prepared to open for business.

Suddenly, a voice called out:

"Excuse me, please let me through!"

A tall man in a baseball cap, holding a small child, was struggling to squeeze through the line.

At first, some people started to complain, wondering who was being so rude and cutting the line.

They were about to start yelling when they saw the cute, well-behaved cub in the man’s arms and swallowed their curses.

’Wait, that cub looks a little familiar.’

’And the man in the cap looks even more familiar.’

"...Fu Chao! It’s Fu Chao!"

The customers erupted into a commotion.

Some subconsciously started to push forward, trying to get a closer look at Fu Chao for photos or autographs.

The scene became a little chaotic.

Nan Zhi’s gaze swept over them, and she spoke, her voice not too loud, not too soft:

"Customers who want to buy fried rice, please stay in line."

The customers who had been mesmerized by Fu Chao’s celebrity aura and were about to leave the line snapped back to their senses!

They had lined up so early for so long; they couldn’t let it all go to waste at the last minute!

They quickly returned to their spots, and order was swiftly restored.

Fu Chao looked back, utterly astonished.

He had been fully prepared to be mobbed and had even given special instructions to the program’s crew before coming.

The result... was this?

’This is so embarrassing, okay?’

When Nan Zhi saw Fu Chao, she arched a delicate eyebrow.

"You came?"

Fu Chao nodded, then suddenly felt something was off.

"Did you think I wasn’t coming?"

Nan Zhi hadn’t expected him to be so sharp.

"Your hands are tied, after all."

A little while ago, on their way here, they had run into Fu Chao’s agent, who had called him over.

Fu Chao had told Nan Zhi Nan Yi to go on ahead, saying he would catch up soon.

But Nan Zhi, who had seen the wariness and scrutiny in the agent’s eyes, knew that Fu Chao most likely wouldn’t be coming.

When Fu Chao failed to appear for a long time, it seemed to confirm her suspicions.

Now... things were a little different from what she’d expected.