Gourmet: The Master Chef Just Wants to Leisurely Set Up a Stall - Chapter 14

As Zhao Xiaojing arrived at her stall location, several parents had already gathered.

“Hey there, you finally showed up! I set up early just to get your skewers today!”

“Boss, you’re slacking on the job; we’ve been waiting here for you!”

“Yeah, boss, I came half an hour early with an empty stomach just for this!”

“Do you have fried bananas today? I’ve been craving them!”

“Miss, do you only set up here, or are you elsewhere later? We’d love some skewers for a late-night snack too!”

“Yes, yes!”

The waiting parents chimed in one after another. With so many speaking at once, Zhao Xiaojing could only smile awkwardly, feeling her social energy depleting fast.

“Let’s not chat too much and distract the boss! If we wait any longer, the students will finish everything before we get our turn!”

Another parent called out, prompting everyone to stop chatting and urge Zhao Xiaojing to start setting up quickly.

Feeling both pressured and amused, Zhao Xiaojing moved swiftly, setting up her stall in half the usual time.

Yet why did she feel like she was being controlled?

“Oh? New items today?”

“Is that all? Where are my fried bananas? I want my big fried bananas!”

“Wow, I love big chicken legs! Those smaller ones didn’t satisfy me before!”

“How much are these?”

“Chicken legs are 11 per skewer, duck legs 12, chicken frames 5. The rest are the same—vegetable skewers for 1, meat for 3,” Zhao Xiaojing replied while heating the oil.

“Not cheap, prices went up.”

“There’s fewer choices now. My favorite chicken tenders are here, but no pork belly.”

“Most skewers are gone. Business got better and her standards rose?”

“I think it’s fair. A big chicken leg is just three more than the small ones! And the chicken frames are sizable too, only five each.”

“Give me a duck leg and 10 chicken tenders!” Ignoring hesitant voices, Li Donglai placed his order first.

His foodie instincts told him this duck leg looked fresh, neatly scored with even seasoning—surely delicious!

“Alright, 45 yuan.”

“Sure, add spicy sauce too.”

“You can have it spicy, but the duck leg sauce is special—it’s a slightly sweet honey glaze. It’s sweet and spicy but not overly sweet. Is that okay?”

“Uh… okay!” Li Donglai hesitated but decided to try it.

He hesitated because he once tried honey-glazed duck at a high-end business dinner and found it sickeningly sweet, struggling to swallow even with tea. Since then, he avoided saucy duck dishes.

But given the roadside stall’s tasty little drumsticks, the duck leg should be good too, right? For just 12 yuan, if it’s bad, he’ll skip it next time—but if it’s good, it’s worth every penny for such a big duck leg!

“Miss, I’ll take a duck leg too! Perfect with my congee.”

“Boss, 10 skewers each of potato, lotus root, and chicken tenders—make them spicy.”

“I’ll have the same.”

“I’ll take two chicken frames then.”

Most parents began ordering, though a few who didn’t find their favorites just watched.

Small skewers came out first. After packing those, Li Donglai and Li Zhi’s duck legs emerged from the pot.

Zhao Xiaojing placed them in a separate sauce dish, brushing on a layer of glaze.

This glaze was unique for fried duck legs, including a touch of honey.

After brushing, she sprinkled a blend of cumin, chili powder, and other seasonings for added depth.

Two shiny red duck legs were ready.

Li Donglai’s mouth watered. Regardless of taste, they looked tantalizing!

Both Li Donglai and congee stall owner Li Zhi grabbed a duck leg each, ignoring the skewers stuck in them as they dug in straight from the bag.

One bite in, they exchanged slow glances before resuming vigorous munching.

Was this really a duck leg? It felt like a beacon in mundane life!

Having eaten honey-glazed duck before, Li Donglai was almost teary-eyed—nearly misled by a deceitful fancy restaurant and missing out on this street food masterpiece!

The duck skin was richly crispy, coated with lightly sweet glaze for a complex blend. They say the highest praise for sweets isn’t being too sugary—this duck leg was the same!

Its sweetness was subtle enough to ignore, without cloying. While eating, he tasted spicy chili, gritty cumin, and an elusive seasoning aroma—all topped with subtly sweet glaze melding into crispy skin—a perfect harmony!

“This glaze is divine! Never thought meat and sweetness matched so well!”

“Me neither!”

Unfazed by heat, Li Donglai devoured his duck leg then moved onto chicken tenders, sharing thoughts with Li Zhi.

Li Zhi cautiously nibbled while responding between bites.

“It’s delicious. I might need more—should I order more?”

“Brother, you haven’t finished those tenders yet!”

“A few bites left. Boss, give me three duck legs, four chicken legs, ten chicken frames!” Li Donglai called out.

“Got it!”

“That’s a lot! Can you eat it all?” Li Zhi looked up from her duck leg feast to question Li Donglai.

“It’s for my son and wife! My son’s coming out soon.”

“I tell you, my wife thinks I’m fooling around with some school mom because I eagerly pick up our son daily!”

“Pfft!” Li Zhi burst into laughter.

“I wanted to show I’m considerate—caring for our son and letting her rest. But she got suspicious instead and wants to check on me! Then my son mentioned a new skewer stall at school that I visit daily, and she believed him! Am I really such a foodie?!”

“Haha, do you know yourself?”

“Brother, you’re something else!”

Li Donglai’s loud voice drew amused interest from surrounding parents who joined in the conversation.

“My wife even says I’d make poop taste good! Tonight I’ll bring these home for her to see—does poop smell this good?!”

More laughter erupted around them.