Gourmet: The Master Chef Just Wants to Leisurely Set Up a Stall - Chapter 29

“I… I want to try a bite…”

Fan Guiying grabbed Wen Zhiyi’s hand, deftly peeling the duck leg out of its bag.

“Son, I’m just testing it for your dad! How can he eat such junk food? I must try it first to criticize him properly!” Fan Guiying said into the camera, as if fooling herself more than anyone else.

“Pfft! You should have said so earlier!” She stopped pretending and took a big bite of the duck leg.

“Mmm~! Delicious!” The elderly lady’s eyes lit up.

Though a bit cold, she could tell the flavor was expertly crafted. The skin remained crispy, and the meat was firm, rich in flavor, making it irresistibly tasty.

“Look at you, picking up what others left half-eaten!”

“You old fool, you’re lucky I don’t mind eating after you!” Fan Guiying shot him a glance.

“I’m planning to recruit this young lady who makes fried duck legs to Lanzi’s project in Yang City. They need someone to make side dishes there. What do you think?”

“I think it’s great! When are you going?”

“Tomorrow. She sets up her stall at the park in the afternoon; I’ll go talk to her then.”

“I’ll come with you!” Hearing this, Fan Guiying eagerly wanted to join him, completely forgetting about her video plans with her friends for tomorrow.

…

On the other side, Zhao Xiaojing had just received her reward for inviting the old man to taste the fried skewers.

The reward was system coins x20, cash x100, experience x100. This task seemed effortless at first, but an unexpected twist turned it into a small drama.

Zhao Xiaojing pondered over the incident throughout her journey.

This little drama seemed full of flaws, yet the opponent came prepared.

Firstly, only the alley entrance had surveillance cameras, while her stall was at the back. Their car specifically came from behind, avoiding all cameras.

Secondly, the four adult men acted aggressively right from the start. Parents naturally avoided them for safety, so being driven away wasn’t surprising.

Had the parents been chased off without recording videos or helping block them, those four might have truly taken her stall away.

After all, two fists couldn’t fight four hands; if they used force, she couldn’t stop them or get a chance to record a video.

No video meant no evidence. Even if she reported it later, she couldn’t prove city management confiscated her stall. Moreover, she couldn’t prove she ever had a stall cart or explain its origins.

The “city management” that misled her weren’t real officers. Even reporting them wouldn’t identify those people since the real ones stayed inside their vehicle unseen.

Among nearby vendors, only Li Zhi would help her; others would just add insult to injury.

If the cart wasn’t recovered, people would only know she engaged in “illegal business,” severely impacting her reputation and sales.

Who would’ve thought that within five days of setting up a stall, she’d face continuous troubles?

Thankfully, this time ended without substantial loss. Though unclear which vendor orchestrated this, hitting those auxiliary police hard meant they likely lost their jobs.

After this battle, only 213 skewers remained to complete the task. One more day should suffice.

Today’s earnings reached 6,342 yuan, and her total balance is around 8,500 yuan. Everything feels surreal. By tomorrow, barring surprises, she’ll have over ten thousand yuan in savings, finally establishing some footing.

Zhao Xiaojing exhaled deeply, her gaze growing resolute. What doesn’t kill her only makes her stronger.

Despite appearing tough and calm during these confrontations, fear gripped her heart—fear that one commotion could undo all her efforts, fear of losing her only hope and ending up destitute again.

But she succeeded. She’s no longer the weak person easily manipulated by others.

With complex yet relieved emotions, Zhao Xiaojing grabbed her keys and headed out, unfailingly training in the virtual space on Restaurant Street…

The next day.

Wen Zhiyi wandered around Zhongshan Park’s entrance among a medley of snacks, craning his neck searchingly. His eyes brightened upon seeing a long line of adults with children at a stall.

“I found it! Found it! Old lady, hurry over here!”

Wen Zhiyi waved vigorously, calling to Fan Guiying who was searching for the fried skewer stall behind him.

Early today, Fan Guiying had taken leave from her “Blooming Sisters Group,” skipping dinner too. At six o’clock sharp, she urged Wen Zhiyi out the door.

Upon arrival, while Wen Zhiyi observed, she confidently led him through a familiar path to where small vendors often set up stalls.

Hearing his shout, Fan Guiying hurried over energetically, dragging Wen Zhiyi to queue up last. He glanced at her and secretly snapped a photo of her in line, smugly tucking his phone away afterward.

As they reached the front of the line, parents greeted him.

“Oh, Grandpa is back again! Was it easy finding this place?”

Busy frying skewers, Zhao Xiaojing looked up and smiled upon spotting Wen Zhiyi. “Grandpa is here! How long have you been waiting?”

“Hehe, not long. Your grandma wanted to eat, so she queued us up.” Wen Zhiyi loved the lively atmosphere and felt quite happy here.

“Grandma is here too! Hello, Grandma!” Zhao Xiaojing quickly greeted Fan Guiying upon hearing it.

“Grandma looks so young!”

“Your son and daughter are truly blessed, both elders look so energetic.”

“Indeed, you both look youthful! Just in your forties or fifties.”

“So envious of you two. If my parents were like you, I’d be thrilled every day!”

Seeing the old couple, parents behind Zhao Xiaojing also greeted them warmly, showering them with compliments.

Fan Guiying, experiencing such bustling stalls for the first time, beamed widely while chatting with the parents, making the waiting time pass unnoticed.

When they reached the front and saw Zhao Xiaojing clearly, Fan Guiying’s eyes widened in surprise.

Such a young and pretty girl, willing to put aside pride to sell snacks and do such hard work—and she’s skilled at it too?

Is it really just her getting old? Young people nowadays are really open-minded…

Fan Guiying fell into deep self-doubt.