Gourmet: The Master Chef Just Wants to Leisurely Set Up a Stall - Chapter 54

At four o’clock in the morning, before her alarm could go off, Zhao Xiaojing was already awake.

She hadn’t slept well, her dreams filled with thoughts of how to find peace with Dong Mei.

What Dong Mei wanted most was for her to get married, but Zhao had already compromised once in her past life, and it ended disastrously. Even Dong Mei hadn’t been happy seeing her live like that.

But Dong Mei hadn’t experienced those things yet, so she continued pressuring Zhao Xiaojing to marry, just like in the past life. This unresolved tension only worsened their relationship.

Perhaps the only way out was to prove herself—repay the debt completely, show Dong Mei that she could live a good life on her own. Only then could there be a real reconciliation.

Wearily, Zhao Xiaojing washed her face and headed out to buy ingredients.

This morning, two more people had joined the pre-order group, bringing the total to six. Altogether, they had ordered thirty duck legs, four pounds of tenderloin, and three pounds of crispy pork.

She first went to the poultry wholesale market to pick up a box of duck legs from the same shop she’d bought from before. The shop owner, recognizing her, asked why she hadn’t been around for several days.

Afterward, she headed to the wet market to buy different cuts of pork for the crispy pork and tenderloin, totaling about ten pounds.

Passing by a grocery store, she spotted red beans, mung beans, and lily bulbs that caught her eye.

Ever since receiving the sweet soup recipe two days ago, she’d been itching to try it. Yesterday during her lunch break, she even projected herself into virtual space and practiced for a few hours.

However, she still lacked the necessary machines. The system had provided tools like an ice shaver, blender, and peeler for Qingbuliang, but now she needed to buy her own equipment for making sweet soups. That would be another hefty expense. Repaying the eighty thousand yuan seemed like an increasingly daunting task.

Shaking her head with a sigh, Zhao Xiaojing pushed the thought aside—it was useless worrying. She would just have to work harder.

…

Four o’clock in the afternoon, Chunfeng Experimental Primary School.

With half an hour left until dismissal, Li Donglai’s son, Li Feiyu, was becoming increasingly restless, checking his wristwatch every few minutes.

“Li Feiyu, what’s wrong with you today? You didn’t play with us during recess, and you kept daydreaming in class.”

His deskmate, Fu Lili, asked with concern.

“I’m just waiting to go home and eat skewers! My favorite fried duck legs and tenderloin.”

Li Feiyu glanced at his watch again, silently wishing time would speed up.

“Forget it—Fried Skewer Sister hasn’t set up her stall in the alley for ages. I don’t even feel motivated to come to school anymore.”

Fu Lili sighed in disappointment.

“I know, but my dad bought some yesterday! I’ll get to eat them today.”

Li Feiyu said this while unconsciously swallowing a mouthful of saliva.

“What?! Where did he buy it?!”

“Fu Lili! Why are you shouting? If you keep disrupting the class, you’ll stand in the back!”

The Chinese teacher threw a piece of chalk at her after hearing the outburst.

Fu Lili quickly shrank her neck and obediently buried her nose in her book.

“Where did your dad get it? Was it really from Fried Skewer Sister?”

When the teacher stopped paying attention, Fu Lili whispered to Li Feiyu again.

“I don’t know. My dad said he met her while walking—that it was definitely her.”

Li Feiyu whispered back.

“Is she setting up her stall after school? Can I come with you?”

“No, it’s not after school. My dad just said he’ll bring the skewers home tonight.”

The two children kept whispering behind their books.

“Can you bring me a duck leg? Please?”

Seeing that she couldn’t figure out the time or place, Fu Lili tugged on Li Feiyu’s sleeve, hoping to persuade him to share some skewers.

“No way! My dad only bought twenty duck legs, and that’s barely enough for my family!”

Li Feiyu refused firmly.

As if! When it comes to skewers, girl classmates don’t matter!

“Twenty?! But…”

“Fu Lili! Are you trying to rebel today? Go stand at the back!”

Excited again, Fu Lili slipped up and raised her voice, prompting the Chinese teacher to scold her. Sighing heavily, she stood at the back of the room.

“What’s gotten into you today? Feeling rebellious?”

One of Fu Lili’s friends whispered from the back row.

“Li Feiyu bought skewers from Fried Skewer Sister!”

Fu Lili glanced at the teacher before quickly telling her friend.

!!!

Her friend’s eyes widened as she covered her mouth to suppress a scream.

“Hey, did you hear? Li Feiyu got skewers from Fried Skewer Sister!”

“Li Feiyu brought skewers! From Fried Skewer Sister!”

“Reliable sources say Li Feiyu knows Fried Skewer Sister and has a huge stash of her skewers!”

Word spread from student to student in the back row, and soon the entire classroom was buzzing with excitement.

At five twenty, Li Donglai paced anxiously outside the school gate.

Only about twenty parents were left waiting at the gate—all familiar faces from his son’s class.

What’s going on with this class today? Did the teacher extend class time?

As he grew more impatient, a group of students suddenly rushed out—his son at the center.

Why were there classmates holding onto both his son’s arms?

“Dad…” Li Feiyu approached with a pouty face.

“What’s going on? What are you kids doing?” Li Donglai asked, confused.

“Why are you so late? Hey, why are you running?”

“Liu Yufeng, aren’t you going home?”

“Shiyu, why are you grabbing your classmate’s shirt? Come back here!”

As soon as the other parents saw their children emerging, they hurried over to greet them. But after handing their backpacks to the parents, all the kids ran toward Li Donglai, leaving the adults bewildered.

“Uncle! Uncle! Skewers!”

“Uncle, I want two duck legs!”

“Uncle, one of everything for me!”

“Uncle, I can scan with my smart watch!”

The children surrounded Li Donglai, bombarding him with requests. His head was spinning from all their voices.

Dear heavens! Is being a teacher always this hard? One kid says something, and I can’t even process it all!

The other parents also gathered around, asking what their kids meant by “skewers.”

After finally restoring order with the help of the other parents, they managed to piece together the situation. By then, Li Donglai was drenched in sweat.

He now fully understood the terrifying speed and power of spreading rumors!

The kids had distorted the story as they passed it along, eventually deciding that Li Feiyu’s dad was selling Fried Skewer Sister’s skewers right outside the school gate—everyone could buy twenty skewers each!

Exasperated, Li Donglai explained the truth to both the students and their parents. But once everyone understood, the parents became excited too and demanded to join the pre-order group.

Unable to resist the pressure from dozens of eager mouths, Li Donglai reluctantly pulled out the QR code for the group chat. He watched helplessly as more people joined—some even inviting their friends.

Li Donglai felt like crying. He wanted nothing more than to sew his son’s mouth shut.

The boss was clearly busy! Yesterday he’d begged for half a day before she agreed to make some skewers.

And now this crowd had stolen his hard-earned privilege. Soon he’d have even more competition for those delicious skewers!