Chapter 38 - 33: Mia and Natie

Chapter 38: Chapter 33: Mia and Natie

When Juan arrived with the two girls, Ning He and the others had just served a batch of customers.

Just as she had expected, the people of this world had a huge enthusiasm for new foods they’d never seen before. As long as they could afford it, everyone—men and women, young and old—would take the initiative to buy a little to try.

Crullers were naturally the biggest seller; one customer stood by the stall and ate five in one go before he was satisfied. The cruller-crepes, priced at five original coins, were the main reason Ning He and the other two were too busy to stop.

For five original coins, you even got an egg. Even if it was just a thin layer, it was real protein and nutrition, which naturally attracted many customers. Plus, with the instant success of the crullers, this "upgraded" way of eating them was more readily accepted than the other two unfamiliar types of crepes.

The cruller-crepes lived up to their role as the main attraction, selling nearly a hundred servings before noon. The vegetable crepes also drew in a good number of customers, and the pocket buns sold a few here and there as well. It wasn’t even lunchtime yet, and they had already sold more than half of their prepared stock.

"Sister Kangni, Brother Ah Hui, there was traffic, so we’re a little late. Sister Ning He... h-hello."

Juan was a shy teenager with chocolate-colored skin, thick hair, and a pair of bright, jet-black eyes.

"Hello," Ning He replied with a friendly smile.

Connie helped Ding Xiang sit down to rest at a nearby table, then pressed some money into Juan’s hand.

"Take Susan for a walk around. Buy whatever you want to eat, don’t be frugal. I’ll make you guys a vegetable crepe."

Juan agreed and led Susan away to look around.

Although Ding Xiang also wanted to walk around, she wasn’t supposed to overexert herself, so she just sat there obediently, her bright eyes scanning her surroundings.

Ning He took advantage of the lull to sit next to the little girl and chat with her to pass the time.

She had a wild, rambling way of talking, but kids loved listening to her. Soon, she had Ding Xiang giggling.

Ning He thought of another joke and was about to tell it when a familiar figure walked past. She paused.

It was the old man who sold braised pork liver!

Ning He’s eyes followed him. She watched as the old man pushed his simple cart to a corner, put up a price sign, unfolded his reclining chair, and lay down to rest with his eyes closed.

She glanced at the price sign and was a little surprised.

’He was selling it for 50 coins a serving last time at the shelter, but today it’s only 30?’

’Isn’t that too big of a discount?’

’Is he selling smaller portions?’

As if to answer Ning He’s question, someone immediately went up to ask and bought a serving.

The old man stood up with a cheerful laugh, took out a knife that had been sharpened to a cold gleam, and sliced thin pieces from a large block of braised pork liver, filling a box to the brim.

’Damn—’

’With a portion size like that, he’s basically losing money!’

The customer, face full of delight, paid the money, said something to the old man, and walked away happily, cradling the box.

’No way, a deal this good, I have to go buy a box too!’

Ning He swallowed, her mind made up. She was about to get up when several customers came to the stall and ordered pocket buns. She could only resign herself to getting back to work.

She worked straight through until one in the afternoon. By the time Juan and the other two had finished eating and gone to the play area, Ning He finally had a moment to rest. She quickly grabbed a handful of money and prepared to run toward the old man’s stall.

「Meanwhile.」

"...Are we really going to look here?"

At the entrance to East Square, two young female members of a "Foodie Sharing Group," Mia and Natie, looked ahead with hesitation. Mia asked in a low voice.

"We have no choice. We’ve checked all the event spots in the Third and Fourth Rings and found nothing. If they set up their stall today, the Fifth Ring is our last hope. It’s just a quick look around, not too much trouble. If we find them, it’s a thousand-coin reward, plus we get to taste the food that even the group leader praised so highly. It’s worth a shot," Natie said.

"Alright. Let’s hope we get lucky."

Hope rekindled, the two of them started walking toward the food area.

When Ning He rushed over to where the old man had set up his stall, the place was already empty.

Not giving up, she went to ask the owner of a neighboring stall and confirmed that the old man had already sold out of his pork liver and gone home.

"...Grandpa Miao always comes the latest and leaves the earliest. The old man is generous. To let everyone have a taste, he sells at a loss every time. If you don’t hurry, you won’t get any. If you want some, remember to line up earlier next time!"

Ning He could only return, disappointed.

"...Don’t worry about it. We can just go early tomorrow, right? We’re almost sold out anyway. We can pack up in a bit and go home to rest early."

Connie gathered the remaining ingredients on the stall. There were less than two pounds of vegetables left, the egg mixture was almost gone, the crullers were sold out, and only a thin layer of crepe batter remained at the bottom of the basin.

It had gone even more smoothly than they’d imagined.

"Why don’t we not sell what’s left and just eat it ourselves?" Connie said decisively.

"Okay, whatever you say."

Ning He had originally wanted to get friendly with the old man and ask about the big guy’s background. Now that her plan had fallen through, her enthusiasm for eating had also taken a hit.

Connie just thought she was upset about not getting to eat the braised pork liver. Shaking her head helplessly, she and Ah Huai used the remaining ingredients to make three pocket buns, one for each of them.

They didn’t need to be so particular when cooking for themselves. Connie did it herself. Although her control of the heat wasn’t as precise as Ning He’s, it wasn’t too far off.

The aroma grew richer as it was stir-fried, wafting through the air. Mia and Natie, who had just walked nearby, smelled it and couldn’t help but swallow.

Natie sighed. "...We’ve asked around everywhere and found nothing. Looks like it was another wasted trip. Forget it, let’s stop looking. We’ll fill our stomachs here and then head back to rest."

Mia was already tired and hungry. Hearing this, she nodded repeatedly. "Okay, let’s eat here. I don’t know what it is, but it smells amazing."

Connie had just finished filling a pocket bun when two well-dressed girls appeared in front of her. Their eyes were fixed on the pocket bun in her hand, their throats moving as they unconsciously swallowed.

"Hello, can we buy two servings of the food you’re holding?"

Connie smiled apologetically. "I’m so sorry, we made these for ourselves. Everything else is sold out."

As soon as she finished speaking, deep disappointment appeared on the two girls’ faces.

"We’ve been hungry all morning... We couldn’t find what we were looking for, and the food we want to eat is sold out. I feel like crying..." Mia’s lip trembled, and her eyes actually started to turn red.

Natie patted her on the shoulder and comforted her, "It’s okay. Let’s go check out the other stalls. We’ll find something to eat."

Just then, Connie spoke up. "If you don’t mind that these ones are a bit crudely made, I can sell them to you for cheap."

Hearing this, Mia’s expression instantly turned to one of pleasant surprise. "Really? That’s great! Thank you!"

"You’re welcome. This pocket bun has vegetables, egg, and shredded tofu, plus a secret sauce, so it’s a bit more expensive. It’s eighteen original coins per serving. I can give it to you for sixteen, is that okay?"

"Yes, no problem." Natie briskly took the money out of her wallet and handed it to Connie.

Connie took the money and handed them the two freshly filled pocket buns. Mia was too hungry to wait and immediately took a huge bite.

Almost instantly, her eyes widened.

"Mmmph—"

She urgently gestured to Natie but was unwilling to stop chewing, only able to make muffled sounds. But Natie understood immediately. A little surprised and delighted, she also took a bite.

’My god—’

’What is this magical delicacy?!’

Natie screamed in her mind.

Seeing Connie fill two more buns with the remaining vegetables, Natie quickly swallowed the food in her mouth and said urgently, "Can you sell these two to us as well? It’s just too delicious! We want to take them back to share with our families."

No chef could say no to such a request.

And so, in the time it took Ning He to zone out for a moment, her pocket bun had flown the coop. Connie, in a rare show of generosity, treated her and Ah Huai to a bowl of pork offal noodle soup to soothe her wounded heart.

Meanwhile, Mia and Natie, carrying the fragrant pocket buns, sat down contentedly in a small vehicle on the side of the street.