Chapter 170 - 131: Are You Guys Trying to Kill Yourselves?
Huang Bing and Huang Ying arrived at the factory entrance on their bikes just as the work shift was ending.
A rolling tide of bicycles forced them to the side, where they couldn’t even push their own bikes forward an inch.
"Wow, this textile factory has so many workers!" Huang Ying exclaimed. "I thought a factory in a small town like this wouldn’t have that many people."
"What do you know? This is one of Jiazhou’s top foreign-exchange earners. They’re raking in the big bucks!" Huang Bing rolled his eyes at her, his gaze falling on a nearby sweet-skin duck stall.
Before he could say anything, a handful of braised peanuts was stuffed into his hand.
"Have a taste. They’re my own braised peanuts, and they’re still warm," Zhao Minghui said with a smile, stuffing a handful into Huang Ying’s hand as well.
"Oh, thank you, sir," Huang Ying said with a radiant smile. She immediately peeled one and popped it into her mouth. Her eyes lit up. "Delicious!" she said, nodding. "The braising liquid is so fragrant, and the peanuts are plump and big. They’re wonderful when they’re still warm. So tasty."
"You sure have a way with words, young lady," Zhao Minghui said, delighted. He scooped up another handful for her. "Take some more. You can put them in your pocket for later."
"Oh no, I couldn’t. How much are they? I’ll buy some." Huang Ying refused the freebie, parking her bike. "If something’s this good, you have to actually buy it. Otherwise, it just sounds like empty compliments."
Zhao Minghui smiled. "Forty-five cents a jin. Want to get a jin?"
"That’s so cheap! I have a big family, so one jin won’t be enough to go around. Give me a yuan’s worth." Huang Ying pulled a one-yuan bill from her wallet.
"You got it!" Zhao Minghui immediately grabbed an oiled-paper bag and started filling it for her. ’This girl isn’t just a smooth talker,’ he thought, ’she’s a generous spender, too.’
"They are pretty fragrant," Huang Bing remarked, peeling a peanut and tossing it into his mouth. He watched Huang Ying and her radiant smile, and he suddenly thought he understood why everyone liked her so much.
’She’s a smooth talker, knows how to praise people, and she gets things done.’
’She’s a little chubby, but it’s a cute kind of chubby. Her face is round, completely unthreatening.’
’In contrast... it seemed his own thinness didn’t make people warm up to him in the same way.’
"Sir, how much for a whole sweet-skin duck?" Huang Ying asked, now holding her braised peanuts, which had been packed into two separate bags.
"This is authentic Wood City sweet-skin duck. We sell it by weight—one-sixty a jin. A whole one like this is about two jin," Zhao Minghui said, picking up his cleaver. "Want me to cut off a piece for you to try?"
"Oh, no, no, I’ll come back to buy one next time." Huang Ying waved her hands dismissively. "Your sweet-skin duck looks delicious just from a glance. That glaze is clearly maltose, and the color from the oil is gorgeous—so glossy and red. It’s the real deal! Plus, you’re cheaper than in Jiazhou City. Any random shop there will ask for one-eighty or even two yuan a jin, and they won’t be as authentic as this."
"You really know your stuff! It’s fine if you’re not buying today, just let me cut a piece for you to try," Zhao Minghui insisted, his cleaver practically begging to be used.
"I can’t! If I taste it and don’t buy it, I’ll feel guilty," Huang Ying said, shaking her head firmly. "And I’m just not planning to eat sweet-skin duck today."
"Alright, then come back next time." Zhao Minghui smiled and put his cleaver down. He could see it now. ’This girl might be friendly and a smooth talker, but she’s got a mind of her own. When she says no, she means it. No point in pushing her.’
"I definitely will. We’re off to get dinner now." Huang Ying smiled and nodded. Seeing the flow of traffic had thinned, she started pushing her bike toward Zhou Yan Restaurant.
In front of the restaurant’s braised meat stall, two long lines had already formed, each with more than a dozen people. The sight stunned both Huang Bing and Huang Ying.
"So many people are in line?"
’Even Zhao’s Braised Shop, the most popular spot in Jiazhou City, has never been this busy.’
"Look at that. That’s the power of good food right there!" Huang Ying said, gazing at the two long lines with a sigh of admiration. "As long as your food is good enough, low prices can’t defeat you. At most, they’ll poach a few bargain-hunting customers. True connoisseurs are always willing to pay extra for great flavor."
"Do you think I could make money if I set up a stall and sold Zhou Yan’s braised meats?" Huang Bing mused, rubbing his chin.
Huang Ying looked at him seriously. "With your Knife Skills? You’d just be wasting good food. You slice pig ears as thick as erasers. It would be a criminal waste."
"Huang Ying! You’re horrible..." Huang Bing seethed, grinding his teeth. He was so mad he could spit.
"Mrs. Zhao, have some peanuts!" Huang Ying called out as she stepped into the restaurant. She greeted Zhao Tieying and, with the same motion, stuffed a handful of peanuts into the pocket of her apron.
"Oh, thank you, sweetie," Zhao Tieying said with a smile. "Quick, there’s one table left in the corner. It’s just right for the two of you."
"On it!" Huang Ying chirped, hurrying over to claim the spot. On her way, she slipped a handful of peanuts to Zhao Hong, then gave a large handful to two uncles drinking at an adjacent table. "Here you go! Braised peanuts to go with your drinks. They’ll make them taste even better."
The two uncles were pleasantly surprised. They glanced at Huang Ying, then at the liquor on their table. One of them picked up the bottle. "Want a little drink, miss?"
"I can’t, I have to bike home later. Can’t drink and ride," Huang Ying said with a smile, waving her hand. "But thank you, sirs."
Huang Bing covered his face. ’How can she talk to literally everyone?’
’Then again, she’s always been a chatterbox. Ever since she was a kid, she could just pull up a stool in front of a restaurant and talk to people passing by all day long.’
’She really hasn’t changed one bit...’
"Yingying." Zhou Momo shuffled over, clutching a paper packet that she presented to Huang Ying like a precious treasure. "Puffed rice candy. Have some."
"Aww, Momo, you’re the sweetest! You even thought of me when you had puffed rice candy." Huang Ying took a piece and bit into it with a loud CRUNCH. She smiled and nodded. "Mmm, it’s so sweet and delicious! Thank you."
"You’re welcome," Zhou Momo said with a happy smile. She then held the bag out to Huang Bing. "You can have some too."
"I get some too?" Huang Bing asked, a little surprised.
"Yes," the little girl nodded sweetly.
Huang Bing smiled, reached out, and picked up a piece. He took a bite. It was, indeed, wonderfully fragrant and crisp.