Chapter 32: "Mhm, eat well and come again, old classmate.
Unlike yesterday, Bai Wanwan didn’t drive her car directly up to Shen Lu’s stall.
She parked in the lot at the entrance to Gold Street and put on a simple disguise.
She had considered paying someone to buy it for her, but after some thought, she decided it was better to go and order in person. After all, she hadn’t gotten a close look yesterday and didn’t know what ingredients Shen Lu offered in her malatang.
After checking that her sunglasses, mask, and hat were all securely in place, and making sure no one could possibly recognize her, Bai Wanwan walked over to Shen Lu’s stall.
A line had already formed in front of the stall.
Although Bai Wanwan had caused a scene yesterday, no real harm had been done. All she’d done was spread some gossip about Shen Lu’s background.
Far from hurting Shen Lu’s business, it actually made people sympathize with her even more.
The girl who was switched at birth; how innocent she was.
Standing by her disabled fiancé, never leaving his side; how loyal and devoted she was.
She used to be a rich young miss but was now reduced to running a stall to survive. With that in mind, it suddenly seemed plausible that she had ways to get ingredients and water.
She must have had some channels and connections that common folk like them knew nothing about.
What was most precious, though, was that she always had a bright smile, showing no trace of gloom or the arrogance of someone looking down on lower-class citizens.
This scored Shen Lu major points.
It was Bai Wanwan’s first time ever waiting in line to buy food. The experience was novel, but also incredibly irritating.
After about ten minutes, it was her turn.
Bai Wanwan lowered her head to pick out what she wanted.
’Definitely one egg puff, maybe even two. You need a drink with food, of course, so I’ll get a cup of mint water. As for the malatang...’
Today, Shen Lu had added two new ingredients: fish balls and vegetable balls. All six compartments of the cart were stuffed to the brim. In the BUBBLING broth, colorful ingredients bobbed up and down, exuding a unique kind of allure.
"Aside from the spicy broth and the clear broth, today I have a new tomato broth. It’s a sweet and sour flavor. Which would you like, or would you like to try all of them?"
Bai Wanwan lowered her voice. "I’ll take them all. One bowl of each flavor, in separate containers."
’Only children make choices. Adults, of course, take everything.’
"One egg puff—no, two, and a cup of mint water."
"Sorry, it’s only one egg puff per person," Shen Lu said, a sly glint in her eye as she looked at the girl with her face completely bundled up. "But, seeing as you’re an old classmate, I can make an exception for the malatang."
Normally, Shen Lu’s rules capped it at two bowls per person.
Bai Wanwan jumped back half a step, stammering, "Wh-what old classmate? I have no idea what you’re talking about!"
’My disguise is perfect! How could Shen Lu possibly have seen through it?!’
Shen Lu moved quickly, ladling out three bowls of malatang. She asked if Bai Wanwan wanted any toppings like chopped scallions, cilantro, or minced garlic.
Bai Wanwan nodded distractedly. "Just the scallions will be fine."
"Okay." Shen Lu sprinkled some scallions into each of the three bowls and placed them on the chair Bai Wanwan had used last time. "I don’t have a table, so you can just eat here. I’ll bring you the egg puff in a bit."
As she spoke, Shen Lu had already used the Ice Ice Cup to scoop up some mint water, pouring it into another metal cup.
There was no other way. Back when she had fewer customers, a single Ice Ice Cup was enough.
Now that business was booming, Shen Lu had bought some metal cups for various reasons. The Ice Ice Cup was now used exclusively for scooping, and the water was then poured into a metal cup for the customer. This way, the mint water was still perfectly chilled.
She pressed the cup of mint water into Bai Wanwan’s palm. "If it’s too spicy, you can use this to cool down."
Without waiting for a reply, Shen Lu turned to serve the next customer.
She still needed to sell thirty cups of mint water, fifteen egg puffs, and nineteen servings of malatang to complete her mission for the day. It wasn’t that she couldn’t finish before dark, but who wouldn’t want to get off work early?
Bai Wanwan stood stunned for a few seconds, then turned her back and carefully pulled down her mask.
She had planned on getting it to-go and eating in her car, but seeing as Shen Lu didn’t seem to have any take-out containers, she had no choice but to make do and eat on the chair.
’Damn it, when have I, Bai Wanwan, ever eaten a meal sitting on a chair like this?’
’I absolutely cannot let anyone else find out about this, or I’ll die of embarrassment!’
Bai Wanwan used a metal fork to spear a piece of daikon radish from the clear broth. The radish had been simmered until its edges were translucent. It was soft and looked incredibly juicy.
’I’d never heard she could cook before.’
Bai Wanwan took a tiny bite. The sweet radish juice instantly burst in her mouth, mixing with the rich, clear broth and the fresh scent of scallions. The sensation was like a whirlwind in her mind.
’Delicious!’
Bai Wanwan’s eyes narrowed as she began to eat more quickly.
After finishing the radish, she decided to try a fish ball from the tomato broth.
The bouncy fish ball was perfectly chewy. The unique umami flavor of the fish was pure, without a trace of any unpleasant fishiness, leaving only a savory aroma that made her crave more.
Bai Wanwan was quite fond of fish. In the Upper City District, fish was expensive—a single one could cost over a thousand Star Coins. Her family’s chef would prepare it once or twice a week.
It was always either steamed or braised to avoid wasting any of the precious ingredient. Bai Wanwan had only eaten fish balls once or twice before, and they hadn’t tasted very good—they were soft and mushy, nothing like the delightfully bouncy ones Shen Lu was selling.
"Where did she get these fish balls?" Bai Wanwan wondered in amazement. "Or... did she make them herself?"
"How are you enjoying it?" Shen Lu’s voice suddenly sounded from behind, startling Bai Wanwan badly.
She hastily pulled her mask back up and said in a muffled voice, "It’s... barely acceptable, I guess."
"So, do you want the egg puff now, or later?"
"Later." Bai Wanwan couldn’t stand being constantly interrupted while she was eating—it was ruining her appetite. "You go back to your business. I’ll come get it myself when I’m finished with these."
"Alright." Shen Lu didn’t press the issue. She had just been asking casually.
Bai Wanwan cautiously snuck a couple of glances at Shen Lu. After confirming that Shen Lu was too busy to pay her any mind, she breathed a sigh of relief, pulled her mask down, and resumed eating.
This time, she didn’t dare to savor each bite for ages.
She stuffed her face, all the while silently cursing Shen Lu in her heart.
’Couldn’t she just open a proper shop?’
’Forcing a young lady like me to squat by the side of the road to eat.’
’And I have to be terrified of being spotted, skulking around like a common rat.’
’How humiliating!’
SOB SOB...
The radish was delicious, the seaweed was delicious, the konjac was delicious, the tofu skin was delicious, and the fish and vegetable balls were both so, so good.
Her stomach was clearly full, but her mouth was still craving more.
Bai Wanwan patted her slightly protruding belly, stood up, and downed the rest of the mint water in one gulp.
Hic~
’The mint water is still cool. The mint flavor is so strong. So good.’
’For now, at least, there doesn’t seem to be anything wrong with the food from Shen Lu’s stall.’
Bai Wanwan put her mask back on, casually dropped 500 Star Coins on the chair, and held her hand out to Shen Lu. "My egg puff."
Shen Lu glanced at the Star Coins on the stool and sighed to herself. ’A young lady will always be a young lady, so extravagant with her money.’
She handed the freshly made egg puff, bowl and all, to Bai Wanwan.
"Enjoy. Come again soon, old classmate."
Bai Wanwan’s expression stiffened.
’There’s no way she recognized me! Shen Lu must be bluffing!’