Chapter 148 Holy crap! This is so delicious!
The spicy sauce has an extremely rich flavor profile. It's numbing but not overpowering, spicy but not harsh, and has a perfect balance of saltiness and aroma. The combined fragrance of cumin and sesame explodes in your mouth, sending a sensation straight to the top of your head!
He squinted his eyes contentedly and mumbled to his companion, "Holy crap! This is so delicious! Quick! Buy some! Otherwise it'll be gone!"
His reaction was undoubtedly the best advertisement.
The people in line behind became even more anxious, craning their necks to look around.
Soon, the news that "there's an amazing spicy squid stall near the Municipal Hospital" spread like wildfire among the people in the vicinity.
Not only passersby, but even some medical staff and patients' families in hospitals couldn't resist being attracted by the aroma.
"Dr. Zhang, you're here too?"
"Yes, this smells...it's so tempting! I heard it's incredibly delicious!"
"I'll bring a few skewers back for my husband; he'll definitely like them."
Su Xiaonuan's stall has become a temporary food hotspot in this area.
The sizzling sound on the hot plate, the satisfied exclamations of diners, the crisp calls of Anran, and even the occasional satisfied gurgling sound of the inkstone, all intertwine to create a joyful symphony full of the warmth of everyday life.
Sunlight streamed onto the wooden food cart, illuminating Su Xiaonuan's focused and rosy face, as well as the seemingly magical and irresistibly tempting food in her hands.
As Qin Haochu watched An Ran and Su Xiaonuan working together seamlessly amidst the lively atmosphere, noticing An Ran's slightly flushed cheeks and glistening beads of sweat on her forehead from her busyness, and then looking at the pure satisfaction and joy on the faces of the diners around him, an unprecedented feeling quietly welled up in his heart.
What he has always been familiar with and pursued is a world that is refined, elegant, full of rules and a sense of distance.
What we see before us, rough, vibrant, and bustling, is filled with a more direct and powerful vitality, a magic that can easily break down barriers between people and bring the most genuine joy.
He silently handed over a skewer of squid, and when his gaze fell on Su Xiaonuan again, the usual scrutiny had been quietly replaced by an indescribable feeling of being touched.
He seemed to understand why An Ran was so determined not to back down for Su Xiaonuan.
While collecting the money, An Ran winked at Su Xiaonuan and mouthed, "See? I told you we could sell out!"
His face beamed with pride.
Su Xiaonuan returned her a bright smile, her two dimples were incredibly sweet.
She raised her hand to wipe the sweat from her forehead, and continued to wield the tongs and brush in her hand, like a general conducting a symphony of taste buds, creating her own culinary legend in this small stall, and quietly changing everyone around her.
But the story of this day has clearly only just begun.
With the first young man's "test of the law" and his effusive praise, Su Xiaonuan's stall seemed to have been instantly turned on the hot switch.
The crowd swarmed around the stall like iron filings drawn by a magnet, and a long, winding queue immediately formed in front of what was originally a fairly spacious area.
The spicy and savory aroma permeating the air is the most effective rallying cry, captivating passersby and making them unable to move their feet as if rooted to the spot.
Su Xiaonuan's hands moved without stopping, her movements so fast they almost left afterimages.
The squid sizzled on the hot plate. Brushing on the sauce, flipping it, and sprinkling it with seasoning—every step was precise and fluid, like a meticulously choreographed performance.
An Ran and Qin Haochu also fully embraced the role of "temporary workers." One collected money and packed food, repeating the orders in a clear voice, while the other delivered food silently and efficiently. Their cooperation gradually became more and more harmonious.
The inkstone had long since finished its "employee meal" and was now lazily lying in the shadow of the stall, its golden pupils half-closed, looking down at the humans who were going crazy for its owner's craftsmanship with a hint of leisure.
Amidst the bustling activity, a stylishly dressed girl carrying a canvas bag bought several skewers of squid. She compared them on her phone, and suddenly her eyes lit up; she was so excited she almost jumped up: "Oh my god! You...you're that super popular 'mysterious food stall owner' Xiao Nuan from the internet?! The one whose jianbing guozi, hot and sour noodles, and Buddha Jumps Over the Wall are absolutely amazing?!"
Su Xiaonuan was focused on flipping the squid on the hot plate when she heard this, her movements paused almost imperceptibly, and her heart skipped a beat.
Oh no, I was recognized after all.
She looked up and gave the girl a slightly apologetic smile, which could be considered as acquiescence.
This was quite an event! The girl's talkative nature instantly kicked in: "It really is you! Oh my god! I've been following you for so long! I've watched every single one of your food videos countless times! I never thought I'd actually meet you in person today! You're even cuter than you look in the videos! Sister, how are your cooking skills so amazing! This squid smells so good! Can I take a picture with you? Oh no, let's not add each other on WeChat yet! I see you've started doing takeout? Can we add each other on WeChat? Can you let me know in advance when you set up your stall? I promise I'll be there anytime!"
She chattered away, her words coming out at a machine gun speed, and the fanatical light in her eyes almost set Su Xiaonuan ablaze.
Qin Haochu, who was about to pick up his delivery box to deliver orders, paused noticeably when he heard the barrage of questions.
He glanced subconsciously at Su Xiaonuan, who was being "besieged." Although the girl had a smile on her face, he did not miss the fleeting helplessness and the subtle chill that ran down her spine deep in her eyes.
He said nothing, but silently and extremely quickly hopped on the somewhat comical little electric scooter that Su Xiaonuan had spared, turned the key, and "whoosh," merged into the traffic, escaping this "place of trouble." His retreating figure carried a hint of barely perceptible haste.
While her hands were quickly preparing the squid ordered by the girl, Su Xiaonuan tried to respond to her enthusiasm in a gentle tone: "Thank you for liking it... Taking a photo might not be convenient right now, look, there are still many people waiting behind. My WeChat... is my work account, you can add me, but I don't check messages very often..."
Her voice was soft and gentle as she tried to soothe the other person, but the fine beads of sweat on her forehead betrayed the dual pressure she was under while dealing with cooking and her enthusiastic fans.
The girl was quite clever. Seeing that Su Xiaonuan was indeed extremely busy, she immediately covered her mouth and nodded vigorously to show her understanding. However, her frighteningly bright eyes remained fixed on Su Xiaonuan, as if she were admiring some rare treasure. Su Xiaonuan couldn't help but tense up slightly, feeling immense pressure.
A middle-aged man in the queue nearby asked curiously, "Young lady, is this stall owner really that famous?"
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