Chapter 112 Is it because you haven't tried hard enough?
As soon as she set up her stall, the aroma wafted out, and soon three or five people gathered around.
"Hey, whose stall is this? It smells so good."
"Hey, isn't this Zhang Chunxue? You're running a small business now?"
Zhang Chunxue's hair was neatly tied up, and she wore a faded but neatly ironed blue cotton shirt. Holding a spoon in her hand, she was not intimidated at all: "It's me. I sell braised pork offal, which includes large intestine, heart and lungs, pork belly, fried tofu... If you want to eat, please line up. No credit and no haggling."
"We also have braised dishes here. If you want some, I'll weigh them for you..." Zhang Chunxue generously quoted prices for each item.
These days, nobody is rich, so even though some people are drooling and their mouths are watering, not many people are actually buying it.
Zhang Chunxue stirred the pot of braised pork with a spoon, and an irresistible aroma immediately wafted out.
"Hiss!" A young man gasped. "This smells so good... I can't resist! Auntie, give me a bowl of braised pork offal!"
"I absolutely have to try it and see what it tastes like!"
Zhang Chunxue immediately served him a bowl: "You're the first customer since we opened, so I'll give you an extra piece of tofu!"
The young man swallowed hard, then hurriedly took it and tried it.
"Oh my, this tofu is so fragrant, you could practically squeeze oil out of it!"
"Auntie, where did you learn to make this braised pork offal? It's so delicious!"
Zhang Chunxue raised an eyebrow: "What, you're planning to find out my family's secret recipe? But I don't think you're cut out for this!"
Everyone burst into laughter.
The atmosphere instantly became lively. Seeing how much the young man was enjoying his food, the others finally couldn't resist and ordered a bowl as well, as did those with a few spare coins in their pockets.
Those who don't like these kinds of offal can buy some braised dishes, cut up some braised meat, and weigh out some bean curd sheets, braised lotus root, braised potatoes, etc., which can also be used as snacks with alcohol.
She was selling her wares with great enthusiasm when, without her noticing, a strange man appeared next to her.
He stood motionless in front of the stall, dressed in drab gray clothes, a cigarette dangling from his lips, his hands in his pockets.
Zhang Chunxue didn't see that he was a customer who came to buy things, so she ignored him and focused on putting ingredients into the pot.
The man suddenly said, "Your stall is pretty popular. I told you you'd sell this braised offal... But you're selling braised food? Isn't that a bit unfair?"
Zhang Chunxue didn't even look up: "What? Who said I can't sell braised food?"
She glanced at him sideways and asked, "Who are you?"
Upon hearing this tone, the man clicked his tongue and spat on the ground: "I, Zhang Dashun, specialize in selling braised food in this town... You're causing trouble here, so people won't buy braised food from me anymore!"
Zhang Chunxue finally looked at him properly: "Don't you want to think about your own problems?"
"Is it because your braised food doesn't taste good?"
"Is it too expensive?"
"Is it because you haven't tried hard enough?"
Hearing Zhang Chunxue's joking tone, Zhang Dashun's face darkened: "I'm here today to teach you a lesson. This stall either needs to specialize in braised pork offal, or you need to set up somewhere else!"
"There are only so many people in our town, it's not very fair of you to steal our business!"
He couldn't help but roll his eyes: "You're a woman doing business, aren't you afraid people will laugh at you..."
"A joke?" Zhang Chunxue slammed the soup ladle onto the pot, her eyes narrowing. "I'm earning money with my skills, who's laughing at me?"
"So what if I'm a woman? You look down on women? Weren't you born of a woman?"
"If you're really good at this, then keep customers by focusing on the taste of your food, instead of trying to drive away your competitors."
As she spoke, her voice grew louder and louder, and more and more people gathered around.
Zhang Dashun couldn't save face anymore: "You, you..."
"What do you mean, 'what do you mean, 'what do you mean'?" Zhang Chunxue rolled her eyes. "I was originally planning to test the waters in town today, and then sell them in the county..."
"Since you've put it that way, then I'm determined to sell in town for the next few days!"
As soon as she said that, a crowd of onlookers immediately chimed in, "Great! Sell it right here in town! It's delicious! I love it!"
"Exactly! I think this auntie's food is better than Zhang Dashun's!"
The people around immediately burst into laughter again.
Zhang Dashun was so angry that his face turned green. Seeing Zhang Chunxue's nonchalant attitude and the mocking looks from everyone around him, he felt even more humiliated and could only utter harsh words.
"Fine! You wait!"
After saying that, he pushed through the crowd and ran away as if he were being chased by a dog.
Seeing that more and more people were gathering around, Zhang Chunxue took the opportunity to advertise herself: "Since everyone is here, why not buy some braised pork offal and braised dishes to try! Maybe I'll actually go to the county to sell them in the future, and then you won't be able to taste this flavor anymore!"
As she spoke, she began stirring the braised meat in the pot again, the aroma filling the air and making many people swallow their saliva once more.
"Give me a bowl!"
"I want a bowl too!"
"I was here first! I was here first!"
A long queue quickly formed in front of the stall, and Zhang Chunxue's face showed a satisfied smile.
She enthusiastically called out to them and busied herself with quick, efficient work.
When she sold out of braised pork offal and braised dishes, there were still many people queuing up. When they learned that she was out of stock, they were all very disappointed.
"Auntie, you must come again tomorrow!"
"Remember to save some for me! Watching them eat makes me so hungry!"
For the next two days, Zhang Chunxue went to the entrance of the grain and oil station to set up her stall every day.
Business was indeed good, and Zhong Xiaoxiao even came to help behind Zhong Yuanyuan's back, which relieved Zhang Chunxue's pressure a lot.
In the past few days, Song Yanshen's injuries have almost healed, and he is finally able to be discharged from the hospital.
On the day he was discharged from the hospital, Zhang Chunxue did not set up her stall. Instead, she took Zhong Xiaoxiao, carried Zhong Yuanyuan on her back, and together with Song Xingzhi, picked up Song Yanshen and took him home.
When the villagers saw Song Xingzhi and Zhang Chunxue walking together, they couldn't help but gossip.
Could it be that these two have actually fallen for each other?
But everyone was quite surprised when they saw the little boy walking beside them.
One of Zhang Chunxue's aunts, who had a good relationship with her, couldn't help but speak up.
"Chunxue! Who is this child? Is he a relative of yours or Director Song?"
Zhang Chunxue touched the still prickly stubble on Song Yanshen's head and said with a smile, "This is the child that Director Song saved. I felt a connection with him, so I adopted him."
His name is Song Yanshen.
These words immediately caused an uproar among the surrounding people.
"What? Chunxue, you adopted him?"
"Sister Chunxue, are you out of your mind? These days, not everyone is well-off, and you're going to adopt a child who has absolutely no relation to you?"
"Yes, Chunxue, you already have a son, why bother?"
"Exactly, this has nothing to do with you. Why did you adopt him? Isn't he just a burden?"
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