Chapter 10 Mala Tang Returns
The next day, I pushed a brand-new cart and parked it firmly in the old spot.
Cheng Yanqiu stared at my clearly larger cart, eyes going wide.
"He Qingwei? You... you're back? Didn't you go under?"
I arranged the Braised Duck Snacks neatly, then set up a Mala Tang stove as well.
"Who said I went under? I just rested a few days."
Cheng Yanqiu pointed at my new Mala Tang setup, voice shaking. "You... you're selling Mala Tang too?"
I hung a sign in the most visible spot that read: Braised Duck Snacks + Mala Tang, Enjoy Twenty Percent Off.
"You can sell Braised Duck Snacks. Why can't I sell Mala Tang?"
The moment the sign went up, customers crowded around.
"Look! Heji Braised Duck Snacks is back! And they added a Mala Tang Combo Deal!"
"Great! Finally we don't have to put up with that black-hearted couple!"
"One Combo Deal! Let me try your Mala Tang!"
I scooped up a ladle of broth. The pork bones showed clear in the spoon.
"Bone broth simmered fresh this morning. Rich and clean. No weird additives. Kids can eat it safely."
Soon the first batch of customers cried out in surprise.
"Wow! This Mala Tang is incredible! The broth is deep, and the vegetables are fresh!"
"Yeah! So much better than the stall next door!"
"Heji Braised Duck Snacks is still unbeatable! Full of flavor! This Combo Deal is such a deal!"
"You're amazing at everything! Whatever you make hits hard! This Mala Tang, tsk tsk..."
In the middle of the rush, I looked toward the stall next door.
Cheng Yanqiu and Zhang Muzhe watched their old customers laugh and chat in front of my stall, faces ashen.
Now and then a passerby who didn't know better walked toward their stall and got pulled away at once.
"Don't go there! Black-hearted stall. Forced buying and selling!"
"Come over here! Good taste and fair prices!"
I packed Braised Duck Snacks and ladled Mala Tang with practiced hands. Payment alerts chimed on my phone one after another.