Seeing the shop completely empty, Xiao Na felt a bit puzzled.
In the afternoon, she had a good chat with Brother Zhang, and they said they'd come over after finishing online, feeling happy today. They even mentioned getting a foot massage, then heading up to the third floor for a massage!
She also arranged with Brother Fang from the engineering team. He was supposed to bring quite a few people over. They were directly heading to the third floor for massages.
Both were regular customers, and they always came over on time when they scheduled. What's happening today?
Is it that Xiao Na's waist isn't fragrant, or her legs aren't tender anymore?
Xiao Na looked at the time on her phone; it was only a few minutes till midnight. Would they still come?
But she had already sent out so many messages, and neither of them replied. Xiao Na didn't want to keep pushing, as that would make her seem too profit-driven, not good for building rapport with customers.
Like Meng Jiangnu, Xiao Na sat with her little sisters by the door, eagerly watching the street outside.
She had no idea that Brother Zhang and Brother Fang she was thinking about were having a great time!
"This is amazing, truly amazing. I haven't had egg dumplings in years, and I didn't expect anyone to make them this delicious nowadays!"
Fang Zhizhong was enjoying himself tremendously!
Even his clients were devouring them eagerly.
"Wow, I didn't expect there'd be someone with such great skills hidden in this small Central Avenue. These egg dumplings are on par with the ones I had when I was a kid!"
"Come on, these are real, quality egg dumplings. What we had back then were cheaply made, you just appreciate the nostalgia."
Fang Zhizhong buried himself in eating, not bothering to talk to those clients.
Honestly, these egg dumplings exceeded his expectations. Tasting them without seeing the setting, he'd believe they could sell for hundreds of yuan in a big restaurant!
Because of work, Fang Zhizhong often dined in various restaurants in Jingzhou, and he had never had egg dumplings as good as these.
Eight people eating a hundred egg dumplings really wasn't a lot.
Fang Zhizhong reached out with his chopsticks and came up empty.
"Gone?"
A client licked his lips, "Now I'm really craving more, let's get some more!"
"Boss, bring us two more plates!" Fang Zhizhong generously requested.
The batch Chen Mo just made was already reserved by Zhang Feng's side, so he apologized slightly, saying, "It'll probably be another ten minutes or so; what do you think?"
Fang Zhizhong paused, "Tsk... not even enough to fill the gaps in my teeth. How about this," he turned to his friends, "let's head over for some noodles while we wait."
Hearing that they'd have to wait, the friends also agreed that waiting idly wasn't ideal, "Okay, leave someone here to wait."
The group contentedly headed to the noodle shop, leaving a younger guy to wait for the fried dumplings.
Zhang Feng and his friends were devouring everything by now.
At first, when the hundred dumplings were served, they ate leisurely, but as the dumplings dwindled, everyone realized something!
As long as I eat fast enough, I can eat more than a few!
So, the five of them started competing silently.
Zhang Feng stuffed one into his mouth, then grabbed another immediately. He found that stuffing three dumplings into his mouth at once was much more enjoyable!
It felt like taking big bites of meat!
In no time, the hundred dumplings were all gone. Zhang Feng got up, feeling a bit unsatisfied, but on average each person had forty dumplings, which was quite filling. Plus, if they wanted more, they'd have to wait another twenty minutes.
"Oh well, let's call it a day," Zhang Feng suavely scanned for another hundred yuan, "Boss, are you new here? I haven't seen you around before."
After finishing the last dumpling, Chen Mo was out of ingredients and finally had a break.
"Yeah, I just started today."
Zhang Feng beamed, "So you'll be back tomorrow, right?"
"Unless something unexpected happens, I'll be here."
Not only would he be back, but Chen Mo had already calculated while making the dumplings that today was inadequately prepared.
Primarily because of a tight budget, buying too many ingredients at once worried him that he wouldn't be able to sell them all.
Having the experience from the first day was good.
"Alright, I'll be back tomorrow." Zhang Feng turned to leave, then felt something was off.
He turned back.
Beep!
"Boss, I'm sending you two hundred, make sure you save me a plate for tomorrow, alright?"
Hearing the payment notification, Chen Mo was a bit stunned.
Is this guy for real?
Aren't you worried I might not turn up tomorrow and just pocket your money?
Evidently, Zhang Feng wasn't concerned. He cheerfully wrapped his arms around his friends, ready to get into the car.
"Still heading for massages?"
"No way, it's after midnight already, even if we go, there won't be any hidden programs, let's just head home for a rest!"
"That makes sense. Let's come back for these dumplings tomorrow, right?"
"Of course, didn't you see my Brother Feng even prepaid the boss? Not eating would really let Brother Feng down!"
The five of them laughed and hopped into two Cadillacs, engines roaring, disappearing into Central Avenue.
The young guy in front of the food cart packed a hundred dumplings and headed to the noodle shop. Chen Mo continued putting dumplings on the electric plate, out of ingredients now, finally able to take a break.
Seeing the place calm down, Brother Squid and Uncle Liu seemed eager to move.
"Brother Jiaozi, give us a batch when this plate is ready, let us old buddies try some."
Seeing Chen Mo's dazed expression, Brother Squid burst into laughter, "Around here, with people coming and going, who can remember a name, really? We just name you after what you're selling, so from now on, you're Brother Jiaozi."
Chen Mo laughed silently.
After graduating, he started working for a state-owned enterprise. He lived quite frugally, going from work to exercising and resting, and it had been a long time since he experienced anything so down-to-earth.
"Alright, today ends with this plate."
Uncle Liu and Brother Squid looked a bit envious. Normally they'd have to stay till around two, waiting for the businesses like the foot massage places on the street above to close before packing up.
No one expected Brother Jiaozi to wrap up early on his first day setting up a stall.
They chatted idly, and Chen Mo watched as the light ball reached the glow point, indicating the last batch of fried dumplings was almost ready.
Meanwhile, Uncle Liu and Brother Squid stood up and began to prepare snacks quickly.
For no other reason than the time: it was one o'clock!
Chen Mo squinted and looked forward.
Tight skirts, bodycon dresses, camisoles, crop tops, all sorts, brightly colored, the streetlights illuminated the approaching girls, dressed like colorful tropical fish.
As they got closer, he could even hear their merry, bell-like laughter.
Chen Mo turned his head.
Only to see Uncle Liu and Brother Squid eagerly watching, Old Liu's starch sausages about to pop, and the squid next door was tensed up.
In a daze, Chen Mo almost lost himself.
Are you guys really here to set up stalls?