Eight o'clock sharp.
Two people appeared out of nowhere.
They wore ancient-style young gentlemen's robes, their cuffs tied tight and their faces painted black, leaving only two rows of white teeth showing.
The front of the line went quiet for a second, then the whole line erupted.
Several girls covered their mouths and backed away, laughing and stamping their feet.
"They're here, they're here, they're here! Just like in the video!"
"They really painted their faces black! Hahahaha!"
Phones shot up in unison, flashes popping everywhere.
Neither man said a word. Their expressions were unreadable beneath the black paint. They walked to the grill, one carrying the chicken wings and the other arranging them on it. Their movements weren't especially deft, but every step fell into place. They had practiced what to do beforehand.
The charcoal was fully lit, with no open flames, and waves of heat surged upward.
The chicken wings went on in rows.
Sizzle-
Fat dripped down, and smoke shot up.
One minute on the first side, then a flip. Another minute, then a sprinkling of seasoning.
The aroma didn't bother announcing itself. It went straight into the line.
The noses of everyone at the front were twitching.
A few more seconds on each side, then onto a plate.
"Two skewers per person! No lining up again. If you do, you won't get any."
Li Shumei's voice cut through all the noise.
Purchases were limited to two skewers per person.
The front rows were all content creators. Some were livestreaming on their phones, others filming with little tripods, every lens pointed straight at the grill.
One livestreamer squeezed to the very front, bought two skewers, and held them up to his camera, turning them over for a look.
"Guys, let me say this first-with how long these