Boss, why is this guy cutting in line?

It was dinnertime, and plenty of people had come to the food street looking for something to eat.

Among the snack stalls stretching as far as the eye could see, those with crowds out front and booming business always drew more attention.

People tended to follow the crowd. When buying food, a crowded stall meant the food tasted good and lots of people liked it.

Of course, that was also how food shills came about.

As a result, when people saw a long line, some grew curious enough to try it, while others steered well clear.

But in the middle of summer, whatever else might be said about a stall with good business, its ingredients were bound to be the freshest, because they got used up fast!

In no time, quite a few chive pockets had sold, but instead of shrinking, the line only grew longer.

With more people gathering, on top of the food street's already heavy foot traffic, things naturally grew noisy.

"Boss, boss, when will my chive pockets be ready?"

"Boss, give me two more chive pockets. They're so good!"

"Could you get in line? You already paid and left. If you want more, please line up again. I'm next! Boss, I want five!"

"..."

With so many questions from the customers, Shen Chuan looked up amid his frantic work and was about to answer, but Jiang Wenyan had already stepped over to attend to them.

"All you handsome uncles and big brothers, and lovely big sisters, please line up properly and don't crowd around. The more you crowd, the slower things go. Our chive pockets are ten yuan each, freshly made to order and absolutely delicious. Everyone's welcome to try them!"

"What? Ten yuan each?" exclaimed a customer who had joined the line to see what the fuss was about.

"Our stall's chive pockets use fresh ingredients and meticulous preparation, personally made by a God of Cooking. They're delicious, and at ten yuan each, they're worth having. Buy one and try it. I guarantee you won't lose out. If it doesn't taste good, I'll pay for it!"

Having tasted the chive pockets himself, Jiang Wenyan was brimming with confidence, reeling off one sales pitch after another.

A few people thought they were too expensive and left, but plenty still stayed.

Before setting up, Shen Chuan had been wondering how to attract more customers and earn Show-off Points.

Yet now, his returning customers had become living advertisements, and Jiang Wenyan had even abandoned his own stall to help serve customers. Shen Chuan didn't have to worry about any of the odd jobs!

He was sweet-talking and knew how to handle things, too. Shen Chuan had just seen a woman holding a child drop something while standing in the crowd, and Jiang Wenyan had gone over to pick it up for her.

Some customers had also grumbled about the long wait, so Jiang Wenyan went over and handed out free ice water from his own stall to anyone who needed relief from the heat, successfully soothing them.

With those skills, he had actually persuaded most of the people who were about to leave over the price or the long line to stay.

That two hundred yuan had been money extremely well spent!

The consequence of Jiang Wenyan's boundless enthusiasm was that Shen Chuan couldn't stop working for even a moment. He was either wrapping chive pockets or frying them.

He had clearly sold several batches already, yet whenever he looked up, the line didn't seem any shorter.

Summer was unbearably hot even in the evening, and he was wearing a suit on top of that. Now he was both exhausted and sweltering. Yesterday had been all right; he'd even had time to leisurely drink ice water. Now he had to steal a moment just to look up.

Fortunately, new customers kept giving him Show-off Points after tasting his delicious chive pockets. Those constant dings in his ears at least lifted his mood a little.

Today was definitely in the bag. He would be able to redeem a new recipe tonight.

He would have to choose carefully when the time came.

Jiang Wenyan bustled about, passing things to Shen Chuan and helping keep the line in order. By now, he was tired and hungry too.

On the way over, he had already settled things with Boss Shen. Since he had volunteered to pick him up from the residential complex, he couldn't exchange all two hundred yuan for chive pockets, but he could buy his first.

Once they arrived, however, he got so busy that he forgot. Now that several chive pockets had just come out of the pan, Jiang Wenyan immediately picked up the tongs and set two aside for himself.

Only after packing the customers' chive pockets did he have time to eat.

The chive pocket was crisp outside and savory within. One bite left Jiang Wenyan dazed by its deliciousness.

"That's the flavor! Once you've had a bite, you'll never forget it. So good, so good!"

Jiang Wenyan swayed his head as he ate, his little eyes narrowing. That feeling of satisfaction was just like the day his college entrance exam results had come out. He practically wanted to dance in celebration while eating.

By now, they had run out of wrappers for the chive pockets, and Shen Chuan was rolling out dough. There were still plenty of people waiting behind the front of the line, and when they saw Jiang Wenyan keeping one for himself and standing there eating it, they immediately objected.

"Hey, boss, why is this guy cutting in line?"

"Exactly! We've been lining up forever. How come he gets to eat first?"

"If he hadn't eaten that chive pocket, it would've been mine."

The person at the front of the line stared fixedly at the chive pocket in Jiang Wenyan's hand, looking as anxious and angry as if someone had stolen his girlfriend.

Shen Chuan looked up and swept his gaze over the line. Before he could explain, Jiang Wenyan grew anxious first.

He couldn't let them misunderstand. What if it affected the boss's business?

He stepped out from behind the stall and approached the line to explain.

"You've got it wrong. I didn't cut in line! I'm Boss Shen's professional errand runner. I'm the one who picks him up whenever he sets up his stall. I was the first customer, and I bought mine ages ago!"

He wiped the sweat from his forehead with a tissue. "There were so many people just now that I got busy and forgot. I haven't had a chance to eat yet. It's not unreasonable for me to eat now, is it?"

So that was what had happened.

The customers looked at Jiang Wenyan differently now.

In this sweltering weather, he had gone straight to the boss's doorstep to pick him up just to get some chive pockets, all so he could buy them first. With that kind of determination, why shouldn't he get to buy first?

They would have wanted to buy first too if they were in his shoes. After all, he had been the first to see the stall and the first to meet the chive pocket seller.

Instead, the customers who had spoken up grew embarrassed, apologetically admitting they had misunderstood.

Jiang Wenyan's roommates were still chatting with the elderly men they had befriended despite their age gap. Hearing Jiang Wenyan's words, they started teasing him.

"Look at you, getting a bargain and still acting all innocent. You get two hundred yuan every time you bring Boss Shen here. Where else could you find such a great gig? We'd do it if we could, but we don't get the chance. Plus, you're the first customer, so you don't even have to line up."

"No, let's draw our swords. Whoever wins gets to be Boss Shen's personal parking lackey."

The customers listened in bewilderment, unable to understand what they were talking about.

"Why does he get two hundred yuan every time he picks Boss Shen up? What do you mean?"

Fatty put on an expression of jealousy twisting his features.

"Boss Shen's cooking is on par with a God of Cooking's. Are a God of Cooking's hands meant for odd jobs? Are a God of Cooking's feet meant for pedaling a tricycle? Absolutely not! So whenever Boss Shen sets up his stall, he hires someone to pedal the tricycle and bring him here, and help set up his stall while they're at it. Two hundred yuan a trip."

The customers turned those words over in their minds several times before they finally understood.

Good grief, what ordinary stallholder needed someone to ferry them back and forth, and even get their stall set up for them!

[Ding! Your distinctive way of doing things has reshaped everyone's understanding. Show-off Points +45!]