Don't Accuse an Innocent Man

Had they been going about running their stalls all wrong before?

The stall owners standing in line began questioning their lives at the sight.

The difference was downright ridiculous.

Then they noticed that some of the nearby stalls were doing incredibly well, too, thanks to the sheer number of people in line.

With the crowd gathered here, demand had grown as well. After waiting a long time and getting bored, people started looking for something to snack on. The vendors selling candied hawthorns, grilled sausages, and drinks all found themselves getting customers.

Every so often, someone would call out to them, "One skewer of candied hawthorns over here!"

"Over here, two grilled sausages!"

"A lemonade here!"

"Boss, three plain sundaes over here!"

The owners of those nearby stalls were grinning from ear to ear.

Not only could they watch from up close, but their business got a boost, too. Could things get any better?

Some nearby stall owners had already been so tempted by the smell of scallion pancakes that they had come over to queue. Now their own stalls were getting customers, and they could give up neither the pancakes nor the business. In the end, they had to ask someone to hold their place.

"Old Qian, I'm going to sell some candied hawthorns first. Save my spot, will you? I'll give you a skewer later to take home for your granddaughter."

"Uncle Liu, I'm off to sell grilled sausages. Hold my spot, too. I'll treat you to a sausage later."

"Save mine, too. I'll treat you to fruit tea afterward."

Several stall owners returned to their stalls, preparing food for customers while constantly glancing toward the line, afraid the crowd would squeeze them out of their spots.

And so, a strange scene unfolded.

Some stall owners would be in the middle of selling something when their pancakes were ready. They would hurriedly abandon their stalls to collect them, then return to serving customers afterward.

The scene was both funny and exasperating.

Those whose turns had not come would rush back to their stalls whenever customers arrived, then run back to the queue when business slowed, terrified someone would take their place.

Just then, the braised meat vendor was chopping up braised dishes for his customers, his knife clacking away. Before he could finish, someone suddenly called from the line, "Braised meat guy, your flying pancake's ready! Hurry over!"

"Coming, coming! I'll be right there!"

The braised meat vendor quickly wiped his hands and told his customers, "Sorry, please give me a minute. I'll just go get my flying pancake first."

The customers who had come specifically for braised dishes looked at the half-chopped food, then at the vendor running faster than a rabbit, utterly bewildered.

When the vendor returned, put on clean gloves, and resumed chopping the braised meat, one customer could no longer hold back a complaint.

"Isn't it just a scallion flying pancake like those Indian flying pancakes? What's all the fuss about? Does he stuff his scallion pancakes with dragon meat or something? Why are they so popular?"

The braised meat vendor had never tried one either. Handing the chopped meat to the first customer in line, he said with a chuckle, "I haven't had one either. I only just got mine and was about to try it. Everyone who's tried one says it's delicious. How could I not give it a taste?"

Who didn't get a craving now and then?

With that, the braised meat vendor hastily took off his gloves, picked up his scallion pancake, and took a huge bite.

That single bite astonished him, too.

He had figured that with so many people buying them, the scallion pancakes had to taste pretty good, but he had never expected one to be this delicious.

The instant his teeth tore through the pancake, the crisp texture of its crust alone was enough to amaze him.

Usually, a crust this crisp was either deep-fried or baked, but he had seen it clearly-this scallion pancake seemed to have been cooked on a griddle, hadn't it?

Had any oil been added?

Running back and forth to serve customers, he had missed the full process of making the scallion pancakes. What a shame!

The outer crust was so flaky that crumbs fell away, yet it was not remotely greasy in his mouth. The pure aroma of toasted wheat filled his mouth first.

The instant he bit through it, hot scallion-scented steam trapped between the layers burst out. The rich, toasted fragrance of cooked scallions paired with the fresh sweetness of raw scallions, the two flavors unfolding layer by layer.

The weather was so hot this time of year that people did not really care for fried food. It always felt too greasy to stomach.

As a result, the most popular foods at the night market were snacks like grilled cold noodles, cold skin noodles, and chilled noodles, tossed in sour, spicy sauces and pleasantly cool and easy to eat.

Yet this pancake was not greasy at all. The moment he bit into it, his mouth filled with scallion fragrance without the slightest greasiness. Even that fragrance unfolded in layers, leaving a rich, lingering aftertaste.

The braised meat vendor chewed in amazement. Could an ordinary scallion pancake really be made with such exquisite layers of flavor?

He had only meant to satisfy his curiosity with a bite, put it away, and get back to business, saving the rest until his customers had left. Instead, the aroma tempted him so badly that he could not stop, and he began taking huge mouthfuls.

The customers buying braised meat were still waiting for him to take a bite and give his verdict, satisfy their curiosity, then sell them their meat so they could go home.

Instead, right in front of his customers, the vendor stopped doing business altogether and buried himself in eating his scallion pancake, leaving them staring in bewilderment.

Seriously, boss, did you still remember what you were here to do?

Everyone was waiting here for their braised meat to be chopped, and you were just eating away by yourself. Was that reasonable? Was that appropriate?

"Boss, we're still here. Did you forget?"

"Exactly, boss. Didn't you say you were just going to taste the scallion pancake? Is that tasting? You're clearly having a meal."

"Boss, are you still doing business or not?"

"Yes, yes, of course!"

Still absorbed in the delicious scallion pancake, the braised meat vendor finally snapped out of it at his customers' words. Embarrassed, he pulled the pancake back and set it aside, wiped his mouth with a tissue, washed his hands, and put on a fresh pair of gloves before he started chopping the braised meat.

"Sorry about that. The pancake was so delicious that I couldn't help taking a couple more bites. Sorry to have kept you waiting."

The vendor deftly took out a piece of braised dried tofu, cut it into small pieces, stuck toothpicks into them, and offered them to the customers to try. Only then did he begin chopping the braised meat.

"Boss, isn't your acting a little over the top?"

"Yeah, boss. Look at that crowd over there, taking pictures and cheering. Some people even finish eating and get right back in line. Isn't that the usual routine for an internet-famous food place?"

"That vendor paid you guys, didn't he? He even gives you free scallion pancakes, so you can run your own business and earn a little on the side."

"Your acting's too fake. I come to this food street all the time. How come I never knew there was a stall here selling anything that good?"

"Huh?"

Their remarks left the braised meat vendor stunned for a moment before he realized they had taken him for a shill. He hurriedly explained, "I'm not a shill. I just bought a pancake to try."

"Got it. Everyone's just trying to make a living. We understand."

The customers wore expressions that said they understood how hard it was for anyone to make money, leaving the vendor at a loss for words.

He was honestly running his business, yet they had taken him for a shill?

He could not stand being wronged like this!

"If you don't believe me, try it yourselves. Don't accuse an innocent man."

With that, the vendor rinsed his meat knife with clean water, then cut a few small pieces from the untouched side of his scallion pancake and shared them out.

The little golden, crispy pieces of scallion pancake were passed into their hands.

A rich aroma wafted toward them, leaving the customers who had been teasing him momentarily stunned.