We Won't Have Come All This Way for Nothing Today, Will We?

Shen Chuan thought it over carefully and understood.

It seemed the people who knew him had already become immune to his showing off. They acknowledged his cooking skills, and perhaps they thought this was just how he talked? No matter how much he showed off, they could quickly get used to it.

So he still needed to attract more new customers. Showing off worked better in front of new customers.

Jiang Wenyan lifted the curtain and sat in the driver's seat up front. The cool air-conditioning blew over him, leaving him refreshed too.

With such a great working environment, he grew more enthusiastic about chauffeuring Boss Shen by the day. Just what kind of dumb luck had he stumbled into to meet Boss Shen!

On Food Street, a long line had already formed where Shen Chuan set up his stall. Although his food was a little pricey, it was simply too delicious to resist, and the price was still within what everyone could accept. After trying it, his regular customers recommended it to their families and friends.

Their families and friends found it delicious too and brought along more friends and relatives. The cycle continued, so before he even arrived, a long line had already formed in front of his stall, longer than those of the past few days. Quite a few people in it were fans who had watched Wen Yang's video and come to give it a try.

At that moment, a few more of Wen Yang's fans walked into Food Street. Curious, they made their way in from the entrance, their eyes darting everywhere.

When they saw a line stretching so far beyond an empty stall that they couldn't see its end, one girl said excitedly, "Found it! With a line this long, this should be the stall Brother Yang mentioned. Let's go ask."

"Brother Yang said to look for the stall with the longest line, but he didn't say it would be this long. How long will we have to wait?"

Her friends followed her over to the stall. Just as they were about to ask the customers in line, they spotted Wen Yang among them. Their eyes lit up, and they pointed toward him.

"Girls, look! It's Brother Yang!"

Wen Yang was tall and brawny, making him especially conspicuous in the line. The fans took a closer look, and sure enough, it was the food blogger they followed.

The thought that Wen Yang himself had come to line up for food in such hot weather gave them even more confidence in this stall's scallion pancakes.

The girls quickened their steps, walked over to Wen Yang, and greeted him.

"Brother Yang, what a coincidence! We didn't expect you to be lining up here too."

Seeing more fans greeting him, Wen Yang gave a reserved smile.

"Yeah, I'm craving them too. I didn't buy enough yesterday and didn't get anywhere near my fill, so I came specifically to line up for more. Unfortunately, I got here a little late and couldn't snag a spot near the front."

In fact, Wen Yang had arrived early enough. Food Street was a night market, and the stall owners only headed out after four to get ready. By the time everything was prepared and ready to eat, it was already five.

Yesterday, he had left at four thirty and driven half an hour to get here, only to be greeted by a long line.

So today, he had left half an hour earlier, thinking he should be able to get a spot near the front. But when he arrived, good grief, the line was even longer than yesterday's.

And quite a few people in it were fans who had come on his recommendation. Wen Yang didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

Sharing delicious snacks with others felt wonderful, but when he was waiting in line and saw fans all around him, it didn't feel quite so wonderful anymore.

The line was simply too long. Somehow, it felt like he had shot himself in the foot.

Seeing how Wen Yang practically drooled at the mention of scallion pancakes made the girls even more curious.

"Brother Yang, are those scallion pancakes really that good? You don't even mind being out in the sun anymore. I remember you saying in one episode that you hated being in the sun more than anything."

"Exactly. You've never been this excited when introducing good food before."

"Just how delicious can they be? My taste buds have only gotten a little more refined from following you, Brother Yang. I honestly can't imagine it."

Before Wen Yang could speak, the regular customers ahead of and behind him began jumping in with answers.

Partly, the stall owner's food really was delicious, and they wanted to introduce it to everyone. Partly, they also felt a little superior for having discovered the stall first.

"Speaking of those scallion pancakes, don't think Boss Shen just tosses them around to look cool. They don't just look good when he tosses them. They taste even better."

"You can say that again. Every layer of a single scallion pancake has its own flavor, and each layer feels different. I've eaten them two days running, and every time, I can hardly believe a pancake this delicious is a scallion pancake."

"Exactly. In the outermost layer, the scallions fry in the oil and release their own oil. It's rich and tasty, savory and delicious. As you bite farther in, it develops layer by layer, and that fresh, sweet flavor in the innermost layer is truly exceptional."

Wen Yang had wanted to give his fans a proper introduction to what made these scallion pancakes special, but the customers in line had beaten him to it, and their descriptions were so articulate that he didn't know what to say for a moment.

In the end, he added, "No matter how delicious we say they are, it won't mean much until you taste them yourselves. Since you're here early, hurry up and get in line. I'm afraid if you're too far back, they'll be sold out by the time it's your turn."

At Wen Yang's reminder, the girls looked at the long line and grew anxious too.

"Right, right, Brother Yang's right. We'll get in line now. We came all this way just for this. We can't leave empty-handed."

"Thanks, Brother Yang!"

The girls broke into a run and rushed to the very end of the line. Only once they had taken their places did they feel reassured. Now they could wait comfortably to buy their scallion pancakes.

The line kept growing. It was already past five, but Shen Chuan's stall still hadn't arrived, and everyone began to grow anxious.

The new customers didn't know the situation. They were simply unhappy that the line was so long and the owner hadn't even started yet, leaving them to keep waiting.

The regulars could barely stand still anymore, wiping away sweat while frequently looking toward the street entrance.

Boss Shen's stall usually arrived on Food Street around four thirty, as punctual as someone clocking in for work. He never arrived early, but he was never late either. Today, it was almost five thirty, and his stall still wasn't here.

One regular muttered, "Boss Shen isn't skipping today, is he? I got here early yesterday and went home after buying my food. I forgot to ask whether he'd be setting up today."

His muttering gave the surrounding customers a fright too.

"I didn't ask yesterday either. Once I bought my chive pockets, I was too busy eating. My God, how could I forget to ask something so important?"

"I was the last to buy, but I didn't ask either. Is anyone here close to Boss Shen? Does anyone have his contact information?"

"Oh, right, where's the lemonade guy? He's Boss Shen's personal errand boy. He'll know what's going on."

At that suggestion, everyone hurriedly turned to look at the little lemonade stall beside the scallion pancake stall. What they saw made their hearts sink.

The neighboring stall was empty too. The lemonade guy hadn't set up at all.

Everyone's heart lurched. They were screwed. They hadn't come all this way for nothing today, had they?