He Wencai

Biodata

Background / History

Discovering Shen Chuan’s Cooking

During the summer heat, He Wencai suffered from a poor appetite until he happened upon a crowd buying Shen Chuan’s chive pockets. He bought one to try and was immediately won over by its fresh, savory flavor. He subsequently became a regular who enthusiastically recommended the food to other customers 24 25.

His return visits were frustrated by Shen Chuan’s switch to scallion pancakes, which he could not eat because of his allergy. Having arrived early with his secret stash of money to buy chive pockets, he instead left the line and ordered three from Auntie Liao. Her food did not satisfy his craving for Shen Chuan’s version 24 25.

Bringing His Own Ingredients

After Shen Chuan refused to make chive pockets because he lacked the ingredients, He Wencai lay awake craving them. His repeated sighing and complaints woke his wife, who eventually drove him out of the bedroom. That night, he realized he could supply the ingredients himself 25.

The next morning, he drove to his hometown instead of going to work. After a six-hour round trip, he went directly to the food street and secured first place in line. He brought carefully selected chives, flour milled from his family’s wheat, and eggs, presenting them to Shen Chuan as ingredients that would meet his standards 25 26.

He Wencai promised to pay full price despite supplying the ingredients and offered to help with preparation. Shen Chuan accepted, and He Wencai initially claimed the entire batch. Under pressure from the other customers, he agreed to keep his own portion and resell the remainder at one per person. Finally eating the chive pockets brought him close to tears 27 28.

Appearing in Wen Yang’s Video

Food blogger Wen Yang recorded He Wencai’s appeal while visiting the stall. After the footage was posted, viewers questioned whether someone would really bring ingredients and beg a roadside vendor to cook them. The scene became a focus of accusations that the video was scripted, which Wen Yang disputed 26 32 33.

Seeking More Food He Could Eat

When customers later asked him to supply more ingredients after Shen Chuan sold out, He Wencai had none left. His exacting selection had stripped his family’s small chive patch of its tenderest growth and wasted enough produce that his parents temporarily forbade him from returning home 43.

He continued queuing for scallion pancakes for his wife, although he could not eat them himself. After one particularly long wait, he called his mother to request more chives and free-range eggs. His wife helped persuade her to search the village for suitable ingredients 45 46.

Shen Chuan’s subsequent switch to roujiamo delighted him. He celebrated being able to eat the stall’s food again and credited his daily incense offerings and prayers to the Buddha for the welcome menu change 49.

Personality

He Wencai is an enthusiastic, persistent food lover with complete faith in Shen Chuan’s cooking. Substitutes only intensify his craving for the original, and he is willing to sacrifice a workday, drive between cities, and wait in the sun to obtain it. His attention to ingredient quality extends to washing the chives and removing their older outer leaves before bringing them to the stall 25 26 27 28 49.

His eagerness sometimes overrides his discretion. While pleading with Shen Chuan, he accidentally tells the crowd that his craving got him expelled from the bedroom. Although deeply embarrassed by their laughter, he continues asking for chive pockets 26.

Relationships

• Shen Chuan — His favorite cook. He praises Shen Chuan’s chive pockets as unmatched and supplies ingredients to persuade him to make them again 26 27.
• Wife — Initially exasperated by his sleepless complaints, she becomes a devoted customer after he brings home chive pockets. He queues for her scallion pancakes, and she helps him obtain his mother’s cooperation in sourcing ingredients 25 45 46.
• Mama He — His mother. She scolds him for damaging the family vegetable patch but agrees to seek tender chives and free-range eggs after her daughter-in-law intervenes 45 46.
• Father — Helps maintain the family’s homegrown produce. Mama He says they will ask about land after He Wencai requests more vegetables 46.
• Auntie Liao — A neighboring vendor from whom he buys chive pockets when Shen Chuan is selling only scallion pancakes 24.

Notable Quotes

“Boss Shen, please, make chive pockets one more time and let me have a bite. I'm really craving them. It's your fault for making them so delicious. I'd bet that if your chive pockets ranked second, nobody would dare claim first.” 26

“My happiness is back! I can finally smile again! Hahahahaha!” 49