Setting Up Stalls – Chapter 18

Going to Eat at a Street Food Stall?

The candy in Zhou Ling’s mouth had long since been finished, and just after hearing Sun Miao’s words, the driver suddenly…

Zhou Ling had long since finished the candy in her mouth. Just after hearing Sun Miao speak, the driver suddenly stepped forward and told Zhou Ling, “Young Miss, we should head home now. The master and madam will be getting anxious soon.”

Zhou Ling stood up and waved to Sun Miao: “See you tomorrow~”

“Alright, see you tomorrow.”

After Zhou Ling left, Sun Miao hummed a tune while cleaning up the items on the table, then sat down behind her food cart. She played with her phone, turning on a lamp by the roadside in the darkness, waiting for the next customer.

Sun Miao hadn’t expected that running a street stall could be such an interesting experience, allowing her to meet so many people. She could meet her crush Su Ruixi, the young nurse, and even console a young girl today. She wasn’t sure if it was just her imagination, but she felt that every time Zhou Ling finished her malatang, she seemed much happier.

“Perhaps I have a talent for being a teacher or life coach~”

【No, it’s the food that heals people’s hearts.】

“Haha, both are right, both are right~”

Sun Miao wouldn’t argue with the system about such small matters, and besides, saying that food heals the heart was also true. Moreover, without the support of her delicious malatang, Sun Miao’s words alone would have no persuasive power. It was because of the delicious food in front of her that Zhou Ling was willing to listen to Sun Miao talk so much.

While Sun Miao was quite happy here, Su Ruixi wasn’t so happy over there.

Rewinding time a bit, she had just sat in her car, took off her coat, and after some thought, still retrieved the candy Sun Miao had given her from her coat pocket, tore open the wrapper, and popped it into her mouth.

The small piece of candy appeared crystalline and light red. Though crystalline, it wasn’t transparent – its price point didn’t allow for that level of clarity. When it reached her mouth, Su Ruixi’s first thought wasn’t about its artificial sweetness.

Instead, it was: Hmm, strawberry.

With the strawberry candy in her mouth, she turned off the hazard lights, released the handbrake, and drove home. She returned earlier than usual today, watched some news for a while, and at 8:30, she retrieved a small gift from her home and headed to the neighbor’s house.

She had promised Sun Miao, so she had to follow through.

Otherwise, when she went for malatang tomorrow and Sun Miao looked at her with those bright, expectant eyes asking “How did it go?”, how could she respond? Tell her she forgot because she was busy? She might as well not show her face at the malatang stall again.

Su Ruixi stood outside the garden gate and pressed the button beneath the screen on the stone pillar. Shortly after, the screen lit up, showing Mother Zhou. She seemed somewhat surprised, taking a moment to recall who Su Ruixi was.

Su Ruixi explained her purpose, identifying herself as the next-door neighbor, and then Mother Zhou remembered.

The garden’s iron gate unlocked by remote control, and Su Ruixi pushed it open, walking up the stone path through the garden. When she reached the entrance, the main door opened from inside. Mother Zhou stood there with Zhou Ling, her face full of smiles: “Miss Su, you’re too kind.”

Su Ruixi had just explained through the screen that she knew their Zhou Ling was in her final year of high school and would soon take the Gaokao, so she brought a small gift to wish her success.

Mother Zhou invited Su Ruixi to come in and sit, and Su Ruixi didn’t refuse, saying “Excuse the intrusion” as she entered. Standing behind her mother, Zhou Ling appeared awkward and nervous.

Her current reaction felt familiar to Su Ruixi: Wasn’t this exactly how she herself had looked when that hip-hop girl passed by while eating malatang? In that moment, Su Ruixi understood what Zhou Ling was worried about.

Zhou Ling feared that she would reveal her secret visits to the street food stall, leading to a scolding from her parents.

Same world, same worries.

At this moment, Su Ruixi’s mood improved somewhat. However, she had no intention of betraying Zhou Ling; she was different from that hip-hop girl and wouldn’t run to tattle to parents.

Su Ruixi handed the wrapped gift to Zhou Ling: “I’m giving you a fountain pen, wishing you success in your studies.”

Zhou Ling obediently accepted it and said: “Thank you, jiejie.”

After entering, Mother Zhou prepared house slippers for Su Ruixi, but she requested disposable shoe covers instead. After putting on the shoe covers, Su Ruixi went in and sat for a while. She chatted briefly with Zhou Ling, and noticing her restlessness, interjected to suggest Zhou Ling return to her room to study.

After these words, Zhou Ling visibly relaxed.

Afterward, Su Ruixi turned to Mother Zhou and revealed the true purpose of her visit.

“Mrs. Zhou, besides concerning yourself with your beloved daughter’s grades, shouldn’t you also pay attention to her mental health?”

Her words were particularly direct, and Mother Zhou’s eyebrows immediately furrowed: “Miss Su, what do you mean by that?”

Su Ruixi was quite adept at improvising: “Actually, this isn’t my first encounter with your daughter. Once before, I met her by the river while she was taking a walk. She was under immense psychological pressure. I stood beside her for a long time, watching her cry by the bridge.”

Su Ruixi didn’t explicitly mention any suicidal intentions from Zhou Ling, but rather indirectly said, “Zhou Ling is a good child; she wouldn’t do anything foolish. But that day when I saw her, I recalled all those news stories I’d read before. I feel her pressure is truly too great. Mrs. Zhou, you’re certainly an impeccable mother, but you should also consider whether your child can bear this pressure.”

“With the gaokao approaching, if the child can’t handle the psychological burden, it would be counterproductive.”

In relationships, one should avoid speaking too deeply when the connection is shallow. Her relationship with the Zhou family was merely that of nodding acquaintances – if they met outside the residential complex, Su Ruixi might not even recognize Mother Zhou. But since Sun Miao had asked for her help, she was willing to say things she normally wouldn’t.

Mother Zhou appeared unconvinced but still expressed gratitude: “Thank you, but I know my child. She’s definitely not that fragile, and she’ll certainly perform well in the gaokao.”

A mother certainly wouldn’t be swayed by just a few words from Su Ruixi, and she knew this. To make Mother Zhou change her mind and break her long-held beliefs would take something special. How to break through? Su Ruixi had an idea.

She stopped dwelling on Zhou Ling’s matters and shifted the conversation to the residential community’s WeChat group. Mother Zhou showed more interest in this topic and started sharing neighborhood gossip with Su Ruixi. After a brief exchange, Su Ruixi steered the conversation toward the malatang stall at the community entrance.

Mother Zhou paused, and sure enough, a slight look of disdain appeared on her face.

Understandable, Su Ruixi thought, wealthy madams were all like this, certainly looking down on street food stalls. Before Su Ruixi could speak, Mother Zhou spoke first: “I don’t know what’s so good about that street food stall, though many people say it’s especially delicious.”

“Street stalls are not clean at all. Who knows what vegetables and oil they use? It could be gutter oil or even zombie meat. Either way, eating there can’t be good.”

“I’ve eaten there myself.”

Su Ruixi’s words made Mother Zhou feel awkward. Indirectly suggesting someone’s food choice was garbage while speaking to someone who ate there – that was clearly offensive.

Su Ruixi didn’t intend to pursue the topic further, only commenting: “Actually, the taste is quite good. Otherwise, so many people from our community wouldn’t go there to eat at a street stall.” Mother Zhou’s face showed obvious curiosity, which was enough for Su Ruixi.

She chose to take her leave; she had said enough for Mother Zhou to digest today. Her understanding of human nature was precise, and Mother Zhou seemed like someone with strong curiosity and interest in gossip. Tomorrow, she might very well visit Sun Miao’s stall.

As for whether Sun Miao could seize the opportunity to break Mother Zhou’s stereotype that “street food must be unclean and tasteless” with her delicious food, and subsequently make her realize more things – that would be up to Sun Miao herself.

Just as Su Ruixi predicted, the next day, Mother Zhou deliberately passed by the back entrance. Initially, she didn’t plan to eat, just wanting to look and see if this malatang stall was really as busy as they said. There was no need to worry about Mother Zhou running into Zhou Ling, as their schedules were completely different.

Zhou Ling wouldn’t return home until after 7:30, after finishing her tutoring class. Meanwhile, Mother Zhou went out during the day.

When she passed by the stall, it was lunchtime, 12:30, and Sun Miao’s stall was especially busy, with around ten people queuing at the small malatang stand. Unlike Su Ruixi, who would shake her head at the sight of queues, Mother Zhou actually preferred shopping at places with long lines.

In other words, she liked to follow the crowd.

Su Ruixi couldn’t understand this, but it didn’t change the fact that many people enjoyed doing so. Seeing so many people there, Mother Zhou became interested, wondering: Was this malatang really that delicious? So many people were queuing, and quite a few were people she knew.

Mother Zhou got out of the car first, asking the driver to take the car home, before joining the line at the stall.

As luck would have it, Li nainai [李奶奶 | nǎinai | grandmother] was queuing in front with her granddaughter. Mother Zhou asked curiously: “Li Ayi [阿姨 | āyí | Aunt], why would you bring your granddaughter to queue here? Aren’t you worried she’ll get an upset stomach?” The little granddaughter holding her grandmother’s hand immediately looked up at Mother Zhou and explained softly: “I won’t get a stomach ache at all.”

Li nainai replied cheerfully: “Boss Xiaosun’s stall is very clean, and all ingredients are freshly prepared in the morning. How could they go bad so quickly? Moreover, I’ve noticed her vegetables are fresh, even better than what my housekeeper buys at the market.”

“Don’t let Xiaosun’s young age fool you; she has quite an expert eye for selecting ingredients. Most people can’t compare.”

She leaned in closer to Mother Zhou and whispered: “Besides, you should know my granddaughter is quite picky, and she really enjoys the food here.”

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