There Are Way Too Many People
For the vast majority of customers in the group, this was a battlefield where no gunpowder smoke could be seen. Even before the war had started, the current eve of it was already full of the smell of gunpowder1. For the first time in a long while, no one was speaking in the group. Everyone was thinking: Should I take a day off tomorrow to go line up? Or should I directly Didi2 a proxy buyer?3
Just at this moment, someone suddenly spoke up. “Wa, is it Pagoda Meat?4 I super love it! I have to get in line for it; I could go every day. Or Little Boss Sun, on account of me having done so much publicity for you so many times, could you give me one portion through the black curtain?5“
She also directly @’d Sun Miao.
This person’s screen name, “Has Lizi Eaten Today,” was recognized at a glance as that somewhat famous eating-broadcaster, Lizi. Her sentence made everyone in the group very worked up.6
As if we need you to publicize! And it’s precisely because of you that even the student faction can follow you to step on the spot7 and come over! How hateful!
Sun Miao’s old customers truly didn’t want her fame to become too high. But following Lizi’s publicity and the program filmed by the television station, Sun Miao had already become a little famous in this city. This situation was clearly something that no one wanted to see. Fortunately, Sun Miao wasn’t a greedy person; she felt that her current customer flow was already enough.
It was already quite saturated, so why was there any need to publicize it further? This kind of thinking moved the old customers in the group to a crashing mess.8
Returning to the main topic, after Lizi said that, the people in the group once again started to “chat” with raging fire soaring to the sky.9
【Hehe, let’s talk after you manage to buy it.】
【You want a black curtain? Then I want one too. No matter what, I’ve followed Little Boss Sun for a long time. How am I not worthy?】
【Publicity? Thank you so much. Our Group 2 is about to be full. I feel that something like publicity is greatly unnecessary, right?】
This was because she was in Group 2. The people in Group 1 didn’t know, otherwise they would’ve been even more enthusiastic.
Everyone in Group 1 was also chatting, mainly about how to snatch a spot. Someone also @’d Hip-hop Mei: 【This time it’s Alexander10, oh. The noon time slot isn’t like the morning or evening, which are so easy to time. There are quite a lot of people in the group with money and leisure. Little Boss Sun starts selling at 10 o’clock, but I feel like someone will be waiting there at 8 o’clock. Can you still snatch first place this time?】
Actually, Hip-hop Mei’s heart was also beating a drum11, but she would absolutely not fall behind others with her words. 【Who’s afraid of whom? At worst, I’ll just bring a sleeping bag to the stall later and wait. I refuse to believe anyone can be earlier than me!】
Yuanfu Tower’s Boss, Yuan Xiangyi, also came out and said, 【This place is quite close to my restaurant. Everyone, if you manage to buy the Pagoda Meat, you’re welcome to come to my restaurant to eat. I’ll provide white rice for free. If you could let me have a taste of the Pagoda Meat made by Little Boss Sun, that would be even better.】
Cat Owner @’d Lemon Tea Boss in the group: 【Boss, I want to eat, I’m begging. Little cat waving goodbye.gif】
The moment everyone stopped diving12 and stood up to brush the screen13, everyone knew that absolutely no one would choose to withdraw from this battle.
The next morning, everyone really did wake up early. Zhou Ling’s Mama’s Little Sister14 also woke up very early. She was someone who had experienced the Lion’s Head15 meal-snatching scene and knew just how scarce 20 portions truly were. These 20 portions, if everyone was fast enough, could be completely sold out in less than a minute. In order to line up, she even specifically brought a small folding stool16 so she could sit and wait for Little Boss Sun.
She arrived quite early. Just as someone in the group had said yesterday, she was punctually at the stall location at 8 o’clock. But what she didn’t expect was that there were already people waiting in front. Zhou Ling’s Mama’s Little Sister’s heart thumped. She walked over quickly and counted the number of people, thinking she wouldn’t get to eat. As a result, she heard two people in front saying, “The two of us are combining an order17, one person gets half, it’s been agreed upon. But I did my homework yesterday and heard that the Pagoda Meat is a single, complete, long strip. We’ll lay that meat flat and then cut it in half.”
“Okay, okay, that’s fine.”
Counting again, it was just right—she was the 20th portion. Zhou Ling’s Mama’s Little Sister immediately became happy. She directly unfolded the folding stool she was carrying, sat down, and waited with the composure of an old god.18
Afterward, many more people arrived one after another. Especially at 9 o’clock, a lot of people came, forming a long dragon19 behind her. Some people counted the ones in front, felt they had no hope, and left the line. But they still didn’t go far, instead standing to the side. Their eyes stared intently at the people in the queue, glowing green and looking particularly terrifying.
At nine-thirty, someone couldn’t hold back anymore and used the great method of cash-ability20. “Everyone, is there anyone willing to give their spot to me? I really, especially love to eat Pagoda Meat. I’m willing to offer 1000. This money is enough to eat a good meal. Everyone, please do a good deed and give me one spot.”
Zhou Ling’s Mama’s Little Sister looked over. Yo-ho, an acquaintance. She had run into him before when lining up for Lion’s Head.
Then there was no need to pay him any mind. When he was trying to buy Lion’s Head, he stood to the side and said the same thing.
Whoever falls for it is an idiot. In any case, she wouldn’t fall for it.
The people in the line were all especially resolute, truly not moving a single step, just waiting for Sun Miao to arrive. Seeing that it was about time, Zhou Ling’s Mama’s Little Sister stood up. She looked towards the very front of the line, and it was still the Hip-hop Yabi Duo exclusively occupying the sea turtle’s head21. There was no telling what time the two of them had arrived to be able to line up in first place.
At 9:50, Sun Miao arrived, driving her small dining car. In that instant, even Sun Miao, who made sufficient mental preparations every time, couldn’t help but be startled by the number of customers in front of her. For no other reason, there were truly too many people.
You couldn’t blame everyone, either. It was mainly because Sun Miao had been out playing for a bit too long. She had started resting right after selling out of Bridgehead Pork Ribs, plus the eight days of the National Day holiday, and then rested for another two days after coming back. Except for those few chicken-thief22 people who secretly ran to Xin Province23, everyone else had already stretched their necks to gaze through the autumn waters.24
Sun Miao had also announced she was going to sell Pagoda Meat for 588 per portion. For most customers, this was the first time since the Lion’s Head. In addition, very few people actually got to eat the Lion’s Head that time, so they really didn’t want to miss out this time. So of course they all came.
Normally, the people lining up at Sun Miao’s place would be at most around a hundred. But at this moment, there was a dense, dark mass25. Counting carefully, there had to be two or three hundred people.
She was only selling 20 portions, but so many people came. Even Sun Miao felt Alexander. When I say “sold out” later, the customers won’t tear me apart, will they?
Because there were so many people, the number of people helping Sun Miao push the dining car was also more than before. Everyone used a little bit of strength, and the dining car was pushed under the second streetlight.
There were also some who passed by not understanding the true situation, asking, “Can you get free eggs here? Why are there so many people?” They were answered, “No, we’re waiting for a street stall vendor.” The person who asked was stunned for a moment, his eyes widening a bit in disbelief. But the other party had kindly answered him, so he couldn’t say, “So many people waiting for a stall? They’re sick.”
When that person left, he was still complaining under his breath. Could it be that they’re all hired actors? A roadside stall hasn’t even been set up yet, and so many people have come to wait?
He walked away muttering in a small voice, but there were still many people who stayed behind to watch the excitement. They even went to a small shop on the roadside to buy a bag of melon seeds, wanting to see just what sacred being26 this stall vendor was, selling what kind of thing that could have so many people waiting.
So, besides the group of people waiting for Sun Miao, there were also some extra people watching the excitement. It was no wonder Sun Miao felt the number of people was terrifyingly large. She watched as the dining car was placed in its spot, then walked over with a few quick steps. Sun Miao, as usual, set out the table, tidied up the dining car, and began to prepare for selling.
As soon as she looked up, she discovered everyone was looking at her… Help me, the oppressive feeling of these gazes is really too much!
Sun Miao swallowed a mouthful of saliva, raised her usual smile, and then said to the Hip-hop Yabi Duo in front of her, “You two want one portion?” Actually, the fact that the Hip-hop Yabi Duo was at the very front made her relax a little. At the very least, she was familiar with them!
However, as soon as she opened her mouth, she also exposed her desire to sell to more people so they could have a taste. But the Hip-hop Yabi Duo shook their heads at the same time. “No, the two of us will each buy one portion.”
Since the customers had said so, Sun Miao had no way to force them. She just opened the cabinet of the dining car, took out two boxes from inside, packed them separately, and handed them to the Hip-hop Yabi Duo.
Compared to ordinary dishes, Pagoda Meat is relatively tall. Sun Miao had also wandered around the wholesale market for quite a while yesterday before she found this kind of relatively tall take-out box. It was probably usually used to pack malatang, but this one was even a little taller. After Sun Miao packed it into a bag, she also put in a pair of disposable chopsticks.
It was Hip-hop Mei who paid the bill. She always overpaid, but this time she was especially generous, directly giving 1500. This caused the customers behind to be shocked. Wait, how did it become 1500?
The Hip-hop Yabi Duo each carried their bags, said “We’re leaving” to Sun Miao, and left the stall. Normally, the two of them would stay and eat at the small table, but today there were too many people. They felt that if they ate at the table, they would be surrounded and watched by other people like they were monkeys. Besides, what the Yuanfu Tower Boss said had also reminded them.
Pagoda Meat had to be eaten with rice!
Afterward, a few more portions were sold. They weren’t as familiar; they were probably people who had only become Sun Miao’s regular customers in the last two times. After selling another one or two portions, she saw three girls standing together. They smiled and said they were buying one portion together. Someone had really actualized the “group buying”27 that was mentioned before. Sun Miao, however, gave a reminder, “This portion size isn’t very large. If the three of you eat one portion, you’ll need to pair it with some other things.”
“Alright, got it, thank you Little Boss Sun!”
The three of them left, carrying one portion of Pagoda Meat. Later, there were also groups of two getting take-out, and then it was Zhou Ling’s Mama’s Little Sister’s turn. “I thought I was the last one, oh. I didn’t expect there was a group of three together in front.”
“Yes,” Sun Miao responded. She was actually more talkative today than usual. Normally, she had to operate on the dining car, and although she wore a mask, she was inevitably afraid that saliva might accidentally fly out. Today, the food was prepared at home and sold directly, so this step was omitted, which also gave her more opportunities to speak.
The selling was especially fast today. Sun Miao had just arrived, and it was sold out in no more than ten minutes. If it were just one hand paying money, one hand delivering goods28, it could have been even faster. The wasted time was all from Sun Miao chatting with the customers.
With 20 portions sold out, Sun Miao looked at the hopeful customer before her, and in the other party’s panicked gaze, she helplessly announced, “Sold out.”
The author has something to say:
The consequences of when the level of production can’t keep up with consumption……
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