"Do we really have to go all this way just to get a rice combo set during our short lunch break?"
While on the road, office worker Zhou Xiao couldn't help but complain.
Do you know how precious fifteen minutes of lunch break is to an office worker?!
Even one more minute of sleep is the ultimate pleasure.
But today, Zhou Xiao's buddy Liu Fei insisted on dragging him out to eat at a food stall.
Why not just order delivery for lunch? Why go all the way there?
Eating is never as important as sleeping.
However, seeing Liu Fei so enthusiastic, Zhou Xiao didn't want to be too dismissive and decided to go have a look.
Tomorrow, he'll just say he didn't like the food and won't join anymore.
Soon enough, the two arrived at Hongshan Park. At that moment, there were already about seven or eight people queuing up in the corner of the park.
"See? People are already lining up!"
"That rice combo set really is tasty, they use good ingredients, and it's made to order."
"You definitely won't lose out eating here."
Liu Fei, seeing that there were already people, excitedly recommended it.
Zhou Xiao was somewhat skeptical. But since he was already there, he might as well wait to eat.
Just at that time, Jiang Feng arrived with the mobile food truck.
Everyone helped him set up the tables and chairs, and Jiang Feng immediately began to heat the oil in the wok, ready to cook.
Zhou Xiao and Liu Fei were both in line.
Zhou Xiao looked at the guy in front with a puzzled face. Wasn't this guy the pancake seller from the stall next door?
Why is he not selling pancakes but queuing up at someone else's stall?
What's going on here!
Since the crowd wasn't too large yet, the line moved quickly to the pancake seller.
"Boss, have you introduced a new dish today?"
The pancake seller asked, looking at the blackboard with the menu written on it.
"Yes, we've added a new Sweet and Sour Pork Fillet," Jiang Feng replied.
"Then I'll have a Sweet and Sour Pork Fillet rice combo set, how much is it?" the pancake seller asked again.
"That one is the same price as the shredded pork with garlic sauce, 28 per serving."
"Okay, I'll take it."
Zhou Xiao listened to the conversation between the two men from behind. The more he listened, the more confused he became.
Twenty-eight for a rice combo set? That's highway robbery!
So expensive?
But the smell of the cooking is really good!
No wonder there are so many people in line!
Liu Fei was in front of Zhou Xiao, and he had been thinking of having the shredded pork with garlic sauce he had eaten the day before.
At this time, Jiang Feng started to make the Sweet and Sour Pork Fillet.
The pork fillet had already been marinated, and the sauces were pre-mixed.
He just needed to fry it twice, then give it a quick stir-fry, sprinkle some green onions and sesame seeds, and the Sweet and Sour Pork Fillet was ready to serve.
Seeing the Sweet and Sour Pork Fillet's presentation, Liu Fei immediately changed his mind.
"Boss, I'll have a Sweet and Sour Pork Fillet and shredded pork with garlic sauce combo set, with an added egg soup," Liu Fei said.
"Alright, the combo set is 28, plus the egg soup is 31," Jiang Feng stated.
Following Liu Fei's lead, Zhou Xiao also said, "I'll have the same, a combo set with added egg soup."
"Good, scan the code here, then take a seat over there and wait a moment."
Liu Fei scanned the QR code and paid. "WeChat payment received: 62 yuan," a notification announced.
Zhou Xiao's mouth twitched slightly. Sixty-two yuan for a small stall meal for two people, almost catching up to KFC!
Jiang Feng began to bustle about. The food truck had two stoves, one for frying and one for stir-frying. Next to them, there was also a pot for heating, with chicken legs simmering inside. Jiang Feng was buzzing with activity. Sometimes he would toss the contents of the wok, and at other times he would scoop condiments into the pot. With a constant stream of customers, he hadn't stopped working for a second! The spatula was practically sparking.
Today, an extra table and a few more stools were added, but it still seemed not enough as more and more customers were coming.
Quickly, Jiang Feng finished cooking the shredded pork with garlic sauce as well.
He made two rice combo sets, brought them over to Liu Fei and Zhou Xiao, then hurried back to the food truck to prepare the next customer's order of two meat dishes and one vegetable.
The spatula continued to swing into action.
The rice combo set, a half-and-half of shredded pork with garlic sauce and Sweet and Sour Pork Fillet, was placed in front of Zhou Xiao.
The shredded pork with garlic sauce was almost all strips of meat, showing a deep red color, wrapped in a steaming sauce, shining with an enticing light.
The Sweet and Sour Pork Fillet appeared in a shiny orange hue, looking delicious and sweet.
Despite the simple plates, the quality of these two delicious dishes could not be hidden.
"Mmm, it really smells good," Zhou Xiao exclaimed.
"Eat it while it's hot, it's best that way!" Liu Fei responded, already starting to eat.
Zhou Xiao picked up a piece of Sweet and Sour Pork Fillet and put it in his mouth.
With just one bite, he uncontrollably let out a satisfied "Mmm."
The flavor of the Sweet and Sour Pork Fillet was excellent. Upon entering his mouth, he tasted the sweet and sourness of tomato sauce, the freshness of the meat, and, as a finishing touch, the mild aroma of sesame.
Several flavors mixed together, complementing each other.
It felt like his tongue could hardly keep up with enjoying all the tastes!
Zhou Xiao chewed for a bit more.
This feeling was even more exhilarating.
The vinegar in the Sweet and Sour Pork Fillet was inherently tart, and this tartness readily stimulated saliva production.
The sweet flavor made one salivate involuntarily, and the more he chewed, the better it felt.
After swallowing, the fragrant flavors lingered in his mouth, making it an unforgettable experience.
"My god, this is amazing!"
"It's so delicious!"
Zhou Xiao had lost any prior sense of fatigue and now felt completely invigorated.
He tasted the shredded pork with garlic sauce as well.
A different flavor, but the same enjoyment.
As for Liu Fei, he was already hunched over, his mouth right next to the plate, scooping up big mouthfuls with his chopsticks.
Zhou Xiao, without bothering to talk, also lifted his plate and began to scoop up the food.
This rice combo set was really delicious.
The rice itself tasted great too; each grain was glistening and exuded a unique aroma of rice.
Clearly, the owner used high-quality ingredients.
No wonder he charged these prices.
Looking at it this way, the meal from this food stall was not only not expensive but actually quite a bargain!
Some other customers nearby were saying:
"This Sweet and Sour Pork Fillet is really something. If you ordered a dish like this in a restaurant, it would cost at least forty or fifty yuan."
"Such a bargain! I will definitely come back tomorrow!"
"From now on, I'll have lunch here every day!"
"It tastes so good."
After gobbling everything up like a whirlwind, Zhou Xiao had cleaned his plate completely.
When he looked up again, lo and behold, there was a long queue in front of the food truck!
It was only 11:50 in the morning.
Do these people not sleep or have jobs?
This is madness!
"Good thing we came early," Liu Fei remarked upon seeing this.
At his words, Zhou Xiao nodded and said, "Let's come early tomorrow, too. With this crowd, I'm afraid we'll miss out if we're late!"
"Didn't you just say it wasn't worth detouring for 15 minutes to come here?"
"Who knew it would be this delicious! A small stall with a crowd queuing for a rice combo set—who would believe that if you told them!"
"This place is truly great! So, let's come earlier tomorrow."