First floor of the second cafeteria, Jiang's Soup Dumpling Shop.
There's still a little while before five thirty, and on the row of stovetops in front of the bun shop window, stacks of small steaming baskets are piled high, pale steam from the bamboo steamers swirling upwards, only to be sucked away by the buzzing exhaust fan above.
But it couldn't take away the aroma of the soup dumplings.
Along the window, students waiting to buy soup dumplings lined up in a long queue. They sniffed the dumplings' scent while chatting excitedly with the classmates next to them, making for a lively and joyful atmosphere.
"Hey, everyone, who do you think will win this bet?"
"I think the forum host 'Lao Glutton' has a high chance of losing. If just 3 out of 10 people say the soup dumplings aren't tasty, he loses!"
"Don't be so rash. I just had these soup dumplings this noon; they're genuinely delicious. The host might not lose yet!"
"Come on, if it were that good, the owner would've already opened a shop in the city. Isn't that more profitable than having a small stall in the school cafeteria?"
"..."
"I thought they were joking earlier, but I didn't expect them to actually come here to place a bet!"
Xiaoqi listened to their discussions for a while, then turned around to explain in a low voice to Tongtong, asking,
"Who do you think has a better chance of winning?"
Tongtong, looking as if it's obvious, said, "Isn't it obvious? Of course, the host has a higher chance of winning."
"Did you not hear it clearly? They randomly pick 10 people to taste the soup dumplings, and at least 8 out of them have to find it tasty for the host to win. Isn't that a high bar?"
"But these soup dumplings are delicious beyond compare. Delicious is delicious; even 100 people would find them tasty. Xiaoqi, aren't you the best proof?"
Tongtong pouted and said,
"You used to have no appetite for anything, but you could eat a whole basket of soup dumplings. If that's not a delicacy, then what is?
In my view, this bet is unnecessary, maybe even without suspense."
"I wouldn't be so sure."
Xiaoqi glanced at Tongtong, smiling as she said,
"Everyone's tastes are different. The food you like might not be to everyone else's liking, so the chances of losing are quite high."
"I still think the host will win."
Tongtong said seriously, "How can there be anyone who doesn't like such delicious soup dumplings? If someone really doesn't like them, their taste buds must be having issues."
"..."
Xiaoqi didn't know what to say for a moment.
Instinctively, she felt Tongtong seemed to be making some sense, but upon thinking harder, she felt something was amiss.
After pondering for a while, she said with a furrowed brow,
"Whether they win or lose the bet isn't really our concern. We can still eat whatever we want...
I'm worried because if this gets too blown up, everyone in the school will know these soup dumplings are fantastic...won't that mean everyone will know?
Then more and more people will line up, maybe even limiting purchases...
Tongtong, what if we can't get any soup dumplings to eat in the future, what then?"
"..."
Tongtong was stunned; she hadn't thought about that before.
Previously, the cafeteria food was terrible, but everyone was in the same boat. When they really had no appetite, they'd just gather some girlfriends for a feast in the city.
But now there's finally a delicious soup dumpling shop in the cafeteria...
They've only had a few meals; what if they suddenly can't have them anymore? Wouldn't that drive them crazy?
She couldn't imagine standing by, drooling while others are gobbling down the dumplings.
Just thinking about it made Tongtong shiver involuntarily and shudder,
"What should we do then? How about we come earlier to line up?"
"If you can think of coming earlier, others will think of it too."
"So what do you suggest we do?"
"Tongtong, have you noticed?"
Xiaoqi put her arm around Tongtong's and pointed towards the bun shop, whispering,
"There aren't many people working in this shop, only two in total. I reckon they never expected business to be this good; they must be exhausted after a whole day.
If there are as many customers every day, the two of them won't be able to handle it. So, do you think they might consider hiring some staff to help?"
"You mean..."
"Of course, we should recommend ourselves before they decide to hire!"
Xiaoqi, looking as if blaming Tongtong for not catching on, tapped her on the forehead and continued,
"If we wait until they publicly hire waitstaff, I bet the line for applicants will stretch to the door!"
"But what's that got to do with us getting soup dumplings?"
"Silly! If you work as a waiter there, surely you can eat free soup dumplings!"
"Oh my...is there really such a good thing?"
"Of course, waiters get meals included!"
As Xiaoqi spoke, hugging Tongtong's arm tightly, she smiled and said,
"Once you're a waiter, I won't take advantage of you. Just save one basket of soup dumplings for me each meal, alright? Fair enough, right?"
She herself isn't in good health; otherwise, she'd do it herself.
But having Tongtong do it is fine too. As long as one gets into the bun shop, no matter what changes, she won't have to worry about not getting food, right?
What do you call this?
It's called being prepared!
"..."
Xiaoqi was speechless; she hadn't agreed to work as a waiter yet, and they're already discussing terms? Absolutely unreasonable!
As they were chatting, a commotion suddenly arose in the queue in front. Then, someone shouted, full of joy,
"The soup dumplings are on sale! They're on sale!"
Tongtong and Xiaoqi perked up immediately, craning their necks to look ahead.
...
"Don't push, there are plenty of dumplings, everyone can get some!"
After a few hours of rest, Hu Zhihai's voice was much better, becoming loud again. Seeing the queue that seemed to stretch indefinitely, his spirits soared instantly.
That's all money!
"Give me two baskets, I've been waiting forever!"
"I'll take a basket too! Hey, boss, why do you only sell soup dumplings? Could you add something else, maybe some soup at least?"
"Yeah, though there is soup inside the dumplings, eating buns without a drink feels like something's missing."
"..."
"Alright, alright, any suggestions you have, we'll try to accommodate them as best as we can!"
Hu Zhihai, while quickly serving dumplings, said with a smile,
"But you see, our shop just opened today, only two of us top to bottom, we might not handle more right away!"
"Got it! Totally understood!"
"This shop indeed seems busy, mainly because so many customers are buying buns!"
"As long as the dumplings are tasty, who needs soup?"
"Right! Oh boss, are you hiring? No pay needed, just three meals a day would be fine!"
"Hey, Lao Wang, you always dream of benefits! Do you think if they really hire, it'll all be beautiful girls coming? Guys like you might not even get to sweep the floor!"
"Wow! Your words hit deep, man!"
"..."