At four in the morning, the city was still shrouded in darkness. Outside, only a few street lamps flickered faintly. Chen Chen and Ji Yunli had already risen in the dark.
When the kitchen light flicked on, the fresh pork from the storage room was laid out on the cutting board—vividly red, marbled evenly with fat. As they began cutting, there wasn't the slightest hint of any gamey smell—only the pure, rich aroma of meat drifting slowly through the air.
Ji Yunli handled the vegetables. Her knife moved swiftly, chopping the cabbage into fine pieces, rinsing and squeezing the bean sprouts dry, and cutting the scallions. Within minutes, the ingredients for the three fillings were sorted into separate bowls.
Meanwhile, Chen Chen wielded two knives, chopping the meat. The sharp thunk-thunk-thunk of the cleavers echoed clearly in the early morning silence. As the meat grew finer with each chop, fat slowly released, and the fragrance spread through the house. Even the neighbors cracked their windows open a bit.
"Since it's the first day, we don't know how business will go, so let's make a small batch—about seventy or eighty buns for each filling," Ji Yunli said, pouring oil into a pan.
Once the oil was hot, she first sautéed ginger slices, then added the meat fillings. The pork quickly changed color, sizzling as the fat released. The rich aroma of the meat filled the air, drifting into the corridor, drawing curious glances from early-rising neighbors. Even children still asleep seemed to smirk in their dreams, tempted by the scent.
The three fillings were fried in sequence: the cabbage mixture light and crisp, the bean sprout filling fresh and savory, and the scallion mixture rich and slightly spicy. Each had its own distinct character, yet complemented the others perfectly.
As soon as the fillings were ready, the risen dough had also finished proofing. Ji Yunli pinched off small portions, rolling each into smooth balls and then flattening them into disks, thicker in the center and thinner at the edges. She scooped a spoonful of filling into the center, pinched the dough closed, and formed perfect little buns, with even pleats and flawless shapes.
Chen Chen wanted to try too, but his movements were clumsy. His buns were either misshapen, with pleats crooked, or the filling spilled out. Ji Yunli laughed nonstop: "Your buns look awful. Good thing they taste good, or no one would want them."
"As long as they taste good, appearance can come later," Chen Chen chuckled. He kept practicing, gradually getting the hang of it. With each attempt, his buns looked better and more uniform.
By five-thirty, the three bamboo steamers were filled—one for each filling.
Chen Chen loaded the steamers onto the second-hand electric tricycle, while Ji Yunli carried a bag containing disposable gloves, plastic bags, and the QR code for payments. They quickly locked the house, pushing the tricycle toward Xin Xin Road—near Ji Yunli's clothing store, surrounded by three mid-to-high-end residential areas. Morning commuters and students should ensure a steady flow of potential customers.
Just past six, they parked near the Xin Xin Road subway station.
The sky was beginning to lighten. The streets were quiet, with only a few joggers and parents on e-bikes taking their kids to school.
Chen Chen fired up the gas stove on the tricycle, placing the steamers on top. He also set up a small blackboard, chalking "Fresh Pork Buns – 5 Yuan Each," with three simple icons representing the fillings.
Ji Yunli arranged the plastic bags and QR code, standing beside Chen Chen. They watched passersby cautiously, nerves fluttering—they had never sold anything before and weren't sure if anyone would buy.
By seven, the foot traffic picked up. Businesspeople in suits hurried past, students with backpacks chatted as they walked, and elderly shoppers strolled leisurely.
Some glanced at the food cart, but most didn't stop. Only a few slowed down, yet none approached.
"Don't worry. Just wait a bit—our buns are almost ready," Chen Chen reassured Ji Yunli, patting her shoulder.
No sooner had he spoken than steam rose from the baskets, carrying a more intense aroma than when they'd cooked at home. The scent of meat, dough, and a faint hint of vegetables intertwined, causing pedestrians to pause, sniffing curiously in the direction of the cart.
After a few minutes, Chen Chen lifted the lid. Steam billowed upward, and the buns inside were plump and round, their surfaces glistening lightly. The aroma of the three fillings combined, making mouths water.
"Let's try one first," Chen Chen said, picking up a bun of each type, handing one to Ji Yunli and taking a bite of the pork-and-scallion one himself.
The dough was soft yet chewy, the meat juicy and tender. The scallions' sharp fragrance perfectly cut through the richness of the pork. One bite released a burst of savory aroma that instantly shook off morning drowsiness.
Ji Yunli bit into a pork-and-cabbage bun, her eyes lighting up: "Even better than what we made at home. This meat is so fresh."
As they ate, they heard a low grumble nearby.
Turning, they saw a young man in a plaid shirt staring intently at their buns.
His name was Luo Zhiwei. He worked in a downtown office building. Every morning his mother prepared his breakfast in advance, and today he'd eaten porridge and pickles, thinking he was full—but upon approaching the cart, he was immobilized by the irresistible smell. His mouth watered uncontrollably, his feet seemingly nailed to the ground.
"How much are your buns?" Luo Zhiwei hesitated, then asked.
Ji Yunli swallowed and smiled: "Handsome sir, it's our grand opening today. Promotional price: 5 yuan each. Would you like to try one? I promise, they're fresh and delicious."
"Five yuan each?" Luo Zhiwei considered the size—a bun nearly the size of a fist. Not expensive. He nodded: "I'll take one."
"Coming right up! We have pork-and-scallion, pork-and-cabbage, and pork-and-bean-sprout. Which would you like?" Ji Yunli asked, grabbing a plastic bag.
"The bean sprout one, please." Luo Zhiwei scanned the QR code, paid five yuan, and bit in immediately. The dough was tender, the filling savory with the fresh crunch of sprouts. Juice burst from the pork, blending perfectly with the crisp sprouts—better than any bun he'd eaten before.
"Oh my god! This bun is incredible!" he exclaimed quietly, drawing a few nearby passersby.
He devoured it quickly, savoring the remaining aroma in his mouth.
If the pork-and-bean-sprout was this good, the scallion-and-cabbage must be amazing too! He licked his lips and added: "I'll take one of each—the scallion-and-pork and the cabbage-and-pork."
Chen Chen packed the two buns and handed them over with a smile: "Enjoy! If you want more, just say so."
Luo Zhiwei paid ten yuan and ate eagerly. The scallion filling was pungent and savory, the cabbage light and crisp—each unique, yet both irresistibly delicious.
He finished quickly, but seeing the remaining buns in the steamer, he wasn't satisfied.
"Hmm… I'll take one of each to go as well!" he patted his stomach, thinking it would make a perfect office lunch. Heating these buns in the microwave would be cheaper and tastier than ordering delivery. Three buns for fifteen yuan, versus thirty for takeout—a real bargain!
Ji Yunli packed them with a grin: "You've got great taste, handsome sir! Come often—we'll be here every morning."
"I definitely will!" Luo Zhiwei left, still savoring the buns.
Encouraged by his reaction, a few middle school students with backpacks approached. They had been rushing to school, but Luo Zhiwei's exclamations and the aroma drew them in.
"Auntie, are these buns really that good?" asked a bespectacled boy.
"Try one. If it's not good, you don't have to pay!" Ji Yunli said confidently, knowing full well the buns' quality.
The students bought one each, trying different fillings. Their eyes widened in surprise.
"Wow! This is amazing! A hundred times better than the buns sold at school!"
"I should've bought two; one isn't enough!"
"I'll come earlier tomorrow and get a few for breakfast!"
As they walked off to school, more people were drawn in, forming a line around the cart.
"I'll take two pork-and-scallion buns!"
"Three cabbage ones, packed to go!"
"Do you have bean sprouts? Four, please!"
Overwhelmed by the sudden rush, Chen Chen and Ji Yunli hustled—one packed buns, the other collected payment, while greeting customers warmly: "Take care! Come again!"
The steamers emptied quickly. Chen Chen stacked the second steamer, and steam rose anew, attracting more attention.
Around seven-thirty, Zhang Xuehua, neatly dressed with her hair perfectly combed, approached with a sophisticated basket.
She circled the cart, frowning: "What kind of meat is in these buns? Not hormone-injected fake meat, I hope? Last time I tried those, they tasted like chewing plastic."
"Auntie, don't worry. Our pork comes from free-range mountain pigs, fed grains and vegetables—no commercial feed," Chen Chen said quickly, showing her the test report on his phone. The report detailed hormone, antibiotic, and nutritional tests. Zhang Xuehua studied it carefully, then leaned close to smell the buns. She nodded: "I'll take five of each. I'll bring them home for my family to try."
She paid and was about to leave, then asked: "Do you sell pork too? This meat looks excellent, I'd like some for home cooking."
Chen Chen and Ji Yunli exchanged glances. If someone wanted to buy, they should sell.
Ji Yunli quickly smiled: "Auntie, this is mountain-raised pork, so it's a bit pricey—100 yuan per jin. If that's okay…"
"One hundred?" She paused, then laughed. "Not expensive at all. Supermarket black pork costs nearly the same, but this is mountain pork—much more nutritious. Definitely worth it. I'll take two jin of belly, one jin of tenderloin, and a front leg—same price?" She even added Chen Chen on WeChat and transferred a 100-yuan deposit: "I live nearby at Jinxiu Community. If convenient, deliver it today; I'll pay the rest later."
Chen Chen quickly agreed. After she left, they high-fived, grinning—selling buns and pork was exceeding their expectations.
As more customers arrived, the buns flew off the steamers. They packed and sold simultaneously. Chen Chen's speed at wrapping buns rivaled a machine; Ji Yunli's hands ached, yet both felt exhilarated seeing payments flood in.
Several customers left, unable to wait. Ji Yunli felt regretful, but Chen Chen reassured her: "It's okay. Tomorrow we'll prepare better and arrive earlier. We'll keep the customers."
At seven-thirty, a young security guard approached, holding a patrol recorder, smiling: "You'd better leave soon. Mobile vendors aren't allowed here; the city patrol car will seize your cart."
He seemed to be from the nearby residential security team, and was friendly. "There's a market three kilometers away—you can set up for just ten yuan for the morning. You can sell there."
"Thank you, we'll leave," Chen Chen said, packing the remaining fourteen buns. Ji Yunli handed the guard two buns: "Sir, try our buns." Initially, he declined, but eventually accepted with a smile: "Don't mind if I do. I'll support you next time you're here."
They packed the steamers and tools, heading home.
Ji Yunli counted the remaining buns: "Keep these fourteen for lunch. I'll also bring a few to Deng Lijun when I go to work this afternoon." Chen Chen nodded—he was tired, and returning early meant he could start on Aunt Zhang's pork order.
By the time they reached home, the sun was high. They cleaned the cart and settled in the living room to tally the day's earnings.
"Cash: 155, WeChat: 805, Alipay: 70. Total: 1,030 yuan," Ji Yunli calculated repeatedly, her smile uncontainable. "A thousand a day, thirty thousand a month, 360,000 a year—almost enough for a small apartment down payment!"
Chen Chen laughed, ruffling his hair: "That's not all. Aunt Zhang bought five jin of meat at 100 yuan per jin—that's 500 yuan more. If pork sales go well, maybe within a year we can pay for a place in full."
Ji Yunli leaned on his shoulder, eyes sparkling as she looked at the transfer records on her phone.