Operating A Stall (9)

"Where the hell did my bun go?" asked the hunter. There's a hint of disbelief noticeable in his tone. But the gaze from the public staring at him clearly indicates that he had already eaten them.

"Hey! How does it taste?" one of the people gathered here asked. It was apparent that everyone was curious about the flavor of this aromatic bun with a crispy layer of fruit sugar on the surface.

"Look at him... He's practically chewed and swallowed the whole bun in a mouthful but acted like he didn't eat it at all. Fellow brothers here, do you think we should give this big liar a lesson?" one of the patrons gathered around the sibling's stall suggested.

The people turned their heads around to look for this troublemaker, but he was nowhere to be seen. Obviously, this individual is intended to make a mess via his words.

"What the hell?" the hunter had the urge to scratch his head from disbelief after hearing what that sneaky individual said. And while the well-built hunter is still confused with what's going on, a second hunter comes into everyone's sight.

"What happened here, Er-Chang?" asked the second hunter. Obviously, they were in a team from on their appearance and equipment. They were actually on a mission to prepare their rations tonight.

Because their option would be limited to certain foods later, coming out early to shop for food that can stay fresh until night would be their best option.

The second hunter's arrival is precisely due to his companion's dissension around the sibling's stall. He finds it curious and unbelievable because the hunter he called "Er-Chang" was a timid fellow from what he knew.

Let alone troubling others, Er-Chang even had an issue in communication behind that well-built appearance. Furthermore, the second hunter taught him the phrase, "what's the price for the (food) you have?"

"I got no idea. I am just eating the toasted bun I ordered. And people are suggesting that I should be taught a lesson. What's wrong with eating what I had paid for?" Er-Chang answered. Following his answer was a puzzled expression plastered on his face.

To be taught a lesson from eating what he bought was his first experience. Is this how this world works?

"Alright. Keep quiet before you cause more trouble around here, Er-Chang." the second hunter said.

"Fellow market visitors! Can I know what's wrong here? Did my younger companion do something that annoys anyone here? If he did, please accept my apology on his behalf." he added. It was shameful to extend an apology without knowing the reason, but facing a bunch of angry patrons here staring at his companion, what can the second hunter do?

"How does it taste?" the same speaking tone that incites the people's anger voiced out once more. But like before, this individual kept himself hidden well amongst the crowd. It seems he's unwilling to give up before getting the answer he's searching for.

The question made Er-Chang speechless.

'If you're so curious about the taste, why don't you order one by yourself?' the hunter called Er-Chang wished he could reply to the troublemaker like this. Unfortunately, his timidness made him unable to express the first word that came to his mind.

Luckily, his companion is here to help. Without further ado, the second hunter approached Long Yuan's stall in his attempt to get a clearer picture of what exactly happened. Furthermore, the siblings looked easier to talk to.

"Could I ask what exactly transpired here? If it's possible, can I get another order of the same thing as my companion did?" said the second hunter.

After making his order, the second hunter quickly noticed the meal box still in Yuan Ling's hand. Judging from the size of the box, it was apparent that at least four steamed buns were packed inside.

The appearance of the meal box might not be the greatest, but it was good enough to deliver. After all, a hunter like them has no need for an exquisite meal box for their hunting trip.

"Not a problem at all. Would you prefer just what your buddy ate or his entire order?" Long Yuan asked. Since heaven was giving him a chance, it was apparent that Long Yuan made sure of it before he made this hunter pay an extra three Copper-Coin.

"Can I just have two orders of what my fellow hunter ate just now?" the second hunter said.

"Of course. Ling-Er, just pass the takeaway order his companion made to him. You're about to head to the school, correct?" Long Yuan instructed his sister on what to do while he took two steamed buns out from the upper layer of the steamer.

Using the same brush earlier, Long Yuan applied two layers of the sweet fruit compote generously on the bun's surface. The same hint of zesty fruit aroma attacked the second hunter while he least expected it.

"This sweet and sourness... Silvergrass Fruit?" the second hunter guessed the main ingredient correctly. But at the same time, Yuan Ling was handling the meal box. This made him lose the opportunity to clarify if his guesses were correct.

The answer he's seeking quickly clarified all his doubts when the aroma became ten times stronger as the popping sound from the caramelization appeared on the bun's surface. It also made the second hunter realize why everyone's nostrils were ready and widely opened when Long Yuan started cooking the bun above the flames.

'No wonder all of them were gathering outside here! How can a common Silvergrass Fruit have such an appetizing aroma?' the second hunter had no idea what kind of face he was making right now. All he knew was as the one standing nearest to the stall, he was the one that was bombarded by the appetizing aroma right now.

If he was slightly weaker to attraction than he was right now, he would end up no different from his companion called Er-Chang.

"That would be two Copper-Coin for two toasted buns, please," said Yuan Ling with a smile on her face. Even she finds it funny for an experienced hunter like this person to look like this when facing Long Yuan's food.

"Ah! Here - Here you go..." the second hunter swallows a mouthful of saliva flooding inside his mouth and patiently waits for the steamed bun to get ready.

The preparation took barely three minutes to be ready, but the two-hundred and forty seconds felt like twenty-four hours had passed to this hunter.

"Please enjoy your food while it's hot." Long Yuan placed the two buns on a plate and put it right before the second hunter.

The two brown-colored buns quickly attracted the gaze of those gathering around the stall. And because the second hunter knew what might happen if he was not paying attention, he slowly took a bite on the bun before moving his hand away.

"Em... The sweetness and sourness beautifully compensate one another..."

"This texture... It was crispy, but only on the surface. Deep inside, the bun itself was as fluffy as the fur of a Jade Wolf."

"There's also a hint of the natural taste of wheat grain. And how can the unpleasant mustiness from the flour disappear from the bun? Shouldn't it always appear in a flour-made product like this?" the second hunter managed to evaluate the food he ate.

The second hunter also found out that while his brain assumes that he only had a bite, he was actually left with a mouthful from the two buns he bought. Even with preparation, he found out that the buns were too good to the point his mouth was chewing and swallowing faster than his brain could process!

Although his description was barely appetizing to be heard by those surrounding him, the visual itself made them decide to order one for their own.

The two hunters have shoved aside in a blink of an eye as the sibling's stall was filled with curious foodies with their growling bellies. Instantly, there were more than ten orders for the same toasted steamed bun the hunters had.

"Customers... I'm happy that you're interested in our product. But unfortunately, I can only sell three more. Would you consider ordering the steamed buns instead? I can assure you that it would be just as good as well." Long Yuan smiled.

His words made the customers fight amongst themselves, but three winners quickly appeared undisputed. And while the three were waiting for their toasted bun to get ready, Yuan Ling was busy packing the orders from other customers.

When the three toasted buns were ready, the two steamers had already emptied.

Only the smiling Yuan Ling can be seen around him. All of the customers had left as there was nothing else to purchase from this stall. Even the pair of hunters were nowhere to be seen.

"Long-Gege! We made a lot of money! We actually finish selling everything!" Yuan Ling happily said as she shook the money bag in her hand that contained all the money they had earned.

From the calculation book in Yuan Ling's hand, it seems that the siblings sold 74 regular steamed buns for 37 Copper-Coin. Added with 6 Copper-Coin from selling the toasted version of the buns, their profit came up to 43 coins for the day.

As for the five remaining buns out of the eighty-five he made today, two were given out for free to the teacher, while three were kept aside for Yuan Ling's lunch. Long Yuan could have sold them as well, but he had no reason to make Yuan Ling miss her lunch for three mere coins.

"Ling-Er, your Gege will handle the rest. Take these three buns and go to school. I'll handle the rest and return. We'll be getting busy as well tonight," said Long Yuan with a smile.

"En! I love you the most, Gege!" Yuan Ling took her toasted buns and left for school in a hurry. They had no idea that everything they were doing was monitored by two individuals.

One was looking at them on the third floor, while another one was through the window from the restaurant's cashier.