The Neighborhood's Collective Melon-Eating

Chapter 8: The Neighborhood's Collective Melon-Eating

Early the next morning, Liu Yang pulled Xiao Li to the furniture city, leaving a note on the shop door that read "Closed Today," as if to put a period to his own dark history.

As expected, this note immediately became the talk of the neighborhood.

"Look, can't hold on anymore, can they?" Aunt Liu, holding her laundry basket, couldn't hide her smugness in her tone,

"Hired a helper just the other day, and now they're closed. This business is just too shabby."

"You're right," Aunt Wang chimed in,

"Didn't they just act like they were upgrading their equipment the other day? Are they changing their business or transferring it?"

"How long can this last with these skills?" Aunt Liu curled her lips,

"Unlike my cousin Xiao Sheng, a proper graduate from a renowned culinary school, a real chef in the island country. This kind of wild road, sooner or later, it's going to close."

"That's right," Aunt Zhao from across the street hurriedly agreed, as if she was afraid of missing this street gossip feast,

"Yesterday's green pepper and pork, it didn't look black anymore, but the taste, tut-tut..."

"Don't even mention it," Aunt Wang's voice was louder than the market's loudspeaker,

"I heard that Xiao Sheng in the island country is making 'kaiseki,' very particular! A single dish costs thousands!"

"That's right," Aunt Liu was proud as if she was talking about her own merit,

"He has real skills, unlike some people who think they're the reincarnation of Michelin just because they can boil noodles..."

"What do you guys understand!" Granny Zhang from the second floor suddenly interrupted them,

"The dishes from the Liu family's boy have been getting better and better these days. The fish I had yesterday tasted just like my hometown's!"

"That's right," Old Zhang from the stationery store next door couldn't help but speak up, "At least he's fighting on his own, better than those who get into big restaurants through connections, right?"

Aunt Liu was choked by these words and almost threw the vegetable basket in her hand: "What do you mean? Our Xiao Sheng is on his real skills..."

"Alright, alright," Old Li who sold tofu mediated, "What's the big deal about the small shop being closed for a day? Maybe they're renovating! You guys are too much, starting to handle the aftermath before they even go bankrupt?"

This made Aunt Liu so angry that she stamped her feet, but she couldn't say anything in retort. She left with a dejected air, carrying her basket like a disappointed actor.

The neighbors looked at each other, all wondering:

Was this small shop going to change its face or really close down?

Of course, Liu Yang couldn't hear these idle words.

He was in the furniture city, picking chairs and tables as if he were at an audition, and then went to the porcelain wholesale city to choose tableware.

The midday sun was hot, and Aunt Liu had just finished hanging clothes when she saw a truck full of goods parked at the door of the small shop.

"Hey, are they moving or transferring?" She stretched her neck, like an old hen that wanted to steal a melon.

"Moving?" Aunt Wang stood on her balcony, forgetting to wipe with the rag in her hand,

"These are new furniture! Look at that table, wow, it's better than the one my son bought at his wedding!"

"Pfft, who are they kidding!" Aunt Liu said sourly,

"Buying such good furniture for this broken shop, it's like dressing a monkey in a suit. No matter how beautiful the bowl, it's still going to be a dark dish!"

As she was speaking, another van stopped, this time delivering tableware.

Liu Yang and Xiao Li were carefully moving boxes as if they were moving gold bars.

"Oh, they're going to change their face!" Granny Zhang from the second floor said with a smile,

"I said this young man was promising! Just wait and see, sooner or later he will outdo that 'Fu Man Lou' across the street!"

"That's right," Old Zhang from the stationery store also joined in the fun,

"He's working on his own skills, look at how nimble that young man is!"

Aunt Liu was almost choked by these words.

"Skills? Humph! Wait until my cousin comes back and let you see what real skills are! This kind of wild road, with two good tables, thinks he's Michelin?"

Unfortunately, as soon as she finished speaking, she saw Xiao Li passing by with a stack of shiny porcelain bowls, the reflection almost blinding her.

She turned around and went into the house with a sulky face, still muttering: "Pretentious, it's uncertain how many days they can last..."

But the upstairs residents were enjoying the show, cracking sunflower seeds while commenting:

"This small shop has a chance!"

"Sure does, looking at this momentum, it seems like they're going to do something big!"

"Let's try it out someday, I heard their twice-cooked pork is very fragrant..."

At this moment, Old Lady Li, leaning on a cane, slowly walked out of her house, like an old immortal who had just woken up from hibernation.

Usually, this old lady is too lazy to even go downstairs, but today she made a rare appearance, probably stirred up by her son to "inspect" the venue.

As soon as Old Lady Li stepped out, the neighbors around her immediately lit up like children seeing red envelopes during the New Year.

"Wow! Isn't this Grandma Li?" Granny Zhang from the second floor was quick-eyed and quick-handed, the first to greet her,

"Looking quite spirited today!"

"That's for sure!" Aunt Wang from the vegetable shop next door was not to be outdone,

"Your complexion is better than my 18-year-old granddaughter!"

Old Man Li was even more delighted and said: "The old lady is going to have a big birthday, so happy that even the sun is out to accompany her!"

These people took turns complimenting Old Lady Li as if she had become twenty years younger.

The old lady was amused by this scene and laughed, her face full of wrinkles blooming like a mooncake surrounded by stars.

"Stop praising," the old lady waved her hand, but the smile in her eyes could not be hidden,

"For this old bone, it's good enough to be able to walk downstairs."

The old lady squinted at the movements of the small shop across, with a bit of curiosity in her eyes.

She had seen this shop grow up, from the young boss who could always set the kitchen on fire like a disaster scene, and today he was going to change his face?

"Grandma Li," Granny Zhang from the second floor quickly stepped forward, not wanting to miss this opportunity to perform,

"Recently, this shop is amazing! That young boss, as if he had an epiphany, the dishes he made, it's amazing!"

"Yes, yes," Old Man Li who sold tofu also chimed in,

"I ate his twice-cooked pork yesterday, and the taste was exactly the same as our hometown!"

Aunt Liu couldn't bear to listen any longer and quickly interjected: "Mom, don't listen to their nonsense. What good skills can this kind of wild road have? Wait until Xiao Sheng comes back and let you taste the real good dishes!"

The old lady looked at the busy small shop across with a smile, not saying a word, just nodding gently.

She has lived on this street for most of her life, and she knows what kind of person can become what kind in her heart.

But her daughter-in-law's momentum made her a little helpless.

"Boss, take a break first, I'll cook a dish." Xiao Li saw Liu Yang tired as if he had just moved, and quickly brought a glass of water.

Liu Yang wanted to say no, but he was really tired, so he nodded.

Xiao Li's skill in stir-frying was surprisingly good.

Although it's not as good as the level of the system, it's also a top grade among ordinary chefs.

"You小子 hides deep," Liu Yang put down the chopsticks, "This skill, you must have practiced a lot in school, right?"

Xiao Li's eyes suddenly darkened, as if someone had pressed the light switch.

"I have always been a good student in school. I was reserved by 'Fu Man Lou' before graduation, but who knew..."

He talked about that unforgettable past.

It turned out that he was excellent before graduation and was originally reserved by the big restaurant, but at the last moment, he was told that "the quota has changed."

Later, I found out that my position was taken by a rich classmate.

"Those rich people can easily put tens of thousands of 'training fees' in.

Our poor students, even if we gnaw a hole in the book, are destined to be陪跑."

Xiao Li's voice is getting lower and lower, as if someone is strangling him.

Liu Yang frowned at this. This kid looks honest and honest, but I didn't expect to have such a bitter history.

No wonder he would rather be a waiter in his kind of small shop than work in a big restaurant.

"Alright," he patted Xiao Li's shoulder, "just follow me in the future, and I guarantee you'll be more promising than those chefs in big restaurants!"

Although this statement was a bit ambitious, with the system in hand, he really had the confidence.

Moreover, such a hardworking and simple good seed, if not cultivated well, it would be a waste.