Chapter 22: Master Chen, Cold Jokes, and Hot Buns

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【In the afternoon, Master Chen is at his busiest.】
【Kneading dough, folding it, letting it rise. Then, checking the seasoning of the fillings. In this kitchen, various ingredients slowly begin to come together.】
【The steamed buns are beginning to take shape.】
The footage filmed at home was not the main focus of the video, so while Chen Zhou was busy in the kitchen, Wang Meng only took a few quick shots. Afterward, he was drawn into the kind of gossip typical of middle-aged women by Ms. Lin.
"Chen Zhou told me you went on a blind date at noon. How was the girl?"
Wang Meng: "She was much more enthusiastic than the last one..."
Once the preparations at home were finished, it was time to set up the stall. But first, the ingredients had to be transported downstairs. There was a small cart in the kitchen that Chen Zhou usually used to stack everything up and push into the elevator, making two trips. If his wife was home on the weekend, he would ask for her help.
But today...
Chen Zhou glanced at the big guy on the sofa. Honestly, a big fellow like Wang Meng—who, besides being able to eat and drink enough to nearly polish off half a watermelon and two boxes of Chen Taotao’s cakes in a single afternoon—looked like free labor.
Chen Zhou signaled with his eyes toward the basin of filling in his hands.
Wang Meng:
【Transporting the prepared ingredients downstairs is also a heavy task.】
"Master Chen does it himself every day, no need for help."
That sentence was definitely something he added himself.
Chen Zhou: "Hurry up, Captain Wang, show some initiative."
Before Ms. Lin could move, Wang Meng took the stainless steel basin. "We're both heading down anyway, so don't you worry about it, sister-in-law."
Lin Yifan said politely, "I'm really sorry to trouble you, Wang Meng, running around after Chen Zhou. I'll have him treat you to a meal later, and we can sit down together."
Wang Meng grinned. "No trouble at all, we're just collaborating."
After entering the elevator, he didn't forget to say goodbye to Chen Zhou's family. "I'm off, sister-in-law. Goodbye, Taotao."
"Goodbye, Uncle~"
In the elevator, Chen Zhou said to Wang Meng, "You'll be seeing each other again soon."
Wang Meng was delighted. "Are you really treating me to a meal? Sounds good."
Chen Zhou pointed to the cart. "You still have to bring the cart back up later."
Wang Meng frowned. "Look at you. You make such warm, hearty buns, but your jokes are freezing cold."
...
【As the first batch of buns goes into the steamer, Master Chen's stall finally begins business...】
After finishing the last line, Wang Meng shouted to Chen Zhou:
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"Cut! That's a wrap!"
Chen Zhou praised him, "I have to say, Captain Wang, that script you were reciting was actually pretty good."
Wang Meng raised an eyebrow, looking proud. "One of my previous blind date matches is an editor for a food column; I asked her to polish the first draft for me."
Fine, fine... Three hundred and sixty trades, and you have to go on a blind date in every single one of them, don't you?
Chen Zhou couldn't help but click his tongue. However, all things considered, Wang Meng had good credentials and was a high-quality young man in the blind-dating market. But the fact that he could turn so many people he met through blind dates into friends and acquaintances really showed he had something special. Besides, according to him, many of them got married shortly after their dates with him.
In short, the filming at Chen Zhou's place was successfully completed, and now it was up to Comrade Wang Meng to go back and edit. He would add in the information they had organized that could help other vendors. As for whether Wang Meng would do it himself or ask another blind-date match from a different industry for help, Chen Zhou wouldn't know.
Watching Wang Meng pack up the camera, Chen Zhou reminded him, "Don't forget to take a few buns with you before you go."
This time, Wang Meng didn't refuse, nor did he offer to scan a payment code.
Just as the two were talking, a YU7 slowly drove by at the end of the road. Its dark green body was dazzling in the sunlight, drawing everyone's attention.
Wang Meng cast an envious look at it. "That's a nice car."
"Then go get one, Captain Wang. You have the means."
"Too flashy, not for me." Wang Meng shrugged, then looked at Chen Zhou. "What about you, Master Chen? Business is so good, what kind of car do you want to get in the future?"
The Xiaomi models were aimed precisely at unmarried people under 35 with no children. Obviously, they didn't suit Chen Zhou. He had a wife and child, planned to bring his parents over in the future, and might need to haul goods from the vegetable market later.
"I like something that can carry a lot and pull a lot."
Wang Meng gave a thumbs up. "Pragmatic."
...
After Wang Meng took his buns, said his goodbyes, and left, Chen Zhou felt much more relaxed. That was one more thing ticked off the list. He didn't know how many people it would actually help or how much of an impact it would have. Although the video Wang Meng shot wasn't in a very official style, the content was actually quite comprehensive, and by using a small vendor like Chen Zhou as an example, the laws and regulations became much more tangible.
"I hope it's effective," Chen Zhou thought to himself.
Of course, as for immediate matters, there was still the old gentleman mentioned in the [Diner Dynamics] who was supposed to come today.
That YU7, after driving past the stall, had parked nearby.
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Chen Zhou took a peek and saw someone stepping out of the car wearing sunglasses...
An old gentleman?
Shouldn't it have been a young person?
Chen Zhou was a bit surprised. However, the jade thumb ring on the person's finger looked somewhat familiar.
"It feels like we've met somewhere before."
Chen Zhou suddenly remembered the old man who had bought the Suiyuan Shidan porcelain plate from him for the two-thousand-yuan "guide price"!
That was it, it was him—the other party had once thought he was a fellow antique enthusiast and even left contact information, but they hadn't been in touch since...
Wait a minute.
Likes old antiques, yet drives a trendy car labeled for young people.
Could this be the "playboy" mentioned in the [Diner Dynamics]?
The more Chen Zhou thought about it, the more reasonable it seemed.
Not far away, the old man who had stepped out of the car was clearly heading toward Chen Zhou.
He greeted him, "Hey, kid, you're setting up a stall selling buns here!"
"Yes," Chen Zhou waved at him, "I didn't expect to see you here again."
Once the man approached, he introduced himself, "We really have a connection. My name is Chen Zhou, and your surname is?"
"My surname is Yu, Yu Shaochun."
Old Man Yu looked over Chen Zhou's stall. Aside from the buns, the most eye-catching thing about the stall was the sign that read "Fresh Meat Buns."
"Your sign is so big, I saw it from the other end of the road."
Then there was the loop playing from the loudspeaker—"Meat buuuns~ fresh out of the steamer~ wrapped on the spot."
"Hey, this little girl's voice is quite charming."
Chen Zhou thought to himself: This giant sign and the recorded voice on the speaker were all prepared for you.
"Isn't it just to attract business? Are you out having fun today, sir?"
Old Man Yu replied, "A friend of mine just had a grandson, so a bunch of us old folks went to visit. On the way back, I ran into your stall. It looks very neat and tidy, not bad at all."
Chen Zhou smiled, "Since you paid a high price for that porcelain plate of mine last time, I'd feel bad if I didn't treat you to a taste of my craft."
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