CHAPTER 219: CHAPTER 219 I PERFORM BUT I DON’T SELL MY BODY!

The young couple sat at the snail noodle soup stall, ready to dive in.

Jiang Feng had prepared the simple version of snail noodle soup today.

Braised chicken legs, braised eggs, braised chicken feet, braised pig trotters, braised pork intestines, and braised kelp with lotus roots were not on the menu yet.

Those were for later.

They were also what he planned to introduce as the "deluxe version of snail noodle soup."

A few customers at other stalls noticed Jiang Feng’s snail noodle soup stand and began pointing and discussing.

"Snail noodle soup, huh? It was just exposed for having problems, and he still dares to open up."

"Ones bought online might have problems, but how could a physical stall like this have issues?"

"Who knows what they put in the soup."

"Anyway, I understand now. If it tastes especially stinky, there’s a problem. If it’s just sour, then it’s fine."

"Shall we give it a try?"

"Better not."

Customers went back and forth, looking.

However, some older men and women, seeing the marked prices, found them very reasonable and placed their orders at Jiang Feng’s stall.

At 15 yuan per portion, the snail noodle soup was indeed affordably priced.

Moreover, this was Hangzhou, where the cost of living was relatively higher.

Older folks loved these cheap and convenient stalls.

At this moment, the first couple was already slurping their noodles.

They gave the ingredients in the snail noodle soup a quick mix, allowing all the different flavors to meld into the broth.

The girl was the first to pick up the springy rice noodles with her chopsticks, placed them in her mouth, and gently sucked them in. SLURP!

The noodles were drawn into her mouth, leaving a sheen of oily broth on her lips.

The noodles were piping hot, springy, smooth, tender, and fragrant as she ate them.

And Jiang Feng’s snail noodle soup was exceptionally aromatic.

As they ate, the steam wafted into their noses, carrying the aroma of the spices.

The rice noodles were slightly spicy, encapsulating various flavors.

The pickled bamboo shoots were sour and crisp, making their mouths water.

The tofu skin was soft, and the wood ear mushrooms were fresh.

There were also daylily buds, which were also delicious.

This bowl of sour and spicy noodles was truly satisfying.

The most distinctive item was the fried egg in the bowl.

The fried egg was puffy and porous, its surface resembling tiger-skin chicken feet.

Soaked in the snail noodle soup, it had absorbed all the broth.

With one bite of the fried egg, all the absorbed broth burst out.

That sensation was nothing short of delightful.

The couple was thoroughly enjoying their meal together.

The girl’s face was full of excitement.

"This stall’s snail noodle soup is so delicious!"

"Their soup base, these noodles, and the side dishes are all amazing."

"It was so cheap, I didn’t have high expectations."

"But the taste is amazing!"

The girl couldn’t stop praising it.

The boy was devouring his bowl with his head down.

This was his first time eating snail noodle soup.

He had only heard of its reputation before and didn’t know what it was actually like.

Now that he had tried it, he found it could be described in one word: delicious.

He loved the savory, spicy, fresh, and aromatic flavors.

A layer of red chili oil floated on the surface, with hints of scallion and cilantro.

The rice noodles were surrounded by various delicious toppings.

The vegetable toppings were crisp and delicious.

The fried egg and tofu puffs, soaked with broth, filled his mouth with soup with every bite.

This was an effect Jiang Feng had specifically created.

"This is really good! Is this snail noodle soup?" the boy exclaimed. "I thought it would be something stinky."

At this moment, the girl commented,

"It’s just that there aren’t many toppings; no fried pig’s trotters, fried chicken feet, or anything like that, which are usually included.

"And a portion like that usually costs over forty yuan.

"This one is simpler.

"But the flavor is impeccable.

"If I come back tomorrow, I’ll have another bowl."

After finishing their meal, the couple left contentedly.

When Sun Zhuangfei saw they had left, he started clearing and wiping the table.

Just then, several older women, who were at the park to find potential spouses for their sons and daughters, came over to eat snail noodle soup.

They walked over, discussing their children’s marriage prospects.

"It’s really hard to find a partner these days."

"You’re looking for a match for your son, right? Your son has good prospects. He’ll definitely find someone. It’s just that his income is a bit low."

"Your daughter’s not bad either, just a bit on the older side."

"Where have all the good young people gone?"

These were aunts who frequented the matchmaking corner and knew each other well.

While they complimented each other, they also subtly looked down on one another.

The aunts usually avoided roadside stalls, but Jiang Feng’s snail noodle soup was so cheap and smelled so tempting that they came over.

Each of them ordered a bowl of snail noodle soup.

"Okay, please wait a moment," Jiang Feng was always gentle with customers.

The aunts sat down at a small table, waiting.

Then, their "passive skills" activated, and they began to observe Jiang Feng and Sun Zhuangfei.

The aunts first glanced at Sun Zhuangfei.

Seeing his rather ordinary appearance, they quickly looked away.

Then, the aunts began to size up Jiang Feng.

Those looking for a match for their daughters, in particular, scrutinized Jiang Feng carefully.

"The stall owner looks pretty good, and he’s in good shape," one aunt commented, looking him over.

"Yes, his back is straight, and his butt is quite perky," another aunt added.

They weren’t whispering; they discussed this openly.

Jiang Feng was rather speechless and just wanted to hide his posterior.

Out in the world, a man still needs to protect himself.

The aunts continued their gossip.

"He does look good, but running a small stall at his age doesn’t suggest a very bright future."

"If he found a better job, he might be a good match for my daughter." One of the aunts remained undeterred.

Another aunt chimed in, "I’ll add his WeChat in a bit. My daughter says she doesn’t care about his job; she just wants someone handsome. She’s thirty-two this year, so he’d be a perfect match for her."

The group continued their discussion.

After all, they came here to find matches for their sons and daughters.

It was inevitable that their topics of discussion would revolve around this.

Jiang Feng hadn’t experienced this sort of thing before, mainly because at his age, he didn’t need to.

Jiang Feng silently cooked the rice noodles, not saying a word.

Sun Zhuangfei wanted to laugh but held it in, making his expression look rather unnatural.

The aunts hadn’t yet realized that Jiang Feng, whom they dismissed as a man without a proper job, was actually a prominent boss who owned two large restaurants.

He didn’t need to work at all.

He even provided job opportunities for many others.

Before long, several bowls of snail noodle soup were ready.

Sun Zhuangfei served the aunts their bowls one by one.

The aunts were a bit hungry and started eating the noodles.

With the first taste, everyone was instantly captivated by the flavor of the snail noodle soup.

Hangzhou, sometimes called a culinary desert, had many small shops serving food that wasn’t very good.

Of course, there was plenty of delicious food to be found, but it required some searching.

You never knew which shop might be a delightful surprise.

The snail noodle soup made by Jiang Feng had just such an effect.

"This boss has some real skills; it’s very tasty!"

"Indeed, he’s not bad. Choosing him wouldn’t be out of the question; at least he can cook."

"These days, a man who can cook is pretty rare."

"The flavor is good."

The aunts ate quickly.

Soon, bowl after bowl of snail noodle soup was devoured.

After finishing their meals, two of the aunts actually approached Jiang Feng to inquire.

"Young man, are you seeing someone? Can this auntie add you on WeChat? My daughter is especially beautiful," one aunt pitched to Jiang Feng.

"Young man, my family is rich. We don’t need you to have a house or car. As long as any children take my daughter’s surname. What do you think?" another aunt asked.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Feng felt overwhelmed. He was selling his skills, not himself.

"Thank you, Auntie, but I’m married and already have two kids," Jiang Feng replied casually.

Although he made it up, it was the most straightforward answer.

"What? You already have two children at your age?" The aunts were clearly stunned.

"Look at him, so young and already with two kids! My daughter is really letting me down!" the aunt sighed.

Then, holding slips of paper with their daughters’ information, they left the food stall.

Jiang Feng finally felt somewhat relieved.

"Boss, you have two kids?" Sun Zhuangfei, ever so honest, asked in surprise.

"I just made it up. Where would I get kids from? Next time these aunts ask, I’ll introduce you to them," Jiang Feng replied calmly.

Hearing this, Sun Zhuangfei’s admiration for Jiang Feng grew.

The boss truly was the boss, telling lies so convincingly without a single flaw.

Sun Zhuangfei chuckled and responded, "They wouldn’t be interested in me."

Jiang Feng said no more.

Business today was slower than usual.

The snail noodle soup that Jiang Feng made tasted very good.

But due to external factors, there weren’t as many customers.

It was a case of being well-praised but not drawing a large crowd.

Jiang Feng cherished such quiet times regardless.

Anyway, by making sales one by one, he could still complete his mission.

The customer flow was very steady.

Tomorrow, I’ll fry some chicken feet, pig trotters, chicken gizzards, pork intestines, and so on.

Snail noodle soup is best enjoyed with a bowl of braised toppings.

The food stall business was uneventful.

Around three or four in the afternoon, when business tended to be slow, Sun Zhuangfei asked Jiang Feng for some time off, planning to visit the matchmaking corner.

Jiang Feng was somewhat astounded. "You’re not even staying in Hangzhou, so what are you doing there?"

"Can you afford the bride price in this place?"

Sun Zhuangfei laughed and replied, "I’m just checking out the situation. If I need it in the future, I can prepare in advance."

"I don’t even know what the matchmaking corner is like yet."

Jiang Feng thought that made sense.

For Sun Zhuangfei, it really could be useful in the future.

So, Jiang Feng let him go.

Sun Zhuangfei returned soon after. He only remarked that everyone there was quite old and said nothing more.

Around five or six in the evening, many older men and women, finished with their day at the matchmaking event, came to Jiang Feng’s stall to eat noodles.

Several aunts were asking about Jiang Feng.

They could see that Jiang Feng was handsome and had a good temperament.

Their daughters would surely like him.

Jiang Feng politely declined them all, stating he wasn’t single.

Of course, many people felt it was a pity.

To have such good looks but work at a small stall meant he had no prospects.