CHAPTER 224: CHAPTER 224: HOW DID YOU, A FLIRTING STREAMER, TURN INTO A MUKBANG HOST?!

For the next two days, Jiang Feng continued to set up his stall outside Wansong Academy, selling snail rice noodle soup.

He introduced different flavored braised dishes each day, which customers could mix and match freely.

Gradually, more and more vendors gathered nearby, and the number of customers also increased. When Jiang Feng first arrived, this place had been an empty area with hardly any people, just five or six vendors catering to tourists or parents matchmaking for their children. Now, with the increased customer flow, a particularly large number of small stalls had appeared, transforming it into a veritable gourmet food street.

The number of customers was indeed staggering. Since Jiang Feng’s snail rice noodle soup gained fame, many people came specifically for him. Many who initially came just to take photos were instantly won over by the unexpectedly delicious flavor. Now, his snail rice noodle soup was still the talk of the town.

Whenever someone came by and saw a small stall with a long queue in front, they knew it was Jiang Feng’s.

Jiang Feng continued making snail rice noodle soup at his own unhurried pace.

He actually found it quite remarkable. Even with excellent taste, business wouldn’t normally be this overwhelming; usually, it would just be a steady stream of regulars. It had to be the tremendous influence of online buzz. Once someone gained popularity, they tended to become even more famous.

Through word of mouth among the locals, many people made special trips just to eat his snail rice noodle soup. Even some who had never tried snail rice noodle soup before came specifically to taste it. After one bite, they were instantly captivated by its fresh, savory, spicy, and numbing flavor.

At this moment, Tong Jincheng, a major internet celebrity from Hangzhou, was live streaming with a girl. The girls he featured were always very attractive and had good figures.

The girl, Ningning, was fair-skinned and beautiful with long legs. Although her face showed subtle signs of plastic surgery, it looked very natural. It wasn’t taboo to mention, as almost everyone doing beauty live streaming in the area had undergone some procedures.

Ningning was also a popular streamer online, with many fawning admirers.

Before Ningning arrived, Tong Jincheng was giving his live stream viewers some advice. "Guys, let me tell you, for a first date, don’t go to a super expensive restaurant. Pick a place with character and a good atmosphere. Today, I’m planning to take her to a street food stall for snail rice noodle soup. Just remember," he added, winking at the camera, "to roll up in a Ferrari."

His live stream was incredibly popular; basically, he became the top streamer on outdoor platforms as soon as he started broadcasting.

Soon, Ningning arrived. Her fair complexion and elegant demeanor instantly captivated the live stream audience.

After they exchanged greetings, Tong Jincheng panned the camera to give his viewers a full view of Ningning, letting them feast their eyes.

Ningning wore black high heels and a simple camisole, an outfit that made her look exceptionally chic.

"Today, I’m taking you for a big meal, a feast prepared by a genuine chef," Tong Jincheng said mysteriously.

"Eating what?" Ningning’s face lit up with anticipation at the mention of a big meal.

"We’re going to a street food stall for snail rice noodle soup," Tong Jincheng said outright.

"Huh? Really? I dressed up like this, and you’re taking me for snail rice noodle soup?" Ningning immediately questioned.

A less confident guy might have worried about upsetting her. But Tong Jincheng, a master pick-up artist, handled things at his own pace. "So what?" he replied calmly. "Not only are we eating at a roadside stall, but we’ll also have to queue. You’ll see in a bit. The place I’m taking you is definitely not ordinary."

With that, he coolly started the car and headed straight for Wansong Academy.

The atmosphere in the live stream was lively. The audience learned flirting techniques while interacting through live comments.

[Are you really taking a girl to a street food stall on a date? Won’t she get angry?]

[Tong, what crazy idea do you have now!]

[If you were as handsome as him and drove a Ferrari, she’d go with you even if you took her for instant noodles!]

[You can pretend to be broke, but you can’t actually be broke!]

[Tong, lend me a few girls to hang out with!]

The live comment section was buzzing.

「About twenty minutes later, Tong Jincheng arrived at Wansong Academy.」

It was around five in the afternoon, still a bit before dinnertime. Even so, a large crowd could be seen gathered in the distance, making the area look exceptionally bustling.

Ningning exclaimed, "Why are there so many people over there? It wasn’t like this before, was it?"

Tong Jincheng got out of the car, took out his phone, aimed it at the distant crowd, and said to his live stream audience, "That’s where we’re going for snail rice noodle soup. There’s a chef who’s very popular online setting up a stall here. I’ve seen his videos; his food is exceptionally delicious, and he always draws a crowd wherever he sets up. As a streamer myself, I can tell those are all real customers, which means his food is genuinely tasty. Today, I’m here specifically for a bowl of his noodles."

He parked the car and walked ahead, with Ningning quickly following.

Tong Jincheng then said, "Guys, remember, you can be considerate towards a girl, but when you’re with her, you must be yourself, you must be confident. Today, I plan to queue for snail rice noodle soup because I think it’s quite good. If she wants to come, she comes. If not, don’t force it. Don’t, just to impress a girl, pick a highly-rated place where the food is average and a meal costs three or four hundred—is that worth it?"

Tong Jincheng continued to share his experiences with the live stream audience. Many viewers took his words to heart while sneaking glances at Ningning’s legs. This live stream certainly had its moments.

The two soon joined the queue.

"Is this a street food stall? With so many people? This is my first time seeing this!" Ningning seemed very excited.

Eating at an ordinary street food stall might have left her feeling indifferent. But eating at a viral food stall, one she could post about online, especially if the food was exceptionally delicious? That was an amazing experience.

"Ningning, tell the viewers in the live stream how you really feel—if a guy you think is decent brought you here, how would you feel?" Tong Jincheng asked, seeking to validate his theory.

The viewers in the live stream pricked up their ears.

After a moment of thought, Ningning countered, "Does he drive a Ferrari?"

Tong Jincheng burst out laughing, and the viewers in the live stream joined in. Indeed, it seemed what you ate wasn’t as important as whether you drove a Ferrari.

"What if he didn’t, just an ordinary sedan?" Tong Jincheng asked again.

"That’s fine too. This place is quite nice, very lively. Look over there, so many people are taking pictures; girls would definitely like to come here," Ningning answered earnestly.

Tong Jincheng nodded. The viewers also chimed in, saying they’d learned their lesson: you still needed to drive a Ferrari.

Seeing the live comments, Tong Jincheng sighed. Looks like no one listened to a word I said!

「At this very moment, Jiang Feng was busy boiling rice noodles.」

He needed to ensure that the rice noodles he cooked were soft, smooth, and springy, cooked through perfectly—tender but not mushy. They had to be just right. The other side dishes were also specially prepared by him, with an emphasis on freshness.

Every customer who tried the rice noodles would find their eyes widening with the first bite, like a cat discovering cream. The taste was simply too delicious. Every customer left exceptionally satisfied.

Almost everyone finished their entire bowl of snail rice noodle soup, drinking all the broth and leaving hardly anything behind. At most, only some pig trotter and chicken bones remained.

Soon, Tong Jincheng and Ningning reached the front of the queue.

Ningning took out her phone and started enthusiastically snapping pictures.

"My gosh, he is so handsome!" Ningning exclaimed.

Hearing this, Tong Jincheng looked at Jiang Feng and also thought he was indeed handsome.

"Boss Jiang, give us two bowls of snail rice noodle soup. Add a chicken foot and a pig trotter to each, plus a serving of stir-fried tripe," Tong Jincheng ordered. Then, looking at Ningning, he said, "You should show some appreciation."

"Alright, my treat," Ningning replied, rolling her eyes before scanning the code to pay.

Letting women pay was one of Tong Jincheng’s signature moves. However, since they were often from the same company or good friends, it was all for entertainment.

Many viewers in the live stream recognized Jiang Feng.

"Isn’t that the super popular restaurant owner? The one who likes to set up food stalls everywhere!"

"Right, I thought he looked familiar!"

"This guy is super popular in Eastern Shandong; his Shandong Cuisine Restaurant is top-notch; it’s the go-to place for Shandong Cuisine!"

"Does he have an account?"

"He apparently said once that he doesn’t have an account."

"He’s got quite the personality!"

The live comments instantly erupted with activity.

Jiang Feng also recognized Tong Jincheng and found it rather interesting. He had occasionally seen his videos.

"Boss Jiang, welcome to Hangzhou. You should set up your stall here more often, let everyone taste a master chef’s cooking," Tong Jincheng greeted.

"Sure, thanks for the support," Jiang Feng answered with a smile.

Tong Jincheng thought that having Jiang Feng in an outdoor live stream might be a good idea; after all, Jiang Feng had some popularity. He then asked, "Boss Jiang, any interest in outdoor activities like hiking in the mountains? I can invite a few girls to join. We could do a live stream."

Hearing this, Jiang Feng politely declined, "Let’s skip that. I’m only interested in setting up stalls. I’ll pass on the outdoor activities. You go ahead with your plans."

Tong Jincheng nodded, "No worries."

Before long, two steaming bowls of snail rice noodle soup were ready. Jiang Feng also grabbed two smaller bowls, filling them with pig trotters, chicken feet, and stir-fried tripe. When eating, they could just add these into their noodle bowls.

Tong Jincheng and Ningning found a place to sit down. Ningning didn’t forget to take selfies, making sure to get both herself and Jiang Feng in the shot. Some people recognized Tong Jincheng and greeted him; he responded with a smile and a wave.

Then, the two began to eat their snail rice noodle soup. Tong Jincheng picked up some rice noodles and slurped them into his mouth. Instantly, a rich, savory flavor with hints of sourness and spice exploded in his mouth, the tastes of the various side dishes mixing into an incredibly delicious combination.

"The flavor’s really not bad! Folks, I’m not kidding, this bowl of noodles is amazing!" Tong Jincheng exclaimed with admiration.

He was already a bit hungry, and since he usually didn’t eat large portions, his appetite was now thoroughly whetted. Without further ado, he eagerly slurped down another large mouthful of rice noodles. He savored the delicious sensation, so much so that he even forgot to chat with the girl.

The viewers, watching him eat so eagerly on the live stream, were amazed. Wait a minute, isn’t he a pick-up artist? How did he turn into a food streamer? He’s enjoying that way too much! He’s definitely got a talent for food streaming.

Ningning was also concentrating on her snail rice noodle soup. She had initially planned to eat politely, just taking a few bites. But who knew that once she started, she wouldn’t be able to stop. This bowl of snail rice noodle soup was truly something else!