CHAPTER 54: CHAPTER 54: EYES OF RECOGNITION

Wang Fan opened the ingredient cooler, revealing three large, deep bowls stacked together. The fillings inside were packed tightly; he only needed to stir them up a bit when ready to use.

He loaded the tools for steaming buns onto the car. The Seven-Star Hong Guang, which had no back seats, was indeed spacious. No wonder it was praised as an entrepreneurial whiz; even with the stove and steamer inside, there was still plenty of room.

He glanced at the time; it was only 4:15 AM. This meant he would have time to make buns after arriving, ensuring the first batch would be ready by the time the early customers started showing up.

At this time, there were hardly any cars even on the Fifth Ring Road, so Wang Fan made his way smoothly to Tiantongyuan Community.

He checked the time again; it had only taken a little over 20 minutes on the road.

"I seem to be getting faster..."

Wang Fan muttered to himself as he found a spot to unload the car.

The morning market stands were mostly fixed in their places, with each vendor conscientiously tidying up their little area. Everyone knew it wasn’t easy for the market to be open, and if the place got too messy, business would suffer.

Wang Fan’s spot was already established, just where he had set up his stall the first day. It was a bit out of the way, so no one else wanted to compete for it.

In Beijing, the early morning temperature was below zero, nothing like East Mountain Province, but still far from pleasant.

Wrapped in a military coat, Wang Fan stomped his feet to keep warm. He felt somewhat better once he set up the gas stove and began cooking broth, with the steam providing warmth around him.

He set up a simple dust-proof barrier made of plastic sheeting around the workbench and began kneading the dough.

The dough was already leavened; it only needed a bit of kneading to expel the air. Then he could cut it into portions and roll out the wrappers directly.

Luckily the dough was warm; otherwise, with the way he kneaded it, his hands might have frozen, and he wouldn’t be able to make any steamed buns.

He first rolled out about 200 wrappers, then started mixing the filling.

The filling was prepped; it just needed to be stirred loosely after being compressed tightly. Once mixed, it looked like there was even more filling.

By now, steam was billowing from the steamer, warming Wang Fan up and allowing his slender fingers to work deftly again.

Soon, rows of little buns with neat pleats lay inside the steamer.

"Small boss, your bun-making skills are amazing. I’ve never seen anyone wrap buns so quickly with just one hand. In a blink, there’s a bun ready. I thought I was seeing things."

Wang Fan looked up to see Old Liu, dressed in Taiji attire and holding a Taiji sword, standing in front of his stall.

He had a small lamp perched on his bald head, which looked even brighter than the lamp from afar.

At this hour, there were no streetlights, and the sun hadn’t risen, so having a lamp likely helped with his exercises.

Wang Fan had gotten familiar with Old Liu over the last few days, so he felt at ease around him: "Uncle Liu, so early."

Old Liu chuckled, "As you get older, you sleep less. Unlike you youngsters... Except you, of course, you probably rise even earlier than me. It’s my first time seeing you make buns here. You usually bring them already made. Looks like we’re in for a treat with freshly steamed buns today."

Wang Fan replied, "I also find it troublesome to go back and forth. As for freshly steamed buns, I think they’re not as good as the ones that have sat for a bit."

He wore a mask over his mouth, not worried about droplets as he spoke.

Old Liu stood on tiptoe to look at the filling and couldn’t help but marvel: "Wow, this is Fish-Flavor Shredded Pork and Mapo Tofu. What a treat today; these are my favorites."

Wang Fan said, "Just wait a moment. I estimate about 20 minutes with the wrapping and steaming to get the first batch ready."

Old Liu nodded, "Alright, I’ll take a walk around first."

Wang Fan lowered his head and continued working, soon finishing up the four steamers of buns.

He cranked up the heat and waited for the buns to cook through.

White steam constantly billowed from the steamer, making him appear almost like an immortal riding on clouds from the old "Journey to the West" series.

...

...

Officer Zhong, with panda-like eyes from lack of sleep, arrived at Tiantongyuan Community just after 5 AM.

He set an alarm, but his mind was too preoccupied to sleep well, tossing and turning all night. By a little after 4 AM, he gave up and decided to get up and drive over.

Seeing the stall from yesterday illuminated and enveloped in steam, Officer Zhong’s eyes lit up, and he felt a joy in his heart.

Today, I won’t believe I can’t get a bun!

Officer Zhong walked briskly to Wang Fan’s stall.

Feeling someone approaching, Wang Fan looked up to see a police officer standing in front of him.

Wang Fan froze, stopping his work and hesitantly asked, "Officer, is there an issue? Aren’t we allowed to set up stalls anymore?"

Wasn’t it said that existence is justified? Why would the officer come calling?

Besides, he hadn’t heard anything about stalls being prohibited here.

Officer Zhong frowned slightly, thinking he was only 24. Even if he looked mature, isn’t it a bit much for someone in their twenties to call him uncle?

"No need to worry or overthink. I’m just here to buy some buns. Also, you can call me Officer Zhong or Zhong Xin. I’m only 24, so the title ’uncle’ feels a bit too much!"

Officer Zhong heavily emphasized the word "uncle."

Wang Fan awkwardly laughed, mostly out of habit from always calling officers ’uncle,’ slipping out by mistake and not noticing that this officer wasn’t much older.

Hearing he was a customer wanting to buy buns, Wang Fan relaxed: "The Fish-Flavor Shredded Pork buns will be ready soon. The Mapo Tofu buns need a few more minutes; how about trying a few Fish-Flavor Shredded Pork ones first?"

Officer Zhong’s sharp eyes looked directly into Wang Fan’s through his cap.

Although the test results showed no issue, after being reported once, he wanted to see for himself.

If something illicit were added, the owner would surely know, and facing a police officer would make him nervous. His sharp eyes should be able to detect that.

Wang Fan’s eyes were as clear as a stream.

Hmm, you might say it’s the clear yet naive gaze of the average college student.

A healthy student’s eyes are clear like a stream; an unhealthy one has sunken eyes and a dull gaze.

The last bit of wariness in Officer Zhong’s heart dissipated automatically.

In Wang Fan’s eyes, he saw no fear but a different kind of emotion.

Passion.

Not a passion for him, as he wasn’t some stunning beauty.

But a genuine passion for what he does.

He himself showed the same gaze.

No matter how tough or tiring, this look of enthusiasm never wavered from his own eyes.

Someone so devoted to his craft would never taint his work with harmful additives.