Chapter 6 These Fried Rice Noodles Are Top-Tier! Where Can You Get It? Oh, From That Stall With the Handsome Owner!
“Bro, you’re my first customer today, so I’ll give you extra noodles and ham,” Lu Qin said.
“Sure, buddy, do as you see fit. Just make it quick.”
The Oden uncle swallowed his saliva again.
The smell of these fried noodles was becoming more and more tempting. He didn’t eat fried noodles often before, but Lu Qin’s noodles really smelled amazing. They looked appetizing, and he couldn’t resist.
The noodles were tossed a few more times in the wok, releasing a rich aroma with a hint of wok hei. The Oden uncle’s nostrils flared like butterfly wings, and his stomach rumbled with hunger.
“Hurry up and give it to me. I’ll pay in a bit.”
The uncle couldn’t wait. He reached out, took the box, tore open the chopsticks, and started digging in.
“Oh wow! This is really good.”
The uncle bent over, devouring the noodles, not realizing fried noodles could taste this good. The fragrance was overwhelming, the texture was excellent, and the rice noodles were soft yet springy, blending perfectly with the savory eggs and ham, constantly stimulating his taste buds. The more he ate, the more he craved, unable to stop.
Lu Qin took a marker and wrote the prices on a whiteboard.
【Vegetarian fried rice noodles: 8 yuan per serving】
【Add lean pork: 2 yuan】
In Jiangcheng, this price for fried noodles was quite reasonable.
The uncle finished the noodles in just a few bites, licking his lips, still craving more. But he was already full, or else he would’ve ordered another serving.
“Young man, your fried noodles are absolutely delicious! So smooth and rich in flavor, not greasy at all, and the more I eat, the better it gets.”
The uncle gave him a thumbs up and scanned the QR code to pay. It seemed like Old Liu had some competition now.
As the WeChat payment came through, a voice rang in Lu Qin’s mind.
【Sold 1 serving of fried rice noodles, earned 1 point】
Collect 100 points for a chance to enter a prize draw, something Lu Qin was looking forward to. Just then, Lu Xiyao had also finished her fried noodles, not leaving even the smallest piece of ham stuck to the box.
“Daddy, the fried noodles are so tasty! I want more!”
Lu Qin glanced at the little one and asked, “Is there still room in your tummy?”
Lu Xiyao looked down at her bulging belly, stuck out her tongue and replied, “Not now, but I’ll eat more when I get hungry later.”
Not far away, two male college students were walking by. They initially wanted to buy grilled cold noodles but caught the scent of fried rice noodles, making them turn their heads.
“It smells like fried rice noodles, and it’s really fragrant.”
“Let’s go check it out. Looks like a new stall. Smells good, wonder how it tastes.”
“Hey, handsome guys, want to try some fried rice noodles?” Lu Qin asked while smiling.
The two students glanced at Lu Qin, clearly taken aback. This stall owner was definitely more handsome than them.
“Alright, boss, we’ll take two servings with eggs.”
“The ham and lean pork look fresh, too. Let’s add those as well. Add everything.”
“Got it,” Lu Qin replied.
They paid 26 yuan through Alipay, and the system credited him with 2 more points. Two minutes later, the fried rice noodles were ready. Just as Lu Qin was about to pack them up, one of the students said, “Boss, no need to pack it. Just hand it over. It smells too good, I need a bite now.”
“These noodles look really appetizing. I was planning to eat at the grilled cold noodles place, but I guess I’ll have to wait until tomorrow.”
The two of them stood at Lu Qin’s stall and started gobbling up the noodles.
“Wow, this is a surprise! Boss, your fried rice noodles are amazing!”
“So good! Really good!”
After that quick compliment, the two focused on eating.
“Boss, got any drinks?”
One of the students, having finished his portion quickly, wanted a drink.
“Sorry, it’s my first day, and I didn’t have time to prepare any,” Lu Qin said apologetically.
The Oden uncle next door quickly chimed in, “I’ve got iced tea over here.”
Lu Qin’s fried noodles were quite filling, with plenty of bean sprouts, cabbage, ham, and pork bits, so one serving was enough to satisfy.
“Boss, will you be here again tomorrow?”
“Alright, we’ll come back for more tomorrow.”
After the two college students left, business slowed down again. Even though Lu Qin’s fried noodles were top-notch, they weren’t well-known yet, so not many people came all the way into the alley to buy them.
The Oden uncle encouraged Lu Qin. “Young man, your fried noodles are truly excellent. Stick around for a few more days, and business will definitely pick up.”
Hearing someone praise her dad, Lu Xiyao felt overjoyed.
“Uncle, you’ve got good taste~! Didn’t I say so? My daddy’s cooking is super tasty!”
“Haha, uncle just tells it like it is.”
Lu Qin smiled and shook his head.
Around 8 PM, the flow of people in the university town reached its peak. More customers began wandering into the alley. Some people wanted to eat fried rice noodles and noticed Lu Qin’s stall, but they didn’t stop. Instead, they went back to buy from the stall at the entrance of the alley. Lu Qin’s stall lacked any buzz, while the ‘Liu’s Fried Noodles’ stall at the entrance already had a line forming.
This was the herd effect—people tend to think that the longer the line, the better the food. But sometimes, that was not the case. A few minutes later, four or five girls holding bubble tea were snapping pictures while buying various snacks.
“I didn’t have dinner. Do you all want some fried rice noodles?”
“I’m not hungry. I just had some fried skewers and I’m full.”
“I still haven’t finished my takoyaki. I’ll pass too. You go ahead and buy.”
The girls stood in front of Lu Qin’s quiet stall.
“This place looks pretty empty. Let’s go to the one at the front of the alley,” one of the girls whispered.
“Seems like it, but this owner is really handsome! He’s totally my type. And he’s got a kid with him! The child looks like a little porcelain doll, so cute.”
“Pretty sisters, why don’t you try my daddy’s fried noodles? My daddy’s noodles are super delicious~!” Lu Xiyao said sweetly, flashing an adorable smile.
“Oh my gosh, she’s so cute!”
“I’m melting! Come here, let me pinch your little cheeks.”
“Boss, do we get the kid for free if we buy noodles?” One of them joked.
“The kid’s not for sale,” Lu Qin said with a smile. “But you can try the noodles. They’re really good.”
“Alright, I’ll have one, with an egg.”
Lu Qin quickly started frying the noodles, while the girls watched him with starry eyes.
It’s often said that men who work seriously are the most attractive. At that moment, Lu Qin, focused on cooking, embodied that perfectly. After seeing so many greasy middle-aged stall owners, Lu Qin, clean and handsome in his apron, was definitely a refreshing sight.
“Wow! It smells amazing!”
The noodles were soon ready. Lu Qin expertly packed them up.
Smelling the rich aroma, the girls couldn’t help but swallow their saliva. The stalls in the alley didn’t provide seating, so customers had to take their food to go.
“Thanks, boss! If it’s good, we’ll be back for more.”
Originally, they had only bought a serving because of how good Lu Qin and his daughter looked. But now that the noodles were ready, their thoughts had changed.
“Hurry, let’s find somewhere to sit! I need to try these noodles. They smell amazing!”
The girls found a spot in the night market outside the alley and sat down to eat.
“There’s only one pair of chopsticks? Why didn’t you grab more?”
“I asked if you all wanted some, and everyone said no! How could I grab extra chopsticks for one serving?”
They took turns grabbing bites of the noodles. Immediately, their eyes lit up.
“Oh my gosh, these are so good!”
“They’re fragrant and springy. I’ve never had fried noodles this good.”
“These noodles are fire!”
“This isn’t enough, we need more! Let’s go buy another round.”
People nearby, seeing how much they were enjoying their noodles, began turning their heads in curiosity.
“Hey ladies, where did you buy those noodles? They smell amazing!”
“Babe! I want some of those noodles too! They look delicious. Can you go get some for me?”
“Excuse me, where did you get those fried noodles?”
“From the narrow alley over there.”
“The alley? There are a few places that sell fried noodles down there. Which one is it?”
“The one at the very back. The owner’s super handsome, and there’s also an adorable kid. Wait, I’ll take you there. I’m going back to buy five more—I didn’t get enough!”