Chapter 21: Are They Afraid of Me?
Chapter 21: Are They Afraid of Me?
After saying this, Jiang Cheng felt a twinge of regret.
If only he had arrived earlier, these two sweet potatoes would have been sold.
However, his skill in roasting sweet potatoes was evident, and since these two had come specifically to find him, even if they didn't buy today, they would return in the future.
"It's fine, let's just wait. It's lunchtime anyway," the man said with a smile.
"Alright."
Jiang Cheng, upon hearing this, quickly got to work.
He placed the sweet potatoes on the grill and lit the charcoal.
As time passed, the sweet potatoes slowly roasted in the embers, and the aroma gradually intensified, captivating those around.
The caramelized skin deepened in color, and as Jiang Cheng turned them, a crisp sound echoed, while the flesh inside emitted a golden glow, making mouths water.
"Boss, are they done?" the man asked eagerly.
His stomach rumbled in anticipation.
His companion couldn't help but swallow, feeling the same hunger.
It was hard to tell if they were truly hungry or if the sweet potatoes on the stall were just that enticing. He felt he had never seen such perfectly roasted sweet potatoes.
Even Lu Zicheng, who sold fried cassava sticks not far away, couldn't help but lick his lips.
Thinking about it, he realized he hadn't eaten roasted sweet potatoes in a long time.
Should he buy one too? But seeing Jiang Cheng making a profit right from the start made him feel a bit sour, and now he had to pay for one himself.
"Forget it, it's just a roasted sweet potato. How good could it be?"
"Just a few more minutes."
Jiang Cheng smiled.
He didn't stop his movements.
"Just a few minutes, right? Okay."
The man nodded repeatedly.
But the next few minutes felt like an eternity to him.
Finally, Jiang Cheng took the roasted sweet potatoes off the grill and placed them in a bag.
"Six yuan for one roasted sweet potato, right?"
The man eagerly took out the twelve yuan he had prepared and handed it to Jiang Cheng, eagerly taking the roasted sweet potato.
"Be careful, it's still hot," Jiang Cheng quickly reminded him.
"It's fine, boss, thanks!"
The man waved at Jiang Cheng and left with his companion.
As they walked away, he said, "Well, what do you think? This sweet potato is something else, right? Just the smell makes your mouth water."
"It's true, it smells amazing, but it's too hot."
"Impatient people can't enjoy hot food. Don't worry, once it cools down, you'll see how delicious it is."
The two disappeared into the crowd.
"A regular customer?" Lu Zicheng asked curiously.
Jiang Cheng smiled and shook his head.
Lu Zicheng turned and didn't think much of it.
However, as the afternoon wore on, he began to question his life choices.
Initially, it was no different from other days.
Every now and then, pedestrians would come to buy his fried cassava sticks or Jiang Cheng's roasted sweet potatoes from the neighboring stall.
But there was a difference.
Those who bought his fried cassava sticks would eat as they walked away.
But those who bought Jiang Cheng's roasted sweet potatoes would eat and praise them, and curiously ask how he roasted them.
The caramelized, crispy skin easily peeled away, revealing the sweet potato inside, unlike other stalls where the skin stuck to the flesh, making it difficult to eat without wasting or accidentally swallowing the skin.
The flesh was fragrant and melted in the mouth, sweet without being cloying.
They agreed it was the best roasted sweet potato they had ever tasted!
Each time, Jiang Cheng would smile and say it was a secret technique he didn't share.
Before they knew it, the day had turned to evening.
The streets emptied of pedestrians, and vendors began packing up, ready to call it a day.
"Jiang Cheng, you've sold quite a few sweet potatoes today, haven't you?"
Just then, Lu Zicheng's voice echoed.
The aroma of the roasted sweet potatoes was irresistible, attracting numerous customers.
Lu Zicheng noticed that Jiang Cheng had at least a dozen more customers than yesterday, which meant he had sold over a dozen more sweet potatoes than usual.
If some customers bought two or three at a time, his profits would be even greater.
"It's not bad," Jiang Cheng replied vaguely.
As the saying goes, one must not harbor ill intentions, but one should always be vigilant.
Regarding his relationship with Lu Zicheng, it was neither good nor bad, and when it came to profits, it was best to keep things confidential to avoid unnecessary trouble.
"You're keeping secrets from me," Lu Zicheng said with a hint of sourness in his tone. "I'm not blind. You've earned at least a hundred yuan more today than yesterday."
Jiang Cheng remained silent.
It's safe to say that those in business have sharp eyes and good memory. With a guess, he was almost spot on.
Today, Jiang Cheng sold twenty more sweet potatoes than usual, nearly selling out his entire morning's supply.
At six yuan each, today's turnover was close to four hundred and thirty yuan. Compared to the usual two hundred, it was almost three hundred, with an additional one hundred and thirty yuan in pure profit, exceeding two hundred yuan.
Of course, even so, if he wanted to accumulate three thousand yuan in the coming days, he would still be a few hundred short.
However, Jiang Cheng knew this was just the first day, and many of today's customers would likely become regulars.
If he promoted his business to those around him, his turnover would soon surpass five hundred, or even six hundred or seven hundred yuan.
Accumulating three thousand yuan was definitely achievable.
"Jiang Cheng, how did you manage this?" Lu Zicheng asked, his eyes filled with confusion as he looked at the oil drum. "Did you receive guidance from a master, and your sweet potato skills improved so much all of a sudden?"
"Hehe, I guess so," Jiang Cheng chuckled, not wanting to dwell on this topic.
"It's getting late. You should head back early. See you tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow," Lu Zicheng nodded and pushed his cart back, his mind filled with unanswered questions.
Lu Zicheng didn't see Jiang Cheng adding any special ingredients. How did the sweet potatoes smell so good this time? Could it be that he chose high-quality sweet potatoes? But the price remained the same. If so, wouldn't he earn less?
Not necessarily. Perhaps he was selling in high volume at a small profit.
Lu Zicheng had an epiphany. After returning, he could try buying sausages with higher meat content and selling them at the same price to see if business would improve.
Jiang Cheng had no idea what Lu Zicheng was thinking. Taking advantage of the remaining daylight, he went to the grocery store and bought a hundred pounds of sweet potatoes.
If he waited until the morning to buy sweet potatoes like today, he would waste a lot of time. It was better to buy them in the evening, clean them promptly, and be ready to set up his stall the next morning.
After wasting some time, Jiang Cheng bought the sweet potatoes and walked into the alleyway, only to find that many households had already closed their doors. Occasionally, he spotted a few people with their hands in their pockets, looking around suspiciously.
Jiang Cheng tensed up.
After two real-life encounters, he no longer felt as nervous as he did before when facing thugs blocking his path.
Moreover, his proficiency with the short stick was just a step away from mastery.
If he encountered robbers, he could not only improve his proficiency but also earn some money.
What surprised him was that these thugs, upon seeing him, quickly turned into a side alley and disappeared.
If it happened once, it could be a coincidence, but twice, thrice, it became intriguing.
"Are they afraid of me?" Jiang Cheng wondered.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
