After hanging up the phone, Yang Mo turned toward the downtown street. It didn't take long for him to arrive, and as expected, the area was bustling with activity. The neighborhood's dense population ensured that the entire street was packed with people. Restaurants and snack stalls lined both sides of the road, their tantalizing aromas filling the air. Vendors pushed carts around, calling out to customers, while signs for rice noodles, chicken pots, hot pot, and kebabs flickered under the warm evening lights. The street was alive, filled with the hum of conversation and the clatter of dishes—truly a place full of human warmth and vibrancy.
As Yang Mo crossed the street, he quickly spotted Yi Xing's family food stall. A brand-new tricycle stood next to them, stacked with crates of beer and various ingredients.
"Nice. Is this a new tricycle?" Yang Mo asked, pointing to it.
"Yep! It's much more convenient for transporting things," Yi Xing grinned. "Brother Mo, sit down and wait for a bit. Try the kebabs I grilled today—see if they match your standards!"
Yang Mo chuckled and pulled a plastic stool from the side of the cart, settling down.
"Brother Yang Mo, let me tell you—my dad's grilling skills have improved by leaps and bounds! It tastes exactly like what you made last time. It's so good!" Yi Xing said excitedly, puffing out her cheeks like a pufferfish in an adorable pout.
"Oh? That good, huh?" Yang Mo smiled.
Just then, a customer from a nearby table raised his voice. "Boss, these chicken wings of yours are amazing! They're even better than the ones I've had at a five-star restaurant before! Give me five more skewers and two bottles of beer."
"Alright! Coming right up," Yi Xing's father, Yi Zhangta, responded with a beaming smile. "Lili, grab two beers from the cart."
"Got it!"
Yang Mo nodded in satisfaction. "Not bad, Star Moon. Business seems to be booming."
"Hehe, that's right! We already came here yesterday to test the waters, but we underestimated the demand. Everything sold out in less than an hour! So today, my mom got up early to buy fresh ingredients." Yi Xing's voice carried pride as she spoke.
"By the way, Brother Yang Mo, where did you go today? I wanted to look for you, but you weren't home." Yi Xing pouted again, her large eyes blinking with curiosity.
"Oh, you looked for me? My classmates invited me to the amusement park," Yang Mo replied casually.
"Classmates? Male or female?" Yi Xing narrowed her eyes playfully.
"Why are you asking?" Yang Mo smirked, reaching out to ruffle her hair.
"Hmph! It has to be a female classmate, right? Is she Brother Yang Mo's girlfriend?" Yi Xing teased.
"There's no such thing! Star Moon, what do you think about all day?" Yang Mo let out a helpless laugh. "I'm preparing for the college entrance exams. How could I have time for that?"
"Good! Your priority should be the entrance exams. Aim for a good university first."
Just then, Yi Zhangta arrived with a plate piled with skewers. "Here, taste these, Little Mo. I've got chicken wings, lamb kebabs, and even some grilled potatoes and leeks."
"It smells incredible! I don't even need to taste it—I already know it's going to be amazing." Yang Mo grinned as he grabbed a skewer.
"You're a good kid. Go ahead and eat. If you want more, just let me know," Yi Zhangta laughed before returning to the grill.
Yi Xing eagerly handed a chicken wing to Yang Mo. "Quick, Brother Mo, try it!"
Taking a bite, Yang Mo's eyes lit up. "Wow, this is really good! The wings are well-marinated, the outside is perfectly golden and crispy, and the inside is tender. You've nailed it!"
Yi Xing beamed at the praise. "See? I told you! From now on, we don't have to buy chicken wings outside anymore!"
Yang Mo chuckled. "Then maybe next time, Star Moon can grill for me?"
At those words, Yi Xing's face turned red. "Ah… this… I don't think that's a good idea."
"Oh? Why not?" Yang Mo smirked.
"The last time I tried grilling at home, I nearly caused a fire…" Yi Xing admitted sheepishly.
Yang Mo burst into laughter. "Then I better be careful if I ever ask you to cook for me."
Just as the lively atmosphere continued, a sudden bang on a table disrupted the flow of the evening. A sharp, grating voice followed.
"Boss! What the hell is this? Is this even edible?!"
A group of rowdy youths stood up from a nearby table, one of them holding a plate with a dead cockroach on it. The sight caused some of the customers to gag, and murmurs spread among the surrounding diners.
Yi Zhangta and Fon Li hurried over, their faces filled with alarm.
"T-This can't be! I personally checked all the ingredients today. I washed everything carefully. There's no way this happened!" Fon Li stammered.
Food contamination was no small matter. If word spread, their stall's reputation would be ruined before they even got off the ground.
The leader of the troublemakers—a green-haired youth with multiple ear piercings—leaned forward, cigarette in hand. He exhaled a puff of smoke mockingly in Yi Zhangta's face.
"What's the matter, old man? You don't believe us? You saying we planted this?"
Yi Zhangta's expression hardened. He was almost certain these guys were here to cause trouble deliberately. But with so many eyes on them, handling it improperly could escalate the situation.
"How about this," Yi Zhangta offered, his voice steady. "Your meal is on the house. I'll also serve a few more kebabs to make up for the issue."
The green-haired youth scoffed. "Tch. Do you take us for beggars?"
The tension in the air thickened. Customers who had initially been enjoying their meals were now eyeing the situation nervously. Some had already put down their skewers, their appetites lost. If this continued, Yi Zhangta's hard-earned business could be ruined in one night.
Yang Mo, watching from the sidelines, narrowed his eyes. He wasn't about to let these punks get away with their cheap trick so easily.