Chapter 28: Spicy and Addictive

Chapter 28: Fiery and Irresistible

The braised duck dishes she made were so fragrant and addictive that a customer, after one bite, exclaimed, "This is incredibly delicious! How did you make it?"

Lu Xiang replied, "It takes over ten different spices and hours of simmering. Making it yourself would cost more than buying from me. If you enjoy it, please come back next time."

The customer couldn’t help but chuckle, "You’re quite the businesswoman."

Lu Xiang responded, "Not bad."

Lu Xiang’s food was so delicious that a crowd quickly gathered around her stall. Some customers even returned for more after just a few bites.

"Can I get a discount if I buy more?" someone asked.

Lu Xiang offered, "Buy five, get one free."

Another person chimed in, "What about buying three? Can I get half off then?" They clearly wanted to enjoy the treat without spending too much.

Lu Xiang readily agreed, "Certainly."

The braised duck parts were spicy and addictive, delicious even on their own. Paired with a little alcohol, they were even more satisfying. The enticing aroma and the sight of others enjoying them piqued everyone’s curiosity, making them eager to buy.

Most customers brought their own containers, and Lu Xiang thoughtfully selected the larger pieces for them. She handled transactions swiftly, creating a lively atmosphere with customers buying and receiving freebies.

Nearby stall owners watched enviously. As a newcomer, her sales surpassed those who had been selling there for a long time.

After this rush of customers, more than half of the duck necks were gone. Though she hadn't counted precisely, she had already made over ten yuan. Her costs were covered, and she still had half the duck necks left!

As Lu Xiang was tidying up the duck necks and wings, she heard a surprised voice call out, "Lu Xiang!"

She looked up and saw Reporter Li, whom she hadn’t encountered since their last meeting.

Lu Xiang asked coolly, "What are you doing here?"

Back then, they had, without question, provided false testimony for Lu Zhaodi, almost dragging Lu Xiang into serious trouble. Although it was later clarified as a misunderstanding, Lu Xiang preferred to keep her distance from such people and avoid any association.

Moreover, Reporter Li was Lu Zhaodi’s future husband. Though things hadn’t gone as planned, who could predict how fate would unfold?

Though not as handsome as Fu Qinhui, Reporter Li was enthusiastic and outgoing, standing out in a crowd. He said, "After what happened last time, Grandpa fell ill and said he wanted to make it up to you."

Lu Xiang replied, "No need for compensation. Helping someone was no big deal. Don’t dwell on it—anyone would have done the same."

Reporter Li scratched his head and asked, "Are you still angry about what happened back then?"

"Angry isn’t the right word," she said, though she truly wanted to avoid any connection with them.

Reporter Li didn’t know what else to say. He never intended for such a misunderstanding to occur and wished he had investigated properly back then.

Wanting to make it up to her, he noticed Lu Xiang’s duck necks and had an idea, even though he didn’t eat them himself.

"How much for the duck necks?" Reporter Li asked.

Lu Xiang said, "There’s no need." Her duck necks sold well without pity purchases. She hadn’t yet built her reputation, but before she transmigrated, people had to book five days in advance to taste her cooking.

Reporter Li insisted, "What kind of business turns customers away?"

Seeing his persistence, Lu Xiang replied, "Duck wings are twenty cents, duck necks thirty cents."

Reporter Li looked at the remaining stock—about twenty duck wings and over ten duck necks—and said, "I’ll take them all." He came from a well-off family. Not only did he have full control over his monthly twenty-yuan income, but his parents also regularly sent him money from Shanghai to support his lifestyle.

Lu Xiang packed all the duck wings and necks and said, "That’s eight yuan and fifty cents. Just give me eight yuan."

Reporter Li paid without hesitation. Since he had nothing to carry the food in, he borrowed a large bowl from a nearby noodle stall, promising to return it the next day and have a meal there.

The noodle stall owner gladly lent him the bowl, and he left carrying two large bowls.

With everything sold out, Lu Xiang packed up to leave.

Just then, she noticed someone approaching from a distance, with another person pointing her out. "That’s her!" they said, as if looking for trouble.

A burly man came up and said, "Give me three duck necks."

Lu Xiang replied, "Sold out."

The burly man was stunned, "How can that be?"

A nearby customer who had bought earlier was also surprised. He was frugal and had bought one duck neck, eating half and saving the other half for the factory director’s son, who had money and could buy more for him to share. He had rushed over, only to find Lu Xiang already packing up.

The Fu family had each eaten one the day before and still wanted more. Now, just as they were getting addicted, there was nothing left. It was a real bummer.

"Then when will you come tomorrow? I’ll order five. You offer five plus one free, right?" the burly man insisted.

Lu Xiang said, "I can’t take pre-orders. It depends on how much I can prepare." She finally managed to wave him off by saying she would come back if she had more.

...

Reporter Li had an interview in the afternoon, and carrying two large bowls of duck parts seemed awkward. He decided to go directly to his friends’ place and gave them the duck wings and necks as an extra dish to go with their drinks.

Reporter Li came from a wealthy family, and his friends were also well-off second-generation kids from the county, sent there to gain experience. Their homes were stocked with luxuries like milk powder and chocolate, so they didn’t think much of the duck parts. Still, they accepted the gift from their friend.

When Reporter Li returned home in the evening, his grandfather told him that several friends had called. Phone calls were expensive in those days, so it must have been important for them to call. He hadn’t even had time to tell his grandfather about meeting Lu Xiang earlier and hurriedly returned the calls.

After four calls, he found out they all had the same question: "Where did you buy those duck wings and necks? Can I get some?" The braised duck parts, which would later become hugely popular, were a game-changer in the 1980s.

His friends had been so engrossed in eating the duck parts that they didn’t even touch the main course. The spicy, lingering flavor left them craving more even before they finished.

Reporter Li was amused and gave them the address. His friends thanked him repeatedly, praising him for sharing such a delicious treat with them. This made Reporter Li curious—he hadn’t even tasted the duck parts himself and had no idea what they were like.

His friends were known for being picky eaters, and if they said it was good, it must be exceptional.

Reporter Li regretted not trying them earlier.

After hanging up, his grandfather asked what the calls were about. Reporter Li said, "I ran into Lu Xiang today."

Old Mr. Li immediately sat up from the sofa and complained, "Why didn’t you tell me earlier? How is Lu Xiang doing?"

"She’s selling duck necks on the street."

Old Mr. Li nearly teared up, feeling sorry for Lu Xiang.

Reporter Li rubbed his nose and said, "She’s selling really well." Those two large bowls of duck parts had cost him eight yuan.

Old Mr. Li said, "She can do anything she sets her mind to. That girl is something else." If it weren’t so late, he would have gone to see her right away.

Unbeknownst to Lu Xiang, her first day selling braised duck parts had touched the hearts of many.