Free Web NovelChapter 716: Chapter 625: The Counterattack of the Northeast Frozen Pears (Part 2)
"Alright sis, let’s go already."
"No way, I have to talk to him about this!"
Zhuo Qianqian thought that Harbin was just too interesting nowadays, it seemed like there were frustrated locals everywhere.
Simply strolling down the street felt incredibly joyful, with interesting people and happenings everywhere.
Wang Fan also felt that Harbin was more joyful and vibrant this year compared to last.
Their second uncle’s home wasn’t far from Liu Hehe’s place, and after wandering around all afternoon, the group planned to go ice skating at the Songhua River the next morning and then went their separate ways. Although they knew Wang Fan would surely prepare a table full of delicious food, and their mouths were already watering, the two of them didn’t plan on mooching another meal. It’s important to maintain boundaries in relationships.
But Liu Hehe had just gotten home, and while browsing on her phone on the sofa, nearly exploded with anger.
"Do these people have any shame left? How can they behave like this?"
Liu Zhaofeng had just helped clear the table and asked in confusion, "What’s up sis?"
Liu Hehe, angrily, said, "These people are shameless, utterly shameless! I’ve never seen such brazen individuals."
Liu Zhaofeng took a look at the phone and felt his anger rise too, "Avoiding Harbin Ice and Snow World, where there’s nothing but ice?"
"Avoiding Northeast sticky rice buns are just ready-made meals?"
"Avoiding Harbin’s pretended hospitality, no free shuttle after getting off the plane?"
"Avoiding in Harbin, fourteen people ordered four dishes and weren’t full?"
"Avoiding one set of buffet meals not being sharable for two people? Wow, whoever thought of that is quite something."
"Isn’t it true that Harbin doesn’t snow every day? Avoiding? Oh, dear, is our Erbin committing a crime against heaven that it has to snow every day? How can we even go out then?"
"Waited a long time but couldn’t get on the big slide and had to refund the ticket? So, ice sculpture photos and performances are just fringe benefits, while the free slide is the main attraction?"
"Damn you!"
After reading those, Liu Zhaofeng was also furious. If there were stores cheating customers with mismatched products, it’s fine to point them out; solving those issues is expected. But these things they’re posting—what is this all about?
Did they come here for a tour, or do they think they’re royalty?
"Dad, aren’t you going to do something about this?"
Liu Director was reading a newspaper on the side, shook his head at his son’s words, "About what? Let them talk all they want. We have a clear conscience. After all, these kinds of people are in the minority, and justice is in people’s hearts."
Hearing this news did make him feel hurt, but there’s all kinds of birds in a big forest, so it’s unnecessary to get upset over them.
But after some thoughts, he said to the siblings, "Oh, by the way, since you’re talking about this, let me tell you something too. If Wang Fan gets ready to open his business, let him know to keep the prices fair, but don’t do anything for free. If he starts it, it will be troublesome for our local businesses."
They’re hoping Wang Fan could return because many tourists specifically want to taste his food, but their attitude is that they would be glad if he comes, but it’s okay if he doesn’t.
He’s an independent individual after all, you can’t shamelessly make him do anything.
Therefore, although Wang Fan has come back, the tourism bureau hasn’t approached him to cooperate in any work, leaving everything to his own discretion.
However, he had to emphasize not doing things for free, because Wang Fan’s reputation is too big now. If he starts offering free things, handling many subsequent issues will become very passive. The prices in Harbin aren’t expensive in the first place; if there are a few more free giveaways, many shop owners would only be able to drink the Northwest wind.
Liu Hehe agreed, "Alright, we’re going skating at the Songhua River tomorrow, I’ll let him know for you."
Liu Director said happily, "Be careful while skating, don’t break your marginal skills."
Liu Hehe retorted, "Still better than Brother Wang and Qianqian, at least I can skate in a straight line!"
...
The four of them got up early and headed to the morning market.
Zhuo Qianqian didn’t quite get the experience of Northeast having its own currency and really wanted to see what it’s about, and fill her stomach along the way.
"If it wasn’t for having a local from the Northeast with you, you’d probably have gone to the Red Professional Street morning market again; that place is too commercialized now, you have to queue for everything and it’s more expensive than most places, I’ll take you to Sansheng Street, things there are delicious and cheap."
Wang Fan found it necessary to emphasize, "I’m from the Northeast too; it’s just that I haven’t spent much time home."
"Hahaha, a slip of the tongue."
They parked their car and entered the morning market.
The environment was just ordinary, with traditional small community buildings on both sides, the left side with red walls and the right with yellow walls, very down-to-earth.
Right at the entrance, they saw an old man selling frozen pears.
Liu Hehe went over and asked, "Grandpa, how much are the frozen pears, are they sweet?"
The old man chuckled, "Four yuan a jin, sweet, definitely sweet. If they’re not, just throw one at my face, I won’t even flinch."
Liu Hehe said, "Alright, save five jin for us, we’ll come back to buy after we’re done eating."
Walking further in, there were all kinds of things for sale: discounted shoes and clothes, grains, homemade loose liquor, and various cookies, the variety was very rich.
Going further in, there were all sorts of snacks. Zhuo Qianqian, interested in a crisp egg bun, pulled Wang Fan over, while Liu Hehe and her brother waited on the side.
At this time, there were quite a few people at the morning market, mostly locals by the looks of it, and there was already a queue in front of this egg bun stall. Judging by this, it surely must be delicious.
After waiting for about ten minutes, it was finally their turn.
The food truck had two brothers in their thirties, and one was even wearing a black short-sleeve T-shirt, moving efficiently as they poured egg batter into molds.
Wang Fan asked, "Bro, how much are these crisp egg buns?"
The T-shirt brother quickly answered, "Two fillings, pork is three and a half yuan each, beef is four yuan each."
The price doesn’t seem cheap, but comparing it to the egg bun’s size shows how great the value is. With these huge buns, one would surely fill the average person.
At that moment, the T-shirt brother was brushing sauce on the buns, making the golden brown, crispy-skinned buns even more tempting with a layer of pink sauce. The dense aroma of eggs and baked dough mixed with meat truly tantalized one’s appetite.
Wang Fan bought four of each flavor, and Zhuo Qianqian was already munching on a beef one.
The golden crispy crust wrapped around a juicy beef patty, making it utterly mouthwatering.
The surface of the egg bun was sprinkled with some sesame seeds and there was a layer of ketchup. The rich beef flavor complemented by the sweet and sour ketchup was enough to make anyone hungry just from the smell.
Wang Fan sniffed and said, "This ketchup is nice, it’s made from base land steel tomatoes, that’s why it smells so good."
"It’s not too hot, boss, try some."
Zhuo Qianqian handed the egg bun to Wang Fan, who followed the already bitten part and took a large bite.
A thin crispy layer on top of a thick, soft cake base, below which there was a large beef patty, bursting with juice at each bite, filled their mouth with the aroma of butter and meat.
The beef patty wasn’t overly flavorful; the mix of salty, sweet, and the tangy taste of the ketchup on the bun made this snack, which looked a bit greasy, not greasy at all once eaten.
"Delicious, no wonder there are so many people queuing."
Wang Fan never underestimated anyone, especially when you could tell by the taste of this beef patty that genuine ingredients were used, freshly made, leaving no room for nitpicking from him, apart from himself."
"Ah, the acrid stench of love!"
Liu Hehe rubbed her arms vigorously, as if she could get goosebumps through the down jacket, "Hey, could you two tone it down? There are two pure single dogs here."
