Chapter 25: Flying Eagle Martial Arts Hall

Some of them, like the two men before, ate yesterday and then kept thinking about it, so they came over on purpose.

Some were just passing by, smelled the aroma, and thought of giving it a try.

In no time, the batch of roasted sweet potatoes was sold out.

"Sorry, sorry."

Jiang Cheng placed the raw sweet potatoes on the rack and apologized to the few customers arriving from behind: "The previous batch sold out; this batch will need a few more minutes to finish roasting. You can come back later, or if you really want roasted sweet potatoes, you could check other stalls."

Everyone is out making a living, and he holds no hostility toward the other vendors on the street.

Of course, the main issue is the roasting time; unlike Lu Zicheng next door, whose starch sausages finish in a flash.

Hearing that, some sighed and chose to leave.

A few tens of minutes? They can't stay hungry, can they?

Some, however, were resolute.

"No problem, boss, we'll wait a bit and also see how you roast them," a young man said with a smile.

"Yeah, the sweet potatoes those stalls roast taste far worse than yours, and their price is the same. My brain must be broken if I buy from them," he added.

"I think the same. By the way, boss, how exactly do you roast these sweet potatoes? How are they so much tastier than others? Is there a secret?"

Jiang Cheng gave the asker a glance, smiled faintly, and said, "There's no secret; it's just practice making perfect."

The man smiled and said nothing more.

Jiang Cheng didn't intervene further.

Even if the person in front were from another stall trying to steal the technique, it's fine; mastering heat isn't that easy— even hands‑on teaching is hard to grasp.

If the other side could learn just by watching, they'd be a talent.

As time passed, the second batch of sweet potatoes neared completion, its fragrance spreading, and more people gathered around.

Lu Zicheng saw the scene and his eyes turned red.

Jiang Cheng, this guy, his business is booming, huh? When he came earlier, he saw the latter sell a whole batch.

Now, the second batch just finished roasting and is about to sell out.

And look at the crowd around; the numbers aren't even enough!

"Roasted sausages for sale, three yuan each, three yuan each!"

He shouted energetically.

But the result was minimal; the people at the neighboring stall only glanced at him before looking away.

Not far away, two people in white training robes walked toward here.

It was a man and a woman, with a soaring eagle emblazoned on their chests.

Passersby, seeing this, stepped aside.

Because they recognized them as members of the Flying Eagle Martial Arts Hall on the street.

"Junior sister, what do you want to eat for lunch today?" the man on the right asked with a smile; he looked about twenty‑six or seven, tall and broad.

"I don't know."

The woman shook her head, her gaze drifting aimlessly left and right.

She seemed younger, about twenty‑two or twenty‑three, slender, fair‑skinned, with faint muscle outlines on her exposed forearms.

"Yeah, this street is so long; even with all the food, we get tired of it. How about we go to other streets? There should be things we haven't tried, or just head into the city?" The man's smile felt obsequious.

"No, I guess not."

The woman furrowed her dark brows, "City prices are too high; a single meal costs several hundred."

"Junior sister, aren't I here for you?"

The man straightened his chest, "Senior brother, it's my treat."

"Let's see again, maybe..."

The woman's voice abruptly stopped as her gaze fixed on a spot ahead.

There, a crowd had gathered.

"Junior sister?"

Xiao Yuanqing called out, got no response, and followed the woman's line of sight, feeling curious.

Bai Wei asked curiously, "Senior brother, why are so many people gathered there?"

"This..."

Xiao Yuanqing gave an awkward smile, "Senior brother, I'm not sure; we'll know once we go over."

"Alright, let's go."

Bai Wei finished speaking and led the way forward. As she drew nearer, she smelled the aroma of roasted sweet potatoes.

The closer she got, the stronger the scent.

"So fragrant— it's the smell of roasted sweet potatoes,"

Bai Wei muttered to herself.

When she finally stepped in and saw Jiang Cheng at the front of the crowd, she froze, eyes wide and round.

What a tiny roasted sweet potato stall.

But the crowd around is huge! Along the way she had seen one or two other roasted sweet potato stalls— some with a couple of customers, some with no business at all.

"Roasted sweet potatoes?"

Xiao Yuanqing also came over, saw the scene, and couldn't help blurting out.

His outburst instantly drew everyone's attention.

When they saw the two wearing the Hall's uniforms, they were instantly frightened and stepped back to the sides.

Jiang Cheng looked up, and upon seeing the two, his expression also changed.

He is a person from the Flying Eagle Martial Arts Hall.

Its reputation is not much better than the other two martial arts halls.

A scene from a few days ago flashed in his mind.

But his mood still sour, he could only flash a thin smile and say, "Would you two like some Roasted Sweet Potato?"

Xiao Yuanqing heard that, and with an inquisitive gaze, looked at Bai Wei.

Although this Roasted Sweet Potato smelled fragrant, in his view, no matter how fragrant, how tasty could it be? Could it compare to big fish and meat? Let alone those delicacies.

Bai Wei, curious, looked toward the people on both sides and asked, "Are you all lining up here just to buy the Roasted Sweet Potato?"

Everyone glanced at each other, and no one dared to speak.

"My junior sister is asking you a question, are you all deaf or mute?"

Xiao Yuanqing let out a low growl, his eyes flashing with ferocity, Sweep the whole venue.

"Yes, yes."

"Right, right."

"We are all waiting to buy Roasted Sweet Potato."

The crowd, frightened, kept nodding.

"Is the Roasted Sweet Potato here delicious?" Bai Wei became even more curious.

"Indeed, it's very tasty."

"Much tastier than the other few places."

Several voices rang out.

"Really?"

Bai Wei's curiosity was piqued, and the aroma also moved her; she looked at Jiang Cheng and said, "Then give me one, and by the way senior brother, would you also like one to try?"

"Since junior sister wants to try, then senior brother will gladly accompany you to the end."

Xiao Yuanqing gave a faint smile, but when he looked at Jiang Cheng, the smile vanished instantly, as if he were looking at a lowborn.

"Seller of sweet potatoes, two Roasted Sweet Potatoes, please."

"Alright."

Jiang Cheng gave the two a deep look.

He packed the two Roasted Sweet Potatoes, handed them over, and having learned from last time, he didn't bring up the matter of payment.

Of course, as a price, he had already memorized their faces, and later would settle accounts with them and the people from Dragon Martial Arts Hall.

"Hmm, so fragrant."

Bai Wei took it, sniffed, and felt a bit intoxicated.

"It does smell good, and it looks quite tasty. Let's go, junior sister, let's find a quiet place to eat." Xiao Yuanqing smiled, turned around, showing no intention of paying.

The surrounding crowd, accustomed to it, some looked at Jiang Cheng with sympathetic eyes.

Two Roasted Sweet Potatoes, 12 yuan— not much if you say it's a lot, not few if you say it's a little.

"Wait a moment, senior brother."

Bai Wei, halfway there, suddenly halted, looked at Xiao Yuanqing and said, "It seems you haven't paid yet?"

(End of chapter)