Chapter Fifteen: Wang Ke’er’s Shining Moment (With Gratitude for the Reward)
Yang Qing stumbled out of the television station in a daze, and climbed into Qin Xue’s car just as dazed. Even now, he wondered if he was dreaming.
Half a million! That thing actually sold for half a million! It was… surreal.
“Heh, I wouldn’t have guessed—you’re quite the negotiator,” Qin Xue said cheerfully as she drove, teasing him.
“No, I really just…” Yang Qing tried to explain with a wry smile, but Qin Xue cut him off mercilessly, “Alright, you don’t have to put on an act with me. You did a great job.”
Qin Xue grinned, “Now that you’ve got money, what do you plan to do?”
Do… what?
Yang Qing squeezed the bank card in his hand, with half a million sitting quietly inside. After a moment’s thought, he replied, “I’ll open a small shop.”
“A small shop?” Qin Xue asked, puzzled. “You still want to sell those savory pancakes?”
Yang Qing shot back, “Why not?”
Yes, why not?
Qin Xue fell silent, glancing at the two little ones sleeping in his arms. She thought of the burden Yang Qing carried. Raising four children on his own, providing for their education and daily needs—half a million was hardly enough.
She softened her voice. “Mmm, a small shop sounds nice. Your pancakes are so delicious, I’m sure business will boom.”
“Thank you for your kind words,” Yang Qing replied with a smile. “Drop me off at a nearby bank, will you?”
“The bank? You want to withdraw money now?” Qin Xue looked at him in confusion, then suddenly understood. “Oh, right—you need to buy a phone first, so we can reach you more easily.”
“Yeah, I do need a phone.” Yang Qing smiled. “But most importantly, I want to give you some money.”
“Give me money?” Qin Xue was baffled.
“That’s right! Without you, I couldn’t have gotten this half a million. You deserve half of it,” Yang Qing said earnestly.
“No way! I won’t take it!” Qin Xue objected. “You’ve already helped me a lot with this. The proposal was your idea, I merely put your words into writing, that’s all.”
“But…”
“Enough. You have your principles, but so do I. You can’t ask me to betray mine for yours—that would be the most unethical thing of all!” Qin Xue said seriously. “If you truly want to thank me, then cook me dinner yourself.”
After a moment of stubborn silence, Yang Qing nodded in agreement.
“Then take us to the market—I’ll buy some groceries, then pick up Chun and Xia. You head back to work and bring your colleagues over after you get off. I promised to cook for them too.”
Qin Xue feigned annoyance, “So I’m just an afterthought, is that it?”
“No, no, you… they… you…” Yang Qing stammered, completely flustered, waving his hands in panic.
Qin Xue couldn’t help but laugh at his nervousness. “Alright, I’m just teasing. It’s settled then.”
…
Meanwhile, as Yang Qing rode away from the television station in Qin Xue’s car, something completely unexpected was happening elsewhere.
“It’s Monday afternoon—why hasn’t the little boss shown up? I’m starving…”
“Wahhh… the fragrant, crispy, irresistible pancakes are gone again. I could cry!”
“Hey, honey, the little boss isn’t here. I can’t get the pancakes you wanted… What! I can’t come home if I don’t bring them? That’s just… tragic! How about a cucumber instead?”
…
On May First Snack Street, a crowd of hungry customers gathered around the spot where Yang Qing’s stall used to be, wailing in despair.
The little boss wasn’t there, and the pancakes they craved were nowhere to be found.
Their stomachs were empty, and their hearts felt cold.
“Quiet, everyone, please quiet down!” At the front of the crowd, Wang Ke’er stood on the steps, phone in hand and live stream running, her sweet voice ringing out:
“It’s Monday. Why isn’t the little boss here? Why was his stall confiscated? Why was he reported? Why did they say we’d get an answer today, but nothing yet? Why!”
Yes, why indeed?
Four big question marks popped up in everyone’s mind.
“Why! We want answers! We want pancakes!” a chubby boy roared.
Wang Ke’er was startled by the sudden outburst.
Never underestimate a foodie’s passion for their favorite snack.
“That’s right, we want answers! And the answer is at the City Management Office!”
“To the City Management Office!”
“Yes! We want pancakes!”
Once the crowd’s emotions were stirred, there was no calming them down. A long line formed, and a mob set out for the City Management Office, Wang Ke’er leading the way, with a stream of reporters and their cameras trailing behind.
Wang Ke’er’s cheeks flushed with excitement—she never expected she had a talent for rousing the masses.
Unbelievable! But then, only love and good food are not to be betrayed.
Her livestream audience was dumbfounded. Had everyone gone mad for pancakes?
“Ke’er, does your mom know how impressive you are?”
“You’re in trouble now, Ke’er! You’ve started a mass incident. The authorities will want to talk to you.”
“I don’t know about Ke’er, but I’m in trouble for sure! But it’s so satisfying!”
Livestream chat: (￣д￣;)ノ
What kind of person are you—driving without looking at the road!
In Ke’er’s stream, some viewers worried, some joked, and some were just there for the drama.
“Don’t worry, Ke’er. I’ve already contacted a live correspondent from Yang City TV—they’ll be there soon!”
“Hey, great minds think alike—I called the Noon Times.”
“Haha, and I notified the Metro Express!”
“Uh… the Food Explorers are on their way too.”
Livestream chat: “……”
Wang Ke’er ignored it all. Trouble or not, reporters or not, none of that mattered!
What mattered was—
This was the highlight of her life!
At two-thirty in the afternoon, just as staff at the City Management Office returned from their break, they were confronted by a beautiful young woman leading a diverse crowd inside, trailed by a swarm of reporters with cameras.
“Halt! What’s going on here?” The old security guard stood his ground dutifully.
Wang Ke’er raised her hand, “Our slogan is—!”
“We want pancakes!”
“We want the little boss back!”
“We want answers!”
The security guard: …
What on earth was this nonsense!
He wanted to ask more, but seeing the crowd’s agitation, he wisely chose a strategic retreat to report to his superiors.
Soon after, a manager from the City Management Office appeared. Taking in the scene, his blood pressure shot up.
Is it too late to faint now?
The beautiful reporter must be from Yang City TV—what was she asking him?
What does she mean by saying we deliberately detained the stall without any evidence?
What does she mean by suggesting the authorities should supervise our law enforcement more closely?
And that chubby boy—what nonsense was he spouting?
Pancakes, malicious reports, doing nothing while collecting a salary—comparing us to someone squatting on a toilet without doing their business, I… what the hell!
Watching the reporters weave through the crowd, bombarding him with questions, the manager’s face turned pale.
Damn! This is serious!
He straightened his clothes, forced a smile, and took a deep breath before approaching Wang Ke’er, who was fielding reporters’ questions at the front.
“Hello, I am—”
Before he could finish, a microphone was shoved in his face.
“Hello, are you the person in charge here? I’m Zhang Xue from Yang City TV,” said the beautiful reporter, her expression stern. “This lady says you… blah blah blah…”
Zhang’s rapid-fire questions left the manager stunned; he hardly knew what had happened, let alone how to answer.
Damn!
“Let’s discuss this in my office,” the manager finally said to Wang Ke’er, resigned. “Choose a representative from the group, and you can explain your demands in detail.”
“Alright!”
Half an hour later, after Wang Ke’er and the chubby boy had explained the cause, process, and purpose of the protest to the manager and a few reporters, everyone was left bewildered.
What on earth was all this!
“I’ll go make a call to verify this. What a mess…” the manager muttered, exhausted.
Reporter Zhang’s mouth hung open in disbelief. “All this—just for pancakes?”
“You don’t understand,” said the foodie boy, shaking his head with feeling. “It’s not just a pancake. It’s my passion. Do you know how good it is? One bite and you want a second. Eat one, and you’ll want to eat them forever!”
Reporter Zhang: ＼（〇_ｏ）／
Don’t try to fool me—I don’t believe it! No way a pancake could be this irresistible!
Yet, disbelief aside, she couldn’t help but feel curious.
“Alright, I’ve confirmed everything—the food passed inspection, not a single problem, pure, green, and pollution-free!” The manager returned. “Does anyone have the stall owner Yang Qing’s number? He can come collect his cart and sign the paperwork.”
“And compensation! Three thousand yuan!” Wang Ke’er demanded confidently.
The manager: “…Yes, compensation too. Please contact him quickly.”
Wang Ke’er spread her hands. “He doesn’t have a phone. You’ll have to send someone to fetch him. I have his address.”
Manager: …
Reporter: …
Wang Ke’er: (x_x;)
Chubby boy: ～(^з^)-☆