Chapter Seven: Reported

"Ah, it's finally over!"
After finishing all seven episodes of the first season of "A Bite of China," Yang Qing slowly opened his sleepy eyes.
"Hmm..."
"How come these little ones... are all sleeping here?"
Glancing at the old-fashioned clock on the table, he saw it was a quarter past five. Yang Qing gently carried the four little children to bed, tucked them in, and doted on Dong'er with a loving kiss on her pouty lips, smiling warmly.

Stepping into the courtyard, he washed his face with cold water and began preparing ingredients. Although the food show he’d won in the first lottery draw hadn’t done much to change his life, thanks to the power of the system, he’d actually learned a few simple dishes.

"So, today’s breakfast for my little sweethearts is... soup dumplings!"
He chopped vegetables, minced a bit of meat, added seasonings, then thoroughly mixed the diced veggies and meat. Yang Qing rolled out the dough, flattened the wrappers, and began shaping the dumplings.

By six thirty,
"Hey, steaming hot soup dumplings are ready. Let me taste them first, heh heh..."
Yang Qing chuckled, blowing on the piping hot steam as he picked up a translucent soup dumpling.

"Wow! Big brother, what are you sneakily eating without your adorable little sisters?"
A sweet, lively voice rang out, startling Yang Qing so much that his hand trembled and the dumpling nearly fell from his chopsticks.
Turning around, he looked helplessly at Qiu’er, who had dashed in, and said, "Don’t be ridiculous, I'm not sneaking a bite, I’m just tasting them."
Qiu’er pouted, "Hmph! You’re sneaking food, you little mouse!"

She tiptoed to peer into the little steamer basket, sniffed adorably with her tiny nose, and her bright eyes sparkled as she said,
"It smells so good! Big brother, let me try one, and I won’t tell the older sisters you’re sneaking food."

Yang Qing: (´°ω°`)
"Alright, go brush your teeth and wash your face, then you can eat with your sisters."
"Okay! But you’re not allowed to eat any more without us!"
The little one dashed off like the wind. Smiling to himself, Yang Qing shook his head and began preparing the dipping sauce.

...

"Goodbye, big brother!"
"Qiu’er, listen to big brother and take good care of Dong’er!"
In front of Red Star Primary School, Chun’er and Xia’er waved their little hands in farewell.
Qiu’er waved eagerly at the school behind them, her voice crisp, "Got it, big sisters! Bye-bye, study hard! Qiu’er will be going to school soon too, hee hee..."
"Dada... bye-bye..."
Dong’er’s babyish, muddled words tumbled out. Smiling, Yang Qing straightened their tiny uniforms, then took Qiu’er and Dong’er, pushing the pancake cart away.

...

"Hey, young boss, give me two!"
"Handsome boy, make one for your big sis!"
"Here I come for the pancakes! Cutie, I want three!"
...
Once the stall was set up, there was no need for Qiu’er to call out; the aroma alone drew the customers in.
In no time, a long line formed, leaving the other food vendors nearby gritting their teeth in envy.

"Hey, Qiu’er, what tasty treat did you sneak today? Why is your tummy so round?"
Wang Ke’er arrived right on time for her livestream, phone in hand. Noticing Qiu’er’s round little belly as she collected money, Wang Ke’er teased her.
"Hee hee... I ate soup dumplings! My big brother’s soup dumplings are delicious!"
"Soup dumplings, really?"
Wang Ke’er glanced curiously at Yang Qing, who was busy at the stall. She found herself growing even more intrigued by this slender, quietly handsome man.
"Really! If you don’t believe me, ask Dong’er! Isn’t that right, Dong’er?"
Dong’er: ◎_◎

"Haha... I believe you!"
Unable to resist Dong’er's adorable, bewildered face, Wang Ke’er gave her a big kiss. Then, turning to Qiu’er with a mischievous smile, she said,
"If your big brother’s soup dumplings are that good, won’t you treat me to some?"
Qiu’er considered, "Hmm... do you eat a lot?"
Wang Ke’er: "...I’ll pay!"
Qiu’er grinned wide, "Alright! Then I’ll treat you!"
Wang Ke’er: ...
Hey!
This little miser, can’t you drop the word ‘treat’ since I’m paying?

Yang Qing was oblivious to the transaction between the big and little beauties; he was so busy he thought his bladder might burst from holding it in. There were just too many customers.

...

Time slipped by, and three busy days passed in a blink. The soup dumplings Wang Ke’er looked forward to never came, but what Yang Qing had been waiting for finally arrived.
"Seven thousand five hundred sixty yuan!"
"Hey! I can finally pay off that medical debt."
"Today’s Friday. One more day at the stall, tomorrow I’ll pay the bill, and then keep working hard, save more money, and open a small shop!"
With hope for the future in his heart, Yang Qing locked the door and set out with his four little ones.

"Young boss, the usual!"
"Hehe... same for me!"
...
Customers arrived, all the regular faces, and even more new ones.
In less than a week, Yang Qing’s Golden Pancake had become famous in the area.
Especially among the girls at Sunshine City University—many had stopped eating breakfast at the campus canteen, leaving many long-single male classmates wailing in despair.
As for the other snack vendors who shared his street, their business had become downright miserable.
Jealousy was growing wild.

At four in the afternoon,
Yang Qing finally served his last customers, took the water Qiu’er handed him, and began packing up to go pick up Chun’er and Xia’er from school.
But just then, an enforcement vehicle pulled up and stopped right in front of his stall.
Yang Qing looked on in confusion, then saw three men in uniform step out.
"Hello, are you the owner of this stall?" the leader asked seriously, stepping up to Yang Qing.
Yang Qing nodded blankly, "Yes, hello, I am. May I ask who you are..."
With a flourish, the man showed his badge and said coldly, "We’re from the Market Supervision Bureau. We received a report from the public that you’re selling food containing prohibited substances. We’re here to collect evidence and investigate. Please cooperate!"

Prohibited substances?!
Yang Qing froze, thinking for a moment. He glanced at the other vendors nearby.
Suddenly, he caught a guilty flicker in one man’s eyes and instantly understood.
Heh, so they want trouble?
Very well—let’s see what comes.

"Hey! You must be mistaken! Prohibited substances? Impossible! I’ve eaten Yang Qing’s pancakes for a week, and I’m just fine,"
Wang Ke’er, still live-streaming, bristled, her pretty brows arching. "I’m telling you, don’t go wronging a good man! Or I’ll..."
"Enough, Ke’er."
Yang Qing interrupted gently, shaking his head at her, then turned to the officers with a polite smile,
"I’ll cooperate. Please tell me how you need me to assist."

The lead officer, seeing Yang Qing’s calm attitude, softened his tone and nodded. "Please prepare one of your pancakes as usual. We’ll take it for testing. Also, we need to temporarily confiscate your stall."
"Alright, no problem!"

Yang Qing nodded and began making a pancake, talking as he worked:
"Are you recording this?"
"Yes, for law enforcement purposes."
"Alright. When can I expect the test results?"
"Monday. We’re off on weekends, so we ask for your understanding."
"I understand. But for these two lost days, who will cover my losses?"
Yang Qing handed over the freshly made pancake to the officer and said seriously,
"I open my stall every day at eight, close at four, open again at eight in the evening, and close at eleven.
That’s eleven hours a day, or six hundred sixty minutes. There’s always a steady stream of customers when I’m open. I make one pancake every two minutes, so that’s three hundred thirty pancakes. At five yuan each, that’s one thousand six hundred fifty yuan a day.
Let’s say I take a few breaks—that’s still fifteen hundred. So...
I make fifteen hundred yuan a day, three thousand in two days.
If you find nothing wrong in my food, who will make up that loss?
Will it be you, or him?"
He pointed at a rival vendor across the street.

The lead officer: ...
You’re really... good at math! Impressive!
Wang Ke’er was dazed as well, her beautiful eyes fixed on Yang Qing.
Does your little cutie know how sharp you are?

"Hey! Don’t point at me! I never reported you to my brother-in-law!"
The vendor, flustered at being singled out, yelled in protest.
The lead officer: (﹁“﹁)
"Heh... brother-in-law, is it..."
Yang Qing sneered, ignoring him, and turned his gaze back to the officer.
The officer’s face darkened as he glanced at his colleague, then looked hard at Yang Qing before accepting the pancake.
"Don’t worry; we enforce the law fairly and won’t wrong anyone. If your food is safe, your losses will be compensated!"
"Oh, thank you."
Yang Qing grinned suddenly. "I’ll leave it to you, then. Ke’er, is your livestream still running?"
Wang Ke’er blinked. "Yes, it’s still on. Oh, I’ll turn it off."
Yang Qing smiled, "No need. I think your supervisors won’t mind being watched by the public, right?"
The officer replied, "We welcome public supervision of our law enforcement!"
"Indeed. Thank you for your service."

Watching them take away his cart, Yang Qing scooped up a pouting Dong’er about to cry, and looked at the aggrieved Qiu’er with a smile,
"Why so upset? This is a good thing—it’s a two-day break, and I’ll even get compensated. Let’s go pick up your sisters from school."
Qiu’er chewed her finger, "But our cart..."
"It’s alright, they’ll bring it back."
"Really?"
"Has your big brother ever lied to you?"
"Um... then okay."
"Haha, let’s go. By the way, weren’t you going to invite Ke’er for soup dumplings? Why not ask her now?"
"Hee hee... Sister Ke’er, come have soup dumplings!"

Wang Ke’er smiled.
What an interesting man.