Chapter 36
Yangzhou Fried Rice.
It’s a recognized intangible cultural heritage!
Many street vendors sell ordinary fried rice, such as egg fried rice or Laoganma (Chinese spicy sauce) fried rice, and many snack stalls claim to sell Yangzhou fried rice, but in reality, it’s just egg fried rice with a few extra ingredients.
For Jiang Nan, this was her first time lining up as a customer.
She also worked at Yuanzhou Group and had heard her colleagues recommend this place multiple times. Finally, she had some free time to come and check it out. She didn’t have high expectations—she just wanted to see if the fried rice was truly worthy of its reputation.
Hearing the words “Yangzhou Fried Rice,” she couldn’t help but feel skeptical. Having grown up in Jiangnan, she had yet to find an authentic plate of Yangzhou fried rice since moving to City B for work. Too many restaurants falsely advertised their food.
But the regulars, like Lin Tianqiu, weren’t worried at all.
Authentic or not, if Boss Jian was the one making it, it was guaranteed to be delicious!
As Jian Yunlan lifted the lid off the soup pot, a rich aroma spread through the air—
Inside, the slow-simmered broth was already boiling, bubbling gently. The broth was a smooth, milky white, with a thin layer of oil glistening on the surface.
Various ingredients floated in the soup: pink Jinhua ham, tender white chicken cubes, pale yellow diced winter bamboo shoots, and sea cucumbers… The fragrance of these ingredients rose with the steam, creating a feast for both the eyes and the nose.
“Wow, why is there soup?” Lin Tianqiu, who had arrived early and was near the front of the line, asked curiously. “Isn’t this fried rice?”
“For Yangzhou fried rice, broth is added multiple times during cooking,” Jiang Nan immediately answered from the crowd.
Her eyes lit up at the sight of the soup pot.
Hey, this actually looked pretty legit. At the very least, the Jinhua ham broth and ingredients were all authentic, and the aroma was spot on!
Could it be that this boss really had some skills?
Still, Jiang Nan kept her expectations in check. After all, plenty of dishes looked the part but didn’t taste right. She was always particularly picky when it came to her hometown’s specialties.
“You add broth to fried rice?”
“Wouldn’t this soup be amazing for wontons too?”
“Boss, let me lick the pot!”
Many people were hearing about adding broth to fried rice for the first time. It was unusual, and they leaned forward, hoping Jian Yunlan would sneak them a taste.
Jian Yunlan: “…”
“Patience, everyone. There’s plenty for all,” he reassured them while heating up another pan.
With the pan hot and the oil cold, he cracked in six or seven farm-fresh eggs and stirred them. The golden egg liquid sizzled in the oil, curling at the edges as it set. The aroma of eggs quickly filled the air.
By now, several people were already swallowing their saliva.
Jian Yunlan moved swiftly. Before the eggs fully solidified, he poured in the rice.
Gripping the spatula, he began pounding the rice with firm strokes. The force was strong, causing loud thuds against the bottom of the wok. The crowd watched in excitement!
As the rice and eggs mixed in the sizzling oil, every grain of rice was evenly coated in golden egg. With a skilled flick of the wrist, Jian Yunlan tossed the heavy iron wok, sending the golden grains into the air in a perfect arc before they landed back in the pan.
Wok tossing was his signature move.
The crowd erupted in exclamations.
“Wow! That flip was amazing! So satisfying to watch!”
“Why is he pounding the rice? Is it misbehaving?”
“Haha, pounding the rice is called ‘Dao Dan’—it helps mix the eggs evenly and keeps the grains separate. Look closely, not a single grain is sticking together. This is the peak of Yangzhou fried rice craftsmanship.”
At first, Jiang Nan had been doubtful, but when she saw that perfect wok toss, her skepticism vanished.
Golden grains wrapped in silver.
The golden egg coated every single grain of rice, none left untouched, with a uniform and vibrant color.
This fried rice chef… had skills.
By now, the rice had taken on an incredibly enticing hue. Jian Yunlan ladled a spoonful of the rich, milky Jinhua broth over the rice and continued to stir-fry.
As the broth was absorbed, he repeated the process several times.
“So this is when you add the broth,” Lin Tianqiu watched, mesmerized, feeling like he was about to drool. “I thought it was just soup poured over rice, haha.”
For once, Jian Yunlan, who usually didn’t explain much, spoke up: “The broth’s flavor has to be layered into the rice. Each layer adds a different depth of taste, building up the experience.”
In his past life as a food blogger, he had studied Yangzhou fried rice extensively, even spending three months perfecting the dish.
And now, with his max-level cooking skills and the “Fried Rice Encyclopedia” granted by the Chef God System, he was completely confident in this dish.
Wow, that sounds so advanced! Lin Tianqiu’s eyes sparkled.
Jiang Nan, on the other hand, kept nodding in approval.
Yes, this technique was correct. And his explanation was spot on too.
Now, the only question was—did it taste as good as it looked?
After multiple rounds of stir-frying, the broth was fully absorbed into the rice.
Jian Yunlan added fresh shrimp and green peas. The translucent shrimp quickly turned a tempting shade of pink, blending beautifully with the green peas. Finally, he sprinkled chopped scallions and the ingredients from the Jinhua broth, then gave the rice one last powerful stir-fry over high heat before plating.
Under the envious gazes of the crowd, the first steaming hot bowl of fried rice was handed to Jiang Nan.
Gulp. Jiang Nan swallowed unconsciously.
Time to judge whether this Yangzhou fried rice was truly up to standard.
She scooped up a full spoon of rice. Each grain glistened with broth and oil, accompanied by plump shrimp, crispy-edged Jinhua ham, green peas, diced bamboo shoots, and shiitake mushrooms…
Unable to wait any longer, she took a bite.
—The first sensation was an explosion of black wok. The grains of rice, stir-fried to perfection, carried the deep, smoky aroma of a well-seasoned wok. Each grain had absorbed the egg and broth, making them glossy with flavor. As she chewed, an indescribable richness spread through her mouth. Just as Jian Yunlan had said, each bite layered on different dimensions of the broth’s umami, making the dish irresistibly moreish—rich but not greasy!
The steaming hot freshly made fried rice was so scalding that Jiang Nan couldn’t help but stomp her feet, yet she couldn’t bear to stop eating.
Beyond the rice, each bite brought out the flavors of various ingredients—plump, bouncy shrimp that complemented the fried rice perfectly, and authentic Jinhua ham that was crispy on the outside yet tender within, exuding an irresistible salty aroma. Occasionally, a bite of a green pea burst with piping hot, rich juice, its fresh vegetal fragrance blending with the smoky aroma of the fried rice…
The taste was so authentic that Jiang Nan felt as if she had been transported back home, standing by her grandmother’s stove, surrounded by her siblings, all eagerly shoveling fried rice into their mouths despite the heat.
She could almost smell the woodfire smoke, the damp earth after the rain, and hear the distant jingle of a street vendor selling malt candy.
“So good, it’s too good!” Jiang Nan exclaimed excitedly between bites. She worked in the marketing department of Yuanzhou Group and was known for her eloquence, yet at this moment, she could only marvel, “As the poem goes, ‘Spring dishes of artemisia and bamboo shoots, the simple joys of the world are the best flavors.’”
Meanwhile, Lin Tianqiu, who was standing behind her in line, had also taken his first bite. Overwhelmed with emotion, he blurted out, “Damn, this is so good! It tastes just like—” He racked his brain for a cultured metaphor but could only stammer, “…like Boss Jian’s fried rice.”
The contrast was striking.
The crowd burst into good-natured laughter.
A mother took the opportunity to educate her young son, “See? This is why you need to study hard, memorize your poetry lessons, or you’ll end up like him.”
—“While others say ‘It cascades like the Milky Way falling from the heavens,’ all you’ll manage is ‘Wow, this waterfall is really strong!’”
The little boy clenched his fists with determination and nodded. “I’ll work hard! I’ll become a cultured person! That way, I’ll be worthy of eating more of Boss Jian’s fried rice!”
Lin Tianqiu: “…Sniff.”
What, so illiterates aren’t allowed to enjoy fried rice now? That’s discrimination!
Even so, his mood remained unaffected. How could anyone feel bad while eating such delicious fried rice? He hunched over his bowl, shoveling it down happily, leaving behind the humble silhouette of a man unbothered by his lack of literary prowess.
Jian Yunlan, meanwhile, was all smiles.
It wasn’t just about the fried rice—it was seeing Jiang Nan and Lin Tianqiu eating so happily, their faces full of satisfaction, even burping contentedly. That was the true meaning of being a street food vendor.
Watching everyone’s joy, his hands moved with practiced ease as he heated the wok, ready to fry the next batch.
Currently, he could make about five servings per wok, but due to the intricate process of adding stock and tenderizing the rice, each batch took longer than ordinary fried rice.
Fortunately, when it came to top-tier food, diners were infinitely patient. Some had been lining up since five or six in the morning—what were a few extra minutes for this fried rice? Everyone eagerly watched the wok, while orders flooded in like snowflakes:
“Boss Jian, one fried rice, no scallions!”
“My son and I each want one, extra scallions, haha!”
“One fried rice, please!”
“Got it!”
Jian Yunlan acknowledged each order as the second batch finished cooking. Several customers received their portions with eyes gleaming in excitement.
Wiping the sweat from his forehead, he prepared to start on the third batch.
Bei Shi and Zhang Mo had also arrived early today. Although they hadn’t made it into the first two rounds, they knew their turn was coming soon. The young couple held hands, watching Jian Yunlan with anticipation, eagerly waiting for their fried rice.
But then, disaster struck in an instant.
Suddenly, shouts erupted from the back of the line, followed by a commotion. Panic set in as someone screamed at the top of their lungs:
“City enforcement is coming! City enforcement is coming!!! Boss Jian, run!!!”
Turning to look, sure enough, a group of officers in blue shirts and fluorescent vests was marching aggressively in their direction.
The customers: “?”
Jian Yunlan: “???”
Bei Shi and Zhang Mo: “?????”
Bei Shi turned hopeful eyes toward Jian Yunlan and hesitantly asked, “Boss Jian… You have a business license, right?”
Jian Yunlan fell silent.
His silence was deafening.
The crowd grew frantic. Tears welled up in Zhang Mo’s eyes—this 1.8-meter-tall grown man suddenly looked like a lost child, his last shred of hope trembling as he asked, “Boss Jian, y-you… You just misplaced your license somewhere, right? Maybe if you look, you’ll find it?”
Under countless expectant gazes, Jian Yunlan, with his breathtakingly beautiful face, remained composed. His eyelashes lowered, and his deep, nearly blue-black eyes took on a mysterious, almost meditative quality.
Bringing his hands together, he made a serene Buddhist gesture.
—“A street vendor and the city enforcers cross paths; in this moment, I finally understand myself.”
With those quiet words, he closed his eyes, his aura exuding an air of transcendent detachment.
It seemed that the city enforcers had already left a while ago.
The customers: “??????”
Wait, had Boss Jian just ascended on the spot?! Was he pulling a Lu Zhishen move???!!!
Noooooo!
Their fried rice! Their delicious, fragrant, piping hot fried rice!!!
“Boss Jian, don’t give up!” Bei Shi and Zhang Mo rushed forward in despair, shaking him frantically. A few customers at the front also joined in, grabbing Jian Yunlan’s philtrum to revive him. “There’s still hope! If you run now, you can still make it! We’ll run with you!”
But Jian Yunlan went limp, as if he had already transcended into another, more peaceful world.
This was supposed to be a transmigrated novel setting—why were there city enforcers?!
Of course, Jian Yunlan hadn’t bothered getting a business license. The first thing he did upon waking up in this world was go to the market to buy ingredients and set up his food stall. Did he look like someone who’d go through legal paperwork?!
He was in it for the thrill.
Jian Yunlan, whose mental state was completely fine, had a simple philosophy: if there were no city enforcers, he’d happily run his stall. If they showed up… well, he’d simply quit the game.
The game of life, that is.
A flawless plan.
The crowd bustled around him, with countless customers shaking him in distress. But Jian Yunlan had already ascended—his ears blocked out all sound as he drifted into a peaceful, blissful state.
And then—
A voice cut through the crowd, jolting him back.
The voice was lazy yet arrogant, yet it rang like a resounding bell in Jian Yunlan’s mind:
“Human, isn’t street vending your desire, your burning passion?”
“Hmph. And your passion… can be extinguished this easily?”
“Your customers are still waiting for you!”
Not just Jian Yunlan—everyone around him heard the voice too.
“Who’s speaking?” “Wow, what a nice voice, he must be a total heartthrob!” “So who is it?!”
They looked around but saw no one. All they saw was a majestic… dog elegantly leaping off the tricycle and landing beside Boss Jian.
…Was it the dog speaking?!
A fluffy paw pressed against Jian Yunlan’s face and began to—
Squeeze. Left and right.
Jian Yunlan was forcibly kneaded awake, meeting the gaze of the Taotie—a pair of burning, dark golden eyes.
Those eyes were filled with deep hunger, obsession, and raw desire—
‘I! Want! Fried rice!’
Jian Yunlan: “……”
Oh. Right. His customers.
Those hopeful eyes, those hungry, expectant mouths—they were all still waiting for him.
He had already “died” once. If he came back to life, it would be for one reason alone—to do what he wanted most.
To run his food stall!
The customers clasped hands, their eyes burning with determination:
“You promised us you’d be the ultimate feeder.”
“Boss Jian, pull yourself together! If you fight, we’ll fight with you till the end!”
“I love you walking through dark alleys alone~ I love the way you never bow down~ I love how you defy despair, refusing to cry! Not! Even! Once!”
The crowd broke into song.
Through them, Jian Yunlan saw countless familiar yet distant faces—Ming Ruogui, Bei Shi, Zhang Mo, Wu Qiuhua, Gu Tiancheng, Ning Sheng, Gu Xingzhou, Professor Wang, Professor Murong, Li Yun, Tan Tingting…
They were all looking at him, silently giving him strength.
They all believed in him.
They were waiting for his fried rice!
—Fight? Fight! With the humblest of dreams!
Jian Yunlan felt an electrifying surge of energy coursing through his veins. He clenched his fist, and behind him, a crimson cape seemed to billow in the wind.
“Who says only those in the light can be heroes?” he declared.
A true hero was someone who dared to ride a tricycle while evading city enforcers.
Boss Jian was back!
The crowd erupted into joyful tears.
There was no time to waste—Jian Yunlan leapt onto the driver’s seat of the tricycle, switched to electric mode, and shouted, “Follow me, stay close!”
With that, the tricycle roared forward, charging ahead.
“YES!!”
“We’ll follow you to the ends of the earth!!!”
“You shall build your city, upon the ruins~”
Even as Zhang Mo and Bei Shi sang passionately, they realized the crowd had already started running. Gritting their teeth, they joined the stampede.
But Bei Shi hadn’t come prepared—she was wearing heels. After just two steps, she nearly twisted her ankle.
“My love… you go on,” Bei Shi said, eyes brimming with tears. “Forget about me. As long as you can eat the fried rice, that’s enough.”
“What are you even saying?”
Zhang Mo scooped her up into a bridal carry and sprinted forward. “I promised when I proposed—every plate of fried rice from now on is yours!”
“Wow… so this is love?”
The crowd looked on with admiration and blessing.
Not to be outdone, the muscular brothers Wang Dashuang and Wang Xiaoshuang exchanged glances. Then, the younger brother, all rippling muscles, bridal carried his older brother and whispered, “Are you okay, my lady?”
“Of course I am,” the older brother murmured, blushing shyly in his sibling’s arms.
The crowd: “???”
Confused stares abounded.
Meanwhile, not far away, Ming Ruogui was also among those who had been waiting in line. Before the city enforcers arrived, she had been confidently chatting with fans:
“Ming Ruogui never begs Boss Jian.”
“The love of fried rice… is universal.”
“Even Ming Ruogui’s stunning face, now stained with tears, only pleads for one thing—Boss Jian’s fried rice.”
She was also wearing high heels today, along with a flowing gown, looking absolutely stunning.
After the city enforcers arrived, her manager, Bei Shi, was carried away by Zhang Mo, but Ming Ruogui was left to fend for herself.
Her fans were heartbroken. “Sister Ming, see? You’ve been single for so many years, and now you have to run by yourself.”
But Ming Ruogui simply smirked devilishly.
Then, in the blink of an eye—
As if she had planned for this moment all along, she swiftly kicked off her high heels, tossing them into a nearby trash bin. Out of nowhere, she pulled out a pair of running shoes and slipped them on. At the same time, she ripped her gown, revealing the athletic pants underneath. The entire sequence was executed in one smooth, fluid motion.
Then, she bent her knees, placed her hands on the ground, and assumed a sprinter’s stance.
Whoosh—BOOM!
Bei Shi & Zhang Mo: “??”
What was that black blur that just shot past them like a missile?!
Everyone’s jaws dropped in utter shock.
Ming Ruogui’s movements were sharp and powerful, her leg muscles sleek and strong. She moved like the wind, weaving through the crowd, overtaking person after person—not only surpassing the lovebirds Bei Shi and Zhang Mo but even the muscle-bound brothers! She sprinted straight to the front of the pack.
Sunlight shone down on her as she silently proved one truth with pure strength—
Men will only slow down my sword-drawing speed.
And at that very moment—
Because Jian Yunlan’s tricycle was going too fast, a bag of diced chicken flew off the back.
Ming Ruogui leaped gracefully into the air, catching the bag with perfect form. Then, she cradled it in her arms like a princess and murmured affectionately, “Are you okay, my lady?”
“I’m fine,” the bag of chicken murmured shyly, snuggling into her embrace.
Everyone: “?!”
What the hell—was the diced chicken talking?!
From the back of the crowd, waves of fangirl screams erupted:
“AAAAHHH SISTER MING! SO DAMN COOL!!!”
“I hate that I’m not that bag of chicken, sob sob sob!”
“I was just passing by and somehow got emotionally invested—what do I do?!”
Ming Ruogui flicked her hair back stylishly. “Don’t worry. I will get that fried rice.”
The girls immediately stopped screaming.
Because Sister Ming… was now their rival for fried rice.
Not funny.
But on the other side of the crowd, a young girl in a blue Daoist robe, with delicate features, cast an approving look at Ming Ruogui.
—Now this is what it means to be a heroine.
Hu Dangui had only planned to watch from the sidelines, but after witnessing Ming Ruogui’s spirit, she couldn’t help but act.
Up ahead, the city enforcers were about to catch Jian Yunlan—when suddenly, a mirage-like illusion flashed before their eyes.
For a brief moment, they saw… a vast peach blossom forest? Or was it countless bizarre worlds overlapping before them?
It lasted only a split second, but by the time they snapped out of it—
The tricycle had already gained more distance!
“Damn it.”
The enforcers gritted their teeth and sped up.
Meanwhile, Hu Dangui weaved through the crowd and ran alongside Ming Ruogui.
Her porcelain-doll-like face was flushed, and her large eyes sparkled. “Young lady, I admire your spirit. This is how women should be! A woman without a man is like a fish without a bicycle!”
Ming Ruogui was confused. “Little girl, are you here for fried rice too? I won’t lose to you!”
And just like that, the two of them, speaking entirely different things, somehow ran in perfect harmony.
Midway through the crowd.
Gu Tiancheng was being dragged along by Dahei, panting heavily. He exercised regularly, but he wasn’t young anymore—how could he keep up with these young people?!
The same went for Professors Wang and Murong.
Even as they ran, they were still bickering, neither willing to lose. Sweat poured down their foreheads.
Xiao Jian… just getting a bowl of your fried rice is ridiculously hard.
The three old men had the same thought at the same time.
That Saturday morning.
The pedestrians of Yunchuan District witnessed an absolutely bizarre sight:
A speeding tricycle food cart in the lead, city enforcers chasing close behind.
And behind the tricycle… a massive crowd in full sprint.
Among them—academic elites from Beijing University, top-tier celebrity Ming Ruogui, and even the chairman of Yuanzhou Group, alongside actual university professors and scholars?!
The bystanders were utterly dumbfounded.
This… This is absolute madness…
People watching the live stream must be ecstatic