Chapter 80
“Where’s that smell coming from?”
The moment the rich, familiar scent of roast duck hit them, both Wu Weiguo and Mu Mingqiu’s eyes widened.
A gleam of excitement flashed through Mu Mingqiu’s gaze, his usual arrogance melting away. Instinctively, he started searching for the source.
—Yes! This was the exact scent that had haunted his thoughts all day!
Wu Weiguo was also looking around, utterly confused.
He didn’t see the tricycle anywhere!
If the tricycle wasn’t here, then why could they still smell the roast duck? Could it be… a ghost?!
…Then again, Little Lan Boss’s roast duck was so fragrant that its aroma could probably spread across two or three streets.
Wu Weiguo took a closer look at his surroundings.
Crap.
“Uh, sorry, Young Master, I parked on the wrong street,” Wu Weiguo scratched his head awkwardly. “We’re at the back entrance, haha.”
As a high-end private restaurant, Zhu Yuan had both a front and back entrance, and both were decorated in a similar traditional Chinese style, with bridges, flowing water, and a vintage aesthetic. Without paying close attention, Wu Weiguo had mistakenly parked at the back entrance.
But Little Lan Boss had set up his stall across from the front entrance!
Wu Weiguo quickly pulled the handbrake and stepped on the gas. “Young Master, hold on tight! I’ll take you to find Little Lan Boss right away!”
Mu Mingqiu glanced at him, still skeptical.
He refused to believe that a ‘three-year-old selling roast duck’ was real—unless he saw it with his own eyes.
However, the moment he caught a whiff of that mouthwatering scent, he was certain: there really was a roast duck genius selling his craft nearby!
And… could Wu Weiguo have staged the whole thing with a fake vendor?
Regardless, he had to taste this legendary roast duck himself.
Mu Mingqiu swallowed his saliva and nodded, feigning indifference. “Alright, just drive faster.”
The Maybach sped off, making a swift U-turn toward Zhu Yuan’s front entrance.
*
Meanwhile, at the entrance of Zhu Yuan Private Kitchen—
Grandma Liu stood there, holding her four-year-old granddaughter, Yanyan, with a helpless expression.
The little girl’s eyes were still swollen, and her nose and chin were red from crying—evidence of how much she had sobbed.
…Yesterday, on the way to school, both Grandma Liu and Yanyan had caught a whiff of that intoxicating roast duck aroma. Yanyan had immediately plopped down on the ground, clutching her grandmother’s leg and wailing about wanting roast duck.
Grandma Liu had glanced around and seen that the scent was coming from Zhu Yuan’s direction. Hardening her heart, she dragged her granddaughter away without buying any.
Though, truth be told, even Grandma Liu had struggled to resist the temptation of that aroma. But as an adult, she had more self-control than a child—no matter how much she wanted it, she could hold back.
Who could have guessed that Yanyan would cry over that roast duck for an entire day and night?!
She had started sobbing right after school yesterday, continued through the evening, and was still crying about it in the middle of the night. The neighbors had even knocked on their door, worried that something supernatural was happening in their home.
And that wasn’t even the worst of it.
Watching Yanyan cry nonstop had truly broken Grandma Liu’s heart. She was also afraid that the little girl might damage her eyes from all the crying.
After all, Grandma Liu’s son and daughter-in-law had passed away in a car accident when Yanyan was just a year old. Since then, she had been raised solely by her grandmother.
Feeling guilty that her granddaughter had lost both parents at such a young age, Grandma Liu had always indulged Yanyan, giving in to her every request.
Whenever Yanyan wanted something, Grandma Liu would grit her teeth and do everything she could to provide it.
In fact, yesterday’s refusal to buy roast duck was the very first time she had ever said no to Yanyan.
But how could a three- or four-year-old understand the concept of ‘too expensive’? She had never faced this kind of rejection before, and combined with the irresistible aroma, it had left her devastated.
She had cried and cried, all over a single roast duck.
“Sigh, I’ve spoiled this girl too much. She’s only three or four, but already this pampered—what will she do when she grows up?”
Even as she complained, Grandma Liu had still woken up early this morning to bring Yanyan to Zhu Yuan’s entrance.
“Grandma, are we finally getting roast duck?” Yanyan immediately stopped crying the moment she heard the news.
Though her big eyes were still puffy, she radiated pure joy, her gaze sparkling.
“I don’t know yet,” Grandma Liu sighed helplessly. “Let’s give it a try.”
She had heard that Zhu Yuan’s roast duck cost between 2,000 and 3,000 yuan.
Grandma Liu received a pension every month, but since it was already the end of the month, she had to scrape together every last bit of her savings—and even borrow from her friends—just to gather 2,500 yuan.
She wasn’t even sure if it would be enough.
And on top of that, she had heard that even if you had the money, Zhu Yuan’s roast duck wasn’t something you could just walk in and buy. You needed connections and a reservation in advance.
Grandma Liu nervously knocked on the door of Zhuyuan.
The lobby manager, Old Hu, had already noticed the old woman and the little girl.
It was hard not to.
After all, the guests who frequented Zhuyuan were all dressed in high-end designer brands. Luxury cars and expensive watches were just the basic standard.
But today, a little old lady dressed in a simple floral-patterned outfit showed up, carrying a young kindergarten-aged girl. They didn’t look impoverished, just like ordinary city folk, but standing at Zhuyuan’s entrance, they seemed completely out of place.
“How may I help you?” Old Hu strolled out slowly, asking absentmindedly.
His words were polite, but his attitude was not—chin slightly lifted, eyes slanted, not even looking at them directly.
Compared to the way he had treated Mu Mingqiu and Huo Ye the day before, it wasn’t just a world of difference—it was as if he were an entirely different person.
It was odd.
Zhuyuan was a private high-end restaurant, part of the service industry, yet its staff acted as if they were the masters of the place.
Grandma Liu wiped her sweaty palms on the hem of her clothes and forced an awkward yet hopeful smile. “Hello, my granddaughter smelled the roasted duck from Zhu Yuan yesterday, and she’s been craving it ever since… We were wondering if we could buy one?”
Little Yanyan looked up expectantly. “Uncle, I want to eat roasted duck. Thank you!”
Old Hu didn’t respond immediately.
Instead, he took his time scanning the grandmother and granddaughter from head to toe before saying, “One roasted duck is 3,999 yuan. Do you have the budget for it?”
Grandma Liu’s heart sank.
3,999?! It was even more expensive than she had expected.
Her palms grew clammy.
She only had a little over 2,000 yuan in her account. She had thought that 2,000 was already a stretch for a roasted duck, but she hadn’t expected it to cost nearly 4,000!
Seeing Grandma Liu’s expression, Old Hu immediately knew she couldn’t afford it.
His arrogance grew. Though he still had a smile on his face, it was filled with undisguised disdain. “Are you buying or not?”
“Um… could I buy half a duck instead?” Grandma Liu asked awkwardly.
Little Yanyan blinked her big eyes, looking from her grandmother to Old Hu. She seemed to sense that something was off.
She pouted but said nothing.
Old Hu cleared his throat. “Well, technically, you can…”
Just as Grandma Liu started to feel a glimmer of hope, Old Hu continued, “But you’ll need to make a reservation at the front desk. We also need to conduct a financial review, and you’ll have to pay a 1,000 yuan membership fee upfront. Currently, the next available slot is in August—two years from now.”
Grandma Liu’s face turned pale.
What?!
Not only was there an extra 1,000 yuan fee, but she also had to wait a year or two?
This was outright discrimination!
Without another word, Grandma Liu picked up Yanyan and turned to leave. “Forget it, we’re not eating!”
But Yanyan burst into tears. “Waaah—roasted duck! Grandma, I want roasted duck…”
Behind them, Old Hu sneered loudly, making sure they could hear. “Zhu Yuan only serves distinguished guests. Not just anyone can dine here!”
Grandma Liu trembled with anger but couldn’t do anything about it.
A lackey who bullies the weak and flatters the strong!
Just then, Old Hu suddenly changed his demeanor entirely. He turned in another direction, bowed deeply, and his voice became sickeningly ingratiating, dripping with fake warmth.
“Oh my, if it isn’t Young Master Mu!”
Following his gaze, Grandma Liu looked over.
A sleek, luxurious Maybach had just pulled up in front of Zhu Yuan.
The door of the Maybach swung open.
A long-legged figure stepped out of the car—Mu Mingqiu. His signature red hair danced in the wind, exuding both handsomeness and arrogance.
Grandma Liu suddenly recalled seeing his face in newspaper articles before. He was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, living a life entirely different from ordinary folks like her.
No wonder that lackey’s attitude had changed in an instant.
“Young Master Mu! If you were coming to Zhu Yuan for a meal, why didn’t you let us know in advance? We would’ve reserved a table for you!” Old Hu’s face lit up with excitement, grinning from ear to ear. “You must be here for our famous roasted duck, right? I’ll have the chefs prepare it right away!”
At the same time, Old Hu didn’t forget to cast a smug glance at Grandma Liu, deliberately raising his voice: “See that? Zhu Yuan isn’t some cheap roadside stall where just anyone can eat. We only serve important guests—like Young Master Mu here…”
It was only then that Mu Mingqiu seemed to notice Old Hu’s presence.
He shot him a glance and frowned.
“I’m not eating at Zhu Yuan today. I’m just passing by,” he said coolly. “Besides, your roasted duck tastes terrible. Do I look like an idiot who’d waste money on it?”
“Oh, and cancel my membership while you’re at it. I won’t be coming back.” Mu Mingqiu added casually, “Your so-called ‘famous’ roasted duck doesn’t even smell one-thousandth as good as that roadside stall’s.”
With that, he lifted his foot and walked toward the small food stall across the street.
The closer he got, the more eager his expression became. That tantalizing aroma wrapped around him, luring him in.
Excited, his steps quickened into a jog.
“Heh, divine roasted duck—Young Master Mu is here!”
Grandma Liu: “?”
Old Hu: “……??????”
Old Hu stood frozen as if struck by lightning.
Mu Mingqiu was one of Zhu Yuan’s most important clients—practically their golden goose.
And just like that… he canceled his membership?!
At that moment, little Yanyan suddenly stopped crying. She twitched her nose as if sniffing something carefully.
“Grandma,” Yanyan tugged on Grandma Liu’s sleeve and pointed toward the street vendor. “I think the roasted duck smell is coming from over there!”
It seemed that Young Master Mu had sharp taste after all.
Seeing this unfold, passersby began whispering among themselves.
Some even pulled out their phones to record the scene:
“So Zhu Yuan’s roasted duck is not only overpriced but also terrible, huh? Even the Mu family’s eldest young master canceled his membership and ran straight for the roadside stall!”
“Tsk tsk tsk. Not only is it bad, but they’re also pretentious snobs. Just a restaurant acting all high and mighty, bullying a grandma and her granddaughter. Shameless!”
“And to think he looked down on the street vendor’s duck—does his even compare?!”
“To be honest… this street stall’s roasted duck smells amazing. I’m already drooling. Hehe, I’m gonna buy one!”
“Me too! Me too!”
Hearing these comments, Old Hu’s face turned deathly pale. He trembled with anger but couldn’t come up with a single retort.
Now, he had to report to management immediately and figure out how to salvage their relationship with Young Master Mu.
Under the scornful gazes and criticism from the crowd, Old Hu fled back into Zhu Yuan, slinking away in humiliation.
Before stepping inside, he cast one last disbelieving glance at the street stall across the road.
…It was just a roasted duck stall run by a three-year-old kid.
How the hell did it manage to steal Mu Mingqiu away?!
Grandma Liu straightened her back and picked up Yanyan.
With the other onlookers, she strode toward the street vendor.
“Come on, Yanyan,” she said proudly. “Let’s go eat some real roasted duck!”
*
Mu Mingqiu walked toward the roasted duck stall.
Beside him, Wu Weiguo followed, his eyes filled with anticipation.
Yesterday, he had taken home a portion of this roasted duck, but after giving it to his wife and daughter, they devoured every last bite—he didn’t even get a single taste.
Even though he had been lucky enough to enjoy half a duck himself, it still wasn’t enough.
It wasn’t enough!
This roasted duck was so good, he could eat three whole ones by himself!
And for some reason, today’s roasted duck smelled even better than yesterday’s.
“Today, it smells even more fragrant than before,” Mu Mingqiu murmured at the same time, eyes narrowing. “There’s even a hint of sweet fruitiness in the aroma…”
The closer he got to the stall, the more intense his excitement became.
His eyes locked onto the roasting oven, refusing to look away.
Through the transparent glass, he could see twenty whole roasted ducks hanging neatly inside. Heat swirled around them, their skins glistening with a perfect, even red sheen. Under the bright lights, they shimmered with an irresistible, oil-rich luster.
And that aroma—constantly drifting through the air—was simply intoxicating.
Mu Mingqiu’s Adam’s apple bobbed involuntarily.
He had eaten his way through all of the most renowned roasted duck restaurants in the city. Only one legendary shop from years ago could compare—an old establishment whose master chef had perfected his craft over four or five decades.
Unfortunately, that chef retired due to illness, and his technique was lost to time. To this day, Mu Mingqiu still regretted it deeply.
But even that legendary duck seemed to pale in comparison to the one in front of him now.
Seeing these ducks, Mu Mingqiu became more and more convinced—
Whoever made them had to be a true master.
At least two or three decades of experience, minimum.
There was no way a three-year-old kid was responsible for this.
Wu Weiguo must have been messing with him.
Determined to get a closer look, Mu Mingqiu leaned in… and inched even closer… unwilling to miss a single detail.
His stunning face was practically pressed against the glass!
And at that moment—
A young, childlike voice rang in his ears: “Uncle, are you here to buy roast duck?”
Mu Mingqiu’s attention was entirely focused on the roast duck. He was so mesmerized that he didn’t even notice how young the voice sounded.
Staring affectionately at the roast duck, he murmured, “Buy, I want to buy. However many you have, I’ll buy them all…”
The childlike voice responded smoothly, without the slightest hesitation: “Uncle, one per person.”
This was the third customer at Little Lan’s roast duck stall.
…And the third person who tried to buy out all the ducks at once.
Thankfully, he was clever enough to impose a purchase limit in advance. Jian Yunlan wiped the cold sweat off his forehead. That was close—he had almost been forced to close up shop early again.
One? Only one per person???!!!
—Boom.
Mu Mingqiu felt as if he had been struck by lightning.
He staggered back slightly, his entire being suddenly feeling weak.
How could that possibly be enough to eat?!
His gaze was filled with deep longing as he reluctantly tore his eyes away from the roast duck. After a long pause, he forced himself to look at the person speaking to him:
“Boss, I’m begging you, make an exception. Let me buy a few more roast ducks, I’ll do anything—huh?”
Mu Mingqiu’s words came to an abrupt stop.
His gaze slowly focused.
There was nothing there.
Wait, where was the boss?
Where was the person who had just spoken to him?
After a long while, the 1.88-meter-tall Young Master Mu, with a look of confusion, slowly lowered his gaze. Lowered it again. And lowered it once more—
Then, he saw a tiny figure who barely reached his knees.
The little one wore a floral-patterned apron and had a pair of big, round black eyes with a hint of blue, staring at him seriously. The child’s small cheeks were still chubby with baby fat. “No exceptions, Uncle. One roast duck per person—that’s the rule of our stall.”
Mu Mingqiu: “…”
Mu Mingqiu: “…………”
Silence was the answer to everything.
Mu Mingqiu’s hands itched.
He hesitated for a moment, but in the end, he couldn’t resist. He bent down and picked the little boy up, lifting him high. Looking up at the child, even his voice unconsciously softened:
“Baby, where are your parents? You’re amazing! So young, yet already helping them run the roast duck stall.”
That gentle tone, paired with his usual arrogant young master demeanor, was almost comically out of place.
Jian Yunlan, now suddenly suspended in midair: “…..”
Not far away, Ye Qingquan: “…!”
Ahhh! You big bully, put my baby down right now!
No matter how relaxed and laid-back of a parent Ye Qingquan was, he couldn’t possibly feel at ease letting his child run a stall alone. So, starting yesterday, he had been quietly following behind. This was exactly what he had been worried about—strangers with no sense of boundaries picking up his child without permission.
Ye Qingquan was frantic, pacing anxiously, trying to figure out how to intervene without revealing his identity.
And it wasn’t just Ye Qingquan—Auntie Wang and Xu Shishi, who had been waiting for their roast ducks, were also alarmed.
“Hey, don’t bother Little Lan Boss while he’s working!”
“Exactly! He was just about to chop my roast duck!”
Auntie Wang, a seasoned veteran of life, didn’t care whether this guy was some rich young master or not. She directly stepped forward, took the little boy from Mu Mingqiu’s hands, and set him back on the ground. “Little Lan Boss, don’t be scared. Just focus on slicing the duck!”
The little boy nodded blankly.
He dusted off his clothes, put his mask back on, and then, with practiced movements, bent down, pulled a roast duck from the oven, and placed it on the chopping board.
The little boy picked up the knife.
The blade gleamed with a cold light, sharpened to a razor edge, reflecting the child’s delicate, snow-white profile.
At that moment, Mu Mingqiu finally cracked.
“…Seriously? This three-year-old is actually the owner of this roast duck stall? Are you guys messing with me???”
Xu Shishi, Aunt Wang, and Wu Weiguo, who were standing nearby, looked at him with helpless expressions.
It seemed like Mu Mingqiu was the one acting strange.
“What’s wrong with a three-year-old selling roast duck? It’s completely normal.”
“Little Lan Boss isn’t just anyone, he’s a genius baby.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
“No, no,” Mu Mingqiu felt speechless, “That knife is almost bigger than his face. How is he even cutting—”
The next second, the little boy’s wrist flicked gently, and the crispy skin in the middle of the roast duck was cleanly sliced off, perfectly even and neat.
His big, round eyes gleamed with decisiveness, and the hand holding the kitchen knife seemed to create afterimages as he sliced. The pieces of roast duck flew off like petals, perfectly sized, and effortlessly done.
Swish, swish, swish!
As he sliced, the little boy also expertly arranged the pieces on the plate. The slices of roast duck were stacked like petals, blooming open in a beautiful display.
It was pure showmanship.
Xu Shishi and Aunt Wang couldn’t help but clap in excitement.
“…”
Mu Mingqiu immediately fell silent.
Well, maybe—just maybe—having a three-year-old run a roast duck stall wasn’t entirely impossible…
In the blink of an eye, two servings of sliced roast duck were placed into takeout boxes, along with duck sauce and sliced scallions and cucumbers, and handed over to Aunt Wang and Xu Shishi.
“I also made some marinated broth today, do you want some?” the little boy asked with a smile.
Xu Shishi hadn’t fully processed it yet, but Aunt Wang immediately responded:
“Yes, of course!”
With Little Lan Boss’s cooking skills, the marinated broth was sure to be delicious. Even if it wasn’t eaten with the roast duck, it could be used for rice or noodles at home. Definitely worth it.
Xu Shishi, now understanding, quickly added, “I’ll take some marinated broth too.”
Jian Yunlan packed the marinated broth for them before turning to Mu Mingqiu: “Uncle, do you want some roast duck?”
Mu Mingqiu didn’t respond.
He was hesitating.
Before he realized that the boss was a three-year-old, Mu Mingqiu had already decided to buy up all the roast ducks, but now he couldn’t help but hesitate.
Even someone as experienced as him had never seen a child this young running a stall. What if the roast duck wasn’t good? Wouldn’t that ruin the perfect image he had in his mind?
However, Mu Mingqiu didn’t hesitate for long.
Because behind him, a huge crowd had already gathered…
Having learned from yesterday’s hard lesson, Ye Qingquan no longer hesitated. Wearing a mask and sunglasses, he quietly blended into the crowd and started queuing. He couldn’t resist teasing:
“Young Master, are you buying or not? Can you give us a straight answer?”
The other customers also chimed in:
“If you’re not buying, we will!”
“Yeah, yeah! If you’re not buying, don’t interrupt the boss’s business!”
“It smells too good, I can’t wait any longer, let me buy!”
Hearing these calls, Mu Mingqiu looked back at the sizzling roast duck in the oven. The golden, crispy skin, the fat dripping down slowly…
Finally, he stopped hesitating.
“I’ll buy,” Mu Mingqiu swallowed, steeling himself:
“Little Lan Boss, give me one roast duck!”
So will Mu Mingqiu have his phone or card on him to pay the 100 yuan price for the roasted duck?