My Demon Friends-Chapter 537 - 516: Small Town Fireworks

From afar, they could see steam rising from the three-way junction.

Many people were gathered there; some were already sitting down and eating, while others were still standing, buying their meals.

Zhou Li walked closer and saw several stoves by the roadside, each topped with a large pot almost a meter in diameter. Some pots were covered, while others were open. Only about a third of the rice and dishes remained, though judging by the oil stains on the pots, they had initially been full.

The rice options included sweet potato rice and sweet red bean rice.

The visible dishes included stir-fried Chinese cabbage with large chunks of meat; it looked more stewed than fried, a common characteristic of large-pot cooking. There was also a type of green vegetable that Zhou Li couldn't name, pale green with white streaks.

These two dishes, one meat and one vegetable, both contained visible preserved vegetables, seemingly prepared this way to enhance their flavor, making them somewhat resemble a hearty stew.

Two other pots were covered with lids.

Brother Nan, inexplicably excited, leaned in and, pointing at the two pots, asked, "What's in these two?"

The owner didn't say a word, simply lifting the lids to show her.

These two large pots were steamers. One contained about half a pot of steamed pork belly with preserved mustard greens, and the other held a few bowls of steamed pork with rice meal, all served in coarse bowls.

Brother Nan beamed. "Steamed pork with rice meal sells better than salt-roasted pork, huh? How much is it per person?"

The owner's voice, muffled by his mask, sounded deep and resonant. "Ten yuan for one meat and one vegetable dish, fifteen for steamed pork with rice meal, and twenty-five for salt-roasted pork."

"Isn't it per person, all-you-can-eat?"

"No."

"Oh..." Brother Nan nodded, somewhat disappointed.

Huai Xu also looked a bit let down.

Meanwhile, Zhou Li quietly observed the owner dishing out the food.

He used disposable bowls that were more like basins in size, and his serving spoon was larger than the bowls Zhou Li normally used for eating. For rice, he'd scoop one heaping spoonful and then add another half. He was equally generous with the other dishes, ensuring the portions were ample.

A middle-aged man carried a bowl piled high with large chunks of pork belly—more fat than lean—which trembled slightly as the steam condensed into white smoke in the air. He walked towards the back with a grin, his face creased with wrinkles.

Beyond him, a long row of folding tables and chairs was set up by the roadside.

Zhou Li understood now.

No wonder he hadn't seen any proper Chinese restaurants along the way, only noodle shops and snack bars; it was this juggernaut of a business that crowded them out.

"Let's each get a bowl, plus two orders of steamed pork with rice meal and one salt-roasted pork. I want to taste them first," Brother Nan had already decided. "Zhou Li, help her down carefully. Then, take the horse farther away and tie it up securely so it doesn't disturb their business."

"So now you're just 'her'," Zhou Li said as he carefully helped Zheng Zhilan dismount. He then told her, "You can stand here. I'll go tie up the horse." 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

"Okay."

Miss Zheng obediently stood still, her eyes taking in the surroundings.

By the time Zhou Li returned after tying up the horse, their food had been served. They were sitting at a low table towards the back, with an empty spot left for him.

Steam rose from the food on the table, looking very warm in the winter chill.

Zhou Li walked over and sat down. Staring at the large bowl of rice before him, he was somewhat dazed. "This is so much... and the meat is so fatty..."

"Fatty meat is what fills you up," Brother Nan began, holding her chopsticks but not yet eating, patiently explaining to him. "Look at the people eating here—what kind of people are they? Making the meat leaner would not only increase costs, but they also wouldn't like it. For these hardworking folks who have endured or are still enduring hardship, they are simple and easily satisfied. They aren't that picky. In cold weather, a hot, filling meal with meat is enough to satisfy them, so smaller portions wouldn't work either... Ugh, what am I even saying to you? Hurry up and eat! Stop talking nonsense. If it's too fatty for you, give it to me, or throw it on the ground for the dogs."

"That sounds strange."

"?"

"Can the owner really make money this way?"

"Of course. If he didn't make money, what would he eat?" Brother Nan lowered her head and shoveled a large mouthful of rice. Speaking with her mouth full, she continued, "It's mainly about volume—low profit margins but high turnover. Haven't you seen? Everyone in town who wants a proper meal comes here. Other restaurants simply can't compete."

"Is this what they call a barrier to entry?" Zhou Li wondered aloud.

"Hey, smart!" Brother Nan praised him, then bent her head and took another big bite. After swallowing, she leaned back and let out a long breath. "Ahh, satisfying... When I was little, going to the market meant eating meals just like this. This is the real way to enjoy a market day. I haven't felt this way in years."

"Oh."

Watching her eat with such relish, Zhou Li also took a bite.

The food tasted surprisingly good.

Of course, it wasn't as refined as dishes from a restaurant, unless the restaurant's chef was significantly worse; large-pot cooking inherently had its disadvantages. But eating here had a peculiar charm that perfectly matched the bustling atmosphere of the small-town market.

Simple fare, bustling with life and the warmth of the everyday.

It was a completely different feeling from being in the city.

A piece of steamed pork with rice meal was placed in his bowl. "This meat isn't bad at all. It's well-made, quite skillful. The salt-roasted pork is too fatty; you probably won't be able to eat it."

Zhou Li nodded and started eating.

It was indeed fantastic.

He glanced over and saw Big Yellow sitting quietly beside them, looking so well-behaved it was almost pitiful.

Zhou Li had initially thought of buying a bowl for him too, figuring he could just dump it on the ground. But on second thought, it didn't seem quite appropriate, so he just tossed him a few more pieces of meat.

At that moment, something unexpected happened—

Huai Xu actually tore off an entire duck leg and handed it to Big Yellow.

The fragrant and crispy pressed duck was roasted to perfection, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. It was one of Huai Xu's great loves, and the duck leg was the choicest part. He wasn't usually this generous.

Hmm... Perhaps the Old Monster felt a sense of kinship.

Zhou Li nodded and continued eating.

After the meal, they sat and rested for a while, then strolled through the supermarket to buy some snacks and yogurt before heading back.

On the way, Brother Nan got into a conflict.

In a village at the foot of the mountain, they encountered some people selling jade mattresses from a small truck. These weren't just made of real jade; they supposedly featured electromagnetic therapy that could cure all sorts of ailments—lumbar and cervical spine issues, shoulder and back pain, rheumatism, joint disease. All of this could be cured by buying one, and a mattress cost only two thousand eight hundred and eighty-eight yuan. Many elderly people were gathered around, swayed by the shills the sellers had hired, their interest piqued. Brother Nan couldn't stand such things. She bought a small knife on the spot, punctured their truck's tire, and threatened to call the police.

At first, seeing how young they were, the group put on a fierce act, trying to scare them away. However, Brother Nan seemed even fiercer than them. So, they very decisively changed to their spare tire and drove off. No fight broke out.

The whole way back, Brother Nan was fuming. She was annoyed with herself, thinking she should have spoken more aggressively to provoke them into starting a fight, which would have been better.

「By the time they returned to the small mountain village, it was already afternoon.」

Zhou Li went around greeting the four demons one by one, inviting them for a barbecue.

Then, while Brother Nan and Miss Zheng were busy preparing the vegetables, he carried a high stool into the house and started to change the newly bought light bulbs.

"Why is this light white?" Huai Xu asked, looking up.

"It's an energy-saving bulb. It uses less electricity and is brighter."

"Then why didn't we use this kind of light before?"

"We didn't have them before."

"Why not?"

"You ask too many questions."

"Huh?"

This little 'question machine,' his face full of curiosity, tilted his head back, waiting for an answer. After a while, when none came, he got a bit angry. "Just wait, you'll get electrocuted! I've seen lots of videos of humans getting shocked. They turn all black and ugly!"

"That won't happen," Zhou Li said, having finished changing the light bulb. He then added, "Help me flip the switch and see if it lights up."

KA-CLICK... Huai Xu stood rooted to the spot, still looking up with wide eyes. "It's on!"

"Next one," Zhou Li said, stepping down from the stool.

"Let me do it! Let me do it!" Huai Xu was eager to try.

"Alright," Zhou Li knew he was playful. "I'll tell you how to change it."

"Quick, tell me, tell me..."

"Don't be so impatient."

"Stop dawdling!"

"..."

The last light bulb was also lit.

Except for the first one, which Zhou Li had changed, Huai Xu changed all the rest. Zhou Li couldn't understand what was so fun about changing light bulbs.

As he was putting away the stool, he noticed that Xiao Yuan and Lao Hui had already arrived.

Xiao Yuan stood at his feet, also tilting her head back to stare at the light above. Her round eyes, reflecting the energy-saving bulb that wasn't very noticeable in the daylight, were full of curiosity.

"How does this light up? It's magical."

The principle behind this is... Zhou Li pondered for a moment, an unconscious smile appearing on his face. "When electricity flows through it, it lights up."

"Oh."

Xiao Yuan nodded obediently.

Zhou Li smiled again. His gaze moved to Huai Xu, who blinked twice and slowly broke into a grin as well.