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Chapter 581: Envy Strikes

Mrs. Chen shot her daughter a warning glance, signaling her to stop using this matter to torment her brother. This wasn’t just about hurting one person. Mrs. Chen herself was filled with regret, a feeling that resurfaced every time she thought about it. But what’s done is done, and regret was futile. It was best to leave the matter untouched.

Turning to her son, Mrs. Chen advised, “Your relationship with Gu Zi is in the past. It’s not a big deal. But I must caution you, don’t always view people through a colored lens. It will prevent you from seeing their true colors, and in the end, you’ll be the one at a loss.”

Gong Xin, chastised, pouted unhappily but heeded her mother’s words. She continued to eat her braised pork in silence. Unfortunately, the tasting portion didn’t contain much pork, and after a few bites, it was gone. She picked up the bag and checked again, confirming it was indeed empty.

A plan formed in Gong Xin’s mind. Once the radio station went on break, she would go find Gu Zi. After all, they were good friends. Surely, there would be plenty of braised pork then.

As evening fell, the town’s foot traffic gradually increased. Many passersby couldn’t resist stopping by Sister Hua’s Gourmet Shop to inquire, “Do you still have braised pork? If so, I’ll take two liang to go with my wine.”

The reason they asked was that ever since the shop was featured in the newspaper, people from different places came daily to buy braised pork. The town’s regular customers would arrive early to purchase, often resulting in the pork selling out early. Those who passed by the shop later often missed out.

Although the shop remained open, it didn’t necessarily mean there was still pork for sale, hence the habitual inquiry.

At this moment, Gu Zi had just finished her work and was sitting at the shop’s entrance with Lele, responding to the inquiries, “We’re out for today. If you want braised pork, you’ll have to come early tomorrow!”

The customers swallowed their saliva, their faces filled with disappointment, “I haven’t had your braised pork for three days. I’ve been craving it. I really have to come early tomorrow. I’ll even take a detour in the morning to buy some. Can you make me some braised noodle soup for now?”

Unable to get the braised pork, they settled for the soup, hoping it would stave off their cravings.

Gu Zi laughed, “Of course, please come in! Sister-in-law, one bowl of braised noodle soup for this gentleman!” Gu Zi’s voice wasn’t loud, but it was clear. Sitting at the shop’s entrance, she could easily call out to Li Hua inside.

Li Hua immediately started boiling the noodles. The braised noodle soup was simple, just boiled noodles with braised soup and vegetables, hence its affordable price of three cents a bowl.

Meanwhile, Aunt Yang brought out some tea, warmly inviting the customers to sit. Their excellent service was a crucial factor in the shop’s success and couldn’t be overlooked.

One customer ordered the braised noodle soup, and several others followed suit. Although the profit wasn’t substantial, the shop’s service was impeccable, prompting the customers to murmur in admiration, “No wonder their shop is so popular. The owner is genuinely kind-hearted. Seeing that we do manual labor and have big appetites, she even offers a free refill of noodles.”

“Such a kind person couldn’t possibly do anything wrong. It must be someone envious spreading rumors, trying to affect the shop’s business. I, for one, don’t believe it.”

“I don’t believe it either. I used to help out at a braised pork shop in the city. One taste of their braised sauce, and you can tell it’s authentic, not some secret recipe.”

Gu Zi was initially going to inquire about the pig farm’s delivery truck parked on the main road, but the customers’ discussion caught her attention.

She walked over to one of the customers eating noodles and asked, “Excuse me, sir, could you tell me more about these rumors you mentioned?”

The customer didn’t seem to have any intention of hiding it from the shop’s staff and replied to Gu Zi, “You might not know this, but recently, there have been rumors saying that your braised pork tastes good because you add a certain flower to it. This flower is supposedly a raw material for drugs, and eating it can cause addiction. That’s why everyone thinks your braised pork is delicious. Of course, I don’t believe it. It’s too absurd!”

Gu Zi was taken aback. She hadn’t expected such outrageous rumors to circulate. Indeed, success often breeds envy. She asked, “Are they referring to the poppy flower?”