What does it mean to have 2,000 people in line?
On this point, ordinary people might only feel impressed by the number.
But as the boss lady of Su Ji Bento, Su Qi knew from her experience setting up a stall.
On a normal day, even a queue of 100 people stretched nearly 20 meters, becoming a beautiful sight at the night market.
Now, looking at the small news flash on her sister’s phone, Su Qi was frozen in place.
Wouldn’t 2,000 people snake the night market from end to end like a game of Snake?
No, just queuing wasn’t the problem.
But if that many people showed up and she set out her stall tonight with too few bento boxes, wouldn’t that cause trouble?
Put yourself in their shoes: you wait in line for most of the day, only to find the food sold out when you reach the front.
Wouldn’t that make your mind explode?
But the key point was, with a queue of 2,000, how could she possibly prepare 2,000 bento boxes?
Even if she didn’t make anything too complicated, just the simplest egg-fried rice, 2,000 portions would leave her exhausted!
Ugh… Why had her Su Ji Bento suddenly become so popular?!
After Su Qi read the news, she felt a headache coming on. Seeming to notice her distress, Su Lulu spoke up.
“Xiao Qi, I just read the comments. The craze for your bento is actually somewhat related to what happened yesterday.”
Hearing her sister’s reply, Su Qi was stunned for a moment.
How did that relate to yesterday’s exploration of the Saint Ruins?
While Su Qi was confused, Su Lulu continued.
“Yesterday, President Nie of the Adventurers’ Guild heard news of the Demon King’s imminent revival. To better contact other adventurer guilds, he took that family letter from me.”
“I also read many comments just now. The people queuing now don’t know that you’ve eaten a World Tree Fruit—that kind of high-level intel—but most of them were recommended your bento by various adventurer guild masters. That’s why the queue is so long.”
Hearing her sister’s somewhat embarrassed explanation, Su Qi could understand.
After all, with the Demon King about to revive, rather than keeping the family letter at home and silently waiting for the Demon King to attack, it was better to rally more adventurers.
But understanding was one thing; looking at the queue of 2,000, Su Qi still felt a headache.
With so many people, wouldn’t something unexpected happen tonight?
As if sensing Su Qi’s worry, Lin Xue walked over and said at the right moment.
“Qi Qi, it’s okay. Little Ling and I will help you tonight. Besides, since you and Little Red Pupil are key protection targets, the Adventurers’ Guild will have people guarding you in secret.”
As Lin Xue spoke, An Xiaoling nodded obediently, indicating she would come too.
After a brief thought, her big, mischievous eyes rolled around, and she said, “Sister Su Su, actually, I think even though there are 2,000 people, we could switch to a different kind of bento—for example, make a big pot dish, like a stew. Since there are so many people, everyone will understand if there’s only one dish for the bento. But the stew needs to be made on-site to taste good, so we’ll need to go earlier. What do you think?”
Hearing An Xiaoling’s suggestion, Su Qi’s eyes lit up.
To be fair, compared to the complexity of a boxed bento with four different dishes, a stew, though simpler in flavor, was truly easier to make.
But the price would naturally have to be lower—sell each portion for 100 yuan.
Once the decision was made, considering the need to buy pots, meat, and vegetables, as well as the time required for washing and prep, Su Qi didn’t delay.
Nyaa~
After Little Red Pupil, that little foodie, was full and contentedly carried out by Gu Wen Yin, the group set out to shop.
After a round of buying and washing ingredients, Su Qi usually sold bento boxes around 7 PM, finishing in about an hour.
But now, after seeing that news, perhaps because of her good nature, not wanting to disappoint others, or maybe due to the influence of her Su Wife ability, she spent the entire afternoon busy.
At five o’clock in the afternoon, she arrived early at the familiar night market with the other girls.
Unlike the summer of September, November was autumn. Due to the weather, there were far fewer people on the streets.
But as she approached the night market, Su Qi was surprised to find hmm… even though it wasn’t yet night, the crowd at the night market was larger than at the peak of summer.
And this queue was way too long, wasn’t it?
Just as Su Qi was staring in shock at the long dragon of people in the night market—
Because Su Qi’s appearance was so exquisite, her aura so gentle, and she was accompanied by Su Lulu, Gu Wen Yin, Lin Xue, and An Xiaoling—a group of five beautiful young girls—it was impossible not to attract attention.
As soon as they reached the entrance, they were recognized.
“Whoa… Is that Su Boss holding the little kid? How come she looks even prettier after just a few days?”
“I feel the same way. Hey, is it because of that little kid? I feel like Su Boss has a stronger sacred wife temperament now.”
“Dammit, I wish I could become that little kid.”
“Bro, make your wish at a temple.”
“So, what’s today’s bento dish? After I ate it last week, I felt my attributes temporarily increased a lot, and my ability experience went up too.”
“Holy crap, really? Then 300 yuan a portion isn’t that expensive.”
“Bro, is this your first time here?”
Surrounded by four girls, Su Qi listened to the customers’ chatter—some of it about her.
Honestly, she was a bit shy and embarrassed.
After all, as a former boy, Su Qi knew well that when guys see girls, they often talk about body proportions.
Fortunately, once she reached her stall and summoned the big pot she’d bought that afternoon from her storage space, she entered Su Wife mode and distracted herself with cooking.
The embarrassment faded quite a bit.
“Today’s Su Ji Bento, due to the number of people, will only sell one dish—a stew. Please understand. Each portion is 100 yuan.”
While Su Qi was cooking, An Xiaoling’s crisp, pleasant loli voice soon started hawking. The sign that originally said 300 yuan per bento was changed to 100.
“A stew? That’s just one dish. Will it still have the magical effect?”
“I want to eat bento! I want red-braised pork!”
“Uh, isn’t this just ordinary stew? I can make that too.”
“Sniff, sniff… Wait, what’s that smell? It’s kind of fragrant. And there’s a hint of happiness.”
“Holy crap, am I the only one who thinks Su Boss looks especially virtuous when she’s cooking in her apron? And the way she tucks that stray hair behind her ear and tastes the broth—such a small gesture, but why does it feel so sexy? Damn, it’s love at first sight.”
At first, many customers in line were reluctant about the change from bento to stew.
Even though the price dropped from 300 to 100, saving money, the crowd had waited a long time; they weren’t short on 200 yuan.
But as Su Qi started cooking on the spot, with her smooth and pleasing culinary skills and the aroma filling the air, the dissatisfied voices gradually diminished.
Gulp, gulp…
Instead, the sound of people swallowing saliva took over.
When the first pot of stew was ready, the girls acting as Su Qi’s assistants stepped up as cashiers and servers.
A young man who had queued since morning finally received his steaming hot stew after receiving it.
His original plan was to resell the “Su Ji Bento” at a high price for a profit.
But smelling this freshly cooked, piping hot bento, his stomach let out an untimely, desirous sound.
‘I’ll just have one bite. It shouldn’t matter, right? No one will find out!’
He secretly picked up his chopsticks and ate one meatball.
The rich, savory meatball, mixed with the fresh stew broth and rising steam—
One bite was truly wonderful.
And after eating that meatball, a feeling of healing arose from the bottom of his heart.
His body felt as if it had been refueled, like a car filled with oil—an indescribable sense of smoothness and fullness.
‘Maybe… just one more bite.’
‘Ugh… This is way too delicious!’
‘Huh? Why is it empty?’
There were many “purchasing agents” like this young man.
But because Su Qi’s bento was so incredibly fragrant, almost everyone who received their portion started eating immediately.
Lured by the aroma, no one could resist the temptation.
And as the phenomenon of “your purchasing agent is attacking your bento” wildly unfolded—
One pot of fresh stew after another came out, yet the long queue kept growing.
Why was it growing?
Because there was a purchase limit at the Su Ji Bento stall.
Customers who had already eaten one portion wanted another, so they had to line up again.
Many customers who hadn’t paid attention to Su Ji Bento before saw the food in others’ hands and heard the descriptions, and they joined in one after another.
Naturally, the line grew longer and longer.
Xixi~ (a sound, maybe a sigh or an onomatopoeia for exhaustion? Considering context, probably a sigh of tiredness. Since it’s an emoji-like sound, keep as is: “Xixi~”)
Faced with the ever-lengthening queue, Su Qi and the helping girls were getting tired, but…