If I ask you to set up a stall, why do you always run to deserted places?

Zhang Yue is a food blogger with 700,000 to 800,000 followers. He has visited countless snack shops all over the country.

He had never heard of freshly baked pastries on the top of Mount Tai before.

Who would set up a stall on the top of Mount Tai?

"Didn't the photos already arrive?" Duan Ming said.

"What can the photo prove?" Zhang Yue zoomed in on the picture.

The photo only shows a person wearing black clothes, a pot, and a few meat patties.

"This pose looks staged. Aren't videos all about creating a buzz these days?"

"Maybe once the things are laid out and a photo is taken, they'll pack up their things in a bit."

"Yeah! If you really want to do business on the mountaintop, how do you get the ingredients and stove up there? Are you going to carry them all the way up?" Travel blogger Qiao Qiao chimed in.

Her first reaction was that it was a staged photo shoot. These days, everyone will do anything to become famous, so it must be a staged photo shoot.

Qiaoqiao was very certain. If you ask why, it's naturally because she herself had done such a ridiculous thing.

Setting up a stall on the top of Mount Tai is nothing. I used to sell hot pot in the desert, although it didn't become popular in the end.

"And look!" At the same time, He Sen, who had been silent all along, also took the photo.

"He was dressed entirely in black—black clothes, black hat, black mask. What normal stall owner would dress like a robber?"

"Are they afraid their business is doing too well?"

He Sen's family runs a private restaurant. He started learning to cook from his father when he was a teenager, so he knows a bit about dim sum.

"Even if this pancake is freshly made, it probably won't taste very good."

"Why?" Several people looked at him at the same time.

He Sen pointed to the portable protective furnace in the photo.

"The temperature is low and the wind is strong at the top of the mountain, so it's difficult to keep the fire steady with such a small stove."

"The crust of the pastry must not be burnt, and the meat inside must be cooked through. The ratio of dough to flaky pastry is also important."

"How delicious can something made from ingredients that's been sitting on the road for hours taste?"

He Sen read Xu Yang's message again, "It looks exactly like her," and his expression became even more dismissive.

"This old guy is definitely kidding us!"

"Even if it's not a joke, when people are cold and hungry, their sense of smell and appetite are amplified."

"Let alone meat patties, even if someone cooks instant noodles, he can think they smell amazing, but when you actually eat them, they're just so-so."

Duan Ming was gradually persuaded; otherwise, what else could it be?

He picked up his phone and replied, "You dare eat a 12-yuan beef pancake on the mountaintop? Don't end up looking for a toilet on the mountaintop before you're even full from the pancake!"

"We're not in a hurry, why don't you test the poison on behalf of everyone first?"

Xu Yang quickly sent back an angry emoji.

Duan Ming watched with amusement, while He Sen shook his head. Whether the beef patties on the mountaintop could be cooked through was another matter entirely; whoever ate them would be unlucky.

"Let's go, let's go up slowly."

Zhang Yue leisurely opened the action camera, "Anyway, I've already missed the sunrise, so there's no rush."

"By the time we get up there, that stall will probably have already closed up. Then we'll be able to embarrass Old Xu."

The group chatted and laughed as they finally entered the scenic area.

Unbeknownst to them, at that very moment, Xu Yang, who was on the mountaintop, had already stood in front of Su Yun's stall.

The instant noodles he had just torn in half had long since been thrown to the winds.

"Boss, do you really sell this pancake?" Xu Yang asked again, uncertainly.

"Why would I write down a price if I'm not going to sell it?" Su Yun looked up at him.

Xu Yang: "..."

That makes so much sense; he couldn't even refute it.

"Then give me a beef one first." Xu Yang hesitated for a moment, then turned to look at his three companions.

"Let's buy one and try it first."

"How can one pancake be enough for four people?" the chubby boy immediately objected.

"How many do you want to buy?"

"What I mean is, let's each take a small bite, one is just right."

Xu Yang: "..."

So all your opposition was for nothing?

The four of them agreed beforehand that they would try a bite first, and if the taste was just so-so, they would go back and eat instant noodles obediently, and definitely not waste their money.

Xu Yang scanned the code and paid 12 yuan. Su Yun put it in a brown paper bag and handed him a freshly baked beef pastry.

"Be careful, there's broth inside, don't take a big bite on the first try."

"How much soup can a pancake have?" Xu Yang didn't care at all.

The pastries were a little hot through the paper bag, with layers upon layers on the surface, golden and almost translucent.

Xu Yang lightly touched it with his fingertip, and the fine crumbs of pastry fell off.

"His appearance is alright," Xu Yang commented, feigning composure. He acted as if he wasn't there to eat pancakes, but rather to participate in some kind of food judging competition.

"Hurry up and eat!" The three people next to us were getting impatient. "If we keep watching, our food will get cold."

"Who was it that just said they had no expectations?"

"Just because I don't have high expectations doesn't mean I can't push you."

Xu Yang didn't waste any more words with them and took a bite.

"Snap!"

The outermost layer of flaky pastry cracked open, and crumbs fell into the paper bag with a soft thud, followed by a gush of scalding hot broth.

Xu Yang's eyes widened in shock. He felt as if he had bitten a faucet, and juice was dripping down his chin, impossible to wipe away.

"Holy crap!" He flinched; it was burning hot! It was fucking hot!

The broth spread across his tongue, so hot that he almost spat out what was in his mouth, but the savory flavor that followed made him hold back.

The melted beef bone broth jelly encases chunks of beef, offering both the savory flavor of beef and the sweetness of onions, with a hint of pepper spiciness emerging last, instantly dispelling the lingering chill from the hike.

It still retains its fibers, making it tender and chewy. When mixed with the crispy and fragrant crust, it becomes more and more fragrant with each chew.

Before he could even swallow the first bite, Xu Yang had already taken another big bite.

He was breathing heavily on the scalding hot pancake as he chewed it frantically, gripping it tightly with both hands.

The three people next to him were stunned. It looked like Old Xu had taken a bite out of them too!

"What's up? Say something!"

"Exactly! Is this delicious or not?"

Xu Yang didn't answer, but silently took a step back, then turned his back and quickly took another big bite.

"Damn it!" the chubby boy immediately exclaimed, "We agreed to share a bite each, why are you showing off all by yourself?"

"Let me test if it's cooked through for you guys first," Xu Yang said, his mouth full and his words muffled.

"Bullshit! You've already eaten half of it, hand over the pancake right now!"

The three of them rushed forward; they were the ones who were entitled to a share of the 12 yuan!

Old Xu, that bastard, showed off everything by himself. Isn't that just being a jerk?

Xu Yang turned and ran, but he had just climbed Mount Tai and his legs were already weak. Before he could run two steps, the fat boy grabbed him from behind.

"Grab him! This kid's trying to eat it all by himself!"

"Damn it, leave me a bite!" The four of them immediately turned into a complete mess next to the stall.

Tourists passing by were dumbfounded. How could they eat a beef patty like they were fighting for the Imperial Seal of the State?

"Is this scripted?" The man in the blue windbreaker was still a little skeptical. "These guys aren't shills hired by the boss, are they?"

"Who would actually roll on the ground just to get a bite to eat?"

While he was speaking, the beef puff pastry was completely divided among the four people.

The chubby boy managed to snatch a small piece from Xu Yang's mouth, and fearing that someone else would take it, he stuffed it into his own mouth without thinking.

It seemed to still be mixed with Xu Yang's saliva, but he didn't mind anymore, because his expression changed the next second.

The crispy crust crumbled, releasing a burst of warm broth and the aroma of beef. The chubby boy fell silent instantly, only slowly raising his head after several seconds.

"Old Xu."

"What are you doing?"

"I misunderstood you just now."

Xu Yang was somewhat surprised. "So you finally realize I was testing the poison for you guys?"

"No." The chubby boy shook his head very seriously. "I mean you weren't running fast enough just now. With something this delicious, I would have run alone too."

The remaining two people also got a bite, and the four of them looked at each other before rushing back to the stall.

"Boss, four more beef ones, no! Six!"

"Even though I don't eat beef, I still want six!"

Six of them cost almost 6 yuan.

Although it was expensive, they knew that such delicious pancakes would be sold out in no time. If they didn't grit their teeth and buy them now, they would only regret it later.

"I'd like to try a few wild mushrooms."

"Who just said they would never waste money?"

"Can you call this a waste of money? This 100-plus yuan is more worthwhile than the ticket price."

The four people rushed to scan the QR code, afraid that if they were too slow, all the pancakes in the pot would be bought up by their companions.

In a short while, Su Yun earned several hundred yuan, and he was so happy that he almost grinned from ear to ear.

Several tourists around couldn't resist any longer. They were already hungry, and now with the cold wind blowing, their stomachs were growling like thunder.

"Boss, give me a beef one too."

The man in the blue windbreaker finally walked over, but to save face, he deliberately added, "I'm just a little hungry, not because I think it's that delicious."

"Yes, I know."

Su Yun's lips twitched. Who asked you?

The blue windbreaker made him feel like the boss was mocking him.

Once the first person started, other tourists quickly gathered around.

While making new pancakes, Su Yun collected money, packed them into bags, and filled millet crisps, without wasting a single moment.

The man in the blue jacket quickly got his beef pastry. He had originally wanted to be a little reserved, since he had been so stubborn earlier, but the four of them were eating it so deliciously that he immediately took a big bite after getting his.

With a snap, the scalding soup almost shot out of the pancake. Luckily, he dodged quickly, otherwise his windbreaker would have tasted it first.

"Holy crap!" The man in the blue windbreaker's pupils widened in shock; he had been prepared to be covered in dry, oily sweat.

The result is that the outer layer is so crispy that it crumbles at the slightest touch, while the inside is juicy and full of flavor. The pastry is soaked with soup but remains crispy, and after a few more chews, you can feel the softness and elasticity of the pastry.

The more you eat, the brighter your eyes become.

What staged photos? What technology and daring feats? It's all utter nonsense!

If this pancake isn't tasty, then what he ate before could only be called pig feed to keep him alive.

"How was it?" his companion asked curiously.

The man in the blue windbreaker didn't say anything. He silently turned around, just like Xu Yang had done earlier.

Why are you turning around?

"The view from the top of the mountain is great, I'll eat while I enjoy the view."

"There's a wall right in front of you!"

"The wall looks nice too."

companion:"……"

Good grief, another one trying to hog all the food!

Within minutes, the first batch of beef shortbread was sold out.

Mushroom pastries are starting to sell well.

A girl with a bun hairstyle who doesn't like vegetarian fillings could only buy a mushroom pastry because the beef patties were temporarily sold out.

"Eight yuan, even if it tastes bad, it's not a loss," the girl comforted herself, then lowered her head and took a small bite.

The fresh aroma of cabbage filling wafts out, while the fragrance of wild mushrooms spreads between the tofu and vermicelli, allowing the tofu to absorb the mushroom juice.

The vermicelli is slightly crunchy, and paired with the crispy pastry, it's so delicious that even though there's no meat, it's so flavorful it'll make your tongue fall off.

The girl with the bun hairstyle stared blankly at the pancake in her hand.

"Wait, vegetarian filling can be made like this? I'm getting a taste for beef in it!"

She suspected that the pies she had eaten before might have been spies sent by the pie industry to ruin the reputation of vegetarian pies!

Now this is what you call a good vegetarian filling, right?!

"Baby, give me a bite!"

Her boyfriend reached out to tear off a piece, but she slapped it open.

Boyfriend: "Didn't you say the vegetarian filling wasn't good?"

Girl: "I want to eat it now, but I can't."

"???"

The girl tucked the remaining half of the pancake into her bosom, saying, "If you want some, scan the code yourself."

The boyfriend looked at his reddened hand with disbelief.

She said she would love him forever while they were hiking, but now she won't even give him a piece of bread?

So love can disappear, right?

"Boss, I'll have a wild mushroom one too."

The boyfriend angrily raised his phone, "It's just 8 yuan! Who doesn't have that much in their pocket?"

On the other side, several middle-aged tourists who had just watched the sunrise also gathered around.

Instead of eating the pancakes, they each ordered a bowl of osmanthus-flavored jujube and millet pastry.

The millet has been cooked until it's fully opened up, and the sweetness of the red dates has blended into the aroma of the millet. It's also sprinkled with fine osmanthus flowers.

The warm millet crisp slid into my stomach, not greasy at all, and just right to soothe my dry throat after climbing the mountain.

"That feels good!" one of the middle-aged men exclaimed, letting out a deep breath.

"After taking that bite, I felt like I came back to life."

"Exactly! My body was cold just now, but my stomach feels warm right away."

"Give me two more beef patties, I want to take them home for my wife."

"Isn't your wife right next to you?"

"Ahem, this..."

The once quiet platform became lively in just over ten minutes.

Someone was squatting on the steps, eating a pastry with both hands, so engrossed that they couldn't even lift their head.

Some people stomped their feet because the soup was so hot, but they couldn't bear to spit out the meat in their mouths. Others wiped their mouths and lined up again after eating only half of the meat.

As for the instant noodles they had, they put them all on the steps. Instant noodles can't compare to the aroma of freshly cooked flatbread!

It was at this moment that Zhou Ye and his two companions, having finished photographing the sunrise, finally turned back.

They were all holding up their phones, looking incredibly excited.

"Family, wasn't that sunrise beautiful?"

"Let's go back and find that bandit leader. He's been waiting there all alone with all that equipment. He's probably getting impatient."

"That's right, we promised to help him move his things down the mountain, we can't go back on our word."

Chen Yu, gripping the railing, his legs trembling, said, "It's a promise, I can only lift that small bag at most!"

"Let Zhou Ye carry the biggest bag; he's a fitness instructor anyway!"

Zhou Ye's face darkened. "Why didn't you just let me carry my brother down the mountain?"

"Didn't you say you were physically strong?" Tang Guo said.

"Just because I'm strong doesn't mean I'm a camel. Don't you know how heavy the things that the older brother is carrying are?" Zhou Ye said.

The three of them bickered as they walked down the steps. After walking a short distance, Tang Guo suddenly stopped.

"Can you smell anything?"

"I can smell it!" Chen Yu sniffed hard, his eyes instantly lighting up. "It smells like meat patties!"

"Is there an official store selling meat pies up in the mountain? How come I didn't know that!"

Zhou Ye was somewhat surprised. When they came up, they only saw a few shops selling water and instant noodles.

When did another bakery sell out?

"It must be a breakfast shop in the scenic area, right?" Tang Guo said casually.

But after walking a few dozen meters further, he felt something was wrong; there was a large crowd gathered on the platform in front of him.

A piece of cloth could be seen outside the crowd to provide shelter from the wind.

"This piece of weatherproof cloth... looks so familiar!" Tang Guo couldn't help but mutter to herself.

Next to it were a folding table, a stove, a refrigerator, and a frying pan that was steaming.

...They all look somewhat familiar.

It doesn't look like a permanent shop in a tourist area at all.

"no?"

Tang Guo understood, and her eyes widened little by little.

"There really are people setting up stalls on the top of Mount Tai?"

"Who would be so foolish as to do that?"