The younger sister mistakenly identified her brother when visiting relatives and was kissed by the c

Mr. Bai also tried a skewer. Although he didn't say much, he nodded vigorously like a chicken pecking at rice, and the smile on his lips was impossible to hide.

The next day, Qiao Xinxin officially added barbecue skewers to the menu.

She circled the four characters "Specialty Grilled Skewers" heavily on the blackboard at the shop entrance with red chalk. The loudspeaker at the shop entrance also re-recorded a message, which was repeatedly played in Qiao Xinxin's sweet and soft voice:

"Baijia Restaurant has added new specialty grilled skewers: pork skewers, green pepper skewers, onion skewers, and steamed bun slices, all freshly grilled and sold on the spot. Welcome to try them!"

At first, some neighbors passing by were hesitant. After all, these days, barbecue skewers are a rare treat, and most people haven't seen them before.

But the aroma was just too tempting. Especially around noon, once the charcoal was lit, the whole street was filled with that enticing, smoky fragrance.

At lunchtime, a few young workers from a nearby factory pushed open the door and came in. They originally only wanted to order a bowl of noodles, but the aroma made their mouths water as soon as they entered.

One of the leading workers pointed to the oven and asked:

"Boss, how much are these skewers? Can I try two?"

"Okay, just a moment, it'll be ready soon!"

Soon, the skewers were served, still sizzling with heat. The edges of the meat were golden brown and slightly curled, sprinkled with bright red chili powder and fine cumin powder, making them look incredibly appetizing.

Each person took a bite, their eyes widening instantly as they were captivated by the caramelized aroma and tender texture.

"Holy crap, this is amazing!" The lead worker quickly finished a skewer, wiped his mouth, and shouted at the top of his lungs, "Boss, ten more skewers! No, twenty! Everyone share!"

He turned to his companion and boasted:

"These grilled skewers are great! They smell even better than the stir-fries at state-run restaurants. They're really delicious!"

With these few scouts leading the way, the others became bolder. Customers gradually started ordering more skewers; some ordered three or five as side dishes, while others simply ordered ten as the main course. Paired with a bowl of steaming white rice, it made for a truly sumptuous lunch.

At the end of the day, Bai's mother sat behind the counter, tapping away on her abacus, and roughly calculated the accounts.

After doing the math, Bai's mother was overjoyed. The income from just the grilled skewers alone was equivalent to several stir-fried dishes! Moreover, the cost wasn't high, and the profit margin was very considerable.

Less than a week after adding grilled skewers to the menu, Bai's restaurant became incredibly popular. Every day at noon and in the evening, long queues would form outside, creating a lively atmosphere.

Old Sun, the owner of the dumpling restaurant on the next street, has quieted down considerably since he was fined by the police for causing trouble with dead cockroaches last time. Now he avoids the Bai family whenever he sees them and no longer dares to openly cause trouble. After all, in their eyes, Qiao Xinxin, this seemingly gentle girl, is quite cunning, and if you really mess with her, you'll definitely be in deep trouble.

But Old Sun's restaurant isn't the only one on this street; there are plenty of envious people, and there will always be some blind fools who jump out.

The first one to get restless was Mr. Li, the owner of the noodle shop at the end of the street.

Old Master Li, relying on his years of experience running a noodle shop on this street, was quite dismissive of the Bai family's newly opened restaurant, thinking they would eventually close down.

But as he watched the Bai family's business flourish day by day, even bringing in more foot traffic to the entire street, while his own noodle shop didn't get much of a share, his resentment grew stronger and stronger.

That noon, Mr. Li couldn't hold back any longer and met up with a few familiar shop owners in a small teahouse on the street corner.

As soon as he sat down, Boss Li's face fell, and he began to pour out his grievances:

"Hey guys, are you just going to stand by and watch? This newbie girl with mediocre cooking skills, how come she's stealing all the customers from the whole street? If this keeps up, we're all going to starve!"

Mr. Wang, the owner of the tobacco and liquor store next door, ate some sunflower seeds and casually offered his advice:

"Old Li, if you say that, it doesn't make sense. I've personally bought those kebabs twice, and they really do smell amazing! The meat is marinated perfectly, and the cooking time is just right. To be honest, they're even more authentic than what the head chef at our state-run restaurant makes. If you're envious, why don't you have your cook learn from them and get a grill too?"

"You make it sound so easy!"

Upon hearing this, Boss Li flew into a rage, slammed his hand on the table, making the teacups rattle, and shouted with a thick neck:

"That thing requires a special grill, and you have to haul charcoal every day. It takes up space and is a hassle. My tiny noodle shop doesn't have the room for that. Besides, I can't stand that girl's smugness! She shouts at the door every day with a loudspeaker, as if she's afraid people won't know her business is good. It's really an eyesore!"

As soon as Boss Li finished speaking in the teahouse, the shop owners sitting around the octagonal table exchanged glances with different thoughts.

Mr. Zhao, the owner of the general store, smacked his lips and hesitated before speaking:

"Old Li, don't be so hasty. In my opinion, that Bai family's little restaurant has just opened, and everyone is just looking for something new. No matter how delicious the skewers are, who can afford to eat them every day? I don't think their success will last long. Once this hype dies down, the customer flow will naturally return."

"That's right, Lao Li."

A man named Liu, who sells sesame cakes nearby, chimed in, but then his eyes darted around, and he chuckled softly in a low voice.

"But then again, grilling skewers is definitely a way to make money. I've been thinking, why don't I set up a wire mesh next to the flatbread oven and grill some lamb skewers to sell? It's something I can do easily anyway."

"You don't know anything!"

Boss Li glared at Master Liu with annoyance, feeling a surge of bitterness welling up inside him.

"They use a special iron oven, which has a high heat and cooks quickly. Can your flatbread oven compare? Besides, going out every day to pull charcoal, cut meat, and skewer it would be exhausting! My noodle shop is tiny; where would I find the space to do all that?"

The more Mr. Li thought about it, the more aggrieved he became. He slammed his hand on the table, making the teacup lid rattle loudly.

"No, I can't just stand by and watch! They're stealing my customers, I have to find a way to get them back. Going directly to their door to cause trouble definitely won't work; Old Sun's lesson from last time is still fresh in my mind. Since a hard approach won't work, I'll try a softer one!"

Boss Zhao curiously leaned closer:

"Old Li, what are you planning to do? Are you going to go and have a barbecue too?"

"What's with the grilling! I have my own way of doing things."

Boss Li gave a smug snort, a shrewd calculation flashing in his eyes.

"If they sell it for high prices, then I'll sell it for low prices! I'm going to launch a 'set meal,' a bowl of noodles with a braised egg and pickled vegetables, for a discount of one cent. Then I'll offer a 'coupon,' giving away a one-cent coupon to anyone who comes to eat noodles, which can be used as cash next time. I don't believe those cheap-loving poor workers won't be tempted!"