Chapter 35 Why is there such a long queue for these savory pancakes at the door?

Chapter 35 Why is there such a long queue for these savory pancakes at the door?

Su Yingxue paused for a moment, but quickly continued washing the pot. She had heard of the show; it was supposedly a highly-rated food variety show that was frequently seen on television.

However, there have been times when things go wrong, and there have been rumors of him bribing his way onto shows. Recently, he's been the subject of numerous negative and controversial revelations.

“Thank you for the invitation,” Su Yingxue said politely but firmly, “but I don’t want to be on the show.”

"Huh?" The voice on the other end of the phone was clearly taken aback. "Ms. Su, our show can bring you huge traffic! Restaurants that have been on our show have all seen their business boom! If your little stall were on the show, it would definitely make a fortune!"

Su Yingxue gently placed the washed spatula on a plate beside her. She turned to look out the window; the hospital lights seemed especially warm in the night.

“I don’t need to become a sensation,” she said calmly. “I just want to quietly make my cakes and sell them to those who need them. Thank you for your kindness.”

Before the other party could say anything more, Su Yingxue hung up the phone. She knew this kind of invitation wouldn't be a one-time thing, but she had already made up her mind. Before, when she was on the film set, Xu Qingqing and Xu Guoqing helped her with all sorts of things. Now she ran this little stall by herself. Although it was tiring, she was free and independent.

On the other end of the phone, Xiao Xiao held the phone that had already been hung up and looked at Chen Wang, the senior director in front of her, with an incredulous expression.

"Brother Chen, Miss Su, who sells savory pancakes, refused." Xiao swallowed and said cautiously.

Chen Wang stared at him wide-eyed, incredulous: "You didn't mention our name? We're 'Food Search'! A nationally renowned food program!"

Xiao Xiao, a new intern at the TV station, shrank back in the face of Chen Wang's anger: "I mentioned it... but she said she just wants to run her own stall and doesn't want it to become a huge hit..."

"Don't want to be famous?" Chen Wang laughed, a somewhat sarcastic laugh. "These days, is there anyone who doesn't want to make money? That's surprising!" He leaned back in his chair, stroking his chin. "I originally heard from my cousin Zhao Zhao about a place with incredibly delicious savory pancakes. I was just casually inviting him as a backup option, but this guy refused."

Xiao lowered his head, not daring to speak.

Chen Wang suddenly remembered something, and his expression softened slightly: "However, my distant cousin Zhao Zhao doesn't lie... that savory pancake should taste alright!" He shook his head, "But how delicious can a savory pancake from a hospital cafeteria be? Don't they want to become a sensation? Ha!"

"Brother Chen, so... what's next..." Xiao asked cautiously.

Chen Wang hesitated for a moment, a sly glint in his eyes: "Tomorrow night, you're coming with me to eat. If it's not good, then smear her reputation! Bring the camera."

"Huh? This isn't a good idea..." Xiao Xiao looked up, her face showing reluctance.

"What's wrong with it?" Chen Wang frowned. "You believe everything she says? Are you out of your mind? If it's so amazing, don't you want to try it? We're just telling the truth if it doesn't taste good."

Xiao hesitated for a moment, then nodded: "Then...then I'll go prepare my questions..."

"A script for the questions?!" Chen Wang slammed his hand on the table. "Just be honest! If it's not good, it's not good!" He paused, then added, "While I'm at it, I'll go see my distant cousin. She managed to fall off her electric scooter and break her leg."

The following evening at nine o'clock, Chen Wang brought a bag of fruit and Xiao Xiao to Heping Hospital. His cousin, Sun Zhaozhao, was hospitalized on the ninth floor due to a leg injury.

Inside the elevator, Chen Wang was still muttering to himself, "A guy selling savory pancakes dares to refuse our show? I'll see just how amazing he is!"

Xiao followed behind, holding a camera, and whispered, "Brother Chen, maybe...we shouldn't be too direct..."

"What? Feeling guilty?" Chen Wang glanced at him.

Sun Zhaozhao's hospital room door was open, and Chen Wang walked straight in, where he saw his cousin leaning against the bed looking at her phone.

"Zhaozhao!" Chen Wang exclaimed with a beaming smile, "Brother's here to see you!"

Sun Zhaozhao looked up and saw Chen Wang. Her eyes lit up: "Brother! What brings you here?"

Chen Wang placed the fruit on the bedside table, then plopped down in a chair beside the bed: "I heard you broke your leg, so I came to see you. But first, I have to tell you about that savory pancake you recommended!"

"What's wrong?" Sun Zhaozhao asked, puzzled.

"That Ms. Su you mentioned," Chen Wang scoffed, "she actually turned down our invitation! I'm the director of 'Food Search'! Countless restaurants beg and plead to be on our show!"

Sun Zhaozhao blinked: "Huh? She rejected me?" Then she suddenly covered her mouth, "Hey, bro, I was just saying it casually, why are you taking it so seriously!"

"How can I not be serious?" Chen Wang glared. "You have no idea how much effort I put into persuading the production team to include this topic! And the stall owner you recommended immediately refused!"

Sun Zhaozhao stuck out her tongue: "Sorry... but, brother, please don't spread the word, or I won't be able to get any. I've been hiding from other patients in different wards to eat it these past few days, and it's already getting hard to get any."

"Difficult to snatch?" Chen Wang was even more puzzled. "Is it really necessary to go to such lengths for a hospital cafeteria's savory pancake?"

“Absolutely!” Sun Zhaozhao nodded seriously, “It’s really delicious! I’ve never had such a delicious savory pancake before! And Sister Su is so kind; knowing my leg was injured, she often adds extra meat to my meat soup.”

Chen Wang looked at his cousin speechlessly: "Alright, it's almost ten o'clock. I'll go check if that person has arrived yet."

“It’s too late if you go now.” Sun Zhaozhao looked at her cousin as if he were an idiot.

"Late? It's only 9:45! Who eats savory pancakes this late at night?" Chen Wang said incredulously.

Sun Zhaozhao shook her head: "You'll know when you get there."

Chen Wang scoffed and turned to leave the ward. Xiao Xiao quickly followed; the camera was already on.

The two took the elevator to the cafeteria on the first floor. The moment they pushed open the cafeteria door, Chen Wang and Xiao Xiao were both stunned.

The cafeteria was brightly lit, and a long queue had formed in front of Su Yingxue's small savory pancake stall. What surprised Chen Wang even more was that most of the people in line were not patients or doctors, but a group of young people who looked to be in their twenties. Among them were a few fashionable young women who were clearly not from the hospital. There were also a few older men in suits who looked very imposing and were probably executives from some company, but they were also waiting in line obediently.

"I heard from Douyin that a savory pancake shop here went viral yesterday. My neighbor works the night shift in Houtu, and she brought me a small piece of the pancake yesterday. It was so delicious that I rushed over to join the queue," a girl excitedly told her companion.

“My husband works as a programmer in Houtu. He brought back some Fuding-style sliced ​​pork yesterday, and it’s even more authentic than the ones I had in Fujian!” another girl chimed in.

"The savory pancakes were so delicious yesterday that I even packed one for my wife. Today she insisted that I didn't buy enough yesterday, so I came back to queue up again."

"Your wife is all right? My daughter told me she won't let me go home today unless I get three servings of Fuding pork slices."

Chen Wang stood rooted to the spot, staring in disbelief at the scene before him. He glanced down at his watch—9:50 PM. At this hour, who in their right mind would be queuing up for pancakes at the hospital cafeteria?

To his even greater surprise, he noticed that there were two security guards standing next to the queue, and... they were also queuing?

Are more people approaching from afar?