143: Chapter 143 The Stall That Was Seized

As night deepened, Chen Yu and Su Lingyin returned to The Cottage, dragging their weary bodies.

Su Lingyin slumped onto the sofa and couldn't help but rub her lower back. She was utterly exhausted today.

She had just been standing and talking, yet her back ached terribly, and even her calves and feet throbbed faintly.

She had now truly experienced what it meant for one's back to hurt even from just standing and talking.

Seeing this, Chen Yu asked with concern, "Very tired?"

Su Lingyin shook her head. "It's okay."

That was just the kind of person she was—a bit... stubborn with her words.

Before she could say anything more, Chen Yu had already walked behind her. His warm palms gently pressed against her shoulders.

"Let me give you a rub."

[Another day of envying Chen Yu. Right now, I wish I could be Chen Yu's hands.]

His technique was unexpectedly professional, kneading her sore muscles with just the right amount of pressure.

Su Lingyin stiffened slightly at first, but then gradually relaxed under the perfect pressure.

So comfortable!

Who knew Chen Yu had this skill? Could it have been honed by giving massages to an ex-girlfriend?

All sorts of random thoughts swirled in Su Lingyin's mind.

"Mmm~"

A soft, comfortable moan escaped her lips unconsciously. When she realized what sound she had made, her entire face instantly flushed crimson.

Su Lingyin clapped her hands over her face, her fingertips feeling the burning heat of her cheeks.

"Um... I-I'm going to my room to rest!"

She stammered out the words, then practically fled in a panic, clattering up the stairs without daring to look back.

Chen Yu stood in place, watching her hurriedly retreating figure. The corners of his lips unconsciously lifted into a gentle curve.

Someone usually so composed and calm actually had such a cute side too.

It really was quite a contrast.

"What's wrong with Su Su?" Xia Ningle asked, puzzled.

Chen Yu shook his head.

Xia Ningle muttered quietly, "All mysterious. Definitely up to no good!"

Xia Ningle went and got herself a bottle of cola.

Today needed an injection of energy water!

Hehe!

Come on, happy water, right into my mouth!

Everyone had experienced a lot today, and more or less, weariness showed on each of their faces.

Chi Zhao was still under observation at the hospital.

Everyone expressed their concern perfunctorily.

With Chi Zhao not around, the overall attractiveness level of The Cottage had risen quite a bit.

During dinner, hardly anyone spoke.

They had talked so much while setting up their stalls that their throats felt like they were about to smoke.

Especially Jiang Miaozhu. Today, her mouth had been like a machine gun.

It stayed that way until they returned to the house.

Shen Yanzhou probed, "Old Chen, what was your sales revenue today?"

"Over a thousand, I didn't calculate the exact amount."

"What?!" Shen Yanzhou's jaw nearly dropped.

How could it be so much?

His arms had been so sore from work today he could barely lift them during dinner, and he'd only made a few hundred in revenue.

So, that meant he had the lowest?

Wait!

There were still Chi Zhao and Lin Xi, the bottom-dwelling duo.

Chi Zhao dragged Jiang Miaozhu down, and He Yunshen and Lin Xi dragged each other down!

Perfect!

Secured third place, contending for second!

Chen Yu was puzzled. Why was this guy suddenly so happy?

"Not talking to you anymore. I need a good rest. Today nearly killed me."

Chen Yu also prepared to rest.

He had already restocked all the goods before returning.

Continue tomorrow!

...

The next day.

Chen Yu arrived at the familiar spot only to find his place had been taken.

The person looked somewhat familiar, as if he'd seen him yesterday, sneaking around, which was why he remembered him.

Turned out he was also a stall vendor. But what did he mean by occupying his spot?

Could he possibly think his business boom was because of the location?

Hah, ridiculous.

Chen Yu didn't go to fight for the stall.

Sunlight slanted down, casting a rare, cool shade under the corner tree.

A few familiar young faces followed their memory to the spot, only to find a different person there.

"Wasn't it here yesterday?"

"How did it become 'Uncle's BBQ'?"

"Look, over there! Chen Yu is over there!"

"Girls..." Before the BBQ uncle could finish his invitation, the girls had already left.

At least buy one skewer!

"Chen Yu, why did you change spots today?" a girl called out, her tone laced with confusion.

Chen Yu looked up, skillfully flipping a sausage on the grill. A slightly helpless smile tugged at his lips. "Came a step too late today. The old spot got taken."

His gaze passed over the queue of customers, landing on the spot that originally belonged to him not far away.

A BBQ uncle who looked like an old hand was busy working up a sweat, having occupied it.

However...

Business was a bit slow.

It formed a stark contrast with the increasingly long and lively queue forming at Chen Yu's stall.

"Chen Yu, I'm buying two extra today! They're too delicious!"

"Yeah, maybe you should quit singing. You earn quite a bit from this stall. I won't say I'll come every day, but five days a week is doable."

"I'd be willing to queue too, it's just there are too many people."

"It's the last day today."

"Ah, that was fast. I'm a bit reluctant to see you all go."

"Exactly. Maybe you shouldn't go on the trip. How can traveling be more important than making money?"

Chen Yu: "If that's what you think, then I won't grill you any sausages."

Bold fan, are you real or fake!

Daring to try and stop him and Su Su from going on their trip.

Su Lingyin watched their banter with a soft laugh.

"Su Su, I'm your fan. Can I take a photo with you?" a fresh, pretty girl asked politely.

"Of course you can." Su Lingyin never refused girls.

Boys were a different story.

She was afraid a certain stubborn-mouthed someone might get jealous.

After a while, the uncle actually wandered over. With an ingratiating smile, he addressed a few fans in the queue in front of Chen Yu's stall:

"Little girls, eating these sausages has no nutrition! It's all starch! Come try my skewers. Guaranteed fresh meat, skewered and grilled on the spot, super fragrant!"

A girl in the queue didn't even think before refusing, "I just like eating sausages!"

The uncle, clearly prepared, wasn't discouraged. He leaned in closer, lowering his voice, putting on a heart-to-heart demeanor.

"Tsk! I have sausages too! I guarantee they're much tastier than his! Don't believe me? Have a taste. I've been grilling for over twenty years, been in this business longer than he's been alive! Plenty of experience, perfect control of the heat!"

A few soft sounds of disapproval rose from the queue.

First time seeing someone poach customers right at another vendor's stall.

Really thick-skinned.

Su Lingyin, standing beside Chen Yu, frowned slightly. She instinctively gave Chen Yu's sleeve a gentle tug, her eyes showing worry and a touch of indignation.

This kind of person was the hardest to deal with. And it wasn't even illegal, just utterly lacking in morals.

Chen Yu glanced at her, shaking his head almost imperceptibly. His eyes were calm, signaling her to stay calm.

At this level, it really wasn't his turn to step in yet.

Sure enough, without Chen Yu even needing to respond, his fans had already started chattering in his defense:

"Uncle, don't waste your effort! We just like this taste, we only like the sausages Chen Yu grills!"

"Yeah, other people's sausages just don't have this flavor. We can't get used to them!"

"Exactly, it feels different! We only recognize this place!"

The uncle, rebuffed by this barrage of polite refusals, felt his face couldn't hold up.

He muttered under his breath, "Young people don't know what's good! Eating all this junk food!"

He rubbed his nose and slunk back to his own stall.