7: vomit!

Qi Yuan, who had just finished school, rushed to the tree-lined pedestrian path next to the park.

He looked at the rows of snack stalls on both sides of the road, a happy smile unconsciously appearing on his face.

“Mom and Dad are finally on a week-long trip, so I get to eat to my heart's content~”

With the change in his pocket, Qi Yuan cautiously walked, stopping and starting, in front of the rows of snack stalls.

He took several tens of minutes to walk the hundred-meter-long tree-lined pedestrian path.

But he didn't buy anything, even though his mouth was watering and his stomach was rumbling with hunger.

“Alright, after a round of inspection, I’ve got a handle on the stalls with poor presentation and almost no one queuing.”

“Next up is a feast of delicacies!”

Qi Yuan rubbed his hands together like a fly, his face full of excitement.

“Food, glorious food, I’m coming for you!!!”

Saying this, he was about to pounce on the few stalls he had selected earlier.

Just then, his nose suddenly twitched, and his expression froze.

“It smells so bad, but it’s also so unique. Even though it’s stinky, I want to keep smelling it.”

Like a greedy puppy, Qi Yuan closed his eyes and sniffed incessantly in the direction of the foul odor.

“This smell… is it stinky tofu?”

He wiggled his nose again, uncertainly, and his feet unconsciously followed the scent.

Speaking of stinky tofu, it was truly his number one favorite.

As soon as he thought of the wonderful taste of stinky tofu, his mouth couldn't help but start to salivate madly.

As the unique foul odor grew more distinct with his progress, Qi Yuan's steps became a little lighter.

“Almost there, almost there, just around this corner~”

Qi Yuan’s eyes sparkled, and his anticipation grew.

But when he saw the glaring words “Public Restroom” on the sign at the corner, his heart immediately sank.

His initial anticipation instantly turned into a heavy stone, making his heart feel terribly uncomfortable.

So, he had been following the smell of a toilet all this time?!

And he had mistakenly thought it was the smell of stinky tofu, his mouth still constantly salivating?!

Qi Yuan, his face contorted, then recalled the famous “Fecal Molecule Theory.”

According to an unnamed expert, when using the toilet, one should never open their mouth to speak, and even breathing should be as gentle as possible.

It’s best to cover one’s mouth and nose to prevent fecal molecules floating in the air from entering the respiratory tract… “Ugh…”

Qi Yuan leaned against a scenic tree, dry heaving.

His already empty stomach felt even more uncomfortable.

After a while, Qi Yuan finally recovered.

He looked up and smelled that extremely strong foul odor again, immediately feeling the urge to dry heave once more.

Qi Yuan quickly covered his nose and mouth, his face pale, and frantically turned to flee from the area.

“Did the public toilet explode or something, ugh…”

Just then, an uncle hurried past him from behind, dry heaving and complaining about something.

“This is ridiculous, how can someone sell stinky tofu next to a public toilet? Are they crazy?!”

Hearing this, Qi Yuan immediately stopped, his face full of disbelief.

=͟͟͞͞(꒪ᗜ꒪‧̣̥̇)

“It really is the smell of stinky tofu?!!!”

Qi Yuan hesitated for only a moment, then turned and stepped quickly around the corner, heading rapidly towards the public toilet.

He had eaten a lot of stinky tofu, but he had never eaten one this stinky!!!

Qi Yuan had a premonition that if he missed this, he would definitely regret it later.

To avoid regret, even if it was next to a public toilet, he absolutely had to try it!

With a do-or-die mindset, Qi Yuan rounded another corner.

Finally, he saw a new-era public toilet, styled like an integrated service station, standing by the greenery and the pedestrian path.

And next to the public toilet, there was a brand new, exquisite-looking pushcart.

---

Lu Chuan’s smile remained on his face, but it was as stiff as could be.

How could it not be stiff?

Before the stinky tofu was even displayed, the area near the public toilet, if not bustling with people, at least had people passing by or stopping to use the restroom from time to time.

But when he had a flash of inspiration and started taking out the stinky tofu from the sealed box, thinking of frying some samples for people to taste to attract business...

That overwhelming, incredibly strong foul odor instantly knocked over everyone within twenty meters.

Even the uncle who had rushed into the men’s restroom a few minutes earlier hurriedly ran out, clutching his pants.

Then he gave Lu Chuan a complex look, dry heaved, and fled.

At this point, Lu Chuan had completely given up hope.

The fact that he could still maintain a stiff smile truly showed how strong-willed he was.

“Oh well, what’s done is done. Let’s eat first.”

Lu Chuan’s eyes were dim, and he numbly fried a portion of stinky tofu for himself, then added a generous spoonful of sauce.

Looking at the steaming, yet incredibly stinky, stinky tofu in front of him.

Lu Chuan sighed and was about to pick up his chopsticks to eat.

“Wait!!!”

“Boss, don’t eat that, give that portion to me!!!”

An anxious voice reached his ears, coming from far away and growing closer.

Lu Chuan’s hand, holding the chopsticks, paused, then he looked up in surprise at the person rushing towards him from a distance.

Is this… business?

Completely unaware of what Lu Chuan was thinking, and uninterested in knowing, Qi Yuan at this moment only wanted to quickly snatch the portion of stinky tofu from Lu Chuan’s hand.

He couldn’t wait another second.

It was really too stinky!

If he waited any longer, he was genuinely afraid that the intense, pungent odor assaulting him would make him faint at any moment.

Although Lu Chuan was puzzled, seeing business arrive, he quickly spoke, fearing the person would leave.

“Oh, oh, okay, this is a large portion, 18 pieces in total, 30 yuan.”

Qi Yuan heard the price and couldn't help but frown, a hint of displeasure flashing in his heart.

“…That expensive?”

But he looked at the stinky tofu Lu Chuan handed over, a generous full bowl.

The stinky tofu on top, unlike the common dark green or deep black seen on the market, was a light blue, like the vast blue ocean.

And on top of the light blue, various toppings were scattered: translucent white diced radishes, vibrant orange shredded preserved vegetables, bright red chili flakes, and fresh, emerald green cilantro leaves.

Layer upon layer, like a work of art with distinct color gradients, and a glistening, reddish, oily broth.

Unexpectedly, his mouth began to salivate again.

This presentation!!!

Absolutely amazing!!!

“Here’s your money, boss.”

Qi Yuan quickly pulled out 30 yuan and handed it to Lu Chuan, then impatiently snatched the stinky tofu.

Then, carefully and quickly, he picked up a piece of steaming stinky tofu, laden with toppings, and brought it to his mouth as if in reverence.

But as he opened his mouth wide, just about to take a bite, that intensely strong foul odor had already rushed into his nostrils first.

Then, an embarrassing thing happened.

Almost as a reflex.

“Ugh…”

Qi Yuan couldn't help but dry heave.