Chapter 134: An Eye Too Sharp

Chapter 134: Chapter 134: An Eye Too Sharp

After business hours, Nan Zhi was called over by someone from the show’s crew.

She stepped out the back door and immediately saw Xu Lin waiting with several staff members. They were all buzzing with excitement, and Xu Lin’s face practically screamed, ’Come on, ask me! Ask me!’

Nan Zhi was more exasperated than confused.

She obliged him and spoke up:

"Did something good happen?"

Xu Lin had been waiting for her to say just that!

"Good news! Absolutely great news! Remember when the director from the *A Bite of China* team came to film our fried rice stall?"

How could Nan Zhi not know?

Her reaction was swift:

"They decided to use the footage they shot? That’s great."

Xu Lin, who had prepared a whole speech: ...

"Aren’t you happy? Aren’t you excited? This is a new documentary from the *A Bite of China* team!"

Nan Zhi nodded calmly.

"I am happy."

Xu Lin looked at her suspiciously from side to side.

In the end, he could only attribute it to Nan Zhi’s remarkable composure.

"The documentary won’t be out for a while; they’re still in the middle of filming. But they’ve already agreed to do some cross-promotion with us. Oh, right! I almost forgot to tell you, Director Zhong Yu from the *A Bite of China* team—she’s planning to visit the restaurant tomorrow!"

Xu Lin hinted frantically.

Nan Zhi nodded.

"Okay, I got it."

"Don’t be nervous! Just act normally! Treat Director Zhong like any other customer!"

Xu Lin reminded her again and again.

Nan Zhi nodded once more.

"No problem."

Xu Lin studied Nan Zhi’s expression for a long time. After confirming that she was genuinely calm and composed, he admitted defeat.

After their chat, Nan Zhi didn’t head straight back to the restaurant. Instead, she went to the fruit store next door.

The restaurant’s income had been very good lately. Since Nan Zhi took the largest share of the profits, she had plenty of cash on hand and would pop over to buy fruit every few days.

She came by so often that even the fruit store owner had a deep impression of her.

Of course, the main reason she was so memorable was her discerning eye—

"Boss Nan, you’re here again?"

The fruit store owner smiled as soon as he saw Nan Zhi and hurried over to greet her warmly.

"Come take a look at the mulberries that just came in today, they’re incredibly fresh! And these apples, so fragrant, big, and round—they’re authentic Yantai Red Fuji!"

Nan Zhi’s gaze swept over them.

"These apples are good."

"Right? Right!"

The owner nodded repeatedly, beaming.

He got a plastic bag for Nan Zhi, and his smile grew even wider as he watched her pick out a few.

Then, he turned and announced to the other customers in the store, who were sneakily eavesdropping:

"See! These are the Yantai apples personally certified by Boss Nan! The flavor is guaranteed to be amazing!"

A few old aunties, who were just browsing after their square dancing session, hadn’t expected to run into Nan Zhi.

They couldn’t contain themselves and all crowded over.

"Let me see the apples!"

"Boss, get me a bag!"

"Boss Nan, what else are you buying?"

"..."

Seeing the fruit store owner use her as a living advertisement, Nan Zhi wasn’t the least bit displeased.

She even casually answered the old aunties’ questions and shared her tips for picking fruit with them.

The old aunties looked like they wanted to whip out a notebook and jot it all down on the spot!

"Boss Nan, you’re truly something else! Not only is your cooking delicious, but you’re also an expert at picking fruit!"

"That’s right, we’ve been buying fruits and vegetables our whole lives, how come we’re not as good as you, Boss Nan?"

"What do you know? Our Boss Nan is a professional!"

"Exactly, exactly!"

"..."

Nan Zhi listened patiently as they chattered.

Actually, the owner of this fruit store hadn’t always been so nice to Nan Zhi.

On the contrary, the first time Nan Zhi came to buy fruit, the owner was so angry he nearly threw her out!

The reason was simple: Nan Zhi’s eye for quality was just too sharp!

Whenever the owner tried his little tricks of passing off inferior goods as high-quality ones, Nan Zhi would see right through it;

When the owner tried to pass off produce from a lesser region as being from a better one, Nan Zhi would calmly and reasonably debunk his claims.

After this happened a few times, costing him several sales, the owner was tempted to hang a "No Nan Zhi Allowed" sign on his door!

However, he soon discovered that any fruit Nan Zhi chose would sell exceptionally well that day. On the second and third days, people would even come specifically asking to buy "the fruit that Boss Nan picked."

Everyone knew Nan Zhi was the owner and chef of Nan Family’s Small Restaurant, so they had absolute faith in her judgment.

So, the owner suppressed his restless, shady business instincts and simply started stocking better produce.

Before, he never dared to stock too much expensive fruit, afraid he’d get stuck with it if it didn’t sell.

But now, he wasn’t afraid anymore!

As long as Nan Zhi bought some, he could advertise it heavily, and then even the most expensive fruit would fly off the shelves!

No wonder the fruit store owner’s attitude toward Nan Zhi had done a complete 180-degree turn, becoming incredibly enthusiastic!

Just then, Nan Zhi finished picking her apples and also bought some bananas and cherries.

Predictably, the other customers in the store followed her lead, buying whatever she bought.

The fruit store’s usually quiet evening business suddenly became white-hot!

The owner was too busy to keep up and turned to shout at Nan Zhi:

"Just a moment, Boss Nan! Or you can weigh it yourself if you want!"

"It’s okay, I’m not in a hurry."

Nan Zhi leaned against the counter, waiting patiently, but her gaze was quietly drawn to something in front of her.

It was the TV the owner had mounted in the store to pass the time, and it was playing a currently popular, melodramatic idol drama.

The plot was about a poor but resilient female lead whose outstanding qualities attract the attention of a handsome and wealthy male lead. After falling in love, they overcome numerous obstacles and finally get their happily ever after.

Similar tropes were tried and true in the film and television industry, and this drama, in particular, had also thrown in factors like family power struggles, a mysterious past, and a love triangle.

It was no wonder its ratings were through the roof.

The scene currently playing was one where the female lead, who had always believed she was an orphan, unexpectedly discovers she is the long-lost daughter of a wealthy family. After many hardships, she finally reunites with her rich parents, and they are all weeping in each other’s arms.

Two of the old aunties waiting behind Nan Zhi couldn’t help but complain:

"What era is this? Who still watches such clichéd plots? Even us old ladies are over it, okay?"

"Exactly! The writers just had to give the female lead a rich family. It’s so over-the-top!"

"Where do all these mysterious pasts come from nowadays!"

"..."

Nan Zhi listened quietly.

Suddenly, she heard a low murmur:

"If only life could follow a cliché plot like that..."

After such a hectic day, Nan Zhi had been feeling a bit tired, leaning languidly against the counter as if she had no bones.

But upon hearing that sentence, she felt a jolt of energy and turned around almost instinctively—

Hmm?

’Isn’t that the customer Fu Chao was staring at for so long earlier?’

’An acquaintance of Fu Chao? A relative?’

Nan Zhi wondered.

At that moment, the other person casually glanced over.

Their eyes met.

There was a strange, subtle feeling in the air.

"You are..."

"I’m Fu Chao’s mother, Qing Qing."

Nan Zhi’s eyes widened in surprise.