Chapter 131: Chapter 131: Elementary students nowadays still have too much free time!
Jiang Feng bustled about in the shop. He was like a wizard from a fairy tale, brewing candy in a cabin deep in the ancient woods, crafting all sorts of delicious sweets to lure children in. Today’s specials were homemade ice cream and popsicles, and Jiang Feng had prepared plenty of both. The food truck stood quietly inside the shop, awaiting its master’s return.
In the morning, Jiang Feng sat inside the food truck as the Moon River Food Truck God set off once more. He continued his stall business this week. His main theme was a kind of freewheeling, unconventional style.
Jiang Feng had scouted the situation on Academy Road in advance. There was an elementary school and a middle school. The food truck definitely couldn’t park right at the school gate; it would be swarmed with parents picking up their children, making it inconvenient to do business. Jiang Feng chose a spot near an intersection on Academy Road. This way, at least a third of the students leaving school would pass by, guaranteeing a steady stream of customers.
Popsicles were stored in the freezer, including Big White Rabbit milk popsicles and classic old-fashioned ice pops. The ice cream, in flavors like original, vanilla, strawberry, and chocolate, filled several metal basins. All meticulously prepared by Jiang Feng. When he made the base, it was so smooth there wasn’t even a hint of milk foam; it was indescribably silky. It was enough to make the kids next door drool with envy!
The food truck parked at the intersection, its illuminated sign changed to: "Handmade Popsicles: 3 yuan each (limit 2 per person); Handmade Ice Cream: 5 yuan a bowl (limit 2 per person)." The purchase limit was to prevent anyone from buying too much at once. After all, his mission was to serve 200 customers, and it was better to let more people have a taste.
The cost of popsicles was very low. For example, the Big White Rabbit popsicles were made by simmering a dozen or so Big White Rabbit candies with milk in a pot. Then, he’d whip cream, add a little lemon juice, and finally pour the mixture into molds to freeze.
It was currently 11:30 AM, just fifteen minutes before school let out. The students here rarely boarded at school; they were either picked up by their parents or walked home themselves. So, business was easy to come by.
At 11:50 AM, a long bell rang from the school. A large crowd of parents had already gathered at the school gate, completely blocking the road. One parent noticed Jiang Feng’s food truck. Wiping sweat from his forehead, he walked over and said, "Boss, I’ll take a Big White Rabbit popsicle."
"Okay." Seeing his first customer, Jiang Feng took out a Big White Rabbit popsicle and handed it over. The popsicles had no wrappers; you could eat them right away. The weather was scorching, and the parent had hurried over, just wanting a popsicle to cool down from the summer heat.
Taking the popsicle, the parent walked towards the school, gently biting into it. His first impression was that the popsicle was very soft. A light bite easily took off a piece. Then, a cool, sweet sensation spread from the tip of his tongue, his mouth filling with the rich, milky aroma of Big White Rabbit candy. The parent felt an indescribable sense of comfort wash over him. The midday heat had been oppressive, but after eating such a popsicle, the sweltering feeling vanished instantly.
Hmm? The parent looked at the popsicle in his hand, momentarily stunned. This is delicious! He savored it as he walked, already planning to buy another when he returned with his child.
Soon, the great wave of students began to pour out of the school. It was like a bursting dam. Many parents were carrying their children’s schoolbags. Some parents had come on electric scooters to pick up their kids. The children’s eyes darted around until they spotted Jiang Feng’s food truck. Once they saw the sign, they were rooted to the spot.
"I want ice cream!" a child on an electric scooter yelled, pointing at the food truck.
"Ice cream? It’s the middle of the day," his mother quickly tried to dissuade him.
"But I want one! Buy me one!"
"Alright, alright, I’ll get it for you!" Parents these days tended to dote on their children, usually granting their requests.
The electric scooter quickly pulled over to the roadside. The parent got off, scanned the QR code to pay, and bought a Big White Rabbit popsicle. After handing it to the child, she rode off on the scooter. The child, sitting on the back, took a bite of the smooth, white popsicle. His mouth filled with softness. The popsicle was sweet, exuding the fragrance of White Rabbit candy. The child’s eyes widened instantly. A popsicle like this was overwhelmingly tempting for him; he was conquered in an instant. At that moment, the parent riding ahead had no idea that for the next few days, the child might refuse to leave without getting ice cream.
Soon, more and more customers arrived. After all, selling handmade ice cream near a school like this was a surefire way to do good business. There was also a Mixue Ice City Milk Tea Shop nearby, where students usually queued. But today, after discovering Jiang Feng’s food truck, many came straight to him.
Just then, two more elementary school students, looking to be in the fourth or fifth grade, approached Jiang Feng’s food truck. They looked at the sign, and one of them said, "Three yuan for a popsicle? That’s so cheap!"
"I think so too," the other agreed.
"Let’s get some ice cream."
"Okay." Both kids had cherubic faces and weren’t even as tall as the food truck’s service window, yet they carried themselves with a surprising maturity.
"Boss, we’ll take two ice creams," one of the students said to Jiang Feng.
"Alright. Paying by scan or cash?" Jiang Feng asked. Since they were both elementary schoolers, Jiang Feng was curious about how kids their age paid for things nowadays.
"Scan. My Little Genius has a camera function." Saying this, the student rolled up his sleeve, revealing the Little Genius phone watch on his wrist. He tapped it a few times, selected the scan-to-pay option, and actually managed to scan and complete the payment.
His phone chimed with the notification: "WeChat payment received: 10 yuan!"
Jiang Feng clicked his tongue in amazement. Times really were advancing.When he was an elementary schooler, there was no such thing as a Little Genius phone watch. Every day after school, he’d play with those round pogs, trying to flip them, and thought that was pretty great. Now, everything was high-tech.
Jiang Feng took out two disposable paper cups, scooped four balls of ice cream into each, added a small spoon, and handed them over. The two kids took their ice cream and nonchalantly walked away.
Elementary schoolers these days are quite well-off, spending 10 yuan without batting an eye.Back in my day, I’d be thrilled with a 50-cent pack of spicy strips. Jiang Feng reminisced about his childhood. Although material comforts weren’t as good back then, my elementary school days were still very happy. I had fun playing every day.
Many people came to buy his ice cream. It was just like in Zootopia, where Nick Wilde sold Pawpsicles; if one lemming bought one, all the other lemmings would follow suit. Once the elementary school students noticed Jiang Feng’s food truck, they all clamored for ice cream. The ice cream was a grab-and-go item, making transactions very efficient, so there were no worries about long lines.
A little later, the two elementary school students who had paid with the Little Genius phone watch returned. "Boss, can we get two more cups of ice cream?" one of them called out in a young voice.
Seeing them return, Jiang Feng smiled. "Sure."
The two stood on tiptoe, craning their necks to peer eagerly at the various flavors of ice cream in the metal basin. Each vibrant color of ice cream looked like a colored snowflake, a delicious, magical food. Only after tasting it could one truly understand how incredibly delicious this ice cream was. The sensation was simply an unparalleled pleasure.
"I want strawberry and chocolate!" "I want vanilla and chocolate!" they exclaimed, pointing excitedly at the ice cream inside. They had just finished a cup and were instantly captivated by Jiang Feng’s handmade ice cream. It’s incredibly delicious!
Jiang Feng took out two more disposable paper cups and scooped four balls of ice cream into each for them. The two paid using their Little Genius phone watches and left happily, ice cream in hand, completely satisfied.
These elementary schoolers are quite interesting, Jiang Feng thought.
Just then, three other elementary school students caught Jiang Feng’s attention. Leading them was a small boy with fair skin and curly hair, looking quite refined. Beside him was a pretty little girl. Trailing behind them was another boy, ordinary-looking and dressed in darker clothes.
The boy in darker clothes said caringly to the girl, "Meimei, what flavor of popsicle do you want? I’ll get it for you."
The girl didn’t even look back at him, her gaze fixed on the fair-skinned boy as she replied, "I don’t want your popsicle."
At that moment, the fair-skinned boy looked up at the food truck and announced, "I’m going to buy a Big White Rabbit popsicle."
Hearing this, the girl immediately chimed in, "Ma Senming, if you’re having one, then I want one too! Let’s get Big White Rabbit popsicles together!"
Seeing this, the dark-clothed boy quickly said, "Then I’ll have a Big White Rabbit popsicle too."
The girl shot him a disdainful look. "We weren’t asking you."
Jiang Feng glanced down at the three elementary schoolers. Their dynamic was crystal clear. Pleasant Goat, Pretty Goat, and Fit Goat. Indeed, sycophants exist at every age. Jiang Feng looked at the dark-clothed boy and sighed inwardly. Kid, women will only slow down the speed at which you draw your sword. If it’s not a good fit, don’t force it. The next one will be better, the next one more obedient, the next one cuter.
The three elementary schoolers each bought a popsicle, all paying for themselves. They weren’t mooching off each other, which showed they were decent kids. Then, the three of them walked off together—the girl happily accompanying the fair-skinned boy, and the dark-clothed boy happily following the girl. The group of three didn’t seem crowded.
Jiang Feng sighed with emotion again. Elementary schoolers these days really have too much free time. This is really something.