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JHUN Street Food
- Series Illustrations 2024- Near my university,there is a snack street that sells cheap、delicious snacks. It's highly popular among local residents， high school and university students. During the COVID-19,the group of vendors near the snack street and the students experienced many unforgettable events. There was even a period that made me worry about the survival of the snack street—although it remains popular now.
At times, due to the bustling business on the street, jealousy among neighboring vendors arose. They called the police to remove the food stalls, sparking protests from students and causing business to decline further. However, after a few days, the snack street returned to its usual state.
Occasionally, some vendors selling fruits and vegetables tried to blend into the crowded area for better exposure. This led to disputes and fights over spots; newcomers had to squeeze in at the back or leave the busiest sections. Some vendors attempted to capitalize on the foot traffic by opening shops nearby, but they ultimately lost to the snack street.
Students voluntarily organized groups to help the snack stalls by delivering food to the school, sustaining their business during the Covid-19. Some young vendors remembered the students who frequented and supported them, made friends and often chatting with them in their free time.
The snack street became a part of the students' lives, reflecting their love for food and curiosity. Affordable food helped alleviate some students' financial burden. As I approach graduation, I've decided to reminisce and document the daily life here.
1.
The snack street doesn't please everyone. But, anyway, I would recommend it to you. When night falls, there are many food stalls in this street, and their owners are usually very simple and kind.Some stall owners are a couple, some mothers with children. There are also novice vendors who looks like student.
This street has had its ups and downs. Some stall owners left, but many chose to stay. Their presence brings a touch of nightlife to this peaceful place. At the same time, cheap prices have reduced the consumption pressure of students, as well as some residents and workers— You only need less than 20 RMB to get full！
They are as strong as grass...
2.
Over time, the food stalls also gradually appeared healthy food. But on the other hand, it turns out that many stall owners around here has increased.
This time, however, there was some squabbling over the best seats. The new stall owners will be more or less crowded out by the old ones. When this place gradually prospered, it was reported by the jealous merchants who lived nearby - and for a time, it seemed to disappear and become very quiet.
When the food street disappeared, even the customers here became very few. Those who were proud of the merchants, also did not make business better. Even fewer customers come to stores attracted by food stalls than when they existed. After about a month, the food stalls gradually returned, and so did the students and workers.
Food stalls are mainly serves filling staples. This is followed by barbecue and dessert. It is often known for its high carb content, frying and sweets. It may not sound healthy, but the taste and price beat the canteen and restaurant. Especially during the COVID-19.
In fact, food stalls cause headaches for some people.
Like the administrators around here, they don't really want to evict them. But some stall owners will set up their stalls illegally, so that the traffic around here is chaotic. It's usually a compromise.
3.
If you've been here long enough, you'll notice that payments are usually made by mobile phone. And thanks to the epidemic period, a group of people organized a wechat group. So that college students who are quarantined at school can order food and eat food from food stalls.
However, this usually requires some day student, like a student captain, to deliver the food.They may be organized by the students themselves, or by businesses working with students. But over time. Some stall owners are also happy to make friends with these students and help them.
In their spare time, stall owners are also happy to communicate with students about life, or complain to students about some business matters. Compared to residents and workers, universitystudents are generally kinder and more tolerant.
4.
Although college students are the main consumers at the food stalls, there are several elementary and middle schools nearby. Some stall owners are even mothers. They occasionally set up a stall in the neighborhood with their children, who have just started elementary school. If a college student talks to them, they are happy to let their children see college students as role models, a blessing for the future.
At the same time, I also noticed that the thing that academy school students look forward to most is to rush to the snack street after school to have a full meal, which for them only needs a little pocket money to bring happiness.
Or a academy school student with some accommodation.
Buying a snack at the school gate can relieve the pressure brought by school work, but also can promote friendship between friends - "eat a big meal" with friends. These are the simple, innocent pleasures of childhood.
Busy adults sometimes do not want to cook after work, they will choose to eat anything in the snack street and end the dinner. I have also noticed young couples coming to the vendors selling ‘Xiaolongbao’ to buy freshly made raw buns for breakfast the next day.
Some residents are particularly close to the stall owners. They even buy it back because it tastes good. The stall owner has also become more confident because of the praise he receives from residents. Not long after, she came to set up a stall with a new ‘Xiaolongbao’ developed by herself. "My Xiaolongbao is different this time! I used frozen pork filling in the past, but now I have upgraded and chose to buy healthier and better pork, welcome to try!" I realized that they are both stall owners and mothers, and I don't know if we are children in her eyes, so if there is financial support, it is her pursuit to bring better food to students.
5.
Near graduation, I returned to the food street again, thinking of the surprise I came out, the worry about the survival of the food stall, and the prosperity again... Some of the stall owners have long since disappeared, and perhaps they do not intend to set up stalls here for long. After all, persistence is a challenge. I look at the faces of some familiar stall owners and I am surprised that they recognize me and sometimes smile and ask me what my favorite snack is.
The thought of me leaving this place and going far away. And they may stay here forever, bringing a little warmth to the new students, residents and workers, and I sincerely wish them a good life. Reading in a foreign land, I am just a traveler after all. But there is no denying that they have also become part of my precious memories.
I saw another life, perhaps not glamorous, perhaps just for survival, but with its own unique spirit.