By: Ellie Zhang

The meaty and savory aroma of Chinese steamed pork buns drifted through the village. Windows and doors opened, a head or two peeking out of each house. Noses twitched as the smell of steamed buns brushed past.

Baozi Palace–not necessarily a palace, but rather a restaurant–was opened by a chubby, stubborn woman in her 20’s. It became hotter as the days passed, with only 2 old fans that would work every few minutes, spinning slowly.

The woman, known as Bo, had never intended to close her restaurant or move to a cooler place as she enjoyed where she was.

Her restaurant had enlightened almost every soul in the village, as people were coming back each day. That was, all until the hot weather had planted itself right on top of them.

Bo wasn’t provoked at all by the sun, but villagers were. A few people came one day, one came the other day, then none came for the rest. Bo needed money to pay for her living, so she came up with a plan.

Almost everything in Baozi Palace was cleared. She wore a straw conical hat along with a chiseled wood walking stick in her hand. A handcrafted bamboo backpack was worn on Bo’s back, carrying her signature cuisine.

The village was almost completely quiet. With a ding of a bell followed by a shout, “Bo’s Baozi! ¥42.96 for 6!” Windows slightly opened to burning red faces. Bo went to the doorsteps of every house that wanted a meal.

Plastic food containers packed with steaming hot pork buns were exchanged for Yuan. Each customer left an exhausted and hungry smile before closing their windows and doors.

After all meals were sold, Bo hiked all the way back to her small restaurant, sweating but sighing with pride. She wasn’t done yet.

In one partly hidden area under the sink lay a mini cooler, inside with icy refreshing water–just what everyone needed. Bo took a cloth and 3 ice packets. She placed the cloth followed with an ice pack at the bottom of her bamboo pack, then filled it halfway with the frozen water, placed an ice pack again then repeated it to the top.

Steaming hot buns on a hot weather definitely doesn’t sound good. Bo passed the same houses that received her baozi and gave the water for free instead of having to pay for it. Villagers were delighted when they saw the dripping cool water and gulped it down immediately.

Bo now was dripping with sweat, even burning some calories. Despite her exhaustion, she made history for the rest of China.