Lianwu Street was alive again.
Today marked the launch of a grand event: the Spiciest Noodle-Eating Competition in the entire province with a jaw-dropping reward of $100,000 and a luxury vacation to Hainan Island for the ultimate tropical escape.
Thanks to a genius marketing push from both Ruan Lihua, who handled the glamorous online advertising, and Luo Yanyu, who pulled strings with her extensive social network, the street was packed from end to end.
Crowds bustled through the alleys, the smell of stir-fried food, chili oil, and roasted skewers swirling in the air.
It was hard to believe this place had been a ghost town just a few weeks ago.
Children ran around waving colorful balloons with "Lianwu Street Revival!" printed on them, some chasing a man in a hot pepper costume who handed out free vouchers.
Elderly aunties held umbrellas as they haggled over fruit and traditional snacks, while trendy young influencers livestreamed the event, shouting over the crowd:
