The saying back then, "It's not that we can't afford restaurants, but street vendors offer better value for money," now sounds like a joke.

Take a cup of lemonade as an example. In the past, Snow King sold it for 6 yuan, while the street vendor sold it for 4 yuan; now, the brand is still increasing prices, and the street vendor has doubled it. Fried rice noodles are even more exaggerated, with Shaxian steadily at 8 yuan, while the stall downstairs dares to sell it for 15. Clearly, there's no decoration, no air conditioning, no service, and not even a decent tablecloth, yet it's more expensive than a restaurant, resembling a quiet "price assassin."

A couple of days ago, after Amy finished her live stream, she went downstairs to buy a portion of fried rice, which was priced at 16 for the standard version, and 20 with an egg, and she still had to watch her tone. Desserts, marinated snacks, fruit mixes? She didn't even dare to look. In the past, 50 yuan was enough for two people to eat until they couldn't walk; now, with 50 yuan, they can only pick and sniff, too afraid to spend money.

Ultimately, it was once that there was no money to eat at restaurants; now, there is no money to eat at street vendors.

Here comes the question—if even five-star hotels are setting up stalls, why are real small stalls getting more and more expensive?

The reason is quite heartbreaking.

First, the wave of unemployment has pushed many people with previously decent incomes to the stalls.

They cannot accept low profits, so they package low-cost stalls as "premium snacks" or "internet celebrity specials," and naturally, the prices rise, as the accounts need to look decent.

Second, those setting up stalls are no longer satisfied with just filling their stomachs.

Some want to rely on night markets to pay off mortgages, some dream of buying cars and houses, some are on unpaid leave, and some are borrowing to start businesses; thus, while costs remain unchanged, prices change first.

Stalls have turned into outlets, while customers have become ATMs.

There are even more surreal occurrences—

Live streaming hype, hiring people to queue, deliberately creating explosive sales, intentionally not marking prices…

They will exploit anyone they can; if they can make a profit, they will.

But reality is always calmer than the story:

Stalls are not money printing machines.

Consumers are not fools.

Originally, the term "street stall economy" relied on two words: cheap and delicious.

If the core value for money is gone, the crowd will naturally disperse.

While shouting about "the atmosphere of life," they are actually distancing themselves from the stalls—

This is the answer.