great-warnovel Chapter 45 Alright, let's start cooking!
Chapter 45 Alright, let's start cooking!
"Everyone, since you've all been waiting this long, why don't you come inside and rest for a bit?"
As Chen Feng spoke, he took out his keys from his pocket.
With a crisp "click," the heavy solid wood door was slowly pushed open, and a fresh, woody fragrance wafted out.
Zhao Dafa and his fellow gourmands, who had been squatting on the curb smoking in silence, sprang to their feet at the sound of his words. Lin Xiaoyu also put away her phone, her eyes sparkling as she followed behind.
The moment they stepped into the store, the diners, who were still harboring some resentment, unconsciously breathed a little lighter.
The shop was softly lit, and the "rabbit army" was shining brightly. Sunlight streamed through the open wooden door onto the neatly arranged light wood tables and chairs, and the floor was so polished that it seemed to reflect people's images.
What's most precious is the fresh smell inside the restaurant, unlike many hole-in-the-wall eateries that have a greasy smell all year round, and there's no faint musty smell left after wiping tables with an uncleaned rag.
"Wow, the boss is even more meticulous about cleaning than my wife." Zhao Dafa reached out and wiped his hand on the smooth edge of the solid wood table. His fingertips were dry, without a speck of dust.
The restlessness he felt because he hadn't gotten to eat the rabbit-shaped buns was inexplicably calmed down by the cleanliness of the place.
"Yes, the environment is indeed comfortable, but I wonder about the shredded pork with garlic sauce..." A young man wearing glasses pushed up his glasses, still somewhat hesitant.
"Boss, not to be nosy, but many restaurants rely on one or two signature dishes to make a name for themselves. Surely our place is like that too? Those steamed buns yesterday were absolutely amazing, but can you maintain that level of quality with this shredded pork with garlic sauce?"
"Exactly, they attract customers with their signboard on the first day of opening, then start selling regular dishes on the second day. I've seen this kind of trick a lot," another customer chimed in.
Chen Feng didn't respond, but instead gave everyone a meaningful smile. He was carrying groceries he had just taken from the trunk towards the kitchen, his steps steady, seemingly unconcerned by the surrounding doubts.
When Chen Feng entered the kitchen, the first thing he did was not to use a knife or turn on the stove, but to bring out a large-capacity rice cooker.
"Qiangzi, lend a hand." Chen Feng said as he took a bucket of crystal-clear rice out of the rice bag.
Zhang Qiang was busy carrying the last basket of side dishes into the kitchen when he heard the noise and quickly came over: "Fengzi, we haven't even started cooking yet, are we cooking rice first? It's only a little past seven, isn't that a bit early?"
"Fish-flavored shredded pork is a 'rice killer.' No matter how well this dish is cooked, if there isn't a good bowl of rice, diners won't enjoy their meal." Chen Feng said, as he poured rice into a stainless steel basin.
His rice-washing technique was unique; instead of vigorously rubbing the rice to save time, he slightly spread his fingers and gently made clockwise circles in the water. The water flowed smoothly, carrying away any floating dust, and the rice grains rustled at the bottom of the basin.
Chen Feng turned his head and saw Xing Ruo standing awkwardly at the entrance of the kitchen, nervously twisting her apron with both hands because she dared not act without orders.
"Xingruo, it's okay, relax, come here."
Hearing her master call her, she quickly ran over, the awkwardness in her eyes disappearing.
As she got closer, she heard Chen Feng speak.
"Look at this rice. You can't wash rice too vigorously, or you'll wash away the nutrients and aroma from the surface. It's best to wash it until the water is semi-transparent."
As Chen Feng demonstrated, he explained to Xing Ruo, "And the water ratio is important; the water level should be about one and a half centimeters below your knuckle. Our shredded pork with garlic sauce has a rich broth, so the rice needs to be steamed a little firmer so it doesn't become mushy when mixed with the sauce."
Xingruo stared at the water's surface, carefully gesturing with her tiny finger, and nodded emphatically: "Master, I've got it."
Seeing Xingruo's earnest expression, as if she wanted to bury her head in the water, Chen Feng's tension eased slightly.
Soon, the rice was cooked.
"Qiangzi, help me write on that blackboard and put it next to the cashier. Write it like this..." Chen Feng instructed.
Zhang Qiang dusted off his hands, deftly picked up the chalk, and was about to write when he heard Chen Feng casually add, "Write the price as thirty-eight."
"Cough...cough cough!"
Zhang Qiang choked on his breath and nearly crushed the chalk in his hand. His eyes widened, and he exclaimed in a low voice, "How much? Fengzi, say it again? Thirty-eight for a plate of shredded pork with garlic sauce? Restaurants sell it for eighteen at most, and you…!"
"Write it down, trust me." Chen Feng's expression was calm, as if he were saying that the weather was nice today.
Zhang Qiang swallowed hard, looked at Chen Feng's expressionless face, and finally gritted his teeth, writing in a flamboyant style on the blackboard:
"The everyday life of ordinary people"
Today's featured dish: Shredded pork with garlic sauce
Price: 38 yuan/serving
Supply: Limited to 100 units, while supplies last.
Opening hours: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM. (Reservations are not accepted. Please take care of the rabbit artwork on the wall.)
When Zhang Qiang placed the blackboard steadily next to the cashier, the diners who had been discussing hygiene fell silent instantly.
"Thirty-eight?!" Zhao Dafa shouted first, his voice so loud it seemed dust would fall from the ceiling. "Boss, isn't this shredded pork with garlic sauce made with pork? This price could buy three plates of shredded pork with garlic sauce at a cheaper restaurant!"
"This is outrageous. Even if the steamed buns were delicious yesterday, charging thirty-eight yuan for a simple home-style dish is just too much to bear." Someone started shaking their head and made to leave.
Strangely enough, despite all the criticism, not a single person actually left.
As everyone watched Chen Feng's composed figure, a little nagging thought lingered in their minds: If this boss dared to sell at such a price, wouldn't he be ruining his own reputation if he didn't have some real skills?
Lin Xiaoyu had already moved closer to the blackboard, taken out her phone, snapped a picture with a "click," and her fingers flew across the screen.
[Protecting the Best Little Bunny] WeChat Group:
Little Fish Doesn't Want to Draw Anymore: "[Image] Breaking News! Today's menu updated: Shredded Pork with Garlic Sauce. Priced at 38! As expected, we're not selling bunny buns today, only this. What do you all think?"
This caused a huge stir, and the "rabbit friends" in the group, who were either still asleep or on their way, instantly went into an uproar.
The Rice Bucket on the Strings (Lu Ming): "38 yuan a serving? Brother Feng is going for the high-end route!"
But remembering the quality of the minced meat yesterday, I'm sure the ingredients for this Yu Xiang Rou Si (shredded pork with garlic sauce) are top-notch. Little Fish, you try it first. If it's good, I'll skip class later!
A person who stays up all night to study: "I'm crying! I went there specifically for the steamed buns, why aren't there any?! This limited-quantity of 100 servings is too torturous, does the boss have OCD?"
Foodie #1: "@LittleFishDoesntWantToDraw Anymore, please ask the boss if they can mail it to me! I was drooling in my dreams last night looking at those bunny buns in the group chat. 38 yuan a plate, as long as it tastes good, I'm willing to pay!"
Lin Xiaoyu looked at the screen filled with "Chong Chong Chong" and a sly smile appeared on her lips.
She put away her phone and looked at Chen Feng, who was busy in the kitchen, and thought to herself: "My master's skills are really whetting people's appetites."
At this moment, although there were only Chen Feng and Xing Ruo in the kitchen, the atmosphere had begun to become tense yet orderly.
"Xingruo, we need to prepare the ingredients for the first ten orders." Chen Feng placed the bowl of fresh black fungus in front of Xingruo.
"Let's wash these together first. Be careful, as dirt and sand can easily get trapped in the folds of wood ear mushrooms. Carefully unfold each piece along the grain, but be gentle so you don't tear them."
"Okay, Master."
Xingruo responded and then started washing with Chen Feng.
After the two finished washing, Chen Feng began to process the foreleg meat.
The cleaver in his hand seemed to come alive; with a gentle slice of the tip, the thin layer of fascia was peeled away. Then, he began to slice, stack, and shred.
Xingruo was stunned, her eyes fixed on Chen Feng's knife.
Chen Feng spoke without looking up:
"The thickness of the 'shredded' meat determines its texture. When slicing meat, you should cut it diagonally along the grain, which is called 'cutting with the grain'. If it's too thick, it won't absorb the flavor well; if it's too thin, it will break easily and become tough when stir-frying. Look at my hand gestures; your fingertips should be pressing against the blade, using wrist strength rather than brute force."
Chen Feng's knife speed wasn't fast; this was so that Xing Ruo could see clearly. The strands of meat were as uniform in thickness and length as strips of paper spit out by a photocopy machine, neatly arranged on the wooden cutting board.
"Master, it's so neat..." Xingruo couldn't help but exclaim softly, her eyes filled with awe.
"Next up are the side dishes." Chen Feng switched to a different knife and began preparing the bamboo shoots and dried chili peppers.
"The shredded bamboo shoots should be slightly thicker than the shredded pork, because they will shrink when heated. Also, these pickled chilies must be chopped finely, until they release their red oil. Xingruo, come here and smell the aroma of these pickled chilies."
If Xingruo moved a little closer, a pure sour aroma mixed with a slightly spicy scent would enter her nostrils.
"This is the right flavor; only then will the dish have soul." Chen Feng said as he deftly divided the ingredients into several small white dishes.
At this moment, the diners outside the kitchen gradually quieted down. The open kitchen design allowed them to clearly see Chen Feng's every move. His almost obsessive attention to detail regarding the ingredients gradually silenced those who had initially been wary of the "38 yuan per dish."
Zhao Dafa stared at the shredded meat that Chen Feng had cut, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down: "This knife skill...this attitude...it seems the boss didn't overcharge me for thirty-eight yuan."
Zhang Qiang stood to the side, busy handing out plates and wiping the table, but seeing how well Chen Feng and Xing Ruo, the old man and the young girl, worked together, he couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion.
Chen Feng glanced at the clock on the wall.
"It'll be eight o'clock in five minutes."
He put down the cleaver, glanced at Xingruo who was awkwardly rubbing her apron, and gently patted her shoulder.
"Xingruo, it's time to fire the first one. Are you scared?"
Xingruo raised her head. Although her face was still a little pale, her eyes were more determined than ever before.
"Master, I'm not afraid. I'll pass you the seasonings."
"Okay, let's start cooking!"
Chen Feng turned around, his hand already gripping the stove switch.
As he turned his wrist, a burst of blue-purple flames suddenly rose up.