[Sold braised meat: 345/200 pounds. Today's task completed.]
[Received an additional reward: one Pebble Wok.]
The task for the third day was completed, and the reward was a useful wok for stir-frying.
Nowadays, there are many kinds of kitchenware on the market, in all varieties and styles. Such non-stick pans could also be bought online, likely costing eight or nine hundred yuan. However, since it was free, why not take it?
Jiang Feng took out the pan and found it to be entirely white, a style that seemed out of place with his current kitchen's decor. Kitchen pans are usually black or gray. A white pan is more suited for young people to coordinate with their own kitchens.
The rewards are all kitchenware. Not bad. They can be used when the kitchen is renovated in the future, Jiang Feng thought to himself.
Then, he busied himself preparing ingredients for the next day, taking the dog for a walk whenever he found a spare moment.
On the fourth day, he needed to prepare a new batch of master stock. Afterward, he would perform a secondary seasoning process to tailor it for different ingredients. For instance, pig's feet, pig's head meat, and pig's intestines would have caramelized sugar added to give them a rich, glossy, reddish hue. Duck intestines and duck frames could be made slightly spicier, making them more satisfying. Chicken feet and gizzards could also be seasoned with spicier condiments.
Soon, master stock was simmering in the shop. Jiang Feng meticulously blended the flavors. The business was doing so well because, in addition to his skills and recipes, he was also very dedicated. Otherwise, there wouldn't be so many people lining up.
The next day, Jiang Feng returned to the resort village with the braised meat still simmering. Before he even arrived, he saw customers already waiting. This scene was no longer strange to him.
Jiang Feng parked the food truck, opened the service window, and hung up his signboard. Customers immediately formed a long line. It seemed that because Jiang Feng had left too early the previous day, departing at 1:00 p.m., many customers who came to buy braised meat had missed out. So, these people planned to come earlier the next day. As the saying goes, "Good things must be fought for." The sentiment in the air was, "If you don't buy now, you won't get any!"
Jiang Feng immediately got to work, weighing meat for customers and packing it into boxes. However, the line just kept growing. In a short while, more than thirty people were queuing, the line stretching past other stalls, becoming a striking sight on the food street.
Many tourists were visiting the food street. They had originally come for some snacks, but when they noticed a large crowd queuing in front of one stall, they immediately became curious.
"What are they queuing for over there? Why so many people?"
They made their way to the front of the line and discovered it was a food truck selling braised meat. This left them somewhat baffled. When had the braised meat business become this good? Queuing for bubble tea or ice cream would be understandable; many people drink bubble tea, shoppers often grab one, and its preparation can be slow. But queuing for braised meat?
"Shall we get in line and try it?" some tourists discussed with their companions. They quickly agreed and joined the queue. With so many people in line, it had to be delicious!
Of course, often, things people queue for aren't necessarily good. People might just be following the crowd or wanting to take photos for social media, only to find the taste average once they buy it. But there are also foods worth queuing for—ones that make you feel, after the first bite, that the long wait was completely worth it.
The queue grew longer and longer.
Meanwhile, Liu Wu, the manager responsible for the resort village's commercial vendors, came to the food street to check on their performance. As soon as he arrived, he saw a long queue that snaked around a corner and stretched far down the street.
"What on earth is going on?" Liu Wu was taken aback.
In all the time the resort had been operating, nothing like this had ever happened. After all, with so many stalls around, even with numerous food enthusiasts, people usually bought and ate as they went, ensuring a quick customer flow without long lines forming. Yet now, a long line had formed on the food street. It was unbelievable!
Which vendor has this kind of pull? What are they selling? Or are these hired shills stirring up trouble? Liu Wu immediately followed the long line toward its front. He had to find out the reason for this queue.
When he reached the front, he saw Jiang Feng's food truck.
At that moment, Jiang Feng was in the food truck, serving braised meat to customers, his hands a constant blur of motion.
Liu Wu approached the food truck and greeted Jiang Feng, "Jiang Feng, are all these people queuing up to buy your braised meat?"
Hearing Liu Wu's words, Jiang Feng glanced at the long queue and nodded. "Seems like it."
Liu Wu, visibly shocked, said, "I heard your business was good, but I didn't expect it to be *this* good. There are so many people in line! Since when did braised meat sell like this? This is the first time I've ever seen a long queue in front of a braised meat stall!"
What Liu Wu said was reasonable; it was indeed rare to see a queue for braised meat.
Jiang Feng, however, found it normal and explained, "It's because my stall is open for a short time and I sell a limited amount. I leave as soon as I'm sold out. Other braised meat shops have more stock, so customers aren't in a rush to buy, and no one queues."
Hearing Jiang Feng's explanation, Liu Wu nodded, finding it quite logical. Jiang Feng sold a fixed amount of braised meat each day and left once it was gone. Since his braised meat was delicious, if people wanted to buy it, they had to queue.
Just then, another customer arrived; it was Zhang Xinya from Happy Ranch.
"Boss, I'm here to buy some braised meat," Zhang Xinya said with a smile. "Your business is really booming! It's only been a few days, and the queue time is getting longer and longer."
"Yeah, I didn't expect business to pick up quite like this," Jiang Feng replied.
"I'll take ten pig's trotters, 5 pounds of duck intestines, 5 pounds of chicken feet, and 3 pounds of chicken gizzards." Zhang Xinya was still buying a substantial amount of braised meat.
"Okay, no problem," Jiang Feng confirmed.
Then Zhang Xinya added, "Everyone at our ranch loves the braised meat you make. I guess we'll be coming over every day from now on. With such good business, why not rent a small shop here and open a dedicated braised meat shop?"
Hearing Zhang Xinya's suggestion, Jiang Feng responded with a smile, "I might not be setting up my stall here for much longer. I'll be moving to a new place in a few days. Renting a small shop isn't very realistic for me."
Hearing this, before Zhang Xinya could reply, Liu Wu anxiously asked, "You're leaving? Is it because there aren't enough visitors to the resort? Or is there some other reason?"
Zhang Xinya's heart skipped a beat. If such a good chef left, they wouldn't be able to enjoy such delicious braised meat anymore.
Jiang Feng replied, "It's not that the resort isn't good. It's just my habit to change stall locations frequently. I'll see how things go."
Liu Wu quickly said, "Jiang Feng, why don't you just set up your stall here? I'll waive the stall fee for you! Many of the recent visitors have been asking for you. I was hoping you'd become the star attraction of our food street!"
Liu Wu wanted Jiang Feng's braised meat stall to attract more customers.
However, Jiang Feng's situation was unique. Besides, he genuinely enjoyed changing his stall's location weekly. If he were to sell the same thing every day, he might as well find a job as a chef in a restaurant. Moreover, the rewards from the system's tasks brought him a pleasant sense of surprise. These positive incentives kept his motivation for running the stall high.
"I'll see how things go; I can't be sure just yet," Jiang Feng said again.
Hearing Jiang Feng's words, Zhang Xinya had an idea and said, "Boss, let's add each other on WeChat. That way, wherever you set up your stall next, I can find you to buy from you."
Hearing this, Jiang Feng replied, "I don't add people on WeChat. I'm not really into chatting."
Zhang Xinya was momentarily taken aback, seemingly not expecting Jiang Feng to refuse, but she still managed a polite, "Oh, alright then."
Jiang Feng finished weighing the meat, packed it into boxes, and handed them to Zhang Xinya. He glanced back; the line of customers seemed to have grown even longer. This meant he would likely finish even earlier than the previous day. He might be able to close up around 12:30 p.m.
The thought of finishing work early made Jiang Feng unconsciously speed up his movements. After all, who doesn't look forward to clocking off!