"Today is the first day of the food ranking list. I wonder if any good new restaurants have appeared in Aden Square this month."
"This list is just for fooling diners who don't come here often. The top ten have not changed for three years, and the top thirty are always the same few restaurants. It's just a formality every month, and it has no reference value at all."
"That's right. Forget the top ten, the top thirty haven't changed in months. I even ate at all the restaurants in the top thirty according to the list, and many of them were not as good as those ranked after fiftieth."
"It's getting worse every year. Twenty years ago, the food rankings at Aden Square were truly a guide to good food. Anything on the list was worth trying. If it were any of the dishes that made it into the top ten, they would definitely be top notch food, or at least food that would satisfy the vast majority of people. But now... sigh..."
A large crowd had gathered in front of the magic screens in the center of Aden Square, waiting for the rankings to be updated at 7 a.m. Among them were customers looking to see if there were any new restaurants, as well as restaurant owners and waiters who were ordered to keep watch.
"Boss, we're sure our Richie BBQ Restaurant will still be in the top 30 this time, right?" A young man dressed as a waiter said with a fawning smile to the middle-aged man next to him who was fat and wearing a long robe the color of pork belly.
"Nonsense, our Richie BBQ Restaurant's delicious BBQ ranked 30th on the food ranking list last time, and it has held that position for three consecutive months. It has received great praise and love from our customers. This time, our goal is not just 30th place, but the more prestigious 29th place." Richie said with some pride, his voice intentionally or unintentionally rising a few decibels. Feeling the envious glances from the surrounding crowd, the smile on his face became even more smug.
As a member of the Aden Square Merchants' Union, Richie BBQ Restaurant was once again included in the top 30 guaranteed list. Although he spent a lot of money on it, but compared to the advertising effect brought by being in the top 30, spending a month's profit was not a losing proposition.
Having entered the top 30 for two consecutive months, the barbecue restaurant's revenue has nearly doubled. If it can move up one more spot this month, the revenue will definitely continue to rise. At that time, he can directly take over the shop next door and expand the scale of the restaurant. The business, which has not made any progress for more than ten years, can also take a further step.
That's business. In Aden Square, it's hard to stand out just by being delicious. Although the role of food rankings isn't as obvious as before, but as long as his restaurant can get into the top 30, the advertising effect is still very significant.
Of course, this list has now become more of a private list of the Aden Square Merchants' Union. Apart from a few established brands, all the other restaurants that can make it into the top 50 are members of the Aden Square Merchants' Union. The bidding for the rankings each month is very fierce, which is also a business.
"These fools cast every vote so earnestly, but what's the point? Does delicious food really guarantee a high ranking? The rankings these days aren't the same as they were twenty years ago." Richie's gaze swept over the expectant guests, a mocking smile playing on his lips. He looked at the staff members who were nervously adjusting the data, raised his chin with a touch of arrogance, and exuded confidence.
"Luther, what do you think of that restaurant's ranking?" Alvin asked, nudging Luther, who was standing beside him, with his elbow.
"In my mind, the top four should all be from Restaurant Mai Mi." Luther said softly. He paused for a moment, then added, "But in reality, that's probably a bit difficult. The size of the restaurant and his attitude towards food limit his votes. May be one or two dishes have a chance to make it into the top fifty."
"Top 50 on the first day? Is that restaurant really that good?" Alvin asked in surprise. Although they were staff members, but even the president didn't know the results until the vote count was released.
"I highly recommend you try their Rou Jia Mo and Sweet Tofu Pudding. It's a bit pricey, but the deliciousness is worth it." Luther said with a smile, without offering any further explanation.
"Okay, once I get my salary this month, I'll definitely go and try the food that you and the vice president rave about." Alvin nodded, also showing some anticipation. He knew that Vice President Robert rarely gave subjective opinions on the quality of a restaurant's food, but he had recommended the Savory Tofu Pudding yesterday.
"Jergi, where do you think Boss Mai's dishes rank?" Harrison asked from the crowd, straining his eyes, which were squeezed into tiny slits by his fat, as he tried to find Restaurant Mai Mi on the list.
"Judging solely from the taste, the top five should all be included, but this list is a bit unreliable, so it's hard to say where it will rank. Perhaps it can make it into the top thirty." Jergi pondered.
As seasoned foodies in Aden Square, they have long since moved beyond relying on lists to find delicious food.
However, since Restaurant Mai Mi was participating in the ranking competition, and they had voted for it yesterday, they made a point of stopping to watch for a while today. Anyway, the restaurant doesn't open until 7:30, so watching the ranking announcement will give them more topics to talk about when they queue up later.
They weren't the only guests who thought this way, even they didn't quite understand why they cared so much about a restaurant's ranking.
"Thirty? If there's no top ten, I'll vote with my feet for this ranking!" Harrison said angrily. "The rankings have become more and more unreadable over the years. If we want to find a decent restaurant, we have to start from fifty and go down. But now that we have Restaurant Mai Mi, that's enough. If I were to go to other restaurants, I might not be able to eat the food there."
"Don't let any other restaurant owners hear you say that, or they'll definitely give you a piece of their mind." Jergi said with a smile, shaking his head as he looked at the restaurants on the list.
Aside from a few well-established restaurants that are indeed excellent, many of the top-ranked restaurants have only become popular in recent years thanks to gimmicks and rankings, and their taste is not as good as those restaurants ranked 50th or lower.
"It's almost time." Someone in the crowd called out.
Everyone instinctively looked up, craning their necks to look at the first magic screen. The top thirty dishes and their respective restaurants would appear on the first screen, and the prices of the top thirty dishes for the month would be printed on the first page of the Catering Association's recommended food guide.
Richie's face was full of a confident smile. His goal for the month was to secure 30 and aim for 29. The money was already in place, and all he had to do now was enjoy the envious glances and congratulations from others. That was why he had gotten up so early to come here.
A staff member solemnly pressed a square magic crystal gently into the groove in the center of a black pillar in front of the magic screen.
A blue light appeared, and the text on the magic screens flickered a few times before going black. Then, the red text slowly lit up.
"Number 29th, Restaurant Mai Mi! Braised Chicken Rice!"
"Number 30th, Restaurant Mai Mi! La Zhi Rou Jia Mo!"
Two gasps of surprise rang out from the crowd.
Richie's smile froze instantly.