novelinnhs Chapter 44 I'm Not Making Bunny Dumplings Today
Chapter 44 I'm Not Making Bunny Dumplings Today
The morning sunlight streamed through the windshield, warming the interior of the black sedan. Chen Feng gripped the steering wheel steadily; now that they were almost at the old street, he was no longer in a hurry.
As he turned into the familiar alleyway of the old street, he saw the unusual scene in front of his shop from afar. The quiet scene in front of the shop was broken by a group of people. A dozen or so people dressed in different styles were gathered in front of the wooden door of "Human Fireworks" and talking animatedly.
Chen Feng's lips curled up slightly; he was in a good mood.
Last night, after settling Xingruo and Mengmeng in, he specifically searched for Lin Muyuan's account on Weibo and various social media platforms. When he saw Lin Muyuan's tweet about the little bunny, Chen Feng knew what was going on.
Although the blogger wasn't very famous, his fans were extremely loyal, with an almost "superstitious" sense of trust, which was exactly the boost Chen Feng needed.
"Sure enough, the hype has already started."
Chen Feng was secretly calculating in his mind. He had originally expected it to take a long time to ferment, but he did not expect Lin Muyuan's influence to be even more terrifying than he had anticipated.
He doesn't dislike being thrust into the spotlight. For a chef who has experienced countless "life-or-death situations" in a top-tier kitchen, his skills are beyond question. To build a reputation, he needs to be thrust into the spotlight.
Moreover, in his mind, the current marketing strategy of "selling only 100 servings a day" and "changing the menu every day" is like a thin red thread that tightly binds the curiosity of these diners.
"I should really thank him properly next time I see him." Chen Feng had also looked through Lin Muyuan's previous tweets last night and found his exact appearance, so he wasn't worried about not recognizing him next time.
However, Xingruo's behavior in the passenger seat was completely different.
As the car drew closer, the densely packed figures gradually magnified in her vision. She instinctively shrank her shoulders, gripping the seatbelt tightly with both hands.
"So many people..."
This instinctive fear of crowds still clung to her like a persistent, deep-seated affliction.
But beneath that fear, something was quietly sprouting. Xingruo turned her head and secretly glanced at her master beside her, who looked calm and even had a slight smile on his face.
From last night until now, her mood has gone through a rollercoaster ride.
Last night, when she was washing the dishes and saw the empty sink, devoid of the "hundreds or thousands of bowls" Chen Feng had described, she was initially convinced that Chen Feng was pitying her. She felt like a burden who only knew how to freeload and might even bring bad luck.
But this morning around 5 a.m., when she stepped out of her room and saw Chen Feng all ready to go, and when she witnessed firsthand how Chen Feng had outwitted and outmaneuvered those seasoned vendors at the market over a few pounds of pork and a few ounces of pickled peppers, she suddenly began to believe Chen Feng's words.
The weighty cut of pork foreleg and the jars of ingredients exuding a rich, tangy aroma—these are all authentic.
If it was truly just out of pity for her, why would the master travel so far at this time? Why would he go to such lengths to teach her how to identify meat? Why would he teach her those so-called "unspoken rules" of the market?
"My master said he owes a lot of debt, and to raise Mengmeng, he needs a helper to pay off the debts..."
Xingruo looked out the car window at the diners pointing and commenting on the shops. In her mind, these people were all "money," the guarantee that could help her master pay off his debts and ensure that Mengmeng could have enough to eat every day.
In that instant, a flame called "sense of mission" suddenly ignited in her long-withered heart.
"I can't back down. If I'm afraid of even these people, how can I help my master run the shop? How can I protect him from those creditors?"
While the old man and the young man were each lost in their own thoughts, the sharp-eyed Zhang Qiang had already noticed the black sedan that was slowly coming to a stop.
Zhang Qiang was being surrounded by Zhao Dafa and a few other gourmands, feeling utterly overwhelmed. Seeing Chen Feng return, he was overjoyed, waving to everyone, "Here he comes! The boss is back! I'll go ask him what he said first, everyone be patient!"
Despite saying that, Zhang Qiang did not immediately make way. Instead, he rushed to the driver's side window and reached out to stop Chen Feng before he could open the door.
"Wait a minute, Fengzi, calm down."
Zhang Qiang wiped the cold sweat from his forehead, leaned into the car window, and said in a low voice.
He first looked towards the passenger seat and saw Xingruo looking at him timidly. Zhang Qiang then forced a warm smile and greeted her:
"Hey, Xingruo, you're up so early to go shopping with your master? You look really smart in this new outfit. Uncle Qiangzi will get you a few more sets of sportswear to change into later."
Hearing "Uncle Qiangzi's" concern, Xingruo was still a little stiff, but thinking of the soft and warm clothes she had worn last night, she mustered her courage and whispered, "Good morning, Uncle Qiangzi."
After greeting him, Zhang Qiang's face fell instantly as he turned to Chen Feng with a look of anxiety.
"Fengzi, something's happened. I just told these guys, as you said yesterday, that there wouldn't be any bunny dumplings today, and they almost ate me alive."
Zhang Qiang was so anxious that he kept slapping his thigh outside the window: "They're all here for the little rabbit buns. That uncle, surnamed Zhao, was here yesterday, and he's been squatting here for almost half an hour now."
"I'm worried that if you change the menu today, what if they feel cheated? If their reputation is ruined, won't our 'Human World' restaurant collapse halfway through its existence?"
When Chen Feng heard Zhang Qiang even use the phrase "died prematurely," he couldn't help but shake his head and chuckle.
He unbuckled his seatbelt slowly, pushed open the door, stepped out of the car with one foot, and looked at Zhang Qiang with a confident gaze.
"Qiangzi, you still don't understand the 'timing' of this."
Chen Feng took out his car keys from his pocket and pressed a button on the trunk.
"What we need in this world is not a bunch of machines that only know how to eat steamed buns, but 'passion'."
Whether they stay to eat or leave grumbling, the moment they step into this alley, they'll spread the word that "the owner of this humble restaurant has a lot of personality." My goal will be achieved.
Seeing Zhang Qiang's somewhat confused expression, he continued to explain, "Once there's buzz, the rest is easy. I'm a chef; I know the standard of my dishes."
They might be upset because they didn't get any steamed buns, but they'll understand as soon as they take a bite of my stir-fried dishes.
"No matter what I make, my dishes will always taste good!"
"And once they eat it, they won't be able to leave."
Chen Feng's words made Xingruo's eyes light up.
She didn't quite understand what "purpose" or "marketing tactics" meant. But she understood the domineering and confident power in her master's words.
In her eyes, her master was shining brightly at this moment, just as he had said last night. He was now the star that could illuminate others even in the darkness.
"Master will definitely be able to pay off the debt. He's so amazing..." Xingruo clenched her little fists in her heart.
Chen Feng walked to the trunk and began deftly unloading the ingredients.
The crowd that had been gathered at the entrance suddenly swarmed around the person who had returned, completely blocking the road.
"Boss! You're finally back! Do you still have those steamed buns from yesterday?" Zhao Dafa shouted the loudest, rushing to the front.
"Boss, I took a taxi all the way from the university town, please, could you make another batch of rabbit-shaped buns today? I just need to take a picture and leave!"
"That's right, boss. Rules are rules, but people are flexible. Everyone's been waiting for so long."
Faced with this overwhelming barrage of questions and demands, Chen Feng remained composed. He steadily placed a heavy basket of vegetables on the ground, straightened his back, and calmly surveyed the surroundings.
"Everyone, please be quiet."
Chen Feng's voice wasn't loud, but his commanding presence instantly silenced the previously noisy crowd.
"Thank you all for coming so early. But as I always say, to ensure the quality of every day, 'Human Fireworks' has a unique menu every day."
I won't be making the bunny-shaped steamed buns I made yesterday today...
Upon hearing this, a collective sigh of sorrow arose from the crowd. Zhao Dafa's old face immediately fell.
"However," Chen Feng said, not giving them a chance to make a fuss, and continued in a steady tone, "today, I have prepared another specialty for everyone - shredded pork with garlic sauce."
"I know you've all been waiting for a long time, and I'm sorry to have made you come all this way just to fulfill your wish of eating steamed buns."
If you can wait half an hour, I guarantee that this Yu Xiang Rou Si (shredded pork with garlic sauce) dish will make you feel that this trip was worthwhile.
If you absolutely must have steamed buns, I can only apologize.
Divides began to emerge among the crowd.
Several office workers glanced at their watches, shook their heads helplessly, and left with a sigh. This kind of uncertain waiting was too costly for them.
But many more people were captivated by Chen Feng's confidence.
"Fish-flavored shredded pork? That stuff is everywhere, boss. Where do you get the confidence to think we can wait?" Although Zhao Dafa was stubborn, his nose had already moved along with the smell of pickled peppers emanating from the trunk.
"Eat it or not, it's up to you." Zhang Qiang muttered to himself, but Chen Feng glared at him.
Lin Xiaoyu was sitting on a stone bench not far away, watching the noisy scene. Instead of joining the others, she waved to Chen Feng and playfully called out, "Boss! I'll eat the shredded pork with garlic sauce too! I'm not picky!"
Chen Feng nodded to Lin Xiaoyu, then turned his gaze to the car door.
Xingruo was standing by the car, and the layers upon layers of people made her feel like she was about to drown. Looking at the mouths opening and closing, and listening to the loud discussions, she unconsciously wanted to hide behind Chen Feng.
However, when she saw her chef struggling to lift the basket of packed fresh meat and seasonings by himself, and when she saw Zhang Qiang busy comforting the diners, the "debts" her chef had mentioned the night before flashed through her mind.
"Shen Xingruo, you're an apprentice now. You have to help your master pay off the debt."
She took a deep breath, and her heart, which had been pounding violently with fear, seemed to be forcibly held down by a heavy sense of responsibility.
She gritted her teeth, and although her legs were still trembling slightly, she managed to move out from behind Chen Feng's tall figure.
She walked unsteadily to Chen Feng's side, and stretched out her small, calloused hands to help him hold up the heavy bamboo basket on one side.
"Master... I, I'll help you move it."
Xingruo didn't look up; her voice, though barely audible, was very firm.
Chen Feng glanced down at the stubborn girl, a sense of relief welling up inside him. He didn't stop her, but simply used a little force to ensure the bamboo basket wouldn't crush the child's little hands.
The noisy diners around them calmed down after seeing this unusually sensible and thin girl who seemed to have appeared out of nowhere.
"Alright, alright, look, the boss even brought back his little helper. I bet this shredded pork with garlic sauce is really something special. Old Zhao, are you waiting?"
Zhao Dafa glanced at Xingruo, then at Chen Feng, and snorted heavily, "Wait! I want to see if this shredded pork with garlic sauce is as amazing as Little Rabbit Buns."
Chen Feng smiled but didn't respond. Leading his "first disciple," he opened the door to the worldly pleasures under the expectant and puzzled gazes of the diners.