Inside the training session hall, the trainees were picking up their boxed meals. There was little choice among the three types, and their minds weren’t really on the food, as being in training meant a potential promotion. Compared to their future prospects, a little craving for food was nothing. But as they smelled the aroma from the dishes and tasted the freshness in the Nori Egg Drop Soup, these trainees found their attention irresistibly drawn to the culinary delights.
"Everyone says the food at these training sessions is inedible, but *this* is what they call inedible?"
"Our department head said the boxed meals at training are so bad that dogs wouldn’t touch them, and he even told me to buy a few extra instant noodle bowls."
"Damn! My boss said the same thing. I actually bought several bowls of noodles."
"Which restaurant are these boxed meals from? I have to go eat there when this is over."
"Me too! I’ve got to try it. The flavor is just too good!"
"I used to hate boxed meals, but with today’s, I feel like one just isn’t enough."
As everyone was discussing this, one very cute individual stealthily snuck into the control room for the hall’s screen. Using Tan Yajun’s computer, which was displaying the PowerPoint presentation, this person typed out a line on the screen:
[The supplier for this session’s boxed meals is Lin Ji’s Food, located at 34 Welcome Spring Street, North Fourth Ring Road.]
The large screen in the hall suddenly lit up, startling the trainees who were eating. However, after they saw the message, their interest was immediately piqued.
"I’ll have to check it out later."
"If their boxed meals are this delicious, their other dishes must taste even better!"
Listening to the trainees’ discussions, Shen Jiayue’s face revealed a triumphant smile.
Ha! I’ve attracted more customers for Xu Bao again!
「Two o’clock in the afternoon.」
The hustle and bustle in the store had subsided. Lin Xu instructed a few of the servers, "Take the tableware out of these boxes, clean and disinfect it in the dishwasher, and use it to replace the existing tableware in the restaurant. Wash the old tableware and store it in these boxes."
Now that the new tableware had arrived, it was time to make the switch and let the customers experience the genius girl’s unique designs. As for the restaurant’s original tableware, Lin Xu had already contacted a dealer who collected second-hand tableware; they would drive over that afternoon to take it all away.
When the restaurant first opened, Lin Xu thought the included tableware was decent. But after seeing the tableware designed by Geng Lele, he couldn’t help but feel that the restaurant’s original set seemed a bit cheap. It was like playing a video game: the free, basic equipment could no longer keep up with his character’s needs after leveling up.
The servers crowded around the dishwasher. First, they washed the existing tableware basket by basket. Then, they opened the new boxes and placed the new tableware into the dishwasher baskets to continue the disinfection and cleaning process.
Apart from bowls and chopsticks, the new tableware set was comprehensive. It included vinegar cruets, chili bowls, tissue boxes, chopstick holders, soup spoons, soup bowls, rice bowls, small and large noodle bowls, small saucers, large dinner plates, soup tureens, fish platters, Crispy Meat baskets, and toothpick holders. All these items were adorned with the restaurant’s logo.
The servers were busy until three-thirty in the afternoon before they had completely replaced all the restaurant’s tableware.
Once they were done, Lin Xu heard the system’s notification tone.
"Host has updated the restaurant’s tableware and received one chance at the Excellent Level Basic Cooking Techniques prize draw. Would you like to draw now?"
As expected... Updating the tableware really did trigger a prize draw.
Although Lin Xu was still a bit resentful about drawing the Pig Slaughtering Technique last time, since this was a free chance, what was there to complain about?
He muttered a small prayer and then pressed the draw button.
After the wheel in his mind stopped spinning, the notification sounded.
"Congratulations to the Host on acquiring the Excellent Level Basic Cooking Technique—Whole Pig Slaughter."
Could you be any more perfunctory? Weren’t Kneading Dough and Preparing Fillings perfectly fine techniques? Why not stick with those? Another useless Skill. It’s just like picking up some useless piece of trivia while surfing the web. It’s unappetizing, but... I can’t just get rid of it.
After the prize draw, Lin Xu took advantage of the lull to set up an aquarium in the storage room. Then, he went to a seafood shop in the Chunfeng Market and purchased over twenty lively sea bass. The fish were all around a pound and a half each.
Starting that afternoon, Steamed Sea Bass would be on the menu. The price was already set: 90 RMB per half-kilogram. Compared to the seafood prices in the wet market, this wasn’t low. However, when compared to similar restaurants, ninety RMB per half-kilogram was quite reasonable. Many restaurants in Beijing charged three-digit figures for Steamed Sea Bass, some even pricing it at 299 or 399 RMB per fish, with a clear "take it or leave it" attitude.
The young prodigy, Geng Lele, arrived at the restaurant with her backpack.
"Good kitty, I’m here to see you!"
She hugged Dundun tightly, nuzzling it affectionately, even grabbing both of Dundun’s front paws and waving them around. "Holy fire shines bright, holy fire glows, all my disciples, MEOW MEOW MEOW MEOW! Dundun, from today onwards, we shall establish the Meow Meow Sect! You are the Holy Master of the Meow Meow Sect, and I am the High Priest. Together, we will unite the martial world!"
Has this girl been researching folklore and legends lately? Why has she become so... eccentric?
"What are you doing, Lele?"
Geng Lele cheerfully rubbed Dundun’s head, "I’ve noticed that since Dundun came to the restaurant, business has gotten even better. So, I want to absorb some of its luck to prepare myself for going home."
Going home? What does that have to do with luck?
"My dad returned from the research institute because of issues with my college admission. I’m worried I’ll get lectured when I go home, so I came here first to absorb some of its luck."
This... You should believe in science, girl. Wait... you’re going home?
Lin Xu immediately said, "Wait a moment, I’ll pack some food for you."
Previously, Geng Lele’s grandfather had helped by writing the calligraphy for the restaurant’s name, and Lin Xu hadn’t yet given him an honorarium. This was the perfect opportunity to repay the favor. Lin Xu packed thirty Chicken Feet, and also packed dishes like Lotus Root, Alcoholic Peanuts, Steamed Pork Ribs with Black Bean Sauce, and Crispy Meat.
「Half an hour later.」
Geng Lele, carrying a large bag of food, pushed open the gate of a courtyard house near the North Third Ring Road. The courtyard house was filled with various plants and flowers. In the middle stood a clump of bamboo, creating an instantly refreshing feeling for anyone who looked at it.
"Old Man, look what delicious food I’ve brought for you!" Geng Lele called out as she pushed open the door to the study, addressing an elderly man inside who was dressed in a Tang suit and had graying hair.
This was the famous calligrapher, Geng Lishan.
Mr. Geng glanced at the bag in Geng Lele’s hand, a trace of displeasure crossing his face. "You impudent girl! How many times have I told you? Don’t bring all sorts of things into the study! Why don’t you ever listen?"
Geng Lele took out a container of Chicken Feet from the bag, opened it, and presented it to Mr. Geng. "I’m giving you another chance to choose your words!"
"Oh my, my granddaughter is so considerate! She knew I was craving Chicken Feet and brought them over... Is this that restaurant whose name you tricked me into writing last time?"
"Can what a scholar does be called trickery?" Geng Lele retorted, taking out more food. "You snack on these for a bit. I’ll bring out the rest at dinnertime. Make sure you eat less then, so Grandma doesn’t nag you again."
"Good, good, good. My granddaughter is always so thoughtful."
While she was busy, Geng Lele noticed a red invitation on the table and asked curiously, "Whose happy occasion is this?"
"No, it’s a culinary competition at the Fishing Platform. They asked me to be the head judge, and I couldn’t refuse, so I accepted. Do you want to come along and broaden your horizons then?"