Cooking System: Street Food Rules

"Forgive me, forgive me. I intended to come here for an hour of fitness, but instead, I spent an hour queuing for barbecue."

"Same here. With this back and forth, it's like missing two gym sessions."

"It's all because his stall's food is too delicious!"

"Just admit the food was amazing, and that's that."

In the queue, two young people who had planned to exercise were casually chatting. A delicious food stall certainly presented a dilemma: they had planned on going to the gym but ended up eating barbecue instead. There were quite a few people in the queue like that.

At this moment, a coach walked out of the office building, looking for their trainee. The local gym was quite professional, and the coaches generally had a good rapport with their trainees.

"Li Wen, are you still trying to lose weight? I see you're in the barbecue line again!" the coach stood nearby, their tone mildly reproachful yet still quite gentle.

Hearing the coach's words, Li Wen, who was in the queue, couldn't help but laugh awkwardly. "Coach, I've finally made it this far in line. Let me just eat this, and then I'll head up. It's so rare for Executive Chef Jiang to set up shop here. Look, how about I bring you a couple of beef skewers later?"

At this, the coach nodded. "Hmm, eating barbecue isn't out of the question, but remember to exercise moderation."

"Don't worry, I'll definitely work it off later!"

The two came to an agreement on the spot. The customers queuing around them all laughed at the scene.

At that moment, not far away, a person carrying a backpack, dressed in sportswear, and holding a large bottle of sports drink walked towards the office building. This person was named Meng Hai.

Right then, he was constantly muttering in his mind:

Absolutely no eating today, just train hard!

I can't eat any more today!

He had been giving himself a pep talk ever since leaving home. He believed he could do it. Yesterday, he hadn't exercised much and had even queued for barbecue. The sense of guilt made him vow to burn fat to his heart's content today.

But as he walked, his feet seemed to develop a mind of their own, guiding him straight toward the barbecue stall. Then, very naturally, he joined the back of the line, without a hint of hesitation.

By this point, the voice in his head had completely changed its tune.

Just a little bit.

Executive Chef Jiang is only here for a few days. If I miss it, it's gone.

Can't miss it.

He reassured himself, and this self-reassurance was remarkably effective. As for the resolutions he'd made before heading to the gym, he had forgotten them entirely. His words protested, but his body was brutally honest.

In the queue, there were quite a few people dressed in sportswear, carrying sports bags, and holding sports drinks, all initially planning to work out. But in the end, they all gathered in front of the barbecue stall. The barbecue wasn't just delicious; it was also convenient for solo customers, as you could buy as few or as many skewers as you liked. The meat, grilled to a golden crisp and paired with delectable seasonings, was an absolute treat.

So, many people who originally planned to come here for fitness ended up coming for the barbecue. As for working out, one needed a full stomach to have energy for that, right?

Jiang Feng was still busy. By around eleven o'clock, all the prepared skewers were sold out. Some people still wandered over, wanting to queue, but Jiang Feng quickly said, "Sorry, we're all sold out."

Hearing this, passersby could only walk away disappointed.

Hao Fei and his wife were calculating the day's revenue. Drinks and cold dishes brought in over 1,500, while grilled meats, private room fees, etc., amounted to over 5,000. With costs accounting for about a third, they had made quite a profit. A booming business was truly something else. If it were like this every day, they'd be driving luxury cars in no time!

Of course, Jiang Feng actually did drive a luxury car. His car was parked in the underground garage of the office building, and he drove there daily.

"This business is really good, with so many people coming," Hao Fei exclaimed in amazement.

He gestured with his eyes, and Hao Fei's wife quickly brought over several dishes from the back, including cold and hot dishes, all of which looked appealing.

Jiang Feng sat down and grabbed a bottle of Coke. He didn't really like drinking alcohol, and since he had to drive, he refrained. Hao Fei, on the other hand, picked up a bottle of beer and poured himself a drink.

"I'll be leaving in a couple of days. What are your plans?" Jiang Feng chatted with them. After all, having interacted for a few days, they had gotten to know each other.

"Move to a different place and continue the barbecue business," Hao Fei replied.

"Not here?" This content is hosted at M|V|LE^MPYR.

"Not here. The barbecue business isn't doing too well here; not everyone has skills like yours. I plan to rent a small indoor shop and do indoor barbecue."

"Alright, I wish you smooth sailing."

The three of them ate their meal. After a long day, some rice and hot dishes felt quite satisfying.

Hao Fei ran a small stall and had seen many peers, but none were quite like Jiang Feng. He'd also heard of chefs from five-star hotels setting up street stalls. Despite their high prices, they drew endless streams of customers because the food was genuinely delicious. However, situations where such talented people ran a small stall were very rare. Being an executive chef at a major restaurant was their ultimate destination.

After dinner, Jiang Feng chatted with the couple for a while longer before heading home to rest, as it was getting late.

[Served 702/100 diners. Daily task completed.]

[Received extra reward: 5 premium Butter Crabs.]

Jiang Feng collected the system reward, surprised to find it was another ingredient. And this time, the ingredient was far superior to the old hen from last time.

Butter Crab is a prized crab species, highly renowned in the Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao region, where it's hailed as the "king of crabs." Outwardly, these crabs look no different from ordinary ones. However, once steamed, golden-yellow oil seeps from their shells and claw joints, and the crab roe boasts an exceptionally exquisite flavor. They require minimal preparation—simply steaming them and serving with a dipping sauce is enough. A single bite fills the mouth with fragrance and leaves one feeling utterly refreshed. It's as if the essence of all the world's most delicious crabs is concentrated in that single mouthful.

Jiang Feng had already eaten and was about 70 percent full. But the thought of the crabs reawakened his appetite.

So, upon returning home, he set about steaming two of the cleaned, previously frozen crabs in his kitchen. To prevent the crabs from "catching a chill" in the pot, as it were, Jiang Feng thoughtfully placed a slice of ginger on each of their bellies.

The two crabs were quickly steamed thoroughly. To eat them, he took a knife and sliced the crabs open down the middle. Upon closer inspection, the crabs were brimming with rich roe, a dense, delicate, golden buttery mass that was incredibly fragrant.

Jiang Feng took a small spoon, gently scooped up a spoonful of crab roe, and placed it in his mouth. The delectable roe burst in his mouth, its creamy, rich texture accompanied by an intense crab aroma. The savory flavor filled his entire palate, perfectly complemented by a sip of cola.

Mmm, that was incredibly satisfying.

Indeed, as the "Hermès of crabs," the taste of Butter Crab was no exaggeration. As Jiang Feng savored the crab roe, he felt as if a gentle spring breeze were caressing him, bringing a sense of comfort and contentment.

Truly, when it comes to gourmet food, culinary skill is one aspect, and ingredients are another.

Good ingredients don't require overly complex preparation; their flavor is inherently excellent.

Jiang Feng marveled silently. He had always believed that ingredients are the foundation of whether a dish is delicious. Take this Butter Crab, for instance. Without any complicated cooking techniques—just steamed, cut open, and eaten directly—the flavor was incredibly rich and memorable.

Jiang Feng scooped another spoonful of crab roe.

At that moment, Little Black scampered over, head tilted up at Jiang Feng, its tail wagging furiously. It seemed to want a taste as well.

Seeing its expression, Jiang Feng said with a laugh, "You little rascal, you want to eat crab roe too? This stuff isn't good for you. Be good, we're not eating it."

As he spoke, Jiang Feng savored another two mouthfuls with relish.

Little Black hadn't anticipated such human treachery; to think someone would even deceive a dog! But since Jiang Feng said so, it gave up on the idea of eating crab roe.

After having the crabs, it was already quite late. Jiang Feng simply washed up and went to bed.

「The next morning.」

Jiang Feng got up and first took Little Black out for a walk. After all, he couldn't look after the little fellow while running the barbecue stall, so he had to walk him beforehand.

After walking Little Black, Jiang Feng returned home to rest for a bit. He then contacted the butcher to confirm the ingredient situation, had lunch, and finally drove to the barbecue stall with Little Black. It was then half-past twelve in the afternoon.

Once the ingredients arrived, the three of them began skewering them in the shop. Since the door was open, people came in to inquire if they were open for business. Everyone was eager to taste Jiang Feng's barbecue as soon as possible.

"We won't be open until after 4:30 in the afternoon," Jiang Feng replied.

Hearing this, the customers looked slightly disappointed. It couldn't be helped; Jiang Feng's business was so popular it left people constantly craving more. As the disappointed customers left, they kept looking back, hoping Jiang Feng might suddenly announce he could start cooking right away.

But barbecue required a hot charcoal fire and considerable preparation; it wasn't something that could be done on a whim. Jiang Feng busied himself with cutting meat and preparing skewers, waiting for opening time after four o'clock.