txolops Chapter 177 Captain Tangtang is off work!
Chapter 177 Captain Tangtang is off work!
"The minced pork rice is gone, but boss, I'll have a plate of fried rice with minced pork bits!"
"Give me two servings! We've already waited in line, we can't go back on an empty stomach!"
"Everyone, please move forward and open your payment code in advance!"
Wang Hai stood in front of the control panel, shouting as he opened each packing bag.
Tangtang, sitting on the small stool, was also busy for a moment.
"Brother, your spoon!"
"Thank you, pretty lady. Here, take the spoon!"
The little girl held a red plastic basket in her two small hands, and every time she passed a customer who had received fried rice, she would carefully hand them a clean spoon.
That clear, soft, sweet baby voice became the most soothing sound in this noisy greenhouse.
Time flew by amidst the constant announcements from the payment loudspeakers.
9:15 PM.
The square was still bustling. Although the queue in front of tent number one had shortened considerably, there were still more than a dozen people waiting in line.
"Brother Chen, we'd like three more servings of fried rice to go!"
Wang Hai shouted without looking up.
Lin Chen did not respond.
He walked up to the rice cookers and reached out to lift the lid of one of them.
"Clang!"
Lin Chen's rice scoop touched the bottom of the rice cooker.
He scraped the last bit of rice from the bottom of the pot and put it into the iron basin next to him.
Then he turned around and opened another rice cooker next to him, which was also empty.
Not only the rice, but the food container next to it, which contained egg liquid and chopped green onions, was also empty long ago.
Lin Chen carried the iron basin back to the stove with the blazing fire, glanced at the contents of the basin, and spoke.
"There's only one left."
"what?"
Wang Hai was stunned for a moment, then quickly came over to take a look. "Well, this time there really isn't a single drop left."
After saying that, Wang Hai faced the dozen or so customers who were still in line.
"My dear friends! I'm so sorry!"
Wang Hai said apologetically, "We've completely run out of Wuchang rice for today!"
The amount of ingredients in the pot is only enough to make one last serving of fried rice.
For those of you who are second in line or later, you don't need to wait today. Please come early tomorrow!
Upon hearing this, the diners who were eagerly anticipating their fried rice were instantly dumbfounded.
"No way, boss?! I didn't even get the minced pork rice, and I was just thinking of having some fried rice to tide me over, but even that's all gone?!"
"My God, I've been standing here for almost twenty minutes!"
"Boss, could you go to the supermarket and buy some more rice to steam on your own?"
"We can just wait half an hour!"
The diners at the back of the line were filled with resentment, and they were so anxious that they kept slapping their thighs.
For those who have been starving, it's like being told the food is sold out just when you think you're about to get a turn in line.
"It's really no use, brothers. We don't have time to steam them right away. Our ingredients are all carefully selected, so we can't just make do with whatever we have."
Wang Hai chuckled and waved his hand, "Everyone, grab something from another stall today. Tomorrow, Chen Ge and I promise to stock up on plenty of ingredients!"
Just as the diners were wailing.
Without any unnecessary words or actions, Lin Chen heated the oil in the wok and stir-fried the last portion of fried rice before serving it.
He scooped the fried rice into a takeout box, closed the lid, and handed it directly to the lucky boy who was first in line.
"This is the last one, take it."
Lin Chen spoke up.
"Thank you, Boss Lin! Haha, I guess I'm one of the chosen ones!"
The boy excitedly took the takeout bag, and under the resentful gazes of more than a dozen pairs of eyes behind him, he quickly scanned the code to pay and ran away as if afraid someone would snatch it from him.
Lin Chen turned around and decisively turned off the gas valve on the high-powered stove.
"call."
As the flames died down, the intense heat inside the greenhouse began to slowly subside.
Lin Chen walked to the stand, picked up the chalk, and wrote "Sold Out" after the sign on the blackboard: "Signature Fried Rice with Broken Gold: 99 yuan/serving".
Looking at the words on the blackboard, the diners at the back of the line finally gave up completely.
"Fine, if I can't afford to mess with them, I'll just avoid them. I'll come and line up before I get off work tomorrow, is that alright?"
"Let's go, let's go! Boss Lin's business is so booming, we can't possibly get any."
"Tangtang, remember to save the biggest portion of rice for your brother tomorrow!"
Although the diners kept complaining, they didn't cause any trouble. They could only disperse, looking back every few steps, and regretfully went to other stalls in the square to find food.
As the crowd finally dispersed, Tangtang placed the small plastic basket containing the spoons on the folding chair, ran over to Lin Chen with her short legs, and hugged his leg tightly.
"Daddy, we've sold out of all our food?"
The little girl looked up, her big eyes filled with excitement.
"Yes, sold out."
Lin Chen looked at his daughter Wenrou.
He reached out and ruffled Tangtang's fluffy little head. "Tangtang, you've had a hard day."
"It's no trouble at all! I'm the captain of the spoon-distributing team, and Tangtang loves helping Daddy with chores!"
The little girl grinned happily, revealing two tiny tiger teeth.
"call."
Wang Hai plopped down on a small stool next to him, picked up a bottle of mineral water, and gulped down half of it.
"My goodness, that battle today was absolutely exhilarating!"
Wang Hai wiped the water from his mouth, looked at the empty rice cooker and thermal container, and grinned, "Brother Chen, with this customer flow and food preparation speed today, our revenue has definitely broken records!"
Lin Chen did not respond.
He untied the black apron from his waist, folded it neatly, and placed it aside before speaking.
"Closing up shop, going home."
"Alright! Let's get to work!"
Upon hearing the word "go home," Wang Hai instantly jumped up from his chair as if he had been injected with adrenaline.
The two cooperated tacitly.
Lin Chen was in charge of cleaning the workbench. He used a clean cloth to wipe the oil and water stains off the stainless steel tabletop, and then sorted and put away all the spice boxes.
Wang Hai was responsible for moving the large items, carrying the empty thermos containers, large rice cookers, and gas cylinders back to the trunk of the van one by one.
Tangtang wasn't idle either.
The little girl thoughtfully picked up her small stool and the basket containing the spoon, took tiny steps to the bread cart, and stood on tiptoe, trying her best to hand it over.
"Daddy, put Tangtang's things away too!"
"Give it to me."
Lin Chen walked over, took the stool, and put it into the storage compartment of the bread cart.
Then, he picked Tangtang up and put her in the car seat in the van, carefully fastening her seatbelt.
In less than twenty minutes, the entire No. 1 greenhouse was cleaned up spotlessly, with only a faint fragrance remaining in the air.
"Brother Chen, everything's loaded onto the truck, we can leave anytime!"
Wang Hai dusted off his hands and said.
"Let's go."
Lin Chen got on the tricycle and turned the key.
"Buzz".
The electric tricycle slowly drove out of the No. 1 shed.
Wang Hai then climbed into the bread truck, started the engine, and followed closely behind the tricycle.
The two cars, one after the other, slowly drove away from the still bustling food festival square along the side road of the square.
at the same time.
It's right next to greenhouse number one.
The steak owner at stall number two and the Japanese food owner at stall number three stood behind their counters, watching Lin Chen and his group pack up and leave.
"call……"
"They're finally gone..."
The steak owner said, "These three hours have been incredibly difficult to endure."
As long as his stove is on, my heart races, and even breathing feels suffocating.
The Japanese restaurant owner wasn't much better.
He pulled up a stool and sat down, looking at the adjacent greenhouse number one.
"Yeah, it's good that he left. If he hadn't left, none of us would have made any money tonight."
The Japanese restaurant owner picked up a rag and wiped the cutting board. "His skills... should never be found at a roadside stall like this."
"With them here, we won't even get much, not even from the passersby."
The two bosses exchanged a glance.
"Alright, stop standing there."
The Japanese restaurant owner mustered his spirits, "That expert finally sold out and left. Let's hurry up and sell some food while there are still customers in the square."
……