txolops Chapter 184: The stalls haven't even opened yet, and the crowd has already exploded.
Chapter 184: The stalls haven't even opened yet, and the crowd has already exploded.
2:30 p.m.
The phone screen on the bedside table lit up precisely on time, accompanied by a slight vibration.
Lin Chen opened his eyes when the alarm rang and pressed the off button.
He turned his head and glanced at his side. Tangtang was sleeping soundly, hugging her little blanket, completely unaware of the brief noise.
Lin Chen quietly lifted the thin blanket, got out of bed, walked out of the bedroom, and closed the door behind him.
I went into the bathroom, washed my face with cold water, and my mind became completely clear.
Lin Chen dried his face with a towel and went into the kitchen.
In the kitchen, the aroma of meat simmering over a low flame had reached its peak.
Even through the thick stainless steel lid, the aroma of premium pork fat and spices still wafted out relentlessly.
Lin Chen stepped forward and lifted the lid.
"boom."
A thick white mist instantly rose up.
As the fog dissipated slightly, the scene inside the insulated container was revealed.
The seventy pounds of pork belly had completely changed its appearance.
The fat from the fatty parts was rendered out and melted into the broth; the lean meat absorbed the broth, becoming tender yet firm.
The broth has an enticing reddish-brown color, with a thin layer of glossy oil floating on the surface, and tiny bubbles are bubbling away.
Lin Chen picked up a long-handled iron ladle, dipped it into the bucket and stirred it gently. Satisfied, he put the ladle down and tightened the lid again.
The time is right.
"Slurp..."
A distinct sound of swallowing came from the kitchen doorway.
Lin Chen turned his head and saw Wang Hai leaning against the door frame with messy hair and half-closed eyes.
"Brother Chen, your minced meat sauce is practically a biological weapon."
Wang Hai rubbed his eyes, his voice still hoarse from sleep, "I was sleeping soundly, but this aroma waking me up right up through the crack in the door. It really woke me up from my cravings."
"I washed my face as soon as I woke up and got ready to pack the side dishes."
Lin Chen spoke up.
"Okay!"
Wang Hai patted his cheeks, turned around, and went into the restroom.
A few minutes later, Wang Hai, having finished washing up, went into the kitchen.
The two split up.
Lin Chen was in charge of the most crucial step: steaming the rice.
Forty catties of Wuchang rice were washed clean and placed into a large commercial rice cooker in batches.
Lin Chen pressed the cook button and turned around to start preparing the Shanghai bok choy and white radish.
Blanch the greens and cool them to keep them bright green. Dice the radish, add salt to draw out the water, and use it as a side dish.
Before long, the two had prepared the ingredients.
"Brother Chen, I've already portioned out the Shanghai bok choy and pickled radishes and put them in the refrigerator."
Wang Hai pointed to several neatly stacked egg trays next to him, "I've packed all 120 servings of red-shelled free-range eggs for fried rice into boxes."
"Yes, that's right."
Lin Chen nodded.
The two worked together seamlessly, and the kitchen was quickly tidied up.
Just then, the bedroom door opened.
Tangtang came out wearing pink slippers, rubbing her eyes.
"Daddy..."
"woke up?"
Lin Chen put down the dry towel in his hand, walked over and picked up his daughter who had just woken up and was still a little groggy. "Go wash your face, Daddy will get you some water."
"it is good."
Tangtang nodded obediently.
After Lin Chen helped Tangtang wash up, he poured her a glass of warm water.
The little girl sat on the sofa with a water glass in her hand. After drinking the water, she finally woke up completely.
She ran to the kitchen door with her short legs and peeked inside.
"Uncle Fatty, are you done?"
Tangtang asked curiously.
"All done!"
Wang Hai fastened the last crate securely. "Team leader, we're going to earn some little red flowers again soon!"
"Yay! I'm going to give out lots and lots of spoons!"
Tangtang clapped her hands happily.
4:10 PM.
All the ingredients and equipment were gathered together and neatly stacked by the door, ready to be carried downstairs.
"Rest for ten minutes before you go."
Lin Chen glanced at the time and sat down on a chair in the living room.
Wang Hai slumped onto the sofa and casually pulled his phone out of his pocket.
He opened WeChat, intending only to casually browse his Moments, but as soon as he opened it, messages from a pinned WeChat group started flooding in like a waterfall.
This is a group of regular customers.
At first, there were only a few dozen people in the group, but now there are five hundred people, and a second group has even been created.
Wang Hai clicked into the group chat and immediately burst out laughing.
"Brother Chen! Come quick!"
Wang Hai, holding his phone, sat up straight excitedly. "These diners are crazy!"
The group chat is practically exploding with messages!
Lin Chen leaned back in his chair, picked up his water glass, and took a sip: "What did you say?"
"They're all urging us to set up our stalls!"
Wang Hai cleared his throat and looked at the screen, reading aloud, "When exactly is Boss Lin coming today?"
I didn't even sleep in today, Saturday, and I skipped lunch so I could save room for a bowl of minced meat rice tonight!
"And this too, Wang Hai, come out and tell us what's going on!"
Did you prepare extra meat sauce today?
Yesterday I waited in line for forty-five minutes, watching helplessly as someone else snatched the last serving of hot pot base. I almost burst into tears on the spot!
"Yeah, yeah!"
Today is Saturday! Yintai Plaza must be packed with people!
I canceled my date with my girlfriend and took a taxi to the square early!
"Wang Hai, if you're only preparing fifty jin, we're going to throw this place out the window!"
Wang Hai read them aloud one by one, his smile growing brighter with each reading.
Tangtang sat on the small stool next to him, listening to what Wang Hai read, blinking her big eyes with a face full of confusion.
"Uncle Fatty, why are those uncles and aunties crying because they didn't get any food?"
"If you cry, you're not being good," Tangtang asked in her childish voice.
"Because your dad's cooking is so delicious!"
Wang Hai put down his phone and explained with a smile, "Everyone is off work today and resting at home. The little gluttons are throwing a tantrum because they can't eat anything good, so they want to cry."
"Wow……"
Tangtang opened her mouth wide, seemingly understanding but not quite.
Wang Hai turned his head and looked at Lin Chen.
"Brother Chen, the firepower this weekend is really too intense."
The people in the group are getting anxious and are tagging me like crazy. How should I reply to them?
Wang Hai rubbed his hands excitedly and asked.
"Reply truthfully."
Lin Chen spoke up, putting down his water glass, "Tell them we've prepared seventy catties of minced meat today. The rules remain the same: first come, first served."
"Alright! Watch me!"
Wang Hai typed a line of text on the keyboard and then clicked send.
Wang Hai: Bosses, thank you for waiting!
It's the weekend, so Brother Chen specially increased the quantity; seventy catties of minced meat have already been cooked!
Let's go! Same rules as always, first come, first served!
In less than three seconds, the already lively WeChat group erupted into a frenzy of excitement because of Wang Hai's message.
Wang Hai looked at the screen, grinning from ear to ear: "Brother Chen, everyone in the group is sending out charging emojis right now."
Several people who had been lurking immediately surfaced, saying they were going to reserve spots right away.
Lin Chen stood up and stretched his shoulders.
Weekend customer traffic is already much higher than weekday traffic, plus diners have accumulated a day's worth of enthusiasm.
This means that the pressure to prepare meals tonight will be unprecedented.
"It's almost time."
Lin Chen glanced at the clock on the wall, then turned and walked towards the pile of equipment and storage boxes in the corner. "Let's go downstairs."
"Alright! Charge!"
Wang Hai stuffed his phone into his pocket, stood up from the sofa, picked up the large rice cooker full of rice, and walked towards the door.
Lin Chen carried the shockproof box full of eggs and the side dishes in his hands.
"Tangtang, take your little basket."
Lin Chen turned his head and called out.
"Here you are!"
Tangtang responded with a reply.
The little girl picked up her small plastic basket, which contained clean spoons to be given to the guests that evening.
The father and daughter followed Wang Hai out of the rented room.
The afternoon sun was no longer glaring, carrying the lazy atmosphere unique to the weekend.
Lin Chen locked the security door behind him, and the three of them went downstairs.
After loading all the ingredients and equipment onto the vehicle, Lin Chen put Tangtang into her car seat and secured her, then climbed onto the tricycle himself.
"Brother Chen, let's go!"
Wang Hai sat in the driver's seat of the van, rolled down the window, and called out.
"Buzz"
The two cars, facing the afternoon breeze, drove out of the urban village and headed towards the summer food festival at Yintai Plaza.