Opening for Business

Jiang Feng spent the evening appreciating Wang Hao's lengthy sponsored post. The overly sentimental wording and obvious flattery made him almost embarrassed to like it.

Despite himself, he accidentally tapped the like button.

Jiang Jiankang had already finalized suppliers for vegetables and poultry. The original plan was to open the day after tomorrow, but with everything going smoothly, they could officially open for business tomorrow noon.

Jiang Feng thought for a moment and then edited a post for his Moments.

"Healthy Stir-fry Restaurant on East Food Street opens tomorrow with special promotions! A University students receive a 10% discount on dishes with a clean plate."

He turned off his phone and went to sleep.

He had a tough battle to fight tomorrow.

The first day of a new restaurant opening usually saw a large customer flow.

Jiang Jiankang personally hung the bright red signboard, successfully ruining more than half of Jiang Zaide's interior design.

Whether out of curiosity or the lure of new opening specials, new customers would step into the new establishment.

The next morning, Jiang Feng went to the restaurant to help wash and cut vegetables. Wang Hao, knowing that Jiang Feng's family restaurant didn't hire staff and fearing they'd be overwhelmed, also came to help voluntarily.

The cost of living in A City was high, and the prices at Healthy Stir-fry Restaurant were no exception. Ordinary dishes were thirty percent more expensive than those at nearby small eateries, and larger dishes like pork knuckle were priced the same as at regular restaurants.

Comrade Jiang Jiankang never expected anyone to order large dishes on the first day. The family busied themselves in the kitchen, preparing ingredients commonly used for stir-fries and rice bowls.

Comrade Wang Xiulian washed the vegetables, with Wang Hao assisting her. Jiang Feng and Jiang Jiankang were responsible for cutting the vegetables, dividing the tasks in an orderly fashion.

Green onions were cut into sections, scallions chopped into fine pieces, garlic cloves peeled and smashed, carrots julienned, cucumbers cut into strips, white radishes sliced, and green peppers minced...

Different knives were used for different dishes. Vegetables and meat were not cut with the same knives, nor were ingredients with clashing flavors. This was the Jiang family's habit when cutting. Most chefs were content with one or two favorite knives, but Jiang Jiankang had over a dozen, and Jiang Weiguo had an entire rack of specialized knives.

In Jiang Feng's grandmother's words, it was "fussing over nothing."

It was indeed fussing over nothing, but to Wang Hao, an outsider, it looked like the demeanor of a master.

Jiang Feng handled the vegetables, while Jiang Jiankang cut the meat. Father and son shared the same cutting techniques, each with their own unique flair, but to Wang Hao, it all looked the same: steady, precise, and fast. Thump-thump-thump-thump, soon the plates by the cutting boards of the father and son were piled high with ingredients like small mountains.

Wang Hao took out his phone and recorded a video, posting it to his Moments as one last promotional push before the opening.

In Jiang Feng's mind, game notification sounds continuously chimed.

"Ding, gained 1 Blade Work Proficiency."

"Ding, gained 1 Blade Work Proficiency."

"Ding, gained 1 Blade Work Proficiency."

If this were a game interface, "Proficiency +1 +1 +1" would be constantly floating above Jiang Feng's head.

Ten o'clock, and they officially opened for business.

Jiang Feng placed a sign at the entrance: "New Store Opening! Every customer receives a free cup of Sour Plum Drink upon arrival."

The Sour Plum Drink was brewed by Comrade Jiang Jiankang last night. All the ingredients—smoked plums, hawthorn, dried tangerine peel, licorice, and osmanthus—were of the best quality. It had been chilled in the refrigerator overnight, making it exceptionally cool and refreshing.

The first table of customers were Jiang Feng's classmates from his club.

Only four members of Jiang Feng's chess club had returned to school early, and all four of them came, including two who had eaten Jiang Feng's Shredded Cucumber Salad yesterday.

The four deliberately chose a four-person table near the entrance, making it visible to people outside that the restaurant had customers.

The menus were displayed on the wall, with prices listed next to the dish names. The four looked at the menus and prices, hesitating slightly.

The prices were quite high.

"Brother Feng," Qiu Chen, who was closest to Jiang Feng, spoke without much reservation, "Even if Uncle and Aunt borrowed a lot of money to open the store, setting the prices this high might..."

"With Uncle Jiang's skills, these prices are quite reasonable," Wang Hao said, carrying four cups of Sour Plum Drink from the kitchen. The drinks had just been taken out of the refrigerator and were still steaming with cold.

In the transparent glass cups, the Sour Plum Drink had a very deep brown color, looking incredibly inviting just by sight.

Wang Hao's mouth still had some un-wiped Sour Plum Drink on it.

Knowing he would surely steal some, Jiang Feng asked, "How many did you drink?"

"Not many, just two cups," Wang Hao said with a grin, placing the four cups on the table. "I only meant to try a little, but I couldn't control myself."

"Drink less. They were just taken out of the refrigerator; be careful not to upset your stomach," Jiang Feng advised.

The four patrons who came to support him all picked up their Sour Plum Drinks and took a sip.

It was cool and refreshing, with a hint of smokiness, the sourness and sweetness perfectly balanced, not too much, not too little.

The four gulped them down quickly, finishing each cup of Sour Plum Drink. Their initial dissatisfaction with the prices had completely vanished as the Sour Plum Drink slid down their throats.

If a mere beverage like the Sour Plum Drink was this delicious, what about the other dishes?

"Brother Feng, how much is a cup of this Sour Plum Drink? Can I have another one?" Jiang Feng's junior, Liu Zixuan, asked eagerly.

"Fifteen a cup." Fearing he might find it expensive, Jiang Feng explained, "My dad brewed this Sour Plum Drink for over two hours last night. He'd be heartbroken if I sold it too cheap."

"Not expensive, not expensive at all," Liu Zixuan said, shaking his head like a rattle drum.

The other three finished their Sour Plum Drinks and also asked for another cup.

Selling four cups of Sour Plum Drink before even officially opening was something Jiang Feng hadn't anticipated.

The group of four ordered four dishes. Besides the Kung Pao Chicken recommended by Jiang Feng, Qiu Chen ordered Sweet and Sour Pork Tenderloin, Liu Zixuan ordered Pan-fried Tofu, and the other two, after some discussion, ordered Stir-fried Pork with Chili.

The four dishes totaled 120 yuan. Rice was free, and with the Sour Plum Drink, it came to 180 yuan. Near A University, this was practically a sky-high price.

With the Sour Plum Drink having set such a high bar, the four had no complaints. They cradled the Sour Plum Drink like precious treasures, sipping it in small mouthfuls.

Jiang Feng would only sell them two cups each, and everyone cherished them, savoring every drop.

Jiang Feng went to help in the back kitchen, while Wang Hao stayed to chat with them. He boasted about the deliciousness of last night's dishes, how flavorful the Lion's Head Meatballs were, and how tender the braised pork knuckle was. Listening to him made the four of them drool, regretting not ordering more generously when they placed their order.

Wait, the Lion's Head Meatballs seemed to be sold separately.

Qiu Chen darted over to the menu and found the listing for Lion's Head Meatballs.

They were 20 yuan each.

The four, feeling quite extravagant, added four Lion's Head Meatballs to their order.

A few minutes later, Jiang Feng emerged from the back kitchen carrying a plate of Kung Pao Chicken, prepared to Jiang Jiankang's usual standard.

The four pairs of chopsticks all reached for the Kung Pao Chicken simultaneously.

Soon, everyone abandoned the Sour Plum Drink, declaring the Kung Pao Chicken their new favorite.

Shortly after, a young couple, who had wandered in by mistake, arrived at the restaurant.

Upon seeing the menu, the girl couldn't help but exclaim softly, "So expensive!"

The boy's expression also soured. He asked in a low voice, "Should we go?"

"Let's go, let's go," the girl said, tugging at her boyfriend's sleeve as she prepared to leave.

Liu Chen and his group's table was right by the entrance. As the couple passed, the boy suddenly caught a whiff of the food.

It smelled so good.

It even smelled a little sweet.

The boy turned his head and saw the group of four, looking somewhat disheveled, happily devouring a plate of food.

"Classmates, what are you eating?" the boy asked.

"Kung Pao Chicken," Qiu Chen replied indistinctly, his mouth full of meat.

"Is it good?" The boy involuntarily swallowed.

Qiu Chen was too busy eating to answer. Facing these three ravenous eaters, any extra word he spoke meant one less bite for himself, so he could only nod perfunctorily.

Their actions spoke louder than words.

"How about we just order one plate of Kung Pao Chicken?" the boy's resolve began to waver.

The girl wasn't particularly interested in Kung Pao Chicken, but since her boyfriend wanted it, she didn't object and reluctantly nodded.

At that moment, Jiang Feng came out with the Sweet and Sour Pork Tenderloin.

The pork tenderloin was fried to a golden crisp, coated in a meticulously thickened sweet and sour sauce, and then drizzled with a perfectly prepared rich broth by Jiang Jiankang, releasing a fragrant aroma.

Gulp. The girl swallowed.

"Add another Sweet and Sour Pork Tenderloin," the girl said, walking to a seat by the window and making a final decision.

Good news! Good news! Healthy Stir-fry Restaurant is celebrating its grand opening! All readers can receive a 15% discount by showing their collection, recommendation, and comment history in-store!