1995: From a small restaurant to a culinary genius

Chapter 57 The Shopping Frenzy

The sky was not yet fully bright, and the streets of the small town were still shrouded in the morning mist.

The lights were already on at the entrance of Xu Liang's small restaurant, earlier than any other shop in town.

The braised pork buns sold out as soon as they hit the shelves the day before, and the steamed buns were also sold out.

As he was leaving, countless people surrounded him, urging him to do more and more tomorrow.

Xu Liang lay in bed that night, calculating the accounts over and over again. The revenue of 135 yuan felt like a reassuring pill, hitting him hard on the heart.

In the 1990s, an average worker's monthly salary was just over 300 yuan, but he earned almost half a month's salary in one morning.

He wouldn't have dared to even think about this before.

Having been reborn, Xu Liang has finally gotten a taste of a good life thanks to his culinary skills.

So today, he pushed the inventory to its maximum.

Before four o'clock in the morning, Xu Liang had already gotten up and gone into the kitchen.

The dough was prepared in three large bowls the night before, enough to make 250 spicy flower rolls.

The meat filling for the braised pork buns is carefully prepared in advance. The pork belly is selected with a 3:7 ratio of fat to lean meat, and is chopped finely and evenly. It is then slowly stir-fried with Pixian chili bean paste and sweet bean sauce over low heat, allowing the aroma of the sauce to fully penetrate the meat. The flavor remains unchanged after being refrigerated overnight.

He also prepared one more thing today.

Sufficient food-grade plastic bags are needed, in case things get hectic with so many people, especially since he's the only one working at the small restaurant and can't keep up with the packing.

Heat the iron pot.

Next, rapeseed oil was poured into the pan, and the oil noodles began to emit a faint blue smoke.

With a flick of his wrist, Xu Liang poured the chopped pork belly into the pot.

The sizzling sound and the aroma of meat exploded instantly.

The aroma of rapeseed oil filled the small kitchen.

He quickly stir-fried the ingredients to render out the excess oil, then added fermented broad beans and stir-fried until the oil turned red, followed by the numbing aroma of Sichuan peppercorns.

Finally, sprinkle some chopped scallions on top, and a pot of bright red and fragrant minced meat is ready.

The risen dough is snow-white and fluffy. After kneading to release the air, cut it into evenly sized dough pieces.

Xu Liang rolled out the dough, filled it with filling, and pinched the pleats with fluid movements. As his fingers flew across the steamer, plump and round buns were neatly arranged on the steamer.

Meanwhile, the steamed buns were also being made.

Rolling out the dough, brushing on oil, sprinkling chili powder and Sichuan peppercorn powder, rolling it up, and cutting it into sections—the movements are so practiced that they require almost no thought.

Two hundred and fifty steamed buns.

One hundred and twenty braised pork buns.

These six large drawers completely filled the steamer.

Xu Liang covered the pot with the lid and steamed it over high heat.

White steam continuously billowed from the edge of the pot lid, the refreshing spiciness of the steamed buns and the rich, savory aroma of the dumplings mingling together.

It drifted out of the kitchen on the wind, towards the street corner, and then gradually spread throughout the entire street.

The fragrance, like an invisible woman, makes one's heart itch, and one's feet involuntarily move towards this direction.

As dawn broke, the first wave of guests arrived.

However, there were quite a few, and Xu Liang even saw some new diners.

He only managed to buy a few yesterday, but when he got back he bragged about it to his coworkers, and the whole team was so envious that they asked him to bring them more before dawn.

Fearing he'd miss out if he arrived late, Li Lei simply left half an hour early and jogged over.

But when he ran to the restaurant entrance, he was completely stunned.

Five or six people were already standing at the door, all craning their necks to peek into the kitchen.

"Wow, I thought I was early enough, but it turns out there are even earlier ones!"

Li Lei quickly squeezed to the back of the line, secretly glad that he had arrived in time.

At the front of the line was Aunt Wang, who was at the market. She was carrying a large bamboo basket, which was empty, clearly indicating that she had come specifically to fill it with steamed buns and dumplings.

Upon seeing Li Lei, she smiled and turned around.

"You're not the only one who didn't get enough to eat yesterday. My husband ate two steamed buns yesterday, and he kicked me out of bed before dawn today, telling me to buy more."

No sooner had he finished speaking than the sound of a large wooden barbell rang from afar.

Old Zhao hurried over on his old-fashioned bicycle.

A bulging cloth bag was hanging on the handlebars, and before the rider had even come to a complete stop, his voice rang out.

"Boss Xu! You'd better save enough for me today. I need to eat on my long trip, and I also need to bring some for the other drivers!"

Immediately afterwards, primary school teacher Chen Xiulan arrived with a group of colleagues.

After they ate there yesterday, the whole office couldn't stop thinking about it, so they came over as a group today, each with change in hand, clearly planning to go on a shopping spree.

"Teacher Chen, you're here too?"

"I had to come; I was craving that taste all night yesterday."

More and more people gathered.

There are workers from nearby factories who get up early to go to work.

There were parents dropping off their children at school, neighbors going to the market to buy groceries, and even many people coming from the neighboring village for the early morning market. They came over curiously because of the aroma.

In just over ten minutes, a long queue formed in front of the small restaurant.

From the entrance all the way to the street corner, Xu Liang roughly counted, there were at least thirty or forty people.

This kind of spectacle is truly rare in a quiet town.

Passersby stopped to inquire about the long queue.

"With so many people queuing up, what good stuff are they selling?"

"Boss Xu's spicy steamed buns and braised pork buns, the steamed buns are 50 cents each and the buns are 1 yuan each, they're so delicious, they sold out as soon as they were put on the shelves yesterday!"

"One yuan a bun? That's even more affordable than the cafeteria! I'll line up and try it!"

More and more people joined the line, making it longer and longer. Those at the back couldn't see what was happening in front and could only keep pushing forward, muttering to themselves.

Are there any left? Don't let them sell out!

In the kitchen, Xu Liang listened to the increasingly noisy voices outside, but remained calm.

He glanced at the time, estimating that it was almost done steaming, and walked over to lift the lid off the pot.

Call ~

Puffs of white steam billowed into the air, filling the entire small restaurant with a rich aroma that even wafted outside and into the noses of the diners.

Inside the steamer, the spicy flower rolls are layered, with alternating red and white colors, and glistening with oil.

Each meat bun is plump and round, with a smooth skin that subtly reveals the reddish-brown sheen of the meat filling underneath.

"They're ready! Spicy steamed buns are 50 cents each, and spicy meat buns are 1 dollar each. They're hot and just steamed!"

As soon as Xu Liang shouted, the previously orderly queue became restless.

Li Lei, who was at the very front of the line, was the first to rush forward, slapping a handful of change on the counter, his voice filled with urgency.

"Boss Xu! Give me six steamed buns and eight dumplings! My coworker asked me to bring ten more, hurry up!"

"Okay, coming right away!"

Xu Liang quickly and efficiently packed the bags.

Li Lei took the bag, eagerly took out a steamed bun, and without caring that it was too hot to eat, took a big bite.

"My goodness! It's so delicious! Even better than yesterday!"

Li Lei ate with his mouth full of oil, shouting indistinctly, which made the people behind him even more anxious.

Aunt Wang then handed over the bamboo basket.

Pack me ten steamed buns and eight mantou (steamed dumplings)! My sister-in-law heard about it and specifically asked me to bring some over to try!

Old Zhao, who drives long distances, was even more generous, ordering fifteen steamed buns and ten dumplings and stuffing them into his cloth bag.

Chen Xiulan and her colleagues each ordered two steamed buns and two steamed dumplings. After tasting them, they immediately placed long-term orders with Xu Liang.

"Boss Xu, we'll be coming to the office every morning from now on. Please save us twenty steamed buns and ten dumplings; we'll just come and pick them up!"

Xu Liang responded while collecting money, giving change, and bagging items, his hands almost never stopping.

The line was so long that it seemed to stretch on forever; as soon as someone left, someone else would immediately take their place.

A steamer basket of food that had just come out of the pot was almost half gone in the blink of an eye.

Some people bought seven or eight steamed buns at once, saying they would take them home for the elderly and children to try; others bought more than a dozen flower rolls, intending to share them with their neighbors.

Several workers from nearby factories even came as a group, buying dozens at a time to take back to the factory as a snack.

"Boss, give me four steamed buns!"

"I want six steamed buns and two mantou!"

"Is there any left? I've been waiting in line for ages, don't let me come all this way for nothing!"

The entrance to the small restaurant was bustling with noise, as lively as a market.

Many people who arrived a little later were anxious and kept urging others to hurry up as they watched the steamer filling up with fewer and fewer steamed buns and dumplings.

"Boss Xu, hurry up and steam another batch! We're almost done!"

"I came all the way from the east end of the village, I can't sell them all!"

Xu Liang's forehead was covered in sweat, and his clothes on the back were soaked with sweat, but he still smiled and comforted her.

"Don't worry, everyone, there's still some left, everyone gets a share!"

But though he said that, he knew in his heart that the supplies prepared for today's event were probably still insufficient.

It seems I haven't done enough.

Just then, a small commotion suddenly arose outside the crowd.

Several neatly dressed people, whose identities were clearly extraordinary, stood not far from the group.

Looking at the bustling scene of panic buying, he was somewhat surprised.

The one leading them was Zhang Jingchen.

He was a little later than usual today, and he thought he would just quietly buy his things and leave.

I was surprised to see such a long line of people when I got to the street corner.

Kobayashi, who was standing beside him, was also somewhat surprised.

"Director Zhang, I didn't expect business to be so booming."

Zhang Jingchen nodded slightly, his gaze falling on the steaming buns and rolls in the steamer, a faint smile appearing on his face.

"Good taste and generous portions, naturally people will want to come."

Xu Liang spotted them immediately and quickly took a break from his busy schedule to greet them.

"Comrade Zhang, you've arrived! There are a lot of people today, so we haven't been able to take good care of you. Please wait a moment while I pack your food."

"It's alright, just follow the order."

Zhang Jingchen waved his hand, not making any special requests.

Instead, he stood quietly to the side, watching Xu Liang busy himself.

Wait until the previous group of guests dispersed a little.

Xu Liangcai quickly packed twenty steamed buns and eight dumplings, wrapped them in a clean bag, and handed them over.

"Here you go, it's still warm."

Zhang Jingchen took the bun, picked it up, and gently broke it open. The filling was plump, the sauce was bright red, and the numbing and spicy flavors were just right, making the meat aroma even richer.

He took a bite, and his eyes lit up slightly.

"The taste remains consistent, even better than many specialized noodle shops in the county town."

After he finished speaking, he looked at Xiaolin.

"Go back and give our comrades a good welcome!"

Kobayashi immediately responded.

"Okay!"

Upon hearing this, Xu Liang felt even more reassured.

With regular large orders from work groups, plus individual customers spread by word of mouth among the locals.

His breakfast business has now reached its peak.

Zhang Jingchen didn't linger; he took the steamed buns and turned to leave.

As soon as he left, the number of customers at Xu Liang Hunan Cuisine Restaurant started to increase again.

But there were far too many guests, far more than he had expected.

I originally thought there would be 250 steamed buns and 120 dumplings.

They thought they could last until the sun was high in the sky, but after only half an hour, the meat buns were already empty.

The last dozen or so buns were bought up on the spot by a few workers who rushed over, who said they would take them back to the factory to share with their colleagues who hadn't gotten any.

Those who couldn't buy steamed buns immediately surrounded the area, looking disappointed.

"Boss, where did all the steamed buns go? I've been waiting in line for so long!"

"Make sure to make a lot more tomorrow; these steamed buns are even more popular than twisted rolls!"

Xu Liang apologized repeatedly.

"Sorry, I was too conservative today. I'll definitely prepare more minced meat tomorrow so everyone can have some!"

The braised pork buns sold out, and the steamed buns didn't last long either.

The remaining dozens of steamed buns were quickly snapped up by the people in line.

Even the last few that weren't in the best condition were bought without hesitation.

As the last customer left with his steamed buns, satisfied, the street gradually quieted down. Xu Liangcai finally breathed a sigh of relief, leaned against the table, and wiped away his sweat as he gasped for breath.

His arms were sore and swollen, and his back was covered in sweat, but he was filled with uncontrollable excitement.

He gathered the money on the counter, one cent, five cents, and one dollar, and slowly sorted and counted it.

There are 250 steamed buns, totaling 125 pieces.

One hundred and twenty meat buns, totaling one hundred and twenty yuan.

The two together make a total of two hundred and forty-five yuan!

Xu Liang paused slightly, almost unable to believe his eyes.

He counted it again, and the number remained unchanged.

Two hundred and forty-five yuan.

It's almost doubled from yesterday's 135 yuan.

In an era when a monthly salary was only around 300 yuan, he earned more in one morning than an average worker would earn in a month.

He used to only serve lunch and dinner, working himself to the bone for only thirty or forty yuan a day. Now that he's expanded into breakfast, his revenue has skyrocketed in just three days, from sixty-something to one hundred and thirty-five, and now it's two hundred and forty-five.

The spicy steamed buns made a name for themselves, and the spicy meat buns became a bestseller.

These two items triggered a buying frenzy as soon as they hit the market.

Xu Liang walked to the door and looked at the town that was gradually becoming lively.

As more and more people entered the street, many passed by restaurants and saw empty steamers, knowing that the food was almost sold out.

Perhaps there are other things similar to freshly made food.

So the passerby asked, "Boss, do you still have steamed buns?"

"Sold out. Please come back tomorrow."

Xu Liang responded with a smile.

Although the other party was disappointed, they still remembered to give some advice.

"Then you'll have to make a lot more tomorrow; I'll definitely come early!"

Xu Liang nodded repeatedly.

He glanced back at the neatly clean kitchen, already having a new plan in mind.

At this rate, we can definitely increase the quantity tomorrow. We'll increase the steamed buns to 300 and the dumplings to 200.

We can even add new products.

Let's have brown sugar potstickers and spicy potstickers!

At that time, the daily revenue will reach a new record high.

At this moment, he was no longer the Xu Liang who had accomplished nothing and lived a muddled life in his previous life.

Relying on his skills, he steadily established himself and turned his small restaurant into the most popular food business on the entire street.

He wanted everyone in the town to know that Xu Liang's small restaurant's breakfast was not only delicious, but also always plentiful!

Today's frenzied buying spree brought him a different feeling.

Let's start planning for next week.