Chapter 111

Chapter 111: Three Special Effects

Although it was called a charity dinner, there were only five tables in total that evening.

This number was decided after much discussion.

If there were too many tables, it might give the impression that Chen Ran was using hunger marketing to take advantage of her fans; if there were too few, it wouldn’t make much of a difference for the Hope Primary School.

Gao Shuxian and Wan Jiaxin had been preparing for a long time. The two of them nervously wrote several versions of the plan and even consulted Ji You. In the end, they decided to use a blind box style with hidden labels.

Each person could only purchase three blind boxes of dishes!

This way, the total amount wouldn’t be too much, but it wouldn’t be too little either.

Xu Zhanying was quite unhappy with the three-item limit. She could eat an entire table full!

"That's fine, this number works. Everyone at the bookstore had a taste of roasted chicken yesterday and ate baozi this morning. Those who can’t afford it shouldn’t force themselves to buy the blind boxes. They can still have enough to eat at the bookstore."

The fans who had initially opened the bookstore were relatively wealthy and contributed the major share of the costs.

The remaining funds from setting up the bookstore were used for the meal expenses, and the rest was covered by the fans who came to eat.

“Tonight's charity dinner, students are not allowed to attend, and those who were previously tricked into multi-level marketing scams are also not allowed.”

Mi Chengzhi and Zhu Chenchen in the crowd looked a little unhappy.

However, the others didn’t have many concerns!

Soon, the five tables were quickly filled up. Once everything was settled, Gao Shuxian went to find Chen Ran and helped in the kitchen for a while.

"Shuxian, has your family been looking for you recently?"

Gao Shuxian shook her head. "No, some of the gray industries in my family were raided, and they’re too busy to come after me. I don't think they'll pursue me anymore."

She showed Chen Ran the seating arrangement. "Tonight, 80 people will attend the charity dinner. Each person can buy three blind boxes, which means we need to prepare 240 dishes."

"There's also the banquet hosted by Principal Li. There are four people attending. How should we handle that table?"

Chen Ran's expression stiffened. If it weren’t for the Hope Primary School still being here and needing the support of these people in the future, she might have just served them four plates of mixed cucumbers!

Wan Jiaxin also came in. Seeing Chen Ran’s change in expression, she immediately knew what she was thinking and quickly spoke up: "Chen Ran, let’s give that table some good food and drinks. They’re the ones in charge now, and Principal Li will get down to allocate funding just by drinking a little wine. It’s already…"

She didn’t finish her sentence, but everyone understood what she meant.

"Fine," Chen Ran thought for a moment and decided to serve some good dishes at that table since Principal Li was there. "Let’s go with braised lion’s head and Dinghu Shangsu as the main dishes, and use gluten cakes as the staple food. I’ll handle the rest."

She only knew how to cook. These matters in the bureaucratic world weren’t her area of expertise, so she left it to the professionals.

"Alright, Chen Ran! I’ll help with picking the vegetables!"

To avoid anyone causing trouble for Principal Li later, she planned to prepare a table full of dishes with special effects to pair with the wine!

The special flavor effect of Dinghu Shangsu had been developed, but she hadn’t used it yet.

Chen Ran opened the system and clicked on the Dinghu Shangsu interface.

【The flavor discovered in tastelessness, carrying the most magnificent imagination】

【The chef’s persistence will surely be conveyed to the diners】【Flavor Effect: Eating this Dinghu Shangsu will make diners often think of their current state of mind in the future.】

【Special Effect Limitation: Limited to one portion per year.】

This special effect is the one with the longest-lasting effect among all the dishes. Naturally, there are many corresponding restrictions.

Chen Ran had never found the right time to test this dish, but now, it was the perfect opportunity.

That evening, Principal Li specially borrowed a car to pick someone up. President Xu generously lent her his luxury car, and Principal Li was a little grateful.

"With this car, it’s so much easier to pick people up!"

President Xu sighed and waved his hand. "I’m just doing a little more work. As for you..."

Inviting guests at this primary school and managing to invite several leaders at once shows just how diligent Principal Li must be in running around to various departments!

She had caused them so many headaches, and yet they couldn’t do anything to this proud woman, so they could only push through.

When Principal Li entered, the faces of the people at the table didn’t look very good.

"Vice Principal Li, you have to understand our financial difficulties... We are a poverty-stricken county."

She turned her head and glanced out the window at the newly built government office building, its glass facade shining brightly.

"Our funding has been delayed... we can’t let the teachers miss their salaries over the New Year, can we?"

Principal Li’s posture wasn’t as straight as it used to be when she was younger. She sat down and, as a habit, picked up her wine glass. "Let me do the first toast."

She couldn’t say anything too pleasant. Even when she cared for students, she was stiff and straightforward.

Such a person, sitting at this table, couldn’t say what the leaders wanted to hear.

But her ten years of running around to various departments, and the many toasts she had forced herself to drink over the years, had kept the school running.

She downed her drink in one go. One of the middle-aged men sighed and pointed at Principal Li with his index finger. "Here we go again! I’m telling you, this time I’m not falling for your act!"

The neighboring county had built a cave-themed landscape city and some water-themed buildings. They were also trying to attract investment.

Every penny counted...

At that moment, a loud uproar suddenly broke out outside the window.

The five charity blind boxes had already started bidding!

However, these five tables were outdoors, and they were in the dining hall, so they could only catch glimpses of the scene outside through the window.

"Let’s now announce the first batch of hidden labels."

Wan Jiaxin, who had experience in the entertainment industry, was good at hosting and livening up the atmosphere.

"The first blind box was won by Qiu Xian for 800 yuan. Let’s open it and see... it’s a salted pepper elbow! Let’s congratulate Qiu Xian for getting a bargain!"

Qiu Xian was very proud!

Everyone had a limited number of bids, and everyone wanted to see what the first blind box contained. She had won the big elbow for 800 yuan, which was definitely a win!

Moreover, the final proceeds from the auction would be donated entirely to the Hope Primary School.

Not only had she donated money, but she also got to eat the big elbow all by herself."The second blind box was won by Ms. Wang Qing'an, who spent 2,000 yuan... it’s three sets of duck! Let’s congratulate Ms. Wang!"

Wang Qing'an nodded, looking very pleased with herself.

There had to be a big dish among the first batch of blind boxes, and her judgment was correct!

Listening to the auction sounds outside, Principal Li’s table grew quieter and quieter.

After a while, someone suddenly slammed their chopsticks on the table. "Principal Li, is this little drama outside for our benefit?"

What did that mean? They weren’t giving funding, but the school could still find donations, right?

If they had the ability, they shouldn’t come asking the county for a single penny in the future!

As soon as he finished speaking, someone entered.

It was Gao Shuxian, temporarily filling in as a waitress, bringing in a large bowl of braised lion’s head.

Miss Gao seemed not to have heard the earlier dispute in the room. She placed the lion’s head in the middle of the table, then immediately lifted the lid.

If the diners outside were here, they would surely exclaim that Chen Ran’s skills had improved!

After learning the authentic clear-braised lion’s head from Xu Lao, when Chen Ran remade the braised lion’s head, she naturally integrated various techniques into it.

Of course, she didn’t forget to activate the special effect.

In the midst of the unique meat aroma, some people couldn’t help but swallow.

"Forget it, what’s there to argue with her... After all these years, you should know, she’s like a stone in a latrine—stinky and hard..."

Gao Shuxian also picked up a spoon and served a lion’s head for everyone. "Please enjoy."

The rich braised broth didn’t need much mention, and the tender texture with the chewy meat chunks didn’t need more explanation. The most bizarre part was that with each bite of the lion’s head, it made people involuntarily recall the past.

"Sigh... When I was young, my father didn’t want me to go to school. He said it was useless. Later, the village head had to step in... He said, if you don’t send the child to school, will they just spend their whole life herding cattle like you?"

"We were really poor when we were young. My village didn’t even have running water. The happiest thing for me was when I went to middle school, I could live at the school. No matter how tired the studies were, living at school and not having to go home to work was enough to make me happy..."

Principal Li was a bit confused.

She watched as Gao Shuxian, who had just left, quickly returned with two more dishes. One seemed to be stir-fried mixed mushrooms, and the other appeared to be a plate of pancakes?

"Dinghu Shangsu and gluten pancakes, please enjoy."

The leaders at the table were still immersed in the childhood memories brought by the special effect of the lion’s head and didn’t pay much attention to the order of the dishes being served.

Everyone grabbed a pancake, dipped it into the lion’s head broth, and put it into their mouths.

A soothing atmosphere immediately enveloped the entire room.

Some people began to speak their true feelings.

"Principal Li, sigh, we all came from poor mountain villages, the funding will definitely come through for you..."

"Yeah, when I think back to my childhood, the thing I looked forward to most was going to school. I didn’t have to work on the farm at home, and I didn’t get beaten. Even if the teacher scolded me a little, it still felt good."

Principal Li was bewildered, but upon hearing this, she knew that the school’s funding had hope!

She was about to toast again but was stopped by someone beside her."Alright, Principal Li, stop drinking. Have some dishes. These dishes are really well made, let me try this Dinghu Shangsu."

【Flavor Special Effect: Eating this Dinghu Shangsu will make the diner often recall their current state of mind in the days to come.】

As the chopsticks with Dinghu Shangsu entered their mouths, a few people were momentarily stunned.

The feeling was as if the present moment had been eternally engraved into their hearts.

Chen Ran, having just completed a batch of blind boxes, quietly came over and peeked through the window.

This should be enough, right?

As long as they can often remember the state of mind from today, at least they wouldn’t trouble the school in the future.

The poor children of that year had now made something of themselves, and it was time they frequently reflected on their original intentions.

And outside the window...

The blind box auction was still ongoing!

"Congratulations to Zhu Nan, who won this blind box with 5,000 yuan. Let’s see his luck… It’s another plate of vinegar-cooked small carp! Congratulations to Zhu Nan for the three-time consecutive win with the carp!"

Zhu Nan jogged up and retorted to the fans cheering him on with the nickname "Carp Brother": "What are you doing? At least I bid on small carp, who was it that bid three times for the Wensi tofu, huh?!"

"What’s wrong with Wensi tofu! Chef Chen’s Wensi tofu, if I drank it while standing on my head, I could still drink three bowls!"

But in the end, everyone was familiar with each other, so they teased about luck and exchanged dishes on the table to taste.

Du Zhaohu came over to find Chen Ran: "Master, all the dishes are served, you should rest for a bit?"

After speaking, he suddenly remembered something he had forgotten to tell Chen Ran. They had started making buns from the very first day and got so busy that he had forgotten!

"Master, the chef has already recommended you for the two capitals' culinary competition, he said, ‘Don’t worry, just go boldly!’"