Chapter 43

Chapter 43

So delicious, add poppy seed powder...

Before the salted peanuts arrived, Chen Ran had wondered what the last dish of this snack set would be.

Would it be a cold dish? Or some other similarly fading traditional Chinese snack?

But when it finally came to the salted peanuts, she felt it was just right.

The status of this snack among Chinese snacks is probably undisputed, right? Whether eating barbecue, drinking alcohol, or ordering dishes at a KTV, this snack’s order rate is very high.

Huang Renshou came over, looked into the pot, and scooped out a peanut with a spoon: “Fresh peanuts?”

“Yes, Shunzi brought these fresh peanuts from his own farm.”

“Not bad,” Huang Renshou nodded, his expression full of admiration for Chen Ran. “When I first learned to cook, I liked to play with fancy stuff, but you, at such a young age, know when to stop... very good.”

He was still holding a bag of lively little crucian carp and couldn’t help but raise his hand to show Chen Ran: “Young friend, do you think I have the face to ask you to make your crispy fried crucian carp?”

Gao Shuxian smiled beside him and explained, “I’ve gone to buy crucian carp a few times and ended up grabbing this old gentleman’s fish. Today, he wanted to try our crispy fried crucian carp, but they just sold out...”

Chen Ran was indifferent, even a bit excited. That old man who wanted to take disciples had once gotten the system to send her a recipe for Guobaorou (crispy sweet and sour pork)!

However, this time she waited a while and the system didn’t respond, so she took the crucian carp and started cooking.

While she cooked, Huang Renshou kept commenting beside her, making Chen Ran feel a bit embarrassed.

“This knife cut on the back... beautiful! Spot on, one cut done, excellent knife skills!”

“The marinade smells refined, that grainy texture is really beautiful!”

“Using such high oil temperature for the first fry? Not bad, little girl, quick technique...”

A plate of crispy fried crucian carp came out of the pan, and Huang Renshou eagerly took one and put it in his mouth.

He had been praising Chen Ran while she cooked, but after tasting the fish, he fell silent. Gao Shuxian was waiting for him to say something new but heard nothing for a long time.

“The new waves push the old... the young are admirable!”

Huang Renshou watched Chen Ran frying meatballs and felt a bit embarrassed inside.

For old chefs like them, finding qualified successors is already very difficult. Few can patiently explore the path and stay true to the heart of being a chef.

When he had just asked Gao Shuxian to bring him into the kitchen, he had wanted to see the girl’s potential.

But after eating that crucian carp, he reflected on his own vinegar-braised small crucian carp dish and felt it couldn’t surpass hers in any way.

Even more, her crispy fried crucian carp, which skipped the vinegar-braising step, had absolutely no fishy smell and was more skillfully done.

“Thank you, boss. I’ll come often. I’ll also help you ask about sales channels for this little crucian carp.”

Hearing this, Gao Shuxian repeatedly thanked him: “Thank you so much!”

Huang Renshou had run a private kitchen locally for quite some time and especially liked personally selecting fresh and good ingredients. With his help, Gao Shuxian soon found a few steady supply channels—not just for the crucian carp, but for fresh peanuts as well.

Soon, the snack at Bai Tian’e KTV became available as a set!

Though single orders were still possible, most people chose the set.

That weekend, Qingjiao Ge, finally off duty but still mindful of his responsibility, came to the Bai Tian’e entrance to maintain order, carrying the little flag that had once shined on Yanglian Mountain.“Don’t push! Keep the line tight. Older folks can take the flags first and wait over there!”

The KTV’s few small dishes leaned toward drinking snacks. Besides young diners, many local old drinkers were also attracted.

However, the weather wasn’t cool yet. Qingjiao Ge was a bit worried about these old men causing trouble while lining up, so he handed out numbered tickets in advance to have them sit aside.

The video capturing the Best Actor and the days he appeared as a guest on Peach Blossom Spring gave Qingjiao Ge and Lu Bei a bit of a bonus — their short video account gained quite a few followers.

This made him more motivated!

While handing out the little flags with numbers, he chatted and joked with some familiar diners: “Zhou Jiaming, you’re here too? Have you eaten? Hehe, of course I have!”

Those maintaining order for free naturally had chances to eat!

As Chen Ran’s fan base grew stronger, the groups even developed organizational structures. Qingjiao Ge, as one of the first order-maintainers, had earned a middling position.

The event funding came from donations by diners; Ms. Wang and Wang Zhaoshan, among others, gave much support. Surprisingly, even Best Actor Qian Jun contributed a thousand yuan in funding to show support.

“Eating at that small shop in Yanglian Mountain was the most comfortable meal I’ve had in years. No one asked for autographs for their fans, no one crowded around me.”

“Everyone just took a simple group photo and then fully immersed themselves back into the food...”

That really was Qian Jun’s most comfortable meal in recent years. The next day, he and his assistant rushed up the mountain, only to find the chef had fled!

He was furious!

Qingjiao Ge even added Qian Jun on WeChat and chatted a few times. The aura around the Best Actor had almost completely faded in his mind.

When they were eating just now, Qingjiao Ge had even sent the actor a 360-degree video before starting to eat.

At that moment, Qian Jun replied on WeChat.

“Damn, why did it change to small dishes this time? Are they good? How do they compare to the pork knuckle? I really miss that little fish!”

“Absolutely amazing!”

Qingjiao Ge tried hard to describe to Qian Jun: “If you say the four small dishes are slightly less tasty than the pork knuckle, then combined together, they’re basically on par with the pork knuckle!”

Although the clear stewed pork knuckle was a double S-grade dish, naturally a single dish was slightly disadvantaged compared to a full set.

Also, in a KTV environment, drinking some light alcohol, eating fried chicken and fried small fish, occasionally nibbling on rich vegetarian meatballs, and finally cleansing the palate with fresh salted peanuts...

That taste—there’s no way to describe how good it is!

“...If I come now, can I still get in line?”

For Best Actor Qian Jun’s question, Qingjiao Ge chose to answer directly with a video.

He raised his phone and simply filmed the queue at Bai Tian’e.

Qian Jun opened the video, astonished to find the line even more extreme than at the Yanglian Mountain small eatery!

After all, the Yanglian Mountain small eatery was halfway up the mountain. Even with the Best Actor’s video endorsement, most people hesitated about trekking halfway up just to try a pork knuckle they hadn’t had before.

But this KTV was just a few steps from work.

He opened the video carefully and could even hear passersby talking.

“Seriously, why are they singing in here again? Have some respect! Everyone’s here to eat, not to sing!”“Why don’t we persuade the boss to open delivery? Having this KTV on Meituan... shouldn’t be too much, right?”

“I still want freshly fried food. Chef Chen never made fried dishes before, and this time having three kinds—I'm going to enjoy it to death!”

The long queue outside the store stressed not only Best Actor but also the boss.

Although volunteers maintained order, Gao Shuxian grew anxious watching the line get longer.

She consulted Shunzi: “What do you think? Should we shorten the private room time?”

It should’ve been done a long time ago!

Shunzi nodded, uttering a strange but fitting term in the moment: “I agree. With Chen Ran here, the most important thing now is to improve table turnover!”

Table turnover is a term usually used in the restaurant industry, meaning how many times tables are used.

Gao Shuxian didn’t expect the KTV she temporarily managed even had this concept!

Quickly, she changed their group-buy pricing and description, reducing the previous two-hour free choice to one hour, and halving the price.

Meanwhile, Ji You energetically promoted in the fan groups: “Everyone, please finish eating well and then give others a chance. Catching Chef Chen once is not easy!”

Everyone agreed in the groups.

“Indeed, having such a chance is really rare! Look at where Chen Ran used to work, like kindergartens and police stations. Finally, there’s a restaurant halfway up a scenic mountain. Please, be kind and let me get in today! I have to take the high-speed train home tomorrow!”

“I’m number 351 in line. Can I really eat today? Older brothers and sisters ahead, let’s share tables consciously! Fitting ten people in a small KTV room shouldn’t be a problem!”

“Hey, sister ahead, I’m 355. Let’s share a table!”

Soon, the KTV’s table turnover really improved!

However, though turnover and revenue increased, the queue kept growing longer.

Not only did Chen Ran’s fans show up, but passersby who saw the long line joined spontaneously.

When Qingjiao Ge handed out tickets in the back, he sometimes chatted a bit, recommending dishes to those near the front. By the time he reached the back, conversations turned to:

“Brother, can I ask, what’s this line for? Free eggs?”

Still, even with such a long line, Ji You, who always planned carefully, was not worried.

She had already hired people to stand in line for her!

Driving along with Ms. Wang, she even picked up Wang Zhaoshan midway, and the two chatted warmly in the car.

“You said your director promised she’ll definitely appear on Famous Chef next time?”

Wang Zhaoshan nodded: “According to our director, the young girl’s cooking talent is admirable, her basics solid, but she still lacks practice. Give her some space, and next time she’ll rank better.”

“That’s good. After these videos cool down, we’ll dig them out again...”

At this, Ms. Wang really missed Chen Ran’s cooking.

“I wonder how the KTV dishes taste this time?”

Wang Zhaoshan had great confidence in Chen Ran’s cooking: “Just hearing about these dishes makes me hungry. Honestly, I’m tired of all the fried chicken everywhere these days...”

Even Ji You driving agreed: “Exactly, I remember eating this kind of Chinese fried chicken and small fried fish as a kid. Why is it so hard to find now?”“Because there are more semi-prepared ingredients,” Wang Zhaoshan sighed, “The catering industry is getting more competitive. Almost all the fried goods available now are frozen. Can small fried fish be made from semi-prepared ingredients? The cost of marinating then frying chicken is so high.”

“Nowadays, many big restaurants have even started implementing central kitchen systems.”

Since starting to prepare to be Chen Ran’s behind-the-scenes supporter, Ms. Wang had learned a lot about the catering industry.

Wang Zhaoshan had some complaints about this: “What central kitchen? To put it bluntly, it’s still just pre-made dishes. It’s one thing for fast food to use pre-made dishes with fixed prices, but Chen Ran’s uncle, Uncle Chen Bo, also has to deal with pre-made dishes... They really don’t treat customers like people.”

The group finally arrived at White Swan KTV, and from far away they could already see the bustling queue.

“Oh wow, so many people?”

Ji You parked the car, and Wang Zhaoshan took the lead to open the way for the two ladies. He had been a food critic for some time and knew many people. He immediately recognized Huang Renshou in the line.

“Oh, Old Master Huang, you’re queuing too? Where are the people from your private kitchen?”

Huang Renshou looked a bit embarrassed to be seen by him but then straightened up: “What, I’m this old, can’t I rest a few more days?”

He pointed to a middle-aged man beside him: “Look, I even brought a diner with me to support this young chef. And you, little Wang, you have a sharp nose — such a cat of a chef cooking at a KTV even drew you here?”

Listening to Huang Renshou’s words, it seemed he only tried the newest small snack set.

In past years, whenever they met for private kitchen meals, Wang Zhaoshan was always pushed to the back by this old man. As chefs, they naturally had some standing in their circle.

But now, he had regained his territory!

Wang Zhaoshan thought of the lion’s head meatballs, sour plum ribs, clear stewed pork knuckle, and guobao pork he had eaten, then looked at Huang Renshou in front of him who only tried small fried fish and chicken legs with a proud face. He couldn’t help but pat the old man’s shoulder condescendingly.

“Master Huang, I have to say, you really know nothing about Chef Chen’s cooking! Hahaha!”

Wang Zhaoshan laughed heartily and, with the two ladies, found the people standing in line for them and went into the KTV to eat, leaving Huang Renshou gritting his teeth behind.

A curious diner who came with them asked Huang: “Didn’t you say Chef Chen’s best at frying fish? What about the other dishes? Haven’t you tried them? That small fried fish yesterday was delicious, if only she could make more…”

Huang clenched his teeth. This diner had once been deputy director of the city public security bureau and often ate at his private kitchen after retirement. They were now half drinking buddies and half fish buddies.

“If I had eaten them, wouldn’t I have told you? I haven’t eaten them either... This Wang Zhaoshan, he’s everywhere!”

It was dusk, the busiest time of day. The waitstaff were struggling to keep up, and Gao Shuxian even started serving herself.

Wang Zhaoshan’s group was personally led into a private room by her.

“Please take a look at the menu. What would you like? Want the snack set? Drinks you can pick by the water station later, pay all together at checkout.”

“Three sets of the snack set, any other dishes? Lion’s head? Pork knuckle? Even wraps are fine.”

Wang Zhaoshan asked confidently but unfortunately the other dishes weren’t available.

Gao Shuxian couldn’t help but be curious: “Are you quite familiar with Chef Chen...?”

After these days, she had wondered why a chef with Chen Ran’s skills would come to apply at her KTV.

Today, someone was even volunteering to maintain order in the queue, and when she asked, the college student looked very familiar with Chen Ran.

Why would a chef who already had a fixed fan base come to a KTV?

“Familiar, yes, but also not so familiar,” Wang Zhaoshan sighed, a trace of grievance on his face.

At least, he hadn’t gotten a chance to eat the lion’s head dish a second time yet!Ji You handed a folder to Ms. Wang. Before coming, she had casually investigated the KTV’s background and found some interesting things.

She thought Ms. Wang would want to learn about Gao Shuxian.

Sure enough, just before Gao Shuxian finished ordering and was about to leave, Ms. Wang called her back.

“Little sister, may I call you that?”

Gao Shuxian was momentarily stunned, then quickly nodded.

From the moment she entered, she had a good impression of this lady, whose elegant yet imposing demeanor was exactly what she wanted to cultivate.

“Please speak.”

Ms. Wang briefly glanced over Ji You’s investigation. As a woman from a similarly patriarchal family, she knew such stories all too well.

Although the Gao family was wealthy and Gao Shuxian’s original family was poor, no matter how rich such a family was, they always squeezed the last bit of resources out of their daughters.

She thought about the bet written in the investigation report, hesitated, then spoke to Gao Shuxian.

“It might be a bit presumptuous to say this right after meeting you, but I still hope to tell you.”

“Don’t compete in an arena where the rules are set by vested interests.”

In her view, what this young girl needed most now was to immediately leave her original family.

What’s the revenue, or whether to marry or not—if her family really understood that, would they have to make her compete using such ridiculous methods now?

As for the family assets, how could she compete with her two brothers? At worst, when her parents are no longer around, she can sue, but she shouldn’t get stuck in this quagmire.

Moreover, the Gao family’s businesses—foot massage and KTV—inevitably involved some gray areas... She especially didn’t want a pure girl to fall into that.

“Don’t compete in an arena where the rules are set by vested interests...”

Gao Shuxian repeated Ms. Wang’s words with some confusion.

She also thought, if she really won this bet, would her family properly let her give up the marriage engagement?

“Do you mean I should stop worrying about this bet... and just leave directly?”

Ms. Wang smiled, shook her slender finger, seeing Gao Shuxian a bit puzzled, then continued.

“Before you leave, you should still try to get as much of your own benefits as possible. Take this month’s revenue; at least it’s some start-up capital, right? Also take as much of the family stuff as you can. Living on your own out there, even a bottle of water costs money.”

“Of course, there’s one most important thing,” Ms. Wang added at the end, “If you run away now, I’m afraid the customers waiting outside won’t agree, right?”

Having finally found the place where Chen Ran was working recently, if she said just these few words and scared off the boss, she would become an eternal villain in the Chen Ran fan group!

Gao Shuxian couldn’t help but laugh: “Thank you! I will seriously consider your advice. I’m going to serve you now!”

Seeing her finally emerge from the private room, Shunzi quickly complained loudly, “Boss, hire a few more people! We really can’t keep up!”

“I’ll hire people tomorrow!”

Gao Shuxian hadn’t expected so many customers today. Many came driving from nearby counties and cities, and she even heard some talking about taking planes and high-speed trains...

It was foreseeable that today might not even be the busiest time.

An Ji Shan in the queue couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed. This was supposed to be the happy little treasure shop she and Li Yao came to after work—how did it suddenly get so crowded?She was a bit shaken and asked the colleague beside her, “Do you think my circle of friends really has such strong influence? I remember only getting a few dozen likes. How did it attract so many people?”

The customers ahead couldn’t help but laugh. He was someone from Chen Ran’s fan group five and looked back at the two confused locals, explaining, “You’re really lucky. But unfortunately, that luck won’t last long.”

Everyone had figured out Chen Ran’s pattern: she never worked in one place for more than a month!

These two girls were lucky to catch this chance once; when they couldn’t get it later, they’d be just as anxious as him.

He was trying to pull the other into the group when suddenly, a police car arrived.

Qingjiao Ge Lu Bei was stunned: “No way, the police are lining up too?”

His roommate had just gone to get two bottles of water and handed one to Qingjiao Ge, saying, “Chen Ran used to work at the police station, maybe they’re acquaintances?”

While drinking, they saw two policemen get out with serious faces, push through the waiting crowd, and head into the store.

Gao Shuxian also saw them and hurried out from inside the KTV.

“Hello, I’m the boss. May I ask… what’s going on?”

Seeing these two policemen and recalling Ms. Wang’s earlier warning, Gao Shuxian actually felt a sense of “finally it’s happening” reassurance.

Yes, don’t compete in an arena where the rules are set by vested interests…

Her father, since he could let other stores cut prices or even come to steal customers, naturally could also use less visible methods to block her business.

“We received a report. Someone said your place added poppy seed powder into the snacks to attract customers. Let’s go inside and check.”

One officer prepared to follow protocol and inspect, while the other was ready to disperse the crowd waiting outside.

After all, with the snacks so popular, so many people lining up wasn’t good. There were even many children inside.

“All right, all right, stop lining up! If you want to eat, wait until after the inspection! Stop lining up!”

The customers protested one after another.

“I took the high-speed train here! Will you reimburse me?”

“Impossible! Chef Chen Ran wouldn’t rely on that stuff. I’ve eaten so much, don’t you think I’d know?”

The police officer was a bit helpless and said, “We’re just responding to a report, everyone…”

Before he finished speaking, his eyes suddenly widened.

“Director Yan…?”