Cooking System: Street Food Rules
Chapter 60: Where Did Executive Chef Jiang Go?

Chapter 60: Chapter 60: Where Did Executive Chef Jiang Go?

A delicious zhajiangmian shop opened in Juxing Shopping Mall.

In just one day, word of this spread to many in the city’s Public Security Bureau.

At noon, numerous officers, dressed in plain clothes, made their way to the food stall area, all for a bowl of steaming hot zhajiangmian. Not only that, but many residents from the surrounding area also came to eat zhajiangmian.

After 12 p.m., there were always a few customers waiting in front of Jiang Feng’s small stall; it never quieted down.

The business was bustling.

Written on Jiang Feng’s signboard was:

Zhajiangmian: small bowl 16, large bowl 20

Wonton noodles: small bowl 18, large bowl 22

Chongqin noodles: small bowl 16, large bowl 20

Today, he had added a new noodle dish.

Jiang Feng planned to serve just three varieties each day, focusing on zhajiangmian while rotating the other two.

"Boss, I’ll have a bowl of Chongqin noodles," a patron approached the stall to place an order.

"Okay, just a moment," Jiang Feng replied, beginning his preparations.

Switching to a different type of noodle was a kind of rest for him, so Jiang Feng felt particularly energized.

First, he took out a small bowl. Into it, he scooped a spoonful of chicken bouillon, a spoonful of MSG, a spoonful of preserved mustard greens, a spoonful of pickled mustard tubers, and a spoonful of ginger-garlic water. Next, he added half a spoonful of sesame paste, half a spoonful of soy sauce, a spoonful of chili oil, a spoonful of lard, a spoonful of chopped green onions, and half a spoonful of Sichuan pepper.

With that, the authentic Chongqin noodles base was prepared.

Then, he added a large ladleful of richly simmered broth to the base ingredients.

The deliciousness of Jiang Feng’s noodles was inseparable from this aromatic and rich broth. It was one of his trade "secrets," the same broth that had attracted long lines when he sold braised meat.

Once the broth was poured over the base ingredients, Jiang Feng added two blanched green vegetables to the bowl. Finally, he added the cooked, al dente thin noodles. He then sprinkled chopped green onions on top, followed by fried peanuts.

And just like that, a bowl of hot and spicy Chongqin noodles was ready.

This bowl of noodle soup was bursting with flavor. The broth fully merged with the base, blending all the flavors together to greatly stimulate the taste buds.

The customer paid by scanning a QR code, picked up the Chongqin noodles, found an empty table to sit at, and then picked up chopsticks to start enjoying the delicious meal.

The noodles had an excellent chewy texture and, despite having just been added, had already absorbed the broth’s flavors. It was incredibly satisfying to eat.

The customer quickly devoured all the noodles and then began to savor the broth, one spoonful at a time.

The original soup and the original flavors combined perfectly.

The rich flavor of the broth was excellent. With each sip, the customer exhaled deeply, feeling as though every pore in their body had opened up.

It was very comfortable.

He drank it one mouthful after another.

His body grew warmer, and sweat even began to bead on his forehead. But even so, he didn’t stop drinking the broth until he had drunk every last drop from the bowl.

At that point, a sense of fullness washed over him. He leaned back in his chair, taking a moment to catch his breath and savor the unparalleled feeling of contentment.

After a while, it seemed the fatigue from the morning’s work had also dissipated somewhat.

People regard food as their primal need. Good food can not only fill the stomach but also comfort the soul.

After that, the customer got up and left. The cleaning lady responsible for the food stall area came over to tidy up the table.

The bowls here were washed centrally and then distributed as needed. Stall owners just had to pay a management fee, which was quite reasonable.

Jiang Feng continued to serve the customers.

On his second day at the stall, he completed his quota much more quickly. Orders from 100 customers were fulfilled in no time. More than twenty people from the City’s Public Security Bureau alone came for noodles, so the quota was naturally met quickly.

Jiang Feng really enjoyed the current pace of running his stall.

Everything was just right, not too exhausting.

Previously, whenever he looked up, there was a swarm of customers, their eyes filled with hunger.

That pressure was immense.

Now, there were just a few people waiting in front of the stall, so he could take his time. No need to rush made it much more comfortable.

Sometimes, during lulls, Jiang Feng would overhear the idle chatter of the customers.

"Did you hear? The murderer they arrested yesterday—turns out that girl didn’t die. The police got a confession out of him."

"That guy is a real piece of work. He killed several, right? All young girls. Scum like him should have been shot ages ago."

"I heard the murderer wouldn’t say where the girl was. No idea how they got it out of him later."

"They must have used some methods!"

The patrons chattered away.

Hearing these conversations, Jiang Feng found it quite peculiar. After all, his stall was right across from the City’s Public Security Bureau, so he could overhear things related to cases. But these matters were distant from the lives of ordinary people; they were just gossip over tea and meals.

Before long, new customers arrived, and Jiang Feng got busy again.

「Meanwhile.」

Many people were looking for Jiang Feng. The small square at Fengqi Mountain was quiet again in the morning, no longer as lively as before. It was as if the previous bustle had been an illusion. Many were asking where Jiang Feng had taken his stall. They still wanted to eat the buns Jiang Feng made. Those big meat buns, with their thin skins and generous fillings, were so satisfying and delightful to eat. But there was no news.

At Happy Ranch, Zhang Dashan asked his daughter, Zhang Xinya, to check online.

"Still haven’t found anything?" Zhang Dashan inquired, seeing Zhang Xinya on her phone.

Upon hearing this, Zhang Xinya replied, "Haven’t found anything. No idea where he has set up his stall. The city is so big, and there are so many street vendors; it’s very hard to run into him. I’ll nudge him again."

The person Zhang Xinya was nudging was an outdoor livestreamer named Liu Bao, who specialized in exploring eateries and food vlogging. Liu Bao had visited Jiang Feng’s stall a few times before, once at Shuize Resort and also at Fengqi Mountain. So, when Liu Bao started his broadcast, many local netizens flooded his livestream chat asking:

"[Broadcaster, have you found Executive Chef Jiang yet?]"

"[Stop slacking! What are you so busy with?!]"

"[Go and search quickly, we want to eat buns!]"

"[Brother Bao, use your connections! Find Executive Chef Jiang!]"

Seeing these bullet comments, Liu Bao wanted to cry but had no tears.

"Folks, it’s not that I’m not searching. I genuinely don’t know how to find him. If I had that kind of power, I would’ve mobilized people to search long ago. These past two mornings, I’ve been driving around the city, just looking for any lines forming. Nothing found though!"

Although he said this, Liu Bao was inwardly pleased. After all, this brought him new viewers and the chance to create some entertaining content. Nowadays, creating entertaining content that gets people talking is the most effective way to attract viewers to live broadcasts.

Seeing Liu Bao’s act, many local netizens continued to urge him on.

After Zhang Xinya entered Liu Bao’s livestream, she also posted a comment: "Broadcaster, I’ve followed you. Once you find Executive Chef Jiang, don’t forget to post a video."

The bullet comment was quickly buried by others.

However, such a reminder wasn’t really necessary. If Liu Bao found Jiang Feng, he would definitely post a video immediately and likely do a dedicated food exploration segment too.

Food had brought many people together in various ways.

Jiang Feng was still in the food stall area, busy attending to customers. Around two o’clock in the afternoon, the number of customers began to decrease. After completing the last few orders, Jiang Feng cleaned the stove and locked all the ingredients and condiments in the fridge and cabinets. From the looks of it, he had no intention of returning in the afternoon.

Owners of a few other stalls nearby had been eyeing his business with envy. That’s how it is with street food businesses; many vendors are prone to jealousy. The fact that Jiang Feng only worked during the busy lunch rush and then left perhaps tempered their jealousy somewhat.

His quota for the day was met. Jiang Feng decided to call it a day.

Two o’clock in the afternoon was the hottest time of day.

Jiang Feng got into his car and drove home.