Cooking System: Street Food Rules
Chapter 92: Comatose Patient: What’s that delicious smell?!

Chapter 92: Chapter 92: Comatose Patient: What’s that delicious smell?!

Business was really booming.

Jiang Feng had turned on his "double speed" cooking mode again.

His movements noticeably quickened.

But since the frying time couldn’t change, the pace at which the line moved remained steady.

The people nearby the hospital had initially thought he was just an ordinary, tasty street food stall. Seeing so many customers today, they realized this vendor was actually a master!

"Wow, this vendor is incredible!"

"No wonder the food tastes so good!"

"I’ve seen his videos; I can’t believe I actually ran into him here."

"You’ve seen his videos? What videos? Do you have a link?"

Jiang Feng had been there for almost two hours, and all the ingredients in his food truck were used up.

Jiang Feng shouted to the customers, "Don’t line up anymore, folks! The food’s almost sold out, and we’re closing up shop! You can find snacks everywhere. You can go to the snack street; the taste of the snacks there isn’t much different."

It was common for stall owners to call out to customers to come to their stalls, but this was the first time they’d seen one telling customers to go to another stall.

The customers suddenly became anxious.

"All gone?"

"Sold out?"

"That’s normal. His stall is always like this."

"The people at the front bought too much! Maybe there should be a purchase limit!"

Several people came over to offer suggestions.

Jiang Feng explained, "Sorry, everyone, we’re indeed out of stock. The prepared buns and stinky tofu are all sold out, and there’s just a little bit of potato left. Thank you for your support, and I hope for your understanding."

Jiang Feng was still busy with the last few orders.

Just then, an old man suddenly pretended to bump into the food truck. Then he fell to the ground and smoothly lay down.

The sudden action stunned the people around. Jiang Feng was also slightly taken aback.

He heard the old man say in a pained voice, "OUCH! It hit me! My old back, ouch! Why is this food truck parked here?! I can’t get up without a bowl of crispy potato!"

Seeing the old man’s performance, the surrounding foodies were stunned. What the heck? This works?

Jiang Feng was flabbergasted as well. What’s going on? he thought. Are street stalls even targeted by professional fall-takers?

Jiang Feng hurriedly said, "Sir, please get up quickly. The ground is cold. I really don’t have many potatoes left."

The old man looked left and right, noticing everyone was watching him, but nobody seemed inclined to help him up. Jiang Feng had only verbally urged him a couple of times without any real action.

The old man knew the scam wouldn’t work. The plan had failed.

The old man stood up naturally, patted his clothes, and said to Jiang Feng, "I was just kidding with you. Don’t be so tense." Then he asked, "So, are the potatoes really all gone?"

Seeing the old man’s surprisingly natural acting, Jiang Feng had to admire his audacity. An old man, through and through, he thought.

"Alright, alright," Jiang Feng relented. "There’s still a bit left. I’ll fry a portion for you."

Upon hearing this, the old man was overjoyed. "Great! It’s a deal then. I’ll scan the QR code to pay right now."

The surrounding foodies were baffled again. Could this actually work?

Although the old man’s acting was clumsy, his audacity was undeniable. So, it wasn’t entirely surprising he managed to get some. Most people couldn’t pull that off.

Jiang Feng had a little bit of potato left, just enough to make one bowl’s worth, which he gave to the old man.

He fried all the remaining potatoes, tossed them in hot oil and seasonings in the pot, mixed them well, packed them into containers, and handed them to the last few customers.

"Everyone, we’re really sold out now. Nothing’s left. Thank you for your support."

Jiang Feng quickly started tidying up the food truck, securing the seasonings and cookware, folding up the sign, then got in the food truck and drove straight off, heading home after a long day.

The last few customers savored the crispy potatoes they had longed for. The texture—crispy on the outside, soft and glutinous on the inside—was superb, and the blend of seasonings was exceptional. Boss Jiang, you’re truly amazing! they thought. Your skills are impeccable! Simply the best!

After Jiang Feng left, word that he was a formidable chef spread around the hospital area. As the saying goes, people’s words are to be feared, and as the rumors spread, they grew more and more preposterous.

"Did you know? That young man with the stall outside is a great chef; his skills are incredibly good!"

"I heard he has a master who is a state banquet chef; he’s out here gaining experience!"

"I also heard his ancestors were Imperial Chefs, cooking exclusively for the emperor, and it’s been passed down generation to generation, all the way to him."

"This person is that amazing?"

"The food is tasty. The other day, so many people from our hospital bought it, and now many patients are going out to buy as well."

"Truly a legend!"

Jiang Feng wasn’t aware of the various stories being spread about him. But living in society, anyone with a bit of reputation is bound to be talked about by others.

Today’s task was complete. He acquired a new recipe: [Potato Shrimp Taco]. He also incidentally received [Ingredient Shrimp Paste - 80 catties].

This sure made things a lot more convenient. The method for making the [Potato Shrimp Taco] was even simpler.

Slice the potatoes thinly. Mix corn and carrots into the shrimp paste, add some seasonings, and stir well. Then use the potato slices to sandwich the shrimp paste, and secure it with a toothpick inserted from the side. When ready, brush with some oil, and fry in an air fryer. After taking it out, just sprinkle some chili powder on top.

When eating, hold it with the toothpick, one bite at a time. The texture of the shrimp paste is similar to shrimp meat, and with the added flavors of corn and seasonings, it tastes even better. It’s like eating shrimp flavored with corn and chili, Jiang Feng thought. The potatoes become crispy after frying, and the cooked shrimp paste is soft yet springy.

Snacks should be like this, he mused, with rich, varied textures and bold, complex flavors. That’s what makes them delicious. But achieving this isn’t easy. That’s why true gourmet food is rare.

「The next day」

Jiang Feng continued to set up his stall outside the hospital, and the scene was still extremely lively. The streets were bustling with traffic and people coming and going. Everyone was hustling for their livelihood.

At the same time, in the Intensive Care Unit of the inpatient department, it was not as lively as outside. It was very quiet here. The air was filled with the scent of disinfectant.

A patient lay on the hospital bed, with several tubes inserted into his body. His name was Li Lin, a driver for Didi.

A few days ago, he encountered an accident on the highway. The car in front suddenly braked hard. Li Lin, who was momentarily distracted, didn’t notice in time. Even though he slammed on the brakes, it was still too late. He crashed into the car in front. The car in front was fully at fault, and its driver had comprehensive insurance. The insurance company covered Li Lin’s hospital expenses, and there would be further compensation. But with Li Lin unconscious, money was no longer the most important thing.

Li Lin’s wife, Zhu Hong, sat beside the hospital bed. She had been at his bedside for two days. Her eyes were red from crying, and she looked worn out. She wiped Li Lin’s face, his arms, and his body, and she also talked to him.

The doctor told Zhu Hong that Li Lin was past the critical stage, and his physical injuries weren’t severe. However, his brain had suffered severe trauma and would need time to recover. Simply put, there was a high chance he could end up in a vegetative state. The doctor also said these few days were his best chance to regain consciousness. If he could wake up, everything else could be managed. So, Zhu Hong had to find ways to talk to him, to give him some external stimuli.

Normally, visitors weren’t allowed to stay in the ICU, but Li Lin’s condition was special. He was in a critical recovery period, so they made an exception for Zhu Hong to stay by his side. The doctor gave Zhu Hong instructions, such as when she could talk to Li Lin and when she should let him rest. But despite Zhu Hong talking to him a lot, Li Lin showed no signs of waking. She was heartbroken but forced herself to stay strong.

This is how the world is sometimes; some people face numerous hardships, their paths in life not so smooth.

Just then, Li Lin’s elder sister arrived to visit. She was carrying a bag. Looking closely, the bag contained disposable small bowls filled with a variety of snacks. His elder sister had also been at the hospital for the past two days, helping care for both Li Lin and Zhu Hong.

"No matter what, you need to eat something. You can’t keep going on like this," Li Lin’s sister urged, seeing Zhu Hong’s haggard appearance.

"Sis, I don’t have an appetite," Zhu Hong replied.

"Just try to eat something. This snack stall is incredibly popular. I heard the owner is a great chef with exceptional skills. There’s always a huge line of people waiting!"

Li Lin’s sister placed the bag on the bedside table and opened it. The aroma instantly wafted out.

The snacks Jiang Feng sold today were the [Potato Shrimp Taco], roasted buns, and stinky tofu. He continued to offer stinky tofu because it had the most customers and sold the fastest, so Jiang Feng made more of it.

Zhu Hong looked at the snacks in the bag; all three varieties were there. For some reason, despite her grief having suppressed her appetite, the aroma of the snacks made her feel a sudden pang of hunger. Her stomach immediately grumbled twice.

The aroma seemed to have a special magic, she thought. It actually managed to awaken her listless body.

Zhu Hong picked up a bowl of stinky tofu and took a bite. The tofu is delicious, she thought. Despite her sorrow, she could still appreciate its smooth texture and delicious taste.

Zhu Hong’s hunger grew. She sped up her eating. For a moment, her sorrow seemed to recede, replaced by the simple pleasure of the delicious food. Zhu Hong drank all the soup as well.

GLUG, GLUG, GLUG!

After finishing the soup, her stomach felt warm, and a warmth spread through her entire body.

Li Lin’s sister, beside her, also started eating a roasted bun. The bun crumbled with a bite, making a CRUNCH, CRUNCH sound. The heat from the meat filling burst out instantly, and with it, a rich fragrance.

The two of them ate quietly without speaking. The misfortune that had struck their home cast a shadow over their hearts.

Just then, they did not notice that Li Lin, lying on the hospital bed, suddenly furrowed his brow and his nose twitched. Then, consciousness began to flow through every corner of his body, along every nerve, converging in his brain.

Li Lin felt as if he had walked through darkness for a very long time, until he caught a strange, fragrant smell. He followed the aroma outwards and suddenly felt a strange sensation wash over him. Then, it seemed as though his consciousness was returning to his body.

At this moment, Zhu Hong and Li Lin’s sister were still eating the snacks. The snacks were very tasty.

Just then, Zhu Hong was suddenly overcome with sadness, and tears welled up, streaming down her face. Such delicious food, she thought, her heart aching, it’s a pity Li Lin can’t taste it.

In that very instant, a faint, weak sound, "Mmm...," emerged from the hospital bed, followed by a voice, "What... is that... smells so good?"