Gourmet: The Master Chef Just Wants to Leisurely Set Up a Stall - Chapter 9

At the familiar hour of six in the morning, Zhao Xiaojing dragged herself out of bed, weary yet eager.

Despite yesterday’s exhausting day, she thought fatigue would have her asleep immediately. Instead, she tossed and turned till two or three in the morning, her mind still buzzing with excitement from selling out on her first stall day.

She wasn’t sure when she finally fell asleep, but even in dreams, she planned how to thread the most skewers efficiently today.

With dark circles under her eyes, Zhao Xiaojing boiled water on the induction cooker, using leftover egg yolks from marinating meat, along with noodles and spring onions, to make a simple noodle soup for herself.

It was something she often made in her past life for her second husband after his drinking binges.

First, she prepared the broth: a spoonful of oil, two spoons of soy sauce, half a spoon of dark soy sauce, salt, a pinch of sugar, black pepper, and chopped spring onions.

Though lard or sesame oil would be ideal, she had neither.

Once the water boiled, she turned off the heat and gently added eggs, letting them poach for two minutes.

After they set, she simmered them for another three minutes.

Then she removed the eggs and boiled the noodles, pouring the noodle water into the seasoned base before adding the noodles and eggs back.

The finished noodles looked plain but were silky smooth and flavorful, with the yolk perfectly runny. A bite released the creamy yolk that spread across her palate, followed by a sip of broth blending egg and base flavors into a sweet and savory delight.

Having relished her breakfast, Zhao Xiaojing began her day anew.

Today, she needed to purchase more supplies. Yesterday’s budget constraints meant cutting corners and buying minimal meat.

Meat skewers indeed sold better than veggie ones, so Zhao Xiaojing bought more pork tenderloin, pork belly, chicken gizzards, chicken legs, and tofu today.

Including new tools, she spent over 800 yuan, leaving her with only ten or so yuan.

But this time, she felt confident—selling out 500 skewers in an hour and a half yesterday filled her with assurance.

Once home, Zhao Xiaojing wasted no time processing ingredients.

Although her stall operated for just over an hour, the day’s workload was hefty. Every vegetable had to be washed and skewered; meats needed pre-processing—some marinated, some scored—to absorb flavor thoroughly when fried.

Without the system’s knife skill mastery, cutting everything quickly and uniformly would have been overwhelming.

By the time all ingredients were prepped, it was already three in the afternoon.

Feeling faint from hunger, Zhao Xiaojing stir-fried leftover skewer ingredients with oil and extra secret sauce for a spicy skewer-inspired hotpot.

Indeed, the system’s product was deliciously fragrant—the sauce blended perfectly. She ate two bowls of rice with it.

At yesterday’s time, Zhao Xiaojing enthusiastically rode her tricycle to the same spot as before.

Meanwhile, Li Donglai squeezed his electric bike into the dense school gate parking area, wedging it between gaps before heading towards the nearby alley beside the school.

“Hey, Feiyu’s dad! Not picking up Feiyu today?” a parent who knew his son asked curiously as they passed.

“Ah… I am! Of course, I am!” Li Donglai replied quickly, already jogging away.

Upon reaching the alley and spotting the bright glass cabinet once more, Li Donglai’s heart leapt with joy. Here he came—the call of good food! Today he’d eat his fill!

In a few strides, he reached the stall where two or three parents had already placed orders and were waiting.

“Miss, give me two skewers of everything except bananas and rice cakes. Ten chicken tenders too!”

“Make it spicy, just like yesterday.”

“Oh, you’ve added new items today? What’s this white one?”

“It’s tofu.”

“Oh wow, your skewers are so tasty! What’s in your sauce? It’s spicy and aromatic but not overly salty.”

“Isn’t it! I think so too; her sauce is incredible—I couldn’t get enough yesterday,” another parent chimed in while waiting.

“Right? The tenderloin’s crispy yet tender—feels juicy inside.”

“Why don’t you try her fried bananas? They’re really good; even I love them!”

“Well, I’m not into sweet stuff. I tried them yesterday—I love bananas but not fried ones…”

“I don’t eat bananas, but I can’t resist fried ones.”

Parents quickly engaged in lively chatter. Zhao Xiaojing stifled a smile and focused on her frying.

“Boss, your skewers are ready!”

Brushing sauce on the skewers in hand, Zhao Xiaojing called out to congee stall owner Li Zhi.

“Alright, I’m coming!” Li Zhi placed packed congee before a customer and swiftly moved to the skewer stand.

“Hey boss! Aren’t you taking money? How much is this congee?”

Receiving his congee left the customer puzzled—was he abandoning his business to help next door?

“Three yuan, three yuan, just scan!” Li Zhi shouted back, refocusing on her skewers.

“No bag needed, just the box. I’ll eat now!”

“Wow boss, not selling congee anymore?” A parent at the skewer stand who frequented the congee stall asked Li Zhi in surprise.

“Congee can wait; these skewers won’t last if I wait too long!”

Laughter erupted among the group of parents.

Joyfully holding her meal box, Li Zhi returned to her stall to enjoy her skewers while the congee customer lingered.

“Is it that good?” The customer watched her devour potato skewers with evident enjoyment.

“They’re absolutely that good!” Li Zhi gave a thumbs-up in affirmation.

“Look at these potatoes—a perfect golden hue. The batter’s thin and even, crispy and crunchy. The potatoes are cooked just right; fry them longer and they’d be mushy, undercook and they’re too raw—just perfect!”

“And her sauce—fragrant and spicy without overpowering the skewer’s flavor—absolutely divine!”

Li Zhi chatted away as she ate.

“Your sales pitch is great… just not for your own congee?” The customer swallowed hard and decided to buy skewers next door immediately.

“So, maybe another bowl of congee? Let me tell you, my silver ear congee was simmering for a full hour—the gelatinous texture…”

The customer waved dismissively and hurried away.

Chuckling, Li Zhi resumed savoring her pork belly skewers.

What a delicacy—pork belly done so well.

A perfect mix of fat and lean, fried to release all its savory aroma—not greasy or dry—and paired with spicy sauce for a layered taste. The unique oily fragrance lingered wonderfully.

“Sis, save me five pork belly skewers and five battered potatoes to fry after school!” Li Zhi called out loudly.