Abnormal Gourmet Chronicle
Chapter 319 - 198: Really Impressed by Your Huang Ji’s Customers_3

Chapter 319: Chapter 198: Really Impressed by Your Huang Ji’s Customers_3

Green bean cake is just a side gig at most.

How expensive are the green bean cakes at Huang Ji? While it’s true that Qin Huai’s green bean cakes taste better than those sold outside, when it comes to cost-effectiveness, ordinary pastry shops win.

Master Qin, who was at his usual job, had no idea what was about to happen.

At 10 o’clock, not all of Huang Ji’s waiters had arrived yet.

The waiters at Huang Ji start work at 10:40. Team leaders and those with extra tasks for the next day come early. Those living nearby sometimes come early on the way.

The team leader was late today, arriving at 10 o’clock.

The reason for being late was a bit embarrassing—too excited, she couldn’t sleep last night and got up late.

The team leader of Huang Ji has been working there since it first opened and is among the most emotionally attached employees. These past two years, seeing the decline in Huang Ji’s business, the team leader was worried but could do nothing about it.

She’s not a chef and can’t cook; otherwise, she would’ve rushed into the kitchen to make a couple of dishes for the guests.

Now it’s different. Now the real opportunity has come!

Xu Cheng is here!

As long as Huang Ji gets featured on "Taste" again, it will undoubtedly be Gusu’s No.1. Even with Huang An Yao’s poor management, under Huang Shengli’s leadership, Huang Ji could still grow big and strong and achieve greatness again.

The team leader pedaled her bike with extra vigor today.

Then she stood at the entrance of Huang Ji, stunned.

At 10 a.m., when it wasn’t even time for the waiters to start work and Huang Ji wasn’t open for business, a queue had already formed at the door.

A long queue, nonetheless.

By a rough estimate, at least forty to fifty people.

Team leader Cao almost gasped.

It had been years since she saw such a scene.

The last time she saw this, Huang Shengli’s waist was still perfectly fine without any problems.

Team leader Cao dashed into Huang Ji, changed her clothes, and quickly went to the kitchen, finding Huang Shengli, Huang An Yao, and Zheng Da all there.

It was rare to see Huang Shengli in his work uniform, but he wasn’t working nor sitting with a small table in the kitchen having tea. Instead, he was standing in the center, directing everyone.

"All right, Little Ninth, no need to cut the remaining vegetables. You and Qin Huai are familiar with each other. Go take over Old Sixth’s position and keep an eye on the filling in the pot."

"Old Sixth, you keep an eye on managing the others."

"Si Yuan, help keep an eye on your dad and make sure he doesn’t slack off. Why are you looking at me? Yes, I mean you!"

"I’m not the one who asked you to help out. You were the one calling me early in the morning, saying that there would definitely be many customers today and not to overwork Xiao Qin and volunteered yourself. I know your tendencies. Your back isn’t a problem, so why not work a bit more? If my back was completely healed, I would be over there kneading dough with Xiao Qin right now."

"An Yao, I have to say, you really forgot all the basics you learned as a kid. Never mind, never mind. You’re not much use here either, so go wash some vegetables instead."

Huang An Yao: QAQ

Huang Shengli turned around and saw the team leader.

"Xiao Cao, you’re here." Huang Shengli said with a cheerful smile, "Did you see the customers queuing outside?"

Team leader Cao nodded emphatically.

"Once Xu Cheng posted on Weibo, our business at Huang Ji will be booming again during this period. You’ll need to work a bit harder, keep an eye on the main hall, and the customers queued for snacks. With so many customers lining up outside, let’s start selling snacks a bit earlier today, at 11 o’clock. Do you have any problems with that?"

"No problem!" Team leader Cao said firmly, "Rest assured, Master Huang, our service personnel will definitely not hold back the restaurant!"

At noon, 12 o’clock, having been stuck on the road yesterday, Xu Cheng was wiser today, having learned his lesson. He didn’t ride his bike but instead strolled leisurely with his assistant to Huang Ji after wandering around nearby.

Xu Cheng originally hadn’t planned to come to Huang Ji for lunch today.

However, the article he wrote yesterday was so good and flowed so smoothly that he ended up feeling hungry in the middle of the night.

Xu Cheng craved some snacks.

To prevent overeating like yesterday—having a large lunch and afternoon tea, not eating at night, and then feeling hungry at midnight—Xu Cheng decided only to have one Three Meat Bun, one Fermented Rice with Steamed Buns, and a bowl of Dried Tangerine Peel Tea for lunch today, absolutely no more.

He specifically didn’t make an appointment in advance.

If he didn’t make an appointment and just came directly, he wouldn’t get preferential treatment.

There would be no overeating.

Xu Cheng thought he had planned very well.

Until he reached the street corner, 200 meters from Huang Ji.

What did he see?

A queue stretching as far as the eye could see.

Xu Cheng was bewildered.

He even saw several people at the end of the line, eating while queuing, eating the very Fermented Rice with Steamed Buns and Three Meat Bun he wanted today.

The assistant was about to ask what the situation was, but Xu Cheng stopped him and went forward personally.

"Hello, may I ask, is this the queue for..."

"Yes, yes, this is the line for Huang Ji’s snacks!" the old man at the end of the line said enthusiastically, "Young man, don’t be discouraged by the length of the line. It moves quickly. At most forty... an hour to get through. Just remember to buy a bit more when it’s your turn, but not too much to avoid getting into trouble."

Xu Cheng: ?

"But old man, you already bought some, haven’t you?" the assistant asked.

"Oh, don’t mention it. The first time I queued, I didn’t have the experience and bought too little. Just after buying, I overheard someone next to me saying that some food critic named Xu something recommended Huang Ji on Weibo, and there would definitely be a mad rush for snacks in the coming days. Today is the least crowded day since people from out of town can’t make it."

"It scared me into queuing again to buy more and store them at home. Don’t say I didn’t warn you, this Fermented Rice with Steamed Buns is best bought in batches of 10, or you won’t have enough!"

Xu Cheng: ...

Are the patrons of Huang Ji this crazy when buying things?

Xu Cheng had heard the rumor that you can always order any regular dish at Huang Ji without restriction, and only banquet dishes have limits. There’s no secret menu, no VIP menu.

But...

Isn’t this a bit too much?

Five minutes later, after making a phone call, Xu Cheng managed to buy Three Meat Buns, Fermented Rice with Steamed Buns, and Dried Tangerine Peel Tea through special arrangements while strolling outside with his assistant, munching on buns.

Xu Cheng never dreamed that one day, just to eat buns and steamed buns, he would have to make a call for special arrangements.

As for why he’s not sitting inside eating...

Because Xu Cheng didn’t reserve a private room today, planning to take his purchase to go, and there was no space inside anyway.

As for why he’s wandering in front of Huang Ji instead of leaving, it’s because a new batch of green bean cakes wasn’t ready yet.

Xu Cheng: Since I’m already here, might as well have a bite of green bean cake before I leave.