The braised meat business was doing better and better.
By the second day, there were already quite a few regular customers.
Five or six people were lined up in front of the food truck.
At this moment, the queue reached a middle-aged man. He was holding a plastic bag of steamed buns.
"Boss, I'd like two pieces of braised meat. Could you chop the meat, stuff it into these steamed buns, and pour some of the broth over it?"
"I want to make a roujiamo (meat-stuffed bun)," the middle-aged man said, ordering two pieces of braised pork belly.
"Of course, no problem."
Jiang Feng's business philosophy was all about being flexible.
When other people heard what the middle-aged man said, they immediately became interested.
What a great idea!
The meat Jiang Feng braised was already packed with flavor, needing no extra seasoning. Paired with plain white steamed buns, it was a perfect match!
Someone immediately asked the middle-aged man, "Brother, where did you buy the steamed buns? Is there a place here that sells them? I want to go buy some too."
Hearing his question, the middle-aged man replied, "They don't sell them at the resort; I bought these near my home."
"I tried the braised meat here yesterday—it was so delicious I immediately thought of putting it in a steamed bun."
"So today, I brought steamed buns specifically for this."
Hearing the middle-aged man's words, the surrounding customers all looked at him with an expression that said, "You're so clever!"
Jiang Feng fished out two pieces of braised meat, weighed them, placed them on the cutting board, and took up his cleaver to start chopping.
His knife skills were steady and precise.
Under his swift cleaver, the meat was quickly minced, its rich juices beginning to well up.
The sight of the braised meat, glistening with rich juices, made everyone's mouth water even more.
Jiang Feng took a steamed bun, sliced it open from the side with his knife, and then packed the braised meat inside. He filled three such buns before all the chopped meat was used.
After receiving his roujiamo, the middle-aged man immediately took a large bite.
Steamed buns readily absorb flavors. With that first bite, the soft, tender braised meat seemed to melt in his mouth, and the meaty aroma instantly filled his mouth. With each chew, the flavor of the braised meat burst forth from the bun. The moisture from his mouth mingled with the bun in a wonderful chemical reaction, blending with the fragrant meat juices, making the bun itself incredibly chewy and addictive.
This roujiamo is absolutely sensational!
The middle-aged man ate with immense satisfaction, his face a picture of enjoyment.
The customers nearby watched him, their own mouths starting to water.
"Brother, you still have two steamed buns left, sell them to me," one said.
"I want to buy some steamed buns too, they look so delicious!" said another.
Two people immediately spoke up.
The middle-aged man swallowed a mouthful of his roujiamo, a hint of smug satisfaction on his face.
He had specifically brought the steamed buns, convinced they would be the perfect accompaniment to Jiang Feng's braised meat. Now, looking around, he felt his foresight was truly astute.
"This roujiamo tastes amazing."
"Boss, I think you should steam a few batches of plain buns to sell with your braised meat. Your business would definitely be even better!"
"Plain steamed buns are best; the hand-kneaded kind aren't as suitable," the middle-aged man told Jiang Feng.
Jiang Feng nodded. "That's a good idea. I've been swamped preparing the braised meat these past few days, but I'll give it a try when I have more time."
The middle-aged man took another big bite of his roujiamo. Delighted with his meal, he stuffed the rest of his roujiamo into his mouth.
He was also kind-hearted, giving the remaining two steamed buns to the two people who had asked to buy them. A steamed bun only cost fifty cents; it would have been petty to sell them.
However, context determines value. In an ordinary steamed bun shop, a bun wouldn't be worth much. But next to a stall selling such delicious braised meat, a steamed bun's value naturally increased.
The middle-aged man continued eating his second roujiamo, enjoying it more and more with each bite.
The other two customers came up to the food truck and said, "Boss, we'd also like some braised meat, chopped and stuffed in a steamed bun, please."
Jiang Feng smiled and said, "No problem."
He fished out two smaller pieces of braised meat and chopped them. Each piece was just enough to fill a steamed bun.
The reason these meat-stuffed buns tasted so good was still Jiang Feng's excellent broth. The broth was a rich infusion of rendered fat, bone marrow, and the savory essence of chicken. It had simmered for eight hours to reach perfection, a pure concentration of premium flavors. The stewed meat was delicious precisely because the broth was so good. Now, when you cut open a steamed bun and stuff it with chopped braised meat, the juices from the meat seep into the bun, making the steamed bun naturally delightful to eat.
Soon, two meat-stuffed buns were ready. The customers paid by scanning a QR code on their phones and eagerly grabbed their meat-stuffed buns to start eating.
The fragrance of meat, seasoning, and steamed bun filled the air. The bun was soft with an excellent texture, becoming pleasantly chewy as they ate. The meat was incredibly flavorful, perfectly seasoned, and succulent. Together, they were especially satisfying to eat.
"Mmm, this is really delicious!"
"Amazing!"
Upon tasting their meat-stuffed buns, both customers were full of praise.
The people nearby could only envy them since without the buns, they couldn't have these delicious meat-stuffed buns.
The business at the stall continued to boom. More and more customers kept coming.
Jiang Feng didn't pay much attention to it, until another customer came wanting two pig's trotters, and only then did Jiang Feng realize his pig's trotters had sold out!
"Oh, we're out of pig's trotters, they're all sold out, sorry," Jiang Feng said, a little embarrassed.
"Gone?" The customer was astonished. It's only one in the afternoon, and the pig's trotters are already sold out? Could they really be that popular?
"Then I'll take two chicken legs," the customer said, settling for his second choice.
"Sure," Jiang Feng responded.
He fished out the chicken legs, put them in a food container, and handed them to the customer.
Once the customer left, Jiang Feng checked the simmering contents of the pot.
Pig's trotters were the best-sellers and were completely gone. There wasn't much left of the large intestines and pig's head meat either. Duck gizzards and duck frames were also selling well. However, there were still plenty of chicken feet left. Jiang Feng had chosen large chicken feet, especially the plump, chewy meat around the "palm" – the choicest part of the chicken foot. But since chicken feet have less meat overall, fewer customers bought them.
They're selling fast! Yesterday I must have prepared around 380 pounds of braised meat, and today I've already sold 320 pounds, Jiang Feng remarked to himself. Business is indeed good at the resort, he reflected.
Setting up a stall in the resort required paying a stall fee, given the steady flow of customers. But as long as one worked diligently, they could definitely recoup the cost and even make a profit.
Jiang Feng's net profit each day was around three thousand yuan. At this rate, his monthly net profit could reach 90,000 yuan. The earnings were quite impressive. The main reason for his high profit was the good business; all the braised meat sold out, meaning no waste, which maximized his earnings.
The system's mission was also completed.
Today's bonus reward was: [Fine Mini Clay Pot]
The mini clay pot was particularly beautiful, with exquisite dragon patterns carved on the outside, and a dragon design on the lid as well. It was practically a work of art.
Upon receiving the mini clay pot, Jiang Feng found it quite interesting. Culinary arts are part of the fabric of everyday life, grounded in the essentials: firewood, rice, oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, and tea. This exquisitely crafted mini clay pot, with its hand-carved patterns, didn't look like a kitchen utensil but more like a collector's item to be displayed in a cabinet. Cooking meat in this little pot offered a delightful blend of elegance and homeliness.
The system's rewards were truly excellent.
This thing looks so delicate; it seems almost a waste to use it to cook meat, Jiang Feng mused. But the lid fits snugly, and the material is excellent. It can retain the flavors of the ingredients very well, so it's actually perfect for cooking meat.
I'll use it for myself then. It'll be perfect for making soups or stews, he decided. When I get the chance, I'll make myself some Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, Jiang Feng thought.
Just then, more customers arrived, and Jiang Feng busied himself serving them.
The food truck was particularly busy around noon, with a huge influx of customers.
Around two in the afternoon, the last bit of braised duck frame was sold, and the food truck had sold out all its braised meats.
All sold out! Time to head home, Jiang Feng smiled contentedly, his day's work completed. Finishing work by two in the afternoon felt pretty good.