Daddy's Gourmet Shop-Chapter 259 - 251: A Striking Touch of Blue

It’s not even eleven o’clock yet!

Outside Delicious Restaurant, as usual, a long queue had already formed.

People were continuously joining the line.

After tasting the deliciousness of the oil-braised prawns, Huang Tao instructed Xu Hao and Lin Zifeng to bring out the already steamed Honeyed Ham and Dongpo Pork for plating, and to bring the large iron tray filled with braised snacks over to the counter and place it properly.

He also told Ding Suqin to input the price of the new dish, oil-braised prawns, into the automatic ordering machine.

He looked up towards the outside of the store.

It seemed that today’s queue had a noticeable difference.

Previously, Delicious Restaurant mainly catered to an elderly clientele and some housewives. Most of those queuing were college students and office workers, and it was rare to see delivery riders.

But now, looking out...

In the seemingly endless queue, a third of the people were Meituan delivery riders, wearing yellow vests and helmets with kangaroo ears, standing there and occasionally chatting with each other through the line.

They were all hired to come.

As long as the terms were agreed upon in advance and the price negotiated, coming early to queue wasn’t a problem.

They had the patience for it indeed.

One could say they were the second largest group capable of coming early to queue after the elderly and college students with no classes.

But besides the bright yellow of today’s noon, there was also a bright blue.

Not only was the uniform blue, but even the motorcycle helmets were blue.

Huang Tao remembered.

This was the uniform of the delivery riders from a mobile app called Eleme.

His little store hadn’t even joined these major delivery platforms!

But still, there were so many delivery riders lining up for meals.

It’s just absurd!

Ding Suqin, wearing a head cap and gloves, put on an apron, and came to the counter to prepare for meal orders, instantly noticing the difference outside as well.

She smiled and said to Huang Tao, "It seems like soon enough, Eleme delivery guys will also be conquered by our Delicious Restaurant, just like the Meituan riders."

Huang Tao smiled and went back to the kitchen to get busy.

Soon.

Delicious Restaurant welcomed a new round of business hours.

As the customers in line entered the restaurant to order, they immediately noticed the new dish available on the automatic ordering machine.

Oil-braised prawns, 68 yuan per serving.

Quite a few customers got excited and asked, "Hey, Boss Huang, did your restaurant release new oil-braised prawns at noon? How come I didn’t see it on the electronic blackboard outside?"

While queuing, smelling the aromas drifting out from Delicious Restaurant and checking out the blackboard outside for any new dishes had become a habit for many customers in line.

Before entering, they all took a deliberate look and found no new dishes!

Busy in the kitchen, Huang Tao heard and explained through the glass barrier, "I did indeed plan to introduce the oil-braised prawns at noon, but was so focused on entering the new dish into the ordering machine, I forgot to update the electronic blackboard at the entrance."

"Boss Huang, that’s not fair, releasing new oil-braised prawns at noon without any notice."

"No wonder I smelled something different at the entrance earlier, turns out it’s a new dish, oil-braised prawns!"

"This sounds good! I need to get a serving of oil-braised prawns to try it out."

In no time...

The oil-braised prawns became the best-selling dish.

With this being the only new dish, everyone chose it to be able to taste it first.

Soon enough.

The fifty servings of oil-braised prawns were all ordered by the customers who were at the front of the line.

The customers at the back of the line couldn’t help but wail upon hearing this news:

"Is that it? Is that it? Fifty servings aren’t enough to fill the gaps between our teeth!"

"Ahhh, Boss Huang, isn’t this a bit stingy, only fifty servings of oil-braised prawns, not enough for the few hundred of us..."

"Boohoo, I couldn’t buy the oil-braised prawns at noon, whose fault is it! Boss Huang, it’s your fault for not notifying in advance, you should compensate by ensuring I get a serving in the evening."

"Pity us office workers! Always missing out on a hot meal, let alone a new dish, life’s too hard!"

Huang Tao felt a bit helpless hearing their laments.

Though the issue of the storefront had been resolved, the necessary procedures weren’t completed yet, hence renovations had to be delayed for a few days.

Moreover, recruiting wasn’t going well either.

He pondered if he should once again spend some money to pin his recruitment ad to the top?

However, until they hired new staff and completed renovations, the restaurant could only operate at this capacity for now.

He had done his best!

The Eleme delivery riders watched the wailing scene, somewhat confused.

Isn’t it just one dish! Just change the timing, is it really necessary to wail like that!

But seeing the dining customers inside, with a large round porcelain plate at the center of their tables, hosting the protagonist many others could only hope to get... the oil-braised prawns.

The ten prawns arranged in a pinwheel pattern had a vibrant red-gold color, garnished with a few green onions, looking very appetizing.

Watching those diners peel open the large prawn shells, revealing the tender white meaty interior, with the pure and rich fragrance coming at you. 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

Appetite aroused~

Watching them indulge in the delicious shrimp, with expressions of pure delight, and hearing their occasional praises of the taste.

The Ele.me delivery guy inexplicably wants to eat too.

At this moment, he somewhat understands why those who couldn’t buy the food wail so much.

Even someone who hasn’t tasted anything from this place is drooling just by looking.

Let alone those customers who have tasted the food from this place!

So therefore...

He decided to order something from this place for himself and eat it on the road later.

Just to see if the food from this place is really that good?

He operated the self-service ordering machine.

Fortunately, the Dongpo Pork, crab fried cake, and marinated snacks that the employer wanted were still available.

He finished ordering.

After checking the time, he hurriedly came to the counter and handed the order slip to Ding Suqin, saying anxiously, "Uh, could you help make mine first, pack it up first? I’m running out of time and might not make it."

"Please wait a moment, I’ll ask my boss if that’s possible!"

Unsure of what to do, Ding Suqin went to consult Huang Tao.

Huang Tao, although a bit puzzled, nodded and agreed to his request seeing the Ele.me delivery guy so anxious.

The marinated snacks and Dongpo Pork were already prepared and could be packed directly by Ding Suqin.

The crab for the crab fried cake had been pre-fried, so it wasn’t too troublesome to make.

While frying the crab fried cake, Huang Tao couldn’t help but curiously ask, "Hey, what’s this time you’re talking about? Our restaurant isn’t on your delivery platform!"

"I don’t know if it is or not."

The Ele.me guy scratched his head in confusion and continued smiling, "I’m not from Wenling City, it’s my first time here!"

Huang Tao: ⊙(・◇・)?

Xu Hao and other staff: ゛(’◇’)?

Customers in the store: (O_o)??

Nobody understood, instead, the more they heard, the more confused they became.

"I’m running errands for someone, got a 12 o’clock high-speed train ticket back to Lin City, if I’m late, I’ll miss the train."

The Ele.me guy checked the time again, and with a worried face urged, "Boss, could you be a bit faster, please? I’m almost out of time."

Oh damn~

Turns out he’s an Ele.me guy from the next city...

The customers present were surprised and curious about which hardcore person from another city is craving Boss Huang’s dishes.

It’s already hard for us locals to get the food, and now people from other cities also want in... how are we supposed to live...

Even the Meituan delivery guy was quite surprised.

It’s okay for locals to buy and deliver, but now even people from other cities join the fun...

Huang Tao was a bit confused.

What kind of magical operation is this!

Is there even a delivery service that can go nearly a hundred kilometers?

How much does that delivery fee cost?

Huang Tao chuckled, "No need to worry, it’ll be ready soon, but just so you know, the taste might decline a lot by the time you get it back."

"No worries, the client doesn’t mind."

The Ele.me guy waved his hand politely, "Then please hurry a bit, thank you, thank you."

Alright then.

Huang Tao sped up his actions.

Soon enough, the crab fried cake was ready.

Lin Zifeng beside him quickly handed over two packed orders and wrapped them up.

Once everything was packed, he handed it all to the Ele.me guy: "Your order is all packed, please take it."

"That fast?"

The Ele.me guy’s slightly tense heart instantly relaxed, he smiled as he took the packed boxes and thanked them again, "Thank you! Boss, I’ll be leaving now, thank you so much..."

Huang Tao numbly nodded, "Alright, take care!"

The Ele.me guy, with the two orders, started nibbling on a stewed pig’s trotters as he left.

With just one bite, his eyes lit up.

So delicious~

No wonder the client was willing to spend so much to have him come all the way here to buy it.

Just for this taste!

If he had money to spare, he would do it too!

Having just stepped out, soon the pre-arranged taxi arrived.

He hopped in and left.