Gourmet: Midnight Vending-Chapter 289 - 276: The Final Ingredient, Dimensional Suppression from the North (Part 2)

Chapter 289: Chapter 276: The Final Ingredient, Dimensional Suppression from the North (Part 2)

Zhang Zhenhua scrunched up his face, driven by his body’s primal craving for concentrated protein, urging him to eat more. Yet, whenever his tongue touched the velvety exteriors, he shivered abruptly, chuckling bitterly, "Delicious, it is. But every time I bite into one, I feel like I’m crushing an insect specimen with the first bite."

While a few of them enjoyed the grilled cicada pupae with delight, the grilled pig eyes had just been roasted again!

The person who earlier complained about Qin Xiufen buying too much crowded next to the food cart, "Boss, this isn’t right! If this keeps up, when can those of us in the back get a turn to eat?"

"Distribute based on headcount! A maximum of ten skewers per person!"

Chen Mo couldn’t help but laugh, realizing that the concept of a purchasing limit wasn’t limited by region; as long as there were enough people left without, someone would inevitably figure out a solution.

This cunning fellow’s words resonated with the customers at the back of the line, while those at the front were somewhat unwilling.

Yet, social interactions among strangers are like this: whoever speaks the loudest is considered right. Though reluctant, those at the front still acquiesced to this arrangement.

Seeing everyone willing to accept a purchasing limit, the fellow contentedly returned to the end of the line.

Once customers began queuing and purchasing a fixed amount, selling became much easier; Chen Mo neither had to calculate the bills nor count how many skewers had been sold.

Lately, all he did was grill a batch of two hundred skewers and set them aside on a platter, and then quickly resumed grilling the pig eyes.

The customers entirely initiated the process of scanning the QR codes to pay for their skewers, showing incredible self-discipline.

Next door, Li Chao didn’t even have the opportunity to help warm up the skewers today. Compared to the previous night, the crowd on Construction Road had practically doubled, and people finished their skewers in just a few bites, leaving no need for reheating.

"I think you should take off your suit. If you keep wearing it, you’re bound to get a heatstroke!"

Reluctantly, Li Chao undid the buttons and shed his suit, revealing a shirt that was already soaked through. "Why doesn’t he sweat in a suit? Is he even human?"

Li Chao’s wife shook her head, feeling her husband was a bit deluded.

Busy until shortly past 3 a.m., nearing 4 a.m., Chen Mo finally wrapped up the stall.

Extending the operating hours had resulted in a significant spike in revenue.

"If only all this could be converted into experience value, that would be awesome!"

With a night’s turnover close to fifty thousand, unfortunately, only around ten thousand counted as experience value.

Currently, the barbecue stand’s bestsellers are grilled lamb skewers, followed by pig eyes! It was unexpected that this sinister delicacy, initially a source of dread, ended up being deeply loved once people accepted it.

Chen Mo lay on the bed, routinely pondering the barbecue ingredients before sleep.

Today, ten thousand meat skewers had already hit the target, and for the other ingredients, it was merely a matter of time. Lost in these thoughts, he drifted off to sleep.

In that way, several days passed.

Chen Mo successively added grilled leeks, enoki mushroom rolls, grilled kidneys, crunchy chicken cartilage, pork ribs, and other ingredients.

The word "there’s a barbecue stall with great flavor along Construction Road" quickly spread around the area.

On the evening of July 6th.

"What’s going on? Why hasn’t he set up shop yet?"

"Wood-grilled chicken! Freshly roasted delicious chicken! Folks, Boss Xiao Chen isn’t here yet; why not have some chicken in the meantime?"

"Hot and sour noodles, authentic Mountain City hot and sour noodles~"

"Boiled chicken, authentic Leshan boiled chicken, two cents for veggie skewer, five cents for meat skewer!"

"Tofu brain, seven yuan a bowl!"

On Construction Road, starting from Jia Mei Gym, expanding on both sides.

The whole thing was somewhat amusing.

A while ago, when Li Chao’s imitation attempts failed, he got so frustrated that he simply stopped trying to emulate Chen Mo’s barbecue. He stuck to his Northeast barbecue branding, opening up shop right beside Chen Mo’s food cart!

Of course, he made some other improvements.

That meant, if something on Chen Mo’s menu cost a certain amount, he’d price his items the same!

Grilled skewers? We’d also sell them for two yuan!

Oysters? Sell them all for 8 yuan!

The same with other skewers—whatever Chen Mo sold for, Li Chao followed suit. If it wasn’t on Chen Mo’s menu, he’d decisively sell it for a lower price!

Li Chao didn’t anticipate that after doing this, initially, some customers, bored of waiting for Chen Mo, tried his offerings out of curiosity. Over time, more people came for his barbecue, making business no less impressive than in the night market area!

As the customer flow grew here, some vendors at the night market took notice of the trend.

Those with foresight among the vendors left the night market, arriving at Construction Road, and in just over a week, this stretch shaped into a newly-sized night market!

Sister Zhang, selling tofu brain, arrived yesterday.

When she first set up, business was stagnant, and she grew anxious. Since she previously had a decent rapport with Li Chao’s wife at the night market, Sister Zhang asked, "Why does everyone else have business, and mine’s so poor?"

It’s worth noting that Emei Tofu Brain is also a well-loved snack in Sichuan. A bowl might include minced beef, tofu brain, pickled string beans, and more, all topped with a special homemade spicy red chili oil, offering rich flavors and a smooth texture that’s incredibly tasty.

Li Chao’s wife suggested quietly to Sister Zhang, "Try lowering your prices... Earlier, a bowl of tofu brain cost fifteen yuan. See if you can sell for ten or eight yuan? Give it a shot."

Sister Zhang returned to her stall and considered carefully.

Pricing tofu brain at 7 yuan a bowl still allowed her to make a profit, albeit much less. But without stand fees on Construction Road, the situation barely breaks even.