Yang Zhou Fried Rice is delicious, and Rou Jia Mo is tasty too, but as someone whose staple food is rice with side dishes, eating these two things everyday still feels a bit lacking.
Although the system just issued a new task, and tofu pudding could be unlocked next, Mai Ge still wanted to try and trick the system to see if he could unlock one or two other dishes.
The system remained silent for a moment before speaking: "Given the host's disregard for system tasks and attempt to take shortcuts, a hidden task has been triggered: Reach 1000 customer visits to the restaurant to unlock a Braised Chicken Rice recipe. Each customer counts only once. Failure to achieve this within fifteen days will result in a - 0.5 Physical Fitness Point. Progress: 155/1000"
"So, 1000 different customers need to visit the restaurant within fifteen days?" Mai Ge raised an eyebrow. This task was far more difficult than selling a thousand Rou Jia Mo. After all, some customers could eat several Rou Jia Mo, and repeat customers would make multiple purchases; one person might buy a dozen or more Rou Jia Mo within a few days.
But a thousand different customers was a completely different story. If achieved, it would definitely bring the restaurant to full capacity.
However, after several days of operation, only 155 people had visited the restaurant. Failing to meet the task would result in a deduction of physical fitness points, which was a bit worrying.
Of course, what Mai Ge is worried about now is not whether there will be business, but that because the previous customers are so loyal, new customers may not be able to eat there, which will inevitably slow down the rate of new customer growth.
"Dine in consumption is key. It seems I need to control the number of takeout orders, ideally achieving a certain promotional effect while prioritizing the needs of customers dining in." Mai Ge thought to himself, his eyes lighting up again at the thought of Braised Chicken Rice.
This is one of the three major catering giants that can be compared with Lan Zhou noodles and Sha Xian snacks.
In his previous life, Mai Ge had eaten at several authentic braised chicken rice restaurants. Although he was ruthless with his criticism afterward, the taste was undeniably excellent. The chicken was tender, and the broth was incredibly flavorful. After finishing the chicken, he could order a bowl of rice and pour it into the broth for another delicious chicken soup rice dish.
Now, thinking back, he was really nitpicking. However, recalling his harsh reviews, Mai Ge's expression twisted slightly. Damn it… even if he completed the mission and obtained the recipe, he had to be prepared to be locked in the Chef God Trial Grounds for hundreds of days.
The cycle of karma is truly swift and inevitable!
Mai Ge mentally complained about the culinary standards of the Heaven, and soon fell asleep.
The next morning, Mai Ge was woken by Amy's voice. Reaching for the bedside lamp, he sat up and looked at the crib. Amy was sitting on the bed, seemingly just awake, rubbing her sleepy eyes. She looked around and asked Mai Ge with some confusion, "Daddy, where's the Ugly Duckling?"
"Huh?" Mai Ge was taken aback. Hadn't the Ugly Duckling slept with its head on Amy's arm yesterday?
"Meow!" A slightly aggrieved sound came from under the bed.
Amy and Mai Ge simultaneously peeked under the bed. The Ugly Duckling had somehow fallen out and was looking up at Amy with a pitiful expression, like a wronged wife who'd been kicked off the bed. Its little eyes were full of resentment.
"Pfft—" Amy burst out laughing, leaning over the edge of the bed and saying with a smile, "Ugly Duckling, did I kick you off the bed?"
The Ugly Duckling seemed to understand Amy's words, nodding, its eyes even more aggrieved, and raising its little paws as if asking for a hug.
Mai Ge also smiled, looking at the Ugly Duckling on the floor, which did indeed seem a little pitiful.
"Right? I told you I might kick you off the bed, but you didn't believe me. Next time, you'd better sleep obediently in your little basket." Amy shrugged, then looked at Mai Ge and asked, "Daddy, are we getting up now?" She then yawned.
"It's still early, Little Amy and Ugly Duckling, sleep a little longer. I'll get up and prepare the ingredients." Mai Ge glanced at the alarm clock on the bedside table; it was only 04:50. He got out of bed, reached under the bed, and scooped up the tiny, soft-bodied Ugly Duckling, placing it on the crib. He shook his head with a smile.
"Okay, then Little Amy can sleep a little longer." Amy nodded, pressed down on the head of the Ugly Duckling that was crawling into her arms under the covers, and warned seriously, "Ugly duckling, don't grab my clothes. These are new clothes that Daddy bought for me. If you ruin them, you won't be allowed to sleep on my bed anymore."
"Meow~" The Ugly Duckling immediately stopped moving, nodded its head, and comfortably closed its eyes on the covers.
"Good." Amy nodded in satisfaction, lay back down, and also closed her eyes and fell asleep again.
Mai Ge smiled and tucked the blanket around Amy, folding a small corner over the Ugly Duckling; keeping the kitten warm was important.
After changing clothes and washing up, Mai Ge went downstairs to prepare the ingredients for the Rou Jia Mo. This morning, Mai Ge planned to make sixty four Rou Jia Mo, once the Bai Ji Mo from the four ovens were sold out, the morning's one and a half hour business hours would be over.
At seven o'clock, Mai Ge went upstairs to wake Amy. While washing up, the little girl insisted on brushing the Ugly Duckling's teeth.
Mai Ge had to explain for a while, he didn't know whether to laugh or cry before he finally convinced her to give up the idea. However, she still managed to scare the Ugly Duckling into rinsing its mouth several times.
"Forget it now, I can brush your teeth when they're bigger." Amy said, nodding as she brushed her own teeth, watching the Ugly Duckling lick a few mouthfuls of water and swallow it.
The Ugly Duckling stared at the small toothbrush and white foam in Amy's mouth, slowly retreating towards the door. This thing was too scary; it had to retreat.
The goat milk he bought yesterday was finished; he wouldn't have time to buy more until after the restaurant closed this morning.
So, at breakfast time, the Ugly Duckling, nestled in Amy's lap, looked up at Mai Ge and Amy as they ate Rou Jia Mo and Yang Zhou Fried Rice, its eyes practically shining. But no one thought to feed it a bite. Finally, it sadly raised its paws to cover its eyes, as if to say, "Out of sight, out of mind".
"Ugly Duckling, I see your eyes peeking out from your paws! Look if you want, you're not going to get any." Amy said with a smile, taking a bite of her Rou Jia Mo.
The Ugly Duckling slowly turned its face away, moved its little claws, looked up at the sky, and looked utterly dejected.
Mai Ge smiled and shook his head. After eating breakfast and clearing the table, he opened the restaurant door at exactly 7:30.
Mo Bai was the first to wait outside today, but there were already four or five people waiting behind him, forming a queue on their own. When they saw Mai Ge open the door, their eyes lit up, and some regular customers even called out "Boss Mai" with a smile.