Beggar’s Chicken
Chapter 34 Beggar’s Chicken
Time passed when Su Li studied Nothing Unusual.
One day, the Baiwei Building in the Dasu Town, which was decorated with lanterns and festoons, finally opened again. As soon as the waiter opened the door, a large number of customers who had already waited outside for a long time suddenly flooded in!
The entire Baiwei Building, with a different layout, was refurbished under the cooperation of the three families. The large sign placed on the shopkeeper’s counter struck people most.
"Beggar’s Chicken!"
"Is it the new top-one dish?!"
"Strange name."
The guests seated concentrated and kept talking. Seeing the bottom of the sign, someone suddenly screamed, "Are you kidding me?! Fifty taels for a dish of Beggar’s Chicken. Shopkeeper, why don’t you rob?"
The scream suddenly attracted other guests’ attention to it. Then the noises were louder. Other guests began to scold.
"What kind of chicken is worth fifty taels? It doesn’t cost so much money to spend half a month in a brothel!"
"It’s bullying. Who can afford it? You cheated us as fools?"
"Humph… Rubbish restaurant. Goodbye!"
"…"
In the blink of an eye, the number of guests halved. The remaining guests were suspicious. The shopkeeper wiped his cold sweat and quickly explained,
"Guests, main and non-staple ingredients used in Beggar’s Chicken are unique. Our master even opened a chicken farm, which is to raise chicken for Beggar’s Chicken. Today, our restaurant opens and offers free Beggar’s Chicken for you to taste. If you have enough time, wait a moment."
Afterwards, guests ready to leave stayed and many of those who had left returned. No guests would miss a free dish of Beggar’s Chicken, not to mention that one dish was worth fifty taels. If they tasted a free dish, wouldn’t it be an extra benefit? No one would miss such benefits.
With such thoughts in mind, many guests sat down, ordered some side dishes and waited patiently.
Although Li Shanbao took all the cooks away, the helpers were still there, and it was not a problem for them to cook some ordinary side dishes.
Work in the kitchen had begun to save time and improve efficiency. Su Li spent several days detailing the steps of Beggar’s Chicken, asking each helper to be responsible for one step, such as dealing with chicken, applying seasoning, making charcoal fires, etc.
In this way, helpers quickly mastered the steps. Although the Beggar’s Chicken made in the assembly line could not compete with that made by Su Li, the taste still was not bad.
Standing in the middle of the kitchen, Su Zipei completely became an onlooker. Although she remembered the process of making the Beggar’s Chicken well, she still felt helpless.
Moreover, looking at the greasy kitchen tables, Su Zipei had a feeling of nausea and she wished to go home immediately.
"I think you are Su Zipei, the inventor of Beggar’s Chicken?"
Suddenly a bright and clear voice came from the back of Su Zipei. She was so scared that she almost jumped up. A middle-aged big-boned man in cook apparel was looking at her with a smile. There were certain earnestness and admiration in his expression.
He was a cook!
Su Zipei turned slightly flustered and did not show her arrogance as usual. Immediately she said, "I am Su Zipei. Who are you?"
"Ha-ha, you are so polite. My name is He Shi, the new chief cook. I just came. I’d appreciate your help in the future."
Seeing Su Zipei treat him politely, He Shi felt comfortable. He thought he was a wise job-hopper. In the previous restaurant, he did not have such status.
"Not really. I am still young with less experience. I would appreciate Uncle He’s help." Su Zipei learned to say like adults, but felt worried. If He Shi asked her about the Beggar’s Chicken, it would be bad.
"No. You are too polite."
There was full of admiration in He Shi’s words. He praised, "The Beggar’s Chicken that you invented was a rarity in the word! Even cooks in the County Town can’t cook it. Moreover, you detailed the cooking steps. How impressive it is! Your way will definitely be imitated by other restaurants in the future!"