Lu Feng was incredibly frustrated at this moment.
He had been busy for half a day and hadn't even had time for lunch.
Forget it, he'd just consider it exercise.
The System had been silent for a long time, so Lu Feng could only comfort himself this way.
His previous 996 work schedule had left his body in a sub-healthy state.
Surprisingly, after three hours of labor, although he was a bit tired,
once his body had gotten moving, Lu Feng actually felt much more comfortable.
“System, I want to use the Shop Renovation Card.”
【Ding! Shop Renovation Card used successfully!】
【Shop renovation is expected to take 1 hour, please wait patiently.】
Clang, bang, clatter...
Noises started coming from the kitchen and the main hall, and the old tables and chairs slowly disappeared.
Lu Feng quickly walked out of the shop and locked the rolling shutter door.
If the strange scene of the shop automatically renovating was seen by passersby,
heaven knew what kind of commotion it would cause.
Standing at the shop entrance, Lu Feng couldn't help but feel a little curious about the xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) technique from the Newbie Gift Pack .
xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) are a traditional breakfast dim sum snack.
Many people like to have a basket of xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) in the morning, paired with a bowl of hot soy milk.
A sip of soy milk, a xiaolongbao (soup dumplings), absolutely delicious.
When Lu Feng was in school, he really liked the xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) made by an old couple at the school gate.
He bought a basket almost every day he went to school.
It was just that one day, the shop suddenly closed and never reopened.
Afterward, Lu Feng tried a few other places a few times, but always felt they were lacking.
The xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) made by that old couple gradually became a taste in Lu Feng's memories.
Now, Lu Feng's mind was filled with a vast amount of knowledge on making xiaolongbao (soup dumplings).
From how to choose the right flour, the ratio of water to flour for kneading, to the seasoning of the filling, and the steaming time for xiaolongbao (soup dumplings), all the steps and details were deeply etched in his mind.
This made him feel as if he had been making xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) for decades.
“Grrr.”
Lu Feng's stomach rumbled at this moment.
He then remembered that he hadn't eaten lunch yet.
Lu Feng checked the time; it was already 1:30 PM.
The shop renovation would take an hour, which was perfect timing to go grab lunch.
As for what to eat, Lu Feng had already decided.
He would eat xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) on this snack street.
Although he had completely mastered the xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) technique given by the System, he didn't yet know what his own would taste like.
After all, he hadn't tried making them yet.
It would be better to try someone else's first, so he could have a baseline.
Thinking this, Lu Feng walked towards the pedestrian street.
After walking along the pedestrian street for a while, Lu Feng chose a restaurant with a slightly larger storefront.
The sign of this restaurant read: Li's Xiaolongbao.
Lu Feng stood at the entrance and glanced inside; there were quite a few diners.
It was already past mealtime, so it wasn't the busiest period.
With so many people still inside, the taste must be good.
Lu Feng entered the baozi shop, and a waitress greeted him with a smile.
“Welcome to Li's Restaurant, here is our menu. Our signature xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) are made with authentic free-range pork, and everyone who tries them raves about them.”
Lu Feng took the menu and scanned it.
Besides the signature xiaolongbao (soup dumplings), there were also cold dishes, stir-fries, and porridge-like items.
After checking the price of the signature xiaolongbao (soup dumplings), Lu Feng's mouth couldn't help but twitch.
A basket of signature xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) cost 30 yuan, with 6 pieces per basket.
So expensive!
The xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) in Lu Feng's memory only cost two yuan a basket.
The price had increased fifteenfold.
These days, the price of everything was rising.
Except for salaries.
Lu Feng returned the menu to the waitress and reluctantly ordered a basket of xiaolongbao (soup dumplings).
“Just one basket of xiaolongbao (soup dumplings)? Our stir-fries are very good too.”
“No, no, I just came for the xiaolongbao (soup dumplings).”
“We also have a promotion today: order three baskets of xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) and get a free pumpkin porridge. It’s a great deal.”
“No need, one basket is enough.”
“If you only order one basket, I’m afraid you won’t be full.”
“I already ate before coming; I’m just here to try the taste.”
Are you kidding, order more baskets?
For Lu Feng, who was used to being frugal,
one basket was enough to make his heart ache.
Seeing Lu Feng's insistence, the waitress reluctantly left.
Lu Feng found a seat and poured himself cup after cup of the free lemon water.
He'd fill his stomach halfway first, so he wouldn't feel as hungry when he ate the xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) later.
The xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) at this restaurant were ready-made, and soon, the waitress brought them over.
The xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) in the steamer were steaming hot, plump and white, and looked quite appetizing at first glance.
Lu Feng used his chopsticks to pick one up and put it in his mouth. After chewing a few times, he frowned.
The taste of these xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) was indeed decent.
But for Lu Feng, who had unlocked the max-level xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) technique, they were merely decent.
He carefully savored them and still found quite a few shortcomings.
Firstly, the skin of the xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) was too thick and a bit hard to chew.
This was likely due to insufficient fermentation time for the dough, and the flour used was very ordinary wheat flour, resulting in a mediocre texture.
Then there was the filling; there was almost no soup inside the filling, making it dry.
The filling of xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) should have some soup for a better taste.
The filling tasted a bit too strongly of green onion and ginger, almost overpowering the taste of the pork itself.
In Lu Feng's opinion, the taste of Li's Xiaolongbao was not much different from the xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) at a street-side stall.
Was he being too picky?
To verify his judgment, Lu Feng picked up another xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) and tasted it.
The same taste, the same evaluation.
Lu Feng was thoroughly convinced of his judgment.
And this taste sold for 30 yuan a basket.
Lu Feng felt like a complete fool.
He might as well have eaten something else.
Looking at the four remaining xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) in front of him, Lu Feng lost interest.
In the end, he still forced himself to eat them.
For no other reason.
He had paid thirty yuan for them; not eating them would be a huge loss.
Six xiaolongbao (soup dumplings) down, it was impossible to say he was full.
But at least it alleviated the hunger in his stomach.
Before leaving, Lu Feng drank two more cups of lemon water and pulled out several tissues from the dispenser on the table.
The thirty yuan felt a bit wasted; he'd recoup whatever he could.
Before he left, the waitress at the door approached him with a QR code.
She said scanning it to leave a good review would get him a free bottle of cola.
But Lu Feng rejected it without a second thought.
Although he usually liked to take small advantages, he couldn't bring himself to leave a review against his conscience.
Lu Feng then casually strolled around the pedestrian street for a while. Just as he was starting to feel a bit bored, the familiar System notification sound appeared in his mind again.
【Ding! Shop upgrade and renovation successful. Host, please return to the shop to receive the mission.】
It's finally done.
Lu Feng felt a surge of excitement again and returned to his shop with anticipation.
“Holy crap!”
Looking at the completely new shop, Lu Feng couldn't help but exclaim.
