Cooking System: Street Food Rules

Corporate Planning Department.

Lin Qiaoqiao and Liu Yao returned to their desks, their faces beaming.

Both of them were clearly very happy.

Another male colleague sitting nearby saw their condition and was immediately a bit surprised.

Smiling while working overtime usually meant one of two things: either there was a problem, or there was a *big* problem.

Most people working overtime were like zombies—lifeless, with hollow eyes, mechanically handling the tasks at hand. They couldn't even manage a smile!

"What's with you two? Why are you smiling so happily?"

"Could it be some good news?"

"Are bonuses being handed out?"

The male colleague asked Lin Qiaoqiao.

Upon hearing this, Lin Qiaoqiao responded:

"Not really. We just went to have a meal at the cafeteria."

"The cafeteria has opened a new oven-roasted chicken stall."

"The taste of that oven-roasted chicken is simply incredible!"

"I've never eaten such delicious oven-roasted chicken before!"

"I recommend you try it too; it's really good."

"Oven-roasted chicken?" The male colleague was a little taken aback. "Newly opened?"

"Alright, I'll go take a look in a bit."

The male colleague was amazed. Just one meal improved their spirits so much? Does this oven-roasted chicken have some sort of magic power?

So, he set down his work and also got up to go to the cafeteria.

Lin Qiaoqiao and Liu Yao rested satisfactorily in their chairs for a while. Then, they got into the zone and became busy. To their surprise, they found their work efficiency seemed to have increased. Indeed, everything goes smoothly when one is in a good mood.

The male colleague made his way to the cafeteria.

From a distance, he saw the oven-roasted chicken stall.

The stall's sign was new and eye-catching.

Moreover, because it was a new establishment, quite a few Alibaba employees were gathered around, buying oven-roasted chicken.

The food stalls in the cafeteria rarely changed, so when a new one opened, everyone definitely wanted to try something different.

Once they started eating, they couldn't stop themselves.

Everyone was surprised to find the oven-roasted chicken could be *this* delicious. It was sheer bliss.

Especially the mildly spicy version.

While savoring the deliciousness, their mouths grew hot and spicy. They took deep breaths, feeling as if every pore in their bodies had opened up.

"Quite a crowd!"

The male colleague was a little surprised.

So he walked over and got in line too.

Before long, he'd bought himself a single-person oven-roasted chicken meal.

After putting on heat-resistant and disposable gloves, he peeled back the layers of foil.

Piping hot juices still lingered in the indentations of the foil.

The chicken was steaming hot, its skin golden and crispy, sizzling with oil.

It looked quite good.

The male colleague tore off a chicken leg.

Generally, the first step to eating oven-roasted chicken is to go for the leg.

The chicken meat melted in his mouth—incredibly tender, juicy, soft, and succulent.

It felt like an explosion of flavor in his mouth.

He had ordered the mildly spicy oven-roasted chicken. The slight spiciness, carried by the juices, stimulated his taste buds as if they had been fully awakened. Eating the scalding hot meat, it felt like his tongue wasn't even his own.

My goodness, this is really delicious! The taste of this oven-roasted chicken is perfect!

A hint of delight emerged in the male colleague's eyes.

He glanced again at the bowl of egg-fried rice.

Translucent rice grains mingled with yellow egg, garnished with a scattering of green onions. It looked quite light.

Considering the oven-roasted chicken was quite flavorful, Jiang Feng had deliberately made the egg-fried rice milder. This way, it wouldn't overburden the palate.

After such an intense flavor experience, a bowl of delicious egg-fried rice could both satisfy hunger and soothe the mouth. It was a perfect combination.

Some employees, after tasting the egg-fried rice, were captivated by its aroma. Since it was served in a small bowl, it was finished in just a few bites.

One employee approached the food stall and asked Sun Zhuangfei, "Boss, excuse me, do you sell the fried rice separately? I'd like to buy a bowl."

Jiang Feng had briefed Sun Zhuangfei on this matter, so Sun Zhuangfei knew how to respond.

He replied, "Sorry, the egg-fried rice is limited in quantity. We don't sell it separately."

"It's meant to accompany the oven-roasted chicken."

Hearing this, the employee didn't give up. "Can I pay extra? Five yuan for a small bowl, is that okay?"

Sun Zhuangfei firmly responded, "The boss said no, we don't sell it separately. Indeed, the egg-fried rice isn't in large supply."

Behind the stall was a stove.

Sometimes, Jiang Feng, wearing a mask, would come to the stove, heat oil in the wok, and fry a fresh batch of egg-fried rice to replenish the stock. After all, the egg-fried rice was consumed quickly.

Egg-fried rice definitely couldn't be sold separately. If it were, many people would just come for the egg-fried rice. That would bring in too little profit and prevent me from fulfilling the system's task.

The people around looked disappointed upon hearing the egg-fried rice wasn't sold individually. This egg-fried rice is very tasty too. And considering its affordable price, if it were available for purchase, we could come and eat two bowls of it in the future. Unfortunately, it can only be bought with the oven-roasted chicken meal. Of course, the oven-roasted chicken is also delicious, and paired with egg-fried rice, it's perfect. Definitely worth it.

By now, the male colleague had finished half the oven-roasted chicken, devouring it completely. Only a pile of bones remained in the foil. The egg-fried rice had also been polished off.

He leaned back in his seat. A few beads of sweat dotted his forehead, his stomach felt somewhat bloated, and he didn't want to move an inch.

He kept gasping, trying to lessen the spicy sensation in his mouth with each breath.

It felt as if all his pores had opened up.

He felt warm inside, a current of heat surging through him.

"Whew! That was exhilarating!"

After a brief rest, he left the cafeteria, completely satisfied.

Before long, he was back in his department.

Arriving at his workstation, he sank into his computer chair, leaned back, and relaxed, a look of pure contentment on his face.

Lin Qiaoqiao and Liu Yao saw him and laughed. "Did you just come back from eating the oven-roasted chicken?"

"That oven-roasted chicken stall is pretty good, right?"

Hearing this, the male colleague gave a thumbs-up.

"It's incredibly tasty! A truly satisfying meal!"

"I finally understand what they mean by 'an army marches on its stomach'!"

"Only after eating your fill do you have the energy to work hard!"

The three of them got busy. Work never ended; there was always something to do.

Just then, their department leader, Ren Yuan, came out to assign tasks and inquire about their work progress.

Seeing their demeanor, he was quite surprised. The employees were all working hard, their expressions serious. They also looked quite energetic, a far cry from their usual world-weary appearance.

"You guys are in high spirits today!" Ren Yuan exclaimed in admiration.

"Manager, we just got back from the cafeteria. There's a new oven-roasted chicken stall there that's exceptionally delicious," Liu Yao promptly said.

"It felt really great after eating."

Lin Qiaoqiao added, "We all ate oven-roasted chicken from that stall, and we feel great."

Seeing them like this, Ren Yuan was even more surprised.

Eating chicken has this effect? If that's the case, I should have it every day, Ren Yuan mused.

He hadn't eaten yet, and hearing about a newly opened stall in the cafeteria intrigued him. He had planned to grab something quick, finish his work, and then have a late dinner. But now, he changed his mind.

"I'm going to head to the cafeteria too. I wasn't hungry initially, but hearing you all talk about it has made me starving."

"Remember to send me your weekly work reports," he added.

With that, Ren Yuan also headed to the cafeteria for some oven-roasted chicken.

Lin Qiaoqiao and Liu Yao continued with their tasks.

The male colleague spoke up:

"You all feel energized after eating, but I'm actually feeling sleepy."

"I just want to lie down and sleep; I don't feel like moving at all."

"That oven-roasted chicken is really good. If they're still open when we get off work, I'd like to eat another half."

Hearing this, Lin Qiaoqiao said, "You really have a good appetite."

"By the way, check for us if they're still open around 10 p.m. If so, I might go there for a late-night snack too."

The three of them chatted casually.

Similar conversations unfolded in several departments.

Many who tasted the oven-roasted chicken immediately recommended it to their colleagues. The news spread quickly.

"There's a new stall in the cafeteria selling oven-roasted chicken; it's really good!"

"The flavor of that oven-roasted chicken is truly delicious! I suggest you hurry up and try it!"

"I'll be going there for dinner from now on!"

"Their chicken is simply superb—so aromatic and juicy! It really hit the spot!"

As people discussed it, more and more employees became aware.

Alibaba Technology Park housed several large buildings, each with two or three cafeterias. Besides the employee cafeterias, there were also executive dining rooms. Different employee levels corresponded to different cafeteria standards. For example, executive dining rooms served gourmet food with expensive ingredients like shrimp, crab, and beef. The employee cafeterias, usually contracted out to external catering companies, offered more ordinary fare.

So, encountering such a delicious stall was quite rare.

Jiang Feng's arrival allowed the hardworking employees to taste a rare culinary delight.

Everyone was exceptionally happy.

At this moment, Jiang Feng was quite at ease. This time, selling food, no one had come because of his fame; they came solely for the enjoyment of the food. The feeling is quite pleasant, he thought. The task had also been completed.

It was clear that the people here really liked the oven-roasted chicken he made.

Several people came to the stall to praise him and ask about operating hours. He wasn't worried about business for the next few days; the task could be completed with ease.

Sun Zhuangfei was responsible for handling payments, working the front, and serving the oven-roasted chicken.

Jiang Feng rested in the back, occasionally stir-frying a pot of egg-fried rice.

Having help with the miscellaneous tasks definitely made things easier for him.

Meanwhile, in the Corporate Planning Department, Ren Yuan walked into the office area with a satisfied look on his face.

Seeing him, Lin Qiaoqiao and Liu Yao knew he had just had the oven-roasted chicken.

"Manager, how was the taste?" Liu Yao immediately asked.

Ren Yuan nodded. "It's excellent."

"I'll be going there for dinner from now on."

"The owner's cooking skills are truly excellent."

"Very satisfying," Ren Yuan said with a smile, clearly pleased with the meal.

This dinner had truly left him feeling content.