Cooking System: Street Food Rules

Jiang Feng was still incredibly popular. The street was already jammed, with a large crowd gathered to watch the action. Some people, after buying their osmanthus cakes, couldn't bear to leave and stayed nearby to film. Jiang Feng looked up at the dense crowd and sighed softly. There were far too many people. It felt like everywhere was crowded.

The price of Jiang Feng's osmanthus cakes had been driven up, and scalpers nearby were reselling them. Jiang Feng sold them for 3 yuan each, while the scalpers charged 10 yuan. The thing was, some people who didn't want to queue were actually willing to pay the higher price.

But that wasn't the most outrageous part. Even worse, two other stalls had opened nearby, also selling osmanthus cakes. One even had a sign that read, "Authentic Executive Chef Jiang's Osmanthus Cakes." This blatant approach left Jiang Feng at a loss. If you're the authentic Executive Chef Jiang's Osmanthus Cakes, what does that make me? Have I become an understudy?

However, there was no point in complaining. After all, the words "Executive Chef Jiang" weren't trademarked, so there was no way to stop others from using them. Stallholders would do anything to make money.

Some tourists traveled from far and wide just for the legendary osmanthus cakes. When they arrived, they found several food trucks, all emblazoned with "Authentic Executive Chef Jiang's Osmanthus Cakes," "The Most Authentic Executive Chef Jiang's Osmanthus Cakes," and "Super Authentic Executive Chef Jiang's Osmanthus Cakes." The tourists were dumbfounded. Who was actually authentic?

Among these food trucks, one was particularly conspicuous. It was an exquisite bus, and instead of a sign, it had a digital screen displaying the price of the osmanthus cakes. This food truck had the longest queue and was almost impenetrably surrounded. Without a doubt, this was the real deal—the authentic Executive Chef Jiang's Osmanthus Cakes. But as the queue seemed endless, some people opted to buy from the nearby stalls instead.

At the very front of the line, a customer asked Jiang Feng, "Boss Jiang, are all these osmanthus cake stalls around here yours?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Feng, looking a bit helpless, chuckled and replied, "I don't even know them. Normally, I sell the cakes myself, or in special cases, I have my assistants do it. There wouldn't be any additional stalls."

The customer nodded. "I knew it. There's a marked difference in taste. The ones you make are much tastier."

Jiang Feng smiled in thanks. There were indeed many stalls around, and there had been many in the past, but this was the first time stalls were openly impersonating him. The trope of impersonation had been clearly mastered.

Jiang Feng's business was booming, and the other stalls weren't doing badly either. A tourist approached one of the stalls, saw "Authentic Executive Chef Jiang's Osmanthus Cakes" written on the blackboard, and couldn't help but ask the stall owner, "Boss, how can you claim to sell 'Authentic Executive Chef Jiang's Osmanthus Cakes' when Executive Chef Jiang is right over there?"

Hearing the customer's question, the stall owner replied calmly, "The name of my osmanthus cakes is 'Executive Chef Jiang's Osmanthus Cakes.' I never said *which* Executive Chef Jiang, did I? Besides, look at the long queue over there. There's no need to queue at my stall—you can buy straight away. After all, it's osmanthus cakes; why wouldn't eating them here be just as good?"

The tourist looked at Jiang Feng's stall and then back at this one before responding, "I think I'll go over there. Boss Jiang's osmanthus cakes taste great, and I want to try them." Then, the tourist ran off to join Jiang Feng's queue.

The line was long, but it moved swiftly because everything was prepared in advance, making the selling process smooth. So, queuing didn't take too much time. Jiang Feng was still cooking on site, steaming several baskets at a time. Every time he finished steaming the osmanthus cakes and it was time to turn them out of the basket, a crowd would gather to watch. Seeing the bounciness of the osmanthus cakes was somehow stress-relieving. Jiang Feng was not only a chef but also had the air of a performance artist; watching him cook was a delight for the crowd.

Around one o'clock in the afternoon, Jiang Feng grabbed a megaphone and shouted to the customers lined up at the back, "Everyone, I'm sorry, but the osmanthus cakes and mochi are all sold out! We have no more!"

Hearing Jiang Feng's announcement, the queuing customers immediately showed their disappointment. What? Sold out already! Boss Jiang, you sold out so quickly!

As the crowd murmured their complaints, Jiang Feng shouted through the megaphone again, "Next up, we'll be selling wheel cakes! Those who want wheel cakes can continue to queue!"

At this announcement, the customers' expressions brightened. Wheel cakes? What's that?

Many people didn't know what wheel cakes were. They are actually a type of freshly made pastry, created by pouring batter and ingredients into a mold and cooking them quickly at high temperatures, somewhat similar to small, freshly baked cakes. Wheel cakes taste delicious, with especially rich milk and egg flavors. Being freshly made, they are exceptionally fresh. If a snack street had wheel cake stands, business would be guaranteed to be good, and many people would come specifically for the variety of flavors.

The customers' emotions were like a roller coaster. Just when they thought everything was sold out, there was something new on offer. Boss Jiang was still full of surprises.

"What's a wheel cake? Does it have anything to do with wheels?"

"Does wife cake have anything to do with wives?"

"Why is it called a wheel cake? I've never heard of it!"

"Me neither. I've eaten snacks for so many years, and this is the first time I've heard of a wheel cake."

"Why call it a wheel cake and not a hub cake?"

"It's just a type of pastry," someone clarified.

As everyone discussed, Jiang Feng had already updated the information on the electronic screen:

Freshly made wheel cakes: 4 yuan apiece, 10 yuan for three, limit three per customer.

Flavors: Classic Red Bean, Soft Glutinous Purple Rice, Sweet Taro Paste, Milk Oreo, Vanilla Pudding.

This time, Jiang Feng had prepared five flavors of wheel cakes. Each required adjusting the batter mix on site and adding different ingredients, but he made them very quickly. Moreover, Jiang Feng's molds had sixteen grooves, and he had two molds, meaning he could make thirty-two wheel cakes at once. The process was fast; after all, snacks are all about timeliness.

Many people craned their necks to get a look, curious about how wheel cakes were made. The queue, originally a long straight line, became diagonal as everyone leaned in from the side to watch the excitement.

"I want two vanilla pudding and one milk Oreo," the customer at the front of the line ordered, looking at the electronic board.

"Alright, coming right up," Jiang Feng replied, beginning his performance.

He poured the batter into the grooves, using a tool to distribute it evenly. The batter, consisting of flour, eggs, and milk—the basic ingredients for cake—quickly transformed under high heat. After filling the grooves with batter and leveling it, he added various fillings. Jiang Feng used only twenty grooves, making four of each of the five flavors. After adding the fillings, he poured more batter into the remaining empty grooves to form cake tops. Later, the cake half with filling would be topped with the plain cake half, and the two would automatically join, encasing the filling. Just like that, a wheel cake was made.

The process was very simple. Because it consisted of two cake halves joined together, with a clear line in the middle, it resembled a wheel—hence the name "wheel cake." This snack is quite popular in Taiwan and is also commonly seen in Guangdong, though many tourists from other regions are less familiar with it.

Watching the wheel cakes being made one by one, the customers found it extraordinary. It was their first time seeing such a snack, and it looked quite appealing. Freshly made pastries always taste good. If a residential area had a stall selling freshly baked small cakes made from batter on the spot, they would undoubtedly be snatched up quickly, with none left over. Those are the most delectable cakes, with simple ingredients like eggs, milk, and flour, and few additives, boasting a fragrant and rich flavor. Wheel cakes simply add various delicious fillings to such a cake base. The vanilla pudding flavor, for instance, incorporated vanilla ice cream ingredients and some pudding. In the mold, the filling quickly blended into the cake, creating a perfectly balanced taste.

People always find new things fascinating. Those in the queue, who had been regretting not getting to eat osmanthus cakes, now felt fortunate. It was a blessing in disguise.

Soon, the wheel cakes were ready, and Sun Zhuangfei was responsible for handing them to the customers. After receiving his wheel cakes, a customer grabbed one and immediately took a bite. The exterior was a freshly made cake, wafting a rich milky aroma that seemed to go straight to his nose and spread throughout his body. The light, milky fragrance was incredibly refreshing. The cake was exceptionally fluffy, with a perfect texture. Then, he tasted the vanilla pudding filling. It was even sweeter, like eating vanilla-flavored ice cream but with a completely different, delightful texture—soft and sweet. It compared favorably even to the osmanthus cakes.

"It's delicious, so soft!" the customer exclaimed in surprise. "This is my first time eating a wheel cake, and it's really good! It's so soft."

The people in line behind him watched his expressions with envy, their anticipation for the wheel cakes growing.

"There's always a surprise when lining up for Boss Jiang's delicacies!"

"Because everything he makes is delicious, hearing that he's come up with something new is quite exciting."

"I feel like he can do anything. I'm starting to believe those online rumors; he might really be something special," one tourist remarked.

"You mean, like the Kitchen God reincarnated?" another chimed in. "That's a bit too fantastical! I think being a descendant of an Imperial Chef is more believable."

"Seriously, when is it going to be my turn?" a third muttered.

The tourists murmured amongst themselves as the line continued to move steadily forward.