Cooking System: Street Food Rules

"We're trying to learn cooking from you, and you're making Pagoda Meat, one of the most difficult dishes in Chinese cuisine?"

After Jiang Feng's Pagoda Meat went viral, many netizens flocked to his livestream to complain.

The difficulty of Pagoda Meat is on par with Wensi Tofu and Buddha Jumps Over the Wall.

Just consider the knife skills required; they're not something an average person can master. If you're not careful, the meat slices break.

After attempting it, many found they simply couldn't handle the challenge. Some, after several failed attempts, gave up on Pagoda Meat altogether and just sliced the pork belly to stir-fry it.

"First day, Meat-Stuffed Eggs; second day, Pagoda Meat! Can't we have something simple?"

"How are we supposed to learn this?"

"Boss Jiang, please stop showing off!"

"Consider those of us with clumsy hands! Make some simpler dishes, please!"

Many people left messages in the livestream chat.

Jiang Feng noticed their comments. While many couldn't taste the food he made, they could still participate remotely by trying to imitate his cooking. However, the dishes Jiang Feng had made in the past two days were genuinely difficult for most people to imitate.

Jiang Feng then said to the netizens in the livestream, "Thank you for your support. Starting tomorrow, I'll make some simple, common snacks. That should be easier for everyone to follow."

Hearing this, the viewers were finally satisfied.

Amidst the hustle and bustle, a new batch of Pagoda Meat was ready from the steamer. He took the mold out, inverted it onto a plate, and then removed the mold. A perfectly shaped pagoda of pork belly was revealed. Garnished with some green vegetables, the presentation was stunning. This was the epitome of culinary enjoyment.

A serving of Pagoda Meat cost 78 yuan. While definitely expensive compared to street food, it was very affordable compared to restaurant prices. In a proper restaurant, this dish would easily cost over 128 yuan.

The waiting customers craned their necks in anticipation.

Soon, the first customer in line took their Pagoda Meat to a nearby table, sat down, and pulled out a pair of disposable chopsticks, ready to dig in.

"Where do I even start with this Pagoda Meat? From the top or the bottom?"

The customer gazed at the glistening, translucent pagoda, momentarily unsure where to take the first bite. Deciding not to overthink it, he noticed the layered texture of the meat at the pagoda's base, gripped a slice, and began to pull it downwards. A long slice of meat came away from the pagoda, still connected. He had to tug a little harder to tear it off.

Just like that, he had a slice of Pagoda Meat and placed it in his mouth.

Instantly, the flavor of the sauce exploded on his taste buds, sending delightful signals rushing to his brain. The meat, enveloped in sauce and sealed while steaming, had become incredibly tender and had fully absorbed the rich flavors. The meat slices were thin and translucent, allowing the flavors of the dried bamboo shoots and the sauce to penetrate them completely. With a gentle chew, the meat seemed to melt in his mouth. The exquisite taste lingered. It was extremely delicious, and the customer's eyes lit up slightly.

"This is absolutely delicious!"

"It's somewhat like Meicai Kou Rou, but the taste is more delicate, and the aroma of the dried bamboo shoots is even richer than preserved vegetables."

"These dried bamboo shoots must have been meticulously marinated too. The flavor is incredible."

"Truly excellent!"

The customer exclaimed in admiration again and again. He then tore another slice from the bottom of the pagoda, eagerly popping it into his mouth.

This dish was exceptional, from its appearance to its taste.

"Truly worthy of being made by the Culinary God."

"Such incredible skill!"

The customer praised him joyfully. Eating food made by such a master chef was simply exhilarating. It wasn't just a feast for the taste buds; it was an emotional indulgence. If this were served in a private kitchen restaurant, paying over 1,000 yuan would still be considered a steal.

Those still in line watched the customer enjoying the Pagoda Meat, their envy growing with each passing moment. The dish's presentation was simply exquisite. It resembled a pagoda nestled among mountains and rivers.

The people of China hold a special affection for pagodas set within scenic landscapes. Nearly every famous lake or scenic spot features a prominent pagoda. People love to admire these structures. And now, someone had actually managed to craft a pagoda out of pork belly.

The culinary culture of China is truly profound and extensive!

The food street was overflowing with people, bustling like a New Year's market. Everyone seemed to be in high spirits.

"Come on, let's go see the Culinary God!"

"We can't squeeze through! It's packed with people!"

A couple navigated the crowd, chatting excitedly.

"Then let's try to see him from further back!"

They made their way to the edge of the crowd. Peering through the sea of heads, the pair spotted Jiang Feng working intently at a stall window. He appeared to be meticulously slicing a piece of pork belly into one long, continuous strip.

"It's really Jiang Feng! He looks so young in person!" The girl was overjoyed, her eyes shining with excitement.

The boy, upon seeing Jiang Feng, also found him quite intriguing.

"This feels a bit like a concert, maybe even more lively," the boy remarked with a smile.

It was much the same when they attended popular concerts. As soon as the singer appeared, the crowd would invariably get excited. It was the feeling of something cherished materializing before their very eyes. After all, admiring someone through a phone screen meant that person was just a virtual image online. Only by seeing them in person could you feel that this individual you admired was real.

Furthermore, Jiang Feng looked exactly the same in real life as he did online, which made even more people like him. After all, many celebrities and internet influencers carefully craft their public personas. But Jiang Feng's videos were all candid street shots taken by passersby, so there was no sense of a manufactured persona.

"I want to eat Pagoda Meat too," the girl said wistfully, gazing into the distance.

Her statement was akin to saying, "I want the moon," because with such a massive crowd, only those who had queued up very early had any chance of eating it.

But the boy, having higher emotional intelligence, immediately responded, "I'll research how to make it when we get back. Even if it's not as delicious as Boss Jiang's, it should still be edible."

Hearing him say this, the girl was naturally delighted. Whether he would actually cook it later wasn't truly important. Girls are creatures of emotion; making them feel good in that particular moment is what counts. Such casual promises are wonderful if kept, but it's not a huge deal if they aren't. Many boys fail to win over girls because they are too rigid, believing they absolutely must follow through on everything they say. Sometimes, a half-joking promise can actually be more effective.

Jiang Feng was still incredibly busy. There were so many portions to prepare that he was struggling to keep up, but he did his utmost. Even so, his skill was astounding.

Many renowned chefs who saw videos of him were dumbfounded, some even began to question their own careers.

Pagoda Meat? Sold at a street stall?

Is it really authentic Pagoda Meat?

They found it hard to believe. That Pagoda Meat, a dish typically only master chefs in restaurants could prepare, was being sold by someone right on the street. And it was prepared exceptionally well. Nearly every single portion was a success. The presentation was exquisite, and the taste was superb. It was simply unbelievable!

Yet, it was undeniably happening. Jiang Feng's actions sent considerable shockwaves through the culinary industry. His skill was clearly far more than just what made him a viral sensation.

The official livestream was buzzing with activity. The food festival attracted a large number of tourists, and even local residents came out to join the spectacle. People would chat about it during their leisure time.

"Have you heard about that incredible chef, the one who owns a restaurant? He's in Changsha now!"

"Of course, I know! He's over at Sifangping. The streets there are completely gridlocked!"

"I went for some snacks today and was astounded by the sheer number of people!"

"I heard he's planning to open a restaurant here. Do you think it'll do well?"

Different cities have distinct cultures, and many boast strong local brands. However, brands that achieve nationwide recognition are actually quite rare. For instance, in Changsha, people weren't particularly enthusiastic about Jiangyue Terrace yet. Most only knew Jiang Feng's story from the internet and weren't familiar with the details. If Jiang Feng set up a stall here and attracted long lines, word-of-mouth would spread. Gradually, people would come to recognize his culinary prowess and the excellent quality of Jiangyue Terrace. But he had only been in Changsha for two days, and his local reputation was just beginning to build. His restaurant wouldn't gain widespread recognition so quickly.

Jiang Feng was in no hurry. He planned to get through the week-long food festival first. After all, his plans for opening a Hunan Cuisine Restaurant were still up in the air. He would have to rely on his own efforts and take things one step at a time.

Jiang Feng remained busy. Meanwhile, many city tourism bureaus were closely monitoring the situation in Changsha. If Jiang Feng could replicate his success from Wenzhou in Changsha, it would prove his genuine ability to attract tourists. Visitors were clearly willing to travel to see him.

Such drawing power was a rare asset. Currently, aside from Capital City, which never needed to promote tourism, all other cities were engaged in a fierce competition for tourists, each hoping visitors would choose their destination. After all, tourism was a genuinely beneficial economic driver, and governments needed such revenue for development. As for Capital City, with its wealth of ancient architecture and museums, it never lacked visitors. It was especially inundated during holidays. To cope with this influx, during holiday seasons, Capital City's subway system would even display promotional slogans like "Hebei is just as fun!" or "Discover beautiful Hebei!" essentially encouraging tourists to visit Hebei instead of overwhelming Capital City.

The immense popularity Jiang Feng generated also led many other cities to consider inviting him. It was similar to how matchmaker Granny Wang, after concluding her special event in Jiangxi, moved on to another in Wuhan. Jiang Feng could potentially host similar "special appearances" in various cities in the future. While other street vendors had to worry about location, regulations, and evading city management officers, if Jiang Feng set up a stall, it would be a city-endorsed special event, complete with official support and protection.

Such was the prestige of the Culinary God.