Gourmet: Midnight Vending

Scallion lamb is definitely a skill-intensive dish. Even if we start cooking now, it won't be ready for sale until evening!

With the Bone-cutting like mud Black Blade in hand, whether it's dividing or slicing meat, it's all effortless. In no time, Chen Mo divided the whole lamb into the desired shapes.

In fact, it starts by cutting the ribs from the center of the back, then cutting the four legs separately.

Afterwards, the meat from the four front and back legs is shaved off. The leg bones can be used to make soup, while the meat is layered with fat and lean parts, then rolled up tightly.

Chen Mo plans to put these rolled meats in the cabinet for freezing, so it'll be more convenient for hotpot in the future.

Next, he slightly cuts the lamb ribs, which will be used for making scallion lamb.

With the help of the Black Blade, it takes just over ten minutes to cut the lamb.

Lu Yingqiu stood by the cart watching Chen Mo wielding the blade with great flair, a ruthless butcher image popped into her mind, grinning menacingly at her and her roommates.

"So why do I have such a strange image?"

After handling three sheep in succession, Chen Mo finally took a break, also aiding Yino in making the chicken on time, while Shasha had already immersed all the freshly cooked chicken into cool boiled water.

In just half an hour, those soaked chickens will be ready to be hung on racks for simple air drying.

Chen Mo stored the rolled lamb meat in the cabinet for freezing, as the remaining 40 chickens were also cooked, finally freeing the black pot.

Having used all the large basins to soak whole chickens, he started filling the black pot with cold water to soak the lamb bones.

The secret to mutton soup is simple: first, ample soaking time is needed to draw out the blood from the bones, second, slow cooking is required while skimming the foam consistently, and third, a vigorous boil must be maintained throughout once the foam is gone.

This is the method, purely a craft dish with no redundant techniques.

The current stage is soaking, and this stage alone requires four to five hours.

On Lu Yingqiu's side, the sauce was ready, and the four of them suddenly found themselves idle.

"Why does it feel like staying here is not as good as setting up a stall outside? Can we really sell enough to cover the ticket cost?" Yino looked at the deserted gourmet plaza, somewhat worried.

If they can't earn 10,000 yuan, they'll have to pay venue fees.

Selling 5,000 yuan could barely get them a spa ticket to break even.

Looking at the current situation, it seems a bit difficult; a quick look around shows that tourists here tend to visit the large pool first, with the gourmet plaza being at the furthest end of the pools.

It's possible many people won't even reach here before turning back, which makes it challenging.

"Alright, let's take a rest here. No point in rushing things." Chen Mo seemed relaxed, "Those who want to come, will come."

Together with the few girls, he went to the nearby pavilion, suddenly recalling the fun thing he brought from Dakang Stronghold.

"Does anyone know how to play chess?"

Yino immediately nudged Lu Yingqiu forward. "She's the star of our Xiangqi Club! She won first place in our school's chess competition, even the old campus couldn't beat her!"

Oh?

There's actually such a master?

"Wait a bit, let's have a couple of games." Chen Mo went to the food cart and took out a chess set; it was something he had insisted on getting from Yu Hui after failing to find a puzzle game in the eastern village.

It's said that Yu Hui had been playing with this chess set for many years and was reluctant to part with it, feeling more heartbroken than if someone had taken one of his sheep.

If it were something else, Lu Yingqiu might feel a bit timid.

But when it comes to chess, even someone as socially anxious as Lu Yingqiu couldn't help but curl her lips into a slight smile.

"I started playing chess with my grandpa in the village when I was six..."

"Every day after helping grandpa prepare Bangbang chicken, I'd play for a long time."

"By the age of eight, I was unbeatable in the village..."

"I'd better play casually, if I win too easily, won't Boss Xiao Chen lose face?"

Lu Yingqiu sat at one side of a wooden table, forming an opposing stance with Chen Mo.

This game, Chen Mo played red, and Lu Yingqiu gestured "please," thinking Boss Xiao Chen would probably start with a cannon... wait, what?

As a socially anxious person, upon seeing Chen Mo's first move, Lu Yingqiu almost blurted out a curse.

"Check!" Chen Mo's cannon directly jumped over and captured Lu Yingqiu's horse!

Lu Yingqiu was bewildered as her chariot came out to capture Chen Mo's cannon.

How is this different from letting someone win... huh?

"Check!"

Chen Mo flew the other cannon over to capture the other horse, leaving Lu Yingqiu wondering if there's such a way to play?

Challenging herself, Lu Yingqiu captured Chen Mo's cannon again, thinking this style is too bizarre, with such a strong urge to play, it seems Boss Xiao Chen really doesn't know how to play. After all, the worse one is at something, the more they want to play.

Secretly, Chen Mo activated the system, the system interface in his mind transforming directly into the interface of Everyday Xiangqi!

Setting up the board according to the current state of the game, he began moving pieces following the steps in his mind.

Meanwhile, Lu Yingqiu was still pondering how to let Chen Mo win without him noticing too obviously.

Five minutes later, a look of appreciation began to spread across Lu Yingqiu's face.

Another five minutes later, Lu Yingqiu's move speed visibly slowed down.

Yet another five minutes later, Lu Yingqiu frowned slightly.

Twenty minutes later, with her commander trapped in a corner by two small soldiers, she skeptically requested, "One more game."

How is this possible?

Clearly, she had a great advantage in the opening, why does the game end up like this...

As for Chen Mo, he could hardly keep the smugness off his face.

Damn, it turns out that winning at chess feels so great! No wonder Yu Hui dragged me to play, insisting he wouldn't let me leave. Winning is what makes this game fun!

Bring it on.

Both sides set up their chessboards, and this time Lu Yingqiu made the first move.

Twenty minutes later.

Lu Yingqiu looked at her "general" surrounded by Chen Mo's two soldiers, frowning, "Let's play another round."

She paused, then lifted her head, looking firmly at Chen Mo, "This time, I won't hold back."

Chen Mo's smile was almost reaching his ears, "No need to hold back, just go all out."

Then...

"Again."

"No, one more time!"

"I want to play again!"

The joy of victory gradually faded. By the eighth time Chen Mo was setting up the chessboard, he saw text floating in front of him.

[This...]

[The Everyday Xiangqi Panel has been automatically closed for you. Note: Cannot be used when playing with women.]

Chen Mo: ???

System, are you biased against men?

So twenty minutes later.

Lu Yingqiu: "Boss Xiao Chen, you don't have to go easy on me. Let's go again."

"Boss Xiao Chen, why do you insist on going easy on me? It doesn't feel like a genuine win this way."

"Still going easy?"

Chen Mo lost three rounds in a row, then pushed the chess aside and wrapped it up in the chess cloth, "Not playing anymore."

"Can you stop going easy on me? Play seriously, just once, really, for the last time!" Lu Yingqiu, almost pleading, had a hint of stubbornness in her tone.

Chen Mo shook his head, "Not playing, really can't anymore."

If I can't cheat, who would play with you? I'm not a masochist!

Lu Yingqiu still wanted to plead with Chen Mo to play one more round. After all, Boss Xiao Chen was so good at first, then suddenly became so weak later, he must have been going easy on her.

Maybe he's afraid of losing face in front of my roommates?

But being played down doesn't feel good. She really wanted to beat Chen Mo fair and square once!

"Really can't play now, look, there are customers coming, business first, right?"

Lu Yingqiu turned her head to look and saw a few customers curiously pointing at the food cart, so she nodded slightly, "Alright then."

Then she chased after Chen Mo saying, "Play with me once more after you close the stall!"

Chen Mo pretended not to hear and quickly walked over to the food cart, while looking at the [Familiarity: 55] text in his mind with some surprise.

The visitors were none other than the family from the morning stall.

The family of three had changed into nice swimsuits. Zhou Xudong was wearing SpongeBob swim trunks, Jing Zhaodi wore a one-piece Patrick swimsuit with a pink skirt. The little girl, Zhou Xintong, wore a cute SpongeBob and Patrick hugging swimsuit.

"Hey, Boss Chen, are you setting up a stall here too?" Zhou Xudong curiously wandered around, pointing at the dozens of chickens hanging in front of the food cart, "Making so many?"

Chen Mo smiled and pulled a chicken leg from the cart, placing it in a sauce-covered food box, "Give the kid a chicken leg."

Then he looked at his hanging ingredients, each chicken brushed with sesame oil, shimmering under the sunlight, exuding a rich aroma of chicken and sesame oil.

"Don't!" Zhou Xudong was about to stop him when he saw his daughter grab the chicken leg and start munching, "Hey, this kid, how much should I transfer to you?"

"It's fine, no need to pay." Chen Mo found the little child adorable; money wasn't important, happiness was key, "Have fun!"

Zhou Xudong nodded in thanks but then noticed something new. A large black pot on the cart was filled with lamb ribs.

"Boss Xiao Chen, what's that?"

"Oh, that," Chen Mo returned to the cart and checked the soaking lilamb ribs, "They're for making lamb soup, and by tonight or tomorrow, we can make braised lamb with scallions."

"Lamb soup?" Zhou Xudong came over to the cart, "Can you make noodle soup with it?"

"Yes, I'll save some lamb soup, some for noodle soup, and some for braised lamb."

"Great." Zhou Xudong got a bit excited, "My favorite in Yu Province is lamb noodle soup, but now the outside soups are suspiciously whit." What you have here looks authentic, I'll definitely come by tomorrow."

Chen Mo was a little curious, "Aren't you leaving after the hot spring?"

"No, we'll stay another night." Zhou Xudong said.

He didn't know why, but talking with Boss Xiao Chen felt so familiar, like talking to an old friend even though they just met.

Zhou Xudong wanted to chat more but heard his wife calling him.

Turns out, Zhou Xintong had knocked over the food box, spilling the red sauce all over herself.

"Alright, you get busy. I'll definitely be here tomorrow!"

"Okay."

He watched the family of three leave, and another customer approached.

It was Wen Zhiliang.

He was carrying a card reader.