Gourmet: Midnight Vending

"Boss Xiao Chen, how's business going?"

Wen Zhiliang placed the card machine on the food cart counter, and his assistant eagerly stepped forward to help with the startup and activation, "Mr. Chen, you just need to enter the amount, click confirm, and then the customer can swipe their wristband."

Chen Mo glanced at it. This thing was easy to use, no questions needed. He turned to Wen Zhiliang and said, "Haven't started yet, but I did give away a chicken leg."

"Oh?" Wen Zhiliang chuckled, "Don't worry, it's not the peak time yet. It's usually busier here in the afternoon. Hey, what's that?"

Wen Zhiliang also noticed the lamb ribs in the big black pot.

"This." At that moment, Chen Mo was turning the ribs over with a black ladle. Just a flip, and a bit of blood started to seep out again. "Lamb ribs. I thought just doing Bang Bang Chicken was too plain, so I figured I'd add something else. It's not much effort anyway."

"What are you adding?" Wen Zhiliang asked curiously.

"Lamb soup with noodles and scallion lamb."

To someone who grew up in Yu Province, these dishes weren't unfamiliar. Wen Zhiliang nodded slightly and said with a smile, "I should remind you, making noodle soup here might not sell well, because my hotel's package includes a buffet. You get what I mean, right?"

The adult package includes a buffet, meaning you can enjoy a lunch while soaking in the hot springs.

Since they're already here, nobody would want to miss out on the buffet. Of course, Chen Mo understood what Wen Zhiliang meant. If the customers are full from the buffet, why would they come to eat more noodles? And lamb, after all, is considered a bit greasy.

"Thanks for the reminder, but since I'm new here, I'll give it a try first."

Wen Zhiliang nodded, "Oh right, let me have two more servings of your Bang Bang Chicken. I have to say, it's really quite tasty."

"Yingqiu, two servings of Bang Bang Chicken, one with strange flavor and one with Sichuan pepper."

Beep beep!

Yino punched 16 Yuan into the card machine. The assistant was momentarily stunned, smiled a bit awkwardly, then took out his phone to scan and pay 16 Yuan.

You have to go to the lobby to recharge for the wristband swipe. Naturally, Wen Zhiliang wouldn't carry that kind of thing around.

With two servings of Bang Bang Chicken in hand, Wen Zhiliang, dressed neatly, casually sat at one of the wooden tables in the food area.

A bite per serving!

A bite per serving!

Two bites and the Bang Bang Chicken was gone. The spicy, fresh, and sweet flavors danced in his mouth as if alive. Wen Zhiliang glanced at his phone.

"Can I get a to-go box?"

"Of course."

Wen Zhiliang thought for a moment and felt one portion just wasn't enough to satisfy him, "How about this, pack me a whole chicken."

"Sure thing!"

Chen Mo picked a relatively plump chicken from the rack. Lu Yingqiu took a stick and thumped it before handing it to Chen Mo.

Then he put on disposable gloves and swiftly tore all the meat off the chicken, placed it in a clean stainless steel basin, added the strange flavor sauce and scallions, mixed it by hand, and packed it into a large food box, the kind typically used for congee with pig offal.

"That'll be 96 Yuan, about 12 servings."

The assistant scanned to pay 96 Yuan. Wen Zhiliang nodded, "Your snacks are so good, I'll definitely come tomorrow to try your lamb soup noodles."

"Alright, I'll thank you in advance for boosting my sales."

Wen Zhiliang waved his hand, not saying much more. Then he strolled around the food area and left.

Chen Mo once again checked on the lamb ribs soaking in the black pot. Two hours had passed, and the ribs were now pale white, with hardly any blood visible.

"Could soaking in a black pot also accelerate the process?" Chen Mo couldn't help being curious. If it was true, that would be interesting.

He poured out all the dirty water from the pot, filled it with fresh water, and planned to start making lamb soup, thinking he'd have to wait until noon. But he could actually start now, perfect timing!

Pity, though, business hours were almost up... The first day after changing the business hours, Chen Mo had made just under 300 Yuan.

"Little Yu Province, watch how I conquer you, dammit!"

Add water, light the fire, and cook the soup!

...

Huaxi Hot Spring, top floor office.

Wen Zhiliang returned with a box of Bang Bang Chicken, ready to enjoy it when the phone rang.

"Oh, right, let them come in quickly. I'll host them in the office."

After hanging up, Wen Zhiliang looked at the Bang Bang Chicken and reluctantly put it in the drawer, almost forgetting there was important business to attend to today.

Having been in the vacation resort business for over ten years in Xuchang, Wen Zhiliang had quite the network, going out in the morning to meet several companies interested in collaboration, inviting those bosses to relax at the resort today.

He mostly wanted to discuss cooperation, hoping these companies could settle in the resort.

Before long, the assistant led three people into the office.

Among them was President Lin, who ran an entertainment center. Upon contacting him, Wen Zhiliang mainly wanted to carve out a suitable area in the hot spring zone to set up a game console section.

Then there was President Zhao, who ran footing and massage chains. This needed no explanation. Huaxi used to have them, but the previous services were a bit risqué. Now, with regulations tightening, they had to go vegetarian. In Xuchang, President Zhao had the most technicians under his wing, making him the best fit for expanding this service.

Lastly, there was President Qin, who often managed various company openings and wedding performances in the city. Wen Zhiliang considered adding a performance program in the hot spring area, scheduling fixed times for shows every day, which would undoubtedly attract customers.

Once the three were seated, Wen Zhiliang quickly made tea and took out cigarettes. They were all old friends and not too formal with each other.

"Old Wen, it seems the older you get, the more ambitious you are. In my opinion, you should just keep doing what you're doing. Why bother to rock the boat?" President Zhao lit a cigar and spoke with an air of casualness.

President Qin nodded in agreement, "Exactly, your wealth is enough for three lifetimes. At our age, there's no need to take risks."

Wen Zhiliang also sat down, pouring tea for everyone, "Haha, isn't there always more money to be made? Besides, this isn't just about making money — there are hundreds of people working under me. If the resort were to close, how would these people make a living?"

President Lin, being the younger one, cut straight to the chase, "Getting a batch of consoles is simple. I'll sell them at wholesale price, and I'll even send a technician to be stationed here, but you'll have to pay his salary! Also, I'll need an annual pass; my wife has been nagging me to come here for a stay for some time now."

"Come on, what do you need for an annual pass, really? President Lin, just bring your wife and kids over anytime. Just give me a call beforehand and I'll set everything up perfectly for you, no problem."

The other two bosses burst into laughter. Having known each other for so many years, they understood each other well, and these matters didn't even require a meeting — just a call would suffice.

However, President Zhao, who ran the massage business, insisted on coming today; they planned to have a good game of mahjong in the afternoon to unwind.

As they all stood up.

President Lin from the entertainment center paused, "Sniff sniff~"

He sniffed the air, walking back into the room from the doorway, nose twitching as he searched around, "What's that smell, Old Wen, have you been hiding some good food?"

Wen Zhiliang paused, suddenly slapped his thigh, "Look at me, haha! You even sniffed it out."

Returning to the desk, Wen Zhiliang proudly took out the Bang Bang Chicken.