I've been reborn, I'm definitely going to become an internet celebrity!

Chapter 29: [Adding Flowers to Brocade]

"Sizzle—"

The scalding hot black pepper sauce mixed with butter is poured over the steak, causing the oil to boil instantly and create a cloud of oil mist with a rich meaty aroma.

Before them, customers drawn by the word "taste tasting" shifted their gaze back and forth between the sizzling hot plate and the bright red steaks in the glass display case.

Their Adam's apples bobbed, and beads of sweat appeared on their foreheads. In the summer, the sweltering air of the night market mingled with the enticing aroma of roasted food, giving rise to the most primal appetite.

Finally, a customer couldn't hold back any longer and asked, "Boss, is this... well-done?"

"Haha, you're clearly an expert!" Liu Zhuohao replied casually, his hands still busy at work, his voice hearty. "But this is a specialty of Chinese teppanyaki, all about getting the wok hei (wok aroma) and the food cooked through and fragrant!"

"The steaks are all marinated in advance, just like when we buy beef from the market and cook it at home, we also need to marinate it with ginger, garlic and cooking wine to make it flavorful."

"Cook it well-done so the marinade flavors are fully infused into the meat—that's what makes it so delicious!"

Is that the reason?

Naturally not.

However, he certainly couldn't say outright that although the meat had undergone strict food inspections and was traceable in the cold chain, there was still a certain risk in preparing it raw.

To put it bluntly, there is no such thing as 100% risk-free raw or undercooked beef.

Any raw food may carry the risk of microorganisms and parasites.

Therefore, the risk can only be reduced, not eliminated.

Among them, the lower-risk, safe-to-eat undercooked steak is the whole-cut steak, which is cut directly from a part of the cow without any splicing or marinating.

Those in the know understand these things perfectly.

But if you actually said that to a customer, even if you explained it perfectly, they would have already run away.

Doing business, especially street business, sometimes requires not 100% honesty, but finding a way of speaking that makes people feel at ease and willing to try it, within the bounds of compliance.

While explaining, Liu Zhuohao had already deftly cut the pan-fried steak into evenly sized pieces with one hand holding tongs and the other holding scissors.

"Oh, boss, you're using scissors?"

Then another customer spoke up.

"Brother, it's just a sample, we can't give you a whole piece, can we?" Liu Zhuohao smiled helplessly, his expression frank. "We're new here, and this is all new stuff, so we have to let everyone try it first. If you like it, then we can talk about it."

Nearby, Huang Weixiong quickly skewered the meat pieces with bamboo sticks, then held them up to the crowd and asked, "Who wants to try some first?"

Soon, one customer after another raised their hand.

"Me! Me! Me!"

"Give me one too!"

"This meat looks quite fresh... but why is it so cheap?"

The crowd stirred, and hands were raised one after another.

These customers, drawn by the word "taste tasting," had the opportunity to linger at the stall, watching Liu Zhuohao demonstrate how he cooked the steak, how he pan-fried it, how he added the seasonings, and so on...

They can all see it.

Through the glass, they could even clearly see the two stacks of steaks, and every now and then someone would lean closer to check the quality of the steaks.

Did they notice the problem throughout the whole process?

I can't see the problem.

If they had noticed the problem, they would have left long ago.

The first person to take the paper cup was a single office worker.

Without hesitation, he forked the piece of meat and put it in his mouth, his cheeks immediately puffing out.

"—Ugh!"

A muffled gasp escaped from his tightly closed lips.

"It's so tender!" He exclaimed, his eyes wide with disbelief. "Not dry at all... Is this really well-done? It feels even more tender than what I've had at many Western restaurants, and the flavor is amazing! Is this meat... really okay?"

"You flatter me. How can my place compare to a proper Western restaurant?" Liu Zhuohao said with a smile, pointing to the various licenses and permits pasted all over the food truck. "Look, from my health certificate to the stall registration, to the raw material quarantine certificate... it's all here."

"Besides, I'm being recorded by a camera above my head. My reputation is my livelihood, and I wouldn't dare to joke around."

The man raised his hand: "Then one, please, black pepper one."

"Okay!"

Liu Zhuohao quickly replied, and the pleasant "sizzle" sound rang out again on the iron plate.

That's the beauty of seasoned and combined steak.

If it's a whole cut steak, well-done means that all the moisture inside will be squeezed out, so it will taste very dry and tough.

However, street-side steaks are seasoned with a mixture of various beef scraps. If they are undercooked, the texture will be similar to the steak in a beef burger, which is very finely chopped.

Only when fully cooked can it have a firmer, more substantial texture.

The couple who had tried the sample immediately exclaimed, "We want two servings too! With mushroom sauce!"

"Alright!" Liu Zhuohao perked up, his shovel flying through the air, his momentum even stronger.

Huang Weixiong quickly collected the money and prepared the food, officially taking on the role of a waiter. His face was full of smiles, and he was finally open for business!

In 14, most people in small cities had little understanding of "original cut" and "seasoned" steaks.

To be honest, even if this were sold for 19.9 yuan 25 years ago, no one would be willing to buy it. As soon as people see the oval-shaped pieces of meat, they will know that the meat must be pieced together and synthesized.

But it's 14 now, and it's still a small city, so people don't have much relevant knowledge.

"Boss, are we out of steaks for samples?"

At the stall, people who missed the first wave of tastings asked questions.

"Please wait a moment, everyone." Liu Zhuohao said without looking up, his voice laced with laughter, "You see, the customers who have paid are waiting. I have to rush them. It'll be ready soon!"

He neither got annoyed nor refused, letting the enticing aroma of black pepper, butter, and meat linger in the air, making one's mouth water.

After craving it for a long time, people will naturally be willing to spend money to try it out.

Once you taste it, if the flavor is truly rich, you'll never forget it.

After a while, once the customer-cultivation period is over, they will become regular customers.

"Senior, I'm here to support your business!"

As soon as the "putt-putt" sound of the motorcycle stopped, a girl in a floral dress, holding her parents' hands, emerged from behind the crowd, her eyes sparkling.

"Wow, so many people are lining up, no wonder you're a senior!" Her tone was filled with undisguised pride, as if she owned the stall.

Her parents, standing behind her, were clearly surprised that so many people were gathered around this street-side steakhouse. Their faces were full of astonishment as they looked back and forth between the queue, the clean food cart, and the action cameras overhead.

"Thank you for coming." Liu Zhuohao looked up, his forehead beaded with sweat, but his hands moved with practiced ease, and his smile was genuine. "Actually, most of us are just here to watch the fun; there aren't many customers. What kind of sauce would you like?"

"Three servings, two tomato and one black pepper!" the girl replied, looking at the gleaming sign on the food cart. Turning to her parents, she said, "Mom and Dad, let me tell you, my senior is really amazing. His scallion pancake business is just so..."

Before she could finish speaking, a cacophony of voices erupted from the line behind her.

"Hey, hey, I didn't say I wasn't going to order that, boss, give me a black pepper one."

"I'll have a black pepper one too, and could you add extra noodles?"

"How much would it cost to add another steak...?"

Her voice was partially drowned out by the surrounding noise, but her enthusiasm for trying to sell to her parents was clear.

Liu Zhuohao felt a slight warmth in his heart.

It seems that the fans the breakfast stall has built up are not all just those who buy the five-yuan pancakes.

But at this moment, a long queue had unknowingly formed in front of the stall, making this timely act of kindness seem like icing on the cake.

Despite some setbacks, the first day of business went relatively smoothly.

but--

This is like planting a time bomb for myself.

Liu Zhuohao's hand movements were fluid and effortless, yet his mind remained exceptionally clear.

The camera I was holding on my head clearly recorded my words and the steak I was grilling!