pjbooks Chapter 42: [Honorary Fan]
Chapter 42: [Honorary Fan]
The wind really started blowing.
The influx of students has further fueled the popularity of this night market.
"Boss, the owners of the stalls next door didn't charge us either, saying we could use the space as we pleased! There just weren't many tables and chairs left!" Huang Weixiong squeezed back, panting, his forehead covered in sweat. "I went to two more stalls and borrowed some tables and chairs, and they didn't charge me either!"
Liu Zhuohao, without stopping his shovel or turning his head, said, "Got it! Get it set up quickly! Don't keep the customers waiting!"
"besides……"
While flipping the steak, he quickly added, "If the customers can't wait and are starving, don't force them to stay."
"To be polite, you can come again next time. The barbecue and rice noodle rolls next door are pretty good too, but please don't actively chase people away! If they want to leave, just don't stop them!"
"I know!" Huang Weixiong shouted, but his voice was instantly swallowed up by the clamor of the surrounding crowd, and Liu Zhuohao couldn't hear him clearly.
"Business is really good, boss."
"I came to this night market just to eat your food, and I'm not leaving even though I'm starving."
"Hey boss, he said he 'knows'!"
Fortunately, a regular customer jokingly relayed the message for him.
All Liu Zhuohao could hear was a buzzing sound—people ordering, urging others to hurry up with their orders, asking about prices, chatting… all the sounds mixed together like a pot of boiling water.
The clamps in his hands hardly left the iron plate, and his wrists were starting to ache.
Take a breath, the iron plate falls, scorching hot, spraying oil.
The first piece of steak was placed on the plate, and with a "sizzle," white smoke billowed up.
The second, the third, the fourth... the iron plates were almost completely covered.
"Just a moment, it'll be ready soon!"
He shouted something to the students crowded in front of the stall, his voice already a little dry, as he took a breath.
Flip over.
The first piece, the second piece, the third piece... the heat hit my face, mixed with oil droplets.
Toss two blanched broccoli florets next to each piece.
"Black pepper or tomato sauce?" he asked quickly, looking up. He wasn't asking about the dishes he was currently making, as the other customers had already found a place to sit and wait for their food.
Liu Zhuohao is now asking the new customers who just squeezed to the front to order.
"Black pepper!"
"I want them both!"
"tomato!"
Drizzle with butter, pour on black pepper sauce, and with the other hand, place the cooked pasta on top, then quickly crack an egg on the side.
The hot plate sizzled, and oil splattered onto the back of his hand, instantly leaving several red spots, but he didn't care about the pain.
Without him even having to call out, Huang Weixiong was already waiting beside him with the wooden board in hand, his eyes fixed on the movements in his hands.
With a flick of his wrist, Liu Zhuohao sent the iron plate smoothly sliding onto the wooden board.
"Table number three!"
"They're here!"
Huang Weixiong turned around and plunged into the crowd.
One table, two tables, three tables...
An empty iron plate is placed on the stove, and the next second it is covered with raw meat.
The smells of cooking oil, meat, black pepper, and sweat from customers... all these smells mix together, clinging to the skin and being inhaled into the lungs.
Liu Zhuohao's shirt was soaked through, and sweat dripped from his forehead, sliding into the corner of his eye and making him squint.
He shook his head, and the shovel scraped against the iron plate, making a harsh metallic scraping sound.
"Senior! Can we order more? One serving isn't enough!" A familiar-looking student squeezed through the crowd to the front and shouted.
"Yes! But you'll have to queue again!" Liu Zhuohao shouted back without looking up, deftly flipping a steak over.
The student let out a groan, but still obediently moved back.
After delivering a plate, Huang Weixiong returned, his chest heaving violently, panting like a broken bellows: "Boss, we're running out of tables and chairs again!"
Liu Zhuohao glanced at the sea of heads outside and licked his dry lips:
"Make it clear to the customers behind you that if they order now, they'll have to wait at least half an hour, and apologize to them!"
His voice was hoarse, but resolute.
"Oh, and tell them they can't wait, they really shouldn't force themselves to wait."
In business, there's no reason to actively turn away customers.
Previously, he had only relented and told Wong Wai-hung not to force those guests who were really hungry to stay.
But now, there's really no other way.
In front of the stall, Liu Zhuohao stood in the very center of the bustling crowd, so much so that he couldn't even see where the end of the queue was.
He had no idea how many people were waiting and eagerly anticipating his arrival.
……
……
With two slightly trembling fingers holding a cigarette, Liu Zhuohao and Huang Weixiong squatted side by side on the deserted roadside after closing up shop.
Once upon a time, Huang Weixiong would hastily wave his hand when offered a cigarette, but now he droops his head and holds one in his mouth, fatigue seeping from every pore.
"Boss, how many portions did you make today?" Huang Weixiong asked in a hoarse voice, his tone dazed, his gaze fixed blankly on the street.
"About..." Liu Zhuohao struggled to recall the purchase orders and the last inventory count in his mind, "more than 140, maybe 150."
In any case, not a single item of the stock was left.
There was a similar grand opening night, but the stock was not much that time.
This time, the extra steaks he had specially ordered, along with the several portions he had planned to waste, were completely and thoroughly consumed.
Just over ten minutes ago, the two of them, barely able to stay afloat, were bowing and apologizing repeatedly to customers who ultimately couldn't buy anything.
At this moment, there are still many diners who haven't gotten a turn, scattered around other stalls, continuing their late-night snacks.
"Could it be..." Huang Weixiong took a drag of his cigarette, his eyes slightly unfocused amidst the swirling smoke, a hint of lingering fear in his voice, "Will it be like this every day from now on?"
"Hard to say."
To be honest, no one can say for sure whether this level of popularity can be maintained in the future.
Compared to the crowd that left on opening night because they couldn't get a table, there were at least several dozen more customers who didn't get a table tonight.
After tonight's explosive popularity on Bilibili due to his video, and the almost frenzied reaction from students, it's hard to predict what will happen tomorrow or the day after.
"We need to hire someone." Liu Zhuohao stubbed out his cigarette, took out his phone, and the light from the screen illuminated his tired but clear-headed face. "It would be best if they could come tomorrow. Even if they can't be of much help, having someone to assist them, greet the customers, and share the burden would be helpful."
Upon hearing this, Huang Weixiong's hand holding the cigarette loosened almost imperceptibly, and his tense shoulders slumped slightly.
His fingers holding the cigarette were still trembling slightly. He couldn't imagine what it would be like if the two of them were still in this situation tomorrow.
"Boss..."
He looked at the ground, his voice very soft, "Is this why you make videos?"
Before this, Huang Weixiong had never imagined that making videos could have such "benefits".
The owner himself has said that given the current size of Bilibili, it's almost impossible to convert views and likes into real money.
In other words, no matter how popular a video becomes, you won't earn a single penny on the platform.
But tonight, the buzz that jumped out of the screen actually turned into an endless queue in front of the stall.
The students who came because of the video had a gleam in their eyes; it wasn't just about getting a steak, it was more like...
A wonderful sense of honor!
Because the boss's video went viral, they felt proud, especially the fans who had been in the fan group for a long time.
But if the video hadn't gone viral, would they have come?
Huang Weixiong felt that it might be quite difficult.
But they will probably continue to support the scallion pancake business, since they initially started paying attention to the owner because of the scallion pancakes.
However, the original preparations may not be enough to get them to support other cuisines.
"Huh?"
Suddenly, Huang Weixiong heard his boss speak. He raised his hand and waved to the distance, "Coming, brother."
A burly boy with an embarrassed look on his face walked down the street.
"This is my buddy, Wong Wai-hung."
Liu Zhuohao introduced, then looked at the newcomer, "This is Cai Jiahao, a brother who grew up with me, just like Acong."