Food Stall: Customers Chase Me across the Country-Chapter 320 - 321: Steamed Pork Ribs with Black Bean Sauce over Rice

Chapter 320: Chapter 321: Steamed Pork Ribs with Black Bean Sauce over Rice

"Ding, donation condition triggered, food in the machine increased by 100%."

As soon as Zhuo Qianqian finished speaking, a system notification rang in Wang Fan’s mind, causing the corners of his mouth to instinctively rise.

This means the machine now holds enough food for 400 people!

"Oh yes, it’s for the villagers."

"Ding."

At this moment, a soft ping also sounded from the machine. Wang Fan did not hastily open it but turned off the heat and let it sit for another minute.

Zhuo Qianqian curiously peered through the glass into the machine, but the pure black glass revealed nothing.

Wang Fan could already smell the rich aroma of ribs and rice. After a minute of letting it sit with the heat off, the scent of the ribs subtly changed, becoming even more full-bodied.

It’s time.

Putting on heat-resistant gloves, Wang Fan opened the first layer of the cabinet with a "pop" and brought out a dish of steamed ribs with soy sauce over rice.

You wouldn’t believe it, but the portion was really hefty, each tray weighing no less than 30 pounds. Wang Fan had to muster some effort to get it out.

???

Zhuo Qianqian looked at Wang Fan in shock, filled with questions.

"Is this the rice I washed? In my memory, cooked rice usually expands 1.5 to 2 times its volume. Yours seems to have expanded fourfold? Can rice really expand that much nowadays?"

Wang Fan laughed, "I bought this latest type of rice, a new scientific product. Don’t worry about the details, let’s get ready to serve the rice."

Zhuo Qianqian scratched her head, unable to comprehend, and finally just marveled at the terrifying pace of technological progress.

"Hey, Wang, your food’s ready, right? Smells delicious."

A voice came from outside the window; it was Cheng Dong checking on Wang Fan’s progress.

Wang Fan quickly replied, "Brother Cheng, it’s all ready, roughly 400 servings of steamed ribs with soy sauce over rice."

"How many?!"

Cheng Dong looked at Wang Fan in shock, his voice cracking.

"400 servings?! For children?!"

Wang Fan handed a portion out the window to Cheng Dong, "It’s this kind of portion."

He had prepared the portions according to northern standards, roughly half a kilogram of rice with a pound of ribs. He wasn’t sure about the portions here in Meizhou, but he thought it couldn’t exceed those in the north, right?

Seeing the portion Wang Fan handed out, Cheng Dong was even more amazed. This was not just standard; it definitely exceeded it. From what he knew, two-thirds of this would be enough for the locals to feel full.

"You mean all 400 servings are this size?" 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

Cheng Dong felt like slapping himself, wondering if he was dreaming.

He could already smell the unique aroma.

The scent was a mix of rich fermented black beans and meaty aromas, just the smell alone was overwhelming for Cheng Dong.

The color of the ribs was also tantalizing, golden meat pieces coated in spices and a glossy layer of oil, stimulating the appetite.

With the alluring color and aroma, Cheng Dong could already feel his taste buds screaming.

Even with professional training, he found this aroma hard to resist.

The biggest concern was, with this steamed ribs over rice, didn’t his newly-made pot of braised meat dish seem utterly overshadowed?!

"Brother Cheng, why don’t you try it first and see if it suits our taste here?"

Wang Fan’s words made Cheng Dong unconsciously reach for a spoon.

The deputy team leader had also asked him to taste it first to ensure it was fine before distributing it to the villagers. Playing guinea pig was necessary.

Initially, he thought he might have to force himself, but now there was no need. Holding back was more like it!

Taking a bite of rib, even just a small taste, Cheng Dong felt like crying.

Before, he thought their cooking was decent, but in comparison, it was on a whole different level.

...

Jia Fengyue was 69 this year, a lifelong Hakka from Meizhou. Now sitting in a warm tent, surrounded by familiar neighbors, a bowl of red ginger tea had slightly eased the tension she’d felt all day, now feeling somewhat warmer.

Yet, thinking about the flood outside still sent chills down her spine. In all her years, she’d never seen such a massive flood.

Yesterday, she just crossed a bridge, and moments later, it was swept away by the flood, a genuine brush with death.

She thought she’d be safer at home, but not long after midnight, even her house was flooded. Fortunately, the village cadres notified them just in time, saving her life.

But every time she thinks about her home submerged in water, she can’t help but feel sad, quietly sobbing, which brought a somber mood to the tent.

After all, whose house isn’t underwater right now?

A lifetime’s savings just gone, who could face such a loss calmly?

"Ma’am, try not to be too upset. Trust in our country and our fellow countrymen, we will get through this hardship."

Cheng Dong lifted the tent flap and walked in, gently comforting Jia Fengyue, "Come queue up for a meal, have some warm food and get some rest. This disaster will pass. Get your strength back to face this calamity."

Cheng Dong intimately held Jia Fengyue’s hand, and his firm grip gave her a sense of stability.

"Thank you, young man."

Her voice was shaky, and Cheng Dong also felt uneasy, cursing the heavens silently before continuing, "Everyone, come out to queue for food. Let the elderly and children eat first, then the young folks and older kids afterward. The next batch is cooking and should be ready in about twenty minutes."

The people in the tent silently stepped out, starting to queue quietly, instinctively letting the elderly and children to the front. An elder holding a child stood silently in line for food distribution.

The children’s hearts were rather light. Having just gone through a disaster, the scent of meat made them forget all about it, eyes fixed on the food laid out, thinking they’ve never smelled anything so fragrant before, saliva nearly dripping from their mouths.

Zhuo Qianqian took the task of distributing food upon herself, her sunny smile was contagious, helping the elderly relax a bit.

"Ma’am, here you go, be careful, it’s hot."

"Aren’t you a cute little brother? Eat up. There’s more if you need it, take some more to grow strong."

"Sir, you need to take care of yourself. We need your strength to get through this disaster."

"Sweetheart, don’t cry, eat some ribs, it’s delicious."

Zhuo Qianqian’s infectious social charm instantly brightened the atmosphere. The faces of the elder men and women finally broke into smiles.

Some of the more optimistic elderly men rolled up their sleeves, showing their skinny arms: "Don’t be fooled by the skinny arms, we’ve got some strength! After eating, we’ll help out!"