The Spirit of Gourmet

Chapter 100 Additional Requirements

There weren't many people at the food street in the afternoon. Qin Lang stood at the very back of the line, with only five customers ahead of him.

Given the speed at which the owner of the mixed-flavor pancake shop prepared the food, Qin Lang's turn was in less than ten minutes.

"Uncle, give me a mixed sesame cake."

"Alright!" The stall owner looked up at Qin Lang and smiled. "This is your third day here, right? Just one?"

"Yes, just one today." Qin Lang smiled slightly and took out the sauce bottle labeled "1" from the bag.

"However, I have one additional request."

"When you make the mixed sesame cakes, please add an extra spoonful of this sauce. Do not change anything else."

“This…” The stall owner couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow.

In all the years he'd been running his stall, this was definitely the most bizarre request he'd ever heard.

"Young man, the seasonings for my mixed-flavor pancakes are all pre-mixed," he couldn't help but say. "If you ask for an extra sauce, the taste can't be guaranteed."

"If it doesn't taste good, you can't make a fuss with me."

"Don't worry." Qin Lang smiled and scanned the code to pay. "Please do as I ask."

"Alright." The stall owner shook his head, took the bottle of sauce from Qin Lang, and then began to skillfully make the mixed-flavor pancakes.

It's just adding one ingredient; it's very simple for the stall owner.

Soon, a mixed-flavor cake with added ingredients was delivered to Qin Lang.

However, Qin Lang did not answer.

"Uncle, this mixed sesame cake is on me."

Stall owner: “???”

He looked at Qin Lang with a puzzled expression.

If the other party's previous request was somewhat strange, then this request is even stranger.

Paying the stall owner to eat the food at their stall?

What's the difference between this and just giving money directly?
"Young man, is there something wrong with your sauce?" the stall owner couldn't help but ask suspiciously.

"Uncle, what are you thinking!" Qin Lang shook his head, both amused and exasperated, picked up a small piece with a bamboo skewer and put it in his mouth. "You can eat the rest."

Seeing that Qin Lang had eaten it himself, the stall owner realized that his previous idea was unreasonable. He looked at the mixed-flavor pancake in his hand and said, "Well... thanks."

It just so happens that he was busy setting up his stall at noon and hadn't eaten yet.

Although this mixed-flavor pancake contained a sauce he didn't recognize, all the other ingredients were his own secret recipe, so the taste wouldn't be too bad.

Thinking this, the stall owner picked up a piece with a bamboo skewer, put it in his mouth, and began to chew it heartily.

As he chewed, the stall owner's expression suddenly changed, and he chewed slower and slower.

His pupils suddenly contracted, and even his breathing became heavier.

This taste…

I've been doing this for several years, and I've been eating it for several years too.

For the stall owner, the most familiar delicacy is the mixed-flavor pancake.

But now, the strange taste that appeared in his mouth far exceeded the taste that the mixed-flavor cake should have in his memory.

The original mixed-spice cake had distinct layers of flavor from various spices and seasonings, but each flavor was about the same intensity, without any primary or secondary flavor. The taste was complex and varied, highlighting the "mixed fragrance" aspect.

But now, these complex aromas have achieved an unexpected unity under a completely new and wonderful flavor.

They transformed from wispy, multicolored smoke into ink falling onto the paper, together creating a magnificent and stunning painting.

The aroma, so enticing it touched the very soul, made the stall owner tremble involuntarily.

It's that sauce!
That unnamed sauce was the perfect finishing touch to his assorted biscuits!
If only we could get more of this sauce…

The stall owner's eyes suddenly lit up. He looked at the sauce in front of him and instinctively reached out to take a look, but his other hand snatched it away even faster. Watching Qin Lang casually toss the sauce, which he regarded as a treasure, back into the bag, the stall owner's cheek twitched violently.

"If there's nothing else, then I won't bother you any longer, uncle." Qin Lang waved to the stall owner and turned to leave.

"Don't move!!!" The stall owner shouted anxiously, startling the surrounding customers and other stall owners.

Realizing he had overreacted, the assorted pancake vendor quickly softened his tone, "Young man..."

"Could you tell me where you bought this sauce?"

"This wasn't bought," Qin Lang laughed. "I put together this myself."

The vendor selling assorted pancakes: "..."

At this moment, Qin Lang's smile was no different from the smile of a demon in his eyes.

Understood.

He understood everything!
Inviting him to eat mixed-flavor pancakes? That's a trap!
But he had no choice but to obediently walk into this trap.

"Hey...little brother!" The owner of the mixed sesame cake stall rubbed his hands together, stepped out from behind his stall, put his arm around Qin Lang's shoulder, and said with a warm smile, "I've managed to save up some money over the years."

"Just tell me how much you want for this formula!"

"Sorry, I won't sell it for any price." Qin Lang shook his head and smiled.

Just as the stall owner was feeling disappointed, he changed the subject.

"but…"

“If you set up a stall at ‘Fun Party’ amusement park for a week, I can give you this recipe.”

"Are you serious?!" The stall owner's eyes lit up instantly. After receiving Qin Lang's affirmative answer, he started to calculate in his mind.

As a local, he naturally knew about the "Happy Party" amusement park, which was said to be completely deserted and desolate now.

If you set up a stall there, business would be barely any.

Setting up a stall for a week is equivalent to not making any money for a week.

Not making a profit is a loss; it's equivalent to losing a week's worth of revenue.

but!
If this price can be paid to get the sauce recipe back.

That would be such a great deal!

“If what you say is true, I have absolutely no problem with it,” the stall owner immediately and solemnly stated.

"Words are no proof, sign it." Qin Lang produced a contract as if by magic and handed it to the other party.

The stall owner took it and looked at it; there were no problems with the contract, or rather, it was quite generous.

All rent was waived, and the selling price was increased by 20%.

Then look at the seal on the contract; it is clearly the official seal of "Happy Party" amusement park.

After quickly signing his name, the stall owner chuckled and handed the contract back to Qin Lang, saying, "When do we start? I'm available anytime."

"Tomorrow." Qin Lang smiled slightly.

Before coming to the food street, they went to the amusement park, printed out the contract, and had Ye Zhen stamp it with the amusement park's seal.

The one-week contract period was also determined by Qin Lang after careful consideration.

If the plan fails, then all that time is meaningless.

If the plan succeeds, noticeable results will be seen within a week. After a week, even without contractual restrictions, these vendors, unless they are foolish, will not want to return to this food street to set up their stalls.

Zhao Qian and Cao Dongdong, who were behind them, watched the whole thing in stunned silence.

no…

Could a mere bottle of sauce really have convinced a stall owner?!

(End of this chapter)