Have you ever seen glowing food? That's why you draw a food-themed anime.

Xu Zhou: I'm starting a new series called "Toriko" and will also create an original medicinal cuisine anime...

Chapter 35 New Topics

When Xu Zhou heard this, his eyelids drooped, his thoughts still lingering on the battle he had fought in the thread until midnight the day before.

Regarding this group purchase, his only thought was...

It seems like group-buying orders automatically get positive reviews when the time is up, which is pretty good.

Xu Kai's voice on the other end of the phone was full of shock: "Boss Xu, there are two pretty women at your door."

"..."

Xu Zhou was somewhat speechless when he received the call at midday.

I thought it was something serious, but it turns out it's just this.

"Bye."

"No!!"

Xu Kai quickly whispered, "Boss, the people who bought the group deal are already at the door."

"Oh, a customer who bought a group-buying deal?"

"Is that so... or maybe not?"

"?"

Upon hearing this strange answer, Xu Zhou suddenly became more alert and opened his eyes: "What do you mean by 'it is and it isn't'?"

"I don't know how to explain it."

Xu Kai whispered, "Boss, you can listen to it yourself."

"Ah."

Xu Zhou got up and slowly washed his face, listening to the conversation while checking the group-buying details from yesterday.

Originally, after releasing one serving, I released four more servings for group purchase that evening because the wish value for [Imitation Barbecue Dishes] leveled up.

"Four portions mean forty people."

"I don't think I have this many regular customers, I guess... um?"

Xu Zhou was stunned when he saw the words "[Imitation Barbecue Dish: Forty People Successfully Joined a Group Purchase]" on the screen.

Wait a moment.

Have all forty small portions used for group buying been successfully combined?

This is impossible!

When I checked yesterday, I had only managed to assemble ten small portions, right?

Where did all these customers come from?

The comments below were all left by retail investors who were shocked.

[I thought you guys were just joking about buying it, but you actually did? Are you guys really going this far just to watch the show?]

[You managed to put together forty portions? Seriously? Did you really want to experience paying to share a dish with others?]

[Maybe they were craving communal meals. I don't understand. Those of you who bravely joined the group-buying group after eating here, could you leave a comment and share your thoughts?]

"..."

The netizens' words were like poison, but they warmed people's hearts.

On the group-buying page, the number of people who added the group-buying item to their favorites reached 388.

Xu Zhou brushed his teeth while expressing his astonishment.

Gossip is indeed the primary driver of generating buzz.

...

After taking a few glances.

Xu Kai's voice finally came through the phone.

The sound was somewhat distant.

It sounds like eavesdropping.

Even with the phone volume turned up to the maximum, Xu Zhou could still hear clearly.

"Sister, can we really get this for free? What if the shop owner won't let us get a refund after we take the photos?"

"Do we really want to spend this money?"

Her voice was very clear and pure.

Xu Zhou listened with a heavy heart.

I'm on the same page with my customers, but they're trying to outsmart me! You guys are actually planning to get a refund and get something for nothing!

Isn't that incredibly unethical?

"impossible."

Over there on the phone.

Another girl, Yanqiu, said confidently, "I told them in the comments section of that post yesterday to join a group to get freebies, and they all agreed."

"..."

"Besides, forty people successfully joined the group purchase this morning. Who in their right mind would buy into this group purchase? They must all be friendly forces in the comments section!"

Yan Qiu said confidently, "Didn't you see how arrogant that shop owner's reply was in the post last night?"

"He sells such outrageous group-buying deals himself, and he doesn't want anyone to say anything about it."

"But…"

Yan Linglong scratched her head: "Isn't it a bit inappropriate for us to apply for a refund after taking the photos?"

“What’s wrong with that? I’m not going to eat it anyway, he can just sell it to the next person.”

Yan Qiu said firmly, "Even if that dish were placed in front of me, I wouldn't touch it. I'm a germaphobe."

One hundred and eighty-eight yuan is all it takes to try that imitation barbecue dish. Who would actually go and waste that money?

Of course, we'll take the photos and leave.

When Xu Zhou heard the words "I'm not eating it," he smiled enigmatically.

really?

I do not believe.

After sending two messages to his VIP customers indicating that they were coming to the store, Xu Zhou headed inside.

...

the other side.

Inside the Songnan University building.

It's almost the end of the semester.

People on campus were in a hurry, and the library was already packed with people.

Everyone was holding piles of research papers, their faces filled with the faint sense of despair that comes with writing a thesis as finals approach.

Including the culinary arts department.

At the entrance of the third kitchen, Liu Niannian began to count the number of people.

Did you buy that group-buying deal?

Ever since she saw the same beef as in the comic book at Boss Xu's shop last night, she has been completely captivated.

This beef dish also inspired her final project.

"Our project involves ten people, and all ten of us have to buy something for this group purchase."

"Bought."

"I bought one too," the group members echoed.

"Ah."

"Team leader, this group purchase seems outrageous. Ten people share one dish, and it's ridiculously expensive. You can't even get a few bites with the group purchase."

A thin young man, clearly having stayed up several all-nighters, couldn't help but ask in confusion, "And what does this have to do with our final exam papers?"

A bizarre shop with a rating of 2.5.

The restaurant's group-buying activity involved dividing one dish into ten portions for group purchase.

I have no idea what the shop owner is thinking. He'll be cursed to death by the customers.

"Of course it does."

Liu Niannian paused for a moment, then said, "Our research topic is 'On the Feasibility of Incorporating Recipes from Food Anime into Reality.' You've all watched food anime, right? If you haven't, take a look now."

"A food-themed anime?"

"Correct."

Liu Niannian pointed to the manga "Food Wars!" on her phone and glanced at them: "This manga."

Several people in the group had already read the comic and knew about its subject matter, so they didn't participate in the discussion.

He simply reminded her, "Team leader, our culinary department's outstanding final papers this time will be published in the local online journal of the Culinary Association in Songnan City."

“I know,” Liu Niannian nodded.

"Although I also love watching this food-themed anime, I feel that Zhang Ya's group's project is better."

Li Lele, who had been silent, adjusted the glasses on the bridge of her nose.

She found it very interesting when she saw Jiang Mingzhu using it as a negative example in her public lectures.

While it may be interesting, it's hard to say whether it can compare to the other group in terms of research topic.

...

When the topic of a project that competes with their own group came up, everyone else immediately became interested and looked at it.

What topic is Zhang Ya choosing?

"Yes."

"Their group is really hard-working. I've been running into them a lot at the library lately."

"Her research topic is 'The essence of cooking is not piling up precious ingredients, but finding true skill in simple meals.'"

After Li Lele finished speaking, she said very frankly, "The president of our Songnan City Food Association is very fond of researching simple meals."

"Compared to their group's topic, ours is definitely the one that will get featured on the Food Association's e-magazine this time."

Moreover, Dean Jiang Yonghua himself has expressed this view.

The other team is definitely going to win.

As soon as these words were spoken, the other group members also sensed the advantage of this topic and couldn't help but mutter to themselves.

"This is not fair!"

"Isn't her choice of topic cheating?!" the skinny group member said, looking unwilling to accept it.

"Exactly! This is the Food Association! Although it's just our Songnan branch's online newsletter, it gets a lot of attention! It's an honor!"

"Forget it, let's just focus on doing our own thing and not talk about this anymore."

Liu Niannian interrupted them, glanced at the time, and said, "It's almost lunchtime, let's go."

When they arrived at the entrance of the Ichizuru Izakaya, there were already at least twenty people waiting there.

Zhang Ya's group was also there.

Liu Niannian's gaze fell on her, and she felt a little strange.

Did their group also choose Mr. Xu's shop as an example?