N-M Chapter 63 Opening the Rice Bowl Channel
Chapter 63 Opening the Rice Bowl Channel
The next day, the area in front of Xiao Liangzi Restaurant became lively early in the morning.
The lights came on more than half an hour earlier than usual, and the air was filled with the smell of cooking.
Xu Liang parked his old bicycle and pushed open the door of the restaurant, when he heard a cacophony of sounds of activity coming from inside.
Sun Zhonglei had already wiped the kitchen sink until it shone, and baskets of fresh vegetables, radishes, and pork were neatly arranged. He was now rolling up his sleeves and carefully washing potatoes. Although his movements were not very skillful, every stroke was solid and he didn't slack off at all.
Aunt Lu and Aunt Bai took rags and wiped the tables, chairs, doors, windows, and countertops inside and out, not even missing the crevices in the corners of the walls.
The two worked quickly and efficiently, chatting and laughing as they cleaned the shop until it was spotless.
Chen Yang stood by the cashier, carefully organizing the ledgers, change, and receipts.
He even took out paper and pen and silently wrote down the prices of the dishes and the ordering process, his eyes focused and meticulous.
Looking at the four people in front of him, each performing their own duties.
Xu Liang felt a sense of reassurance.
He used to work from dawn till dusk all by himself, buying groceries, cooking, cleaning, and handling all the cash register duties.
When things get busy, your feet have to stay on the ground all the time; sometimes, you don't even have time to drink a sip of water.
However, with this group of reliable partners, the restaurant is now running smoothly and efficiently, and Xu Liang is no longer fighting alone.
"Everyone, take a break and have some water. I have something to tell you all."
Xu Liang clapped his hands, gathering the four of them together.
The group stopped what they were doing and gathered around, their faces filled with curiosity. Aunt Lu spoke first, her tone kind: "Xiao Liang, go ahead and tell us, we're all listening."
"Is that so!"
Xu Liang pulled up a stool and sat down, his tone serious and his eyes showing a clear plan.
"Our restaurant has been doing well since it opened, and we've kept many neighbors here with our home-style dishes. But I've also noticed a problem."
"Most of the customers who come to eat are those who sit for a long time and slowly savor their wine, but there are also many office workers, factory workers, and market vendors in the town."
"They are in a hurry to eat, so they just want to have a hot meal quickly and then they have to rush back to work. Our current dishes are slow to serve and take a long time, so we can't keep these customers. Over time, we will lose a lot of business."
Upon hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement.
Chen Yang had worked in a supermarket and understood the needs of this type of person best, so he immediately chimed in.
"Xu Liang, you're absolutely right! I used to work at a supermarket, and we only had about half an hour for lunch. We wanted to be able to just grab a bite and eat. Many of our workers were the same way, afraid of missing a day of work. Our store really does need this kind of quick food."
Sun Zhonglei chimed in, "I used to work in a factory. The lunch break was short, and I had to wait ages to eat at restaurants. I often worked hungry. If there were ready-made meals that could be served quickly, I would definitely fight for them."
Hearing this, Xu Liang felt even more confident and revealed his plans.
"So I figured out that our restaurant should open a special rice bowl section, specializing in all kinds of rice bowls. The dishes are prepared in advance, served quickly, and the prices are affordable with generous portions, specifically targeting diners who are in a hurry."
"In this way, we can not only expand our business and earn more revenue, but also make the restaurant more prosperous and have no shortage of customers all year round."
"Rice bowl?"
Aunt Lu and Aunt Bai exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with curiosity.
"Nobody in our town has ever made this before. Will it work?"
"Don't worry, ladies, it will definitely work."
Xu Liang spoke with a smile.
"A rice bowl is simply a dish of rice and a side dish. The dish is poured over the rice, making it convenient to eat, quick to serve, inexpensive, and affordable. It's accessible to workers and office workers. As long as it tastes good, there's no worry about attracting customers."
"We have just the right number of people right now. With division of labor and cooperation, there won't be any problem in making this rice bowl dish."
Upon hearing this, everyone thought it was an excellent idea and expressed their support.
Sun Zhonglei rubbed his hands together and took the initiative to offer work.
"Ryoko, you can take care of everything in the kitchen. Washing vegetables, chopping vegetables, preparing ingredients—I'll handle it all. I guarantee the ingredients will be perfectly prepared!"
Chen Yang also immediately expressed his opinion.
"I'll handle the cashier side. I'll keep track of the prices of the rice bowls and the orders to ensure there are no mistakes."
The two aunties quickly added.
"We are responsible for clearing the tables and dishes. We clean up immediately after the guests finish eating so as not to delay the next group of people and to ensure a neat dining environment."
Seeing everyone's high level of enthusiasm, Xu Liang was very pleased. He began to meticulously divide the work and plan the entire process of making rice bowls, arranging every step clearly.
"First, let's plan the menu. In the early stages, we won't do too many fancy dishes. We'll start with six classic and appetizing rice bowls, including both meat and vegetarian options, to satisfy different tastes."
Xu Liang took out paper and pen and wrote down the dishes he could think of.
"We'll make six kinds of rice bowls step by step: meat dishes like shredded pork with garlic sauce, braised pork with potatoes, mapo tofu with sliced pork, and scrambled eggs with tomatoes; and vegetarian dishes like hot and sour shredded potatoes and stir-fried seasonal vegetables."
Make these six types of rice bowls well, and then add or subtract more based on customer feedback.
These are all common home-style dishes, simple to make, quick to serve, and guaranteed to taste good, so everyone can enjoy them.
Next, Xu Liang planned the meal preparation process, prioritizing efficiency.
"In the kitchen, Zhong Lei, you prepare all the ingredients for the rice bowls in advance every morning. Cut the pork into strips, slices, and chunks. Wash, cut, and prepare the potatoes, radishes, and greens. Then, plate them. When I arrive at the store, I will stir-fry them directly in the wok. After stir-frying, I will put them in a warm dish. When customers order, I will just serve the rice and pour the dish over it. The meal can be served in one minute."
Sun Zhonglei quickly took out his small notebook and wrote it down, afraid of missing a single detail, and nodded vigorously.
"Don't worry, Liangzi. I'll come early every day to make sure all the ingredients are prepared and cut evenly so you can cook without any delays."
"Chen Yang, you'll be in charge of taking orders for rice bowls at the cashier. Once a customer places an order, just call the kitchen and I'll prepare the food immediately. Set the prices for the rice bowls: eight yuan a serving for meat and five yuan a serving for vegetarian. Rice is unlimited, so it's filling, affordable, and suits the budgets of workers and office workers."
Xu Liang looked at Chen Yang and gave him careful instructions.
"The accounts must be kept clear. Check them every day after get off work. Not a single penny can be wrong."
"clear!"
Chen Yang patted his chest and assured him.
"I will make sure the bill is clear and transparent, and I will handle the ordering, collecting money, and giving change in one go, without wasting the customers' time."
Finally, Xu Liang looked at Aunt Lu and Aunt Bai, his tone gentle.
"Aunties, in addition to your daily cleaning duties, we'll have many more customers since the rice bowl service area opened. You're responsible for clearing the tables promptly, taking away the bowls and chopsticks, washing them clean, and setting them out properly to ensure that customers always have a seat and that the shop is always clean."
"Also, when there are many guests, please help greet them and guide them to seats. Thank you both for your hard work."
"It's not hard work at all, it's just what we should do!"
Aunt Lu smiled and waved her hand.
"Don't worry, we promise to keep the shop spotless so our customers will feel comfortable and have nothing to worry about!"
Aunt Bai nodded repeatedly, always efficient in her work, and was already prepared to get busy.
After the tasks were assigned, everyone immediately took charge of their respective duties and began preparing for the rice bowl preparation.
Sun Zhonglei plunged into the kitchen and rolled up his sleeves to get to work. He knew this job was hard-won and didn't want to let Xu Liang down, so he worked extra hard.
He carefully selected, washed, and chopped the vegetables, performing each step meticulously. When he first started slicing potatoes into even shreds, the shreds were uneven, so he practiced repeatedly, starting over whenever he made a mistake, until he could cut potatoes of uniform thickness. (Pig)
He sliced and shredded the meat, following Xu Liang's instructions to cut it into appropriately sized pieces for quick stir-frying.
After processing the ingredients, he cleaned the cutting boards, knives, and vegetable bowls in the kitchen and arranged them neatly, making sure that all the preparations were done perfectly.
Xu Liang stood in front of the stove and began to try cooking rice dishes.
With his years of cooking experience from his previous life, he precisely controlled the heat and seasonings.
Stir-fry over high heat, the wok hei (wok aroma) rising in wisps.
Fish-flavored shredded pork is perfectly balanced between sweet and sour, with tender shredded pork; braised pork with potatoes is fatty but not greasy, tender and flavorful; and Mapo tofu with sliced pork is spicy, numbing and fragrant, and a perfect accompaniment to rice.
The scrambled eggs with tomatoes are sweet and sour, and the egg mixture is tender. Every dish is cooked to perfection in color, aroma, and taste, and the fragrance wafts out of the restaurant.
The aroma attracted passersby who craned their necks to look, praising its irresistible fragrance.
Xu Liang specially cooks each dish and then puts it into a custom-made insulated dish to ensure that the food is kept warm and doesn't get cold or lose its flavor, so that every bite is hot and delicious for the customers.
After the trial cooking, he tested the serving speed. From serving the rice to pouring the vegetables, the whole process took less than a minute, which perfectly met the requirements of fast food.
Aunt Lu and Aunt Bai set aside a section near the entrance of their small restaurant as a dedicated dining area for rice bowls, setting up a few simple square tables and benches.
The purpose is to keep the place clean and tidy so that guests in a hurry can eat quickly.
The two also neatly arranged the bowls, chopsticks, spoons, and napkins, and swept the floor spotlessly, making the entire dining area clean and tidy.
Chen Yang wrote the dishes and prices of the rice bowls on a large red paper at the cashier's counter, and posted it in a prominent position so that it was easy for customers to see and order.
He also prepared change in advance, familiarized himself with the ordering process, and practiced silently in his mind to ensure that he could respond quickly and not waste time when customers ordered.
Before they knew it, it was lunchtime. Factory workers, office workers, and market vendors in the town all came out onto the streets to find a place to eat.
In the past, this group of people always rushed around, complaining that restaurants were slow to serve food and usually just grabbing a quick bite. But today, the prices of the rice bowl dishes posted at the entrance of Xiaoliangzi Restaurant instantly caught their attention.
"Hey, look! Xiao Liangzi Restaurant has a new dish: rice bowls! Five yuan a serving, all-you-can-eat rice!"
"Really? How fast will the food be served? We only have a half-hour break at noon, we can't afford to wait."
"It'll definitely be fast, didn't you see the sign saying 'Fast Service'? Come on, let's go in and try it, it smells delicious!"
Several factory workers walked into the restaurant together, and Chen Yang immediately greeted them warmly.
"Hey chefs, we've just launched a new rice bowl service, with both meat and vegetarian options. It's ready in a minute, and there's plenty of rice. Would you like to try some?"
"Three servings of braised pork belly with potatoes over rice, and one serving of shredded pork with garlic sauce over rice!"
The workers looked at the menu and ordered without hesitation.
"Alright, four rice bowls, coming right away!"
Chen Yang quickly wrote it down and immediately called out the order to the kitchen.
Hearing the shout, Xu Liang picked up his plate.
A bowl full of steaming hot rice is served, topped with braised pork with potatoes and shredded pork with garlic sauce that has been stir-fried and kept warm in advance, resulting in a bright and appealing dish.
The aroma was irresistible, and in just a few dozen seconds, all four rice bowls were served.
Sun Zhonglei helped carry the rice bowl to the guests' table. The workers looked at the large bowl full of rice and dishes, which were very generous in portion and had a rich aroma.
His eyes lit up immediately, and he picked up his chopsticks and started eating heartily.
"Wow, this braised pork is so delicious! It's tender, flavorful, and not greasy at all!"
"The rice is delicious, and the portion is so generous. Five yuan is a great deal; it'll fill you up!"
"The food came out so fast! It was served right after I ordered, so it didn't interfere with my afternoon work at all. I'll be eating here for lunch from now on!"
The workers ate and praised the food, finishing their meal in just over ten minutes.
Satisfied, I paid the bill and left, not forgetting to say before leaving that I would bring more colleagues over in the afternoon.
This scene piqued the interest of other locals who came to eat home-style dishes, and many of them inquired and ordered rice bowls to try.
Everyone who ate there praised the taste and the speed of service.
Soon, news of Xiao Liangzi Restaurant launching quick rice bowls spread throughout the town.
More and more office workers, laborers, and vendors are coming to the restaurant, which was originally a bit crowded at noon. Thanks to the reasonable planning of the rice bowl passage, there was no chaotic scene.
Chen Yang handled the ordering and cashiering efficiently, while Aunt Lu and Aunt Bai promptly cleared the tables. Customers left as soon as they finished eating, resulting in a very fast table turnover.
Xu Liang focused on cooking and replenishing dishes in the kitchen, while Sun Zhonglei kept replenishing ingredients and helping out. The whole team worked together seamlessly and operated smoothly.
Starting from lunchtime, the restaurant was packed with customers, twice as many as usual.
There are fast food diners who come specifically for the rice bowls, and there are also locals who still enjoy home-style dishes.
Both sides were able to operate without interfering with each other, and revenue doubled compared to previous days.
The guests gradually dispersed after 2 p.m., and everyone was finally able to take a breather and have a simple lunch.
Looking at the few dishes left on the table, and the thick stack of change and receipts in the cashier's counter, everyone's face was filled with happy smiles.
At this moment, Xu Liang felt completely fulfilled.
"I didn't expect the rice bowls to be so popular! Business is booming today; I haven't stopped clearing the dishes!"
Aunt Lu said with a smile, her face showing no signs of fatigue, but rather full of energy.
The old lady nodded repeatedly.
"Yes, they're all guests in a hurry, they eat and leave quickly, so we can clean up fast and it's not messy at all. Liangwa's idea is absolutely brilliant!"
Chen Yang flipped through the account book, speaking excitedly.
"Xu Liang, we sold over eighty bowls of rice today alone! Adding in the revenue from our regular dishes, we've earned way more than usual!"
Sun Zhonglei was also very excited, looking at Xu Liang with admiration in his voice.
"Liangzi, you're so clever! The moment we opened this rice bowl aisle, business took off. Our shop is sure to thrive from now on!"
Seeing his companions' happy faces, Xu Liang felt gratified and said with a smile.
"This is not my achievement alone. It is all thanks to everyone working together and working hard all noon. Thank you all for your hard work."
In the initial stage, we'll focus on perfecting these few rice bowl dishes, ensuring both taste and portion size. We'll then gradually optimize them, introduce more flavors, and solidify our rice bowl business.