Food: Senior year internship, you take over the university cafeteria

"Yeah, that's what everyone suggested. Let's give it a try."

Wang Sheng nodded.

Not for his classmates... no, it's all for his classmates! It has nothing to do with the 100,000 yuan! He absolutely has to make clay pot soup!

"However, I need to buy some suitable stewing pots or small earthenware pots first, the kind for one person. Also, I don't think I paid much attention to specialized suppliers for the fresh, wet rice noodles used for mixing with the rice noodles when I was buying them before, so I need to look for them as well."

He figured that the general merchandise market east of the school's back gate must sell bowls, plates, and stew pots, but for a specific ingredient like rice noodles, he might have to go to a more specialized grain, oil, and non-staple food wholesale area, or ask the old vendors in the market.

"Senior," Su Weiwei suddenly spoke, her voice soft:

"You've sold out of everything, you should be going to buy more this afternoon, right? I... I don't have class."

She paused, seemingly a little embarrassed, and gently twirled her fingers around the backpack strap.

"I just arrived in Nanjing and haven't really explored the area outside the school yet. My roommate told me there are a lot of food stalls on the back streets... You're a local, so you must know where to find good food, right? How about... I go with you? You can do your shopping, and I can do some browsing. We can even have breakfast together. Do you have any recommendations?"

She looked up at Wang Sheng, her eyes clear and expectant, her cheeks flushed slightly from the invitation.

Wang Sheng was taken aback.

It's perfectly reasonable for the junior to want to familiarize herself with the environment and have a meal together. As a local who has lived in Nanjing for four years, it's only right that he helps her out.

Moreover, having such a pretty and lively junior classmate accompany me makes the otherwise tedious shopping trip seem a bit more interesting.

"Okay," Wang Sheng finally agreed.

"There's a pan-fried bun shop near the grocery market. I used to eat there often when I was a freshman in college. The skin is thin and the bottom is crispy, and the soup filling is quite juicy, but the seasoning of the meat filling is far inferior to mine."

He jokingly boasted a little.

"It's a good opportunity to take you there and give it a try, it'll also be good market research. Let me change my clothes, then we'll head out."

"Okay! Thank you, senior!"

Su Weiwei's eyes curved into crescent moons, and her smile was bright.

Half an hour later, Wang Sheng changed into a comfortable sweatshirt and jeans, and walked out of the school gate side by side with Su Weiwei.

The afternoon sun in autumn was warm and gentle, casting dappled light and shadows through the leaves of the sycamore trees.

Wang Sheng led Su Weiwei through the bustling backstreet with practiced ease.

"The pan-fried bun shop is right next to the market entrance."

Wang Sheng pointed to a small storefront in front of him with a sign that read "Old Shanghai Pan-Fried Dumplings".

"Business has been good for many years."

The two went into the shop and ordered two ounces of pan-fried buns and two bowls of wontons.

The pan-fried buns were served with a golden-brown, crispy bottom, and when you bit into them, you could indeed find juicy filling and a generous amount of meat.

Su Weiwei tried one and nodded, "Hmm, it's quite delicious."

Wang Sheng also ate one, savored it carefully, and then shook his head:

"The bottom heat was a bit too high, making it a little tough. The minced meat had a strong flavor of scallions, ginger, and wine, which overpowered the natural sweetness of the meat. The broth... used aspic, but it wasn't cooked clear enough and was a bit greasy."

His tone was entirely that of someone with an occupational hazard when he made judgments.

Su Weiwei chuckled:

"Senior, your standards are too high. I think it tastes pretty good. But..."

She blinked.

"Compared to the xiaolongbao you make, they're worlds apart!"

Hearing this made Wang Sheng feel comfortable, and he laughed, "Of course, otherwise how would I dare to open the window?"

After finishing their meal, the two walked into the bustling grocery market.

The place is filled with the sounds of vendors hawking their daily necessities and haggling over prices. The air is thick with the smells of plastic, fabric, food, and dust.

Wang Sheng had a clear goal and headed straight for the area selling kitchenware.

Soon, he found what he wanted at a stall piled high with all sorts of bowls, plates, and casseroles.

Objective 1.

Completed!

This trip was worthwhile!

It's a small, coarse earthenware stew pot, slightly deeper than a regular rice bowl, with a lid. Its capacity is just right for one serving of steamed soup, and it's also affordable.

"Boss, give me twenty of these stew pots."

Wang Sheng picked one up and examined it closely. It was made of clay and the workmanship was fairly fine, with no obvious cracks or bubbles.

"Alright! Young man, do you own a restaurant? This steamed soup with egg is just right!"

The stall owner was a friendly middle-aged woman who quickly began packing the boxes.

Having paid the money, Wang Sheng naturally followed suit and moved on to his second target.

He asked the older woman:

"Auntie, I have another question for you. In this market, or nearby, is there a place that specializes in selling rice noodles? I'm looking for fresh, wet rice noodles, the kind used for mixing with other ingredients."

The older woman was happy to answer the customer's questions after receiving the money.

But after thinking about it, he shook his head helplessly:

"Wet rice noodles... We sell mostly dried goods and seasonings around here, but fresh rice noodles seem to be rare. You'll have to go to that big grain and oil wholesale market up ahead, or..."

She lowered her voice and pointed deeper into the market, "Go further in, there's an old man named Li around the corner. He seems to sometimes bring in fresh rice noodles and noodles made by local workshops. You can ask him, but he might not have them."

"Thank you, Auntie!"

Wang Sheng's spirits lifted!

Although it has not been directly confirmed.

But any clue is a glimmer of hope!

Wang Sheng thanked her happily, picked up the cardboard box containing the stew pot, and said to Su Weiwei.

"I guess I have to ask the merchants."

"Let's go find that old Li."

The two walked through the market and, following the directions of the older woman, found an inconspicuous stall in a relatively quiet corner.

The stall owner was a taciturn old man. In front of him were some bagged flour, loose beans, and several large basins covered with damp white gauze.

Wang Sheng stepped forward with a try-it-out mentality and politely asked:

"Sir, do you have any fresh, wet rice noodles for sale here? The kind used for mixed noodles."

The old man raised his eyelids to look at Wang Sheng, then glanced at the stew pot he was carrying, and said slowly:

"Rice noodles...we have them. But not every day. The workshop will send over a batch tomorrow morning. How much do you want?"

Wang Sheng was overjoyed; he hadn't expected it to actually exist.

"It's quite a lot, about... twenty pounds? What time can it be delivered tomorrow morning?"

"Around five or six o'clock. Right here," the old man said succinctly.

"Okay! I'll come pick it up tomorrow morning! Do I still need the deposit?"

The old man waved his hand:

"No need. You seem like a legitimate businessman. Just come pick up the goods and pay tomorrow."

"Okay! Thank you, sir!"

Wang Sheng felt a weight lifted off his shoulders.

The rice noodle supply problem is solved!

Second goal for this trip!

solve!

The procurement plan has been successfully completed!

Wang Sheng was in a great mood.

Seeing that it was still early and Su Weiwei was in high spirits, he suggested, "How about we go browse around the small goods section over there? There are quite a few interesting little gadgets there."

"Okay!" Su Weiwei readily agreed.

The two strolled leisurely through the market, looking at novel trinkets, smelling the aromas from the dried goods stalls, and listening to the bustling sounds of the marketplace.

When we finally went back.

Wang Sheng's hands were brimming with food—a stew pot, shiitake mushrooms, and dried shrimp; Su Weiwei held the adorable ceramic kitten like a precious treasure.

"Senior..."

Su Weiwei suddenly stopped, tilted her head up, her eyes sparkling, with a hint of cautious pleading:

"Tomorrow... could you... save me a portion? Just... the mixed rice noodles and that amazing soup? I'm afraid... I won't be able to get any..."

That look...who can resist it?

"Stay, we must stay."

Wang Sheng patted his chest and promised, "Don't worry, even if the King of Heaven himself came, he couldn't touch your share."

"My senior is the best!"

Su Weiwei cheered with joy, her smile illuminating the entire sycamore-lined avenue.

Back in the cafeteria, Wang Sheng carefully put away his "spoils of war".

Clean the stew pot! Prepare the secret-recipe minced meat! Simmer the soul-stirring sauce! Get your freshest bowls ready tomorrow morning!

Tasks were rapidly arranged and combined in my mind.

"etc..."

A slight smile curved his lips.

"Add some more ingredients, like golden, crispy pork cracklings! Mix them in... oh my, wouldn't that smell amazing?!"

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