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

Chapter 28 - Absolutely Top-Notch!

His reaction was the best GG.

The people in line behind them became even more anxious.

"Boss! Beef rice noodle rolls!"

"I want eggs!"

"Minced pork! Two portions to go!"

Wang Sheng's hands were constantly moving. The steamer had four shelves, capable of steaming four trays at a time. He assigned Li Dali to be in charge of scooping the batter, spreading the filling, and putting the trays into the steamer, while he himself controlled the time for taking them out of the trays, and was responsible for rolling, slicing, and drizzling with sauce. The assembly line operation was gradually taking shape.

Zhao Gang and Wu Feng maintained order and helped serve dishes and clear tables. Lin Xiaowen handled the cashier's duties, greeted customers, and answered inquiries, working efficiently and without chaos.

Steam filled the kitchen, mingling with the aromas of rice, soy sauce, and fillings. Outside the window, the sounds of people slurping rice noodle rolls—satisfied, full of praise, and eagerly waiting—rose and fell.

"The beef is so tender! The rice noodle sheets are so smooth!"

"Egg rice noodle rolls are only eight yuan! The best value for money! The egg flavor is so rich!"

"The minced pork is delicious too! The sauce mixed with the rice noodles and minced pork is so satisfying!"

"Can you sell this soy sauce sauce separately? I want to mix it with rice!"

"Is the chili sauce homemade? It's fragrant but not too hot, and it goes perfectly with rice noodle rolls!"

[Ding! Received a positive review (for shrimp rice noodle rolls)!]

[Ding! Received a positive review (beef rice noodle roll)!]

[Ding! Received a positive review (egg rice noodle roll)!]

System notification sounds began to ring out frequently.

Wang Sheng was thrilled and his hands moved even faster.

He noticed that shrimp and beef rice noodle rolls were the most popular, with egg and minced pork rolls also being quite popular. Many students felt unsatisfied after ordering one serving and lined up to buy a second one, or to try a different flavor.

Around 8:30 p.m., the cafeteria was still bustling with people. The allure of late-night snacks was beginning to show, attracting students studying in the evening, graduate students working hard in the library, teachers with evening classes, and even some family members of faculty and staff living nearby.

The queue stretched all the way to the cafeteria entrance.

"This Shengji is a hit for breakfast and for late-night snacks! How can anyone survive here?!" The owner of the stall next door, who had already closed up shop, peeked out, shook his head, and sighed with mixed feelings.

Wang Sheng had no time to spare for anything else.

He was completely focused on the steamer and the work surface. The steamer's high efficiency was an advantage, but it also required more precise time control and coordination.

With the muscle memory provided by the system and his increasingly refined skills, he precisely controls the quality of every single product.

Around 9:40 PM, the rice batter and some of the filling were almost gone. Wang Sheng glanced at the records and estimated that about 380 servings of rice noodle rolls had been sold that night. Considering the three-hour business hours, the efficiency of the steamer, and the team's proficiency, this number was reasonable.

"Dear students, I'm so sorry! We've run out of rice flour, shrimp, and beef fillings for today! We only have egg and minced pork rice noodle rolls left, and we don't have many left either!" Wang Sheng announced, raising his voice.

A collective sigh of disappointment immediately filled the air outside the window.

"Ah—! It's gone again!"

"Boss, please make more!"

"Is there any more tomorrow? We absolutely have to have fresh shrimp!"

While apologizing, Wang Sheng promised, "Tomorrow! Tomorrow night we'll continue! We'll have fresh shrimp and beef, and we'll prepare as much as possible! Thank you for your support!"

At 9:50 PM, the last serving of rice noodle rolls was sold. The trial operation of the late-night snack service ended.

After closing the window, Wang Sheng finally let out a long sigh of relief and leaned against the control panel, exhausted.

Zhao Gang and his three companions were exhausted, but their faces were flushed with excitement.

"Senior, the steamer is amazing! I was almost overwhelmed even managing to handle both burners by myself." Li Dali rubbed his shoulders, but his eyes were shining.

"The cash register never stopped." Lin Xiaowen rubbed her wrist, but her smile was bright.

Although Zhao Gang and Wu Feng were tired, they could clearly feel the sense of accomplishment brought by the popularity.

Looking at them, Wang Sheng felt a warmth in his heart: "Thank you all for your hard work! Tonight was a great success! Come on, have something to eat first."

.

He had reserved several servings of rice noodle rolls and braised dishes, which he heated up and then invited everyone to sit down.

"Try what we made ourselves."

Five people sat around a table, their fatigue dispelled by the delicious food. The rice noodle rolls were still tender and fresh, the braised flavors infused with a chewy texture. It was a simple staff meal, but they ate with exceptional relish.

"Senior, this rice noodle roll could definitely become a signature late-night snack!" Zhao Gang said, giving a thumbs up as he ate.

"There will definitely be even more people tomorrow, so we need to prepare the rice milk earlier." Lin Xiaowen had already started planning.

Li Dali and Wu Feng nodded vigorously.

After dinner, they settled their wages. Wang Sheng gave each person 120 yuan as a late-night snack allowance (calculated at 40 yuan per hour for three hours).

(The price was higher than the market price), and the four of them were overjoyed again.

After seeing them off, Wang Sheng cleaned the control room alone. Once he was done, he summoned the system panel.

[Chain Mission: The Prelude to Midnight Diner - Part One: First Test]

[Task Requirements: Successfully produce and sell at least 1000 servings of Cantonese rice noodle rolls (any flavor).]

Current progress: 386/1000

[Status: Nearing Completion!]

It will be finished in another day or two!

Let's look at the other data:

[Popularity score: 21871 (an increase of approximately 3000 from yesterday, with late-night snacks bringing new attention)]

Positive reviews: 1723/1000 (continuously accumulating)

[Estimated cumulative operating profit: ≈28000 yuan]

Popularity surpasses 20,000! Positive reviews steadily increase! Accumulated profits approach 30,000!

Our first late-night snack event was a huge success!

The next day, Wang Sheng got up very early.

This is not only because of the preparation work for breakfast, but also because the amount of food needed for late-night snacks needs to be increased significantly.

He pedaled his tricycle and reappeared at the Xiaguan Market. In addition to the usual breakfast ingredients, he specially purchased 20 jin of high-quality glutinous rice flour, 8 jin of fresh shrimp, 2 jin of dried beef tenderloin, a large amount of eggs and pork, as well as various seasonings needed to make soy sauce.

Taking into account costs and sales volume, he appropriately increased the proportion of eggs and minced pork.

Sure enough, Brother Liu "bumped into" him again and continued to learn how to select ingredients.

Brother Liu was even more serious this time.

"Bro, I saw your rice noodle rolls last night, they're amazing! The steam, the technique, so professional!"

Brother Liu exclaimed sincerely, "My place—sigh, still no customers. But I've figured it out. I can't just copy what you sell; I need to figure out what flavors the students like. I'm thinking of trying to make some of our Northeastern-style grilled cold noodles and selling them in the evenings. What do you think?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Sheng was genuinely happy for Brother Liu: "Brother Liu, that's a great idea! Grilled cold noodles are flavorful and unique; the students will definitely love them! Just let me know if you need any help."

"Alright! With you saying that, brother, I feel at ease!"

A smile spread across Brother Liu's dark face, as if he had found a new direction.

Back in the cafeteria's backyard, Zhao Gang and his three companions, along with the newcomer Wu Feng and Chen Yu from the School of Literature recommended by Lin Xiaowen, were already present. After Wang Sheng briefly assigned tasks, everyone immediately got to work.

Breakfast time remains extremely busy.

After a few days of buzz, the "Golden Jade Abundance Set Meal" has become a must-order item.

The pork floss and seaweed flavors of mochi have also gained a loyal following.

Mixed rice noodles, steamed buns, tofu pudding and fried dough sticks—all are bestsellers.

Wang Sheng was stationed at the central command, coordinating and directing operations.

With a relatively stable team, the pressure on his shoulders has been greatly reduced, allowing him to focus more on quality control and new product development.

After finishing work in the morning, the breakfast revenue was tallied: 7124 yuan.

Although it has slightly decreased from yesterday's peak of over 10,000, this figure is still very healthy considering that many people are unwilling to get up on the weekend and there are no new products to stimulate the market. The net profit is around 3500 yuan.

Without taking a break, Wang Sheng immediately began preparing the ingredients for the late-night snack. Two large buckets of rice flour were prepared in advance and refrigerated. All the fillings were marinated. A sufficient amount of soy sauce was cooked.

He then checked the steamer to make sure it was working properly.

At 6 p.m., everyone gathered again.

Wang Sheng announced the new arrangements and encouraged everyone: "Tonight's goal is to exceed 400 copies! Let's do our best!"

'

"Go for it!" everyone responded in unison.

By 6:50, a long line had already formed outside the window. It was earlier than last night, and there were even more people. The word-of-mouth on the forum continued to spread.

At seven o'clock sharp, the window was opened.

"Shengji Late Night Snack, welcome!"

The steamer roared, steam billowed up. The assembly line operation became increasingly smooth.

Wang Sheng was in charge of plating and seasoning, Li Dali and Chen Yu were in charge of loading ingredients into the cabinet, Zhao Gang and Wu Feng maintained order and assisted in serving dishes, and Lin Xiaowen handled the cashier duties.

Sales are steadily increasing. Shrimp and beef rice noodle rolls remain the highlights, while egg and minced pork rice noodle rolls are selling very quickly.

Many students were visiting for the second time and knew the place well.

Around 8 p.m., the crowd reached its peak. The cafeteria was packed and bustling with activity.

Just then, a slightly hesitant voice rang out from the window: "Wang Sheng? Is it really you?"

Wang Sheng was focused on drizzling the sauce when he heard a sound and looked up. He saw a middle-aged man of about fifty years old, wearing thin-rimmed glasses and with a refined demeanor, standing outside the window.

It was Professor Zhou Wenbin, his professor who taught him Macroeconomics in his sophomore year.

Professor Zhou is from Foshan, Guangdong. He is rigorous in his studies, kind in his personality, and highly respected by his students.

"Teacher Zhou!"

Wang Sheng exclaimed with delight, his hands still busy as he quickly packed a serving of rice noodle rolls and handed it to the customer. He then wiped his hands and asked, "What brings you here? What would you like to eat?"

Professor Zhou's face showed obvious surprise and curiosity: "I—I saw many people recommending Shengji's cafeteria window on the school forum and in my colleagues' group, saying the food is excellent. Today I saw they were having rice noodle rolls tonight, so I came to check it out. I never expected—the owner would be you?"

He looked Wang Sheng up and down, who was dressed in a chef's uniform and moved quickly. It seemed difficult for him to connect the calm and capable "chef" in front of him with the ordinary student in his memory who sat in the back row of the classroom and did not speak much.

Wang Sheng smiled a little sheepishly: "It's me, Professor Zhou. I'm a senior doing an internship, trying my hand at starting a business. What would you like to eat? It's on me!"

"No way, we have to pay." Professor Zhou waved his hand, his gaze falling on the menu. "Seeing rice noodle rolls really whetted my Cantonese appetite. I've been at school for so many years and I've never had a decent bowl of rice noodle rolls. Give me a beef rice noodle roll, I'll eat here."

"Alright! Please have a seat, Teacher Zhou, it'll be ready soon!" Wang Sheng immediately turned around and started operating the machine himself.

He took the rice noodle roll tray, scooped out the batter, and laid out the marinated beef slices. His movements were fluid, precise, and efficient. He then pushed the steaming tray into the steamer.

Professor Zhou did not leave the window, but observed through the glass with great interest.

When he saw Wang Sheng's professional and skillful techniques, and the stable steam and temperature control during the operation of the steamer, his surprise deepened. This was definitely the level of a professional kitchen!

One minute later, the cabinet was opened and the plate was retrieved. The rice noodle sheets were translucent and glistening, and the beef was tender and tempting.

He gently scraped with a scraper, rolled it up, cut it into sections, and drizzled the sauce over it. Wang Sheng personally carried the plate to the small table next to him: "Teacher Zhou, your beef rice noodle roll is hot, be careful."

Professor Zhou thanked him and picked up his chopsticks.

He didn't eat it immediately, but first observed it carefully: the rice noodle sheets were as thin as cicada wings, even and translucent, and the texture of the beef slices was visible. The soy sauce was a bright red and rich color, with a fragrant aroma.

He picked up a piece and put it in his mouth.

The moment the pink skin touched his tongue, the incredibly smooth and tender sensation made him pause slightly.

Next, the salty, savory, and slightly sweet flavor of the soy sauce melts in your mouth, perfectly coating the rice noodles and beef. The beef slices are tender and juicy, well-marinated, and cooked to perfection.

Professor Zhou chewed slowly, closing his eyes, as if savoring the taste or reminiscing.

After a long while, he opened his eyes, let out a long breath, and his face showed undisguised shock and—a trace of emotion.

"This rice noodle roll—"

He looked at Wang Sheng, his tone incredulous, "The thinness, smoothness, and tenderness of these rice noodle sheets, the precise seasoning of this soy sauce, the perfect cooking time for the beef—Wang Sheng, where did you learn this skill? This level of skill would definitely be top-notch even in some of the time-honored restaurants in Guangzhou and Foshan! In fact—I feel it's even better than many of the places I've eaten at back home!"

He is a native of Guangdong, and his pickiness about rice noodle rolls is ingrained in his bones.

He never wanted to touch those "Cantonese rice noodle rolls" sold in the school cafeteria and surrounding restaurants again after trying them once; they were actually made with thick rice noodle sheets, bland sauce, and perfunctory fillings.

But the dish that Wang Sheng made truly struck a chord with his most authentic taste memory, and even surpassed it in some details!

Wang Sheng scratched his head and gave the same old explanation: "I just figured it out myself, but I also looked up a lot of information and tried it repeatedly."

"Just overthinking it?"

Professor Zhou shook his head, completely disbelieving. "This skill can't be mastered without years of practice and a deep understanding of ingredients and cooking techniques! Especially the recipe for this soy sauce, with its distinct layers of saltiness, umami, sweetness, and aroma, and its lingering aftertaste—it's definitely not an ordinary recipe! Wang Sheng, I truly never imagined you had such talent and skill in cooking!"

He became more and more excited as he spoke, and couldn't help but take a few more bites, his face full of enjoyment and satisfaction: "Great! Really great! I never thought I could eat such authentic hometown flavors at school! I'll come here often for late-night snacks from now on!"

[Ding! Received an excellent review from a professional (from Guangdong)! Popularity points +500!]

Current popularity: 22371

[Sales progress: Total number of rice noodle rolls sold: 612/1000]

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