Chapter 129: Chapter 129 Of course it’s our boss, do you think it’s me?!
Soon, dishes of Fairy Chicken were brought out from the kitchen.
The guests outside saw servers carrying plates, each holding a huge lump of earth, and they were all exceedingly curious.
"Is that a dish? Wrapped in mud?"
"It looks like the Beggar’s Chicken I’ve seen on TV!"
"This isn’t Beggar’s Chicken. I heard the ranch owner say it’s a dish made by a chef they hired, and it’s super tasty."
"I’ve never had such a dish before; it looks so peculiar."
"What kind of magical dish is this?"
Amidst the discussions, the Fairy Chicken was placed on the table.
Zhang Xinya immediately stood up, took out her phone, and began filming the "unboxing" process. This process had to be captured clearly to ensure the video was complete.
A chef nearby used a small hammer to crack open the layer of mud, then scraped all the mud off. Next, he lifted the gauze, revealing the tender lotus leaves.
At this moment, a faint aroma of alcohol mixed with the scent of meat had already begun to emanate. The fragrance had been gathering inside, becoming stronger and stronger, and now it was finally released, so enticing it made people drool.
"Wow!"
The guests marveled at the dish, their faces filled with expectation. The anticipation was quite pleasant.
The chef lifted the lotus leaves, and golden-yellow chicken meat was instantly revealed. The chicken skin looked incredibly tempting! It was a glossy golden-yellow all over, much like the color of New Orleans-style roasted chicken. There were some darker spots interspersed, and these areas, even more flavorful, promised extra crispiness.
Everyone swallowed hard. This method of preparing chicken was new to them and quite extraordinary.
Just as people were preparing to pick up their chopsticks, the chef picked up a small knife and made a vertical cut on the chicken. As the incision was made, clear juices instantly flowed out from the cut. Everyone watched the juices flow out, thinking it was such a shame to lose them.
The chef announced to the guests at the table, "This dish is called Fairy Chicken. It contains shrimp, crabmeat, crab roe, and chicken, along with eight kinds of fresh vegetables. Please enjoy."
The serving chefs were hotel employees, and Jiang Feng had already instructed them on how to handle it, so everyone did a good job.
As he finished speaking, the guests at this table reached out with their chopsticks toward the belly of the chicken. This dish truly held a world of its own within. The crisp, fresh Water-dwelling Eight Immortals, the tenderly stewed chicken, the rich broth, and the aroma of freshwater delicacies all mingled together. Each bite was an explosion of various wonderful flavors in the mouth, an indescribable delight.
Zhang Xinya put down her phone, picked up a shrimp, and savored it carefully. The shrimp remained as fresh as ever. The first bite brought out the taste of crab roe. Then, after a few chews, the rich broth and roasted chicken flavor also spread out.
She didn’t know how to describe this dish. All she could think of were three words: So delicious! This is just too good!
Some clever guests directly picked up spoons and scooped inside the belly of the Fairy Chicken. Each spoon brought up treasures. Other guests began eating the cut-open chicken meat. The chicken meat could be torn off easily. The chicken skin had a hint of sweetness, while the meat was succulent and thoroughly infused with flavor.
Everyone ate with great satisfaction, and praises for the dish quickly filled the air:
"This is the best, so delicious!"
"I’ve never had chicken like this before; it’s so fragrant!"
"Where did Zhang Dashan find such an amazing chef!"
"This must be a dish for high-end banquets!"
"I’ve learned something new! It’s so tasty, and the interior ingredients are all so fragrant. A bite is full of flavor, even tastier than the meat."
"Of course! The broth is so rich, the vegetables have been stewing inside for a long time; their flavor has completely merged with the meat!"
Ignoring the other dishes, everyone focused their chopsticks solely on the chicken. Whether they preferred meat or vegetables, everyone found unparalleled enjoyment in this Fairy Chicken.
The most fragrant part, however, was still the chicken meat itself. The meat, along with the skin, was golden-brown and crispy on the outside, yet sweet and tender. The inside was thoroughly soaked with various savory juices—pure essence. With just a gentle chew, a myriad of flavors blended perfectly, blossoming on the tongue. Expressions of pure enjoyment appeared on everyone’s faces.
Soon, the Fairy Chicken was completely eaten.
People were surprised to find that after the chicken meat was eaten, only broth and some spices remained on the lotus leaves, with not a single bone left behind.
"Where are the bones?"
"There are no chicken feet either!"
"I’ve been looking for the chicken butt, and it’s not there!"
"There was a chicken butt; I ate it first."
"How is this made? I clearly ate a lot of chicken, but there isn’t a single bone!"
Only after finishing the Fairy Chicken did everyone truly realize how magical the dish was. Once all the meat was gone, only the spread lotus leaves remained, without a trace of bone.
At this moment, a chef brought another dish to the table, simultaneously clearing away the platter that had held the now-devoured Fairy Chicken.
A guest hastily asked, "Chef, how come there are no bones in this chicken? I clearly ate a lot of chicken meat."
The young chef promptly replied, "This Fairy Chicken was prepared by our boss. The first step is to debone the entire chicken, so the bones were already taken out completely."
"Is your boss that super popular chef on the internet who sets up a stall?"
"Yes."
"Then may I ask, whose culinary skills are the best in the restaurant?"
"Of course, it’s Boss Jiang. It can’t be me, right?" The chef responded with a smile, prompting laughter from the customers as well. Indeed, the Fairy Chicken was the dish that satisfied everyone the most.
At another table, Zhang Dashan and his friends were drinking merrily. Once the Fairy Chicken was served, everyone stopped drinking and focused on eating the meat.
A fair-skinned middle-aged man commented, "Dashan, I’ve been to my fair share of banquets, but honestly, this is the first time I’ve seen this dish. The taste is really good! I never knew chicken could be prepared like this."
Coming from a man of considerable wealth, these words were high praise indeed.
Zhang Dashan immediately replied, "Mr. Lu, if I’m hosting you all, I’ve got to bring something impressive to the table. Wait till you try the roasted lamb leg from my ranch; it’s absolutely fantastic!"
Everyone laughed happily at this.
Though the cost of a table wasn’t expensive, Jiang Feng’s two dishes made the whole experience seem extraordinary. A good opera troupe relies on its star performers to carry the show, which is what makes the audience consider the troupe great. It’s the same principle.
In the kitchen, after all the dishes were served, the chefs also sat down for a meal. Clearly more interested in the Fairy Chicken, they eagerly reached for it with their chopsticks. Piece by piece, the entire chicken was devoured, inside and out, until not a trace was left.
Having eaten some dishes, Jiang Feng addressed the staff, "After today’s rush, everyone take a few days off. I reckon it’ll be about eight or nine days. Consider it a holiday; spend some time with your families. When we reopen, you’ll still receive your salaries as usual."
Hearing Jiang Feng say this, everyone’s smiles grew even wider. At this moment, the executive chef, Zhang Hu, immediately chimed in, "Did you all hear that? If you work hard at Jiangyue Terrace, it’s definitely better than being out there. Everyone, be more serious in your daily work and don’t let Boss Jiang down."
The chefs agreed in unison.
The job market was tough, and waitstaff wages were generally low. But some bosses, like PangDonglai’s, were conscientious. Their employee benefits were excellent, fostering a strong sense of happiness among workers. They didn’t make things difficult for their employees.
With his limited ability, Jiang Feng could only manage one restaurant. He couldn’t influence others, but he made sure to take care of those under his charge. Of course, he also had to consider whether an employee was worth keeping; character was very important. This was already quite commendable! In reality, many people enjoy making things difficult for others or skimping on what’s due.
Jiang Feng looked at everyone and said, "There’s not much more to say. In the future, Jiangyue Terrace will rely on all of you. No pie-in-the-sky promises—just work hard, and the benefits will surely be no less than before."
He originally wanted to say he hoped to make Jiangyue Terrace Shandong Cuisine Restaurant the most authentic and famous Shandong Cuisine restaurant. But he knew that the boss’s perspective and the employees’ perspectives were different. Employees primarily care about their salary, bonuses, and benefits. As for the company’s reputation, fame, or profits—those are the boss’s concerns.
Everyone laughed again. The meal was extremely enjoyable for all.
Outside, people were drinking. Jiang Feng rarely drank, and since they were helping out in someone else’s kitchen today, the chefs all had soft drinks. Besides, with the holidays coming up, they’d have plenty of time to drink.
At this moment, Zhang Dashan went out of his way to invite Jiang Feng over. After making some polite excuses, Jiang Feng joined Zhang Dashan at the main table.
Zhang Dashan introduced him to everyone, saying, "Let me introduce you all. This is the owner of Jiangyue Terrace Restaurant and a very famous chef, Jiang Feng. He’s quite an impressive figure!"
"So young and so accomplished, it’s amazing!"
"I saw his videos online before; so many people buy his food!"
"This Fairy Chicken dish is absolutely incredible!"
Everyone chimed in with praise.
Then, Jiang Feng sat down, and Zhang Dashan introduced him to several people at the table. Someone asked, "Boss Jiang, when the restaurant opens, will we have a chance to support you by coming over?"
Jiang Feng replied with a smile, "Of course, I would welcome that."
Jiang Feng was very articulate. He chatted effortlessly with everyone, and they all enjoyed discussing various topics. The people at this table were very discerning. After just a few words, they could usually tell what kind of person someone was. After chatting with Jiang Feng, they realized he was no simple man. No wonder he’s a restaurant owner at such a young age. He really has something.
Jiang Feng, on the other hand, didn’t overthink it. It’s just a chat, no big deal. After this, I’ll go home and rest.
The restaurant’s opening was still some time off. The system indicated that a new task would start in two days. Jiang Feng eagerly anticipated what the mission and rewards would be. After all, anything produced by the system was bound to be top-quality, and the rewards were always excellent.