#Shocking Prices on a Small Restaurant Menu!#
"Whoa, what kind of fish costs 3,688?!"
"They've gone mad—do they think we're stupid?"
"What even is 'Stuffed Bean Stalk'?"
"Winter Melon Pot for 1,888… I could buy a truckload of winter melons with that!"
"Miss Chen is great at cooking, sure, but when it comes to running a restaurant… she's got a long way to go."
"Honestly, with those prices? No one's going."
Wang Tao said, "Chen Xuan's pricing is… kind of awkward."
Ma Jingyao agreed, "Yeah, super awkward. People who can afford those prices won't come to a tiny shop like this. And people who do go to places like this aren't gonna pay that much."
People who spend thousands on a meal care about atmosphere, reputation, elegance.
No one's going to a hole-in-the-wall street joint to drop a few grand on dinner.
If word got out, no one would say you had taste—they'd just think you were nuts.
Still, regardless of how outrageous Chen Xuan's pricing was, the buzz and attention were undeniable.
The whole internet was talking, and many influencers caught wind of it, seeing it as the perfect opportunity to ride the wave.
Chen Xuan and Li Aimin had just left when the restaurant phone rang.
Zhang Cuilan answered. "Li Family Private Kitchen… Oh, a reservation? Okay, how many people? What time? What? You want to order from the new dishes today?"
She froze for a moment.
Chen Xuan had just added those new dishes—and someone was ordering them now?
And not just any dishes—they were ordering the most expensive ones.
Immortal Fish. Stuffed Bean Stalk. Winter Melon Pot…
Dishes costing thousands, ordered without a second thought.
Was this person insane?
To top it off, they even asked for Zhang Cuilan's Alipay to send a deposit in advance—￥5,000, just like that.
When the money hit her account, Zhang Cuilan knew this wasn't a prank.
The film crew was stunned.
Wang Tao said, "Someone really ordered the new dishes…"
Li Lang smiled, "Now we'll see if Chen Xuan can deliver. This is her first real test."
They all had a pretty good idea—chances were high that this was an influencer trying to generate hype.
"So much money, just like that? Must be nice."
"Definitely just riding the wave."
"Spend a few grand for exposure like this? Totally worth it."
"Just this morning, a tiny logo got on the trending page for just ten yuan—now that's ROI."
The viewers weren't stupid. After the initial shock wore off, they quickly realized what was happening—this customer was clearly in it for the clicks.
Zhang Cuilan immediately called Li Aimin and filled him in.
He was stunned, and then passed the news to Chen Xuan.
"They're coming tonight?" Chen Xuan asked.
"Yep. Tonight."
"All right. Let's take the order."
"Will there be enough time?"
"No problem," Chen Xuan replied with a calm smile.
If she dared to put these dishes on the menu, then she had the confidence to cook them.
Some of the recipes were incredibly complex—most chefs wouldn't even attempt them.
But that's most chefs. For her, it was no problem.
And she knew exactly what this was—someone was trying to jump on the hype train.
But she couldn't afford to turn it down. If she refused, people would start to doubt—can she really make these dishes?
Are they even worth those prices?
Li Aimin and his wife were nervous.
But for Chen Xuan, the timing couldn't be more perfect!
By cooking these signature dishes and letting the world see, she'd get priceless publicity for the restaurant.
"It's like someone handed me a pillow just as I was about to nap."
She smiled and picked up the pace as they shopped for ingredients.
Half an hour later, she and Li Aimin returned to the restaurant, arms full of groceries.
The very first thing Chen Xuan did upon returning was start making broth.
Big restaurants always had a pot of high-quality stock ready, and it was essential for many dishes—especially those from the Lu, Cantonese, and Tan culinary traditions. Whenever water was needed in a recipe, broth made the dish richer and more flavorful.
Li Aimin watched her preparing the old hens. "Chen, are you making soup?"
"Mhm," she said. "Starting with a pot of broth."
Broth…
For Li Aimin, that was something of a luxury.
In a small shop like his, they never really needed it.
Using broth meant you were making dishes that really mattered.
Chen Xuan dropped two old hens into the large cylindrical pot. "No chicken, no freshness. No duck, no fragrance. No skin, no thickness. No tripe, no clarity. Broth has types too—mainly milky and clear. I'm making a milky broth. Uncle Li, pay close attention to the order I add ingredients and the way I control the heat. Every detail matters."
If someone wanted to improve their cooking quickly, mastering broth was the shortcut.
Li Aimin immediately focused, eyes wide.
"Wow, Miss Chen's such a pro. I didn't understand a single word she said!"
"Honestly, making good broth isn't easy—even with the same ingredients, results vary wildly. It's all about experience."
"I'm seriously looking forward to that dinner tonight. Nearly ten grand's worth of dishes… I feel like even a bowl of Fried Rice with Egg would be better."
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]