Food Stall: Customers Chase Me across the Country

Chapter 621 - 580: Never Compete with a Monster Genius

"Everyone, please hold on a moment. The secret to enjoying this Twice-Cooked Pork is eating it hot. I’ll start boiling the meat now, and by the time I’m done, it should be ready to prepare."

As Wang Fan spoke, he put a few slices of meat into the pot and gave a heads-up to the customers in line: "There’s something else I need to mention upfront. Today’s Twice-Cooked Pork rice bowl is priced at 90 RMB per serving. I’m using local Tibetan fragrant pork. You can ask your tour guides or look it up online to understand the pricing."

Wang Fan spoke openly and confidently, as the cost of his ingredients was right there for everyone to see. He didn’t feel guilty about asking for a high price.

To say whether there’s a difference between ordinary pork and Tibetan fragrant pork in making this dish, there is some difference, naturally, but not too much. Wang Fan estimated it as a difference between 95 and 100 points.

The 5-point difference is not something he can make up for with his current skills; it’s a gap that can’t be bridged with inferior ingredients.

As for the difference in taste, it’s not huge either, but you can still distinctly feel that the difference is real.

Some people who didn’t understand this type of boiled meat situation would naturally be dissatisfied upon hearing this: "90 RMB for a serving of Twice-Cooked Pork rice bowl? Even in a tourist spot, the food shouldn’t be this exorbitant."

"Exactly, is this for real? I ate at a big restaurant in Chengdu, and it was only a little over 60 RMB per serving."

"Even if this pork is expensive, it’s still just pork, right? At most, it should only be 20 or 30 RMB per pound, shouldn’t it? This price is a bit steep."

Hearing these murmurs, Wang Fan didn’t take it to heart and continued eating his Twice-Cooked Pork rice bowl. At this point, the red oil had just soaked into the rice, making it the most delicious time to eat.

While Wang Fan said nothing, someone knowledgeable immediately started educating those few people: "Please, just ask about the price before speaking, will you? Tibetan fragrant pork is priced at 70 to 80 RMB per pound locally. You wouldn’t even get scraps for 20 or 30."

"Exactly, I asked about the price on the road before, and wow, it was straight up 100 RMB per pound."

"If someone else’s stuff is expensive, it might be a rip-off. But if Boss Wang’s stuff is expensive, it’s definitely worth the price."

Wang Fan’s reputation holds strong among his fanbase. Those who know him won’t doubt his authenticity.

After finishing a serving of Twice-Cooked Pork, by the time Wang Fan cleaned up, the meat in the pot was ready.

Once the stove was turned on again to stir-fry the meat, the aroma started wafting around freely because of the increased amount of meat slices in the pot.

Once the meat is cooked, stir-frying happens very quickly. With one pot for boiling meat and another for stir-frying, the service speed is extremely fast.

Customers lined up, paid, and found a sheltered spot to dig in heartily.

Whether a chef is skilled or not is most evident in food, as soon as the first bite enters the mouth, there is no hiding the quality of the dish.

"Reputation well deserved!"

"Truly worthy of the name!"

"How is 90 RMB expensive? This is such a bargain!"

Just the first bite of this rich, flavorful Twice-Cooked Pork had already conquered these diners’ taste buds.

People on a trip usually don’t quibble too much about prices, as long as it’s not outrageous. Usually, they can accept it, and Wang Fan’s Twice-Cooked Pork certainly lives up to its price.

You can find this dish in restaurants big and small all over the place, some do it well, some do it poorly; some make it fresh, some just reheat pre-made dishes. The taste varies widely.

But this particular serving seemed to hit the most potent aesthetic spot directly. It was just the first bite, yet it gave people the sense that this is what the most delicious Twice-Cooked Pork should taste like.

Even after finishing a whole plate, even after half a day had passed or even after having dinner, that unique and wonderful taste still lingered in one’s mouth.

This just has to be shared online to express the excitement in my heart!

"To be honest, when Boss Wang makes Sichuan cuisine, all other Sichuan restaurants in Sichuan lose their charm. The Twice-Cooked Pork I had for lunch today is definitely the best I’ve ever eaten. At first, I thought the 90 RMB was steep, but after the first bite, I realized Boss Wang was just incredibly genuine. Something this delicious for 90 RMB is too much of a bargain."

"Bargain? It’s downright value for money, isn’t it? The cost of the pork alone is 60 or 70 RMB, and Boss Wang just charged a processing fee."

"Boss Wang’s reasonable pricing is famous on the internet, but honestly, the dish I used to love the most, I might have to take it off my menu now. After eating Boss Wang’s version, everything else is tasteless in comparison. No comparison, no heartbreak."

The internet was buzzing now, with many people flocking to comment under Wang Fan’s Weibo about their dining experiences with the Twice-Cooked Pork. Even their words seemed to carry the fragrance of the meat, full of lively taste.

Moreover, it wasn’t just these diners; the official Weibo accounts of Mount Emei and Daocheng Yading scenic areas also joined in the fun.

"Thank you, Boss Wang, for setting up a stall in our scenic spot, providing benefits for our tourists. Seeing this, our scenic spot still seems to attract more visitors. We welcome friends planning to travel to Sichuan to visit Mount Emei."

"Not only can the mountain breeze bring love, but it can also bring the aroma of food. Boss Wang’s arrival brought the culinary aroma to Daocheng Yading for the first time, making it not only filled with the sweetness of love but also the deliciousness of Twice-Cooked Pork. Maybe Twice-Cooked Pork is a better match with love? Starting tomorrow, Daocheng Yading will invite Sichuan cuisine master Chef Liu and his team to the site to make Twice-Cooked Pork. For the next seven days, there will be 200 servings of authentic Twice-Cooked Pork available for free at lunch and dinner, welcoming all tourists to taste."

It has to be said that some scenic spots are indeed good at seizing opportunities. Just as Wang Fan left, they caught onto the Twice-Cooked Pork trend and immediately launched a free tasting event.

Four hundred servings a day might seem like a lot, but compared to hiring an advertising company, this undoubtedly saved a lot of money.

Plus, the tourists got a real deal, a win-win situation for everyone.

However, asking Chef Liu, the one who taught Wang Fan how to make Twice-Cooked Pork, to consult Wang Fan for tips in return was a bit awkward for him.

But asking is necessary, as there might be meticulous tourists. If someone who ate Wang Fan’s Twice-Cooked Pork on the first day ends up comparing it unfavorably to a local chef’s version, it wouldn’t only be his personal embarrassment but would tarnish the reputation of the entire Sichuan cuisine world.

Master Xiao Liang looked at his master’s worried expression and cautiously asked, "Master, since I’ve met Boss Wang once, should I give him a call and ask?"

Master Liu rubbed his temples: "You? Forget it, asking with your level of skill is pointless."

Master Xiao Liang’s face immediately drooped: "Master, I’m your final apprentice; my skills aren’t that bad, right?"

Master Liu sighed: "You might be a talent at most. What’s the point of comparing yourself to a genius? That’s just asking for trouble. In France, he nearly drained me within two hours, grasped most of Sichuan cuisine’s characteristics in two days, and after coming to Sichuan, experienced the local customs and filled in the remaining gaps. I fully acknowledge that his current skill level is no less than mine."

Master Xiao Liang’s face turned into a big "囧" character.

"Is there really such a prodigious person in the world?"

Master Liu recalled how, during Wang Fan’s time in France, he absorbed the lessons from himself and several other cuisine masters one by one, and couldn’t help but sigh again.

"He’s not a genius—geniuses don’t act like that. An outlier, an absolute outlier, someone who exists just to challenge the limits of culinary arts."

He finished speaking and patted his final apprentice earnestly: "Actually, you really don’t have to compare yourself with him, because..."

Pausing for a moment, Master Liu twitched a wry smile and sighed: "because even compared with him...I feel inferior myself!"