Chapter 183: Chapter 183 Unexpected Reward!
"Hello, viewers and friends, I’m Guo Li, a reporter for Chengdu Urban News."
"As you can see, I’m right here on the food street of Liulang Bay."
"Behind me is the steak stall that has been incredibly popular recently."
"Many people might recognize the stall owner. He’s a chef from Eastern Shandong, proficient not only in Shandong Cuisine but also in Sichuan Cuisine techniques."
"He is also the owner of a Shandong Cuisine Restaurant."
"He has a habit of changing locations for his stall, selling a variety of food, which makes him very popular online."
"And now he’s here at Liulang Bay selling steaks. As you can see, the place is absolutely swarming with people."
「At this moment, on the outskirts of the crowd.」
A reporter and a cameraman were filming a news program.
Jiang Feng’s steaks had indeed become a hit, the commotion attracting the attention of reporters.
It was actually quite normal. With social media so developed these days, there was little novelty under the sun, and viewership for traditional news was declining.
Moreover, when there wasn’t much significant local news, journalists had to find some trending topics to cover.
Guo Li and the cameraman decided to come to the stall to shoot a news report about Jiang Feng’s steak stall.
Whether it would be chosen for the final broadcast depended on how the news department leaders scheduled it.
"Li, there are too many people; it’s hard to get in," Liu, the cameraman, remarked, looking at the packed scene.
"How did the last take go?" Guo Li asked with concern.
Liu made an "OK" gesture. "No problem, it was recorded perfectly."
"That’s great. Let’s go interview some customers who’ve eaten the steak."
"And finally, let’s see if we can interview the stall owner."
"That way, we can create a complete news story."
Guo Li immediately had a plan.
The news department was also a competitive world, driven by the pursuit of fame and recognition.
Many reporters fought tooth and nail for hot news stories.
This line of work wasn’t easy; the competition was fierce.
After seeing the news about Jiang Feng yesterday, Guo Li had decided to come for an interview today.
She keenly sensed the netizens’ high enthusiasm for this event.
Her rivals had even mocked her, saying that news about a chef wasn’t interesting and wondering who would care about such things these days.
Guo Li was determined to do an excellent job with this news piece. She believed it would most likely be broadcast, and then she could see how the ratings performed.
Guo Li, accompanied by Liu, captured extensive footage of customers queuing. They also managed to film Jiang Feng from a distance, busily working at the food truck.
The location happened to be near a road. Three luxury sports cars pulled up and parked at the roadside, and several young people dressed in designer clothes got out.
Guo Li immediately signaled to Liu, "Liu, quick! Get video of them getting out of the car."
As a professional in media, she had a sharp instinct and guessed these young people were heading for Jiang Feng’s stall.
Sure enough, as soon as Du Wei and his companions got out of their cars, they headed straight for Jiang Feng’s stall.
Guo Li hurriedly led the cameraman to greet them.
"Hello, I’m a reporter from Chengdu Urban News, working on a special feature about the steak stall. Are you here to eat steak? Could we interview you?" Guo Li asked very politely.
Du Wei and his friends were slightly taken aback. What? An interview? We could be on TV?
Being socially adept extroverts, they were all eager to appear on TV. Du Wei immediately replied with a smile, "No problem at all! We’re here for the steak."
"That steak is incredibly delicious; I eat it every day!"
"It’s even better than steak from Western restaurants!"
Du Wei’s enthusiastic response pleased Guo Li. Interviews need people like him; audiences love this kind of energy.
"Did you specifically drive all the way here just for the steak?" Guo Li asked with a smile.
She intentionally mentioned "driving" and, paired with footage of the sports cars, knew it would make the news more appealing.
"Yes, we came just for Boss Jiang. The taste of that steak is no joke; it’s absolutely delicious," Du Wei couldn’t help but promote.
He looked at the camera and asked the reporter, "People can see me through this, right?"
Guo Li nodded. "Ah, yes!"
Then, Du Wei, with a hint of pride, said to the camera, "You can totally trust Boss Jiang’s stall."
"Any steak I recommend is guaranteed to be delicious."
"Everyone, just come and try it! You won’t regret it!"
Guo Li thanked him with a smile. "Thank you."
The group waved and then hurried to join the queue.
「At this very moment, Jiang Feng’s stall was surrounded by people.」
Sun Zhuangfei was feeling somewhat stage-shy. Seeing so many streamers around, he stopped playing the violin.
He focused solely on cleaning.
Jiang Feng was rapidly frying steaks and chicken cutlets.
The system had granted him quite a few Western cuisine recipes, such as French-style snails and pasta.
After considering them, Jiang Feng decided to stick with steaks and chicken cutlets.
They were convenient and quick; all he needed to do was tenderize and marinate the steaks in advance.
Besides, large snails were quite expensive, and not many people enjoyed eating them.
As Jiang Feng was frying steaks, a customer eating steak called out, "Server, how about a tune! We want to shoot a video!"
As soon as he finished, someone else added, "Yeah, we’re really looking forward to it! We just want to see you play the violin."
Hearing their remarks, Jiang Feng looked over.
Sun Zhuangfei said, somewhat awkwardly, "Sorry, I didn’t bring my violin today."
Hearing this, the customers looked somewhat disappointed.
Jiang Feng breathed a sigh of relief; he had been worried Sun Zhuangfei wouldn’t be able to handle such enthusiastic customers.
But what Sun Zhuangfei said next completely caught him by surprise.
Sun Zhuangfei announced, "But I did bring my saxophone."
"I’ll perform a piece on the saxophone for everyone."
The customers were baffled.
Jiang Feng was speechless.
Then, the customers were overjoyed—what an unexpected bonus!
Jiang Feng was stunned. Seriously, how does this kid know how to do everything?
A saxophone? This kid is so multi-talented; why isn’t he a music teacher instead of working as my assistant here?
A saxophone isn’t too expensive; you can buy one on Taobao for just over eight hundred yuan.
But practicing it is a hassle.
Sun Zhuangfei had told Jiang Feng that he’d never taken music lessons; he was self-taught, practicing bit by bit.
However, Sun Zhuangfei hadn’t told Jiang Feng that he’d practiced several instruments.
The saxophone was one of them.
Jiang Feng found it quite surreal.
The saxophone is often described as a rather "sultry" instrument because those who play it tend to exude a certain allure.
It surprised Jiang Feng that the usually earnest and unassuming Sun Zhuangfei also played the saxophone.
This kid must be one of those quiet types with a hidden flamboyant side!
At that moment, Sun Zhuangfei began to play the saxophone. The melody was decent, at least listenable, proving he genuinely knew how.
The surroundings were already bustling, so no one had particularly high expectations; it was all about the atmosphere.
So, watching this scene, everyone felt relaxed and happy.
Jiang Feng finished cooking two steaks, placed them on plates, added cherry tomatoes and lettuce, inserted disposable forks, and handed them to the customers.
He paused taking orders and listened quietly for a moment.
Sun Zhuangfei really is something else.
Many social media influencers were filming the scene.
Coincidentally, Guo Li, along with her cameraman, squeezed through the crowd and captured the entire performance on video.
The scene had a fantastic vibe, brimming with the lively atmosphere of a bustling street.
The video captured it all: the gentle, handsome chef in the food truck; the server playing the saxophone; people pausing their meals to enjoy the performance; and the long line of waiting customers.
It was a heartwarming and pleasant sight.
Guo Li immediately urged, "Sun, are you getting this? Film everything!"
"Don’t worry, Li, I got it all!"
Sun Zhuangfei’s saxophone playing wasn’t overly showy; it was quite standard.
The atmosphere became incredibly lively.
When he finished, another round of applause erupted.
This kid really knows how to draw a crowd, Jiang Feng thought.
Later, some social media agencies even approached Sun Zhuangfei, wanting to sign him as an internet celebrity. These agencies were incredibly aggressive, always chasing the latest trends.
Sun Zhuangfei flatly refused, saying it was only because of Jiang Feng that he found his courage; he recognized only Jiang Feng as his boss.
Jiang Feng didn’t know about this, but he thought Sun Zhuangfei was quite decent. He promised him that once the Jiangyue Terrace Sichuan Restaurant opened, there would definitely be a position for him.
Alternatively, if Jiang Feng set up his own stall again and needed help, he would hire him.
Jiang Feng had even given him a raise: four hundred yuan for just two to three busy hours a day.
One had to compensate for the talent performance, after all, Jiang Feng mused.
The day’s excitement quickly drew to a close. As Jiang Feng started to drive the food truck away, Guo Li hurriedly chased after him.
Guo Li stood beside the food truck’s driver-side window and spoke quickly, "Boss Jiang, I’m Guo Li, a reporter with Chengdu Urban News."
"May I ask you a few quick questions?"
"It’ll be very brief and won’t take up much of your time."
Hearing Guo Li’s request, Jiang Feng stopped the food truck. "Sure."
"Boss Jiang, what inspired you to set up a stall selling steak?" Guo Li immediately inquired.
"It’s a hobby. The idea came to me, and I just did it," Jiang Feng replied calmly.
"Everyone loves your food. Do you have anything you’d like to say to them?"
"Thank you all for your support. I appreciate it."
"Was it your idea for your employee to play the violin? It’s very creative."
"I didn’t expect that either, but I think it’s great."
"Do you plan to continue setting up your stall in Chengdu?"
"That’s uncertain; it depends on the situation."
Jiang Feng answered with poise and propriety. His replies were concise and to the point.
Then, with a wave, he drove the food truck away.
The food truck slowly vanished down the food street, out of everyone’s sight.
Many customers who had eaten the steak still felt unsatisfied, as if their experience was too brief.
The steak was so delicious it left a lingering taste, making them crave more.
They planned to return the next day if they had time.
Jiang Feng had completed his tasks for the day.
The system’s reward, however, was beyond his expectations.
[Today’s tasks exceeded. Bonus reward: Instrument Specialization—Violin]
[Acquired the ability to play the violin.]
Huh? Jiang Feng thought.
Play the violin? What kind of reward is this?