In the Seventh Dining Hall kitchen, although the sales counter was already open, Jiang Yu, Lu Shuwu, and others were still busy, sitting in front of the workbench making soup dumplings and other types of buns.

In the large pot on the stove, white porridge was still simmering, bubbling thick and sticky, filling the entire kitchen with its aroma.

"Lao Jiang, the soup dumplings are almost sold out, and we're running low on meat and vegetable buns too. There are still quite a few steamed buns and flower rolls left since fewer people buy them."

Hu Zhihai dashed in from outside, sweat beading on his forehead, his cheeks flushed for reasons unknown, whether due to heat or excitement. He wiped his sweat with a white towel hanging around his neck and said anxiously,

"There are still a lot of people waiting outside!"

"Is that so? Then let's not make more steamed buns and flower rolls, and reduce their quantity in the future."

Jiang Yu lifted his head to glance at him and said with a smile,

"Zhihai, go ahead and take the steamed soup dumplings out, and come back to get the buns later.

By the way, if we're running low on marinated and cold dishes, there are still some in the cooler. Take them out and sell them; we don't serve them for lunch and dinner."

"Okay."

Hu Zhihai responded and called over a part-time student to help, and they got busy together.

"Boss Xiao Jiang, your soup dumplings are indeed excellent! The skin is paper-thin, not to mention I could achieve that with some effort, but the key is how this thin dough can hold so much broth..."

Ma Guoqiang, having made noodles for over twenty years, considered himself somewhat skilled in this area. Yet compared to Jiang Yu, he felt inadequate and couldn't help but express his admiration,

"Moreover, your soup dumpling broth is fresh and flavorful, the meat tender and juicy, far better than the stuffing in my meat buns."

"Boss Xiao Jiang with these skills shouldn't let us handle the stuffing."

He Chunxiao nodded in agreement, jokingly saying,

"Brother Ma, I think from now on, we should let Boss Xiao Jiang handle the stuffing, and the two of us focus on kneading the dough for the buns. They would surely taste much better."

"Hey, that's a great suggestion!"

Ma Guoqiang's eyes lit up. He wasn't trying to slack off; he was simply eager to taste how Jiang Yu's stuffing would turn out,

"What do you think, Boss Xiao Jiang?"

"Uncle Ma, Sister He, please spare me."

Jiang Yu saw that they were trying to pass the task of making the stuffing onto him, and he quickly raised his hands in surrender, laughing,

"The buns you make are also very popular among the students, otherwise, why would they sell so quickly?

Please don't push the stuffing task on me. I'm already making marinated dishes and soup dumplings; how could I handle it all?"

"Then we'll just help Boss Xiao Jiang a bit, haha!"

Ma Guoqiang and He Chunxiao were only joking. Although Jiang Yu was young, he was the boss of the dining hall. Can you imagine employees pushing their tasks onto the boss? Would they still want to keep their jobs?

...

From seven to nine, during the two-hour operating period, the Seventh Dining Hall served wave after wave of students. According to Hu Zhihai's estimation, at least seven to eight hundred students came here specifically for breakfast.

"Indeed, good wine needs no bush!"

After closing, Xiaoyan and other part-time students planned to collect the dishes and clean up but were stopped by Hu Zhihai, who told them to take a break and eat something to fill their stomachs first.

He himself returned to the kitchen, his face full of excited smiles,

"Lao Jiang's skills are truly remarkable. Even after moving to such a remote place, people still come following the aroma."

"What do you mean 'good wine needs no bush'? That's complete nonsense!"

Lu Shuwu was busy taking freshly steamed buns out of the steamer box, which were meant for the dining hall staff, so there weren't many.

He couldn't help but retort after hearing Hu Zhihai's words,

"If the boss hadn't made such a name at the Second Dining Hall before, who would travel all the way here in such hot weather to eat?"

"You..."

Hu Zhihai was taken aback, momentarily angered.

"Alright, alright! You two stop bickering like rivals every time you meet."

Jiang Yu quickly interrupted Hu Zhihai's words. These two were like roosters, unable to feel comfortable without pecking at each other a couple of times a day—truly astonishing.

He then turned to Ma Guoqiang and He Chunxiao, urging,

"Uncle Ma, Sister He, stop working for now; wash your hands and have breakfast, everyone must be starving."

"Sure, I only had two soup dumplings earlier, and I'm still savoring them. In a bit, I need to fill up!"

Ma Guoqiang stood up, brushed off the flour stuck to his hands, and laughed heartily.

A moment later, a group of people was gathered around the workbench, eating breakfast and chatting.

"This white porridge is good; light and easy on the stomach. Pairing it with heavy-flavored marinated dishes is perfect."

Hu Zhihai held a bowl of white porridge in one hand and a marinated duck foot in the other, eating while nodding, looking satisfied,

"Next time, if we add some vegetables and cook vegetable porridge, it will be more nutritious, having both greens and meat."

"Hmm, that's a great idea."

Jiang Yu nodded and said with a smile, "We can't make white porridge every day; it would be too monotonous. Occasionally, we should change it up."

"Boss Xiao Jiang, we Jiangzhou people find breakfast incomplete without cold noodles."

Ma Guoqiang put a soup dumpling with the filling finished into his mouth, chewed with satisfaction, wiped his mouth with a napkin, and said with a smile,

"I'm pretty good at making cold noodles too. If you ever want to change things up, you could try opening a window to sell some cold noodles."

"Sure, but since we're just opening, it's best not to change things too quickly."

Jiang Yu agreed with a smile and continued,

"We need to give the students some time to adapt to the current flavors. If we change every day, they won't know what to eat tomorrow and might not want to come back."

"That's indeed a good point."

Ma Guoqiang nodded and laughed, "I'm just suggesting it to you. If I can do more, I will. I can't just take money without working, right?"

As they were speaking, suddenly a scream rang in their ears:

"Oh my! Why is this lotus root slice so spicy?!"

Jiang Yu and the others were startled and turned their heads to see Lu Shuwu holding an oil-glossed, dark red lotus root slice, standing nearby with his mouth open, panting "sss ha."

On his forehead, bean-sized sweat droplets were visibly forming, streaming down his cheeks, and his lips were red and swollen, as if they were puffed up.

Seeing this, Jiang Yu and the others wanted to laugh but held back, their stomachs hurting from suppressing the laughter.

However, Hu Zhihai wasn't afraid. Seeing Lu Shuwu like this, he couldn't help but burst into laughter:

"Hahaha, Xiaolu, today it's your turn!"

"We Xiao Xiang people can handle spicy food, it's just that this lotus root slice is too spicy!"

Lu Shuwu was extremely embarrassed. Seeing everyone staring at him, wanting to laugh but not daring to, he couldn't help but defend himself.

Earlier, seeing Jiang Yu make the cold lotus root slices, he was already tempted. But after tasting a duck claw and a duck wing, he didn't get to try the lotus root.

Now, finally having the chance, after just two bites, he was overwhelmed by the spiciness, feeling like his mouth was on fire, burning painfully.

How could there be such spicy food? How is one supposed to eat this?

Though the lotus root was so spicy it made one want to die, it was also crunchy and tender, fragrant and flavorful. After one bite, it was irresistible...

Cry out loud, how can it be eaten when it's this spicy?!

Won't it mean going straight to the hospital after eating?

"Tsk! Stop showing off!"

Hu Zhihai glanced disdainfully at Lu Shuwu, pouting as he spoke,

"We Jiangzhou people rank second in eating spicy food, who dares to rank first?!"

"..."

Lu Shuwu initially wanted to struggle a bit, but being overwhelmed by this piece of lotus root... he really wasn't in a position to argue anymore.

"Xiaowu, stop eating the lotus root, take a break, and have some congee and a bun."

He Chunxiao saw Lu Shuwu's aggrieved look and found it amusing. She laughed and said,

"Don't be surprised, cold lotus root slices are a specialty snack from Jiangzhou, they're meant to be this spicy and are made especially for those who love spicy food. Most people can't handle them."

"Alright, it seems they're too much for me to enjoy."

Lu Shuwu found a way out, quickly taking the opportunity to back down. He said, a bit dejected,

"I thought I could handle spicy food, turns out it's all a façade."

"Eating spicy in moderation is enough, these lotus root slices are a treat to try occasionally, who can eat them daily?"

Jiang Yu glanced at him and laughed, "Next time I make them, I won't make them this spicy."

After breakfast, everyone took a short break and then got busy again.

Hu Zhihai assigned tasks to Yan Tongtong and Shen Deqing, the part-time students: those clearing dishes cleared dishes, those cleaning did the cleaning, and they quickly started moving.

Ma Guoqiang and He Chunxiao were both pastry chefs, initially agreeing to only handle breakfast, and now they could clock out.

But neither left; He Chunxiao spoke first,

"Boss Xiao Jiang, it's just you and Xiaowu handling lunch and dinner, you might be too busy. How about I stay and help you chop vegetables and assist, so you can manage more easily?"

"If Xiaohu is staying, then I'll stay too."

Ma Guoqiang smiled and added, "Boss Xiao Jiang, don't underestimate us. Even though Xiaohu and I specialize in pasta, our knife skills are just as good."

"I wouldn't dare underestimate you both."

Jiang Yu waved his hands repeatedly, smiling,

"With Uncle Ma and Sister He helping, I'll be much more at ease. Honestly, I was worried that only Brother Xiao Wu and I couldn't handle it."

The Seventh Dining Hall just opened, he hadn't expected so many students would come to eat, even breakfast drew seven to eight hundred people. Wouldn't there be even more for lunch and dinner?

So many people, how much food must be made to suffice? Maybe one dish needs several pots to fry!

Now, with just him and Lu Shuwu in the kitchen, they need to cut and prep ingredients, fry dishes, they'd be busy as bees!

Now, with Ma Guoqiang and He Chunxiao willing to stay and help chop and prep, naturally, he couldn't be happier and wouldn't refuse.

"Alright, enough said, it's late, let's get to work."

Ma Guoqiang and He Chunxiao were both quick to act. After speaking with Jiang Yu, they headed to the prep area.

During the gathering yesterday, they were both attracted by the dishes Jiang Yu made, thinking since then about finding a reason to join for meals later.

Now, the opportunity is here!

As for chopping and prepping, what's to complain about?

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