If it weren't for the grand opening of the Starry Sky Restaurant, they wouldn't have splurged like this.
"Let's go and see what's happening at the restaurant," someone suggested.
They arrived in the city center around four or five in the morning.
The entire restaurant was brilliantly lit, with everyone already present.
The waitstaff were undergoing training at the front, while the cleaning crew was tidying up.
All the tables and chairs had been polished to a shine.
In the kitchen, various preparations were underway.
Liu Chef and Chef Chen had just arrived when they caught sight of the menu.
Part of it consisted of traditional dishes.
These included classics like braised pork belly, twice-cooked pork, and braised eggplant.
There were also Starry Sky specialties, such as iron plate beef tendon, Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, and fruit platters.
The menu was a dazzling array of options.
Jiang Xun, upon seeing the two chefs, immediately stood up and said, "What brings you here?"
Unlike Liu Chef and Chef Chen, who were tense from a sleepless night,
Jiang Xun was still young.
He possessed the fearless energy of a newborn calf facing a tiger.
Upon learning he would be the head chef, he was beyond excited.
Finally, he could showcase his skills.
He hadn't slept much yesterday either,
But today he didn't feel tired at all.
Half of the staff had come from the Starry Sky Kindergarten to help in the kitchen.
They were washing, chopping, preparing everything to avoid last-minute chaos.
"How's it going?" Liu Chef inquired.
Jiang Xun replied, "Now that you're here, everything's even better!"
Liu Chef then accompanied him to the back kitchen. Many semi-prepared dishes were already being made in an orderly fashion.
A little while later, workers began bringing in baskets of vegetables.
These came from the Starry Sky Vegetable Garden.
Shen Wei had invested 2 million yuan to build this vegetable garden.
The vegetables were growing exceptionally well.
There was enough to supply the kindergarten, pop-up store, and the Starry Sky Kindergarten Second Branch with plenty left over.
Now, the excess was perfect for the restaurant.
Their vegetables had a more authentic taste compared to those bought elsewhere.
When Jiang Xun learned he would be head chef, his top priority was securing vegetables from the Starry Sky Vegetable Garden.
But even with that, he feared it might not be enough, so he also ordered some from the market to mix in.
At this point, Liu Chef no longer dared to suggest giving excess vegetables to students' parents. Now, they could use every bit of produce they had.
Soon, the pork arrived as well.
Jiang Xun's smile grew even wider.
He had tasted the pork from Starry Sky's own pigs before.
It was fatty but not greasy, lean but not dry. The braised pork made from it was so delicious it made you want to swallow your tongue.
Even the staff at Starry Sky Kindergarten, who were used to good food,
Were accustomed to Liu Chef and Chef Chen turning cafeteria food into gourmet cuisine.
Plus, Liu Chef and Chef Chen had various top-tier chef friends who would come to cook at Starry Sky.
They had spoiled the kindergarten staff into becoming little food connoisseurs.
If they certified something as delicious, it was guaranteed to be exceptional.
Importantly, with the freshly slaughtered pig came fresh pig's blood. So, steamed blood cake was added to the menu.
This dish was a true delicacy for those who loved it.
Pig's blood mixed with eggs, then various seasonings added.
When steamed, it came out tender and smooth, without a hint of gaminess.
But it required high-quality pork.
The pigs raised at Starry Sky were, of course, perfect for this.
Even Jiang Xun felt that, as the restaurant's head chef, he was truly spoiled.
All the best ingredients were being sent his way.
It was clear that high hopes were placed on the restaurant. The best vegetables and meat were all being shipped here, and even Liu Chef and Chen Chef, the pillars of the kitchen, had come today.
Jiang Xun suddenly felt more confident.
He was now full of faith in the Starry Sky Restaurant.
They had to make a name for themselves right from the start. The thought made his blood boil with excitement.
The kitchen began to simmer the Buddha Jumps Over the Wall. A rich aroma wafted through the air, the golden broth reminiscent of the dish he had prepared during the culinary competition. This time, the ingredients were even better, and it was simmered for longer.
Everything had to be prepared in advance; no one could wait several hours just for one dish.
Whoever was lucky enough to taste this dish would find it well worth the wait. It was filled with the finest abalone, sea cucumber, fish maw, and cured meat.
A while later, Shen Wei and Gu Qingyan arrived as well.
Outside, there were numerous flower baskets from well-wishers.
After all, Shen Wei was now a rising star in the business world.
Everyone in the business circle wanted to be on good terms with her.
Even though Shen Wei hadn't notified anyone, these people had been paying attention and specially rushed to send flower baskets, showing great thoughtfulness.
It wasn't just one or two people who did this; there were so many flower baskets that they could barely fit outside.
Then came the massive crane, gripping thousands of firecrackers.
The Starry Sky Kindergarten had set the opening time for 8:18 AM.
They had been bustling about, and before they knew it, the time had arrived.
Jiang Xun and his team had been working since three or four in the morning.
It hardly felt like any time had passed.
Suddenly, they heard the thunderous sound of firecrackers outside.
The firecrackers continued for over ten minutes.
As the last cracker faded,
Only the shells remained.
The cleaning staff had been waiting, ready.
As soon as it ended, they immediately began sweeping up.
Shen Wei distributed pre-prepared red envelopes to each of the cleaners. She had prepared generous red packets, each containing 200 yuan. The cleaners were overjoyed. In the past, when doing such cleanup work, other restaurants would give red packets with just 10 or 20 yuan.
Shen Wei's red packets were equivalent to a day's wages for them.
This was a restaurant, after all.
No one came early in the morning.
The kitchen resumed its usual busy routine.
The meat had already been portioned in the kitchen.
The pork from the large pig was indeed very fatty.
They began rendering lard from the pork back fat and fatty cuts.
The yield was exceptionally high.
Soon, there was a large pot full.
The crispy bits left over weren't wasted either. They were used to make lard crackling buns.
The aroma was incredible, even more enticing than meat-filled buns.
By noon, the first batch of customers arrived, all loyal fans of Starry Sky. During the lunch hour, people started trickling in steadily.
For a new restaurant's first day, the occupancy rate reached an astonishing 80%.
Many had even crossed districts to come here.
As soon as they sat down, many people started ordering.
The kitchen began cooking immediately. Thanks to the advance prep work, the cooking process was very quick.
Besides the fixed menu items, there were also daily specials.
Today's specials were lard crackling buns, scallion oil noodles, and steamed blood cake.
All the customers were die-hard fans of Starry Sky Kindergarten.
Naturally, they wanted to try all the new dishes.
The daily specials were a must-order.
After ordering, all that remained was eager anticipation.