Chapter 424: Let You Open a Gourmet Shop, You Open for Business at 3 AM

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Protagonist:

Lu Feng

Her voice wasn't low; as soon as she spoke, not only did Lu Feng stop in his tracks, but even those queuing at that moment and the diners in the hall who had already finished eating all turned their gazes straight toward Xi Xi.

However, this brief attention lasted only a few seconds; most of the diners still eating lowered their heads to continue wolfing down their food, eating what they should eat and drinking what they should drink.

After all, at Lu Family Restaurant, it was not uncommon for first-time customers to question the prices.

Those customers who had questioned prices before, after finishing their meal, never again said things about the prices being a rip-off, but silently joined the ranks of the restaurant's regulars.

Therefore, Xi Xi's questioning was already taken for granted in the diners' eyes.

Compared to watching the excitement, the diners felt that wolfing down their food could better attract their attention.

Zhu Chang, who sat at the same table as Xiao Feilong and the others, was already experienced with this kind of situation.

Just now, taking advantage of the moment everyone was briefly stunned, he was the first to react, and then, with the swiftness of thunder too fast to cover one's ears, quickly snatched a piece of Red Braised Pork from the plate in front of Xiao Feilong, stuffed it into his mouth, and ate it as if nothing had happened.

"The price is too high? I don't think so."

Lu Feng turned around and walked back, answering with a serious expression.

The reason he answered Xi Xi's question was that this time's System Task just happened to be to collect 100 diners' sincere evaluations that the dishes in his shop were cheap.

Now he could just take advantage of this opportunity; maybe he could get many diners to evaluate it that way.

Xi Xi looked at Lu Feng's self-righteous appearance and couldn't help but be stunned for a moment, but then she continued: "Boss Lu, I just finished eating the steamed buns you made; to be honest, your culinary skill really surprised me. I admit this is the most delicious steamed bun I've ever eaten."

"However, Boss Lu, steamed buns are sold everywhere outside; the steamed buns sold outside are much cheaper than yours here. The more expensive ones are no more than twenty or thirty yuan per portion, and the cheaper ones are even just a few yuan per portion. Your steamed buns are sold directly at fifty. Leaving aside the taste, just looking at this price, don't you think a price of fifty yuan per portion is a bit outrageous?"

Lu Feng's face remained calm, and he showed not the slightest displeasure at being questioned; instead, he smiled gently and then asked back: "You just said, leaving aside the taste, but I want to ask you, isn't the essence of food taste? If judging the value of gourmet food, leaving aside taste, isn't that just being unreasonable?"

"Also, the reason I sell mine more expensive than others is because what I make tastes better than what others make. The steamed buns sold outside are cheap, but their taste compared to mine is far worse. I dare to sell at fifty per steamer basket, not because I'm asking an exorbitant price. The reason I sell at this price is to be worthy of the ingredients I use, to be worthy of my culinary skill."

Hearing Lu Feng say this, Xi Xi was momentarily at a loss for words.

Her chin, which had been slightly raised, lowered a bit, and she bowed her head in thought for two seconds.

Thinking about it carefully, what Lu Feng said did seem correct.

Just now she had also tasted the flavor of the steamed buns Lu Feng made; that taste was completely not on the same level as what she had eaten at street-side breakfast shops or even old-brand shops before.

Compared with the steamed buns Lu Feng made, those so-called steamed buns in other shops were simply not worth mentioning.

"Right, I just admitted too that what you make tastes better than what others make."

Xi Xi raised her head; her eyes still carried a bit of stubbornness, but her tone softened: "But why can't what you sell be a bit cheaper? At least a price similar to those outside shops would do. That way, wouldn't more people be able to eat what you make? Isn't that better?"

"Because the ingredients I use, and my culinary skill, are different from those outside. The ingredients they use are not as good as mine, and their culinary skill can't compare to mine. Why should I sell at the same price as them?"

Lu Feng gave no extra explanation; he just pointed out the core in one sentence.

However, Xi Xi felt his argument wasn't very convincing, and continued to question him: "I'm not a Foodie/Gourmet; I can't tell what rare breed of ingredients you use. Since your culinary skill is so good, using ordinary ingredients should also be able to make very delicious things, right? That way, wouldn't your costs be reduced? Why don't you do that? Let more people eat what you make at ordinary prices. That way, wouldn't there be fewer people saying the dishes here are expensive?"

Her voice had just fallen when, before Lu Feng could speak this time, a light laugh suddenly came from the diners queuing in the hall.

An Liang raised his chin toward Xi Xi: "Little sister, what is your profession?"

Xi Xi turned around and saw that the speaker was a strange middle-aged man who looked refined, but now suddenly started talking to her.

"Why are you asking this?"

She looked at An Liang with a face full of vigilance, her voice carrying guard against him.

"Little sister, don't misunderstand."

An Liang waved his hand, indicating he had no malice, and said in a very gentle tone: "I am a Food Critic, and can be considered a regular at Boss Lu's place. The question you just asked, I just happen to be able to explain a couple of sentences for Boss Lu. There's no other meaning."

As he spoke, he looked at Lu Feng and asked: "Boss Lu, can I explain for you?"

"Of course."

Lu Feng smiled and nodded, saying.

Having someone speak up for him, he was naturally very happy to do so.

Xi Xi rolled her eyes, her gaze sweeping back and forth between An Liang and Lu Feng several times.

"I do self-media."

The vigilance in her heart relaxed a little, but she still didn't reveal her true identity, just vaguely said a sentence.

After all, an identity like exposing fake streamers would easily make people think she was here to cause trouble.

More than 100,000 viewers in the Live Stream Room were watching; if she were kicked out by the boss, it would still be a bit embarrassing.

It would be better to use the broader term self-media; that would also seem more low-key.

An Liang nodded slightly, an expression of it being only natural on his face, his tone carrying a bit of certainty: "No wonder, so you don't understand art, nor do you understand artists."

"No, Uncle, what does this have to do with art? I just feel that Boss Lu can make very delicious things with cheap ingredients, and let more people eat them. What's wrong with that?"

After he said this, Xi Xi felt a bit dazed. She frowned, her face full of confusion.

"Little sister, don't rush first."

An Liang smiled and continued: "Let me ask you, do you think a master of traditional Chinese painting would use A4 Paper or inferior pigments to paint a landscape painting intended to be passed down through the ages?"

After he finished speaking, he paused for a moment. Seeing Xi Xi subconsciously shake her head, he continued to ask: "Then let me ask you again, have you ever seen a pianist, at a solo concert in a concert hall, playing world-famous pieces on an electronic keyboard?"