When Sun Yongxing heard that Feng Haidong was going to teach him how to cook crayfish, he was stunned for a moment.
Zhao Hongxia, on the other hand, had some expectations.
After all, many customers at the night market have expressed a desire to order crayfish recently.
Other food stall owners at the night market have tried doing the same thing.
However, based on customer feedback, they all felt that it didn't taste the same as Feng Haidong's version, so several food stalls tried making it, but none of them sold many.
Seeing other food stall owners fail in their attempts, Sun Yongxing and Zhao Hongxia dared not try it themselves.
Zhao Hongxia told her husband more than once at home that he should learn from Feng Haidong.
However, although Sun Yongxing really wanted to, he couldn't bring himself to do it.
The main reason was that Sun Yongxing felt that crayfish was the specialty of Feng Haidong's restaurant and also his business skill. He felt that it was very dishonest for him to ask Feng Haidong for his skills.
Sure enough, just as Zhao Hongxia was feeling excited and expectant.
Sun Yongxing snapped out of his daze and refused outright.
"Haidong, your recipe for cooking crayfish is your secret. If you pass it on to me like this, and I start selling it at the night market, won't that take away your customers?"
Feng Haidong said with a smile, "It's alright, Brother Sun. When I was setting up my stall at the night market, I was really grateful for your help. If you hadn't arranged for me to put my cart next to you, it would have taken me quite a while to get started."
Sun Yongxing said, "I didn't actually help you. The night market isn't my home. Anyone can set up a stall anywhere with available space. Haidong, you really don't need to thank me for that."
Feng Haidong asked, "So Brother Sun wants to refuse? He doesn't want to learn my craft?"
Upon hearing Feng Haidong ask the question, Zhao Hongxia couldn't help but say, "No, Haidong, we're learning. Actually, after you left, customers at the night market would often come specifically to find you."
When his wife interrupted him, Sun Yongxing said with a stern face, "What did you say? I said I won't learn it."
Seeing her husband's resolute attitude, Zhao Hongxia dared not continue speaking.
Feng Haidong smiled and said, "Alright, Brother Sun, didn't we agree before? I will definitely teach you. Besides, I didn't say I would teach you all my crayfish recipes. I will only teach you how to make spicy crayfish. You can set up your stall at the night market in the future."
Sun Yongxing was still somewhat hesitant. He still felt that if he also started selling crayfish, he would be taking away Feng Haidong's business.
Feng Haidong also noticed Sun Yongxing's worries. He smiled and said, "Brother Sun, now that crayfish are in season, our city is so big. How many people do you think will learn to cook crayfish like me? Even if I cook them better than everyone else, the city is so big, it's impossible for everyone to come to my house just to eat them, right?"
After hearing Feng Haidong's words, Sun Yongxing realized that Feng Haidong was not the only one making crayfish these days.
Feng Haidong continued, "So, instead of letting others with inauthentic flavors steal our business, I'd rather teach you, Brother Sun, so you can make it too and let more people accept our family's flavors."
Hearing Feng Haidong say this, Sun Yongxing thought about it and agreed that it made sense.
Seeing that Sun Yongxing no longer refused, Feng Haidong roughly told Sun Yongxing the ingredients needed.
Sun Yongxing, being a chef, knew exactly what to do after hearing Feng Haidong's description of the ingredients.
Feng Haidong earnestly said to Sun Yongxing at the end, "Brother Sun, do you see other restaurants' crayfish? Don't their customers always say that they don't taste the same as ours?"
Sun Yongxing nodded: "Yes, several food stalls over there tried to imitate your cooking, but the customers all said it didn't taste good."
Feng Haidong said with a smile, "Actually, the key is that although crayfish should be stir-fried, our family's crayfish are actually boiled."
Sun Yongxing was somewhat surprised: "Cooked?"
Feng Haidong nodded: "Yes, first stir-fry all the ingredients, then pour the crayfish into the pot and stir-fry them together. Finally, make sure to add enough beer to completely submerge the crayfish. After that, season it and then cook the crayfish in the pot."
After listening to Feng Haidong's words, Sun Yongxing thought for a moment and seemed to understand immediately.
"I see. The reason why other restaurants don't taste good is because they don't add a lot of broth when cooking. They just stir-fry it, so the flavor only stays on the surface and the crayfish can't be fully infused with the flavor."
And even if someone were to cook it, they'd probably just add water, not cook it entirely with beer like you did.
Feng Haidong nodded and said, "That's right, that's exactly it. Brother Sun, you can go back and try it yourself."
Sun Yongxing agreed, saying, "Okay, I'll go home and try it."
At this moment, Zhao Hongxia suddenly asked, "Haidong, I heard that most of the people who come here to eat crayfish now really like the golden broth garlic flavor."
Feng Haidong nodded and said, "Yes, many people like to eat garlic flavor now."
Sun Yongxing immediately said to his wife, "What nonsense are you asking?"
Feng Haidong chuckled and said, "It's alright, Brother Sun. Actually, you should be able to make Golden Garlic Broth well too, and you should be able to figure out the seasoning. It's just that my family's Golden Garlic Broth has a little trick. If I don't tell you, your version won't taste the same as mine."
Zhao Hongxia was somewhat surprised: "Haidong, you really have quite a few secret recipes!"
Feng Haidong said, "Haha, actually they are just some little tricks. If I told you, most people could probably do them, but I really can't tell you."
Sun Yongxing said, "It's right not to tell. Every chef should keep a secret skill."
Feng Haidong said, "This is my first step in starting a business, so I definitely can't talk about it for now. I will probably announce it in the future, and then everyone will be able to do it."
Zhao Hongxia asked curiously, "Haidong, if you reveal the secret recipe, everyone can make it, how will you make money?"
Feng Haidong said with a smile, "If everyone can do it, then the demand for crayfish will increase, right? At that time, I can control the supply of crayfish and deliver them to you specially."
Sun Yongxing and Zhao Hongxia were truly stunned; they never expected Feng Haidong to have such a trick up his sleeve.
However, when Sun Yongxing and Zhao Hongxia went to the market to buy vegetables and talked with some food stall owners, they also heard that the best fresh crayfish in the city are almost all delivered to Feng Haidong's store.
Thinking about it this way, Sun Yongxing and Zhao Hongxia couldn't help but feel that Feng Haidong's offer to supply the goods might not have been a joke after all.
In fact, Feng Haidong had already begun planning. Once his brother-in-law successfully learned how to raise shrimp and promoted crayfish farming in the village, he could then proceed with his next plan.
A crayfish restaurant that became famous throughout the city was just the beginning of Feng Haidong's business plan.
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