I've been possessed by a culinary genius, and I've turned Shaxian snacks into a rip-off!

The next few days passed uneventfully yet fulfillingly.

As the long holiday entered its second half, there were still many tourists, but significantly fewer than in the previous days, as most of them were heading home.

Li Zhibai did the math.

On the first day of the long holiday, the turnover was 17 yuan.

The next day, 25 million.

On the third day, 29.

On the fourth day, 24.

On the fifth day, the number reached 23 million.

The total for the five days is 118 million.

After deducting the cost of ingredients, labor, rent, utilities, and various other miscellaneous expenses, the net profit is around 65 yuan, which is quite considerable.

Li Zhibai was very satisfied with the estimated profits. At this rate, the 6000 million debt didn't seem so far away.

He picked up his phone, opened the calculator, and did a quick calculation.

If we assume a month has 30 days and exclude slow periods, the average monthly profit is about 2 million. 60 million divided by 2 million would take... 30 months, or two and a half years.

It seems alright, acceptable.

Besides sales revenue, there was another thing that Li Zhibai cared about: the drop rate of fragments from the Heart of Gourmet Food.

During the long holiday, through continuous observation and recording, he discovered about 20 fragments. Among them, Yu Shen discovered 7 fragments, Pang Yi 5 fragments, Lu Qianshan 4 fragments, Cha Xiaochai 2 fragments, Su Su 6 fragments... Other regular customers also contributed a few fragments here and there.

Added together, it's just over 20.

This number is not bad. Li Zhibai also found a very crucial pattern: all the fragments were from old customers, and new customers didn't get a single one.

This means that, apart from diners with special missions, there are thresholds for ordinary people to obtain fragments. It's not that just anyone can get a fragment by eating the food made by the restaurant. They must be regular customers and have a sufficient emotional connection with the food in the restaurant to have a chance to trigger the fragment.

This is indeed a very important discovery.

If we organize any future events, perhaps we can design them from the perspective of repeat customers. How can we make repeat customers more engaged and emotionally resonant, and incidentally, take advantage of them a bit more? That would be even more perfect.

The sixth day of the long holiday.

The weather was still unbelievably good, with bright sunshine covering the entire Jiangnan South Road.

There were significantly fewer tourists from other places on Financial Street than in the previous days, but the shops were still doing good business and were still very lively during mealtimes.

Ke Yi and Ding Ling have fully adapted to the work rhythm of waiters.

Especially that girl, Ke Yi, who actually figured out her own method of "tailoring her approach to the person".

Although she doesn't have Li Zhibai's ability to instantly discern someone's wealth and status, she has developed her own criteria for judgment based on her observations over the past few days.

If you encounter someone who clearly has plenty of money and is particularly good at showing off, just recommend the luxury version, especially the braised pork belly.

Of course, there was a reason why she was working so hard: Li Zhibai had promised them that he would cook them a sumptuous farewell meal the next day, and they could order whatever they wanted to eat.

In preparation for tomorrow's farewell dinner, this girl has already deleted the word "skinny" from her dictionary.

Aside from the two girls, the boy named A-Che still showed up on time every day, rain or shine.

The timing is also very fixed, usually around 11 a.m., which is when the store is busiest.

After entering the room, he didn't say a word, put on his apron and started working. After finishing his work, he left without eating.

Li Zhibai was increasingly confused. He had only helped the other party that night as a favor, nothing serious.

But this kid turned out to be something else entirely, treating his shop like a temple and coming here every day to sweep the floor like a monk.

"System, what do you think this kid is up to?"

[Host, wouldn't it be good to have free labor?]

"It's good, but I just can't understand it."

[The host might as well ask him directly.]

"I asked him, but he won't tell me."

Li Zhibai shook his head, keeping a watchful eye on him, believing that he would eventually reveal his true purpose.

...........

[Jiangcheng Luxury Gourmet Private Group]

In the last two days of the long holiday, the group members started to get ready, and the long-planned battle to fleece Li Heizi was about to begin.

Don't fill the teacup so full: [Brothers, I have an announcement to make!]

Don't fill the teacup so full: [I'm done for!]

A fish from the deep sea: [What did you memorize?]

Don't fill the teacup so full: [Of course, it's the entire text of "Preface to the Pavilion of Prince Teng." I spent five days studying it, sleeping only four hours a day, and finally memorized it. I'm Wang Bo reincarnated now!]

A fish from the deep sea: [Really? Old Tea, recite it for me.]

Don't fill the teacup so full: [Yuzhang, the old prefecture; Hongdu, the new capital... How about it, are you convinced?]

A fish in the deep sea: [Holy crap! You actually memorized it, but it sounds like you read it from a phone.]

Don't fill the teacup so full: [Get lost! Who do you think you are!]

Don't fill the teacup so full: [Tomorrow I'm going to challenge Li Heizi. You guys wait for my good news. This time I'll definitely fleece him!]

I'm Not Fat: [Awesome! Count me in! I've already memorized "Ode to the Goddess of the Luo River," just waiting for tomorrow.]

Please call me Prince (Yun): [My wife and I also memorized them; she memorized "Ode to the Goddess of the Luo River," and I memorized "Preface to the Pavilion of Prince Teng." We did it together.]

Don't fill the teacup so full: [Oh my god! You all secretly rolled it up, didn't you?]

Don't fill the teacup so full: [Where's Lao Lu? Lao Lu, what are you carrying? @Mountains and Seas Can Also Be Flattened]

Mountains and seas can be flattened: [I don't need to carry them.]

Don't fill the teacup so full: [Why?]

Even mountains and seas can be flattened: [I've already memorized the origins of all the ingredients for the dishes at Li Heizi's restaurant, so this is easier.]

Even mountains and seas can be flattened: [Furthermore, after observing for several days and compiling statistics, the probability of drawing questions related to food traceability is actually the highest.]

Everyone: [? ? ? ? ]

Don't fill the tea cup so full: [Old Lu, you're the most sneaky one! Why didn't you say so sooner! So all those five nights of staying up late were for nothing?]

A fish in the deep sea: [Don't you guys know Lao Lu? When has he ever revealed his hand beforehand?]

Don't fill the teacup so full: [I want to block him now.]

Don't fill the teacup so full: [But speaking of which, I almost forgot there's still one big shot in our group who hasn't stepped up yet. @Qingyuan is not a kite. Sister Qingyuan, wanna join the challenge tomorrow?]

Qingyuan is not a kite: [I'm not going!]

I'm Not Fat: [Sister Qingyuan, you're amazing! You're the only one in our group who could resist Li Heizi's temptations. I admire your willpower!]

A fish in the deep sea: [Truly admirable! Sister Qingyuan's willpower is simply superhuman. We've all been completely controlled by Li Heizi, but Sister Qingyuan remains unmoved.]

I'm not fat: [+1, I feel terrible if I don't eat Li Heizi's cooking for a day, how does Sister Qingyuan manage to resist?]

Qingyuan is not a kite: [What's there to hold back? I'm just not as greedy as you guys.]

Don't fill the teacup so full: [Qingyuan's willpower is truly awe-inspiring! From today onwards, you are the only goddess of perseverance in my heart!]

Qingyuan is not a kite: [Alright, alright, you guys hurry up and prepare for tomorrow's challenge. It would be embarrassing if you all failed.]

[Hahaha, Qingyuan is right, I'm going to sleep now, see you tomorrow!]

【See you tomorrow!】

[Don't let Li Heizi run away tomorrow!]

[Go bankrupt him tomorrow!]

【……】

Su Su saw the chat history in the group and squatted in the kitchen, secretly laughing for a long time.

After a while, she opened her private chat and sent a message to Lin Qingyuan.

[Sister Qingyuan, Master will be cooking at my shop the day after tomorrow at noon.]

Lin Qingyuan quickly replied with a message.

Reserve a private room for me, but please don't let those people in the group know.

【Received! I'm very tight-lipped, I promise to keep it a secret.】

My little Susu is the best girl. I'll give you a special gift for your birthday.

Thank you, Sister Qingyuan!

Su Su looked at their chat history and couldn't help but giggle again.

Actually, apart from her, no one in the group knew that Lin Qingyuan had already fallen for him.

It wasn't in Shaxian County, but at her millet-flavored restaurant.

Every time her master came to her shop to cook, Lin Qingyuan would appear on time and book a private room in advance, then sneak away after eating.

In this way, the two developed a tacit understanding.

Su Su was in charge of tipping off others, while Lin Qingyuan was in charge of secretly cooking.

One is in the light, the other in the dark.

The people in the group would never have guessed that the "King of Perseverance" they admired, the only one in the group who had never been to Shaxian, actually ate just as much as most of them.

............

P.S.: We're collecting recipes specifically for Su Su; Yu Shen's recipe is already ready.