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

"Why does even a small restaurant like Shaxian have to bully me?! What did I do wrong?!"

"Waaah..."

Wen Ran finally couldn't hold back and burst into tears.

Her crying completely stumped Li Zhibai.

No, if you think it's too expensive, just don't eat it. Why are you crying?

[A customer's emotional breakdown has been detected. Host is advised to soothe and comfort them.]

"I know I should comfort her, but I fucking don't know how!"

Li Zhibai has always been most afraid of girls crying. He would be at a loss whenever he saw a girl crying.

Also, the book "The Heartless Boss" didn't teach him how to stop a girl from crying!

This book is garbage! Terrible review!!!

"Um... beautiful lady, don't cry. If you think it's too expensive, you can check out other stores," Li Zhibai said, forcing a smile.

"I can't even afford Shaxian snacks anymore, where else am I supposed to eat?!" Wen Ran cried even louder.

Li Zhibai: "..."

It seems that's true; there's no cheap shop on this street.

Across the street is a Michelin three-star restaurant, and further away are French restaurants, Cantonese restaurants, etc., all of which cost several hundred yuan per person.

At that moment, the sanitation workers who were eating saw the little girl crying and couldn't help but whisper among themselves.

The forthright woman from Northeast China put down her chopsticks, grabbed a tissue from the table, stood up, walked over to Wen Ran, and handed her the tissue.

"Daughter, don't cry, wipe your tears."

Wen Ran took the tissue and said, her voice choked with emotion, "Thank you!"

"Girl, how old are you this year?"

"Twenty-two."

"Oh my, that's about the same age as my daughter."

"My daughter also just graduated this year and is working in another city. She works overtime every day, and she often cries when we video chat, saying she's under a lot of pressure and wants to go home..."

"Let me tell you, life is always bitter at first but sweet later..."

The woman from Northeast China comforted the complete stranger by sharing her own life experiences, while pointing to the half-eaten bowl of noodles on the table and saying:

"Girl, don't let the price fool you, the young owner's cooking is truly excellent! We old folks don't earn much a month, but we still come here to eat, don't we?"

"Want to know why? Because it's worth it! After eating the noodles made by the boss, even after a long day of work, I feel... what they say online... yeah, I'm full of energy again!"

The other sanitation workers nodded in agreement.

"Young lady, you'll know once you try it. This noodle is different from the ordinary Shaxian noodles outside. It's really delicious. Why would we old guys lie to you?"

"That's right, that's right. I've lived most of my life, and this is the first time I've ever eaten such delicious noodles."

"Eat a bowl of this, and I guarantee you'll feel much better."

"......"

Seeing that these sanitation workers, whom she didn't know at all, had said such things, Wen Ran's heart gradually wavered.

They wouldn't lie to her, would they?

"Girl, how about this, Auntie will treat you to this meal today," the woman from Northeast China said again.

Upon hearing this, Wen Ran quickly shook her head and refused, saying, "No, no, how can I let you treat me? You don't earn money easily."

"What's so difficult about it? Auntie's happy today! Besides, it's just a bowl of noodles, it won't bankrupt me."

Although Wen Ran was touched, she still refused again.

"Auntie, really, you don't need to. I can pay for it myself. Thank you!"

Then she turned to Li Zhibai and said, "Boss, give me a bowl of wontons."

"If it doesn't taste good, I'll report you!"

Li Zhibai: "..."

Good grief, another one wants to report her.

His little shop has only been open for a few days, and he's already received two reports and threats.

Li Zhibai sighed and handed over the QR code: "Wontons are 158, just give me 150."

Wen Ran scanned the code and saw the payment success message, feeling a slight pang of regret.

150 yuan is enough for her to buy groceries and cook for herself for a week.

However, considering that these uncles and aunts had recommended it so highly, she still used her meager savings to order a bowl of wontons, wanting to see if it was really that magical.

Back in the kitchen, Li Zhibai started making wontons.

Even with the standard version of the improved flat meat wontons, the ingredients still surpass those of over 90% of high-end restaurants on the market.

The outer skin is made with premium snowflake flour, which is repeatedly kneaded and slapped with ice water... The resulting skin is as thin as a cicada's wing, so thin that it can be seen through when held up to the light. It has a very delicate texture, like silk, and is also very resilient, so it doesn't easily break when cooked.

The filling is made from pork hind leg meat, with three parts fat and seven parts lean, hand-chopped into a fine paste until it becomes sticky and elastic. A little homemade seafood sauce is then mixed in to enhance the flavor, and finally a little ginger and scallion water and sesame oil are added for seasoning.

Once the filling was ready, he picked up a wonton wrapper, used a small bamboo stick to scoop up a small ball of filling and placed it in the center of the wrapper. With a gentle pinch and fold of his fingers, a wonton was formed.

In less than a minute, more than a dozen wontons that were almost identical in size and shape were wrapped.

Next, he put a pot of water on it and added some of the clear chicken broth he had prepared in advance. Once the broth was boiling, he put the wontons into the pot. The wontons floated to the surface after a few rolls in the boiling broth, and the wrappers became more transparent, revealing the pink meat filling inside.

Wontons should not be cooked for too long. Once they float to the surface, they should be scooped out immediately after only a few seconds, otherwise the dough will lose its elasticity.

Scoop out the wontons and place them in a preheated white porcelain bowl. Pour the broth over them, and finally sprinkle with chopped green onions and a few goji berries for garnish. A bowl of delicious and visually appealing flat meat wontons is now ready!

"Beautiful lady, your wontons are ready, enjoy!" Li Zhibai placed the tray on the table in front of her.

"Thanks!"

After thanking her, Wen Ran looked at the wontons in front of her and was immediately amazed by their beauty.

The dozen or so wontons were all exactly the same shape and size, like they were one-to-one replicas. They were also crystal clear, and you could see the tender pink meat filling inside. Just by looking at them, you knew they would taste amazing.

Wen Ran picked up a spoon, scooped up a wonton, blew on it, and then gently took the first bite.

The next second, she instinctively closed her eyes.

Thin crust! Tender filling! Savory and delicious!

One bite, and the rich meat juices, with a hint of seafood sweetness, burst in your mouth. It's not oily or greasy, but incredibly fresh and delicious.

Paired with a delicious broth, a bite of wonton followed by a sip of soup is pure bliss.

"Waaah...why does it taste so good?!"

In that instant, she felt as if all the grievances and exhaustion she had suffered that day were being melted away little by little by the bowl of wontons in front of her.

A dozen minutes later.

Wen Ran finished the bowl of wontons completely, even drinking the soup.

After finishing the meal, she felt as if she had come back to life, and her whole being was full of energy again.

"Girl, is it delicious?" the woman from Northeast China asked with a smile.

Wen Ran nodded vigorously: "Delicious! Really delicious! This is the best wonton I've ever had."

"That settles it. In this life, eat and drink as you please, don't take things to heart, and don't wrong yourself."

"Things will only get better from now on."

"Yes, Auntie, thank you!"

Wen Ran turned around and apologized to Li Zhibai again: "Boss, I was just saying I was going to report you in anger. Your wontons are really delicious, thank you!"

Li Zhibai waved his hand: "It's nothing, no need to be so polite."

"Boss, I'll be going now. I'll come back to eat after I get paid."

"Okay, take care."

Wen Ran walked to the door and then looked back at the Shaxian snack shop.

The shop is almost no different from a regular Shaxian snack shop. The owner is handsome, but he gives off a slightly frivolous vibe. However, his skills are truly exceptional, and the prices are indeed high.

However, she was very fortunate to have eaten the best wontons in the world during her most devastating time.

Just as she was standing at the door taking out her phone to call a ride-hailing service, her WeChat notification suddenly went off.

It was a video call from her mother.

After the call connected, my mother's face and concerned voice appeared on the screen.

"Ranran, why are you still out so late? Did you just get off work?"

Wen Ran turned the camera to the Shaxian Snacks restaurant behind her, which was still lit up.

"No, I've already finished get off work. I was just hungry, so I came to Shaxian for a late-night snack."

"What did you eat?"

"I ate wontons."

"How much are the wontons over there?"

"15 yuan, it's delicious!"

"Mom, don't worry, my salary is enough to live on."

"..."