Chapter 317: The Most Delicious Isn't Always the Best
Qi Han thought for a long time, but no solution to the issue came to mind. Noticing his staff still watching him expectantly, he gave them a warm smile and said, "It's getting late. You should all head home and rest."
"As for the Squirrel-Shaped Mandarin Fish thing, don't dwell on it. As long as we're still ranked first, that's good enough."
The staff exchanged glances, then nodded one after another. That did make sense.
Soon, everyone gathered their things and left for home.
By now, the sky had already dimmed. Any later, and it wouldn't be safe for the girls to walk alone.
Watching his team disappear into the twilight, Qi Han closed the restaurant doors, picked up Pururu, and headed upstairs to his room.
There were still five days left in the first round of recommendation voting. The issue of the low vote count for 3 Star dishes wasn't urgent. He'd think it over a bit more.
Lying in bed, eyes closed, Qi Han soon drifted off to sleep.
. . . . . .
The next morning, like clockwork, Qi Han was awakened early by Ru Yi. After getting ready, he once again walked down to the same breakfast stall at the far end of the food street, run by that middle-aged man.
This place offered an impressive variety of breakfast options. Qi Han had only tried a few yesterday, and there were still a dozen others he hadn't even heard of, much less tasted.
Curious and adventurous as ever, Qi Han didn't hesitate to return.
Seeing him arrive, the middle-aged boss smiled broadly.
"Boss Qi, what'll it be today?"
It seemed he had come even earlier than yesterday—there were no customers at the stall yet.
Qi Han glanced over the price board, then ordered, "I'll take one Crab Cake, one Crispy Skin Ball, and one Sweet Fragrant Taro. Oh, and another bowl of white porridge."
Yesterday's white porridge had left a deep impression on him, and he wanted to enjoy it again.
As for the other three dishes, they were ones he hadn't tried yet but had caught his attention—unfamiliar, intriguing, and distinctly Douluo in origin.
Just like the Qingyu Cake from the day before, these breakfast items were all unique specialties from different regions of the Douluo Continent.
"Coming right up, Boss Qi," the stall owner chuckled, then got to work.
Most of the items had already been prepared earlier in the morning. The pastries were kept warm in steamers to preserve moisture and heat, while the porridge simmered gently in a large covered pot.
While the vendor prepared his breakfast, Qi Han took the opportunity to study the menu board in more detail.
He hadn't paid it much attention before, but now that yesterday's dilemma was weighing on his mind, a new thought struck him:
Could this stall owner… give me some inspiration?
Looking more closely, Qi Han noticed something unusual. The price list didn't follow a predictable order. Some inexpensive dishes were listed right next to much pricier ones—the flow of the board was deliberately jumbled.
"Boss Qi?"
The vendor's voice pulled Qi Han from his thoughts—the food was ready.
Qi Han took the tray with one hand and the bowl of white porridge with the other, but didn't leave right away. Instead, he turned to the vendor with a curious look.
"May I ask… how did you decide the order of the items on your price board?"
Would you like this scene to continue into a discussion of the vendor's reasoning?
"The order of the items on the menu?"
The middle-aged man scratched his head and glanced at the board. "You mean the order from top to bottom?"
"Yes," Qi Han nodded.
"Oh, that..." The vendor chuckled. "I arrange them based on how well they sell. The more popular a dish is, the higher up I place it."
"But... aren't there dishes that are incredibly delicious but just don't sell well because of the price?" Qi Han couldn't help asking.
"Of course."
The man pointed toward the very end of the board. "Like that one—Dragon Roll. It's easily one of the tastiest items I serve. But since it uses meat from dragon-type spirit beasts, the cost is high. I have to price it at five gold coins."
"That's not a big deal if it's lunch or dinner," he added with a wry smile, "but for breakfast, it's way too expensive. So not many customers order it. That's why it's at the bottom."
"But…" Qi Han's brows drew together. "Isn't Dragon Roll your best dish? Shouldn't the best go at the top?"
The vendor fell silent for a moment.
Then, with a faint smile tinged with nostalgia, he said, "You know, Boss Qi… I asked my father that same question when I was young."
"This stall used to be his. He passed it down to me, along with everything I know about food."
"I remember when I first started learning from him, I asked, 'If the Dragon Roll is so delicious and expensive, why not put it at the top and sell more of it?'"
"My father said something then that I've never forgotten." The vendor's voice softened, carrying a trace of reverence. "I'll pass it on to you. Maybe it'll help."
"For a chef, the best dish isn't the most delicious one—it's the one the customers love the most."
Qi Han stood there, silent.
Only when new customers walked up and began chatting with the vendor did he snap out of his thoughts.
"…Hoo…"
Letting out a quiet breath, Qi Han turned and set his breakfast on the nearest table. He sat down slowly, deep in thought.
The vendor's words had struck him like a bolt of lightning.
Lately, as he mastered more recipes and business at Han Shi boomed, his mindset had started to shift—and not in a good way.
The 3 Star dishes were incredible. They had special effects, summoned heavenly phenomena, and were far harder to master than 1 or 2 Star dishes. Every time Qi Han succeeded in creating one, he felt a deep sense of accomplishment—far more than with lesser-tiered dishes.
Naturally, he assumed customers would feel the same.
After all, when you pour your heart into something, you want people to recognize its value, right?
But that was his own assumption.
He had overlooked one crucial fact:
3 Star dishes were just too expensive for most people.
Yes, they were delicious. Yes, they were magical. But the price… it was the wall that most customers couldn't cross.
To Qi Han, they were the best.
To customers? They aren't.
That's why Squirrel-Shaped Mandarin Fish took first place.
It was only 52 gold coins, a price the average Han Shi patron could afford. The dish had a stunning presentation, an enticing aroma from the deep fry, and a perfect blend of flavors. Among 2 Star dishes, it was a standout.
Maybe the novelty helped push it ahead, but even without that boost, it deserved its crown.
A quiet smile appeared on Qi Han's face as he picked up his chopsticks and began to enjoy his breakfast.
With his mindset realigned, he made a decision about the issue of 3 Star dishes lagging in the recommendation votes.
He would respect the customers' choices.
If 3 Star dishes didn't get enough votes to make the wall, so be it.
Even if they were removed from the menu display for that reason, Qi Han would accept it.
After all, recommendation votes weren't about prestige.
They were about what the diners genuinely loved.
And the dishes that customers love the most—Those deserve to be front and center.
That, Qi Han thought with a satisfied sigh, was more than reasonable.
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