As the iron gate opened, the crowd surged in like a tide, instantly engulfing the not-so-spacious entrance of Oriental Academy. People in the teaching building area immediately raised their hands to greet so many guests.
"Gulp... What an incredible crowd!"
Looking at the sea of people in front of them, the few couldn't help but secretly swallow. Especially Kitagawa Marin and Yui Yuigahama, their eyes filled with shock. The number of people was several times more than yesterday!
"It's normal for there to be many people. After all, yesterday was just a warm-up, and only a small number of people came to scout. Today is the official Dragon Boat Festival, and it's also a weekend, so many people come as families."
Looking at the scene before him, Hoshino Sora muttered to himself, a hint of surprise on his face. With so many guests, even if only one-tenth of them were consumed by him, it would be enough for him to stand out from the crowd!
"Just take this opportunity to attract more customers!"
Kitagawa Marin said as she went forward, holding a tray of sample rice dumplings. Yui Yuigahama held flyers. For a moment, Hoshino Sora seemed superfluous.
But he didn't care. He pondered for a moment, looking at the crowd not far away, then quietly blended in, pretending to be a tourist who had just arrived from outside.
"Welcome to Xingye Restaurant, where a riverside lantern festival is being held. If you're interested, you can try the rice dumplings offered there. Please have a taste."
Holding a tray of rice dumplings, she shouted to the surroundings. However, because everyone was rushing inside, no one stopped to look at them.
It was the same yesterday, but there weren't as many people yesterday, and they still managed to attract some customers.
"These are Xingye Restaurant's rice dumplings. If you're interested, you can come and try them. The taste will definitely not disappoint you!" Yui Yuigahama also shouted loudly.
The sample rice dumplings were a secret recipe, and the ingredients were meticulously arranged. When the entire rice dumpling was cut open, almost every sample piece contained glutinous rice, black pork belly, river shrimp, and shredded rehydrated dried shiitake mushrooms. Only the combination of these elements could form a true 'Three Fresh' rice dumpling.
"Sampling? Are shops trying to attract customers so aggressively now? Well, it's a good first bite upon entering the academy! Let me see the standard of this school."
As the tourist army surged into Oriental Academy, Kitagawa Marin and Yui Yuigahama immediately went to greet them. However, because they were outnumbered, they only managed to intercept a very small portion of the customer flow.
It should be said that very few people were willing to stop for them.
As a result, even though many guests arrived, they seemed incredibly lonely. After all, everyone was moving forward, and it was so crowded that no one was willing to stop for them.
"Please be sure to taste it."
Seeing someone willing to try their rice dumplings, a look of surprise appeared on Kitagawa Marin's face. She then picked up the plate in her hand, and the customer in front of her naturally reached out.
"Hmm, it looks pretty good, but I wonder how it tastes..."
Looking at the rice dumpling piece on the toothpick, the glutinous rice and filling were perfectly bonded. The rich black pork belly, river shrimp, and rehydrated dried shiitake mushrooms were tightly packed.
With one bite, the three fresh flavors converged and escalated in the mouth, exploding like a cluster bomb. This was an unparalleled power that made one tremble from the bottom of their heart!
"This... the taste of this rice dumpling! Can I have another one? Or are these rice dumplings for sale now? I want to buy five, no, ten! No! I want all you have!"
Savoring the deliciousness of the rice dumpling, the man who came to sample it showed an eager expression, anxiously asking if these rice dumplings were for sale, seemingly afraid that others would snatch them up if they knew.
"Is it that exaggerated? Can eating a rice dumpling make you excited? Isn't a rice dumpling just a rice dumpling?"
"Can I also try it?"
Looking at the man's extremely exaggerated behavior, the passersby around couldn't help but feel a little confused. Then, a few people stopped and came forward to ask if they could sample it.
"Of course, please be sure to try it!"
In response, Kitagawa Marin just silently handed over the sample plate, revealing a very gentle smile that completely captivated the young boy who came to try it.
"Delicious! The combination of black pork belly, river shrimp, and shredded rehydrated dried shiitake mushrooms is perfect. The flavors blend seamlessly in the rice dumpling, forming an even more exquisite taste!"
After tasting the sample rice dumpling, the faces of the people who came later also showed expressions of shock. To make such a small rice dumpling to this extent, how much research and effort must have been put into it!
"Not only the filling, but even the glutinous rice is marinated with the essence of various ingredients, and then cooked in clear chicken broth. That's how this irresistible delicacy is made!"
Another person gathered around, tasted the rice dumpling, and gave it extremely high praise, with an expression of immense happiness on his face. This was truly a captivating delicacy!
"There's so much to it? I just thought it was incredibly delicious. I didn't expect that even the water used to cook the rice dumplings was good chicken broth?! How could rice dumplings made like that not be delicious!"
As a few people gathered, more and more people surrounded them. People love excitement, and when they see something new, they immediately gather to check it out. This time was no exception.
Especially since this product was exceptionally good. As soon as it gained fame, it immediately attracted countless supporters, all praising the deliciousness of the 'Three Fresh' rice dumplings. It was a satisfaction from the depths of the soul!
"So where can I buy such delicious rice dumplings? This little bit isn't even enough to fill a tooth gap. I want to eat a hundred!"
The first person who came shouted, his voice tinged with urgency. It was clear that he really liked this rice dumpling. Although the people around him found him a bit exaggerated, they could understand.
"The place that sells these rice dumplings is here. You can get as many as you want there. It's the Dragon Boat Festival Lantern Festival at the back of Oriental Academy. Don't miss it as you pass by. The detailed map is here."
As the people asked questions, Yui Yuigahama promptly distributed the flyers, handing them to these individuals who then took them and looked down to read.
"The back mountain? I remember usually no one goes there."
Looking at the address on the flyer, many people showed puzzled expressions. According to previous Dragon Boat Festival celebrations, the back mountain was definitely a place no one visited—the zongzi there were not tasty.
It should be said that in Oriental Academy, anyone with even a bit of culinary talent would be taken as a disciple by the big shots. For the most part, those who weren't accepted by masters were usually mediocre in cooking skills, mere small fry who managed to enroll by luck.
But this time, they truly kicked an iron plate.
"Yeah, I went there once last year. It was desolate, with a few scattered shops that couldn't stay open and all closed down the next day."
Someone in the crowd chimed in, their voice also filled with confusion. They had been to the back mountain area—completely deserted, as if cut off from the world.
"That's because you hadn't encountered us. The promotional pictures on the flyer are all real photos. You'll understand once you go there—not only are the zongzi delicious, but the environment is also tranquil, without too many disturbances."
Facing the tourists' doubts, Yui Yuigahama explained gently, pointing to the promotional images on the flyer as she spoke. These were all taken and printed by them yesterday.
In simple terms, the flyers had also undergone a version update.
"I remember now! I saw it scrolling through my social feed yesterday. They held a lantern festival over there. Once it got dark, the lanterns above lit up instantly—it was truly beautiful!"
Looking at the images on the flyer, a tourist suddenly clapped their hands, their face showing a look of sudden realization. Yesterday, while lying at home scrolling through their phone, they happened to see someone post about this on their social feed.
At the time, they thought the lanterns were beautiful, but that post didn't specify the exact location. Since they weren't familiar with the person who posted it, they didn't ask for details.
Who would have thought it was right here! Truly, after searching far and wide, here it is effortlessly!
"That's right. We have an activity where posting on social media earns you a souvenir. After all, being located in such a remote place, we need customers. This is the souvenir we're giving away."
Seeing the eager eyes of the tourists, Yui Yuigahama took out the souvenir prepared by their shop from her pocket—a small zongzi woven from grass rope and leaves.
"So pretty!"
"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go quickly! There are such delicious zongzi, souvenirs to get, and the environment is excellent too. This is simply a paradise!"
Someone exclaimed, then carefully checked the information on the flyer and quickly left the school gate, heading towards the direction of the back mountain riverside, their face filled with intense excitement.
Others, not wanting to fall behind, took the flyers and headed towards the back mountain as well, unwilling to lag behind. As they left, a new batch of people gathered, creating a cycle that attracted a large number of customers to Xingye Restaurant!
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