267: New stall tasks

These wondrous auxiliary ingredients undoubtedly opened a new world for him, offering countless possibilities to optimize existing dishes and even create entirely new ones.

With limited time, he seized the last moments, carefully selecting a few samples with extremely small demand based on his ideas and potential needs for the coming week: [seven-colored glass salt] (1 gram), [Millennium Stone Stalactite Marrow] (1 drop), [secluded valley orchid honey] (5 milliliters), and submitted the exchange request. His points instantly plummeted, causing him immense heartache.

"I hope it's worth it..." he muttered, closing the platform.

Just then, the system's notification sound rang in his mind.

"Ding dong! The new week's stall mission has been refreshed! Please check it, Host! Are you ready to embrace new challenges?"

Listening to the cheerful voice, Lu Chuan's mouth twitched slightly, and an ominous premonition arose in his heart. He focused his attention on the mission panel.

"Now releasing next week's stall mission."

"Stall Location: Dongyang, Hengdian World Studios."

"Stall Time: Monday to Friday, during crew lunch breaks and evening meal times."

"Menu: Extra's Bento (Basic Version)."

"Mission Requirements: 1. Successfully supply bentos to at least ten film crews and obtain written praise from the crew leader or main actor (must include specific compliments on the dishes). 2. Cause at least three famous actors (definition: possessing at least one representative work with box office exceeding 100 million or viewership rating breaking 1%) to lose their composure on the spot due to the deliciousness of the bento (behaviors include but are not limited to: shouting 'delicious' without regard for image, being moved to tears, actively requesting more food, abandoning high-end crew meals to choose your bento, etc.)."

"Mission Reward: 'Heartfire Tempering' (significantly enhances precise perception and control of heat)."

Lu Chuan looked at the mission requirements, speechless for a long time.

Go to the film studio to set up a stall and sell bentos? And deal with ten film crews? And make famous actors lose their composure on the spot?!

The difficulty factor of this was no lower than any previous mission.

"System, I think we need to have a good talk about life," Lu Chuan said expressionlessly.

"Oh my, Host, don't get so excited ~" The system's voice was still cheerful.

"The greater the challenge, the richer the reward! Think about it, the reward is an enhancement to your heat control talent ~~ This is undoubtedly a dream ability for a chef!"

"Cut the act!" Lu Chuan retorted irritably, "System, how many times have you tricked me?"

"Relax, relax ~" The system sounded as if it was saying, "I'm rooting for you."

"Host, didn't you just get samples of P5 ingredients? Use just a tiny bit in the bentos, and you're still worried about not being able to handle it? Remember our motto: conquer the world with gourmet food! Even if it's a bento, make it with the flair of a Manchu Han Imperial Feast! I'm rooting for you, dear ~"

Lu Chuan: "..."

He rubbed his temples. Although the system was as tricky as ever, its words, though crude, made sense.

P5-level auxiliary ingredients... perhaps they really could create miracles.

And Hengdian World Studios... he had always heard of this film base, where many great TV shows and movies were filmed.

It wouldn't be bad to broaden his horizons this time.

Moreover, he remembered that in an attachment to the contract Lin Wei gave him, one of the partners was the parent company of the film base.

Perhaps he could leverage Lin Wei's connections, at least to get permission to set up a stall... His thoughts slowly became clear. Although the challenge was great, it wasn't without a breakthrough.

Lu Chuan's eyes regained their calm, and the corners of his mouth even curved into a slight arc of eagerness.

Bentos, huh? Celebrities, huh?

Then let them taste what it means to be the "Strongest Bento in History"!

Thinking of this, Lu Chuan immediately left the room, found Ding Xinyang, and said:

"Get ready, we're catching a flight to Dongyang City tonight. Tomorrow, we'll be setting up a stall to sell bentos at Hengdian World Studios."

"Ah? Oh! Okay!"

Although Ding Xinyang didn't understand why, he immediately nodded... As night fell, Lu Chuan and his two companions arrived in Dongyang City.

Unlike the modern prosperity of Modu, Dongyang City carried a unique kind of bustle.

The air seemed to be filled with the faint scent of cosmetics, the smell of prop wood, and the intertwined aroma of sweat and anticipation from dream-chasers from all corners of the country.

Following the contact information provided by Lin Wei, they successfully contacted an assistant general manager of the Hengdian World Studios management.

The other party had clearly been notified in advance, and his attitude was enthusiastically, even excessively, warm. Not only did he immediately complete all the entry and stall procedures for Lu Chuan, but he also proactively offered to provide a relatively fixed area with good foot traffic. He even asked if they needed staff to help, or even direct connections with film crews for collaboration.

Lu Chuan politely declined the management's offer, only accepting the convenience of the location.

Indeed, leveraging the convenient assistance provided by the management could save a lot of trouble, such as directly signing catering contracts with some smaller film crews.

However, people have a rebellious mentality. This kind of "forced buying and selling" approach would cause unnecessary misunderstandings for other crews, and they wouldn't even be willing to try, which would lead to a stalemate in the mission and prevent its completion.

He knew that the bento business, especially the business of breaking into film crews, ultimately relied on the taste itself.

That night, in a restaurant arranged by Lin Wei with a spacious kitchen and cold storage, Lu Chuan began developing the bentos.

Even bentos made with ordinary ingredients would become exceptionally delicious in his hands.

If he had more time, not much, just a month.

He was confident that with his outstanding skills, he could monopolize most of the bento business in this area.

However, the system only gave him five days.

So he had to use powerful ingredients.

Lu Chuan walked into the cold storage and saw a small alloy box with a password lock in the very center.

He opened the alloy box, which emitted a faint chill, according to the password Lin Wei had given him.

The three P5-level auxiliary ingredients he had exchanged for lay quietly in special containers. Even though they were tightly sealed, their unique qualities were still evident.

The "seven-colored glass salt" was held in a small crystal bottle, with tiny seven-colored crystal clusters refracting a dreamlike luster under the light, much like shattered remnants of a rainbow.

The "Millennium Stone Stalactite Marrow" was stored in a finger-thick cold jade tube. Through the tube wall, one could see a drop of thick, honey-like, milky white, lustrous liquid, emitting a faintly cool aura that calmed the mind.

The "secluded valley orchid honey" was sealed in an exquisite glazed small bottle. The honey color was clear like amber, and faintly, one seemed to smell a hint of cool, secluded orchid fragrance.

Lu Chuan quietly admired them for a while, then rubbed his hands, a look of excitement and anticipation on his face.

He decided to first try using the most basic bento dishes to test the effects of these auxiliary ingredients, aiming to enhance the ultimate deliciousness of ordinary ingredients and initially verify their possible miraculous effects.