268: Tasting and Pricing

The first dish, tentatively, is seven-colored glass salt stir-fried seasonal vegetables.

Lu Chuan chose the most common Shanghai bok choy and carrots.

He heated the wok with cold oil, stir-fried minced garlic until fragrant, then added blanched seasonal vegetables and stir-fried them quickly.

Just before serving, he picked up a pinch of seven-colored glass salt with his fingertips and sprinkled it evenly, like a celestial maiden scattering flowers.

"Sizzle!"

The moment the salt crystals touched the hot oil, an almost imperceptible seven-colored halo seemed to flash and disappear, and an extremely complex yet harmonious savory aroma suddenly burst forth. It was no longer just a simple saltiness, but a fusion of an indescribable fruity freshness and mineral umami, instantly elevating the layers of flavor by several notches.

The originally vibrant green vegetables seemed to be bathed in a soft-focus filter, appearing even more glossy and appealing.

The second dish was Stalactite Marrow Corn Soup.

This was a simple soup.

Corn kernels, green peas, and diced ham were boiled in clear broth, then thickened with a light starch slurry.

After turning off the heat, Lu Chuan carefully added a trace of thousand-year-old Stalactite Marrow with a jade spoon.

The marrow silently dissolved into the soup, and the originally somewhat ordinary soup instantly became mellow and rich, with a layer of extremely delicate sheen on its surface.

A sweet and refreshing aroma diffused, not intense, yet incredibly penetrating, as if it could soothe all anxieties and bring a sense of tranquility to one's mind.

The texture of the soup also became exceptionally smooth, as if every corn kernel was coated in a divine elixir.

The third dish was secluded valley orchid honey Glazed Char Siu.

Lu Chuan made a simplified version of char siu using readily available high-quality pork collar butt, brushing it with a special sauce during roasting.

After taking it out of the oven, he didn't brush it with ordinary maltose, but instead lightly brushed a layer of secluded valley orchid honey diluted with water using a brush.

As the honeyed water met the heat, it emitted a strange sweet aroma, a blend of crisp coolness and warmth. The deep orchid fragrance was stimulated by the heat, wonderfully merging with the charred, meaty flavor of the char siu, not at all jarring, but rather adding a touch of elegant aftertaste.

The char siu's color became bright red and enticing, as if shimmering with an amber glow.

Outside the kitchen, He Jingrui and Ding Xinyang had long since smelled the aroma and were eagerly waiting at the door, constantly swallowing their saliva.

"Come and try it."

Lu Chuan placed the three finished dishes on a small table, then said in an exasperated tone.

Ding Xinyang had long been restless, enticed by the endless stream of magical aromas. Upon hearing this, he immediately picked up his chopsticks.

He Jingrui, with his rich experience in food tasting, had already started eating.

Ding Xinyang first tasted the seven-colored glass salt stir-fried seasonal vegetables, and his eyes instantly widened.

"Mmm! These greens... how can they be so fresh? There's clearly no MSG or chicken bouillon, but it feels even better than chicken soup! The saltiness is so comfortable, not at all overpowering, and there's a faint aftertaste of sweetness and fruitiness in my mouth!"

He picked up a few more chopsticks, his face full of disbelief.

He Jingrui also tasted it carefully, then expressed his truest feelings.

"The savory umami of the salt is very layered, activating the inherent sweetness of the vegetables. And after eating it, my stomach feels very comfortable, with no burden."

He felt that this salt seemed to be able to better mobilize the inherent energy of the ingredients.

Next was the Stalactite Marrow Corn Soup.

Ding Xinyang scooped a spoonful, blew on it to cool it, and put it into his mouth. He paused for a moment, then let out a long sigh, his eyes curving into crescent moons.

"How wonderful, it's like drinking a bowl of iced mung bean soup on a hot day, but it's not ice; it's a moisturizing sensation from the inside out. The fatigue and heat from my journey instantly disappeared, and my mood became calm."

He Jingrui's feelings were even more pronounced. He closed his eyes slightly, and after a while, he finally opened them with satisfaction and said:

"A gentle coolness, not in terms of temperature, but a spiritual comfort. It seems to help stabilize emotions and alleviate the hidden heat in the body caused by exercise or combat. It's very suitable for replenishment after high-intensity training."

Clearly, having Gourmet Cellss in him, he was more sensitive to deeper perceptions.

Finally, it was the secluded valley orchid honey Glazed Char Siu.

Ding Xinyang took a bite, his cheeks puffed out, and he exclaimed in a muffled voice.

"Wow! This char siu! Sweet but not greasy! The aroma is so refined! Can char siu actually taste like orchids? And it's not strange at all! On the contrary, it's even more refreshing, and my mouth still smells fragrant after eating it!"

He Jingrui also nodded repeatedly.

"The sweetness of the honey is very pure, and its aroma is unique, enhancing the satisfaction of the meat without masking its original flavor. This aroma seems to have a slight calming effect, but more importantly, it greatly elevates the layers of flavor and the aftertaste."

Lu Chuan listened to their feedback, nodding while taking notes.

"It seems the effects are about as expected. seven-colored glass salt enhances complex umami and layers, Stalactite Marrow clears heat and moisturizes dryness, soothing the mind, and secluded valley orchid honey enhances elegant sweetness and aftertaste. However, their properties are quite concentrated, and the dosage must be precise to the milligram, otherwise it will disrupt the balance."

Throughout the entire night, Lu Chuan continuously fine-tuned the dosages of the three auxiliary ingredients, experimenting with different basic ingredients, and recording the changes in aroma, taste, and texture each time, as well as the real-time feedback from Ding Xinyang and He Jingrui.

It wasn't until dawn that he finally finalized the "potent ingredient" formula for the bento boxes:

seven-colored glass salt: Used only in the most crucial seasoning step, replacing part of the ordinary salt, with a precise dosage of 0.1-0.3 grams per serving, serving as the finishing touch.

Thousand-year-old Stalactite Marrow: After dilution, used only in specific soups or stews that require a moisturizing sensation, with only 1 drop added per large barrel of soup, capturing its essence.

secluded valley orchid honey: After extreme dilution, used only for brushing the surface or for final seasoning of dishes that require sweetness to enhance freshness or aroma, with a negligible amount consumed per serving.

"Alright, the cost is under control, and the amazing effect can also be guaranteed."

Lu Chuan let out a long breath. Although tired, his eyes gleamed.

Next was the pricing issue.

A new round of brainstorming began.

Ding Xinyang held a calculator and a local bento price list.

"A Chuan, here in Hengdian, a common extra's bento is about 12-15 yuan for one meat and two vegetable dishes. A better crew's bento is 20-25 yuan for two meat and three vegetable dishes plus fruit. With our costs, the P5 auxiliary ingredients are hard to price. At least ordinary people can't enjoy them. If we have to convert them into a price, even with minimal usage, no matter how big the crew, they wouldn't be able to afford it."

He Jingrui scratched his head and said hesitantly:

"How about we price them separately?"

Lu Chuan nodded.

"Yes, we need to price them separately. However, if we want to quickly capture the market, we cannot cut corners on quality. At least the ingredients must be of a special supply grade."

He thought for a moment and quickly wrote on the whiteboard:

[Extra's Basic Bento] (Two meat, three vegetable dishes, one rice)

Meat dishes: Ordinary stir-fries, no P5 auxiliary ingredients (e.g., Spicy Diced Chicken, Fish-Fragrant Shredded Pork).

Vegetable dishes: Clear stir-fried seasonal vegetables, no P5 auxiliary ingredients.

Price: 28 yuan.

[Extra's Premium Bento] (Two meat, three vegetable dishes, one soup, one rice)

Meat dishes: Signature dishes flavored with P5 auxiliary ingredients (e.g., secluded valley orchid honey Glazed Crispy Pork, seven-colored glass salt Pan-Fried Chicken Chop).

Vegetable dishes: Clear stir-fried seasonal vegetables with a tiny amount of seven-colored glass salt.

Soup: Stalactite Marrow Corn Soup.

Price: 128 yuan.