Chapter 356
Chapter 356 - Stinky Tofu Auction
As Su Ming's words fell, those around him were taken aback.
“Ten portions?”
“Mr. Sun, you've consumed enough for ten people!”
“That's quite unreasonable.”
Protests began to rise from the crowd around Sun Jianjun, “You simply can't have the last twenty portions, no matter what!”
The crowd was fervently animated.
Couldn't Mr. Sun spare some stinky tofu for the rest to try?
Sun Jianjun's cheeks flushed with a hint of embarrassment.
He was aware that he had overindulged.
“Alright then.”
With a lingering glance at the stinky tofu simmering in Su Ming's pot, Sun Jianjun swallowed hard.
It was a struggle for him to avert his eyes.
“Thank you, Mr. Su, for the opportunity to savor such exquisite food.”
Sun Jianjun expressed his gratitude with great reverence.
Despite his lofty status, Sun Jianjun was not one to be consumed by a thirst for power or prestige.
For him,
the only true conquest was the flavor of food.
Su Ming's stinky tofu was unquestionably Top Grade!
It was an exceptional gastronomic delight for the taste buds.
Among the many dishes Sun Jianjun had tried, none could hold a candle to Su Ming's stinky tofu.
Su Ming deserved the title of master for creating such a culinary masterpiece!
Then, Sun Jianjun turned, hands clasped behind his back, and addressed the chefs, “Fighting here is quite rude. How about I take over? Please, take a seat first.”
The chefs promptly complied.
They each fetched stools from a nearby stall and sat down neatly in front of the stand.
?”Anyone else interested?”
Sun Jianjun scanned the crowd, but no one stirred.
?He then turned to Su Ming and suggested, “Mr. Su, please fry up a portion to start.”
“Certainly!”
Su Ming nodded in agreement.
“Mr. Su's stinky tofu is crafted with meticulous care. The tofu itself is made from top-grade soybeans, and the sauce is particularly special. It contains not only the usual fermented black beans, alkaline agents, mushrooms, bamboo shoots, and salt but also a selection of medicinal herbs. This must be Mr. Su's proprietary blend.”
“The result is a stinky tofu with an overwhelmingly pungent aroma, yet once tasted, it reveals a crisp, rich flavor with an unforgettable aftertaste.”
Sun Jianjun stroked his goatee thoughtfully.
Cameras from all around were trained on Sun Jianjun.
Numerous Little Streamers, having caught wind of the event, were live streaming the unfolding scene.
“I'm a regular viewer of Mr. Sun's culinary show. If I recall correctly, the most he's ever said to praise a dish was three words: ‘Not bad.'”
“Absolutely, he's never lavished such praise on a dish before.”
“It's incredibly rare for Mr. Sun to call someone a master. The flavor of this dish must have utterly captivated him.”
“It's unbelievable. Can anyone from Eastsea step up and sample this stinky tofu for us?”
“Ha! I've tried it already! It's truly Top Grade!”
“The previous speaker is despicable. We need to uncover his identity!”
“Exactly, let's give him a taste of what social obliteration feels like!”
“My apologies, dads!”
“I'm en route to Eastsea, hoping to get a taste of this stinky tofu.”
Netizens were losing their minds online.
No one anticipated that a serving of stinky tofu could create such a stir.
“Mr. Su's first batch of stinky tofu is almost ready. Get ready to place your bids!”
Sun Jianjun raised his hand, signaling the start of the auction.
“I'll start with five hundred!”
“Six hundred here!”
“One thousand!”
The crowd was taken aback.
They were accustomed to the auctioning of antiques and cars, but auctioning stinky tofu was unheard of.
Typically, stinky tofu would cost no more than ten dollars a serving.
Yet here it was, fetching a thousand dollars a serving.
Was this stinky tofu crafted from gold?
“Eight thousand!”
A chef interjected with a shout, raising his hand.
“Any more bids?”
Sun Jianjun scanned the crowd.
“Sold for eight thousand yuan! This stinky tofu is yours!”
He quickly determined the new owner of the stinky tofu.
?The chef was overjoyed.
Was a serving of stinky tofu really worth such a fierce bidding war?
Certainly not.
But the significance lay in Sun Jianjun's endorsement.
That changed the entire value proposition.
For these chefs, money was no object.
Their ultimate pursuit was culinary excellence.
If they missed out on the deliciousness before them, it would surely be a lifelong regret.
The chef jubilantly accepted the stinky tofu from Su Ming's hands, exclaiming, “Thank you, Mr. Su!”
He then happily squatted down to the side and began to savor his treat.
“Hot! Tasty!”
Onlookers watched the chef skewer a piece of stinky tofu with a bamboo stick and pop it into his mouth.
Despite the heat, the chef found it to be top grade in flavor.
The chefs who hadn't managed to secure a portion were green with envy!
They eagerly anticipated the second batch of stinky tofu.
“Come on, let's start the bidding for the second serving of stinky tofu!”
“I'll bid 5,000 yuan!”
“8,000!”
“12,000!”
The bids escalated wildly.
They had all received word from their bosses that the auction expenses would be covered.
?Determined, they were set on securing a portion at any cost.
The chef devoured half of the stinky tofu they purchased.
Of the other half, the boss tasted just one piece, and the rest was vacuum-sealed to become the restaurant's showpiece.
In an unassuming food street in Eastsea City, chefs earning millions annually sat on tiny stools, vying for a portion of stinky tofu like schoolchildren.
The competition evolved from a solo endeavor to a group effort.
Groups of six banded together, each member eager for their share of the prized tofu.
Ultimately, it took two hours to auction off twenty portions of stinky tofu, fetching a staggering 500,000 yuan!
?Each portion sold for an astonishing 25,000 yuan!
Stall owners nearby watched in awe, envious of the spectacle.
After years of running their modest stalls, they had never witnessed such a phenomenon.
The price of a single portion of stinky tofu had soared to rival that of gold.
Su Ming's stinky tofu was worth as much as some vendors made in a month or two!
Particularly regretful was the uncle from earlier, who now wished he had capitalized on his proximity to secure a few portions right from the start.
Later, he could auction it off and make a fortune to buy his son a house.
The uncle was heartbroken, feeling he had missed a golden opportunity to strike it rich!
However, nobody could have predicted the high value of Su Ming's stinky tofu.
“All my stinky tofu is sold out; I'm heading home now.”
Su Ming packed up his stall, beaming as he spoke.
“Mr. Su, here's our hotel's top-grade card. If you stay with us, you'll enjoy a 70% discount!”
“Your hotel is quite stingy! Mr. Su, this is our VIP card. Whenever you visit, regardless of how many people accompany you, their stay will be complimentary!”
“Mr. Su, this is our diamond card. You don't even need to be present; anyone carrying this card, whether family or friends, can stay for free!”
“Mr. Su.”
As Su Ming made his way from one end of the alley to the other, he was handed a plethora of VIP cards from various hotels.
These hoteliers were savvy.
Even though Mr. Su was merely a humble stinky tofu vendor, his tofu had earned high praise from Mr. Sun.
The power of advertising is unbeatable!
Should Mr. Su feel generous one day and gift them some stinky tofu, they could indeed become wealthy overnight!