Chapter Forty-Four: The Pet Golden Retriever and Milk Tea

Heath's braised chicken was excellent in both aroma and taste, giving him every confidence that he could conquer the discerning palates of the customers here at the Indigo League. Of course, if the local preferences were particularly eccentric, there was little he could do.

It was much like someone from the bustling metropolis moving to the Sichuan region and struggling to adapt to the numbing, spicy flavors; every province in China had its own exacting standards, let alone this entirely different world.

"Sir, here is your braised chicken with rice. Please, enjoy." As Heath scooped the dish into a bowl and called out, the man stood up quickly and hurried over, eager to claim his meal.

"Sir, you might want to try pouring the sauce from the chicken over your rice and mixing it well. It really enhances the flavor," Heath suggested with a friendly smile.

The true essence of the dish lay in its sauce. Heath’s version was particularly rich and thick, which made the sauce itself taste rather salty on its own. However, once that savory intensity seeped into the grains of rice and was mixed with the natural sweetness of the starch, the transformation was remarkable.

The man looked at Heath with curiosity. He was an office worker at a nearby gaming company and had never seen a food truck like this before. But he was a smart man; he knew that compared to his own lack of experience, the chef’s recommendation was undoubtedly the best way to enjoy the meal.

Following the expert's advice, he took his bowl and sat down at his table. A line had already begun to form behind him; the people of the Indigo League were always curious about novel foods.

The growing crowd made the man feel a bit self-conscious. He tucked away his gaming console and swallowed hard. The aroma of Heath's cooking was so intoxicating that he could feel his stomach rumbling. He scooped a ladle of the rich sauce over the fluffy white rice.

The rice itself was of a long-grain variety, plump and fragrant—a type he had never tasted before. As the hot sauce hit the steaming rice, a concentrated fragrance erupted, making the man impatient to begin mixing.

After a few moments of stirring, he could wait no longer. Overcome by hunger, he shoveled a spoonful into his mouth, and the rich, savory explosion instantly ignited his taste buds.

Heath had anticipated that the man might be suffering from a dulled palate due to late-night work, so he had prepared this batch with a bolder flavor profile to ensure he could fully enjoy the meal.

Heath’s intuition hit the mark perfectly. The intense, savory notes seemed to revive the man’s senses, washing away the lingering fatigue from his sleepless night.

"This is incredible," the man muttered, swallowing before picking up a piece of chicken. The sauce dripped slowly from the meat as he shoved it into his mouth. With every chew, the savory glaze and the tender chicken melded with the perfectly cooked rice, making the man feel as though his very soul had been awakened.

The man’s visible delight drew the attention of more onlookers. Humans are curious creatures; watching someone else eat something delicious often triggers an irresistible craving—which was precisely why food broadcasting had been so popular in Heath's past life.

Observing the forming queue, Heath glanced at a small pot nearby. He was planning to introduce a new beverage, and he intended to let that exhausted-looking customer try it for free. If it was a hit, he could begin promoting it on a larger scale.

"Excuse me, what is that gentleman eating?" curious customers asked one after another. Heath explained each time with a smile, never feeling burdened; after all, every explanation meant more revenue.

As for making money, even if it meant talking until his throat went dry, Heath would never hesitate. He would gladly talk from dawn until dusk.

After serving three more orders of braised chicken, Heath checked the small pot. A sweet, milky aroma wafted out. He nodded; it was ready.

The drink he was introducing was Burmese-style milk tea—a beverage with a remarkably smooth texture. If there was any drawback, it was perhaps a touch too sweet and creamy, but that was hardly a problem. After all, milk tea was supposed to be sweet to satisfy the general palate.

"Excuse me, what is this?" a young girl asked, looking at him curiously. She was cradling a small Golden Retriever in her arms, which wagged its tail happily upon seeing Heath.

Heath paused for a moment. The world of Pokémon certainly had animals, and indeed, cats and dogs were the most popular pets aside from Pokémon. This world had Golden Retrievers, Akitas, and Chinese Rural Dogs.

Looking at the happy puppy, Heath took a deep breath and widened his eyes, struggling to suppress a sudden pang of sadness.

"This is milk tea, a type of drink. It has a very unique flavor. Would you like to try it?" Heath asked with a smile, specifically looking at the puppy in her arms.

"Oh? What does it taste like?" the girl asked, even more intrigued. She had never heard of milk tea.

"It’s a bit sweet," Heath replied with a grin, gesturing to the small blackboard nearby.

The girl took a look. The price was eight coins—not expensive at all. Charizard Cola and Blastoise Cola were three League coins a cup. Although this was pricier, the alluring aroma of the tea had already convinced her to spend the extra money.

"In that case, I'll have a bowl of braised chicken with rice and a cup of the milk tea, please," she said, pulling out her money.