Chapter Forty-Three: Methods for Attracting Customers

Heath walked out of Officer Jenny’s apartment, pondering a nagging question as he went: what was the deal with that inexplicable feeling that he had been played?

"Trainer, why are you so serious?" Zorua asked, curiously draped over Heath’s head. It tugged at his hair with a claw, the sting pulling Heath back to reality. He gave the little creature’s head a grumpy rub. Heath sometimes worried that this little guy would eventually make him go bald.

"I’m just thinking about things, but never mind. I’m probably just being overly sensitive." Heath shook his head. He figured the elder Officer Jenny wouldn't really scam him; at most, there would just be more Jennys showing up for dinner. He didn't mind, though—cooking for a crowd was, after all, a fundamental skill for any chef.

Once he reached his food truck, Heath drove toward the vending spot he had been granted. He had asked the elder Officer Jenny to help him find a location, and according to her, this was the best spot available—right near the most bustling commercial district of the Indigo League, flanked by several corporate office buildings.

Heath was quite satisfied. He also realized that even though the elder Officer Jenny was retired, she still held enough sway to secure him a street vending permit, which made his bureaucratic journey much smoother. He had originally expected to spend all of tomorrow just getting the paperwork sorted.

Arriving at the site, he parked the truck, set up the tables and chairs nearby, posted the day's menu, and waited for customers.

Soon, Heath encountered his first guest. He was pleasantly surprised by how quickly they arrived; a big city certainly lived up to its reputation.

"Hello, do you have... braised chicken with rice?" The first customer was a young man who looked rather disheveled. He yawned, dark circles under his eyes impossible to hide. He was dressed in plain, clean clothes that lacked any odd odors.

"Yes, it’s twenty-five League coins per serving." Heath nodded immediately. The price was a bit higher than in Pallet Town, but that wasn't price-gouging; the cost of ingredients in the Indigo League was significantly steeper, and he had to adjust his prices to make a profit.

"Twenty-five? Sure, I'll take one. I'm starving." The man hesitated for a moment, then nodded, found a seat, and pulled out a handheld gaming console to start playing.

Heath instantly understood why the man had such severe dark circles—he was a hardcore gamer.

Heath couldn't help but glance at the console. It had a red-and-blue design, identical to the NS from his previous life. He had long known that this world had games, even Sony, but the mainstream remained various Pokémon titles, followed by popular sword-and-sorcery adventures.

The game in the man's hands was one such title, *Prime Reality*. Heath remembered it being a massive, viral phenomenon, though he had never played it himself.

Shaking off the distraction, Heath turned to his pantry, took out some chicken, and quickly chopped it into small pieces, setting them aside.

Braised chicken is a very famous dish in Chinese cuisine, and there are many shops selling it—it's almost become a franchise staple. However, Heath wasn't making the typical version.

Most braised chicken with rice on the market consisted of chicken, potatoes, and shiitake mushrooms in a broth, often seasoned with chili. In Heath’s view, that wasn't necessarily bad, but the flavor was too bland and often tasted like it came from a pre-made meal kit.

Heath planned to make a braised chicken with a slightly thicker, richer sauce. The ingredients would remain chicken, potatoes, and shiitake mushrooms, but he wouldn't just throw chili in for the sake of it; he had his own way of handling the spice.

To Heath, a proper braised chicken should be so good that the customer would scrape every last grain of rice from the bowl. He didn't know the preferences of his current guest, but seeing the dark circles and the way the man wouldn't stop playing, he assumed the guy was a "hardcore night owl."

The taste buds of such people were often dulled; prolonged sleep deprivation made their brains sluggish and their nerves less sensitive. They were usually in a daze, and their palates were likely numb.

"In that case..." Heath smiled. He had already decided to make this braised chicken his signature dish. There were many ways for a food truck to attract guests, but the best way to entice diners was to create a dish with a rich, intoxicating aroma.

Braised chicken was perfect for that.

As Heath began to cook, the fragrance of the braised chicken quickly wafted from his truck. Carried by the breeze into the bustling commercial district, the rich scent immediately drew a crowd.

"What is that? Heath’s Kitchen?" A pair of young women looked curiously at the truck. Heath, looking young and handsome in his chef’s hat, caught their attention, and the aroma—enough to make anyone salivate—drew them closer.

"That smell... damn it, why is it not lunchtime yet?" A miserable office worker clutched his stomach. He had forgotten to bring his lunchbox, but the smell was just too good. His stomach couldn't help but growl.

Even the hardcore gamer, who had been completely absorbed in his console, finally looked up. Watching the crowd gather, Heath showed a satisfied smile. Wasn't the whole point of pushing the braised chicken to use its unique aroma to draw in customers?

As the saying goes, even good wine needs a loud shout if the alley is too deep. Since Heath didn't have the money for advertising, rather than sitting there passively, he decided that creating a dish with a tantalizing, powerful aroma could serve as its own advertisement.

Judging by the growing number of customers, his strategy was a resounding success. But diners are honest creatures; they vote with their stomachs.

If the food didn't taste good, the aroma wouldn't matter in the long run. But Heath had no such worries.