If it were a high-quality noodle dish, it would easily cost over a hundred Mora.
For something this convenient—capable of being eaten soaked or dry—the price must be steep, right?
But Wanmin Restaurant had always been known for its affordable prices. Even if it was expensive, it couldn't be that unreasonable.
So, everyone was curious.
Because they had all rushed to order after the first customer without asking the price, they were suddenly anxious.
They had already eaten it!
Please don't be too expensive.
A few dozen Mora was acceptable.
"The price isn't high. It's just 10 Mora per block. The reason it's priced 'this high' is because it's a new product, and we haven't started mass production yet, so supply is limited."
Chef Mao chuckled. "Once we start mass-producing it, the price will drop by at least two-thirds. Right now, we don't have the seasoning packets ready either. Give it a couple of days. Once everything is fully prepared, we'll launch the cheaper price. You guys are the first to taste it, so it's a little pricier."
Making instant noodles wasn't difficult. Following Xiangling's recipe, they could easily mass-produce them step-by-step.
He just didn't have the specialized machinery yet.
If he had the machines, production would be automated.
Right now, even Guoba was helping make the noodle blocks in the back kitchen.
"Hiss!"
Hearing Chef Mao's words, the customers gasped in unison.
They looked at Chef Mao in disbelief.
That's way too cheap!
10 Mora? And it would drop by two-thirds later? That meant it would eventually cost only 3 Mora?!
"Holy crap, is it really that cheap?"
"Chef Mao, won't you lose money selling it like this? That's practically free!"
"I thought it would be dozens of Mora! Even a steamed bun costs 1 Mora, and a veggie bun costs 2 Mora. This delicious instant noodle block is going to be that cheap?"
"Exactly! One block is filling enough to replace several buns, and it tastes way better."
"Chef Mao, your pricing is too generous!"
"The key is portability! You can eat it dry or soaked whenever you want. It's miles better than cold buns."
"Yeah, cold buns taste terrible, and they spoil after a day. Mantou gets hard as a rock. But these noodles last longer and taste better. How is it this cheap?"
Hearing the price, the customers stared at Chef Mao as if they were seeing a ghost.
They had prepared themselves to pay 50 or 60 Mora.
But 10 Mora? And eventually 3 Mora?
In this day and age, what could you even buy with a few Mora?
Most of them spent dozens of Mora on a single meal outside! A decent meal cost over a hundred.
Even Wanmin Restaurant's cheapest vegetable noodles cost over a dozen Mora.
But now, a staple food like instant noodles was going to be cheaper than a snack? It was beyond their imagination.
"Hehe, it's fine. We are Wanmin Restaurant, after all. We cook for the people. Prices have to be accessible."
Chef Mao smiled at their shock.
Sure, he could have priced it higher. People would still buy it at 50 Mora.
But he didn't want to.
First, the production cost was incredibly low. It was pure profit. With machines, the cost would drop even further.
Second, he wanted to use instant noodles to crack open the market.
Once mass production started, even with a low profit margin per unit, the sheer volume of sales would bring in massive amounts of Mora.
And while earning Mora, he would be spreading the fame of Wanmin Restaurant and Chef Mao far and wide.
It was killing three birds with one stone!
Plus, instant noodles didn't require the same labor as cooking fresh noodles to order. The price should be comparable to buns or mantou.
Pricing it this low had only benefits, no downsides.
Wanmin Restaurant was famous in Liyue, but it was still suppressed by the two giants: Liuli Pavilion and Xinyue Kiosk.
Under their shadow, countless restaurants had closed down. Even Wanmin Restaurant had almost gone under.
But now? He could rebuild Wanmin Restaurant's reputation!
He would make the name "Wanmin Restaurant" known across the entire world!
Thinking of this, Chef Mao felt a surge of excitement.
His gratitude toward the Jar Shop owner deepened even further.
If not for Felix's reminder—if not for the existence of that shop—he never would have achieved this.
He had already made up his mind: he was going to open more jars later!
If he could pull another food recipe... Wanmin Restaurant would explode in popularity!
Everything was thanks to that Jar Shop!
Just thinking about it made him tremble with excitement!
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