Nodding his head slightly, Alex looked at the salivating crowd. They were twisting and turning, trying to get to the fried and grilled chicken.
'The food was not up to the standards of my previous world. I didn't have all the required ingredients. But It will be enough to grab their attention.'
After taking warm, freshly cooked chicken. Alex began plating them.
'Thank god that all the members of the caravan were not present.' Alex thought happily.
It was obvious that ten chickens would not be able to feed more than eighty people. So, he quickly chopped up the grilled chicken into four pieces and began plating them.
Alex left out one grilled chicken and some fried chicken pieces to be given to Dhairya. He wanted Dhairya's approval and there was no better way than to let him taste the meat.
And the specially prepared mayonnaise was quietly kept near him. It was time to teach these people how to eat fried chicken.
"Everyone, look towards me." After a slight pause to grab their attention.
"This is a recipe made by yours truly. After thinking for numerous seasons, pondering deeply about thousands of delicacies and learning the essence of cooking. Now, I present to you, Fried and Grilled Chicken with Mayonaise."
"Clap… Clap… Clap…" The people warmly welcomed Alex. They liked delicious food. And they liked Alex who gave them delicious food for free even more.
"Ah! Thank you." Bowing, Alex picked up a piece of fried chicken. It was the leg piece.
Lifting it up, he dipped it in mayonnaise and brought it to his mouth. Even before it reached his mouth, his mouth was watering. Like the floodgates opening, his saliva came crashing down to welcome the delicious piece of meat.
'Ah…'
The familiar taste of mayonnaise greeted Alex.
'It feels like forever.'
The heavenly taste washed all his sorrows of being transported to another world. If every day were like this, I don't mind living here forever.
Watching his blissful expression, the audience quickly began devouring the chicken.
At first, they had some apprehension about the white creamy mayonnaise. But soon, they realised the effect it had on the meat. And finally, they come to a startling conclusion.
Everything will taste better with mayonnaise.
Some even became teary-eyed while eating the delicacy. This was the first time they had eaten something so delicious.
All agreed.
Their emotional turmoil lasted for some time. Looking at Alex, who was chewing on a bone, they felt gratitude that words could never express.
–
"Uli, this is so delicious. Did you learn how to make it?" The lackeys asked. They curiously looked at Uli.
After their hierarchy was broken, Uli became more docile. He began treating the lackeys like his friends. This improved their relationship.
And to them, Alex was the common enemy now. That was why they were talking comfortably among themselves.
"No, he kept the recipe to himself. He was also using costly spices which even our tribe is hesitant about buying." Uli said in a disappointed tone.
Like everyone else, the kids wanted to eat it all day every day. What better way to do that than by learning the recipe and cooking for themselves? They didn't have any other malicious thoughts.
"Hm! Let's praise Meru for his cooking. He might give us more if we do that." One of the lackeys said.
"No, it wouldn't work." Uli rejected that proposal.
"Why won't it? It worked on you every time. Whenever we had to get something, we used to praise you and asked for it. And it worked every time." One of the clueless lackeys said.
Uli, who heard it was dumbfounded by the startling realisation. These three leaches were sucking his blood out for a long time and he hadn't even realised it.
And along with it, he realised that he had no real friends. No one wanted to be his real friend. The way he treated other people was reflected in the way other people treated him.
For him, they were lackeys. And to them, he was a walking wallet.
Nothing more or nothing less.
'Everything is my fault all along.' The depressed Uli thought.
—-------------------
"You kept your promise, the food is delicious." While eating the chicken, Dhairya said. Thadi who was with him also nodded in affirmation.
"We decided to sell all of our products to the merchant union and invest in your business. This means that we can use both the stalls of the woodland tribe and the stone head tribe." Munching on a drumstick the elder said.
He had seen, heard and eaten many cuisines over the years. But it was the first time he was encountering something so scrumptious. He could easily see the business opportunity in this fried chicken business.
Most people in the city would have never eaten something similar. With the inviting aroma spreading around their stall. They could see people coming over to them curiously asking what it was.
Dhairya didn't care where he got the recipe from. Just after distributing it among the tribesmen, he could see how effective it was at grabbing their attention.
Anyone who eats it will surely come back to buy more in the future.
And the delicious white cream called mayonnaise was the killer move that bound everything together.
If they can't make a profit with this, no one would be able to make a profit by selling food in the Blue gem city.
Dhairya was sure of that.
So, he wanted to completely shift his business plan. He was going to sell the products brought from the tribe cheaply and fully invest in the catering business.
"Would that be alright? Selling it to the merchant would decrease your profit by a lot. Are you okay with that?"
"Yes, We were supposed to sell everything by this week and return. But if your business is successful we could turn around the situation of the entire tribe. This is an opportunity worth taking a risk for."
"What about salt and other necessities? We need to send them back home somehow." Alex voiced his doubt.
In the winter, salt was very important to the tribe. They had no other way than to buy it from the city every year. If they are not able to provide it in time, the village might run out of stock. For a warrior clan like the stone head tribe, which does intense workouts and sweats a lot. Salt was a necessity that they cannot ignore.
This unassuming chemical was a must to have for their body to function properly. Without it, it would cause severe muscle spasms or even death.
"You don't have to worry about that. We, the elders will take care of all that."
"Okay! Then I will begin the preparation right now. How about I take Uli and the others with me." Alex asked Thadi.
"You can, but don't be too harsh on them."
"No problem, I will take care of them really well." Grinning widely Alex replied. After that, he went to prepare for tomorrow.
"At times, he smiles like an angel and at times he grins like a devil. Huh! The kid is really a mystery. Most adults in my tribe are not as mature as he is. You lucky old codger." Thadi jokingly said to Dhairya.
"Hu hu…" Dhairya gave a satisfied grin.