It didn't take long for the chips to finish cooking due to the high heat.
Tapiwa was drooling as she gazed at the massive plate of golden fried chips.
However, it was not the time to be greedy and solely concentrate on eating. This was business, and the sooner she finished it, the sooner she would have money in her pocket.
So, she raised her head and looked at Ma Michaels, who was currently preoccupied with the platter of fried sweet potatoes.
"You can have a taste and tell me what you think," Tapiwa remarked to Ma Michaels, waking the elder lady from her stupor.
Ma Michaels had been waiting for this exact phrase, so she skipped the standing ovation and gladly chose a strip of fried chips and eagerly inserted it into her mouth.
She knew she was done the instant the cooked chip touched her tongue. She was not going to let such a good opportunity pass her by.
So, she ate many chips in fast succession, savoring the taste, softness, and sweetness that was complemented by the refreshing sourness of the spices and salt.
"Gudong, gudong," she ate heartily the last chip she wanted to try.
"I probably can't eat something this good by myself. I'll put this on the supper menu tonight and see what my husband thinks. What are your thoughts?" Ma Michaels said as she looked at Tapiwa, who was smiling.
When Tapiwa heard that, she relaxedly shrugged her shoulders and remarked, "It's okay. I'll be in Karoba for a while longer, so take your time."
Ma Michaels was relieved to hear that, and without further ado, she took several plates and divided the leftover cooked chips evenly.
"Dinner can be postponed. Let's get things started. I'll cook later," Ma Michaels' decision was made in a matter of seconds.
How could she possibly wait until dinner was served with such delicacy?
Finally, Tapiwa led Ma Michaels to the restaurant, where she set two dishes on the table before waiting for her to return.
"Come this way, husband, and have a taste. Bring the guests as well!" Ma Michaels summoned her husband.
Tapiwa sat at the table, her dish already in front of her.
'If I were eating this in my room, I would have gotten out some ketchup and a can of Cola to make it more enjoyable. Unfortunately, this can't be done.'
It was already too much and unexpected for her to produce such a dish at this time, and if she were to bring out additional delicacies again, people would begin to suspect. Which would attract individuals who she didn't want to offend, and this would result in difficulties for her.
She was terrified of problems, especially when she wasn't yet strong. When it came to abilities, she was still a child, and she didn't want to take any chances.
As she sat there, Ba Michaels and the two perverse visitors Tapiwa disliked soon joined them.
Tapiwa gave Ba Michaels a gentle grin before looking harshly at the two young men.
'What's the matter with her?'
'How could we possibly have upset her?'
Anyway, Tapiwa couldn't hear their inner thoughts, so, after doing so, she just proceeded to enjoy her fried chips with ease and without revealing the fact that she had never eaten anything like this before.
Gerald's eyes nearly jumped out of their sockets the moment the first piece entered his lips, 'What type of fantastic cuisine is this?'
He had no idea what had been cooked save that it was food because he was a male and scarcely concentrated or made an effort to comprehend more about food.
Henry, Gerald's other brother, had the same sentiments as Gerald and was astounded.
'Who came up with such an innovative manner of cooking?' he thought as he raised his head to look at the folks responsible for such a dinner.
Everyone ate almost silently, but their speed was sufficient to show and convey that they were all having a good time. Tapiwa was overjoyed to witness this response. For this meant that the first stage had been successful, and it wouldn't be long before she could sign that transaction and replenish her coffers.
"Dear, this is very delicious!" Ba Michaels applauded with a satisfied expression on his face as he looked tenderly at his wife.
Ma Michaels' wrinkles deepened as she smiled at what her husband had stated.
"Then what do you think about adding this to our meals in the future?" she asked her husband, not hiding from the other visitors at the table.
At this point, the couple considered these three guests to be like family, and because there weren't many secrets to hide, they didn't see the need to converse in private.
"It's actually fairly good. We should include that."
Hearing this, the brothers' eyes lit up, and Henry, being a foodie, quickly added without thinking about his unruly habit of interrupting elders when they were speaking.
"Aunt, I want more of this, whatever it is. You should cook it, and believe me when I say that if others know you have such amazing and delectable food as this, you will undoubtedly drown in money!"
He only wanted what was best for the pair. He wanted to help, but he also understood how the couple felt about being regarded as a charity case.
So, as long as they were close, the brothers would stop by the inn and stay for a few days every month. This allows them to give the couple money, which will make them feel better.
Tapiwa listened as the four discussed the cuisine, and the more they talked about it, the faster her heart beat.
'Everything is going so beautifully. Ha ha, my empty wallet, just wait a minute and I'll fill you up and make you suffocate from abundance.'
Tapiwa received a warm and grateful glance from Ma Michaels.
She'd been serving these difficult brothers for quite some time. As a result, she was quite familiar with them.
So, seeing them eat with gusto and begging her to include the meal on the menu, she knew it was going to be a hit.
And if people were acting this way with the basic recipe, what would happen if she got the advanced recipe that Tapiwa mentioned earlier?
'Perhaps things will change for the better after this.'