The Cheat Emperor of the Culinary World

Chapter 3: Chapter 3: Earn Rewards for Working

There’s a [!] behind the chopping board level.

Fu Yu clicked to check.

[Upgrade: Yes or No]

Choose [Yes].

The next second, an electronic voice sounded in his ear.

[Ding! Professional skill in chopping board upgraded to intermediate level. Promotion rewards received: RMB: 100 yuan. Special skills: knife speed increased by 20%, cutting precision increased by 20%]

Fu Yu’s eyes lit up.

Because the skill upgraded was chopping board, the rewards were related to it as well.

Being able to slice the ingredients thin and evenly is quite a skill.

Prepping, supporting, chopping—these are the most ordinary tasks in the kitchen, but different techniques can result in vastly different outcomes.

Take Chef Zhao Meng, who guides Fu Yu, as an example. He’s a master when it comes to chopping. His demonstration techniques are extremely skillful, with a lightning-fast knife speed, making his slices seem machine-measured.

This kind of exceptional knife skill takes over a decade of practice to master; ordinary people simply can’t attain it.

Fu Yu glanced at his personal attributes.

He was a bit curious.

He wondered just how strong Zhao Meng’s personal attributes were; presumably, they are at a consistently high level?

As he was lost in thought, a familiar electronic voice appeared in his ear.

[Agricultural Bank of China] Dear customer: The task reward of 100 yuan was transferred on December 9th to your Agricultural Bank account ending in 0765. Please verify if the funds have been credited. If the transfer information is incorrect, the bank will return it for processing.

Fu Yu couldn’t stop grinning.

The funds really were deposited instantly.

He then worried a little if the payout under the name of task reward might be dubious.

If someone investigated later on, he wouldn’t be able to explain the source of the money or identify the payer.

However, thinking it over, since the money was transferred through the bank, it should be a legitimate transaction channel, and the system probably wouldn’t make his money come from some shady source.

”Fu Yu! Are you in there?”

A familiar male voice came from outside the door.

Fu Yu hastily poked his head out from the bathroom.

It’s his colleague from next door, Yao Yihang.

Yao Yihang joined the job as a helper at the same time as Fu Yu.

The two of them are following different chefs.

Yao Yihang is responsible for supporting Chef Gu Yunwu.

However, since everyone works in the kitchen, they see each other often, and their relationship is quite close.

”Yes, I’m here!”

Fu Yu replied.

Yao Yihang then opened the door and walked in.

”Why haven’t you washed up yet? It’s almost time!”

Fu Yu quickly said, ”I’ll be quick, you go ahead, I’ll follow soon.”

Yao Yihang nodded, ”Hurry up then, I have to get going; I’m thinking of asking for leave this afternoon.”

Fu Yu was surprised, ”Why the sudden leave?”

Yao Yihang said with a smile, ”It’s my mom’s birthday. I got permission from Chef Gu last night, and I’ll leave after the prep work.”

Although Fu Yu and Yao Yihang are both helpers, Yao Yihang already had over two years of experience when he got hired. He can cook independently, and his knife skills and stir-frying techniques are outstanding among the helpers.

Especially since Chef Gu Yunwu is mentoring him.

Gu Yunwu, who is close to Head Chef Yao Shi, consistently adopts a master-apprentice relationship with Yao Yihang, focusing on his development.

Fu Yu watched Yao Yihang, suspecting that the two vacancies this time were likely sought for Yao Yihang, and the competition for the other one could be intense.

After saying goodbye, Yao Yihang hurried off.

Fu Yu dared not waste any more time, quickly washed up, changed into clean work clothes, and jogged to the kitchen.

Every morning at eight, the kitchen clocks in.

Fu Yu arrived just in time.

After clocking in, he was about to start working when an electronic voice sounded in his ear.

[Ding! Daily task: Complete chopping five times. Task completion reward: RMB 50, chopping experience +10, task experience +10]

Fu Yu paused mid-step.

There are even daily tasks, which are just like clocking in?

And completing tasks earns money.

Fifty a day tallies up to 1500 a month!

Plus, the task content is what he does every day anyway, it’s practically cash being stuffed in his pocket.

Fu Yu beamed with joy.

Walking briskly towards the kitchen while calculating in his mind.

His monthly salary is 2200, plus an extra 1500, making it 3700.

Besides that, there are other task rewards in cash.

If you include everything, he’ll receive at least 5000 a month!

The same workload, but the salary has doubled.

If it continues like this, his quality of life would improve as well.

At eight in the morning, before the restaurant opened, the kitchen was already bustling.

Fu Yu finished the prep work ahead of time.

While Zhao Meng hadn’t officially started cooking yet, he quickly and efficiently organized the used kitchen counters.

Gu Yunwu came in from the door, passing by Zhao Meng’s station and saw Fu Yu busily working.

He walked a few steps further and spotted the already-prepped ingredients.

Gu Yunwu looked at Fu Yu with appreciation and greeted him, ”Xiaofu, what time did you get here?”

Fu Yu turned his head, saw Gu Yunwu, and quickly replied with a smile, ”Chef Gu, good morning! Oh, Sun Qingning took leave today, so I stayed this morning to handle the prep.”

Gu Yunwu nodded, ”That’s good. We have an order today, preparing early can lighten Chef Zhao’s load.”

Just as Fu Yu was about to speak, he suddenly noticed a [ ? ] appear above Gu Yunwu’s head. It was beside a [ ! ], standing out conspicuously.

Something stirred in Fu Yu’s mind, and he asked, ”Chef Gu, have you had breakfast? Chef Zhao made a pot of lamb soup, it’s delicious.”

Gu Yunwu waved his hand, ”I’m not hungry yet, I haven’t finished the prep here. Let’s talk after everything’s done.”

After that, he looked at Fu Yu and asked, ”Xiaofu, do you have anything you need to handle at the moment?”

Fu Yu quickly said, ”No, Chef Gu, just let me know what you need.”

Chef Gu smiled with satisfaction, ”Alright then, go help me with the chopping. Xiao Yao took leave, and I’m a bit too busy here.”

Fu Yu agreed, ”Sure, I’ll head there now.”

As soon as he finished speaking, an electronic voice sounded in his ear.

[Ding! Task from NPC Gu Yunwu: Please assist with chopping. Task completion reward: RMB 10, chopping experience +5, task experience +5]

Fu Yu was overjoyed.

Approaching [ ? ] for interaction does indeed lead to tasks.

As long as I help with chopping, there’s money to be earned—this task is awesome!

He grabbed his knives and set off to work.

Chef Gu had listed two long pages of prep work needed.

Even the decorative diamond-shaped carrot slices required three pounds.

Yao Yihang quietly explained, ”There’s an engagement banquet booked on the second floor tonight.”

Fu Yu nodded and joined in the chopping.

”Brother Zhang, pass me some carrots.”

Fu Yu said to another helper on Chef Gu’s side.

Zhang Jiaxin responded, pushing over half a basin of washed carrots.

Fu Yu got busy at work.

When he picked up the knife, he felt something different, and when slicing, it was incredibly smooth and flowing.

Although he was usually quick at chopping, his current speed was noticeably faster, and the diamond-shaped carrots were cut as if measured with a ruler—absolutely precise.

He finished slicing half a basin of carrots in half the usual time.

As soon as Fu Yu stopped, the electronic voice sounded again.

[Ding! Chopping completed once, task reward: RMB 5, chopping experience +1, task experience +1]

Fu Yu’s eyes lit up.

Awesome!

Just working earns experience rewards, no part-time job could be as comfortable as this!