The Cheat Emperor of the Culinary World

Chapter 17: Chapter 17: Kitchen Helper in the Cafeteria

Fu Yu followed Zhao Meng back to the restaurant.

Both of them hadn’t eaten since noon, and now that the matter was resolved, their appetites returned.

Zhao Meng rarely showed a smile: ”Come on, let’s go to the kitchen, I’ll make you a golden fried rice.”

Fu Yu’s eyes lit up at the sound of this.

The golden fried rice made by Zhao Meng can only be described with one word: ”fragrant”!

Yesterday’s rice stir-fried with the yolk of fresh farm eggs and crab roe sauce.

With these ingredients, even frying shoe insoles would taste good.

After plating the fried rice, Zhao Meng went to the storage room and took out a bottle of wine.

”Do you know what this is?”

Zhao Meng gave a mysterious smile.

Fu Yu leaned over for a look but couldn’t recognize it.

”Seahorse wine!” Zhao Meng explained: ”This is a good thing, Chef Yao went through a lot of connections to get this authentic wine, it’s impossible to buy such pure stuff on the market.”

Saying this, he patted his waist: ”It’s specifically for boosting here!”

Fu Yu instantly understood and asked with interest: ”Is it effective?”

”Of course, do you know why it’s been untouched?” Zhao Meng gave a wicked smile: ”I have no one by my side, so I don’t dare drink it easily!”

Zhao Meng opened the wine bottle and poured a glass for each of them.

Fu Yu took a sip, finding the taste rather strange.

A bit fishy, and also a little sweet.

But thinking it was something good, Fu Yu simply held his breath and drank up the wine in two gulps.

Seeing him drink it like this, Zhao Meng hastily intervened: ”Hey hey! Take it slow, this is good stuff, don’t drink it mindlessly!”

Even saying that, he still poured another glass for Fu Yu.

After two cups of seahorse wine, perhaps it was psychological, but Fu Yu felt a bit of warmth in his lower abdomen.

”I must say, it does feel like it packs a punch!”

Zhao Meng laughed heartily: ”I’m telling you, this stuff not only boosts but also helps with growth in that area! If you drink it long-term, it can increase by at least five centimeters!”

Fu Yu stood up, grabbed his waistband, and chuckled, gesturing: ”With my conditions, 18 centimeters is just right, being too long isn’t good either...”

At this moment, Wang Yuxuan just walked in, hearing Fu Yu mention 18 centimeters, she didn’t think much of it until she saw where Fu Yu was gesturing, and her eyes widened.

Is he really that impressive?!

Why didn’t I notice it before?

Wang Yuxuan couldn’t help but lean over, trying to see through the appearance to the essence...

”Xiaowang?”

Zhao Meng heard the noise and looked over.

Fu Yu turned his head as well.

Wang Yuxuan quickly stood upright, coughed lightly to cover her embarrassment, and greeted proactively: ”Chef Zhao, so you guys haven’t taken a break yet?”

Fu Yu quickly released his waistband, nodding slightly at Wang Yuxuan with some awkwardness.

Zhao Meng said with a smile: ”I was hungry, so I’m making something to eat.”

Wang Yuxuan explained: ”I wanted to have instant noodles for dinner, so I came over to ask for some side dishes.”

Zhao Meng nodded: ”Just in time, I made some lemon chicken feet this afternoon, let me pack you some.”

Wang Yuxuan thanked him repeatedly.

While Fu Yu was packing, she took the opportunity to closely observe again.

Other than a noticeably round bottom, there really wasn’t anything unusual at the front.

Maybe... it’s about the placement?

Fu Yu handed the packed lemon chicken feet to Wang Yuxuan.

[Ding! Wang Yuxuan’s favorability: +5]

Fu Yu: ”!”

So she’s a foodie too?

...

That night, Fu Yu was completely immersed in joy.

The newly bought toilet paper was noticeably reduced by half overnight.

The next morning, he sluggishly clocked in after finishing up.

Fu Yu was just about to leave with his back aching when he heard a digital voice.

[Ding! Daily task: plate twenty dishes. Task reward: RMB +100, plating experience +50, task experience +50]

Suddenly, he was energized.

Only five bucks for plating one dish?

Isn’t that a bit stingy?

Then again, it’s free money, even a small mosquito is still meat, so he felt better about it.

Qianlima Restaurant is quite famous in the city.

Many diners come here for its reputation, and there are some regular patrons who come to eat every few days.

After clocking in, Fu Yu went to the kitchen to start prepping ingredients with the other helpers.

Zhao Meng arrived right on time for work.

Yesterday’s incident clearly left a lingering shadow.

The few helpers noticeably quickened their pace.

Especially Sun Qingning, looking as if he were wearing a sackcloth as an apology, not only did he hurry to clean up the kitchen, but he also ordered some duck dishes for everyone during lunch as a treat.

Seizing the moment with no outsiders around, Sun Qingning found an opportunity to apologize to Zhao Meng: ”Chef Zhao, I was wrong for being careless and making such a low-level mistake. I’ll pay attention next time. Please give me another chance, I’m really regretful.”

Zhao Meng sighed: ”Forget it, it’s already over, just be more careful next time.”

Sun Qingning nodded, once again feeling his inability to articulate himself.

He couldn’t help but quietly confide in Fu Yu.

”Do you think Chef Zhao might hold a grudge against me because of this?”

Fu Yu shook his head: ”Don’t worry, Chef Zhao is always harsh with his words but soft-hearted.”

He was speaking from the heart.

After nearly a year of working together, while Zhao Meng might seem bad-tempered, he is actually kind and soft-hearted.

No matter what happens, he finds ways to address and solve issues, wrapping things up the same day without holding grudges or mentioning the matter again.

Just like Chef Yao, who always smiles, but the most common phrase he uses is: ”Redo!”

It seems that in the chef profession, as one works longer, the personality becomes more particular, with a strong emphasis on principles.

In the afternoon, Fu Yu was helping in the kitchen under Zhao Meng’s supervision.

Yao Shi suddenly came over calling for help: ”Xiaofu, Master Hao in the canteen has taken a sudden leave, and we’re short-staffed there, go over and help.”

[Ding! NPC Chef Yao Shi’s task: Assist in the restaurant canteen. Task completion reward: RMB +20, wok experience +10, task experience +10]

[Accept task: Yes or No]

With the head chef’s orders, how could he refuse?

Fu Yu chose to accept.

The restaurant canteen is separate, with two master chefs and two helpers, responsible for the daily meals of over forty staff members from management to service and support staff.

Because these are work meals, the chef’s skill requirements aren’t high.

Without even changing, Fu Yu followed Yao Shi directly to the canteen.

Yao Shi is the head chef, overseeing all kitchen operations in the restaurant.

He usually only occasionally checks on the canteen, but this time, upon arriving, he instantly made busy chef Jiang Qingrong tense up.

”Chef Yao!”

The two helpers also quickly followed to welcome the inspection.

Chef Yao glanced at the prepped ingredients and, smiling, said: ”Redo!”

Jiang Qingrong panicked: ”Chef Yao, why redo? Everything is according to the prescribed menu, there’s nothing wrong!”

Yao Shi adamantly replied: ”It must be redone. Look at this pork belly, what were you planning to make with it?”

Jiang Qingrong stammered: ”Braised pork.”

Yao Shi gently replied: ”Exactly! Now look at this big hunk of fat, even with secret spices, it’s bound to be greasy! It doesn’t even have the balance of five layers of fat and lean, how can it be called braised pork?”

Jiang Qingrong blushed, not expecting Yao Shi to suddenly check today. He had planned to save that piece of pork belly for a little private barbecue and some drinks in the afternoon with his team, but was caught red-handed.

”This is Xiaofu, you all know him, he’ll be staying back to help.”

Yao Shi instructed, and further added: ”Tonight, I’ll have my dinner right here in the canteen.”

This was to make sure Jiang Qingrong didn’t disregard his advice.