The Cheat Emperor of the Culinary World

Chapter 62: Chapter 61: A Sensible Person

High heat to thicken the sauce.

Take it out of the pan.

Fu Yu used chopsticks to pick out the crayfish one by one, arranging them according to the green guidelines.

With swift hand movements, the pot full of crayfish was quickly and neatly placed onto the plate.

Zhao Meng couldn’t help but lean forward, glancing at the bottom of the pan.

Not only was the pan not burnt, but there were only a few scattered crayfish legs left.

Zhao Meng was shocked for a moment!

How is this possible?

The crayfish legs are thin and brittle.

During the tossing, due to the force and the simmering to thicken the sauce, many usually break.

To achieve this effect, unless one has reached a certain level of control over strength.

At least he thought he couldn’t do it himself.

He looked again at the neatly arranged crayfish on the plate.

It was simply a godsend for someone with OCD.

The crayfish heads and tails were stacked in one direction.

Not a single crayfish leg was exposed.

Clearly piled into a small mountain, yet it didn’t appear messy at all.

Chinese cuisine always emphasizes color, aroma, and taste.

Beautiful plating can enhance the dish significantly.

At the same time, the quality of the plating will directly affect the customer’s appetite.

So plating skills are also particularly important for a chef.

For some reason... Zhao Meng recalled Fu Yu’s earlier assessment of his cooking, suddenly feeling a bit melancholic.

The prepared spicy crayfish was taken away by the waiter.

The remaining three dishes were all handed over to Fu Yu to cook by Zhao Meng.

In the time that followed, Fu Yu cooked, while Zhao Meng and Yao Shi watched from the side.

Wang Yuxuan came by three times to pick up dishes, twice witnessing this scene.

By the fourth time he came over, Wang Yuxuan couldn’t help but take another look at Fu Yu.

Isn’t it just stir-frying?

Besides being handsome, it doesn’t seem like there’s anything else attractive!

Five servings of spicy crayfish were successfully dished out.

Fu Yu didn’t wait for Zhao Meng’s orders; he picked up the wok and went over to clean it thoroughly.

When he returned, he happened to meet the order clerk delivering an order slip.

Fu Yu took it and immediately handed it to Zhao Meng: ”Chef Zhao, the order!”

Zhao Meng took it, picked a few dishes to tear off, and handed the rest to Gu Yunwu.

When he turned back, he saw Fu Yu stepping back from the stove, looking ready to follow orders at any moment.

This sight instantly refreshed Zhao Meng’s mood, and the previous feeling of being left behind vanished.

Zhao Meng turned to look at Yao Shi, giving an eye signal: How’s this apprentice?

Yao Shi saw it, feeling a bit indignant.

The kitchen was under his command, wasn’t it?

Besides, when it came down to it, Fu Yu was technically half his apprentice.

Yao Shi stepped forward, whispering to Fu Yu: ”Save this week’s days off, and I’ll take you to the music restaurant for practice. This time, you get to choose the dishes yourself!”

Fu Yu was delighted to hear that.

That’s really great news.

Being able to practice with Yao Shi, if lucky enough to gain a skill from him.

By next year, he might be proficient in all types of culinary skills.

Fu Yu quickly said: ”Sure, Chef Yao!”

Yao Shi nodded in satisfaction: ”If you don’t mind the hustle, you can come practice with me every weekly day off, and you’ll be paid 200 a day as well.”

Fu Yu was even happier.

Four days off a month, that’s an extra 800 bucks!

He quickly flattered: ”Chef Yao, you’re so generous!”

...

Before he knew it, it was evening.

Zhao Meng, who had a big craving for cigarettes, found himself out of stock.

Fu Yu, having been supported by Zhao Meng all day at the stove, quickly volunteered: ”Chef Zhao, I’ll go get you cigarettes!”

Zhao Meng casually transferred a WeChat red packet to Fu Yu.

Fu Yu didn’t accept it, already planning to take this chance to buy two cartons of Chunghwa cigarettes for Zhao Meng, making up for the money he owed from the last service call.

The shop selling cigarettes was just on the side street of the restaurant.

Taking the back door and cutting through the parking lot was the shortest distance.

Fu Yu jogged over and bought two cartons of cigarettes.

Afraid of being seen, he specifically asked the shop owner to put them in a black plastic bag, with two extra rolls of toilet paper inside.

Carrying the bulging shopping bag, Fu Yu returned the way he came.

In a hurry to get back, he suddenly saw a newly parked advertising vehicle in the parking lot.

On the large screen on one side of the vehicle, a silent advertisement was playing.

A fair-skinned, long-legged, feline-featured beauty in a miniskirt was doing eye-catching stretching exercises.

The advertised product seemed to be the juice she was holding like a dumbbell.

Just as Fu Yu looked, the advertising beauty did a high leg raise towards the screen.

Fu Yu’s feet instantly froze in place.

He stared intently at the 180-degree straight line.

Mentally guessing: Pink? White? Black? Blue...

The camera quickly shifted.

Damn!

This editing technique is even better than those authors who love to cut Chapters!

Grumbling inwardly, Fu Yu circled around the advertising vehicle and was about to move on when he suddenly heard voices ahead.

Fu Yu halted.

The voices sounded familiar.

Wasn’t that Chef Yao?

And another voice, clearly the boss, Dong Jun Tian.

Fu Yu glanced at the shopping bag in his hand.

What timing!

If caught, would this count as skipping work, or bribing the boss?

In a panic, Fu Yu quickly hid behind the advertising vehicle.

Yao Shi, coming to get his car after work, happened to meet boss Dong Jun Tian in the parking lot.

Yao Shi hurried forward to greet him: ”Boss.”

Seeing him, Dong Jun Tian waved: ”Just in time, I was planning to call you tonight.”

Yao Shi was puzzled: ”What’s up? Something you need from me?”

Dong Jun Tian asked: ”What happened in the kitchen this afternoon?”

Yao Shi was puzzled: ”Nothing in particular? What do you mean?”

Dong Jun Tian said: ”Among those participating in this conversion assessment, isn’t Fu Yu and another guy named Yao Yihang the most competent?”

Yao Shi nodded: ”Yes, relatively speaking, the two of them are indeed more outstanding.”

Dong Jun Tian, being shrewd and having the occupational disease of a boss, said: ”Yao Shi, with you overseeing the restaurant’s kitchen, I’m at ease, but you have to keep things even. Didn’t you give Fu Yu individual guidance on cooking techniques this afternoon?”

Yao Shi frowned: ”Where did you hear that from? I didn’t guide anyone. I just happened to see Fu Yu cooking, he was working quite deftly, so I watched for a bit, I didn’t even say much.”

Dong Jun Tian: ”...”

No matter how meticulous and shrewd Dong Jun Tian was, he couldn’t quite wrap his head around it, wasn’t it just supervising a dish, what was there to watch?

Dong Jun Tian’s voice was slightly low: ”I may not visit the store often, but I know the ins and outs of the kitchen. I also understand what’s going on with Old Zhao and Lao Gu. I’ve entrusted the kitchen to you, so their coordination relies on you. You need to handle this balance well.”

Yao Shi could only reply: ”I know what to do, don’t worry.”

Dong Jun Tian couldn’t help but sigh: ”Yao Shi, this is how it is to be a leader, you must distinguish between public and private. Now that you’re counted as one of the management, you must understand certain things. I’m entrusting you with the management of the restaurant’s kitchen because our relationship is here, I believe in your capability and trust you as a person, please do not disappoint me.”

Yao Shi felt somewhat uncomfortable upon hearing this.

If it weren’t for having received kindness from Dong Jun Tian during his hardest times, with his current wealth, he would’ve left long ago.

But since he owed this kindness, it needed to be repaid.

Yao Shi quietly recalled the past, took a deep breath, and nodded: ”Don’t worry, I’ll be more mindful in the future. I have some things to tend to, so I’ll head off now.”

Saying that, Yao Shi went to get his car.

Dong Xintian also drove off afterward.

After confirming the two had left, Fu Yu emerged from behind the advertising vehicle.

He glanced at the direction of the parking lot entrance, remaining silent...

It seems that he will have to keep a low profile in the kitchen from now on, especially not mentioning a word about going to the music restaurant to help with cooking.

However, Fu Yu felt somewhat moved when thinking about Yao Shi promising to take him to the music restaurant for practice every week.

He knew Yao Shi did it for Zhao Meng’s sake, to lend a hand to him.

But Yao Shi was indeed very good to him.

Fu Yu considered himself a discerning person, knowing well from not-so-well.