The Cheat Emperor of the Culinary World

Chapter 74: Chapter 73: Two Masters

This is a perfectly crafted dish.

The presentation is exquisite, refreshing to the senses.

The texture is rich, leaving a lingering aftertaste.

The judges are not reluctant to comment.

It’s just that they have nothing to say.

Unlike the previous three contestants.

The judges could easily spot flaws in their dishes.

Even if there were no significant flaws, they were at best ordinary.

At least there was something to say.

But with Fu Yu’s dish, there’s simply nothing to criticize.

To be fair.

If they were handed this bustling mixed dish today, and were asked to innovate and improve it themselves.

It’s no exaggeration to say, they might not even reach Fu Yu’s level.

For a moment, everyone started to push the task to each other.

Seeing everyone reluctant to comment, Li He straightforwardly said, ”Fu Yu used to be a student at our school, I’ll comment on this.”

”To be honest, Fu Yu, your performance today surprised me a lot, and I am very pleased! You executed this bustling mixed dish exceptionally well! Both the cooking process and the final creative presentation gave me such a refreshing feeling. You indeed have great talent in culinary arts!”

”Especially these thin pancakes, your skill at the dough table has been specially honed, hasn’t it? I can tell you’ve put a lot of effort into this. Also, your control of heat, and the precision in your seasoning ratios during cooking, is very exact. Calling it a comment is a bit difficult for me because, in my view, your dish is nearly perfect.”

”Apart from praising, I haven’t found anything to criticize.”

Li He made a gesture of spreading his hands.

The others burst into laughter.

The atmosphere instantly became relaxed.

Fu Yu also smiled.

Receiving recognition from his former school principal made him feel very proud and honored.

Li He looked at Fu Yu and earnestly said: ”However, even though I have no criticisms of your culinary skills, I can offer you some advice on life: what truly changes fate is not our opportunities but our attitudes.”

Li He sincerely added, ”I hope you maintain your current earnest and diligent attitude in facing future work and life. As long as you persist, with your talent, a bright future is assured.”

Fu Yu nodded gratefully: ”Principal, don’t worry, I will definitely work hard.”

The judges finished their comments and exchanged opinions with each other.

As the restaurant owner, Dong Jun Tian directly announced: ”After evaluation, the candidates selected for this promotion are: Fu Yu and Yao Yihang.”

”Everyone worked hard, thank you for your contributions to the restaurant, you are all excellent!”

”...”

The next second, Fu Yu heard an electronic notification sound:

[Ding! Daily task: Become the first place in this evaluation, successfully completed, and received a reward: a knife that cuts like butter through iron]

[Ding! NPC Chef Yao Shi’s task: Pass the evaluation, successfully promoted, completed, and received a reward: 500 RMB, NPC Chef Yao Shi’s personal skill: Stew (Advanced).]

The phone vibrated slightly.

Fu Yu’s face broke into a beaming smile.

He unexpectedly acquired Yao Shi’s personal skill ”Stew,” and at an advanced level no less, it was truly delightful.

Beyond that, what made him even more excited was the ”knife that cuts through iron like butter.”

After all, the two most important kitchen tools in cooking are the wok and the knife.

The previous ”non-stick straining spoon” and ”non-stick bottom wok” had already clarified to him the literal efficacy of this type of kitchenware’s rewards.

That it could cut through iron like butter must mean it’s just been honed to perfection.

Looking up at the owner giving a generous speech, Fu Yu chose to check the attributes of the ”knife that cuts through iron like butter.”

[Knife that cuts like butter through iron: Forged from high-quality steel, the blade is hard enough to cut through iron like butter, the knife has an excellent balance with the blade’s weight, features a handle that possesses good impact resistance and surface hardness, feels great to grip, is both beautiful and safe for hands, and has an anti-slip design.

A good knife for a hero, if you want to be unstoppable in the kitchen, start with a great knife]

Fu Yu was overjoyed.

However, having experienced this evaluation, he understood the importance of keeping a low profile in all matters.

So he kept his face composed, putting on a facade of attentively supporting the boss’s speech.

Dong Jun Tian: ”Blah blah blah blah...”

Fu Yu nodded cooperatively: Yes, yes, you’re absolutely right!

...

Everything was as expected; the so-called evaluation was nothing more than going through the motions.

The contestants were already well aware of it in their hearts.

However, not being selected inevitably caused some disappointment.

As they came out of the room.

Zhang Jiaxin left in a sulk with his head down.

But Yao Yihang deliberately stayed a step behind and joyfully said to Fu Yu: ”Congratulations!”

Fu Yu smiled: ”Thanks, and you too.”

Yao Yihang suddenly lowered his voice to ask: ”The presentation was designed with help from Chef Zhao, right?”

Fu Yu was taken aback and was about to explain, but Yao Yihang already had a ”You don’t need to say anything, I already know” expression on his face, patted Fu Yu on the shoulder, and then turned and left.

Fu Yu: ”...”

Hey!

This person is really something!

Asking questions but not waiting for the answer?

However, after a second thought, forget it, there’s no need to explain this matter anyway, after all, he got the promotion spot.

Thinking about how he could soon be officially accepted.

Fu Yu suddenly felt refreshed.

It seemed like since he left home, it was the first time he felt grounded.

”Chef Fu, you have to look out for your younger brother in the future! After all, we did fight on the same battlefield!”

Sun Qingning warmly put his arm around Fu Yu’s shoulder, giving him a thumbs up.

Fu Yu couldn’t help but smile: ”Aren’t you older than me?”

Sun Qingning chuckled: ”This is to show respect for you! Or should I call you Brother Fu from now on?”

Fu Yu was at a loss whether to laugh or cry: ”Just drop it!”

The two laughed and chatted as they returned to the kitchen.

Zhao Meng learned the news and, although he had already expected it, was still very pleased.

Taking advantage of the fact that there were no outsiders around, he carefully asked Fu Yu about the specifics of the assessment.

He heard that Fu Yu had come up with a new plating style again.

This time, Zhao Meng was not surprised at all, instead, he stared at Fu Yu and seriously asked, ”Where did you learn these plating tricks?”

Fu Yu had always been diligent and motivated at work, and he was quite clever and quick to learn.

But in terms of plating, he was clearly lacking before, yet now it seems like he’s a different person, as if he suddenly got enlightened.

Whether it was the spicy crayfish, balloon noodle plating from before, or today’s innovative Feast Platter.

Fu Yu’s progress was astonishing.

But Fu Yu was stumped by the question.

This is really hard to explain.

Every day he followed Zhao Meng, and definitely learned everything Zhao Meng taught him.

But Zhao Meng never taught him anything about culinary innovation.

He himself was busy coping with the assessment every day, desperately practicing cooking, with no chance to focus on learning other things.

Thinking about this, he indeed had shown a bit too much improvement lately.

Fu Yu took a deep breath, pondering how to make up something to gloss over it, when he happened to catch a glimpse of Yao Shi out of the corner of his eye.

Fu Yu had a brainwave, and said, ”I learned it from Chef Yao, I used to do a few specialty dishes for a music restaurant with him, which inspired me.”

Zhao Meng suddenly realized.

Music restaurants always go for high-end banquet marketing routes, so they definitely pay more attention to plating than Qianlima here.

”Fu Yu did an excellent job today!” Yao Shi came over, smiling and complimented: ”Among the four people, you were the most outstanding!”

Fu Yu was somewhat excited.

Knowing himself that he was excellent is one thing.

Being acknowledged by others is what truly makes one happy and joyful.

Today’s daily task required him to become the top in this assessment.

No wonder he completed it smoothly.

Turns out he performed better than Yao Yihang.

Fu Yu was overjoyed.

Zhao Meng turned his head at the sound, and also smiled and said in a low voice: ”Mainly thanks to you, Fu Yu was just telling me that his good performance this time was all thanks to you.”

”Oh?” Yao Shi laughed, looking at Fu Yu: ”Is that so?”

Fu Yu blushed slightly, after all... he was using Yao Shi as a shield here.

He chuckled awkwardly: ”Yes, Chef Yao, I am especially grateful to you. If you hadn’t taken me to the stove before, I wouldn’t have been able to complete the assessment so smoothly today.”

Fu Yu said this very sincerely.

After listening, Yao Shi slightly raised the corners of his mouth, feeling very pleased with Fu Yu’s words.

After these few interactions, he also discovered that Fu Yu is a grateful and virtuous person.

Such a person is benevolent and righteous, worthy of association, just like himself.

Yao Shi’s gaze at Fu Yu became warmer and more contemplative.

[Ding! Obtained NPC Chef Yao Shi’s favorability: +5]

Fu Yu was startled and subconsciously looked up at Yao Shi, only to be surprised to see a [?] appear above Yao Shi’s head.

Fu Yu chose to view it.

[Chef Yao Shi has expressed the intention to accept a disciple, serious communication may trigger a side quest.]

Fu Yu: ”!”

Is Yao Shi preparing to take him as a disciple?