The Cheat Emperor of the Culinary World

The restaurant was bustling with business, orders coming in continuously.

Yao Shi was worried about the workload in the kitchen, and just as Liu Yu’s family finished eating and was about to leave, he escorted them to the first floor, exchanged goodbyes, and hurried back.

The kitchen was a scene of fiery activity.

As soon as Yao Shi arrived, he was stopped by the order clerk, who said that a VIP customer had requested him specifically to cook their meal.

Yao Shi glanced at the name on the order and saw it was indeed a regular customer, so he nodded and said, ”Alright, I’ll take this order. Go to the front desk and get a gift box to give to the customer, and just say I’m too busy to come out, so please accept this gift.”

The order clerk agreed and turned to leave.

Yao Shi took the order slip but didn’t start cooking right away; he went over to Zhao Meng’s side.

Zhao Meng was busy reprimanding Sun Qingning.

When Sun Qingning was stir-frying crayfish earlier, in his haste, he accidentally dropped a crayfish on the kitchen counter while plating.

Instinctively, he reached out to pick up the crayfish and intended to put it back on the plate, only for Zhao Meng to catch him.

He’d really walked right into it.

Zhao Meng was known for his quick temper, always ready to explode.

And now, with his injured hand, the kitchen was bustling, yet he couldn’t help or do anything, which made him anxious.

Seeing Sun Qingning dare to pick up something from the counter and try to put it back on the plate, he exploded on the spot.

”Throw it away immediately!”

Sun Qingning was startled by Zhao Meng’s sudden outburst and hurriedly tossed the picked-up crayfish into the trash bin in a panic.

Zhao Meng scolded him in disappointment: ”How long have you been in this industry? On the first day of learning to be a chef, the teacher would surely tell you that hygiene is the key; for those in cooking, hygiene must come first!”

Sun Qingning kept his head down, listening to the reprimand without daring to make a sound.

Zhao Meng instructed, ”Go get some small dishes! Later, go with the server to explain and apologize to the customer!”

Sun Qingning was stunned!

Is this necessary?

It was just one less crayfish!

The reason he wanted to put the dropped one back was also because the counter wasn’t dirty!

The cleaning lady wipes it every day.

Plus, as kitchen assistants like them, they ensure to clean and wipe the counter when time permits.

However, Zhao Meng’s order was to throw the crayfish away, so he did.

But to compensate the customer with a small dish and have to apologize in person?

Isn’t this making a mountain out of a molehill?

Sun Qingning was not convinced: ”Chef Zhao, do we have to offer them a small dish?”

”Why not? This order of crayfish is missing one; don’t you have to compensate?” Zhao Meng replied: ”A small dish doesn’t cost much, but when the customer receives it, they’ll feel satisfied. Next time, when they want to eat, just for this service attitude and strict hygiene standard, they would think of us again.”

”But this order of crayfish is such a big bowl, they couldn’t possibly count them all...”

Zhao Meng gave him a look and almost yelled at him: Is there water in your brain?

On second thought, he decided to let it go; now that Fu Yu had finished his apprenticeship, Sun Qingning was the only one under him who might be worth cultivating.

”Prevention is better than cure, understand? The business in the store is bustling, and there are all kinds of customers. Our crayfish aren’t sold by weight, but by count — each order has 38. If a meticulous customer actually counted and found one missing, what would happen?”

”Everything needs to be planned ahead to adapt to circumstances and avoid conflicts!”

After saying all this, Zhao Meng felt that his temper had truly improved a lot.

A bit of romance, calming the passionate blood, indeed helps, even if for now it’s only admiring with the eyes, it still cultivates patience.

”Chef Zhao.”

”What?”

”You see, can’t we just have the server deliver the small dish; do I still need to specially apologize?”

”...” Zhao Meng gave him a look, making him ponder on his own.

”Just go apologize to the customer.” Sun Qingning muttered, then obediently went to get the small dish.

Can’t blame him for being cowardly; facing the fiery Zhao Meng, who wouldn’t avoid him in the kitchen?

Only Fu Yu, with his good temper and quick wit, seemed to have rarely been scolded.

Yao Shi saw Zhao Meng was scolding someone, so he waited a bit, and when Sun Qingning was sent away, he approached.

”What’s going on?”

Zhao Meng turned his head and saw Yao Shi, sighed helplessly: ”Nothing much, aren’t you busy over there?”

With many eyes in the kitchen, Yao Shi didn’t mention Liu Yu’s visit, just smiled and said, ”I heard Fu Yu prepared a three-course meal, so I came to take a look.”

Zhao Meng was surprised and turned to Fu Yu: ”Fu Yu! Did you just make a three-course meal?”

Fu Yu was busy stirring the wok and responded: ”Ah! It’s already done!”

Yao Shi went over to praise him, ”You did a great job with the meal; the customer praised it.”

Fu Yu was quite delighted to hear that: ”Really? It’s mainly because Chef Zhao taught me well!”

Zhao Meng: ”...”

Did I really teach?

He had made the three-course meal twice over the New Year, but back then, Fu Yu hadn’t started assisting under him yet...

Yao Shi laughingly agreed, ”Indeed! Old Zhao, you really have a knack for training people! Alright, keep busy!”

Then, he specially said to the returning Sun Qingning, ”Xiaosun, stay dedicated under Chef Zhao, look at Fu Yu, he’s your future model.”

Having just been reprimanded, Sun Qingning suddenly felt a warm, sweet aftertaste.

Startled and honored, he exclaimed, ”I will! Chef Yao, I’ll definitely work hard following Chef Zhao!”

Yao Shi encouraged him with a pat on the shoulder and went back to his work.

Sun Qingning, reinvigorated, followed the server to apologize to the customer with the small dish.

The busyness went on until midnight when the restaurant finally closed.

This year’s business was particularly booming, and the boss Dong Jun Tian was in a great mood, so he initiated a red packet game in the kitchen work group.

Fu Yu’s WeChat red packet was set with a voice reminder, and as soon as he heard the prompt, ”Red packet arrived!”

he immediately grabbed one.

Even so, there were quicker hands than his.

[Zhang Jinyu: 9.52 yuan]

...

[Fu Yu: 25.85 yuan]

Fu Yu was thrilled!

Hey!

The boss is generous!

The red packets are really fun to grab!

With the boss leading, Yao Shi soon after also sent a red packet.

[Fu Yu: 7.88 yuan]

Gu Yunwu followed suit with a red packet.

[Fu Yu: 5.11 yuan]

Zhao Meng belatedly sent a red packet.

[Fu Yu: 6.33 yuan]

Yao Yihang, in line with the trend, also sent a red packet.

[Fu Yu: 5.24 yuan]

Seeing that even Yao Yihang had sent one, Fu Yu followed the crowd and sent a red packet as well.

[Number of red packets: 27]

Counting the people, it’s definitely right.

The total amount... Judging by Yao Yihang’s, it should be 100 yuan.

Fu Yu imitated: 10...

”Chef Fu!”

Zhang Jinyu, who assisted Fu Yu today and felt he gained a lot from it, was both familiar and flattering in his attitude towards Fu Yu.

He enthusiastically patted Fu Yu’s shoulder: ”Let’s go together!”

Fu Yu’s finger slipped, and he accidentally sent the money into a red packet, not having reacted before a freshly sent red packet appeared in the work group.

Fu Yu felt a cold shiver down his spine!

Oh no!

He set it to no password payment!

Two ”Red packet arrived!” sounds rang simultaneously.

Zhang Jinyu, quick-eyed and swift, pulled out his phone and grabbed a red packet.

”Wow! Chef Fu, is this your red packet?”

[Zhang Jinyu: 0.08 yuan]

Zhang Jinyu was disheartened: ”...Ah! So unlucky?”

[Sun Qingning: 0.03 yuan]

Zhang Jinyu: ”!”

Zhang Jinyu couldn’t believe it: ”Chef Fu, how much did you put in the red packet?”

Fu Yu: ”...”