The Cheat Emperor of the Culinary World

Fu Yu kept flipping the wok in his hand, turning to Wang Yuxuan and said, ”I’ll head over as soon as I’m done here.”

Wang Yuxuan asked anxiously, ”I just did some digging, and it seems like the order and the dishes served don’t match! What’s going on?”

As they were talking, Yao Shi happened to come over. Hearing Wang Yuxuan’s words, he asked in surprise, ”What’s going on?”

Fu Yu briefly explained the situation.

The two fell silent immediately.

Zhao Meng frowned and said, ”Let me go. I’m free right now.”

Fu Yu hurriedly said, ”Chef Zhao, no need. Since he wants to see me, I’ll go take a look myself.”

In the end, it was Yao Shi who decided, ”No worries, I’ll go with you.”

With Yao Shi accompanying him, Zhao Meng felt at ease but still couldn’t help reminding Fu Yu, ”Be cautious and don’t try to show off!”

Fu Yu plated the dish from the pan, arranging it while agreeing, ”Got it, don’t worry.”

Fu Yu followed Yao Shi to room 207.

Yao Shi curiously asked, ”The dishes you made, do they really look similar to the original ingredients?”

When it came to this matter, Fu Yu was quite confident.

The traditional flavors from the classic recipes were authentic, and just the presentation and taste of the dishes alone were indistinguishable from real.

Fu Yu said confidently, ”Almost identical, and the taste is nearly the same too.”

Yao Shi asked curiously, ”How did you come up with using other ingredients to substitute seafood in cooking?”

Fu Yu casually made it up, ”Oh, actually it’s all from vegetarian dishes. Back when I was studying, a classmate’s mother was a Buddhist, and the family was vegetarian. When I went over, the dishes were so delicious I just had to learn how to make them.”

”So it’s vegetarian dishes!” Yao Shi thought of something, eyes lighting up as he looked at Fu Yu, ”Besides these dishes, can you make other vegetarian dishes?”

Fu Yu had a flash of inspiration, turning to Yao Shi. Is this another chance to create a vegetarian menu for the music restaurant?

Great opportunity!

Fu Yu quickly said, ”I can! I spent over three years at culinary school with my classmate, often staying at his place. I learned all the vegetarian specialties from his mom.”

Yao Shi was amused upon hearing this.

With someone else around, the two exchanged a knowing look and remained silent.

Arriving at room 207, Yao Shi led the way in.

Even knowing the situation, seeing Ma Hua Chao in a hospital gown looking impatient made Yao Shi frown.

Just by his appearance, he didn’t look like someone proper coming to eat.

Qianlima has been in business for many years, encountering all kinds of shady characters.

Yao Shi’s attitude towards Ma Hua Chao was in line with Gao Wenjing’s, suspecting this guy came to fake illness for a free meal.

Looking like that, he could cause trouble even if you don’t provoke him.

If he’s faking, it’s easier to deal with—a free meal might settle it.

If it’s real, he may just be here to con money. He’s already terminal, so might as well let him be; it’s decent enough he’s not lashing out at society.

Yao Shi always held a skeptical and cautious attitude towards such people.

Having seen too much, experienced the dark side of society.

The bigger the forest, the more birds there are.

Some people really aren’t worth pitying.

There’s this saying, ”Pitiable people must have detestable qualities,” and it’s not without reason.

Yao Shi glanced at Ma Hua Chao, already deciding how to handle him without any conflict.

Yao Shi wore a warm and friendly smile, introducing himself to Ma Hua Chao, ”Hi, I’m the manager of the kitchen, I heard you...”

But Ma Hua Chao stared directly at Fu Yu, asking, ”Are you Chef Fu?”

Fu Yu nodded, ”Yes, I’m Fu Yu.”

Ma Hua Chao looked at the packed meal boxes in front of him and asked, ”The waitress just billed me, and this meal cost me less than two hundred bucks. Did you give me a discount?”

Fu Yu explained, ”We have an internal employee discount policy; I put this meal under my account.”

Ma Hua Chao hesitantly said, ”Won’t that cause trouble for you?”

Fu Yu smiled, ”No worries, my family lives elsewhere, and I rarely have friends or relatives dining here. Once in a while, the management won’t mind.”

Yao Shi: ”...”

Who said I won’t mind!

Yao Shi sighed. He came with Fu Yu today mainly to prevent unreasonable customers from causing trouble.

On the other hand, to ensure Fu Yu wouldn’t suffer.

A long-time acquaintance made Yao Shi fully aware of Fu Yu’s character.

Seemingly mild-mannered but incredibly tenacious and determined at heart.

This reminded Yao Shi of Fu Yu volunteering to take orders and cook independently when Zhao Meng was sick.

Also of Fu Yu’s casual mention of wanting to learn vegetarian dishes because they tasted so good until he mastered them all.

Without such dedication and perseverance, how could his culinary skills have improved so quickly?

You really need a good foundation to achieve anything!

After hearing Fu Yu’s explanation, Ma Hua Chao stood up, smiled, and pulled a roll of money from his pocket.

Ma Hua Chao stood still, just placing the money on the table, ”Chef Fu, you’re a good person; I can’t take advantage of you. I’ll leave the money here for you; I won’t need it anyway.”

Fu Yu hurriedly said, ”Why wouldn’t you need it! You...”

Ma Hua Chao sighed dejectedly, ”This illness of mine has no cure... There’s nothing on this earth that I’m attached to, my two sisters married well and take good care of my parents. Among them, I’m the only disappointment!”

”Sigh, thinking back on life, I really don’t have much to regret. I’ve eaten, drank, been loved by parents, protected by sisters, worth it.”

Ma Hua Chao picked up the packed meal boxes, ”Chef Fu, you made these dishes, right? They’re really delicious! I’ll take them, for sure I’ll finish them later, can’t waste good food.”

After saying this, Ma Hua Chao started to walk out.

Fu Yu quickly called him back, handing over the money roll, ”No! You misunderstood, I didn’t use my money, just gave you the employee discount.”

Ma Hua Chao froze, ”What do you mean?”

Fu Yu explained, ”After hearing the doctor advised you against seafood for your condition, I replaced all the seafood with vegetarian ingredients. This whole table would cost the same at our restaurant!”

Ma Hua Chao: ”!”