The Cheat Emperor of the Culinary World

Zhang Zhen looked at the two people and explained, ”For now, it probably won’t happen. Even if the boss wants to, Qianlima won’t easily let people go. You don’t need to think too much about this matter. The Kaijiang Banquet is hard to ensure quality with just a few of us, since Fu Yu can do it, I agree to let him take charge of the cooking.”

Upon hearing this, Chef Liu thought Zhang Zhen was planning to wash his hands of the matter and immediately looked somewhat angry, saying in a deep voice, ”Chef Zhang, that’s not right. We’ve worked together for years, could it be that our camaraderie is fake? If Fu Yu comes, at most he’s on par with us as a chef, but if Zhao Meng also transfers over? Do you think he’s aiming just for a chef position?”

Seeing this, Chef Lin quickly stepped forward, got close to Zhang Zhen, and said quietly, ”Chef Zhang, what’s going on? No matter what, we’re friends who’ve worked together for years. Although the boss values Fu Yu, the person he truly admires is Zhao Meng, can’t you see that?”

”If they, as master and apprentice, both come over, can we still make a living here?”

”Moreover, isn’t this Kaijiang Banquet just about making river fish? With a few of us joining hands, we can still manage a full banquet setup, can’t we? Whatever dishes you want to make, just say it, we’ll figure it out ourselves. This is the honor of our restaurant. Bringing in chefs from another place to be in charge, does that make sense?”

”At this critical moment, the dishes must be made, and it’d be best if our restaurant does it ourselves. If there’s any dish you’re worried we can’t make, just say it. Whether it’s pan-frying, stir-frying, poaching, or deep-frying, none of it is a problem. Just tell us what you need directly. Isn’t it as simple as that?”

Zhang Zhen sighed in his heart after hearing what Chef Lin and Chef Liu had to say.

People involved often don’t see things clearly, while bystanders see the truth.

Ever since he saw through the boss’s arrangement, he understood what exactly the boss intended for Zhao Meng and his apprentice. Now he had completely figured it out.

The important thing is to be clear-headed.

Take on tasks that match your capabilities.

Zhang Zhen had worked with Zhao Meng briefly. Although Zhao Meng was always temporarily helping out, Zhang Zhen had somewhat gotten to know him.

Straightforward personality, impatient temper, but excellent cooking skills.

Back when Zhao Meng first arrived, even Zhang Zhen had a bit of resistance.

While it’s said two tigers can’t live on one mountain, it was pretty close.

Zhao Meng made him feel threatened.

Considering Zhao Meng’s close relationship with the boss, plus his skilled cooking abilities, and his prowess in management, in every respect, he could take on the role of head chef.

At one time, Zhang Zhen felt Zhao Meng was being specially groomed by the boss to replace him.

Given the music restaurant is of this scale, its personnel requirements must also be very high.

Back when Yao Shi supported him as head chef, now naturally they could replace him with a more capable person at will.

As it’s often said, iron-clad restaurants, flowing head chefs.

Management positions rotate, staff remain constant.

So when later Zhao Meng stopped coming, replaced by Fu Yu, Zhang Zhen’s high-strung anxiety finally started to ease a bit.

With a calm mind, he was able to think clearly.

The boss’s favor over him these past two years was visible to anyone with eyes.

While Zhao Meng was reliable and capable, he was too straightforward, lacking in tact.

It’s fine if he had someone to support him, but relying solely on himself to manage the entire kitchen would be extremely difficult.

Even if Zhao Meng really came over to the music restaurant one day, he suspected there would be two head chefs in the kitchen.

One managing cooking arrangements, the other coordinating personnel.

As for Fu Yu.

His cooking is excellent but he’s still too young, lacking in social experience.

If he comes over, the highest position he can reach is simply as a chef.

Aiming for head chef promotion?

At least requires some more years of experience.

Zhang Zhen figured things out thoroughly regarding this matter.

At work, who doesn’t want to achieve something?

Zhang Zhen had a clear understanding of his own abilities. His cooking was decent, but not exceptional, and what the boss valued most was his personnel management skills.

As a head chef, besides knowing how to cook, it’s more crucial to coordinate the kitchen staff’s work assignments.

Zhang Zhen had this capability and during these past two years of work, he often received praise from the boss.

Watching the music restaurant’s business grow daily, as head chef, Zhang Zhen received various bonuses to his heart’s content, and he was overjoyed inside.

If tomorrow’s event could proceed smoothly, the city was sure to promote the appreciation event on a large scale.

As a signature Bei’an specialty dish at the forefront, the music restaurant certainly wouldn’t lack advertising benefits.

By then, with his boss’s knack for seizing opportunities, it was sure to create a favorable situation, beneficial to Zhang Zhen!

Thus, hearing Chef Lin and Chef Liu’s resistance towards Fu Yu, Zhang Zhen’s first instinct was to hammer home a point!

Ambition is good, but the prerequisite is that you have the ability to achieve it.

Fu Yu’s potential shouldn’t be underestimated.

Chef Lin and Chef Liu, having seen this, felt that Fu Yu was going to take over their positions.

But whether they can safeguard their positions, with a sharp boss like Yao Shi, it all depends on one’s capabilities.

Zhang Zhen looked at Chef Lin and Chef Liu, seriously saying, ”Old Lin, Old Liu, Fu Yu’s just coming to work part-time, when the boss explained it before, you were there...”

Chef Lin cut off Zhang Zhen’s words: ”Chef Zhang, we get your point, okay, let’s leave this aside for now and focus on tomorrow’s banquet arrangement. This is our restaurant’s honor, after all, the Kaijiang Banquet is nothing more than a full fish feast. Didn’t we just discuss a full set menu? As long as we have the dish names, we can make it!”

Zhang Zhen looked up deeply at Chef Lin: ”But Fu Yu can make the most authentic, traditional Kaijiang Banquet. Can you?”

A single sentence made Chef Lin dumbfounded!

Chef Liu cleared his throat lightly, just about to speak when Zhang Zhen continued, ”Old Lin, Old Liu, we’ve known each other for years, you know how I am. If something can be done, I won’t shirk it, if it can’t, I won’t force it.”

”Tomorrow’s event is very important, the higher-ups have clearly directed that an authentic Kaijiang Banquet must be made. I’m not confident about guaranteeing this menu, so now that the boss has managed to contact Fu Yu who can do it, there’s no way this can be changed.”

Zhang Zhen felt he had made himself clear.

To put it bluntly, with his character of not lifting a finger without benefit, if this matter would harm his interests, he surely wouldn’t comply so readily.

After some hesitation, Chef Lin still wanted to persist: ”But, won’t news get out about this project? Can’t we at least handle it ourselves?”

Zhang Zhen shook his head: ”There’s too little time. Tonight, we must prepare all needed ingredients. Tomorrow there are other banquets to arrange. The originally planned 26 tables have now been increased to 70 tables, with an additional 12 tables’ worth of ingredients ready for extra setup at any moment.”