The Cheat Emperor of the Culinary World

”Besides me, does anyone else know you come here every night to practice your knife skills?”

Zhao Meng asked casually.

Fu Yu thought for a moment: ”Probably not.”

Zhao Meng snorted, knocked on the kitchen counter: ”Don’t lie, Aunt Xu doesn’t know either? The back kitchen is her territory, if she doesn’t even know someone’s been using things here, she might as well quit.”

Aunt Xu is the cleaning lady in charge of the kitchen’s hygiene.

”No!” Fu Yu suddenly quickened his pace of speech: ”If you want to punish someone, punish me, it has nothing to do with Aunt Xu. Aunt Xu didn’t take any advantage from me, she was just looking out for a fellow townsman.”

Zhao Meng half-smiled: ”Don’t try that on me, it won’t work. You come over to the kitchen every night, using up the space and electricity—this is not allowed by the store. If everyone were like you, not mentioning the safety issues, could you even handle it if you exhaust yourself every day? And what if you mess up your work during the day?”

Qianlima is busy, the kitchen work is always heavy, especially for the small workers who usually do miscellaneous physical labor.

Without a good body, it’s impossible to last.

Fu Yu moved his lips, speechless for a long time.

”If you have something to say, just say it.” Zhao Meng tapped his fingers on the kitchen counter: ”Even if you don’t say it, I know you’re cursing me in your heart. Do you think borrowing the kitchen is a small matter? I’m telling you, if a fire breaks out at night, can you afford the store’s losses? What if someone gets hurt? The dormitory area is right behind, they’re all connected—what would you do if something happened?”

”I...”

”Hey!” Zhao Meng cut off Fu Yu’s words: ”Okay, don’t explain. It’s not the first time I’ve encountered this situation. When nothing happens, everyone talks nice, but when something does happen, they all become newcomers who don’t know the rules, claiming they’re poor so they’re justified!”

This series of questions and lectures left Fu Yu feeling both embarrassed and at a loss, and in his panic, he couldn’t find any words to refute.

Zhao Meng said with a stern face: ”Regarding today’s matter, I will hold both you and Aunt Xu accountable.”

Fu Yu quickly said: ”Chef Zhao, this has nothing to do with Aunt Xu. If you want to punish someone, punish me. I was the one who came to the kitchen without permission. I’m responsible.”

Zhao Meng looked at him: ”You should understand the principle that law does not punish the majority, right? How is it unrelated to her in this situation? I’m giving you a chance here; don’t miss it.”

Fu Yu stood silently for a moment, clenching his teeth: ”I said, it has nothing to do with Aunt Xu, and that’s that. Punish me, be it a fine or whatever, I’ll take it.”

Zhao Meng kept a straight face, but smiled inside.

Well, he’s got some backbone.

”Punish you? You’re an apprentice, not yet turned official, and your monthly pay is so low, there’s nothing to deduct. How about this: since you have the spare time and energy, from tomorrow onwards, you’re responsible for the staff meals for our morning shifts. Do well, and I’ll reward you by letting you assist me.”

Fu Yu suddenly looked up.

”What, don’t like getting up early?” Zhao Meng took two chopsticks from the counter, supporting the carrot Fu Yu had cut before, and demonstrated the straight cut technique: ”When making ’sliced cucumber’, place two chopsticks under the cucumber, and cut straight on one side. With chopsticks underneath, you don’t have to worry about cutting through.”

Having said that, he turned and left quietly: ”Silly kid...”

...

After working all day, Fu Yu sat back on the car seat, telling Pang Bowen about his early days in the kitchen.

He had a smile on his face, and his voice carried a lazy humor: ”That’s when I started assisting Chef Zhao, who I see as my mentor.”

Pang Bowen said with deep feeling: ”I was wondering, all these years, Chef Zhao never had anyone by his side, you’re the first.”

As he spoke, Pang Bowen turned to glance at Fu Yu.

Zhao Meng appeared rough on the surface, but was actually quite thoughtful, keeping everything to himself—he knew the score.

Fu Yu lowered his head and laughed, his eyes filled with depth.

If he hadn’t been with Zhao Meng back then, he wouldn’t be where he is today.

Pang Bowen had a very pleasant personality, being communicative and down-to-earth.

Being with him felt easy and relaxing.

It took about forty minutes to drive from the dessert shop to Qianlima.

During this long period, Fu Yu chatted happily with Pang Bowen; it was relaxing, and the topics they talked about were quite interesting.

So by the time they got off the car, Fu Yu waved goodbye to Pang Bowen, and any envy or jealousy he felt melted away.

In this lifetime, he might not have the chance to be a second-generation rich, but he might be able to work hard to become a first-generation rich.

To buy a duplex near the Department Store, it would at least require a small seven figures.

Thinking of this, Fu Yu suddenly perked up.

The road ahead is long, he must keep striving!

...

The next morning, when Fu Yu clocked in, he happened to run into Xin Li.

The finance department’s news has always been the most well-informed in the store.

So when Xin Li mentioned the allocation of the newly built employee dormitory starting today, Fu Yu immediately got excited.

Good news!

Actually, the dorm room he had been staying in was also nice.

Besides the dorms reserved for the store’s leaders, which were in better condition, other employees’ rooms were pretty much the same.

And he was the only kitchen staff member lucky enough to live in a single room, not having to share.

This was naturally partly due to extra care from Zhao Meng.

But he was still looking forward to moving into the new dorm.

Especially upon hearing that the new dorms would have individual bathrooms, he couldn’t help but feel more excited.

The new dorms have twelve rooms in total.

However, instead of the previous four-person room, they turned into six-person rooms.

Each dorm comes with its own bath facilities, supplemented by two new washing machines for communal use, placed in a separate laundry room.

In terms of personnel arrangements, the front hall staff was managed by Gao Wenjing, while the kitchen side was organized by Yao Shi.

As for figuring out who goes into which dorm, except for those who form groups on their own, the rest will draw lots to decide.

Before this news was announced, Fu Yu was called over by Zhao Meng alone.

Zhao Meng specifically instructed Fu Yu: ”Drawing lots is purely a matter of luck, the first and last chances are the same. Fu Yu, don’t compete with others; drawing last makes us seem more gracious!”

Fu Yu nodded; he hadn’t planned to compete with anyone anyway.

But once the results were announced, Fu Yu drew the room that was the most spacious, with the best lighting and location.

In the dorm with him were three locals who rarely stayed over, and one who was planning to move out with his girlfriend after the New Year.

One bed was empty, which was right above Fu Yu’s bunk.

Essentially, he had a pair of bunk beds to himself; by the year’s end, it would be his to use alone.

Usually, when in leadership, one tends to favor capable subordinates a bit more, with extra care.

Especially with Zhao Meng’s connection, Yao Shi would surely look after Fu Yu a bit more.