When She Stops Being Dramatic

Chapter 66: Chapter 43: The 50s Scorned Wife (43)

Zhu Yun smiled and nodded. ”Although you’re all following me to learn how to be chefs, I firmly believe that every profession has a profound depth of knowledge.”

”So, you can’t give up on your academic education. Your master here didn’t have the opportunity when I was younger. But now, through my own efforts, I’ve earned a graduation certificate from the literacy program. And in the future, I’m going to keep studying and try to get into university!”

She was no longer the Pig Feifei who had just arrived from the countryside. With her exceptional cooking, she had won over more than half of the machinery factory. Moreover, many of the initiatives related to the First Cafeteria were her proposals.

Everyone was thoroughly convinced by her words.

The parents couldn’t help but urge their own children, ”See that? Your master is so hardworking. You can’t slack off either. Follow in her footsteps, and you can’t go wrong!”

The apprentices were mostly seventeen or eighteen years old, having just escaped the pressure cooker of school. Now, it looked like they were being sent back to the forge. They braced themselves and agreed. ’Let’s just complete the ceremony first and worry about the rest later!’

Zhu Yun nodded in satisfaction. ”A master likes apprentices who are clever, obedient, and eager to learn. Since you’re all so determined, I will certainly push you to improve.”

With that, she lifted a small bamboo basket out of a large crate and handed it to Wang Simi. ”This is a welcome gift from your master. I hope you will one day surpass your teacher.”

Wang Simi accepted it excitedly, once again performing a ninety-degree bow so deep her head touched her knees.

The other apprentices each stepped forward solemnly.

Their parents had secretly conferred and given identical apprenticeship gifts. The cigarettes, liquor, and clothes were one thing, but the twelve disciplinary rulers and over twenty lively, hopping chickens were a bit over the top.

However, Zhu Yun called a kitchen assistant over to take the chickens to the back kitchen. They would be stored there and brought out whenever they felt like eating them.

Everyone stared, stunned. ’You could do that?’

They all laughed and said, ”Director Yun is so quick-witted!”

They were even more satisfied with this apprenticeship. Although their children were drawn by Director Yun’s skills, the fact that Director Yun was so capable in every other respect was an unexpected bonus.

At the dinner table, the twelve apprentices established their rankings by age. Then, in a lively celebration, they toasted their new master with tea instead of wine, officially completing the ceremony.

To make it easier for Zhu Yun to train her apprentices, Director Wang specially requisitioned several sets of cooking utensils from the warehouse and also designated a room for them to practice in.

”Director Yun, I heard you’re taking on apprentices. The directors of the other cafeterias are already trying to reserve them. They don’t care if it takes one year or two; as soon as they graduate, they’ll be given their own service window and a kitchen assistant.”

”If your apprentices do well, your salary as their master will also rise steadily!”

This was an explicit factory regulation. For any factory employee, a master’s salary would increase by an amount equal to ten percent of their apprentice’s bonus. The goal was to encourage everyone not to be secretive with their skills and to work together to create value for the collective.

Once twelve apprentices graduated, this meant Zhu Yun would gain another significant stream of income.

Zhu Yun smiled and nodded. ’It’s nice to be content with a modest fortune,’ she thought. ’No need to wrack my brains trying to strike it rich, letting ambition grow until it devours my original passion.’

The cafeteria returned to its usual state. A line of spirited young men and women waited for her command.

Zhu Yun clasped her hands behind her back and couldn’t help but puff out her chest and lift her head. She strode from the front of the line to the back, then walked to the middle and said with a light laugh, ”From this day forward, I am officially your master, and I will guide you in every way.”

”I expect it will take three years for you to graduate.”

As soon as she finished speaking, looks of confusion appeared on the twelve youths’ faces.

’In our opinion, the work in any trade is pretty set in stone. How many intricacies could there possibly be to learn?’

’Isn’t being a great chef just about knife skills, dough work, and techniques on the stove? You can learn the basics in a year or so and graduate in two years, tops. Why drag it out for another year?’

Zhu Yun picked up a thick, heavy disciplinary ruler from the table and tapped it against her palm. ”I’m a rather ambitious person. I set high standards for myself and for others. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have the success I have today.”

”So, we’re going to set some rules from day one.”

”I’ve divided my culinary arts into ten levels. You must pass an assessment for each level before you can proceed to the next stage of learning. Reaching level three makes you a good home cook. At level five, you can be hired as a cafeteria chef. Level eight gets you into a state-owned restaurant, and level ten makes you one of the absolute best in the culinary world.”

The apprentices’ faces flushed red again, this time with excitement. It was as if they had already reached that pinnacle, looking down on a crowd of lesser cooks with the same arrogant disdain that top students had once shown them.

”My assessments are divided into three parts. First, your daily attendance and performance. Starting today, regardless of your current skill, you will each make one dish. You have to be worthy of the apprentice wages you’re earning now. Second, whether the level of your cooking meets the requirements for its grade. And third, you must possess the corresponding academic knowledge!”