The Cheat Emperor of the Culinary World

Chapter 4: Chapter 4: Taking Up the Ladle

Fu Yu worked very efficiently.

He was quick at chopping, finishing the carrots and moving on to slicing potatoes and cucumbers into julienne strips.

Gu Yunwu double-checked the wedding banquet menu with the front hall manager and hurried to the back kitchen.

He was concerned that if he didn’t oversee the work personally, the young assistants wouldn’t perform well.

Young people today are too unsettled.

Gu Yunwu was really worried.

When he returned to the kitchen and saw five large basins brimming with carrot slices, Gu Yunwu was stunned.

These diamond-shaped cuts might look simple, but they actually test one’s knife skills and speed.

He had only been to the front hall for about ten minutes.

It was beyond the usual standard that the assistants managed to prepare so much food in that time.

Gu Yunwu sighed in relief and felt a sense of satisfaction.

Fu Yu was focusing on slicing the potatoes in his hands.

The potatoes, peeled and soaking in a basin of water, needed to be finely julienned.

Gu Yunwu walked over.

Fu Yu had just finished stacking the potato slices and started slicing them into thin strips.

Just as Gu Yunwu was about to speak, he caught a glance at Fu Yu’s cutting motions and swallowed his words.

A good chef, besides mastering cooking and seasoning, must also excel at the basic skill of chopping.

With decades of culinary experience, Gu Yunwu was startled by Fu Yu’s knife technique.

Fu Yu’s chopping style was somewhat unusual!

To do a good job, one must first sharpen their tools.

Gu Yunwu eyed the knife in Fu Yu’s hand and recognized it.

It was Chef Zhao Meng’s knife; he had noticed Zhao Meng getting a new set recently, and he had given the old set to Fu Yu.

Gu Yunwu quietly watched Fu Yu as he sliced vegetables.

He noticed Fu Yu’s exceptional precision in knife skills.

”One slow, one fast.”

When slicing, you shouldn’t rush; ensure accuracy before making the cut.

For julienne, speed, precision, and decisiveness are essential.

This heavily relies on a chef’s chopping skill level.

Gu Yunwu recalled that, during his apprenticeship years, his master had him practice his wrist strength and cutting accuracy through slicing exercises.

The biggest fear in chopping prep is failing to meet the chef’s speed during cooking.

Mastering the precision of slicing and julienning can greatly enhance the dish’s texture.

To reach his current level, Gu Yunwu practiced hard for many years.

However, Fu Yu’s knife skills were now evidently on par with his own.

In chopping prep work, Fu Yu was truly impressive.

Hard-working and talented.

Gu Yunwu admired Fu Yu even more.

[Ding! Favorability from Chef Gu Yunwu +5]

Immersed in the rhythm of cutting, Fu Yu suddenly paused.

Favorability?

He instinctively turned his head and saw Gu Yunwu staring at the knife in his hand.

Fu Yu: ”!”

This knife had been obtained through persistent persuasion, traded from Zhao Meng with two packs of Zhonghua cigarettes, and it worked excellently.

Had Chef Gu also had his eye on it?

After all, he’s a top chef.

If he asked for it, Fu Yu might not keep this set he had painstakingly acquired.

Fu Yu shifted his gaze away.

He silently turned his back, blocking his cutting actions from view.

He firmly decided that in the future he would ”never reveal his prized knives.”

The prepared ingredients list seemed extensive, yet apart from slicing carrots, potatoes, and cucumbers into slices and julienne strips, the rest involved simpler tasks like cutting into chunks and frying.

Fu Yu finished the last stack of cucumber slices.

[Ding! Daily Task: Complete five rounds of chopping. Successfully completed. Reward: 50 yuan. Chopping Experience +10. Task Experience +10]

Gu Yunwu came to inspect the finished products, nodded with satisfaction: ”Not bad, good job.”

[Ding! NPC Gu Yunwu’s Task: Assist with chopping. Successfully completed. Reward: 10 yuan, Chopping Experience +5, Task Experience +5]

Fu Yu’s lips curled up slightly.

As expected, the next moment, his phone rang.

The bank notification came through.

[Agricultural Bank of China] Dear customer: The task reward of 60 yuan has been deposited into your Agricultural Bank account ending in 0765 on December 9th. Please verify if the funds have been credited. If the remittance information is incorrect, the bank will return it for handling.

Gu Yunwu glanced at the several basins of prepared ingredients in front of Fu Yu, then at the ones prepared by his three other assistants, which barely matched them altogether.

He felt increasingly satisfied with Fu Yu.

Steady, diligent, gifted, excellent knife skills.

[Ding! Favorability from Chef Gu Yunwu +5]

Feeling pleased with himself for earning another 60 yuan, Fu Yu was suddenly startled by the electronic sound in his ear.

He looked up to see Gu Yunwu smiling kindly at him.

Instinctively, he stepped back a bit.

Before Gu Yunwu could speak, he quickly said: ”Chef Gu, if there’s nothing else, I’ll head back first?”

Fortunately, Gu Yunwu knew that Zhao Meng also needed manpower, so he nodded: ”Sure, you can go back.”

Fu Yu felt a sense of relief. Just before leaving, something caught his eye, and he couldn’t help but pause.

The ”?” above Gu Yunwu’s head had disappeared, but the ”!” was still vividly standing there.

His curiosity was piqued, and he quickly took a glance while Gu Yunwu was turning around.

[Chef with 31 years of experience. Status: Meticulous and responsible, skilled craftsman, Favorability: 10] [Attribute Details]

Attribute details?

Fu Yu hurriedly chose to check, but a new dialog box popped up.

[To view attribute details, the favorability must reach 50]

Fu Yu suddenly understood.

Turns out, to see someone else’s detailed attributes, you need to find a way to raise their favorability.

Not daring to linger anymore.

Fu Yu carried his tools back to his section of the kitchen station.

The so-called kitchen partition actually divided the kitchen into two sections, one led by Zhao Meng and the other managed by Gu Yunwu.

Usually, they all worked together taking orders, unless there was a booked event. The section that took the order was responsible.

When Fu Yu returned, Zhao Meng was directing the helpers under him to prepare ingredients.

Fu Yu had been busy all morning, yet Zhao Meng only assigned him some easy, oil-related tasks.

The eggplant chunks went into the oil pan.

Fu Yu stole a glance at the ”!” above Zhao Meng’s head while he busied himself.

[Chef with 27 years of experience. Status: Easygoing, superb culinary skills, Favorability: 65] [Attribute Details]

Exceeding 50, I can check detailed attributes!

Fu Yu multitasked, frying while checking Zhao Meng’s attribute information.

[Name: Zhao Meng]

[Occupation: Chef]

[Level: lv41: 700/1000 (Senior Technician)]

[Professional Skills:

Chopping: Advanced: 450/500

Dough: Intermediate: 376/500

Pan-fry: Advanced: 390/500

Stir-fry: Advanced: 230/500

Braise: Advanced: 98/500

Fry: Intermediate: 180/500

Explosion stir-fry: Advanced: 500/500

Simmer: Advanced: 140/500

Paste: Advanced: 320/500

Roast: Advanced: 20/500

Braise-stew: Intermediate: 490/500

Braise-tender: Advanced: 500/500

Steam: Advanced: 293/500

Quick-boil: Advanced: 321/500

Boil: Advanced: 434/500

Pot-roast: Advanced: 500/500

Scald: Advanced: 77/500

Pickle: Advanced: 242/500

Mix: Intermediate: 207/500

Grill: Advanced: 335/500

Marinate: Advanced: 286/500

Freeze: Intermediate: 460/500]

A long list of dazzling attributes, leaving Fu Yu wide-eyed.

It’s truly too luxurious!

He currently only has the four most basic skills, none of the others even reached novice level.

Truly comparing oneself to others can drive you crazily envious!

Zhao Meng, after being busy for a while, remembered something, turned around to say something, and saw Fu Yu staring directly at him.

This kid, dare to zone out while working!

Zhao Meng glared: ”Focus!”

After a reprimand, he then instructed: ”There’s not much going on in our section today, but later there’ll be two tables of guests, all regulars, and they’ve specified their preferences in advance. You’ll handle one table, and I’ll oversee the other.”

Fu Yu couldn’t help but feel a little nervous.

He’s been working with Zhao Meng for nearly a year, but he’s usually just assisting on the side, maybe helping with prep and plating, never actually taking charge of the cooking — it’s like a maiden’s first carriage ride.

In theory, he has mastered it quite well, but in practical operations, he completely belongs to the group who learned by watching.

However, besides feeling nervous, Fu Yu was also a bit excited.

After all, as a kitchen assistant, if you don’t strive to take charge of cooking, how could you ever become a head chef?

The two tables of customers booked different times.

At ten-thirty.

Zhao Meng called Fu Yu to the front of the kitchen station.

Seeing Fu Yu looking a bit nervous, he encouraged: ”The customers at this table have ordered some homestyle dishes, which you’ve helped with before; it’s nothing difficult. Besides, when I’m handling the wok, haven’t you always said it’s pretty easy? Well, now’s your chance to show me.”

Fu Yu chuckled sheepishly: ”How could I dare to show off in front of you? That’d be like showing a sword in front of Guan Yu!”

Zhao Meng glared: ”No matter what you’re showing, today you better do it right for me!”

From the front desk came news that the customers had just called and would arrive on time.

Zhao Meng handed the menu to Fu Yu, encouragingly patted his shoulder, and said, ”Go for it!”