The Cheat Emperor of the Culinary World

Chapter 7: Chapter 7: I Am That Rising Star

Fu Yu chose to check the attributes of the non-oil-sticking skimmer.

[Non-Oil-Sticking Skimmer: High-quality stainless steel, combines mirror polishing with a matte finish, comfortable to hold, not slippery, and does not retain any oil stains!]

Fu Yu silently glanced at the skimmer hanging on the tool rack.

He reached out, picked it up, and directly placed it in the oil basin.

It truly didn’t retain a single drop of oil!

Then he switched to a smaller skimmer.

Also, no oil sticking.

So, does this mean that from now on, he doesn’t have to worry about oil sticking whenever he uses a skimmer?

It seems rather impressive.

But... does the skimmer sticking or not affect cooking?

No clue!

Oh well, since it’s a free reward, it should be useful, right?

The server who was passing dishes returned.

”The customer requested a bag of sugar.”

Fu Yu: ...

So persistent?

Does seafood porridge need sugar too?!

The server quickly left holding the sugar.

After taking care of two tables of regular customers.

Fu Yu returned to his position as a kitchen helper.

The menu was passed from the front desk, Zhao Meng took the order, and several helpers assisted.

Just as two main dishes were served, the previous server, Wang Yuxuan, returned, still carrying that bag of sugar.

”Why isn’t it opened?”

Fu Yu took it and glanced at it.

Wang Yuxuan said, ”I brought the sugar over, but they said they don’t need it anymore.”

If they don’t need it, they don’t need it.

Fu Yu didn’t pay much attention.

Anyway, the customer is always right; let them do whatever they please.

Zhao Meng instructed, ”Come over and handle the squid, and also prepare some chicken liver and gizzard.”

Fu Yu quickly put away the sugar and went to assist.

Zhao Meng was planning to make Three Delicacies Stew.

As soon as Fu Yu heard, saliva began to form.

This dish is Zhao Meng’s special skill, even Chef Gu can’t replicate the rich flavor.

Fu Yu proposed, ”Chef Zhao, can I prepare a bit more squid and gizzard? How about we also have a Three Delicacies Stew for lunch?”

Zhao Meng glanced at him without replying.

Fu Yu raised one finger, ”A pack of Soft Zhonghua?”

Zhao Meng raised an eyebrow, ”Did you hit the jackpot, kid?”

In just one morning, he earned nearly 200 yuan, so isn’t that hitting the jackpot!

Fu Yu inwardly chuckled and said, ”It’s not about money; you’ve been so good to me, I definitely should honor you.”

Zhao Meng seemed pleased, ”Alright, prepare a bit more, and we’ll have it for lunch with Chef Gu and the others.”

When Zhao Meng is cooking, he habitually has Fu Yu assist.

He gives a command, Fu Yu understands his intentions immediately.

They work seamlessly together.

Fu Yu boiled a pot of water, blanched the cut chives, strained them, and set them aside.

Then he blanched the squid pieces, chicken liver, and gizzard chunks.

He finished all the preparations and was waiting for Zhao Meng to add the broth, when Zhao Meng instructed, ”Come over, today you’re cooking the Three Delicacies Stew.”

Fu Yu was stunned, ”Huh?”

He only went through all this effort because he wanted to taste Zhao Meng’s cooking.

If he could make it taste like that, he’d have done it himself already.

Zhao Meng could see his hesitation and chided, ”You can’t just watch and learn, you need to practice!”

Fu Yu had no other choice but to follow the instructions.

Just as he nodded, an electronic voice chimed in his ear.

[Ding! NPC Chef Zhao Meng’s task: Successfully cook a Three Delicacies Stew. Task reward: 10 yuan, stew cooking experience +10, task experience +5]

Zhao Meng directed, and Fu Yu practiced.

First, add the prepared broth and mix with the seasonings.

[!] It started appearing again.

By now, Fu Yu was used to it, and his movements were becoming smoother with removing and adding seasonings.

Zhao Meng lightly coughed but didn’t stop him.

Then they proceeded to stir-fry.

The essence of this dish lies in the stew, too much heat ruins the taste, too little makes it insipid.

Fu Yu tossed the wok while quickly stir-frying.

Until it boiled thoroughly, then swiftly added sesame oil and pepper.

Two more tosses, Zhao Meng ordered, ”Plate it!”

Fu Yu promptly plated the customer’s portion carefully and handed it to the waiting server.

Then he took the utensils for the kitchen staff and plated the rest on the sideboard.

It smelled delicious!

[Ding! NPC Chef Zhao Meng’s task: Successfully cook a Three Delicacies Stew, completed successfully, rewarded with 10 yuan, stew experience +10, task experience +5]

The phone vibrated in the next second.

[Agricultural Bank of China] Dear customer, the task reward of 10 yuan has been transferred from the Agricultural Bank on December 9 to the account ending in 0765. Please verify the funds. If the transaction details are incorrect, the bank will return the funds.

Fu Yu was delighted!

More money arrived!

The money came so quickly, like a whirlwind!

Oh, what satisfaction!

[Ding! Congratulations on receiving the Kitchen New Star random reward, Zhao Meng’s professional skill: Stew, with task experience +666]

[Ding! Professional Skill: Stew, task experience full, your level has been upgraded to Intermediate.]

Fu Yu grinned from ear to ear.

Cooking just one stew gave him Zhao Meng’s experience directly!

Added 666 experience points directly!

Quickly checked his own attributes.

[Professional Skill: Stew: Intermediate 166/500]

It’s really intermediate level now!

Am I about to take off in the culinary world?

Zhao Meng couldn’t stand it anymore, ”Don’t drool into the dish! Didn’t you just eat a pile of stuffed pancakes and a bowl of lamb soup this morning? Craving more already?”

Fu Yu sheepishly laughed, ”No, it’s just my first time making a stew, so I’m a bit excited.”

Zhao Meng chuckled, ”No matter how excited, no sneaking bites, hurry and get back to work!”

Fu Yu suddenly recalled a line he once read.

”For thirty years, the east of the river; thirty years, the west. Don’t underestimate a poor youth!”

Given time, young master, I will be the rising star in the culinary world, too high for you to reach!

Zhao Meng saw him still grinning foolishly and urged, ”What are you dawdling for? Quickly bring over the meat pieces!”

Fu Yu felt like crying.

Having such a huge secret but unable to brag about it is truly suffocating!

At lunch, except for Sun Qingning on Zhao Meng’s side and Yao Yihang on Gu Yunwu’s side, everyone else ate in two shifts.

Everyone in the kitchen had the same habit—eating like it’s a battlefield.

Gu Yunwu came over, seeing Fu Yu almost finished eating, and asked with a smile, ”How was your first time cooking?”

Fu Yu wiped his mouth, ”Pretty satisfying, Chef Gu, come and try this Three Delicacies Stew I made, see if it rivals Chef Zhao’s!”

Chef Gu laughed, ”You’ve got ambition, huh? Still thinking about surpassing your Chef Zhao?”

Fu Yu laughed, he was just joking.

He returned with Zhao Meng to the kitchen.

Taking advantage of being alone, Zhao Meng finally closed the door to instruct his apprentice, ”Make sure to practice display plating when you have time. Look at how you set those two tables, the cold dishes looked like a mess! Can you have some aesthetic sense?”

Fu Yu was just about to nod when the electronic voice chimed again.

[Ding! NPC Chef Zhao Meng’s task: Improve display plating skills. Task reward: 100 yuan, one skill point.]

Fu Yu shifted from worry to joy, eagerly replying, ”I can, Chef Zhao, I’ll practice diligently when I get back!”

Zhao Meng looked pleased, and left all the display plating work to Fu Yu.

Fu Yu worked while pondering what this skill point was for.

Taking a moment’s break, he glanced at his own attributes.

When he saw [Skill Point: 1], he wondered if he could see a detailed explanation, and indeed, a [!] appeared next to it.

He chose to view it.

[Skill Point: When leveling up, skill points are required to support it. The higher the level, the more skill points are needed.]

Fu Yu suddenly understood.

So it’s used for leveling up, and with only one point now, it seems he needs to keep working hard.