The Cheat Emperor of the Culinary World

Chapter 58: Chapter 57: Sharpening the Sword at the Last Moment Still Makes It Shine

As soon as the boss spoke, this matter was practically set in stone.

The kitchen may not be large, and the number of people is fewer than the front-of-house staff, but the relationships are just as complex.

Led by Yao Shi, with Zhao Meng and Gu Yunwu as his aides, the kitchen is divided into two evenly matched small groups.

Zhao Meng has the protection of Yao Shi, and Gu Yunwu is backed by the boss. Normally, their work relationship steers clear of conflict, maintaining a superficial peace.

However, whenever it comes to the distribution of kitchen duties, they inevitably end up sparring.

Now the boss has said that in the future, another head chef will be promoted from the kitchen.

That individual must be chosen from those already confirmed for regular positions.

This means that the two individuals already internally earmarked for regular roles need to rely on their efforts to ultimately compete to become the newly promoted head chef.

With just one sentence, a small matter escalated into a big one.

...

Upon returning from the meeting, Yao Shi immediately called Zhao Meng and Gu Yunwu for a small meeting.

Both of them listened to the boss’s decision and cursed inwardly.

Dong Jun Tian, that cunning old fox!

His calculations are really meticulous!

He says he wants to promote a head chef, but really it’s about stirring up enthusiasm in the entire kitchen.

After all, the contender from whichever side to become the new head chef will affect the future status and influence of Zhao Meng and Gu Yunwu in the kitchen.

And to compete for this position, both sides will completely disrupt the original harmonious coexistence in the kitchen.

Gu Yunwu frowned, secretly comparing Yao Yihang and Fu Yu in his mind.

Except for not being as handsome as Fu Yu, Yao Yihang is superior to Fu Yu in every other way, whether in cooking skills or wok experience.

Comparing the two, the head chef role will surely end up with Yao Yihang.

If his own person gets promoted, any future tasks or other matters would definitely be more manageable.

Thinking of this, Gu Yunwu’s brow relaxed.

Adding another head chef might not be a bad thing after all.

Zhao Meng, however, was worried.

He had a pretty good understanding of Fu Yu’s abilities.

He had a solid foundation but lacked wok experience.

Although very talented, he was missing practical polish.

If competing with Yao Yihang, the chances didn’t seem great.

But there’s always that ”what if.”

What if Fu Yu has a stroke of luck and happens to get the promotion spot by chance?

Zhao Meng frowned. If that really happened, it would be even more troublesome.

If Fu Yu remained just a kitchen hand, then when he eventually quit, Yao Shi could easily take him away with nobody able to say anything.

But if Fu Yu gets promoted to head chef, moving him later would be a completely different story.

Seeing his painstakingly trained apprentice left at Qianlima, Zhao Meng felt unwilling yet helpless.

He contemplated how he could help Fu Yu secure the head chef position.

After all, no way should the fruits of their cultivation benefit an outsider.

Whether it works out or not, it’s at least worth fighting for.

Yao Shi thought the boss’s idea was feasible.

Fu Yu is indeed very talented, with a pleasant personality.

If properly nurtured, he could surely establish himself at the music restaurant in the future and become Zhao Meng’s successor, sparing him much worry.

But if Fu Yu were to stay at Qianlima, he could replace Zhao Meng and continue to be an asset.

The three each harbored their own thoughts.

Yao Shi passed on the boss’s instructions, mentioning the assessment.

”Today is the 29th, the day after tomorrow is the 31st. Let’s not delay any longer and set it on the 31st. At the handover, let the candidates compete.”

”Old Zhao, Lao Gu, you two be the judges, and I’ll invite the boss over. If anyone else wants to watch, we can host them together.”

Having said that, Zhao Meng and Gu Yunwu could only nod in agreement.

After the meeting, both relayed the meeting’s content to their respective teams.

Zhao Meng informed his team of the news.

All the kitchen hands were stunned.

The kitchen is actually going to develop and promote a head chef?

This is a game changer!

Fu Yu was equally astonished.

Seizing a moment when no one was around during prep work, Fu Yu, in a voice only the two of them could hear, asked Zhao Meng, ”Chef Zhao, did the boss really say that?”

Zhao Meng replied equally quietly, ”The boss did say so, but mentioning you was just in passing, didn’t he also stress cultivating before finally selecting?”

Fu Yu couldn’t help but say, ”If he mentioned me in passing, it means I left a strong impression on the boss! Chef Zhao, it seems we’re about to be on equal footing!”

Zhao Meng suddenly got angry!

Do you know how to read between the lines?

Do you know what time it is?

Seeing Fu Yu’s smug face bantering, his anger dissipated instead.

Zhao Meng, annoyed, said, ”I’d actually be happy if you could get this promotion. The two regular places were already set for you and Yao Yihang. The assessment was merely a formality. But now it’s different; this assessment directly affects your opportunity to be promoted to head chef.”

Zhao Meng glanced over to Gu Yunwu’s side and softly advised, ”This time being in the boss’s view is an opportunity. You must seize it.”

Fu Yu nodded, knowing that Zhao Meng was right.

Moreover, this shows goodwill points are important too.

Zhao Meng looked at Fu Yu, ”You two can’t afford to be sloppy in this competition. During the assessment, there’ll definitely be live cooking.”

”According to Chef Yao, to be fair, you should prepare a signature dish, which the boss will then judge based on impromptu improvisation.”

Fu Yu was immediately torn.

Preparing a signature dish wasn’t his worry.

In his personal skills, he had absorbed from Zhao Meng [Stir-frying: 500/500 Advanced]; choosing any stir-fry dish would surely outshine Yao Yihang.

But beyond that...

He didn’t really have any other standout personal skills.

Baking Skills, Intermediate.

Dessert Cooking, Advanced.

They sounded impressive, but they were practically useless!

He was a red cook; no matter how proficient he was with white cooking, it wouldn’t help!

Fu Yu frowned, consulting Zhao Meng, ”Chef Zhao, I’m only good at making stir-fries; could you have a word with Chef Yao to whisper to the boss and have him give a stir-fry dish for the impromptu part?”

Zhao Meng glared, ”Are you dreaming? Who do you think you are? Besides, how many stir-fries have you even made? Your best dish! You might as well cook another pot of seafood congee; you’ve at least practiced that a few times with decent results.”

Fu Yu was surprised, ”Is seafood congee considered a dish?”

Zhao Meng sighed, ”Of course not! Enough; stop babbling. The assessment is in two days. Starting now, you’ll practice wok skills with me; even last-minute work can be worthwhile.”

Fu Yu nodded, ”Don’t worry, I’ll definitely learn well from you.”

Zhao Meng sincerely said, ”This is also an opportunity. If you can really be promoted to head chef, that would indeed be great.”

Going from a kitchen hand to confirmation, and then advancing to head chef, under normal circumstances would take ten or even eight years.

Dong Jun Tian suddenly arranging this maneuver might actually be a great opportunity.

Zhao Meng reflected that even if Fu Yu eventually followed him to the music restaurant, he couldn’t promise to promote Fu Yu to head chef without three to five years.

Zhao Meng sighed and said, ”This assessment is actually quite unfair, Yao Yihang is experienced and holds all the advantages.”

”You’ve only been in the industry for a short time, with a busy kitchen, and not much chance to practice; alas...it’s too late for regrets now. From now on, you’ll be on the wok.”

Fu Yu felt a warmth in his heart and nodded, ”Okay, Chef Zhao.”