The Cheat Emperor of the Culinary World

Chapter 105: Chapter 104: Partner System

The group that came to explore the restaurant left after finishing their live stream.

That evening, with nothing else to do, Zhao Meng, on a whim, asked Jiang Mo to help find the female streamer’s account and watched the short video they made during their restaurant visit.

The recordings at the beginning were quite normal, just tasting dishes and giving fairly honest comments.

At the end of the video, the female streamer enthusiastically talked about things related to food incompatibility.

The comment section was filled with brainless trolls chiming in thoughtlessly.

Zhao Meng was very upset watching it.

The next day, Fu Yu got reprimanded for making a decision without reporting it, due to encountering some situation.

The following days were calm.

There weren’t any negative news about the restaurant.

However, noticeably more customers came to the restaurant.

Since Fu Yu started cooking independently, his culinary skills have improved at an astonishing speed.

When taking orders now, aside from the big dishes like seafood platters, he can handle the others directly.

Just as everyone was about to forget about the influencer’s restaurant visit.

One afternoon, Jiang Mo came over with an order slip and said excitedly, ”That group who did the live stream at our restaurant is here again.”

Zhao Meng was taken aback and frowned, asking, ”What are they here for again?”

Jiang Mo gossiped, ”This time they’re not here to explore the restaurant. I didn’t see them with equipment. It’s just that female streamer and two young women with her, seems like they’re here to eat.”

Zhao Meng felt relieved, glad they weren’t here to make trouble.

He looked down at the order slip and, well, besides ordering three additional specialty dishes, they ordered the same four dishes from last time exactly as they were.

Seems like they enjoyed it and became regulars.

When it was time to hand over the shift in the evening, Zhao Meng, while no one was around, reminded Fu Yu, ”About the treat after getting your position confirmed, why not set it for tonight? Let’s go to Lao Liu’s Barbecue. I just asked, they marinated meat fresh this morning.”

Fu Yu nodded, ”Sure.”

It was, after all, a promise made earlier.

Among the junior staff hired along with Zhao Meng, only he got confirmed.

Not treating to a meal would be inappropriate.

Zhao Meng had mentioned before, being a leader requires the demeanor of a leader.

One must show both kindness and authority to those below.

Even though he just got confirmed and hadn’t really become a chef yet.

Nonetheless, in matters of social interaction, one must pay heed to what’s required.

Lao Liu’s Barbecue is just on the side street of the restaurant.

Due to its affordable ingredients and skilled craftsmanship, the restaurant always has good business.

Finding the room too stuffy, the group pushed two tables together outside.

They ordered a variety of barbecues, two pots of tripe stew, and brought two packs of chilled beer to the table.

The group ate, drank, and chatted.

With the cooling beer, the atmosphere gradually grew lively.

Sun Qingning sat next to Fu Yu, and after finishing a bottle of beer, his face began to flush.

While Zhao Meng was chatting with the owner, Sun Qingning lifted his glass, turned to Fu Yu, and said, ”Chef Fu, let me toast you.”

Fu Yu raised his glass, clinked it with him, and drank up.

Sun Qingning also downed the wine in his glass.

The cold drink settled in their stomachs, instantly dispelling the previous heat and making them feel comfortable!

With slightly reddened eyes from the drink, Sun Qingning whispered, ”Chef Fu, you didn’t take the previous incident to heart, did you?”

Fu Yu turned to look at Sun Qingning, slightly surprised.

He didn’t expect Sun Qingning to bring it up himself.

Since Zhao Meng arranged for Sun Qingning to be his assistant, the guy seemed somewhat lax.

He simply couldn’t muster up energy for work and looked unmotivated.

Whenever he was assigned a task, he’d agree readily but hardly delivered results.

Fu Yu initially thought about having a meal with Sun Qingning to chat sometime.

Fu Yu smiled and said, ”No, I know you meant well.”

Sun Qingning smiled self-deprecatingly, hearing that, and said, ”I guessed you didn’t take it to heart. You’re broad-minded like that, never fussing about these things, unlike me...”

Sun Qingning poured another glass of beer, and filled up Fu Yu’s glass as well.

They clinked glasses, and took a big gulp of beer.

Then he said in a low voice, ”Actually, you’re really quite a good person. I noticed it as soon as I got to the kitchen. Zhao Chef knows how to pick people, you really are the most valuable among us in this batch.”

”I actually couldn’t understand it before. Look, all of us who were hired into the kitchen in the same batch started learning from scratch. I thought I was pretty smart, I learned quickly, and I worked efficiently. At that time, Zhao Chef was actually quite nice to me.”

”But later on, I was always thinking about my girlfriend, taking time off every few days. After a while, I could feel that even if Zhao Chef didn’t say anything, he probably had opinions about me.”

Fu Yu interrupted, ”You’re overthinking it. You’re not the only one who takes time off. Zhao Chef has a sharp tongue but a soft heart; he’s actually quite good to his subordinates.”

Sun Qingning waved his hand, ”No, let me finish. It’s not just about taking time off, actually after that lemon chicken feet incident, I’d already given up on this chance to become a full-time employee.”

”I wasn’t really convinced by you at that time, I just thought you were lucky to impress Zhao Chef. If I had worked hard and not messed around, I might have done even better than you by now.”

”That’s why, when I first found out that Zhao Chef assigned me to work under you, I really wasn’t convinced.”

”I know you’re better than me, but how much better can you be? The others could follow Zhao Chef and learn, and I could only follow you...”

Sun Qingning took another sip of beer and said, ”To be honest, back then I thought no matter how great you were, you couldn’t be better than Zhao Chef. What could I learn from you?”

”But, during this time with you, I finally realized I was being short-sighted. My little skills were nothing compared to you, you’re miles ahead of me with twists and turns!”

”Take the incident with the online influencer’s visit, if there had really been a problem because the kitchen wasn’t delivering dishes, none of us in the kitchen would have come out of it well.”

”After I went back, I reflected on it. I’ve really been too out of line recently. Please don’t hold it against me, seriously.”

”I always thought I was smart and talented, but honestly, if it were me in your position today, I probably couldn’t even handle the stove by myself.”

”I’m saying all this now because I want to show my stance.”

”Rest assured, I will work hard under you from now on. I truly admire you.”

”Come on, let’s have another drink, let’s put the past behind us. From now on, I’ll be your assistant chef and follow your lead.”

They say truth comes out after drinking, and Sun Qingning’s words moved Fu Yu.

After all, it’s hard not to be touched by someone’s sincere words.

Then Sun Qingning talked a bit about his family and his girlfriend’s situation.

In the end, Sun Qingning said sincerely, ”I also want to work hard and become a full-time employee soon. But when it comes to my girlfriend, I really care about her, I...”

Fu Yu looked up and inadvertently saw a [?] above Sun Qingning’s head.

[Kitchen helper Sun Qingning has a burst of ambition, serious communication might trigger a side quest.]

Fu Yu: ”!”

Fu Yu withdrew his gaze and interrupted Sun Qingning, asking, ”Do you really want to go for full-time?”

Sun Qingning paused and burped: ”Of course, who wouldn’t want to be full-time? Look at you now, then look at me? The gap between us is too big. I really envy you, honestly!”

Fu Yu said, ”Then work hard, practice your cooking skills seriously. Like you said, you’re very smart, you have a solid foundation, and you have a good personality. As long as you work hard, there’s no worry about your future advancement.”

Sun Qingning’s eyes brightened, ”You really think so?”

Fu Yu nodded, ”Actually, you misunderstood. It’s not because Zhao Chef gave up on you that he put you by my side as an assistant chef.”

Sun Qingning was taken aback and looked at Fu Yu in surprise.

Fu Yu said earnestly, ”You’ve seen how busy Zhao Chef is usually. When I was by his side, I didn’t even get a chance to get on the stove; I was always just doing odd jobs.”

Sun Qingning thought about it, and it seemed true.

Before, Fu Yu was always around Zhao Meng, but getting on the stove probably only started happening recently.

Fu Yu continued, ”But it’s different with me. I’m just starting to handle the stove independently, everything is in the learning and exploring stage. Being by my side, you see and hear everything daily, and you get hands-on experience when working. Think about it, don’t you get more training opportunities and learn more than the others?”

Sun Qingning blinked, indeed!

Fu Yu: ”Actually, Zhao Chef saw potential in you and thought you were worth nurturing. That’s why he put you to work with me and learn together. Saying you assist me is just giving you a chance to train. With him, you’d only do odd jobs, but with me, you can explore and progress with me. Isn’t that so?”

Sun Qingning nodded vigorously, absolutely!

Fu Yu extended a hand and said, ”Follow me and work hard. With your skills, you’ll definitely do well in the future.”

Sun Qingning high-fived him, ”Alright, Chef Fu, from now on, I’ll follow you diligently and strive to become full-time soon!”

[Ding! NPC Kitchen Helper Sun Qingning’s task: Successfully become full-time. Task rewards: Gain Partner System, Task Experience +1000, Random Reward]

Fu Yu: ”!”

So generous?

Fu Yu looked at Sun Qingning beside him, who seemed invigorated as if he had been injected with energy.

He actually had a good impression of Sun Qingning. The guy was smart, with some minor schemes, but essentially a good person.

Plus, they got along quite well usually, becoming partners with him seemed pretty good.

Fu Yu accepted the task without hesitation.