The Cheat Emperor of the Culinary World

”I thought it was some sleazy old guy, but it turned out to be a scholarly-looking young man. What was he thinking!”

Sun Qingning was gossiping with Fu Yu while serving the dishes.

Today’s lunch was managed by Zhao Meng’s side.

Sun Qingning picked out the carp that the customers ordered but wasn’t cooked, and stewed it with cabbage, tofu, and vermicelli. It was a big pot full, and it smelled pretty nice.

”Let’s go! Time to eat!”

Fu Yu and his team had just completed their last order, and a few people walked out together, not forgetting to call over to Gu Yunwu’s side.

Gu Yunwu had just finished; he turned and instructed Yao Yihang, ”Finish up soon, and go grab lunch quickly!”

Yao Yihang agreed and continued to toss the pan.

Once the dishes in the pot were plated and served, there was one last dish left on the order slip, stir-fried snails with mixed flavor.

This stir-fried snails with mixed flavor could be considered Qianlima’s most distinctive dish.

Because back then, Qianlima’s founder, Elder Dong, initially set up a stall with a wok along the Bei’an Long Embankment, starting his business by stir-frying and selling snails.

Even after establishing Qianlima Restaurant, this dish of stir-fried snails with mixed flavor remained on the menu, competing alongside other specialty dishes.

It was priced at only thirty-eight yuan a plate, making it one of the most affordable and economical dishes on the entire menu.

Yao Yihang was handling the wok, with Zhang Jiaxin assisting beside him.

Just as he put the snails into the wok, his phone suddenly rang.

He picked it up and saw it was a call from home.

Yao Yihang hurriedly answered it, and after hearing just one sentence, his face changed. He turned to Zhang Jiaxin and said, ”Quick, you take over the pan. This dish just needs the seasoning added. The seasonings are laid out on the counter. I’ve got to take this call.”

Zhang Jiaxin was startled and hadn’t reacted yet when Yao Yihang already rushed towards the back door.

Can I take over the pan?

Zhang Jiaxin blinked, looking at the empty cooking station, and his previously calm eyes gradually lit up with a bright glow!

He actually had the chance to cook!

Zhang Jiaxin felt a surge of excitement and quickly stepped forward to start cooking the stir-fried snails with mixed flavor.

Actually, Zhang Jiaxin had cooked before. Back in school, they often practiced cooking during practical classes.

But since joining the Qianlima kitchen, he never got the chance to cook again.

Watching big chefs like Zhao Meng and Gu Yunwu skillfully cooking every day, his self-confidence unknowingly faded over time.

Zhang Jiaxin seriously started cooking.

This dish wasn’t difficult because it was often ordered and was frequently cooked by either Gu Yunwu or Yao Yihang.

When he occasionally got the chance to assist, he naturally remembered the cooking method after watching so many times.

He carefully and seriously completed the stir-fried snails with mixed flavor.

Just then, the server arrived, and Zhang Jiaxin solemnly handed over the dish he personally cooked.

He was eagerly anticipating that customers would be satisfied with this dish, right?

It was cooked following the exact method the restaurant used, so there shouldn’t be any problems.

As they say, what you fear is what will happen.

Zhang Jiaxin was happily humming while cleaning the cooking station, planning to go eat, when the server came rushing back.

”Where’s Chef Yao?”

Zhang Jiaxin was startled and quickly said, ”He went to make a call and hasn’t come back yet, what’s wrong?”

The server said, ”The customer said the stir-fried snails just served taste off and requested a redo!”

Zhang Jiaxin’s expression changed instantly: ”The taste is off?”

The server handed the plate over, ”Better call Chef Yao back to redo it, the customer is waiting!”

He couldn’t help but complain, ”What’s wrong with Chef Yao! Problems keep happening! If the customer asks for a refund, I’ll be in trouble too!”

Zhang Jiaxin heard and suddenly panicked.

How could this happen!

He clearly followed the restaurant’s cooking method; how could the taste be off?

”Let me try it!”

Zhang Jiaxin grabbed a snail, took a sip of the broth, and tasted spiciness mingled with a hint of sweetness, but there was also a subtle muddy taste!

How could there be a muddy taste?

Zhang Jiaxin’s heart sank immediately.

It’s over, the taste really is off!

Where did it go wrong?

Fu Yu came to the kitchen with the prepared food and saw Zhang Jiaxin talking to the server. He greeted with a smile, ”Jiaxin, not done yet?”

Zhang Jiaxin turned to Fu Yu: ”Chef Fu! You finished eating?”

Fu Yu smiled, ”No, I just set aside a portion for Chef Zhao. He just called and said he’ll be back for lunch.”

The server urged, ”Hurry and call Chef Yao back! The customer is still waiting!”

Fu Yu curiously asked, ”What’s the matter?”

Zhang Jiaxin looked at Fu Yu, his eyes lit up, and said, ”A customer just ordered a plate of stir-fried snails with mixed flavor. Chef Yao left halfway to answer a call and asked me to help add the seasoning. I used all the prepared seasonings and followed the usual cooking method, but the snails ended up with a muddy taste. Chef Fu, can you help me figure out what went wrong?”

Fu Yu was startled; Yao Yihang was always steady, so how did he end up passing off the cooking halfway?

This order was from Gu Yunwu’s side, so it wasn’t really related to him.

However, Fu Yu decided to take a look anyway.

He grabbed a snail, took a sip, and then carefully looked at the ingredients on the plate, asking Zhang Jiaxin, ”Did you put in perilla leaves?”

Zhang Jiaxin was initially stunned, then slapped his forehead forcefully: ”Oh crap! I forgot! Chef Yao didn’t prepare them earlier, so I didn’t think of it!”

He was too excited when taking the pan, only remembering to use the prepared seasonings and completely forgetting this part!

Fu Yu was about to leave when he saw a [!] appear above Zhang Jiaxin’s head.

[Ding! NPC kitchen helper Zhang Jiaxin’s task: Help him complete a satisfactory stir-fried snails with mixed flavor for the customer. Task reward: RMB 100, task experience +20]

Complete the task and earn a hundred!

That’ll cover the apron cost!

Fu Yu paused, and said to Zhang Jiaxin, ”Alright, since the customer is waiting, hurry and make another one. I’ll watch over it with you.”

Zhang Jiaxin was extremely pleased, ”Chef Fu, you’re letting me do it again?”

Fu Yu nodded, ”Yes, you didn’t do anything wrong earlier, just missed the perilla leaves. Add it this time and it’ll be fine.”

Zhang Jiaxin felt greatly encouraged, ”I’ll start right now!”

While Zhang Jiaxin was preparing, Fu Yu put the food he set aside for Zhao Meng back into the pot.

Zhao Meng went to the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital today for a checkup and just called to say everything’s fine.

Fu Yu was somewhat worried, deciding that for the time being, he’d keep an eye on Zhao Meng and definitely not let him do any heavy lifting.