The Cheat Emperor of the Culinary World

Dong Jun Tian walked over quickly and asked Gu Yunwu, ”Lao Gu, what are you doing here?”

Gu Yunwu was chatting with a young girl with a smile when he was startled by the sudden voice.

Turning his head and seeing it was Dong Jun Tian, he panicked and blurted out, ”Ah! Boss, oh wow! You scared me, um... I just came to use the restroom, I was about to head back... Wh-what’s up?”

Dong Jun Tian, with a stern face, said, ”Over on Old Zhao’s side, he can’t get on the stove. Can’t you keep an eye on the kitchen? Do you know where Fu Yu went?”

Gu Yunwu’s heart was still racing, and he was taken aback at the question, ”Fu Yu? I don’t know, he doesn’t report to me!”

Upon hearing this, Dong Jun Tian got so angry that he didn’t want to talk to Gu Yunwu anymore and turned to head to the kitchen.

Seeing Dong Jun Tian was furious, Gu Yunwu quickly waved his hand, signaling the stunned young girl to leave quickly.

He then jogged to catch up with Dong Jun Tian, explaining, ”Old Zhao injured his hand. I’ve been working long shifts for days, so I’m a bit on edge... constipated, that’s why I took a moment. I was just about to head back but ran into an acquaintance, just saying hi...”

In his anger, Dong Jun Tian wasn’t listening to the explanation, marching straight towards the kitchen.

Gu Yunwu had to find words to fill the silence, ”What, Chef Yao hasn’t come yet? He clearly said he’d be right here. How come he’s not here at this hour!”

Dong Jun Tian, hearing this, got even angrier, ”Why are you always harping on him? Old Zhao’s old injury flared up, and you’re already overwhelmed by a few days of long shifts? Before, when your mother-in-law was sick, Old Zhao covered your shifts for half a month. Did he complain a word? You go to the bathroom and don’t head back quickly? Didn’t you hear customers urging their orders? If you have time to chit-chat, can’t you lend a hand in the kitchen?”

Gu Yunwu blushed red in the face from the scolding.

Today he had the evening shift, worn out from a day’s work, taking a breather shouldn’t be a big deal.

As for the kitchen being overworked, that was Yao Shi’s poor planning, what did it have to do with him?

Besides, he made sure to check before he left, and there were only two tickets on Zhao Meng’s kitchen wall.

Sure, Sun Qingning might not be up to much, but isn’t there still Yao Yihang?

How could the two of them together not manage?

Gu Yunwu grumbled as he looked at Dong Jun Tian striding ahead.

If it weren’t for the pretty young server girl greeting him earlier,

he wouldn’t have chatted idly,

and he would have been back in the kitchen by now, avoiding all this nonsense!

He realized that Dong Jun Tian was in a foul mood, didn’t know why he was holding onto this anger with no outlet,

and he just happened to be unlucky enough to get caught up in it.

Gu Yunwu hastened to defend himself, ”Boss, isn’t this just a special situation? It’s been quite busy these couple of days, and I’m just wired like this; if I see work undone, I feel uncomfortable, so I didn’t dare drink too much water earlier for fear of needing the bathroom. Now I’ve got that sorted, I just thought to drink more water to ease it off... But it backfired instead.”

When Dong Jun Tian saw Gu Yunwu talking to the pretty server earlier, he already understood what was going on.

Wildflowers smell sweeter than houseplants.

Though you couldn’t really touch them, there’s thrill enough in just the aroma.

These trivial matters, Dong Jun Tian didn’t think to handle; he couldn’t, anyway.

Besides, did Dong Jun Tian really not see through Gu Yunwu’s small schemes?

Bullshit about constipation and not feeling well.

His irritation partly stemmed from his people being assigned to Zhao Meng as kitchen assistants by Yao Shi.

Gu Yunwu was always in a bit of a rivalry with Zhao Meng, and now seeing that even with an old ailment flare-up, Zhao Meng’s position wasn’t affected, he felt dissatisfied.

Add that today was his evening shift, and his underlings were reallocated, of course standing all day was tiring.

Thus, he found an excuse to slip away for a break.

Thus, it’s often said, when one has been in a role too long, they become cunning like foxes!

Always looking for ways to slack off, fearing doing even a little more work and bearing a little more fatigue.

Dong Jun Tian, in his exasperation, amplified all of Gu Yunwu’s shortcomings.

He went over them one by one and found himself disillusioned with Gu Yunwu.

With such pettiness, disregarding the bigger picture, treating the store’s business as though it were nothing.

If he were to hand the kitchen over to him one day, could he really rest easy?

With this line of thinking, Dong Jun Tian suddenly felt a pang of realization, thinking that his original plan might have been rather ill-considered.

”Hurry over to the kitchen to help, the server just said the customers are pressing for their orders!”

Gu Yunwu, jogging behind, couldn’t help but defend himself, ”Boss... I really am feeling unwell, I...”

Dong Jun Tian calmly responded, ”You’re a part of the store, with customers present, you need to assume your work duties. If you’re unwell, can you at least try to overcome it? In work, can’t you show some dedication to your role!”

”Alright, now the situation is special, the kitchen is indeed understaffed, endure it a few more days... Once Old Zhao’s hand is healed, you can go back to regular shifts!”

With that, he continued to stride forward.

Gu Yunwu quickly chased after him and said, ”Boss, over on Old Zhao’s end, Chef Yao suddenly reassigned Yao Yihang earlier. Just where did Fu Yu go? When they were short-staffed, he took my staff, I can’t manage either!”

With this, Dong Jun Tian paused mid-step.

How could someone like Yao Shi allow Fu Yu to leave when Zhao Meng couldn’t handle the stove?

Unless Fu Yu had an unexpected situation or accepted a door-to-door order again.

If it weren’t like that, there’s no way Yao Shi would have agreed, much less temporarily reassigned Yao Yihang.

This is really...

Dong Jun Tian found himself at a loss for words.

What exactly was the grudge between Gu Yunwu and Zhao Meng?

Just for a bit of competition, he even disregarded the store’s business!

However...

Dong Jun Tian suddenly thought, it might actually be a good opportunity to give Yao Shi a slight reprimand.

After all, the interrelations among the kitchen staff directly affect the store’s business.

Moreover, there’s also Gu Yunwu making noise, giving a little scolding followed by a small reward.

No need to be too harsh, just bring up the issue of customers urging for orders.

Clearing up the conversation and the understanding is naturally restored!

Clear-minded, Dong Jun Tian couldn’t help but feel his steps lighten as he headed toward the kitchen.

Just as they were approaching the kitchen door, Dong Jun Tian’s phone rang.

It was Yao Shi calling.

Dong Jun Tian answered the call.

Yao Shi on the other end asked, ”Boss, were you looking for me?”

Dong Jun Tian asked, ”Where are you now?”

Yao Shi replied, ”Just arrived at the kitchen, about to start cooking.”

Dong Jun Tian laughed, ”Good, I’m coming over as well, we’ll talk in person!”