The Cheat Emperor of the Culinary World

Chapter 282: Chapter 281: Like Hell I’m Afraid of Them

At the beginning of a new week’s shift changes, Yao Shi once again assigned Fu Yu to the musical restaurant.

With Yao Shi handling the orders in the Qianlima kitchen alongside Zhao Meng, Fu Yu left with peace of mind.

It wasn’t until he arrived that Fu Yu realized today was the day the musical restaurant routinely distributed salaries.

Last month’s salary was set according to the minimum chef’s salary standard. Adding the bonuses for innovative banquets and dishes, teaching new culinary methods, and the commission from banquets, he received 18,000 yuan, second only to the head chef’s pay.

Just like Yao Shi promised him on his first day, he guaranteed him 5,000 as a base salary, with substantial bonuses for innovative dishes and banquets.

The unexpected bonus made Fu Yu extremely excited.

This was the highest salary he had ever received in his life.

At the same time, Fu Yu understood why Zhang Zhen and the other two head chefs, were so polite to him, who just temporarily joined as a part-time worker.

Because Fu Yu could produce refreshing innovative dishes and banquets, and if the store could successfully promote these innovations, it would attract new customers, bringing more revenue to the restaurant.

Although the kitchen staff had salary protection, salaries were a negligible part of their income. Bonuses were the real deal.

Even though Fu Yu was still part-time, only able to come for a few days each month, his skills and innovation capability were evident.

The boss’s attention to Fu Yu was visible to all in the kitchen.

Anyone could foresee Fu Yu’s prospects here.

So, naturally, no one wanted to offend such talent.

However, due to different job responsibilities, their bonuses varied.

In the kitchen, aside from Zhang Zhen and the two head chefs, only two lead chefs had higher salaries than Fu Yu. Others made even less than him.

Thus, even the usually carefree Fu Yu, with little interaction, could clearly feel the subtle neglect and hostility from lead chef Shen Guanghao and a few others.

While enjoying the abundant real benefits brought by his rapidly improving culinary skills, Fu Yu began to understand this aspect of human nature — the jealousy from those around him.

Fu Yu went through those vegetarian dishes he had made before, one by one.

However, since the musical restaurant also had a banquet booking to handle, after Zhang Zhen took individual photos, he called the kitchen staff to taste these ”seafood” feasts made from vegetarian dishes.

The response was very good.

It was past eight in the evening when Fu Yu returned to Qianlima.

A week later, Zhao Meng organized all the kitchen staff to go for a barbecue at Lao Liu’s as a gesture of gratitude and camaraderie.

Except for Gu Yunwu and Yao Yihang, who were in a hurry to go home, everyone else attended the get-together.

At first, they split into two tables, eating and drinking together.

As some had to leave due to distance or other matters, it was eventually just Fu Yu and a few others left.

Sun Ningqing had been scolded by Zhao Meng all day and was determined to avoid facing him again, even if it was just for barbecue.

As the meal wound down, this group excused themselves to watch TV at another table.

It was just Fu Yu and Zhao Meng left, sitting next to each other, drinking chilled beer and chatting while enjoying the barbecue.

Zhao Meng handed a skewer of barbecue meat skin to Fu Yu.

Fu Yu took a bite and asked vaguely, ”Chef Zhao, every week when I have a shift change, I go over there, and on other days, I find excuses to offer door-to-door services just to work with them. I’ve never slacked, even rushing to do tasks. Whenever there are innovative banquets and dishes, I teach them seriously, so I’ve earned high bonuses. They all know this, so why do some people still get upset and dissatisfied with me over it?”

Zhao Meng took a sip of chilled beer: ”When you’ve lived as long as I have, you’ll understand; there are always people like that everywhere you go!”

”They can only see how much others have got but never see the effort they put in. Or even if they do see it, they choose to ignore it.”

”Some people are naturally selfish. But more so, many people, due to their lack of ability, always harbor envy and jealousy towards others, disliking those who are better and even complaining or resenting them.”

”As I’ve always said, for us chefs, our skill with the pan is what we rely on. As long as your culinary skills are good, you work hard, and you’re diligent, you’ll stand your ground anywhere.”

”The money you earn is rightfully yours, so don’t have any qualms. Just diligently do your job well.”

Fu Yu nodded; he actually understood what Zhao Meng was saying, but for some reason, in front of Zhao Meng, he suddenly felt particularly aggrieved and wanted to vent.

Zhao Meng put his hand on Fu Yu’s shoulder and patted it: ”Even ancient sages couldn’t avoid gossip. Do you, a common man, think you can? As long as you act uprightly, let those who complain keep it to themselves. After all, none of them dare confront you directly.”

Zhao Meng chuckled: ”When the day comes that someone can’t hold it and tries to mess with you, remember what I’m telling you now, be mentally prepared, and you must immediately put them properly in their place!”

”Let me tell you, while skill may not determine everything, it’s definitely the prerequisite for anything!”

”Just keep working well and diligently, who cares what others think! Work one day, earn one day’s wages, and it’s the money that finally makes its way into your pocket that matters most!”

Fu Yu frowned: ”It’s not that I want to care about them, I just find it annoying! There are always a few such people around, and it’s bothersome just to see them! We work together, so I can’t just blow it up; it’s really frustrating!”

Zhao Meng took a sip of chilled beer and laughed: ”You’re still too young! You’ve only worked for a few years, you’ll encounter a lot more in the future, and eventually, you’ll just laugh it off with people like that.”

Fu Yu nodded, picked up his glass, and took a large swig of chilled beer.

After listening to Zhao Meng, Fu Yu felt much more at ease.

After all, except for Shen Guanghao, he hardly had any dealings with the others.

He just found it particularly annoying to deal with such unspoken malice!

Yet he couldn’t talk about it with outsiders, and venting to Zhao Meng made him feel better.

To say he’d be afraid would be a joke!

Just like Zhao Meng said, he had the skills, was willing to work hard, and had an excellent system to back him up, so why should he fear anyone!