The Cheat Emperor of the Culinary World

Chapter 283: Chapter 282: Deserving Without Guilt

A restful night’s sleep.

The next morning, Fu Yu was awoken by the sound of his phone ringing early.

Yao Shi said over the phone: ”Xiaofu, take today off. Just head to the music restaurant directly.”

”I saw the vegetarian dishes you made yesterday, very impressive. I heard from Zhang Zhen that from flavor to presentation, they were almost indistinguishable from the real thing. So why don’t you teach them how to make those dishes today.”

”We can seize the opportunity to launch a small menu during the holiday and see how it goes.”

”If it’s successful, we can develop a few more dishes in the future to create complete sets of vegetarian menus. The music restaurant could eventually offer full vegetarian banquets.”

Yao Shi grew more and more excited, his voice unconsciously rising.

”Fu Yu, I’ll leave this vegetarian banquet idea to you, is that okay?”

Just as Fu Yu was about to respond, he suddenly heard an electronic notification:

[Ding! NPC Music Restaurant Owner Yao Shi’s task: Help the music restaurant innovate a vegetarian banquet set. Completion rewards: 100 RMB, one lucky draw, task experience +200.]

Another lucky draw!!

Hearing the system’s task rewards clearly, Fu Yu instantly perked up!

”No problem!”

...

Who would’ve thought that a spontaneous act of kindness would be rewarded so quickly.

The vegetarian banquet he had casually boasted about was actually just a few seafood imitation vegetarian dishes.

The techniques weren’t difficult.

The unique aspect was that most people wouldn’t think of using such ingredient replacements.

Five dishes and a soup noodle, complete with main and side courses, formed a small banquet set.

Zhang Zhen and the others were skilled chefs, and after watching Fu Yu make them once, they pretty much got it.

Taking advantage of the fact there were no lunchtime bookings, each took turns preparing the vegetarian banquet set once.

After lunch, everyone in the kitchen enjoyed a delicious meal of the new vegetarian menu soon to be launched in the restaurant.

Everyone praised the dishes highly.

Especially the Three-Cup King Oyster Mushroom dish, which at a glance could easily be mistaken for stewed abalone.

After eating and drinking his fill, Zhang Zhen happily called Yao Shi to report on the vegetarian banquet-making process.

Yao Shi was very pleased to hear it could be implemented and immediately handed over the promotional duties for the banquet.

With a smile, Fu Yu was heading back to the kitchen with the others when he suddenly heard another electronic notification:

[Ding! NPC Music Restaurant Owner Yao Shi’s task: Help the music restaurant innovate a vegetarian banquet set, completed successfully, rewards gained: 100 RMB, one lucky draw, task experience +200.]

Fu Yu paused and opted for the draw.

[Ding! Congratulations on obtaining +3 skill points]

Wow!

This lucky draw is clearly geared towards bursting with skill points!

Amidst the joy, Fu Yu recalled Ma Hua Chao.

Because he had helped Ma Hua Chao casually, this had brought him a slew of rewards in return.

He had done everything he could, fulfilling a bit of kindness for a passing customer.

Fu Yu felt he deserved it.

The kitchen at the music restaurant clocked out early.

The evening banquet was booked to start at 5 PM, and by 7 PM, all customers had left.

The kitchen staff were divided into morning and evening shifts; those going home did so, while others stayed to prepare the next day’s ingredients.

Fu Yu clocked out with the morning shift crew.

He took a taxi to Qianlima, and it wasn’t even 8 PM yet.

Fu Yu took out his phone and called Zhao Meng, planning to go over to Zhao Meng’s house later to continue cleaning.

He had been so busy lately, there was no time for rest at all.

He had only cleaned the two rooms downstairs in Zhao Meng’s house. Although the acquisition and renovation of Dayu Mall next door wouldn’t be done in less than half a year, Fu Yu couldn’t help but think it’s an ongoing issue.

However, Zhao Meng, after hearing his intentions, directly rejected his idea: ”The house isn’t urgently needed. If you have time, you should buy a couple of new outfits.”

Fu Yu was taken aback: ”I have clothes to wear?”

He usually wore a uniform at the restaurant, with only two sets of casual clothes needed for going out.

Zhao Meng asked: ”The competition is coming up soon, aren’t you going to prepare a couple of outfits?”

Fu Yu replied without much thought: ”There’s a special outfit for the competition.”

Zhao Meng said helplessly: ”But you can’t go to the venue in your competition clothes, can you? Those clothes are meant to be changed into onsite!”

”Clothes make the man, and the first impression others have of you is definitely based on your looks and how you’re dressed.”

”Your looks are definitely not an issue, but in terms of dressing... This time, if you’re going to buy, get something decent! Go straight to the mall and buy a couple of branded outfits.”

”I’m telling you, you don’t need a lot of good clothes. Just a couple of decent ones that you can wear on key occasions!”

”Don’t worry about the money! One good set of clothes is worth dozens of those cheap market stalls you have!”

Fu Yu hadn’t actually bought many clothes before.

Since his school days, he had always worn uniforms provided by the school.

When he dropped out to attend culinary school, he wore the standard chef’s uniform.

And now with work, they had standard uniforms as well.

As a result, he only had two sets of casual clothes to rotate through the seasons.

And these clothes, indeed, weren’t any brand names, but cheap ones bought back home at underground markets with his mom every year.

Taking Zhao Meng’s advice, Fu Yu thought it over and found it made a lot of sense.

So, he turned and took a taxi to the Department Store.

Sitting in the taxi, Fu Yu belatedly realized that he had undergone quite some change recently!

A sense of newfound wealth.

Savings increasing rapidly, system rewards, coupled with dual income from Qianlima and the music restaurant.

At this rate, he might be able to consider taking out a loan to buy a house here in Bei’an within two years.

The Department Store consisted of brand counters.

Fu Yu headed straight to the men’s clothing section on the third floor.

He wasn’t very skilled at coordinating outfits.

So he directly picked out two sets off mannequins that caught his eye and tried them on.

With a tall, leggy frame, the clothes suited him just as well as the models on display.

With an attractive saleswoman in a tight black dress next to him, praising him with eager eyes, Fu Yu found himself whimsically buying both outfits he tried.

It wasn’t until he walked out of the mall that he realized he had impulsively spent over six thousand yuan, and only for two outfits.

Fu Yu placed a hand on his chest.

Damn!

His heart was aching!

Just then, Fu Yu received a call from Zhang Qun.

”Fu Yu, do you have time now? Let’s meet up.”

Fu Yu was a bit surprised: ”Now?”

Zhang Qun said: ”Yeah, I just got the news that all contestants and judges need to do a dress rehearsal at the venue before the competition! You don’t know much about the judges, do you? I have some information here, you can take a look, better safe than sorry!”

Fu Yu quickly agreed, ”Alright, where should we meet?”

Zhang Qun said: ”Aren’t you at Qianlima? I’ll be driving by shortly, I’ll just come to find you there, okay?”

Fu Yu agreed: ”I’ll wait for you at the entrance then!”