The Cheat Emperor of the Culinary World

Out of curiosity, Zhang Zhen and Chef Liu watched intently from the side while Fu Yu cooked.

Influenced by them, even Zhou Yesheng couldn’t help but lean in closer, afraid of missing any step.

Fu Yu cut the winter melon into cubes 2cm thick and 3cm along each side.

The smoked tofu and the tofu were cut into cubes the same size as the winter melon, with the tofu being about 1cm thick.

As Fu Yu sliced the ingredients, Zhang Zhen and Chef Liu exchanged a glance.

His knife skills are truly impressive!

The speed of the knife was so fast that it made the blade’s up-and-down movement invisible.

And the pieces looked as if they were molded from the same template, so precise!

Zhang Zhen nodded: ”Chef Fu’s knife skills are indeed exquisite!”

Chef Liu showed approval: ”Indeed, he’s got deep skills!”

Zhou Yesheng silently marveled: ”So fast!”

Oil was heated in the pan, and the winter melon cubes were fried on both sides over low heat until slightly charred.

In another pot, adequate rock sugar, dried chili, ginger slices, star anise, and Sichuan peppercorns were stir-fried until fragrant.

Cooking wine and dark soy sauce were poured, water was added and brought to a boil.

The fried winter melon cubes added, simmered over low heat, while salt, Sichuan pepper powder, and chicken essence were added for flavor.

Cooked until the winter melon was semi-transparent, soft, and a brown-red hue, it was removed.

In the same broth, tofu cubes and smoked tofu cubes were simmered for three minutes, and then removed once flavored.

Next came the most crucial step of plating this dish.

The winter melon, smoked tofu, and tofu were stacked in order.

From bottom to top: winter melon, smoked tofu, tofu cubes, smoked tofu.

For this dish, Fu Yu chose a four-eared oval deep dish from the special banquet menu.

The prepared ”Dongpo Tofu” was arranged in the dish, with only six pieces per plate.

The cooking broth was brought to a boil again, cornstarch slurry was added to thicken it, before being poured over the ”Dongpo Tofu.”

Finally, finely shredded bamboo shoots were blanched, shaped into small rings, and placed on top of the ”Dongpo Tofu.”

A lifelike plate of Dongpo Vegetarian Meat was complete.

Zhang Zhen and others were dumbfounded.

At first glance, it truly resembled Dongpo Pork!

Especially with the sauce drizzled over, if not looked at carefully, one would never guess that this was a vegetarian dish!

This skill is simply extraordinary!

Zhang Zhen couldn’t help but ask: ”Chef Fu, your vegetarian cooking is very authentic! Did you specifically train for it?”

Fu Yu earnestly replied: ”I studied for more than two years.”

Zhang Zhen nodded: ”No wonder! Your technique is very professional! Your vegetarian dishes have color, aroma, and taste, and each one is particularly creative, I’ve truly opened my eyes today.”

Chef Liu concurred: ”As they say, every profession has its specialty, but Chef Fu seems to be a versatile talent, able to cook anything!”

Fu Yu was flattered, feeling a bit embarrassed, quickly responded modestly: ”I can only make a few dishes, Chef Zhang, Chef Liu, you should taste them, how do they taste?”

The entire dish consisted of only six pieces.

The chefs got a taste, while the assistants didn’t get any.

Even though they couldn’t taste it, everyone unanimously agreed that the Dongpo Vegetarian Meat could easily pass for the real thing.

Each vegetarian dish was served clean plate by clean plate.

Fu Yu was quite pleased, as the dishes he painstakingly prepared were well-received, giving him a great sense of accomplishment.

...

In the evening, he returned to Qianlima.

Fu Yu found an opportunity to talk about securing a medicinal cuisine order.

Yao Shi was taken aback and asked, ”A regular customer?”

Fu Yu nodded: ”Ms. Wang was very satisfied with my medicinal cuisine. We’ve arranged for her to come twice a week to the music restaurant.”

Yao Shi was quite speechless.

”You’re really something!” Yao Shi praised him: ”When Zhang Zhen showed me the vegetarian dishes you made this afternoon, I was already impressed; I didn’t expect your medicinal cuisine to be just as good.”

Receiving compliments from Yao Shi, Fu Yu couldn’t help but feel a bit smug.

Yao Shi suddenly said: ”Keep the recipe for the medicinal cuisine to yourself. I won’t take it this time.”

Fu Yu was puzzled, looking at Yao Shi in surprise.

Yao Shi smiled and said: ”Don’t overthink it. I don’t do medicinal cuisine, partly because the music restaurant mainly focuses on large bookings, and medicinal cuisine isn’t suitable. On the other hand, now that you’ve developed a long-term customer through medicinal cuisine, you can continue to attract more clients in the future. If it goes well, the medicinal cuisine market has great potential.”

Fu Yu felt a warmth in his heart, not expecting Yao Shi to think this way.

Yao Shi patted Fu Yu on the shoulder: ”This is an opportunity, if you can seize it, it might turn into a good opportunity.”

Speaking of which, Yao Shi remembered something and advised: ”But don’t rush into pricing. I’m telling you, the price for the first order is critical. If it’s set too low, in the future...”

At this moment, Fu Yu’s phone suddenly rang.

He glanced at the caller ID and told Yao Shi: ”It’s a call from Liu Yici.”

Upon hearing it was Wealthy Lady Liu, Yao Shi quickly signaled Fu Yu to take the call first.

Fu Yu answered: ”Hello, Sister Liu?”

Liu Yici cheerfully said: ”Xiaofu, am I interrupting?”

Fu Yu replied immediately: ”No, Sister Liu, do you need something?”

Liu Yici said: ”It’s like this, Xueli told me she really likes your medicinal cuisine and trusts you, so she wants to pay you directly. But she’s worried you won’t accept it, so she transferred the money to me.”

After leaving the music restaurant, Wang Xueli discussed it with Liu Yici and felt that it was better to pay Fu Yu in advance.

Since she had already decided to have Fu Yu’s medicinal cuisine, there was no need to delay payment for a few more days.

As for whether the medicinal cuisine would have any effect, they would see later.

Sixteen thousand is not much for Wang Xueli, as avoiding a few handbag purchases could cover nearly half a year of medicinal cuisine.

And if the medicinal cuisine proved remarkably effective, there would certainly be more opportunities to interact with Fu Yu in the future.

Leaving a good impression on Fu Yu was very necessary.

Liu Yici said: ”I’ll transfer the money to you now, just take it, we’ll be interacting more in the future!”

Fu Yu chuckled: ”Sister Liu, that’s not necessary.”

Liu Yici laughed: ”Fair is fair, your medicinal cuisine is truly authentic, even I find it exceptionally good! Sixteen thousand for two months, honestly, I think it’s worth it!”

”I’ll transfer the money now, just accept it!”

Fu Yu ended the call, and Liu Yici quickly transferred the money over.

Before Fu Yu could confirm receipt, Liu Yici sent another voice message.

Fu Yu played it back on speaker, and Liu Yici’s voice rang out: ”Xiaofu, a total of 160,000, for two months of medicinal cuisine, we’ll just settle monthly in the future!”

Yao Shi was stunned; he hadn’t expected Fu Yu to use speaker mode, so he heard it loud and clear.

However...

160,000?

For two months of medicinal cuisine?

Yao Shi: ”!!”