The Cheat Emperor of the Culinary World

Whole chicken cooking?

Fu Yu blinked.

Yet another chance to attend the teaching practice class.

It seems like every time the reward for the title triggered for a back kitchen artisan, it’s another opportunity to attend the teaching practice class.

In a good mood, Fu Yu followed the others to the changing room.

Liu Zhangpeng quickened his pace, caught up with Fu Yu, and couldn’t help but ask, ”Chef Fu, you’ve been practicing your splitting technique for a long time, right?”

”Mm, over a year.” Fu Yu lied casually, ”Why?”

Liu Zhangpeng looked at him, ”I’ve been practicing for over two years.”

He had been learning to make the gourd chicken with his master Wang Yulong for more than two years.

He had practiced splitting with no less than hundreds of hens.

Fu Yu was silent.

So, he should have said a longer time earlier.

He felt a bit helpless.

After spending a few days together, he had come to understand Liu Zhangpeng’s situation a bit.

He was a smart and diligent person, with a decent talent for cooking and a solid foundation.

Practicing splitting for two years and reaching this level was quite impressive already.

But that’s compared to normal people.

Someone like him with a cheat, it’s not comparable at all.

But this, he knew well himself, yet he couldn’t reveal it truthfully.

Liu Zhangpeng, noticing his expression, sighed softly and said, ”Indeed, there’s a difference in talent, that’s undeniable. Don’t laugh at me, but I usually learn cooking with my master very diligently and hard. In our place, I’m known for being hardworking. Otherwise, my master wouldn’t have brought me over to Bei’an this time.”

Fu Yu replied, ”I can tell.”

”I really love cooking,” Liu Zhangpeng said, ”When I first applied to the main store, it was to seriously learn Liu Family Cuisine. Later, I finally got my wish.”

”Actually, at the main store, I’m considered one of the more outstanding ones among my peers. But unexpectedly... there are always others better out there. Chef Fu, you’re so young and yet possess such remarkable cooking skills. It’s truly amazing.”

”In the future, if there’s anything I don’t understand, could you perhaps teach me a bit?”

He quickly added, ”Of course, if there’s anything you need help with, just ask. Though my culinary skills aren’t the best, I have some understanding of Liu Family Cuisine. Now we’re colleagues, maybe even friends. We can learn from each other, exchanging skills, and progress together. What do you think?”

Fu Yu evaluated him. He had thought the guy was diligent before, and now he discovered he was also quite honest, which increased his goodwill.

So he smiled and said, ”Sure, no problem.”

At the moment, he was learning to cook with Liu Yunong, and Liu Zhangpeng’s master, Wang Yulong, was a disciple of Liu Yunong’s father. In that sense, they could be considered junior brothers from the same school.

With Fu Yu’s consent, Liu Zhangpeng was delighted and immediately asked eagerly, ”Chef Fu, when it comes to de-boning a whole chicken, do you have any tricks? I noticed how well and quickly you do it, and so clean and efficient.”

Recalling the countless ducks he had deboned in the teaching practice classroom, Fu Yu sincerely said, ”There’s no shortcut other than practicing a lot.”

Liu Zhangpeng was quite troubled, ”In the two years of learning this dish, I’ve deboned more than a hundred hens! But my technique, the speed never seems to improve!”

”Yeah, they say practice makes perfect. To practice deboning, the main thing is agility of technique, and being able to accurately grasp the bone structure of a whole chicken,” Fu Yu said earnestly, ”If you want to improve your speed in deboning, you have to use your spare time to practice more. Although I’ve only learned deboning for over a year, humbly speaking, I’ve deboned no less than a thousand hens.”

Liu Zhangpeng wanted to kneel before him.

When Fu Yu first arrived, he thought that being accepted as a personal disciple by Liu Yunong was impressive, and he was indeed not mistaken!

”As long as you understand the entire bone structure of the chicken clearly and practice deboning more, over time, your speed will naturally increase.” Fu Yu said, ”Teacher Liu mentioned that these days I should practice making gourd chicken with you, and if you have any questions, feel free to ask me anytime.”

Liu Zhangpeng was completely relieved. Seeing Fu Yu’s sincere and kind smile, he made a silent resolution to follow Fu Yu closely in the future.

Ambition isn’t about age; learning to cook isn’t about how long you’ve been in the field.

As long as you have exquisite culinary skills, you deserve respect.

Entering the changing room, Liu Zhangpeng belatedly remembered what his master Wang Yulong had said before.

Was he hinting at him to build a good relationship with Fu Yu?

Thinking this way, Liu Zhangpeng lamented that older is indeed wiser!

After changing clothes, Fu Yu was in a good mood and went to find Liu Yunong for a lift.

Liu Yunong was moving a bit slower.

After changing, she also took a special trip to the back kitchen to instruct the two morning shift aides on the specific arrangements for preparations the next day.

As she came out, it was just in time to encounter Wang Yulong, who was also heading out.

The two walked side by side.

Wang Yulong looked at Liu Yunong’s expression, showing concern, and advised, ”Boss, if you’re too tired, take a day off tomorrow. The back kitchen can manage without you.”

Liu Yunong replied cheerfully, ”Oh, it’s okay, I’m not tired.”

Wang Yulong hesitated to speak.

Liu Yunong’s state didn’t quite look like she was fine.

Just before, she seemed quite off.

After saying that, Liu Yunong turned her head and saw Fu Yu approaching. So, she said goodbye to Wang Yulong, and drove off with Fu Yu.

After these days of getting along, Liu Yunong was increasingly satisfied with Fu Yu.

She couldn’t help but advise, ”Your deboning technique is very proficient and your cooking foundation is solid. If you develop well in this field, you’ll surely accomplish something. But there’s one thing...”

Fu Yu couldn’t help but turn to look at Liu Yunong.

Liu Yunong continued, ”Learning to cook isn’t like other fields. It’s unwise to work behind closed doors. Only by embracing the strengths of many, and incorporating diverse ideas, can you truly enhance your culinary skills.”

Fu Yu completely agreed with this.

These were words that Zhao Meng had also mentioned to him before.

”From my years of practice and exploration, I’ve found that there are interconnections between the major cuisines; they are intricately linked. But how to extract the strengths of various cooking methods from these similarities, innovate by assimilating them and making them your own, is the key to improving culinary skills.”

Just as Fu Yu was about to express his agreement, a sudden electronic notification sound echoed in his ears:

[Ding! NPC Chef Yao Shi’s long-term task: Do well in the chef industry, and develop well in this field. Progress (Phase Four): Embrace the strengths of many, and incorporate diverse ideas. Task reward: Random]

Embrace the strengths of many, and incorporate diverse ideas?

Does this mean forging connections?

Or does it have other implications?

This task is quite interesting!