The Cheat Emperor of the Culinary World

Once Li Linfeng started talking, he couldn’t stop.

He recounted all the events from when Fu Yu was studying at the cooking school, as if recalling treasures.

Liu Yunong found it unbelievable, as if she were listening to a novel.

Especially when she heard that Fu Yu once successfully cooked Qiu Jingxiu’s exclusive secret Walnut Feast during a school celebration, and he did it while listening to Qiu Jingxiu’s verbal guidance.

Liu Yunong asked in disbelief, ”Is what you’re saying true?”

Qiu Jingxiu, after all, is a renowned contemporary female chef with significant influence in the culinary world.

The Walnut Feast is an exclusive creation; how could outsiders easily learn it?

Yet Fu Yu managed to perfectly recreate the entire dish just through verbal cooking instructions.

This...

Li Linfeng worried Liu Yunong wouldn’t believe him, so he nodded repeatedly: ”Of course it’s true. You have no idea, the entire venue was in an uproar, and even Chef Qiu couldn’t stop praising Fu Yu!”

At this point, Li Linfeng remembered something and continued: ”Back in school, Fu Yu was one of the outstanding students in our year. Later, he joined Qianlima, and of the three students our school sent, he was the only one who successfully stayed. It’s said that the head chefs at Qianlima never accept apprentices, but after Fu Yu joined one of them, the chef treated him like his own son!”

”This was specifically mentioned by our principal during a teacher-student meeting. Everyone in our school was extremely envious!”

Li Linfeng embellished Fu Yu’s reputation beautifully.

Liu Yunong gathered the information she wanted, exchanged a few polite words, then directly hung up the phone.

Li Linfeng hung up the call happily, feeling he had secured a very good opportunity for Fu Yu.

Just as he was cheerfully about to send Fu Yu a message to inform him, he suddenly froze!

Because he realized, at this moment, his brother Li Linlin’s gaze was all too familiar!

As if he had seen it somewhere before!

It seemed... eerily similar to how he himself used to look at other love rivals!

Thinking of this, Li Linfeng suddenly felt a wave of panic in his heart!

”Accidentally got carried away in the conversation and took the liberty of hanging up on my brother’s goddess. What should I do if my brother wants to kill me? Awaiting online, quite urgent...”

...

After hanging up the phone, Liu Yunong suddenly felt much more relaxed.

There’s no such thing as success without effort. Hoping for results without putting in hard work is impossible.

As for Fu Yu being so young and having such advanced cooking skills.

Aside from his extraordinary talent, he must be extremely diligent.

Even his practical instructors would praise him for being especially dedicated, showing how hard he worked privately.

Thinking it over, Liu Yunong suddenly felt at ease.

The reason Fu Yu is so excellent and progressed so quickly in learning culinary arts.

Must be due to this.

After all, Fu Yu’s excellence naturally attracts others’ appreciation.

If it weren’t for this, why would Wang Jiping value him so highly, and among so many students in the same cohort, recommend only him to Qianlima for an internship?

Moreover, why would Zhao Meng, a master chef at Qianlima, be willing to take him under his wing and teach him cooking skills hand in hand?

And why would I, myself, upon seeing Fu Yu, agree to take him as a disciple and personally teach him the Liu Family Cuisine?

It all boils down to Fu Yu’s excellence and my discerning eye!

Thinking of this, Liu Yunong suddenly felt uplifted and quite carefree.

Just then, her phone suddenly chimed.

It was a notification sound for a new message.

At the red light ahead of the intersection, Liu Yunong brought the car to a stop and glanced at her phone.

It was a message from Li Linlin:

[Yunong, how long will you be staying in Bei’an this time? Let’s meet up one day if you have time.]

Thinking of Li Linlin’s overjoyed attitude during their previous phone conversation, Liu Yunong’s gaze softened considerably as she looked at the screen.

She replied casually: [I should be here all week. You’re welcome to come to the restaurant for a meal any time, it’s on me.]

On the other end, upon receiving the message, Li Linlin was first overjoyed, then fell into thought.

He muttered uncertainly to himself: Could the goddess be hinting for me to visit her restaurant to support her?

...

Good things make your spirits soar!

The consecutive rewards received were either premium or highly practical cooking recipes and utensils.

Fu Yu could hardly contain his excitement.

Moreover, he couldn’t tell if it was just a feeling, but today, Liu Yunong seemed to be in a good mood as well.

She was especially patient while teaching cooking techniques, and when Fu Yu was cooking, Liu Yunong stood right beside him, personally guiding him hand by hand.

Fu Yu was almost overwhelmed with gratitude.

He wondered if the previous day’s success had led to a slight drop in luck the next day.

That night, Fu Yu received a message from Zhao Meng.

Bao’Er from Dai Li’s family had suddenly gotten hand, foot, and mouth disease, and they had gone to the hospital. Zhao Meng would need to take a temporary day off tomorrow.

With Zhao Meng away, Fu Yu would be responsible for the kitchen.

Actually, it wasn’t a big deal; Fu Yu could handle things on his own by now.

The only annoyance was that with Zhao Meng’s absence, Fu Yu would have to liaise and coordinate with Gu Yunwu himself on certain matters.

Thinking about it, Fu Yu figured that if he could manage to take on more work, the rest wouldn’t be an issue.

After all, Gu Yunwu was the kind of person who always maintained a distance as long as the matter didn’t concern him. Just keep to your own work, and everything would be fine.

But when Fu Yu arrived at the kitchen the next morning, he learned that Yao Yihang from Gu Yunwu’s side was also taking a day off.

After obtaining formal status, Yao Yihang too enjoyed a one-day-a-week leave.

It just so happened to be today.

Upon hearing this, Fu Yu’s heart skipped a beat.

Seriously!

How did everything end up happening on the same day!?

With Yao Yihang away, Gu Yunwu’s side was short one worker.

Meaning today Fu Yu had to collaborate with Gu Yunwu to handle orders.

Thinking about this gave Fu Yu a sense of unease.

There’s an old saying in the kitchen: It’s not the god-like opponent you fear, but the pig-like teammate.

Encountering someone like Gu Yunwu made Fu Yu want to curse.

But, alas, there was no helping it.

In any case, when the moment arrives, one can only remain steady and carry on.

Today, be extra careful, and make sure not to be harmed by anyone.

It’s not that Fu Yu held a significant bias against Gu Yunwu, but Gu Yunwu truly lacked responsibility.

Gu Yunwu’s side managed marinating the appetizers in the morning, and Fu Yu, following Zhao Meng’s habit, specifically checked the stockroom after the morning prep.

Fortunately, Gu Yunwu was somewhat reliable; the appetizers were well-prepared, the quantity was sufficient, and the variety was complete.

Fu Yu followed the example; Gu Yunwu’s side had previously caused delays in serving due to under-prepared marinated appetizers, which occurred from time to time.

Zhao Meng, with his status, could confront Gu Yunwu directly, but Fu Yu didn’t dare.