The Cheat Emperor of the Culinary World

It’s a kind of special care for them. Among his two roommates, one is the night watchman at the store, whose rest time is just staggered with theirs, and the other is a waiter from the store who lives in the city and usually doesn’t come back at night.

It’s said to be a four-person room, but it’s actually more like a two-person room.

Because they eat and live together, and both work under Zhao Meng, Sun Qingning and Zhang Jinyu have a particularly good relationship.

The two had just entered the door when Sun Qingning first saw Fu Yu and eagerly approached.

”Hey, having scallion oil noodles this morning?”

Zhang Qingning said, reaching out to take the chopsticks, ”Let me cook the noodles.”

Anyone can boil noodles, but only Fu Yu makes scallion oil that’s the most fragrant.

Strangely enough, even though the ingredients and cooking methods are the same, Fu Yu’s scallion oil just smells better than anyone else’s.

Finely chopped scallions are cooked in oil until fragrant and yellowed, used as a topping for noodles, poured over boiled thin noodles, creating a delicious, smooth, and appetizing dish.

No need for any other ingredients. Just this scallion oil on a bowl of noodles can satisfy one immensely, with a rich and appetizing aroma.

After the fragrant breakfast, they started a busy day of work.

They were busy until the afternoon.

Taking advantage of everyone’s meal time, Fu Yu went back to the dormitory to deliver a few bottles of ”Hong Gu Niang” drinks to Zhao Meng.

He then carried two bottles separately to the front hall.

Fu Yu found that only Liu Yuqing and Jiang Mo were left at the front desk. The others were probably eating.

Seeing Fu Yu coming, before Liu Yuqing could smile, Jiang Mo stood up and greeted warmly, ”Chef Fu! What brings you here?”

Fu Yu smiled and took two bottles of drinks from his pocket, giving one each to Liu Yuqing and Jiang Mo.

”Try this, it’s an authentic ’Hong Gu Niang’ drink, with quite a unique taste.”

Jiang Mo was a bit surprised, ”Hong Gu Niang?”

She took the bottle and looked closely, then laughed, ”I didn’t expect this could be made into a drink?”

’Hong Gu Niang’ is a local specialty, coming to market in large quantities every autumn.

However, young people rarely buy it. Only the older folks buy it to store at home for health, eating a few pieces when they have free time.

If stored well, it can last until winter.

Fu Yu laughed, ”I only just found out about it, but it tastes quite okay when you drink it.”

Jiang Mo didn’t hesitate, directly unscrewed the cap to taste, and then slightly frowned, ”It’s alright, a bit sour, and a bit bitter.”

Beside her, Liu Yuqing also unscrewed her cap, took a sip, and smiled, ”This drink is very good for your health, and this brand is quite prestigious and authentic. The price seems pretty high, just a small bottle costs dozens.”

After saying this, she turned back to ask Fu Yu, ”Where did you get this drink from?”

Fu Yu, having met someone who recognized its value, was delighted internally and replied with a smile, ”My mentor gave it to me.”

When Fu Yu mentioned his mentor, Jiang Mo thought it was Zhao Meng, so she nodded.

Chef Zhao, being wealthy, certainly wouldn’t give anything subpar.

Liu Yuqing subtly raised an eyebrow, feeling lucky that she had stashed away the ’Hong Gu Niang’ drink she brought from home this morning in the locker room.

She originally planned to find a chance to give it to Fu Yu after work, but now it seems she doesn’t need to.

However...

Liu Yuqing pursed her lips, a smile breaking out, ”Your mentor treats you quite well, huh?”

Fu Yu nodded, ”Exactly...”

”Chef Fu! You’re here! That’s great!”

Fu Yu turned his head and found it was Wang Meng, the waiter. He immediately asked, ”What’s wrong, Wang Meng?”

Wang Meng said, ”The guests in room 108 started arguing. I really can’t persuade them. Sister Wang is off today, and Sister Gao and Sister Dai are in the cafeteria. I couldn’t find Sister Wang. Chef Fu, could you help me check it out?”

Customers getting into a dispute, what bad luck.

Conflict between customers is not uncommon in the store. Fu Yu nodded, ”Alright, let’s go. I’ll go with you to see what’s going on.”

Wang Meng seemed relieved.

But Liu Yuqing asked, ”What are the customers arguing about?”

Wang Meng quickly replied, ”There are three old men. They started arguing because of a poorly ordered dish. They’re quite old and arguing with faces flushed and necks stiff, with particularly loud voices!”

They really needed to go check it quickly.

Fu Yu turned and headed towards the private rooms.

After all, a poorly ordered dish isn’t a big deal. The kitchen could just offer them another dish to settle the matter.

If they’re not short on money, it’s even easier; recommend a couple of specialty dishes. If they enjoy their meal, any anger should dissipate.

As long as it’s the customers’ own issue, not something the store caused, it’s not a big problem.

When Fu Yu reached room 108, the guests inside were still arguing.

The two old men were debating heatedly, while another old man tried to persuade them in vain.

”What do you know? Turning simple ingredients into tempting delicacies, it’s all about the skill!”

One of the old men, with a kindly face, squinted his eyes and argued.

”This is such a wonderful tradition! Let me tell you, many of the famous dishes in Chinese cuisine are made this way — simple materials, skillfully crafted! You don’t know because you haven’t paid attention! There’s a lot of it, a lot!”

”People just use the scraps, not the fancy ingredients, and then process them skillfully to show the chef’s prowess!”

”The ’Chai Hui Lian Fish Head’ here is even a specialty dish! You haven’t even tried it, how can you say it’s not good?”

The other old man frowned, disapproving, ”Since we’re here, shouldn’t we order some good dishes? It’s not like you’re hosting, why be so stingy? What’s with this ’Chai Hui Lian Fish Head’? What’s even edible about fish heads! Boiled fish would be much better, at least it’s tender fish meat!”

The kindly-faced old man angrily retorted, ”Told you, you don’t get it! I’m definitely ordering two more dishes of this kind today.”

Then he turned to the old man beside him who was trying to persuade, shouting, ”Lao Feng, you be the witness! Let’s see if the dish is good or not!”

The old man named Feng didn’t respond to him but instead looked at Fu Yu and quickly greeted, ”Hey! This is the chef here, right?”

Fu Yu walked to the table and nodded, ”Hello, is there anything I can help with?”

Before the old man named Feng could answer, the kindly-faced old man smacked the table, ”Great! The chef is here, I’ll order two more dishes! Seeing is believing, I have to show you today what is meant by fine cooking from common ingredients!”

”Sure, go ahead and order! I want to see what’s so great about these leftover scraps!”

The kindly-faced old man felt quite provoked and couldn’t help but complain to Fu Yu, ”This old guy is just stubborn. Who said you must eat lobster and abalone at Qianlima? Come on, young chef, tell him that the ’Chai Hui Lian Fish Head’ is a specialty dish, right?”

The other old man was also getting riled up, ”What do you want him to say! Order it if you want! We came specifically to eat crabs and shrimp, and instead, you go and order a lousy fish head!”

Both old men were quick to ignite, with two sentences they were quarreling again.

Fu Yu stood by and figured it out.

It’s really not a big deal.

It’s just that one old man had ordered the ’Chai Hui Lian Fish Head’, and the other thought the dish was too basic.

This argument really can’t be resolved.

Should he dissuade them from ordering?

Or persuade them to order?

Neither seems right.

Just hesitating on how to mediate, the kindly-faced old man suddenly said, ”Alright, let’s add another dish. Let me think... Right, bring a ’Guihua Pei Zha’ and a ’Mustard Duck Web’!”

Wang Meng watched anxiously as even with Fu Yu there, the two old men kept arguing, smacking the table and glaring at each other, and she couldn’t help but pace around anxiously.

But then she suddenly heard them ordering more dishes and couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Thankfully, as long as they ordered the dishes, this matter should be resolved, right?

However...

’Mustard Duck Web’ — the store does have this dish.

But what is ’Guihua Pei Zha’?

Never heard of it?

She instinctively looked at Fu Yu who was standing beside her.

What should they do?