Abnormal Gourmet Chronicle-Chapter 750 - 380: Reverse Exchange_2

"Don’t underestimate him because he’s a meat Chef. His bun folding skills are now better than any pastry chef."

Zang Liang breathed in sharply, thinking that Huang Ji was indeed terrifying, and Huang Shengli’s apprentices were truly talented, possessing such skills. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

In the following time, Qin Huai focused intensely on making Double Crab Buns.

He decided to come to Huang Ji with Zheng Siyuan and the others as soon as he mastered the Double Crab Buns, not only to better complete Wang Gen Sheng’s tasks but mainly to brush up on his bun making skills.

The phrase "practice makes perfect" was vividly demonstrated in pastry making.

There’s a difference between mastering a skill and perfecting it.

At Huang Ji, Qin Huai could better enhance his Double Crab Buns skill level because the workers here are more professional and to his liking.

This liking wasn’t just about reading cues and brewing good tea, but also about the chemistry and cooperation, in which Wang Jun was unparalleled.

Wang Jun, as Huang Shengli’s Direct Disciple, may not be the most gifted among Huang Shengli’s many apprentices, but being a direct disciple, his reputation in the culinary circle was at least formidable.

Normally, Wang Jun wouldn’t be willing to act as an assistant to Qin Huai; after all, he is a direct disciple and a meat Chef, why would he assist a pastry chef? Even if this pastry chef was recently featured in "Taste" and gained fame, earning the title of Master Qin, it still doesn’t make sense.

However, Wang Jun seemed to thoroughly enjoy it.

Wang Jun appeared to relish the process of being an assistant to Qin Huai, whether it was slicing, stir-frying, cooking fillings, or even bun wrapping—Wang Jun was willing to do it.

Many at Huang Ji thought Wang Jun was just following Huang Shengli’s orders without question, but Qin Huai, who interacted with Wang Jun daily at Huang Ji, could clearly sense Wang Jun’s emotions and guess a little of the reason.

Wang Jun just enjoyed being an assistant.

His entire chef career up until now was almost entirely assisting others, including currently being responsible for slicing in the kitchen. Coupled with Wang Jun’s inherently quiet demeanor and lack of assertiveness, Qin Huai sensed that Wang Jun actually felt some fear at the thought of becoming a head chef.

If Dong Shi dreamt of upgrading from a slicer chef to a head chef, Wang Jun dreamt of avoiding it. During slicing he completed his tasks attentively while refraining from proactively asking about others’ tasks; partly due to his personality and partly due to fear.

Aware of his limitations, he often had an inexplicable fear of the unknown. Huang Shengli would occasionally assess him by asking him to stir-fry a couple of dishes, which was fine, but if asked to become a head chef, Wang Jun’s first reaction would likely be refusal, fearing he might ruin everything.

Being Qin Huai’s assistant was Wang Jun’s comfort zone.

Having a cross-disciplinary top-rated assistant like Wang Jun, along with two excellent workers from Huang Ji helping Qin Huai, it greatly improved Qin Huai’s efficiency in making Double Crab Buns.

Efficiency improved to the point where Qin Huai even had the leisure to chat with Wang Jun while making buns.

"Brother Jun," Qin Huai said, as he mixed the filling and engaged in friendly banter with the skilful bun-wrapping Wang Jun beside him, "I heard Dong Shi said that Master Huang suggested promoting you to head chef with a salary increase."

Upon hearing this, Wang Jun was so startled he nearly folded the bun wrong, hurriedly whispering, "No way, there’s no such thing, with my current skills how could I be a head chef at Huang Ji, it’s still too early."

Not far away, Huang Shengli shook his head helplessly upon hearing Wang Jun’s words, continuing to guide Huang Jia.

"I think your skills are quite good, Brother Jun. How does the saying go? Solid fundamentals, and you’re careful and responsible in your work, being a head chef should be no problem. Head chefs don’t necessarily have to make big dishes; home-cooked dishes are fine too."

"No, no, it’s impossible," Wang Jun shook his head repeatedly, "I don’t have the capability, Master said that customers are willing to pay the high prices at Huang Ji for trust in our skills. Whether it’s big or small dishes, none can slack off, even home-cooked meals require effort, and often test skill level. I might ruin Huang Ji’s reputation if I don’t do well."

"But you can’t be a slicing chef forever," Qin Huai continued, "How can one step by step become a head chef if not through practicing home-cooked meals? Even Zhiwei Restaurant’s apprentices have to come to my Yunzhong Restaurant for a few months as snack masters to prepare for autonomy later."

"Hey... how about someday Huang Ji and our Yunzhong Restaurant do an exchange training, I exchange over, and you exchange over, to help raise Yunzhong Restaurant’s meat cooking level?" Qin Huai joked.

This was a genuine joke.

In recent months, Dong Shi had complained to Qin Huai more than once on WeChat, wondering whether Wang Jun was heartbroken and hence lacked enthusiasm and drive at work; Huang Shengli had once suggested post New Year’s that Wang Jun could soon be a head chef if he improved, but Wang Jun reacted with great resistance, seemingly off balance.

Dong Shi didn’t know what Wang Jun was thinking, but Qin Huai did. Qin Huai secretly witnessed so much of Brother Jun’s predicament; he felt obliged to give Brother Jun a gentle nudge during his time of confusion.