Abnormal Gourmet Chronicle-Chapter 881 - 437: Life (Part 4)_3

Chen Qiusheng shivered suddenly: "Prince Fu is not easy to deal with. I heard that just last month, two people were dragged out of the Prince's Mansion..."

Jiang Chengde signaled Chen Qiusheng to stop talking, and Chen Qiusheng quickly shut his mouth.

Chen Qiusheng sighed: "Originally, when I was outside the border, I was thinking that when I got older, I could find a wealthy family to be their cook, and it would be somewhat easier. Now I'm in the capital, I don't dare to think about it. What's the use of it being easy if it's risky?"

Jiang Chengde laughed: "There are still good families out there, don't think too much about the future now. I'm keeping an eye out for you, and I'll definitely find you a family that's easy-going, well-paying, and safe."

"Thanks for your good words."

While they were chatting, a kitchen assistant led Xia Sheng and Zhao Cheng'an inside. Jiang Chengde first asked if the two had ever worked in a kitchen before, and they both shook their heads. Jiang Chengde was used to this; these days, being a cook is a definite skill, and ordinary recruitment simply can't find anyone with the basics.

Jiang Chengde had a helper bring a handful of subpar small greens and instructed Xia Sheng and Zhao Cheng'an to cut them.

Their trial workstations were right next to Jiang Chengde's three sons. Xia Sheng cautiously weighed the vegetable knife for a while before carefully starting to cut.

Qin Huai: ???

Qin Huai looked on bewildered from the side.

He was amazed to find that Xia Sheng's knife-handling technique was correct.

Nobody understood the importance of proper knife handling better than Qin Huai. He had spent so long correcting his own bad habits, yet Xia Sheng, this greenhorn, got it right the first time.

Come on, are you kidding me?

Is your family really farmers?

Zhao Cheng'an started handling the knife even later than Xia Sheng, then began cutting as well.

His knife-handling technique was also correct, but Xia Sheng's was a bit more standard, although Zhao Cheng'an's technique seemed okay.

As for the chopped vegetables...

Anyway, the guests at Taifeng Building won't eat them. Taifeng Building even uses spring water from outside the city, so vegetables of poor quality like these won't make it to the dishes served to guests.

"Very good." Jiang Chengde nodded approvingly, especially praising Xia Sheng. Turning to Chen Qiusheng, he smiled and said, "Old Chen, did you go out to pick an Attendant Student? You found a good seedling, much better than my eldest and Lao San."

Chen Qiusheng: ...

"Never learned before?" Jiang Chengde asked.

"Nope," they both responded simultaneously.

"Then how did you learn to hold and cut with a knife just now?" Jiang Chengde asked again.

Xia Sheng pointed honestly to Jiang Weize next to him: "I learned from watching him, his way of handling the knife, and his way of cutting."

"I learned from Xia Sheng!" Zhao Cheng'an said loudly, "I cut however he cuts!"

Jiang Chengde gave another look to Chen Qiusheng: "Nice eye, you picked out two good ones."

Chen Qiusheng: ...

"You brought them, so you should guide them. Train them well; maybe your future apprentice is among them. You haven't taken on any apprentices yet, have you? With Ping'an's health, he certainly can't be a cook, so you need to find someone to pass on your skills to. While you have the energy, quickly pick a few good ones to teach."

Chen Qiusheng: ...

Chen Qiusheng sighed; he truly hadn't expected things to turn out this way.

Xia Sheng nervously looked at Chen Qiusheng, obviously not understanding why he sighed. Had he done something wrong?

Zhao Cheng'an decided to ask directly: "Mr. Chen, is there anything else we need to do today? Should we carry water or vegetables? I can carry either! I promise I won't steal!"

Chen Qiusheng sighed again.

"Xia Sheng." Chen Qiusheng chose not to look at Zhao Cheng'an just yet; he felt a bit helpless facing this naive talent, "Starting today, you don't need to follow Uncle Liu to learn. You'll come to Taifeng Building with me every day, and in the evenings, you'll take care of Ping'an."

"Let's… let's start like this."

"And you..." Chen Qiusheng looked at Zhao Cheng'an, "Stay, follow me in future work. Do whatever I ask you to do. As for what I promised you, I'll keep my word, and from now on, the woodshed rent at home will be free for you."

"And don't call me Mr. Chen, call me Master Chen."

"Master Chen." Zhao Cheng'an nodded happily, "Could you give me a name?"

"I'm not your employer; Manager Lu is." Chen Qiusheng skillfully diverted the responsibility.

"Master Chen, I have another question."

"Now that I have work, you said there's no pay for working here, but meals are provided. Can I have a meal now? I wasn't full with just that one egg earlier."

Chen Qiusheng: ...

"Did you skip breakfast? I have two pieces of rice cake that you can munch on. These rice cakes were made by my dad this morning. Taifeng Building only provides two meals a day for apprentices, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. You'll have to wait until an hour later for the morning meal." Jiang Weiming took out a small cloth bundle from his pocket and opened it, revealing two cold rice cakes inside.

Zhao Cheng'an took the rice cakes happily and stuffed them into his mouth, eating big bites and mumbling, "Wow, this rice cake is even better than white steamed buns. I thought white steamed buns were the best food."

"You're really nice, even better than Xia Sheng!"

Xia Sheng: ...

Jiang Weiming smiled a bit sheepishly: "I'm Jiang Weiming, what's your name?"

"I don't have a name. A name is important, and I need to wait for my employer to give me one!"

Jiang Weiming: ...?

Amid everyone's ellipses and question marks, Qin Huai departed from the dream.