Chef at the University Canteen-Chapter 455 - 268: The Students of Jiang University Are So Lucky to Have You (2)
Jiang Yu didn’t say much and started getting busy again.
Although it was already nighttime, the kitchen remained stuffy. After a whole day of work, everyone in the kitchen was drenched in sweat, their clothes alternately wet and dry. Whether it was Lu Shuwu, Jiang Yu, or anyone else, they were already exhausted.
A few people worked in the kitchen until just before ten o’clock and couldn’t hold on any longer. Plus, the preparations were almost done, so they tidied up the kitchen a bit and went back to rest.
As soon as Jiang Yu got back to the second floor, he quickly took a shower. Without waiting for his hair to dry, he leaned against the headboard and fell into a drowsy sleep.
When he woke up, it was already five in the morning. The air conditioner was still softly blowing out cool air, giving an indescribable comfort.
Jiang Yu picked up the cup on the nightstand and drank all the cool boiled water in one go, feeling fully refreshed.
He rolled out of bed, got dressed, rushed through his morning routine in the bathroom, and went straight downstairs.
Today is Sunday, and Lu Shuwu was supposed to be off, so Jiang Yu was covering for him.
Upon descending to the kitchen, Jiang Yu found that Lu Shuwu had already arrived and was sitting at the counter wrapping soup dumplings.
Jiang Yu walked over to the sink, washed his hands, and turned his head to ask:
"Aren’t you off today? What are you doing here?"
"The boss is here?"
Lu Shuwu turned his head and smiled at Jiang Yu, saying,
"The weather is so hot, once the sun comes out, it’s like being in an oven. I’d rather not go out and get roasted like meat.
I’d rather stay in the cafeteria and get to drink some sour plum soup later."
"Jiangzhou is one of the ’Four Furnaces,’ so it’s strange if it isn’t hot."
Jiang Yu smiled, pulled up a chair, sat down, and started wrapping soup dumplings as well, saying with a smile,
"When the weather is this hot, many people lose their appetite, so our cafeteria has to think of ways to make sure the students eat well.
If they can’t eat properly, how can they have the energy to tackle their tough studies?"
"Oh! The students at Jiang University are really lucky to have a senior like you who thinks about what delicious food to make for them every day."
Lu Shuwu couldn’t help shaking his head and sighing, saying,
"Why was I so unlucky?
When I was in college, if there had been a great chef like you running a cafeteria, I wouldn’t have needed to run around looking for good food every holiday."
Jiang Yu laughed out loud:
"Why do you think you were unlucky? Aren’t you eating well every day now? Not only can you eat, but you also know how to cook."
"Haha, that’s true."
Lu Shuwu laughed along and said,
"In the end, I have to thank you, boss. If you hadn’t taken me in, I wouldn’t have the good life I have now. I might have been dragged back by my grandpa, stuck in the kitchen swinging a big spoon every day."
The two of them worked and chatted, and before long, Ma Guoqiang, He Chunxiao, and others arrived with a clatter.
The once quiet kitchen quickly became lively with everyone’s hustle and bustle.
When you’re busy, time flies, and before you know it, breakfast time was over.
After Yan Tongtong and others cleaned the dining hall and washed the dishes and utensils, it was already ten o’clock.
After a short break, Ma Guoqiang, He Chunxiao, and the team went back to the prep room to wash and chop vegetables.
Jiang Yu checked the time and took out the sour plum soup he had brewed the night before, added some ice cubes, and sprinkled some dried osmanthus on top.
Lu Shuwu and Jia Dequan had already crowded around, craning their necks to watch.
The sour plum soup that had been chilled overnight was a dark red color. It was so cold that you couldn’t smell any aroma even up close.
Lu Shuwu couldn’t help but speak up, "Boss, we don’t know how this tastes. How about setting some aside for everyone to taste?"
"If you want to taste it, just taste it. It’s not like it’s some kind of treasure."
Jiang Yu glanced at him and smirked but still reminded,
"Don’t drink too much. I won’t be responsible if you get a stomach ache."
"Yeah, Xiaojiang’s right. Plum soup is too acidic, and drinking too much can indeed cause a stomachache."
Jia Dequan nodded in agreement, saying,
"So once the sour plum soup is put out in the hall, we should put a reminder sign on the tub.
Otherwise, some students might not know how to moderate, just thinking it tastes good, and they’ll regret it when they get a stomach ache."
"Okay, I’ll have someone print a reminder sign in a bit."
Lu Shuwu didn’t refuse and nodded repeatedly.
Right now, what he wanted to do most was to taste the sour plum soup. As for other things, those could wait.
He took a clean ladle and a cup from the side and eagerly scooped himself a cup of sour plum soup.
He didn’t rush to gulp it down but instead brought the cup to his mouth, took a small sip, and savored it slowly.
As soon as the sour plum soup touched his tongue, a strong, smoky-sweet and sour taste exploded in his mouth. The taste was so tart that his cheeks couldn’t help but tingle, and a flood of saliva began to fill his mouth.
