The Cheat Emperor of the Culinary World-Chapter 33: Even Eating Needs an Auspicious Date
The reminders had all been given.
Zhao Meng waved his big hand: "Let’s go, time to work in the kitchen."
It was their turn for the night shift today.
Other than the two people from the day shift who could leave to rest, everything else remained the same.
Fu Yu followed Zhao Meng to the kitchen counter, while Yao Shi, after changing out of his personal clothes, came over specially.
Yao Shi is someone who really values quality of life.
In the back kitchen, his work clothes are always clean and tidy, crisply ironed.
Now that he’s off duty, he’s changed into his personal clothes.
In the hot midsummer, he wore a suit that didn’t show its brand, with a barely noticeable old mechanical watch peeking out from under his French cuffs, a classic Patek Philippe model.
For someone like Fu Yu, a junior kitchen worker from a very modest background, seeing Yao Shi’s outfit, he only thought it looked a bit stifling, but at least it appeared quite decent.
But outside, whether it was at Qianlima or a music restaurant, anyone with a bit of taste could clearly tell that, even if this person worked in the back kitchen, he must be the head chef or a managerial staff member.
Moreover, he was certainly from a privileged background, wealthy and influential.
After all, wealth might come from inherited family money or from starting from scratch on one’s own.
If it’s the former, people usually just envy his good luck.
But if it’s the latter, he himself would command both respect and awe.
Yao Shi greeted Zhao Meng, then turned to Fu Yu and said: "The music restaurant has a large company celebration event to host tomorrow morning, you should go directly there to assist me."
Fu Yu quickly nodded: "Okay, Chef Yao, understood."
Yao Shi pulled a neatly folded, four-square order sheet from his pocket and handed it over.
"This is the order list, take a look at it for an idea of tomorrow’s work."
Fu Yu took it.
Unfolding the order sheet, Fu Yu couldn’t help but sigh inwardly.
No wonder people say music restaurants have a certain class. Just holding this order sheet, the first impression it gives is that of luxury.
The order sheet is made from high-quality coated paper, printed with intricate designs, and the logo of the music restaurant is a distinctive figurative design.
At a glance, they made sure this richly textured order sheet belongs exclusively to the music restaurant.
And the most striking part of the entire order sheet was the printed price tag on the first line.
(For 10 people) Priced at the median.
RMB5700/table + 50 service fee
This means the cost of booking a table, excluding drinks, is a base price of 5750 yuan.
And this price just falls into the median category.
The "median" on the order sheet represents mid-range pricing.
If it were high-end, wouldn’t it start at five figures?!
Fu Yu glanced over the menu list and clicked his tongue: "Chef Zhao, come quick and look! This Steamed Argentine Red Shrimp with Garlic and Vermicelli, isn’t it just our Garlic Shrimp? And this Premier Whole Duck, isn’t it just Braised Duck?"
Except for the names, these dishes look no different from the signature dishes in our own shop!
Zhao Meng took a quick look and nodded: "It should be, after all, our restaurant’s procurement and the music restaurant’s procurement both collaborate with the same seafood shop."
Fu Yu widened his eyes: "Damn! Our Garlic Shrimp is only 150 per plate, and the Braised Duck is 128. If you calculate it like that, all these dishes on this order sheet made here would cost at most two thousand or so, but over there, it doubles with a turn, this is daylight robbery!"
Zhao Meng: "The music restaurant follows a high-end consumption route, and they specialize in hosting various banquets. If they don’t elevate the level, how can they establish their own uniqueness?"
Fu Yu nodded seriously, speaking quietly: "Chef Zhao, I’ll definitely learn well from Chef Yao. When you rise to the heavens, don’t forget to take me with you!"
Zhao Meng smiled lightly: "Sure, I’ve just received an order, Baked Squid with Chicken Wings, using your buddy as the ingredient. Why don’t you take charge?"
Fu Yu: "Chef Zhao, I feel insulted!"
Zhao Meng chuckled: "Come on, get to work!"
Fu Yu sighed helplessly and followed behind honestly to help in the kitchen.
What else could he do? After all, he’s just a junior worker, poor and lacking in skills, right?
Zhao Meng has quite a set of skills in cooking. Over the years, he’s managed to draw in a steady stream of regular customers, and just that alone earns Fu Yu’s admiration.
A chef’s dishes, if they can give customers a unique taste at just one bite, making them recognize the chef from the dish, that’s a real skill.
However, compared to Yao Shi’s emphasis on quality and fineness in life, Zhao Meng’s lifestyle is a bit too casual.
As the head chef, his base salary is 7500 a month, and with commissions on dishes, it’s easy for him to earn 20,000 a month.
Despite owning a house, he chooses to stay in the restaurant’s dormitory. Despite having a high salary, he rarely spends much on himself.
In his words: "Spending? Why spend? Meals and lodging are free, and since I’m single, as long as I’m full, the whole family isn’t hungry. Who am I dressing up for? Isn’t the restaurant’s food better than outside? Whenever I feel like it, I can cook for myself. Life is for living how you like, not for others to see."
Fu Yu couldn’t help but ask: "Chef Zhao, is it because there’s no one you like in this city?"
Living so unkempt, is he really planning on staying single forever?
Zhao Meng replied straightforwardly: "When you’re on your own, you can manage your life well enough. If a girlfriend comes along and just complicates things, might as well stay single. Whether I find someone or not doesn’t really matter."
Fu Yu looked on in admiration.
Chef Zhao’s perspective on relationships is truly clear-headed!
Then he couldn’t stop himself from joking: "Chef Zhao, it’s really not because you just can’t find someone?"
Zhao Meng kicked him lightly: "Get to work!"
... 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖
There were many customers dining in the evening.
Order slips were sent to the kitchen, Zhao Meng took them, picked out the ones that matched his specialty, and tore the rest for Gu Yunwu.
The order taker conveyed: "Chef Zhao, this customer requested that all the meals be served individually, they want to share."
Zhao Meng was taken aback: "What? What are you talking about?"
The order taker explained: "The customer said that on days with the You earthly branch in the twelve Earthly Branch cycle, it’s best not to hold banquets. Today is such a day, avoiding banquets, they requested that meals be prepared individually per person, they’ll each pay for their own, effectively dining individually."
Zhao Meng was stunned!
Fu Yu was dumbfounded too.
Isn’t this akin to covering one’s ears while ringing a bell?
Zhao Meng exclaimed: "Why don’t they just go to a cafeteria! Without having to ask, they’d naturally get individual servings!"
The order taker chuckled: "They’ve got money! They just want to eat fancy cafeteria food."
Zhao Meng was speechless, asking: "How many people at the table?"
The order taker answered: "Seven."
Zhao Meng shouted to communicate with Gu Yunwu: "Chef Gu! The guests at this table want separate servings, each dish split into seven."
Gu Yunwu was stunned after understanding: "Rich people really know how to play! Even dining has to be based on the zodiac!!"
