The next day, Jiang Yu got up early and went to the first-floor kitchen with Lu Shuwu to prepare breakfast.

The Seventh Dining Hall only offers lunch and dinner, so in the mornings, Jiang Yu is relatively free, and only Yan Tongtong is busy.

Taking advantage of this gap, Jiang Yu personally met the sous-chef that Lu Shuwu helped find, as well as the apprentice introduced by Ma Guoqiang.

The sous-chef's name is Pei Guofu, in his forties, an ordinary-looking middle-aged man with a round short haircut, always smiling with a simple and honest appearance.

The main job of the sous-chef is to handle the allocation, cutting, and processing of vegetables, ingredients, and other assistance work.

A good sous-chef can not only save the chef's workload but also enhance the quality of dishes in terms of nutrition, color, and taste.

Jiang Yu didn't say much, chatted casually with Pei Guofu for a while, then took him to the prep room, and said with a smile:

"Master Pei, if you don't mind, could you help prepare a couple of dishes for a try?

It's not that I doubt your skills, I just want to see if the dishes you prepare match our chefs' usual cooking style."

If the sous-chef and the chef cooperate well, it is a great help, and vice versa.

Every chef hopes that the person preparing their ingredients has a similar taste to theirs, as it makes work more efficient.

Pei Guofu is not new to the kitchen, he understands this very well.

To be honest, it's much easier for him to work with a compatible chef, and he has no reason to refuse.

Jiang Yu thought for a moment and said,

"Master Pei, how about preparing Mapo Tofu and Ginger Chili Ribs, one meat and one vegetable, just right."

"Alright, Boss Jiang, just a moment."

Pei Guofu glanced at several fresh-keeping cabinets in the prep room and then sprang into action.

This man, looking simple and honest, works quickly and efficiently, not dragging his feet at all.

When he said "just a moment," Jiang Yu thought it was merely a polite phrase, but to his surprise, it was literal. In just a moment, the two dishes were prepped and neatly placed on plates.

Jiang Yu leaned in for a closer look, finding the main and side ingredients proportionate and the colors matching well. These were ready for the chef to cook without any need to add or reduce anything.

Judging from Pei Guofu's speed and proficiency in ingredient preparation, Jiang Yu could see that he has indeed been doing it for many years and reached a high level of skill.

"Very good, the speed of prep is fast, and the proportions and colors are well matched."

Jiang Yu nodded with a smile on his face and said,

"Master Pei, you're indeed skilled. For now, take a break, and at noon, you can come upstairs with me to help out.

As for the compensation, we can discuss it later."

The two apprentices introduced by Ma Guoqiang were very young, around twenty, one slightly chubby and cheerful-looking named Deng Zehang, and the other thin and chatty named Ma Wendong.

Perhaps these two were quite familiar with Ma Guoqiang, as they were brought directly in front of Jiang Yu for a brief introduction, after which he said with a smile:

"Boss Xiao Jiang, these two youngsters have both worked in the kitchens of city-based restaurants, and although they haven't learned any special skills, they're fine with tasks like washing and chopping vegetables.

They've heard of the reputation of our Seventh Dining Hall and admire you immensely. They couldn't sleep last night upon hearing they'd be working here, waking me up early before dawn.

Don't worry, they will work hard, and if they don't listen, you can scold or even hit them as you see fit!"

Jiang Yu nearly burst out laughing at his words; they made him sound like someone with a fiery temper, but really, Jiang Yu wasn't quick to anger.

In the kitchen, apprentices mainly handle the most basic tasks such as cutting ingredients, washing vegetables, cleaning, and delivering dishes.

The requirements aren't too high since they lack professional cooking skills. Apprenticeships are mainly for learning culinary arts.

However, in practice, it's often difficult for apprentices to truly learn skills because chefs aren't obliged to teach them, and given that kitchen work is busy and tiring, they don't have the time or energy to guide apprentices.

To put it bluntly, even if I teach you, what do I gain?

So Jiang Yu understood Ma Guoqiang's implication: he hoped Jiang Yu could occasionally teach the apprentices some skills, to prevent them from learning nothing even after years of apprenticeship.

Jiang Yu said with a smile: "Uncle Ma, don't worry. As long as they work hard, I won't treat them poorly."

"That's good, that's good!"

Ma Guoqiang nodded happily and turned to scold the two,

"Hurry up and thank Boss Xiao Jiang! Work hard in the future, and if you slack off, even if Boss Xiao Jiang doesn't deal with you, I will!"

"Thank you, Boss!"

"We will definitely work hard, thank you, Boss!"

The two people quickly bowed their heads to express thanks.

After Ma Guoqiang took them away, Jiang Yu intended to meet the chef, rumored to be quite proud, but after asking around, he discovered the chef hadn't arrived yet.

Not knowing whether it was because of the distance or a lack of interest.

The person Jiang Yu wanted to see wasn't there, but he did meet someone unexpected.

After the New Year, the Seventh Dining Hall had been open for nearly half a month, with the Seventh Dining Room on the second floor officially open for business. Jia Dequan, who hadn't returned since going home for New Year, suddenly appeared in the kitchen of the Seventh Dining Hall.

"Oh, Lao Jia, how did your son let you out?"

Upon seeing Jia Dequan, Lu Shuwu was first stunned, then happily rushed over, saying,

"I thought you were not coming back, I had planned to visit you during the May Day holiday to see how you were doing!"

"Hmph, nice words, but you never called me this whole time."

Jia Dequan maintained a stern face, huffed twice, and said,

"Luckily, I persevered, always thinking about the food at the Seventh Dining Hall, otherwise, I might not have wanted to come back!"

As he spoke, he waved at Lu Shuwu,

"What are you still standing there for? Hurry up and bring two baskets of soup dumplings over here. I rushed over with an empty stomach early in the morning just to have a bite of this!"

Lu Shuwu quickly nodded and said, "Wait a moment, I'll get them for you!"

Jia Dequan was the happiest about coming back because this old man truly teaches, not holding anything back!

Where else can you find such a highly skilled and selfless old chef nowadays?

Even his grandpa, when taking on apprentices, would keep some tricks to himself.

Because everyone worries that teaching the apprentice everything might cause the master to starve!

After Lu Shuwu ran out to get the soup dumplings, Jiang Yu smiled and said,

"Old Jia, spending New Year at home was good, right? You look much better!"

"I wander around the streets every day for exercise; how could I not look better?"

"Oh? Sounds pretty relaxed."

"Relaxed, my ass! I was out hunting for street food!"

With a stern face, Jia Dequan exclaimed angrily,

"I couldn't get the meals from here while at home, so I could only wander the streets looking for substitutes. But where could I find them?

I just couldn't take it anymore and had to come back."

"That can't be right! Aren't you a national banquet-level chef yourself? Can't you just cook for yourself?"

Jiang Yu looked puzzled and said, "Don't tell me your dishes aren't as delicious as mine, because I won't believe that."

"Delicious, sure, but when you cook it yourself, it just loses that surprise element."

Jia Dequan shook his head with a trace of helplessness,

"The feeling is just different."

"..."

Jiang Yu was rendered speechless by that,

"Old Jia, your understanding is profound; I just can't comprehend it."

"Heh, let's not talk about it."

Jia Dequan waved his hand, skipping the topic. His eyes sparkling, he said,

"Xiao Jiang, I've heard, the restaurant above the dining hall, the Seventh Dining Hall, is quite popular now. You've done a great job!

You have to take advantage while you're young to make a name for yourself, let more people know you!

So, what do you say, want me to help you up there?

Don't worry, I'll work quietly and won't steal your spotlight; just as long as I have something to eat every day, I'm good."

Jiang Yu was taken aback: "You want to help me up there?"

Old Jia was recognized as a master of Hubei Cuisine, on par with Lu Shuwu's grandpa.

If he were to help, the standard of my Seventh Dining Hall would be among the best, if not nationally, at least within Jiangzhou.

By then, fame and profit would surely follow!

Truth be told, Jiang Yu was really tempted by Old Jia's offer.

"Yeah!"

Jia Dequan nodded earnestly and said,

"Don't worry, I'm just in my sixties; handling the big canteen dishes might be a bit too much, but making smaller dishes is no problem at all.

Didn't I cook the dinner here on the first floor previously?"

"Forget it. You'd better stick to guiding Brother Xiao Wu and Ah Wei here in the first floor's kitchen."

Jiang Yu calmed down and ultimately didn't agree.

Old Jia's son has allowed him to come here to rest, not to work.

Plus, kitchen work is tough and tiring. I really worry about Old Jia overexerting himself, and if something happens, how would I explain it to his son?

"Aren't you going to reconsider?"

"No need to consider; at your age, you should take it easy. Why work yourself to the bone every day? Are you naturally hardworking?"

"You..."

"Alright, Old Jia, listen to me. Relax, eat when you should, play when you feel like it. You're retired; why stress yourself out?"

Seeing Jia Dequan still somewhat frustrated, Jiang Yu smiled again and said,

"By the way, if you want to come upstairs for a meal, you might have to endure a bit of hunger; the lunch and dinner upstairs are much later than down here."

Jia Dequan's eyes lit up upon hearing this:

"I can still come up and eat with you guys?"

"Of course you can!"

"Oh! You should've said so earlier. Had you told me this from the start, I wouldn't have said anything about helping you up there! I've inhaled greasy fumes for decades; do you think I'm addicted to it?"

Jiang Yu: "..."

Jeez! Old Jia, you said that on purpose, didn't you?

You must be trying to annoy me on purpose!

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.