Chapter 196: Chapter 196: The Boss Lacks Confidence, Yet Still Dares to Make This Bet with You?

“Mmm! Delicious, it’s really so delicious!”

“It’s the first time I’ve had such tasty spring rolls. The boss’s touch is truly extraordinary!”

“Speaking of which, the spring rolls we used to eat were mostly filled with potato shreds, cabbage, egg and the like. This time, there’s an extra taste of spring, giving the feeling that spring has truly arrived!”

“I need to hold back, can’t eat too much. I’m really eager to try the boss’s fried spring rolls now!”

“…”

The people in the kitchen can basically eat the dishes Jiang Yu cooks every day, so their tastes have become quite discerning.

Now, don’t mention those small roadside restaurants—even the big city restaurants and high-end hotels don’t impress them much after they’ve tasted the food.

Therefore, for this little spring roll to receive so much praise, especially with the wrapper made by Lu Shuwu, it’s quite impressive.

Jiang Yu’s stir-fried dishes are actually just average in taste; the key is still the sauce.

Ma Guoqiang said a lot before, and there was one sentence he said correctly:

This sauce is the soul of the spring roll.

Whether it’s fried spring rolls or grilled ones, it’s the same.

In fact, fried spring rolls aren’t about deep-frying the vegetable-filled rolls—they’re quickly passing them through hot oil, making the thin wrappers golden and crispy.

If you deep-fry the spring rolls, the fat content would be too high.

Nowadays, it’s not the era where everyone lacks oil and fat, and who could still eat such greasy stuff?

The smell alone is suffocatingly greasy.

Because large pots were used to fry the spring rolls, Jiang Yu soon fried a large bowl full of them.

The fried spring rolls are golden and radiant, and when they first come out of the pot, a few remaining spots of hot oil are sizzling on the wrapper, sending waves of fragrance that make everyone’s mouth water.

“This time, I’m going first!”

Before anyone else could react, Lu Shuwu quickly picked up his chopsticks, swiftly grabbed a slightly cooled spring roll from the bowl, and dipped it in the sauce on the side.

He then brought it to his mouth, opened wide, and took a bite.

“Crunch!”

With that crisp sound, Lu Shuwu’s eyes instantly widened,

“Whoa! This seems even tastier!”

With that, he stuffed the rest of the spring roll into his mouth, and after several crisp “crunch” sounds, the entire spring roll was gone.

Having just finished eating, he hurried off to compete with the others.

“Don’t push! There’s enough for everyone!”

“Give me one, I haven’t eaten anything yet!”

“Whoa! Don’t grab it from me, I’ve just dipped it in the sauce!”

“…”

Jiang Yu watched this bunch of men and women, young and old, all grabbing as if on some kind of crazy pill, and couldn’t help but shake his head.

He remembered when Lu Shuwu first came, he still held back a bit, would take a bite of food and squint his eyes, offering lengthy feedback.

He wasn’t too keen to compete with others, always waiting, pausing, and watching…

But of course, the price of holding back was ultimately “devastating.”

There were plenty of times during shared meals when all the dishes were empty—even the soup was gone—and Lu Shuwu was left holding half a bowl of white rice, staring in bewilderment at everyone, not knowing what had happened.

But now Lu Shuwu has been harshly battered by reality, repeatedly dragged down by life…

Look at him now; he’s become just like Hu Zhihai, only saying “Whoa” and rushing back in to grab food.

As Jiang Yu was contemplating this, others from the dining hall started arriving one after another. Seeing that Jiang Yu had made new breakfast items, they rushed over without a word, joining the food-snatching army.

Especially newcomers Deng Zehang and Ma Wendong, who had just tasted Jiang Yu’s dishes yesterday and felt like it was a soul-enriching experience. Now seeing Jiang Yu had made new breakfast, how could they hold back?

Never mind they haven’t had breakfast yet, even if they were full, they’d find a way to make room in their stomachs, forcing in more somehow.

Missing out on the boss’s culinary creations would be such a loss!

Watching the noisy kitchen crowd gobbling up food with greasy mouths and satisfied faces, Jiang Yu didn’t bother with them and turned to head upstairs.

As for the spring rolls, they were naturally Lu Shuwu’s responsibility, and if he needed help, there were plenty of pastry chefs in the kitchen, so Jiang Yu didn’t worry at all.

Before he stepped out of the kitchen, Qian Liwei approached with a slightly disheveled-haired young man in his thirties.

Upon seeing Jiang Yu, Qian Liwei quickly greeted him:

“Boss, heading upstairs?”

“Yeah, just checking the situation here.” Jiang Yu nodded with a smile,

“I just made some spring rolls, they’re still eating. If you hurry, you might be able to grab one or two.”

“Uh, well…”

Qian Liwei looked at Jiang Yu, then at the young man, his face full of confusion and struggle. After a moment, he stomped his foot, as if making a difficult decision, lifted his head, and said to Jiang Yu,

“Boss, work is more important. This is the chef I told you about earlier.

He was supposed to come yesterday morning, but before he set off, his mom suddenly had a heart attack and fainted. In his panic, he could only focus on getting her to the hospital and couldn’t make it here.

After he got to the hospital, he called me, but my phone was out of credit, so he couldn’t get through. I only found out when I went home in the evening and my family told me.”

Saying this, Qian Liwei’s face was full of embarrassment, and he couldn’t help but scratch his head.

“Oh, I was wondering, how come he said he’d come but didn’t in the end?”

Jiang Yu had actually noticed the person beside Qian Liwei long ago. Seeing his face still showing some fatigue, it was probably from being tired out caring for his mom in the hospital.

To be honest, he was already disappointed with this chef introduced by Ah Wei.

Regardless of his cooking skills, just the fact that he didn’t show up when he said he would, without even a heads up. Such a lack of punctuality and integrity, would hiring him just create more trouble?

Now, after hearing Ah Wei’s explanation, Jiang Yu felt a little better. If there was a reason behind it, then it’s not really fair to blame him.

Moreover, the problem was on Ah Wei’s end.

“Hello, Boss Jiang, my name is Du Guangning. Sorry about yesterday, there was indeed an emergency at home, and I had to cancel.”

Du Guangning knew that the person standing in front of him was the legendary owner of the Seventh Dining Hall, but he was not at all flustered. With neither humility nor arrogance, he nodded to Jiang Yu and continued,

“Boss Jiang probably doesn’t know much about me, so let me briefly introduce myself.

I’m not very talented in academics, but when it comes to being a chef, my talent isn’t at full capacity, but at least it’s not less than others.

Some say that it takes at least twenty to thirty years for an apprentice to become a head chef in a hotel, but I reached this level in just about ten years.”

Jiang Yu couldn’t help but ask, “Have you worked as a head chef at a major restaurant? Which restaurant?”

“I said I’ve reached the level of a head chef.”

Du Guangning emphasized again, then continued,

“But they don’t acknowledge it and won’t let me be the head chef, what can I do about that?

Honestly, some of the dishes those head chefs make aren’t as good as mine, and their plating can’t compare to mine either!”

Listening on the side, Qian Liwei couldn’t help but raise his hand to cover his face:

Oh my God! How can you say such things in front of my boss?

When it comes to talent or cooking skills, you’re just a complete novice!

Wake up, brother!

“Then why don’t you try some other restaurants or hotels?”

Jiang Yu didn’t address Qian Liwei, and continued to ask,

“What made you suddenly think of coming to my small dining hall? If you come here, what kind of position are you hoping for?”

“I’ve tried other places too, but those people are so clannish. Clearly, my dishes taste better than theirs, but they stubbornly lie with their eyes open, saying mine aren’t as good. Rather than going to a place like that to be wronged, I’d rather not go.”

Du Guangning paused, then went on,

“As for coming here, I heard from Brother Wei that you have a Seventh Dining Hall restaurant here, which is quite high-end. A table of banquet can sell for a hundred thousand, so I thought I’d give it a try.

If I can come here, I still hope to be the head chef, after all, the banquets I prepare should also be able to sell for a hundred thousand a table.”

After hearing his words, Jiang Yu understood.

This Du Guangning isn’t just as arrogant as Ah Wei mentioned, he simply has no clue about his own level!

Not knowing his own level is one thing, but with such a low emotional intelligence, speaking and doing things so bluntly, it’s truly surprising if anyone could accept him.

However, for Jiang Yu, none of this matters. As long as he listens and works hard, a little low emotional intelligence isn’t a big deal. This place isn’t like those restaurants or hotels, with only a few chefs in the kitchen, forming cliques.

Working every day is already tiring, who has the energy for plotting and scheming? Isn’t it exhausting?

Besides, straightforward people don’t have many hidden agendas. If you truly have the skills to earn his respect, he’ll sincerely help you.

Thinking of this, Jiang Yu smiled at him and said:

“If you want to be the head chef of the Seventh Dining Hall, it’s simple. As long as you can make dishes tastier than mine, then you’re the head chef!”

“Really?”

Upon hearing this, Du Guangning’s eyes, still bloodshot, immediately lit up.

Qian Liwei, who had just put his hand down, couldn’t help but raise it again. This fool, the boss laid a trap for you, and you just jump right in?

Have you not considered, if the boss didn’t have confidence in beating you, would he make such a bet?

Foolish!

Utterly foolish!

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep