Gourmet: The Master Chef Just Wants to Leisurely Set Up a Stall - Chapter 32

The following morning, Zhao Xiaojing woke up early as usual.

She set up the pot, lit the stove, and made a simple bowl of scallion oil and egg noodles before grabbing her documents and heading out.

Last night, just after going upstairs, she received a call from the construction site supervisor. They arranged for her to come today to transition with the retiring assistant chef and work together for two days to adapt. Come Monday, the current assistant chef would leave, and Zhao Xiaojing would officially start working.

Zhao Xiaojing took the keys to her stall tricycle, intending to use the electric mode. But as she looked for the keyhole, she found none—just a glaring QR code on the handlebars.

Does it have to be this realistic?! Is it really like a shared bike? Who designs things like this?

Feeling particularly aggrieved, Zhao Xiaojing scanned the code.

Upon reaching the construction site and explaining her purpose to the security guard at the gate, she was warmly directed to the project office.

After walking straight and making a turn, she reached the project team’s office—a large room where everyone in charge of the project worked. The door was already open.

“Excuse me, could someone tell me who Manager Li is?” Zhao Xiaojing asked from the doorway.

“You must be Miss Zhao, right? Come in and have a seat. Xiao Fan, get some tea!” The man by the window stood up and called to his secretary nearby.

Zhao Xiaojing quickly waved her hands, “No need, no need, Manager, I’m not thirsty.”

Manager Li guided Zhao Xiaojing to a seat while Secretary Fan swiftly brought over a cup of tea and placed it before her.

“We talked about the details yesterday. Since you’re recommended by Manager Wen, I trust you’ll do well. Now, will you be staying here?”

“Our cooking team always follows the construction site, so meals and accommodations are provided. If you choose not to stay, we’ll give you an extra 300 yuan per month. Just ensure punctuality.”

“I won’t be staying.”

After briefly considering, Zhao Xiaojing decided. It was only for two months, moving there would mean finding another place afterward. Besides, working among mostly male workers wasn’t convenient.

Riding her electric bike there took nearly half an hour anyway.

“Alright then. Did you bring your health certificate, ID, photo, and bank card?”

“Yes,” Zhao Xiaojing replied, pulling out a transparent paper bag containing various documents from her bag.

“Great. Xiao Fan, draft the contract—no accommodation.” Manager Li handed the bag to Secretary Fan.

Soon, a neat contract was placed before Zhao Xiaojing.

She casually flipped through it; nothing complex was included. It contained what Wen Yulan discussed with her yesterday, along with labor rules and regulations.

For the first time in two lifetimes, Zhao Xiaojing formally signed a contract, feeling a mix of excitement as she did.

“Here’s to a successful collaboration,” Manager Li smiled as he shook her hand.

Since Zhao Xiaojing was personally appointed by his superior, Wen Yulan, Manager Li treated her with utmost courtesy, sensing close ties with the Wen family.

After signing the contract, Secretary Fan led her to the canteen kitchen.

“Chef Sun, this is Chef Zhao, our new hire. Please guide her. Chef He will be leaving next Monday; help her settle in.”

“Chef He, please explain everything to Chef Zhao and familiarize her with the environment.”

“Sure thing!” Chef He responded enthusiastically upon seeing her successor arrive.

“So young?” Chef Sun Dehai, sporting a large beer belly, sized up Zhao Xiaojing with skepticism written all over his face.

“Well… youth is good; lots of potential,” Secretary Fan awkwardly tried smoothing things over. As someone specified by upper management, being questioned immediately left him helpless.

“Youth alone doesn’t cut it in the kitchen. Here it’s all about real skills—potential doesn’t matter. We work fast and can’t afford delays.” Sun Dehai frowned, holding back nothing.

“Chef Sun, I haven’t even started yet. How can you say youth isn’t enough?”

Unperturbed by the questioning, Zhao Xiaojing calmly replied.

“Fine then, let’s see if it’s real skill or not. Time’s up anyway, so cut these potatoes into strips.” Sun Dehai pointed at a large basket of peeled potatoes soaking in water, arms crossed, waiting to see a show.

Secretary Fan glanced at the towering heap of potatoes, wanting to say something but held back.

He didn’t know this connection’s competence either, nor how to handle her per management’s instructions—blindly accommodating might not be wise…

“Okay.” Zhao Xiaojing wasn’t bothered, quickly donning the newly issued white coat and grabbing a knife to slice potatoes.

Chef He grew nervous—another potentially embarrassing scene! When she arrived, though Sun Dehai didn’t openly question her, he also had her try slicing potatoes first. After cutting just two, he laughed at how one potato strip could fill you up.

Seeing Zhao Xiaojing genuinely preparing to work, Secretary Fan stayed put. Alongside the vegetable washers and dishwashers, they all focused intently on Zhao Xiaojing wielding the knife, curious to see if this young person was truly here to work.

“Shh-shh-shh…” With her left hand pressing down on the potato and knuckles guiding the knife, Zhao Xiaojing’s right fingers gripped the knife seamlessly, each cut precisely aligning with her knuckles. Short and steady chopping sounds filled the air.

Slicing evenly into thin slices, then finely into uniform strips.

Finishing one potato, she placed the strips into a water-filled basin before moving onto the second and third…

Initially watching coldly, Sun Dehai’s eyes widened in disbelief as he rushed over to inspect the potato strips soaking in the basin.

Rows of fine toothpick-like strips lay uniformly submerged in layers within the basin.

“Well now, how are young folks raised these days—playing with knives at home?” Sun Dehai mumbled.

“Manager Wen sure knows talent. Even her connections have skills…” Secretary Fan followed closely behind, astonished.

Beside them, Chef He quietly exhaled in relief—her resignation was finally stable.

Engrossed in cutting potatoes, Zhao Xiaojing paid no mind to any of this.

She practiced diligently in virtual space daily—not just learning skewer recipes but honing her knife skills too. Although knife skills were a system-given benefit requiring no practice, mastery comes with experience—she never slacked off.

Initially nervous about performing publicly under watchful eyes, she gradually relaxed as she sliced, entering a state akin to practicing in virtual space—losing herself in seamless flow…

Zhao Xiaojing’s cutting flowed smoothly, even bringing a smile to her lips. Finishing the last potato effortlessly, her left hand habitually reached into the basket again, realizing only then that there were no more potatoes.

Looking up, she found both chefs staring at her incredulously.