Gourmet: The Master Chef Just Wants to Leisurely Set Up a Stall - Chapter 39

In the kitchen, Zhao Xiaojing watched the up-and-down satisfaction ratings on the system’s backend, wearing an expression akin to a subway elder scrutinizing a smartphone.

The satisfaction rating initially plummeted to -20%, then suddenly leaped to 50%, climbed to 87%, plunged to -250%, and gradually ascended back to 70%?

Zhao Xiaojing felt a profound understanding of what it meant to be mentally challenged. These drastic fluctuations were baffling—were the workers’ moods truly this erratic?

Her emotions mirrored these wild swings, leaving her genuinely anxious.

“Chef Zhao, time to replenish! The fried chicken fillets and oyster mushrooms are nearly out!”

A helper craned their neck to remind her about replenishing dishes, prompting Zhao Xiaojing to check the system again, noticing satisfaction had dipped to 57%.

Just like in the morning, after hearing the dishes were depleted, satisfaction ratings dropped sharply—could satisfaction also be tied to dish availability?

With suspicion in mind, Zhao Xiaojing continued pounding chicken breasts while keeping an eye on the numbers.

Meanwhile, a vegetable washer hurriedly brought in a basket of cleaned oyster mushrooms, which Chef He quickly tore into strips, while Chef Sun helped pound the chicken with the knife’s flat side.

Thanks to the kitchen staff’s assistance, the mushrooms soon hit the frying pan.

When the helper returned to report the chicken fillets and mushrooms were gone again, Zhao Xiaojing glanced at the backend—the satisfaction rate had fallen to 20%.

Determined, Zhao Xiaojing quickened her pace, not waiting to finish frying everything, sending batches out as they were ready.

Sure enough, as each batch of mushrooms and fillets was served, satisfaction gradually rose. Once the last few workers finished eating, the rating stabilized at 84% and remained there.

Feeling relieved for a moment, Zhao Xiaojing’s heart sank again upon seeing the stagnant number. She dashed to the kitchen door, peering at the now-empty dining hall.

Please, just a few more! Zhao Xiaojing silently pleaded.

“What’s up, Xiao Zhao? Let’s eat and wrap up!”

“Finally, no one left!”

“Wow, fried mushrooms still left! We can finally taste Chef Zhao’s skills!”

Amid Zhao Xiaojing’s distress, Sun Dehai called her over, and the helpers joined in.

Seeing a glimmer of hope, Zhao Xiaojing eagerly joined everyone at the serving line, avoiding fried mushrooms entirely, choosing other dishes to ensure colleagues got their share without lowering satisfaction.

“Oh my goodness! Chef Zhao, how did you make these mushrooms so perfect? They taste amazing!” exclaimed a helper as the kitchen staff gathered to eat.

“No wonder people ordered three servings of Chef Zhao’s fried food tonight—who wouldn’t?”

“This is the best mushroom I’ve tasted in years! Xiao Zhao, your skills are incredible—empty plates for sure…”

Praised by her peers, Zhao Xiaojing grinned broadly, continuously monitoring the system.

84%, 85%, 86%! Just scraped by! With the weight lifted, she finally relaxed enough to eat.

Satisfaction sure was hard-earned, constantly fluctuating throughout the day, taking her mood along for the ride.

“Chef Zhao, looks like we’ll need to buy more ingredients tomorrow—your dishes are too popular!”

“Chef Zhao’s popular too! We love having you here!”

“Let’s toast to Xiao Zhao with soup instead of wine!”

“Cheers!” The canteen staff stood or sat, raising bowls together in gratitude for finally tasting those fried mushrooms, filled with joy.

[Ding~ Random Task Assigned]

[Random Task: In the canteen lies a nearly perfect dish, crafted by one among you. Seek it out and learn its recipe. Completing this task yields special rewards. Accept?]

[Yes/No]

Yes, yes, yes! System tasks always bring good things. Hearing about a new task, Zhao Xiaojing eagerly accepted, locking eyes with Sun Dehai.

It must be you, Chef Sun!

…

The next day, Zhao Xiaojing set off early for work, arriving by 8 AM to prepare ahead and find Chef Sun’s nearly perfect dish while learning from him.

Upon arrival, she found the purchasing aunties had already bought all requested ingredients and spices. Entering the kitchen, she saw them setting down supplies.

“Chef Zhao, you’re here early—it’s barely past eight?” As she donned her white coat, two servers from yesterday’s counter greeted her.

“Good morning, Aunt Geng and Aunt Hou! No need for formalities—you can call me Xiao Zhao. I’m an early riser without much to do, so I came early to prepare. Why are you here so early?” Surprised by how many colleagues arrived early.

“We’ve been here since five—we handle breakfast daily,” Hou Guihua smiled.

“Alright then, Aunt Geng, Aunt Hou—so you’re the breakfast chefs! I assumed someone else was hired,” Zhao Xiaojing replied curiously.

“Well, breakfast is simple. We used to hire specialists whose cooking wasn’t great—mostly semi-processed stuff. Manager said it’d be better handled internally—same pay but more reliable.

We discussed it and took on breakfast duty ourselves; helping serve meals was already part of our job. This way we earn an extra thousand or two each month! We told Manager we’d do it, and he agreed,” Geng Mingyan explained while tidying steamer racks from morning buns and dumplings.

“Such flexibility in this canteen’s employment model!”

“We work well together—I cook porridge and steam buns, while Lao Geng handles boiled eggs, tea eggs, fried dough sticks, and fried nest cakes. The workers enjoy it.

Hey Xiao Zhao, have you eaten breakfast?”

“I brought bread to eat later.”

“Forget bread—there are fresh fried nest cakes up front, piping hot! There’s porridge too—it turned out great today. Go on and eat,” Hou Guihua insisted.

Reluctantly accepting their hospitality after several refusals and reassurances that breakfast was provided for all kitchen staff, Zhao Xiaojing went to serve herself porridge and a nest cake.

Intending only to fill her stomach, one bite of the nest cake shocked her.