Abnormal Gourmet Chronicle
Chapter 180 - 149 Sometimes I Really Want to Compete with You Geniuses_3

Chapter 180: Chapter 149 Sometimes I Really Want to Compete with You Geniuses_3

A simple meal, Qin Huai and Zheng Siyuan each enjoy three dishes and a fried rice, while everyone else eats the regular shared meals as usual.

No one has any objections to this blatant act of special treatment.

The sales champion enjoys privileges everywhere they go.

Qin Huai held a bowl filled with a beautiful serving of Yangzhou Fried Rice. The rice was perfectly cooked with each grain distinct and golden in color, looking much like the legendary golden egg fried rice often mentioned in culinary stories, where each grain of rice is evenly coated with egg yolk, a dish beloved by the Old Buddha.

Of course, it only looks that way at first glance.

Huang Jia doesn’t have that level of skill, and Yangzhou Fried Rice isn’t just ordinary egg fried rice.

The fried rice ingredients are quite rich, including eggs, shrimp, beef cubes, ham, diced carrots, and a mix of other ingredients, topped with chopped green onions, making it incredibly aromatic and tempting.

Qin Huai alternated between bites of Yangzhou Fried Rice and Sizzling Fried Eel, Yangzhou Fried Rice and Squirrel Mandarin Fish, Yangzhou Fried Rice and Wensi Tofu, eating profusely without stopping.

Qin Huai thought that if daily staff meals were of this quality, then working hard at Huang Ji wouldn’t be too bad.

Although Huang Jia’s skills aren’t as good as Huang Shengli, they far surpass other chefs, at least far surpass the 10 yuan stir-fry next to the Qin Family Breakfast Shop.

Qin Huai wasn’t trying to criticize Qin Congwen and Zhao Rong’s cooking skills; he just wanted to say that previously, if the breakfast shop was busy and Zhao Rong had no time to cook at home, she would give him 20 yuan to take Qin Luo next door for a 10 yuan stir-fry.

That was Qin Luo’s little daily joy.

This is also why after Qin Huai took over Yunzhong Restaurant, their family of four would eat there every day, not because the dining hall’s meat chefs were especially skilled, mainly because they loved eating there.

Plus, eating in the restaurant every day had other benefits. The surrounding residents greatly trusted the restaurant’s food safety, after all, the boss’s family ate there daily.

Qin Huai and Zheng Siyuan joyfully ate their lunch.

"Siyuan," Qin Huai suddenly spoke, "I just learned that your pastry skills are considered top-notch in the industry."

Zheng Siyuan nodded lightly, "You could say that, but it’s like being the tallest among short people."

"Then why don’t you work in a restaurant, or open your own? Is it because it’s too tiring?" Qin Huai asked curiously.

He always felt like an industry-leading pastry master running a budget pastry shop at the neighborhood entrance was very much like the Shaolin sweeping monk, but a Shaolin sweeping monk is a character that only appears in novels.

"Not really," Zheng Siyuan replied, "I wouldn’t say it’s completely that, running a pastry shop can be quite tiring when business is booming."

"Compared to making snacks, I enjoy watching snacks being sold and seeing people eat them. In a restaurant kitchen, it’s hard to get immediate feedback from the diners."

"Besides, I’m not short on money," Zheng Siyuan said, brushing off the carrot pieces from his Dior pants, "And I feel my current skills don’t allow me to become a master chef at a famous dining establishment. If I were to work in a restaurant, I’d aim for places like Yonghe Inn or Zhiwei Restaurant."

"But my level isn’t top-tier even at Yonghe Inn; in those restaurants known for their meat dishes, I couldn’t surpass the famously skilled chefs."

"I don’t like being a sidekick," Zheng Siyuan said blandly, "Actually, I spent half a year at Huang Ji seven years ago, when my uncle’s health was good, and Huang Ji was bustling with customers daily, with the number of waitstaff and kitchen personnel about 1.5 times what it is now."

"Though many customers praised my snacks then, I was always my uncle’s sidekick. People would never come specifically for my snacks; it was always for my uncle’s skills that they came to Huang Ji. I didn’t like living that way."

"Maybe in some ways, I’m like my father, not willing to settle under others. It’s just that my father chose to go into business, and I chose to open a pastry shop at the neighborhood entrance."

Qin Huai expressed understanding and continued his meal.

"But you’re not like that," Zheng Siyuan said, "I feel you don’t care about this stuff at all."

Qin Huai responded, "Maybe. I think it’s normal that there’s always someone better, like an Outer Heaven Demon might appear if you’re unbeatable. I’m not interested in being number one."

"I think as long as my family and friends are happy, as long as everyone enjoys their food, that’s better than anything."

"Would you be willing to stay at Huang Ji for a while longer?" Zheng Siyuan asked.

"Eh?" Qin Huai was surprised.

Does Zheng Siyuan have shares in Huang Ji?

"My uncle’s health isn’t good, and with his restlessness, I feel he might retire in a few years," Zheng Siyuan pointed to the Sizzling Fried Eel on the plate, "You can taste Huang Jia’s skills; they’re not as good as my uncle’s."

"Although I don’t pay much attention, I know Huang Ji’s business isn’t as good as it used to be."

"So, I hope, if possible, you could stay at Huang Ji a bit longer, at least until my uncle’s back fully heals and he can start cooking again consistently until retirement, without any relapses."

"With you there, my uncle wouldn’t worry about Huang Ji’s business and wouldn’t suddenly insist on going to the kitchen to cook a couple of special dishes."

Qin Huai continued eating, chewing and swallowing, then asked, "Does it have to be me? I think you going back to work at Huang Ji for a while should be okay too; the moon cake sales are pretty good."

"Do you know what the customers guessed at lunch today?" Zheng Siyuan asked, not directly answering the question.

"What did they guess?"

"They thought my dad was invited back by my uncle to save the business, which is why they’re madly buying snacks."

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