The Cheat Emperor of the Culinary World-Chapter 203 - 202: Is This Kid Just Lucky?

To make flavored stir-fried snails, the most crucial step is to clip off the tails of the snails.

This dish sells well in the restaurant, and the snail meat is prepared in advance, ready to be used when needed.

Zhang Jiaxin was weighing the ingredients while chatting with Fu Yu out of boredom.

"Chef Fu, why do snails smell muddy if we don't add perilla leaves?"

Fu Yu paused. He hadn't really thought about that question before.

He quickly flipped through the special family banquet cookbook.

Sure enough, the recipe was indeed there.

Not having time to memorize it, Fu Yu hurriedly recited the information from the book.

"Apparently, a farmer in Pantang named Li Xisu accidentally discovered that stir-frying snails with perilla leaves could remove the muddy smell, so this method quickly spread."

Zhang Jiaxin sincerely praised, "Chef Fu, you're really knowledgeable!"

Fu Yu smiled calmly, "Not really, I just heard it from Chef Zhao sometimes."

Since Zhao Meng wasn't there, he could say whatever he wanted.

Sure enough, Zhang Jiaxin believed him without further questioning his answer.

The flavored stir-fried snails at Qianlima have their unique style.

During cooking, homemade sour bamboo shoots are used.

Heat the dry pot over high flames.

Add oil.

Zhang Jiaxin had never made this dish alone before, so he followed Yao Yihang's example and added a similar amount of oil to the pot.

As soon as he stopped pouring, Fu Yu advised, "Add a bit more. For this dish, you need to be generous with the oil so that the snails will come out shiny.

Zhang Jiaxin quickly added more oil to the pot.

When the oil was heated to 80%, add minced garlic, sour bamboo shoots, fermented black beans, green onions, ginger, red chili, green chili, and small red chilis for flavor.

Fu Yu said again, "At this point, controlling the heat is crucial. Your heat is a bit high, it can be turned down a notch."

Zhang Jiaxin followed the instruction obediently.

Once Fu Yu said it was okay, only then did he add the cleaned and drained snails for stir-frying.

With the flick of the wrist, Zhang Jiaxin's skills from flipping sand while in school finally surfaced.

Fu Yu observed his proficient movements but corrected him on a few minor details, offering some additional pointers.

Zhang Jiaxin followed Fu Yu's guidance and made corrections one by one.

Admittedly, with these adjustments, flipping the pan felt even smoother, and the speed seemed to have increased.

However, having not flipped a pan in nearly a year, his arm wasn't as strong as before. After three minutes, his wrist started to ache slightly.

Zhang Jiaxin continued to flip the pan for nearly five minutes.

When Fu Yu finally gave the signal, he was relieved, and added chili oil, perilla leaves, salt, and cooking wine for further stir-frying.

The aroma of the snails began to waft.

It smelled spicy, with a hint of sweetness amidst the fragrance.

It smelled delicious.

This time, Zhang Jiaxin dared not be overconfident.

Previously, when serving dishes, he was so excited that he hadn't even thought to taste it before handing it over to the waiter.

This time, he learned his lesson.

He pinched one to taste it himself.

The snails were cooked fragrantly spicy, with rich juices and tender meat that was truly flavorful.

Fu Yu also tasted one, nodding in approval, "Not bad, it's very tasty."

Zhang Jiaxin finally at ease, handed the plate over to the waiter to take away.

Fu Yu called him back, advising Zhang Jiaxin, "Since it's a redo because of a returned dish, the customer must be unhappy. Take two small dishes over as a peace offering.

Zhang Jiaxin promptly went to the storage room.

He didn't even realize that he was now completely obedient to Fu Yu's words.

Meanwhile, Fu Yu didn't linger either. After all this delay, the fish stew that Sun Qingning had just made would surely be devoured by those ravenous folks.

Zhang Jiaxin came back with some small dishes and noticed Fu Yu was gone, so he asked the waiter, "Where's Chef Fu?"

The waiter replied, "He went to eat. Are you coming with me?"

Zhang Jiaxin nodded, "Yes, I'm following Chef Fu's instructions. Let's go, I'll come with you."

The customer seemed surprised to see the chef personally apologize and also receive extra small dishes.

The dissatisfaction they felt quickly dissipated.

Returning from the private room, Zhang Jiaxin walked back to the kitchen with a light step, thinking, ah... really, one wrong step leads to another!

If, back then, he had chosen to follow Zhao Meng, could he now be like Sun Qingning, serving as Fu Yu's assistant?

He considered himself not much different from Sun Qingning, believing that if they really competed, he would stand a good chance.

Recalling Sun Qingning's carefree attitude, Zhang Jiaxin sighed.

That guy is just lucky.

Fine, no need to dwell on it. In two months, I'll submit my resignation!

Meanwhile, Fu Yu was eating the fish Sun Qingning had set aside for him while listening to the electronic notification in his ear:

[Ding! NPC kitchen helper Zhang Jiaxin's task: assist him in completing a satisfactory flavored stir-fried snail dish for the customer, successfully completed. Reward: 100 RMB, +20 task experience]

Fu Yu quietly added a piece of tofu to his bowl.

Alright! The apron money is back!

In a good mood, with a good appetite, he could eat another bowl of rice at lunch.

Just as they were preparing to clear the table, Zhao Meng returned from the doctor.

He's dealing with an old ailment, tenosynovitis, a common professional illness for chefs with long experience.

Fu Yu quickly asked with concern, "How is it? Is it serious?"

Zhao Meng waved it off, "It's nothing, the doctor said it just needs some rest."

The ailment can be cured, but it keeps recurring.

Zhao Meng had gotten used to these nuisance flare-ups.

Having finished his meal, Fu Yu asked Sun Qingning to help clear the dishes, and went to the kitchen to prepare hot food for Zhao Meng.

Apart from the fish stew he had set aside earlier, he specially served a bowl of chicken soup.

This was ordered by a customer in the morning, and he intentionally kept a small bowl for Zhao Meng.

To ensure the best taste, the chicken soup was left half-prepared, needing only a little finishing touch on his part.

Fu Yu efficiently mixed in the seasonings for the chicken soup and was just about to serve it to Zhao Meng when he heard the electronic prompt sound in his ear:

[Ding! Daily task: complete soup-making twice, successfully completed, reward: 20 RMB, +10 task experience]

[Ding! Consecutive daily sign-in task 10/10 days, successfully completed, reward: one occupational skill conversion card]

Fu Yu paused.

A skill conversion card?

Isn't this something in games where you can only get it through various means or by completing specific tasks?

Cool!

But...this job switch?

As a chef, what other profession could he switch to?

Teacher?

Engineer?

Doctor?

...

Ah, receiving it indiscriminately isn't an option!

Thinking of the system's unpredictable nature!

If somehow, another person appeared here to handle him...he really couldn't endure it!

Fu Yu calmed himself down.

He discreetly served the chicken soup to Zhao Meng.

He planned to find an excuse to return to the dormitory later.

Fu Yu pondered how to face the powerful skill card.

Zhao Meng looked at Fu Yu's solemn expression as he brought the chicken soup, feeling touched yet amused.

Damn, all I have is some tenosynovitis. Anyone looking at his expression might think I'm on my deathbed!

Shaking his head, Zhao Meng felt a warm sensation and didn't say much. He quickly finished the bowl in one go.

After all, it was a token of his apprentice's filial piety!

So tasty!