What’s going on here?
"It’s alright." Qin Huai spoke honestly, "It’s definitely tiring, but my heart feels very satisfied."
"I don’t know why, but I feel that today’s customer flow is just the right amount for me. It’s not easy, but it’s not too tiring either. The atmosphere and environment are very comfortable. I even feel like I can work for another two hours." Qin Huai noted that 1 pm was the limit for Huang Ji, not his own limit.
Zheng Siyuan glanced deeply at Qin Huai: "You make me feel scared."
"I suddenly don’t want to help you with the Three Meat Buns tomorrow."
Qin Huai’s eyes lit up: "You’re helping me with the Three Meat Buns tomorrow?"
"Yeah." Zheng Siyuan replied with a blank expression, "My dad is worried that you’ll be too tired tomorrow and told me to assist you, to help you with making some of the Three Meat Buns."
"Now I’m thinking that I don’t need to help you, I’d rather have you help me make fresh meat mooncakes."
Zheng Siyuan felt that it might be time for his beloved pastry shop to reopen.
The renovation had already been completed.
A fancy restaurant was tiring and not suitable for him.
Clearly, it was Qin Huai who was going to ’Taste’, so why was he the one ending up exhausted?
Qin Huai didn’t pay much attention to Zheng Siyuan’s slightly despairing expression; he had just suddenly realized something.
If tomorrow Zheng Da helps him with the Fermented Rice with Steamed Buns, Zheng Siyuan helps with the Three Meat Buns, and Huang Shengli works with him on guo’er, then in a way, all the main chefs and the backup chefs of Huang Ji, except for Huang Jia, are assisting or collaborating with him.
Huang Jia couldn’t join, not because he didn’t want to, but because he couldn’t help.
With some rounding up, he became the master chef of Huang Ji.
Became the head chef.
Following the plot of a feel-good story, the next step would be to win people’s hearts, gain full authority, buy shares, and then take over the nest.
Huang Ji Restaurant would be renamed Qin’s Restaurant.
"Are you still practicing Fire Control this afternoon?" Zheng Siyuan’s words pulled Qin Huai back to reality.
Qin Huai shook his head: "Not today, Master Huang doesn’t have time either; this afternoon he needs to discuss the reservation system with Team leader Cao."
"I plan to get some bones adjusted after dinner, then go home to practice Mixed Fruit Filling, rest well and adjust my routine. Starting tomorrow, I want to adjust my working hours."
"Alright, then I’ll head back this afternoon too." Zheng Siyuan expressed his understanding.
Qin Huai continued waiting for his meal and went to listen to some gossip from Dong Shi.
Dong Shi was vividly describing how long the queue outside had been this morning, almost like a spring festival travel rush.
Qin Huai felt this was somewhat exaggerated, as the diners were here to eat, not attack Huang Ji.
Just as Dong Shi’s gossip was reaching a climax, a round-faced waiter peeked into the kitchen and quietly asked, "Is Master Qin busy? There’s a neighbor of his outside saying they’ve brought him something and asked him to check his phone."
Hearing this, Qin Huai walked straight out; his phone was in the changing room, so he couldn’t see any messages.
At the kitchen door, Wang Gen Sheng and Chen Juan were standing by the wall. Wang Gen Sheng was holding locust flower honey, and Chen Juan was carrying two bags, packed with Fermented Rice with Steamed Buns and Three Meat Buns far exceeding two portions.
When Qin Huai came out, Chen Juan was scolding Wang Gen Sheng, completely unaware that Qin Huai had arrived.
"Wang Gen Sheng, oh Wang Gen Sheng, what should I tell you? Are you really okay with taking these buns and steamed buns? The Lao Qian family of four lined up for these buns and steamed buns since 9 am and you took half, do you really think that’s alright? Can you eat that much? Do you really need these few buns and steamed buns that badly? Won’t you be able to eat once Master Xiao Qin returns to Yunzhong Restaurant?"
"They have a granddaughter back home! Her parents and grandparents lined up all morning and brought back just a bit of buns and steamed buns. How sad must the little girl feel seeing that!"
Uncle Wang hung his head in shame and remorse, "I just couldn’t resist for a moment, it was like I was possessed. When Old Qian handed me the stuff, I just took it on impulse."
"I didn’t mean to, I know I shouldn’t have accepted it, I really... I really deserve to die."
It sounds like he took a bribe of 3 million, not just two bags of buns and steamed buns.
"Uncle Wang, Aunt Chen, why didn’t you ping me on WeChat when you came to Gusu?" Qin Huai quickly stepped forward.
Uncle Wang, still in repentance mode, confessed to Qin Huai, "We just came to hang out and meet old colleagues. Director Ding asked me to bring you a few bottles of locust flower honey."
Qin Huai accepted the locust flower honey: "Thank you for going out of your way to bring it; have you had lunch yet?"
"Yes, number 555, bought three Fermented Rice with Steamed Buns, three Three Meat Buns."
"What time did number 555 get served?" Qin Huai inquired with curiosity.
"The little girl at the door said 12:10 pm, but there were many who had missed their turn before us, so we wandered around with Dr. Qu nearby and got served at 12. But afterward it slowed down, many people who missed their turn had to rejoin the queue onsite."
"Around 12:40, there were people waiting all around, more crowded than when supermarket eggs go on special at 7 am."
"Dr. Qu? Did Qu Jing also come?" Qin Huai was somewhat surprised.
He’d been busy lately and Qu Jing hadn’t been asking him much for snacks, so he’d almost forgotten Qu Jing was also in Gusu.
"Yeah, Dr. Qu is off today." Uncle Wang’s hallmark feature was his love for speaking the truth, only ever being brutally honest.
Qin Huai generally understood, guessing Qu Jing felt sheepish about requesting special orders.
"I remember you mentioned, Uncle Wang, that you haven’t been to Gusu in years, so you probably haven’t eaten much at Huang Ji either." Qin Huai chuckled, skillfully grabbing a passing waiter, "Could you please check with Team leader Cao if we could reserve a medium table in the hall for lunch tomorrow? I have friends coming to dine."
The waiter nodded and quickly went to find Team leader Cao, returning with a reply in a few minutes.
"Team leader Cao said it’s no problem, but your friends need to arrive promptly when the doors open, otherwise it would be difficult to arrange."
"Uncle Wang, tomorrow..."
"We’ll be there, we’ll be there!"
"Don’t worry, we will." Qin Huai smiled and then told Uncle Wang, "Just heard Aunt Chen say something about Old Qian giving you some buns and steamed buns. It should be that Grandpa Qian who’s been a frequent visitor of Huang Ji."
"Grandpa Qian is also a regular at Huang Ji, I remember; sometimes we bump into each other during walks in the community."
"Tomorrow Huang Ji has a new guo’er; only dine-in customers can order it, limited to one per person. I might randomly make some other snacks, and I’ll make sure you get to try them. I remember Grandpa Qian’s family has five members, a medium table might be a bit cramped, but arranging a large table really isn’t convenient, and all the private rooms are booked solid, so please excuse me, Uncle Wang."
Uncle Wang hurriedly waved his hand: "Not at all, what’s there to excuse? Eating with a bowl at the entrance would be fine by me."
Chen Juan glared at her husband in exasperation, abandoning any attempt to speak.
"I haven’t eaten yet, so I’ll go grab a bite first. Uncle Wang, Aunt Chen, enjoy your time in Gusu."
With that, Qin Huai went back inside.
At the doorway, Uncle Wang sighed: "Even when Master Xiao Qin becomes famous, he’s still just as considerate as before."
Chen Juan: ...what kind of description is this?
Uncle Wang quickly called Qian Zhongheng to tell him they wouldn’t need to reserve a table at Guanhe Building tomorrow for lunch, as his connections were strong enough to secure a table.
At Grandpa Qian’s home, Qian Zhongheng was still regretting the impulsive act of giving away the Fermented Rice with Steamed Buns and Three Meat Buns, but the call from Uncle Wang came through.
"What? Master Xiao Qin helped us reserve a spot, a medium table in the hall?"
"Would it be cramped with seven people? Not cramped, not cramped, my granddaughter is so small she can sit on her dad’s lap to eat!"
Qian Zhongheng’s son: ?
"Old Wang, I knew back when you were an accountant, you were a mature, reliable person. Rest assured, we’ll be there on time tomorrow; I’ll be there at 9 as if I queued up myself."
After hanging up, Qian Zhongheng proclaimed energetically: "Let’s go, son, get Uncle Wang some fruit! We’ll go visit him at the hotel this afternoon!"