Qin Huai made rice cakes again in front of Guli.
From mixing to steaming in the pot, he didn’t say a word, didn’t directly tell Guli how long to mix or steam the rice cakes in what status, just let him feel it for himself.
By the time Tan Wei’an changed clothes and came back, Qin Huai’s rice cakes had already entered the second mixing.
Tan Wei’an made it just in time because Huang Shengli wandered back from outside, seeing Qin Huai leisurely making rice cakes with such good status, knew that stir-frying some meat to practice Fire Control would surely yield twice the result with half the effort.
So Qin Huai went to the stove to fry meat, and Tan Wei’an took over Qin Huai’s task of mixing the rice cakes.
Regarding this, Tan Wei’an commented:...
With Tan Wei’an’s help, the second batch of rice cakes didn’t fall apart. If there’s any problem, it’s that Tan Wei’an isn’t as strong as Ouyang, taking longer, and the mixed rice cakes didn’t turn out as well as Ouyang’s.
Sometimes, great strength can really work miracles.
The rice cakes mixed by Ouyang were all endorsed by Zheng Siyuan.
The business at Huang Ji was still booming at night.
The hall was packed, and every private room was full. Halfway through, Qin Huai got tired of making guo’er, went to the small window of the storeroom to take a look, and found that the guests in the hall were eating at an unprecedented speed.
Eating with a self-sacrificial attitude.
As if chatting for two extra minutes, dawdling for three minutes, spacing out for four, or editing photos for five, would mean another sad soul in the queue outside in the cold would not be able to eat.
Even the waiters walked faster, each racing with plates in Huang Ji.
Of course, the speed of serving at Huang Ji was also very fast.
Generally, after the guo’er was served, the remaining dishes would be brought to the table just as the guests were finishing, and then they would start eating like avenging a grudge.
After finishing, they’d collapse in the chair, let out a long belch, and quickly shout for the waiter to settle the bill without hesitation or delay.
A waiter would then lead the guests to the cashier, while those responsible for clearing the dishes would swarm in with trolleys, and at the same time, the numbering at the entrance would begin, with eager guests rushing into Huang Ji, almost wanting to help the waiters clean up.
Their coordination, speed, and efficiency made Qin Huai feel that team leader Cao not only secretly energized the waiters but also secretly trained the customers outside.
If it keeps developing, soon customers will only be able to stand at the food collection window with their receipts to wait for their meals.
Eh, Huang Ji Cafeteria!
Qin Huai was amazed by his own imagination.
Like yesterday, Qin Huai finished cleaning the last batch of guo’er and left work an hour earlier than his colleagues.
"Xiao Qin, are you tired?" Huang Shengli asked with concern.
He was genuinely worried that Qin Huai was getting tired.
These past two days, Huang Shengli not only cared about whether Qin Huai was tired but also about whether Huang Jia, Qi Tian, and other chefs were tired. The words he said most in the kitchen were: If you’re tired, take a rest; the dishes don’t need to be rushed.
"Master Huang, really I’m fine," Qin Huai replied, "Making guo’er is much easier than making buns or steamed buns as usual. Not only is it not tiring, but it’s also a bit monotonous. I always want to do something else or practice Fire Control for variety."
Huang Shengli laughed heartily: "Looks like our Master Qin is still not satisfied with his Fire Control and wants to practice it hard, so one day he can take the stuffing back and do it by himself."
Qin Huai also smiled: "I’d like to, but I don’t know at my level, which year or month I can practice Fire Control to your level."
Hearing this, Huang Shengli felt a bit embarrassed: "It’s my problem too. You came to Huang Ji to exchange ideas and practice Fire Control, but now it has turned into helping Huang Ji make snacks, leaving no time for Fire Control practice. Otherwise, with your talent, practicing Fire Control intensively for a few months shouldn’t leave you where you are now."
"I’m just restless, Zheng Siyuan always jokes about me being fickle with snacks. I like one as soon as I see one, and I want to learn whichever one I like, so naturally, there’s no time for Fire Control."
"Wanting to learn is a good thing, being eager to learn; it’s something many mentors wish for but can’t have," Huang Shengli affirmed Qin Huai’s eagerness for new things, "It’s just that your Master Zheng is too lazy. Once it’s past noon, he disappears. I remember he was pretty good at making rice cakes. If he stayed in the kitchen in the afternoon, he could give you some pointers."
"He’s been lazy for so many years he’s used to it. Tomorrow, we need to put more responsibility on him, make him do more."
For the sake of Huang Ji’s business, we have no choice but to trouble you first.
"Since Xiao Qin, you feel the current work intensity is okay, how about we take an hour every afternoon to practice Fire Control? An hour isn’t long, but with study and consolidation, there will always be improvement," suggested Huang Shengli.
"Tomorrow, I have to go to the hospital, so let’s start the day after."[
"Sure, Master Huang, thank you," Qin Huai had no objections. Currently, the most efficient way for him to practice Fire Control is following Huang Shengli in stir-frying meat. Practicing Fire Control with normal snack-making techniques is very slow in gaining experience.
"Then it’s settled, Xiao Qin, you hurry back and get some rest. You have work tomorrow."
Qin Huai carried the packaged snacks meant for Ouyang and headed home after his shift.
The snacks were practice works by several chefs at Zhiwei Restaurant. Upon hearing that Qin Huai wanted to take them back as a night snack for his roommate, the chefs at Zhiwei were so excited they almost made another batch on the spot.
Whether the roommate would eat or not wasn’t important. If Qin Huai felt hungry on the way back, eating a bit to give some suggestions would already be a gain!
Even Guli, who messed up the rice cakes in the afternoon, got a live teaching lesson.