"Indeed, with the level of those half-baked pastry chefs at the Imperial Restaurant, they aren’t even fit to assist you. You’re better off not letting them knead the dough in case they ruin it."
"The level of the meat cooking isn’t great either. If I’d known they were this bad, I would’ve brought a few people over from Babaozhai."
"Zang Liang’s skill is okay. Though he only became Master Zang’s apprentice thanks to familial ties as his nephew, he’s talented and works hard, not disgracing Master Zang at all. Much better than the usual connected ones."
Connected Zang Liang: ...
Qin Huai finally understood why Tong De Yan had such a bad reputation. Master Tong spoke with no filter, as unpleasant as he could be. In a way, his words were even harsher than Luo Jun’s.
Luo Jun often just lashed out because of a bad mood, sarcastically. He spoke harshly, but not so much that you couldn’t brush it off.
Tong De Yan, with his mouth, spoke harsh truths soaked in poison.
It’s not lies that hurt; it’s the truth that’s like a sharp blade.
"Then Master Tong, about tomorrow’s process..."
"Tomorrow’s banquet will have four cold dishes, ten hot dishes, one sweet soup, one savory soup, three snacks, and a fruit platter, totaling 20 dishes."
"I’ve already discussed the serving time and order with Master Zang. I didn’t discuss with you because you’re a pastry chef and your final three snacks can be served consecutively without affecting the overall menu. As for the timing, you can have one dish every two minutes, or three dishes served together without affecting the flow."
"I mainly came over because I saw you telling President Han in the kitchen about serving Longevity Noodles tomorrow. I think it’s a great idea, but there’s no need to add extra. You can replace the portion of sweet soup per table with Longevity Noodles. It won’t affect the total number of dishes or the serving process."
"I also saw you mention using chicken broth for the Longevity Noodles with President Han. If you trust me and Master Zang’s skills, you can leave the broth to us. If you don’t trust me, it doesn’t matter; just trust Master Zang, who came over days in advance just to prepare the broth."
"Of course, this is just my suggestion."
"I’m the one getting paid the most for this banquet, and I’m mainly responsible, so I have to do the job. Tomorrow is President Han’s son, Han Youxin’s, birthday banquet. There’s nothing more suitable for a birthday banquet than Longevity Noodles. If it were just ordinary noodles, there’d be no need to change the dish. But since you’ve recommended yourself to President Han, I trust with your skills, the Longevity Noodles will be exceptional."
"If you don’t want to make more, just forget I mentioned it. After all, it’s not written in your contract to make Longevity Noodles."
Does the contract need to specify which dishes to make?
Master Tong, does your contract detail it so thoroughly?
Without much hesitation, Qin Huai replied, "Of course I will, as long as it makes the birthday banquet better. Making an extra serving of Longevity Noodles is no big deal. It’s mainly troubles you and Master Zang to prepare so much chicken broth; it’s a lot of work and will probably need overtime from today onwards."
"It’s no trouble for me; it’s a lot of work for you two."
"I’m not troubled either; Master Zang is the one working hard, he’s in the kitchen making the broth now."
Qin Huai thought for a moment and asked, "Should I tell Assistant Chen now? Changing the recipe is a big deal; at least Assistant Chen and President Han should know, right?"
Although Han Guishan probably wouldn’t care about these small details, President Han just wants the overall banquet to taste good.
"I’ll talk about it later, you don’t need to mention it." With that, Tong De Yan stood up to leave, not having touched the water Qin Huai poured for him.
"Also, I suggest you say less as well," Tong De Yan advised. "Doing outside banquets is a pretty good sideline for making extra money. Since we’re getting paid, it’s best to watch what we say and do."
"Guests like President Han are rare, so cherish it."
With that, Tong De Yan was truly leaving. As he turned around for the last time, seeing the glass on the table, he hesitated for two seconds, then picked it up and drank it all before leaving.
He came and went in a hurry, leaving only a dashing back view to Qin Huai and Zang Liang, and closed the door without hesitation.
It wasn’t until Tong De Yan left, closing the door behind him, that Zang Liang dared to take a deep breath.
As Qin Huai took the cup to the sink, he sighed while washing it, "Master Tong is quite enthusiastic, and a really good person, not at all like the rumors."
Did we just meet the same Tong De Yan?
Can these words really be used on Tong De Yan?
The usually outspoken Zang Liang took care with his wording, asking, "Sp... specifically, how is he good?"
"Master Tong didn’t have to come by personally; he specifically came to remind me about having lunch with President Han this afternoon," Qin Huai said.
Zang Liang was shocked, "You knew you shouldn’t have lunch with President Han this afternoon?!"
Qin Huai glanced at Zang Liang, turned the cup upside down to drain it, "Of course I knew. I just haven’t done outside banquets before; I’m not an idiot."
"Then why did you still..."
"President Han doesn’t mind such things, and don’t you think the dishes Master Tong made this afternoon smelled really good? Especially the sautéed crispy dish, its look, taste, and aroma were irresistible when it was just finished, truly hard to resist trying a bite."
Zang Liang nodded vigorously in agreement.
As such a professional assistant, he also wanted to rush up and try it.
"How did you know President Han wouldn’t mind?" Zang Liang asked.
"Assistant Chen told me," Qin Huai replied. "When Assistant Chen came to pick me up at the airport today, he mentioned that President Han is easy to get along with during the journey chat. He doesn’t like being treated with too much respect; he prefers interacting as friends."
"And I didn’t just start eating on my own, I did ask President Han and Master Tong first, didn’t I?"
Zang Liang was shocked again, having assumed Qin Huai did that out of ignorance of the industry, not fearing anyone due to being new. He didn’t expect it was because Qin Huai was well-acquainted with the main sponsor, staying ahead of everyone.
Zang Liang could only lament with regret, "Damn, I didn’t get to eat any, such a loss."
Meanwhile, Cheng Gong was driving Han Guishan home. The car just entered the community when, sitting in the back after a messaging his wife, confirming she’d be dieting that night not eating carbs so he could have all the snacks to himself, Han Guishan suddenly spoke:
"Cheng Gong, why did you chat so much with Master Qin today, yet I didn’t see you talk to Master Zang or Master Tong."
"Do you feel a connection with Master Qin? That’s good, you two aren’t that far apart in age. It’s time to make a new friend. Perhaps have Master Qin introduce you to some suitable female chefs, maybe you’ll hit it off? Chefs sound good, they cook well, you get to eat well."
"Today, the Four Happiness glutinous rice Master Qin made was really good, I saved two bags. Take one home later; you can cook it for yourself in the morning or evening."
Cheng Gong replied, "Thank you, President Han."
"It’s not that I instantly connected with Master Qin, but Master Qin is indeed very nice, friendly, not detached, peculiar, or arrogant."
"I chatted so much with Master Qin today because I know Master Qin loves gossip. Since Master Qin’s testing ended so quickly this afternoon, if I didn’t chat with him, he wouldn’t want to leave early by himself, and in the kitchen he’d be unsure what to do."
"And I feel like Master Qin seems quite interested in me, so I took it as a self-introduction, treating myself as gossip for Master Qin."
"I see." Han Guishan seemed a bit disappointed, "Master Qin is indeed quite decent; interact more, you should make some new friends. Over these years, all you have is work, more than me, the boss. Sometimes I even think I should let you be the boss instead of me."
"Thank you for the praise, President Han, and for the promotion," Cheng Gong laughed.