Chapter 129: Are You Serious?

Chapter 129: Chapter 129: Are You Serious?

After hearing Zhou Qi recount Liu Daxi’s work history—which included everything from grand hotels to high-end private clubs—Xu An’s feelings became quite complicated.

With such a brilliant track record, if Liu Daxi wanted, the managers of most hotels in Hai City would absolutely do everything in their power to recruit him.

So why would a hotshot like him apply for a job at Xu’s Fast Food Restaurant?

’It couldn’t be that I have some irresistible charm, and that Liu Daxi, having seen me once on TV, was so captivated by my domineering aura that he sought me out, determined to become the head chef of Xu’s Fast Food Restaurant.’

’How ridiculous is that?’

’That’s even more absurd than my idea of increasing productivity without hiring more staff.’

’I’ll just cross that bridge when I come to it. He hasn’t shown his hand yet, so I’ll just have to react to whatever he does.’

The three dishes Xu An had requested were very simple to cook. The oyster sauce lettuce, in particular, would be ready in a matter of minutes thanks to the high-power stove.

However, the high-power stove also demanded precise control over the heat. If it was overcooked, the lettuce would lose its crisp texture and become limp.

Limp oyster sauce lettuce might still taste fine, but that crisp, refreshing texture is the very soul of the dish! Limp oyster sauce lettuce has no soul!

From washing the ingredients to plating the food, the three dishes took a total of eighteen minutes—an average of six minutes per dish.

A transparent brown sauce trickled slowly down the veins of the lettuce leaves, making the emerald-green blades slightly translucent and glossy. A light touch with chopsticks produced a faint CRUNCH. In the mouth, it was crisp, tender, fresh, and sweet—mellow and delicious.

The flavor of the bitter melon was controlled perfectly—any more and it would have been too bitter, any less and it would have been bland. It complemented the fluffy, tender, and delicious scrambled eggs beautifully.

The shredded potatoes were refreshingly crisp, with just the right amount of sour and spicy flavor, making one’s mouth water. After one bite, you couldn’t help but want another.

After tasting the three dishes, Xu An couldn’t help but sigh in his heart. ’A chef from a high-end hotel is truly in a league of his own. The dishes he whips up so casually could completely crush the efforts of two amateurs like me and Zhou Qi.’

’Even if the taste suffers a bit due to the large batches we cook at Xu’s Fast Food, the quality would still be higher than anything Zhou Qi and I produce.’

’But why would such a capable person condescend to work at a fast-food joint that’s known more for quantity than quality?’

Xu An didn’t want to keep guessing, so he asked directly, "I just heard about your work experience from Zhou Qi, Master Liu. I was wondering, why would you pass up all those hotels and restaurants to come apply for a chef position at my humble little fast-food place?"

"What do you think of my cooking?" Liu Daxi asked.

"It’s excellent." Xu An gave him a thumbs-up, then said with a wry smile, "With your skills, forget grand hotels, even well-known restaurants... I imagine any boss would welcome you with open arms."

"That’s true," Liu Daxi nodded. "After returning to Hai City, more than ten different managers have approached me, including some from famous hotels in the city."

Liu Daxi looked at Xu An, his gaze firm. "But I have one condition. If you want me to join, you have to accept my entire team."

’His entire team?’

The words startled Xu An, but he couldn’t help his curiosity. "May I ask how many people are in your team?"

"Seven, including me. Two for the prep station, two for plating, and two on the cutting board." As he spoke, Liu Daxi glanced at Xu An. "But in a fast-food place like yours, every one of them can handle all the tasks single-handedly."

Xu An had no objections to Liu Daxi’s last statement. After all, if an amateur like him could keep a fast-food restaurant running, it was no surprise that professionals from grand hotels would be more than competent.

Right now, Xu An’s focus was entirely on the words ’seven people’.

In his original plan, Xu An had only intended to hire two or three more chefs. Seven at once... that was a bit much to handle.

But Xu An was unwilling to let such a rare opportunity slip by. After a moment of internal struggle, he couldn’t help but ask, "May I ask what your salary expectations are?"

"How much is his salary?" Liu Daxi asked, looking at Zhou Qi, who was standing obediently to the side.

"Thirty-six hundred," Xu An blurted out.

Zhou Qi’s starting salary had been three thousand, but as the workload grew heavier and the days got busier, Xu An had given him a six-hundred-yuan raise.

"If you’re willing to take the whole team, I want a salary of forty-two hundred, and the other six will take thirty-two hundred each," Liu Daxi stated decisively, leaving no room for argument.

Aside from Liu Daxi’s own salary, the request for the other six was within his expectations—it was even four hundred less than what Zhou Qi was making.

’Maybe I should see how well these six can cook before making a final decision?’

"The compensation is not an issue, but I’d like to see their cooking skills first," Xu An said.

Hearing this, Liu Daxi nodded, walked straight out of the restaurant, and headed in the direction of Store Number One.

Xu An and Zhou Qi stood at the entrance of Store Number Two, watching Liu Daxi’s retreating figure. They looked at each other, baffled.

’Did... the negotiation fall through?’

But Liu Daxi didn’t go far. He stopped at the intersection and waved in the direction of Store Number One.

Before long, six figures appeared in Xu An’s line of sight.

At first glance, the six of them looked no different from anyone else, but as they drew closer, Xu An realized they were communicating entirely in sign language.

Just then, Liu Daxi stopped in front of Xu An and introduced them. "These are my assistant chefs. They’re a bit special—they are all deaf-mute."

Only then did Xu An finally understand why Liu Daxi, despite leading such a team, hadn’t been able to find a job. It was because everyone on his team had a disability.

"Aside from not being able to speak, they’re no different from anyone else," Liu Daxi said, afraid Xu An would refuse. "If there’s anything that needs to be communicated, you can tell me, and I’ll pass it on to them."

Perhaps due to having been rejected many times, the six people behind Liu Daxi looked somewhat timid and self-conscious, but their eyes, fixed on Xu An, were filled with anticipation.

It was as if Xu An was their savior.

Xu An looked at them, then looked again, and again. His mouth felt as if it had been sewn shut, refusing to open.

The longer the silence stretched, the more the anticipation in their eyes faded, replaced by disappointment and dejection.

One of them tugged on Liu Daxi’s sleeve, motioning for him to look, then began to sign animatedly.

The expression on Liu Daxi’s face went from calm to displeased, finally settling into anger. "If he says no, then I’ll just open my own restaurant! You can all keep working for me!"

At his words, the other five also began signing to him.

Just then, Zhou Qi suddenly tugged on Xu An’s sleeve and whispered, "I recognize two of the masters in that group. Their cooking is better than mine."

’Aside from the potential communication issues, if these six are really better cooks than Zhou Qi, as he says... this might actually work.’

’After all, chefs just work in the kitchen. They don’t have to deal with customers, so there isn’t much need for communication.’

’And if they were able to work in grand hotels before, they must have their own outstanding strengths.’

’Even if I don’t get the expo order later on, our current sales of 2,500 meals a day, plus the braised dishes, are enough to support this team.’

’These are talented people, physically fit and with years of experience. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity; I can’t let it slip away.’

After quickly weighing the pros and cons, Xu An finally made up his mind.

’As long as their cooking skills are up to snuff, I’m taking Liu Daxi’s seven-person team!’

"Masters," Xu An called out to Liu Daxi and his group, "true gold is not afraid of the fire. This way, please. Let me see what you can do."

The seven of them, who had been in the middle of a signed argument, froze. They all turned to look at Xu An. It was only after seeing the friendly smile on his face that they realized—the boss had agreed?

This sudden joy left the six of them at a loss. Since leaving their last hotel, they had approached no fewer than ten hotels and restaurants, all of which had rejected them.

Finally, at Liu Daxi’s urging, the six of them changed into chef’s uniforms, put on their masks and hats, and walked into the kitchen.

The style of the dishes the six cooked was clearly inherited from Liu Daxi. While the flavor was a little inferior to his, it was still a cut above anything Xu An and Zhou Qi could make.

After confirming there were no issues with their cooking, Xu An made his final decision under everyone’s expectant gazes.

He would take Liu Daxi’s entire team!

The staff was now in place. Next, he could finally go all out to develop new clients and new markets!