Chapter 867: Show Some Real Skills

The four who interned together at the Qianlima Restaurant’s kitchen, although not all from the same dorm, often got together to play.

Sun Mingze, being fair-skinned and chubby, with a good personality and the youngest among them, often heard the others speak freely without much consideration when talking.

“Tsk, Mingze, don’t be naive. Do you really think you can learn much in the kitchen? Let me tell you, that’s impossible!” The first boy, making his way over and standing beside Sun Mingze, said seriously, “I’m telling you, the people in the kitchen are the worst. I’ve heard if you want to learn skills from a master, you have to officially become an apprentice!”

Another person nodded in agreement, pretending to be mature, and said, “That’s right! The world outside is different from school. Teachers teach us because they’re paid; why would the kitchen chefs teach us for free? They’re always worried about teaching apprentices and starving to death as masters. Thinking of learning real skills from them? Dream on!”

Sun Mingze thought it was pointless to argue these things with them.

Because he knew there was some truth to their words, but the things on his mind couldn’t be easily explained.

So, he nodded, as if agreeing with them, occasionally smiling in cooperation.

During his more than a year at the culinary school, Sun Mingze discovered that technical school and ordinary high school had a very clear distinction: it was not as anxious, and the pressure was not as high.

Perhaps it was because the goal was clear, knowing the specific employment direction after graduation, and since the culinary industry was relatively easy to find work in, the mindset became much more relaxed.

Learning to cook was different from other professions; what you practiced every day were just practical skills, testing perseverance. As long as you’re willing to learn and practice, even the slowest person can eventually graduate.

This unconsciously led to a state of mind that did not like to think or did not have a competitive atmosphere; everyone was in a very laid-back state.

Basically, the study life in school was seen as the foundation for future work, without much ambition, with just the thought to master skills, find a job in a restaurant kitchen in the future, and work steadily.

And not regarded as a real career, with no thought of innovation, nor considering learning anything beyond the culinary knowledge taught in school.

The competition among students was not in culinary skills and related knowledge but in how to maintain good relationships with teachers, aiming to secure rare internship opportunities that could enhance their resumes for future job applications.

Many ideas that seemed mature and worldly wise were actually just excuses to numb themselves from making efforts to learn and improve.

In Sun Mingze’s view, real worldly wisdom and maturity lay in finding ways to improve one’s abilities in all aspects, familiarity with ingredients, culinary skills, and adaptability to the environment.

Of course, this did not mean everyone had to be like this; Xu Mingze just felt that, being at their age, they ought to be capable of thinking rationally about many things and developing a mindset for evaluating and facing problems.

Sun Mingze suddenly recalled when he sought a teacher’s approval to secure this internship opportunity.

At that time, the teacher earnestly advised, “Mingze, when you go to the back kitchen, don’t let yourself get too complacent. Don’t forget that apart from familiarizing yourself with the work environment, the purpose of this opportunity is to keenly observe the culinary operations in the kitchen. Remember to learn more and watch more, talk less and work hard. No matter when, people who are diligent and sensible are always liked.”

“Besides that, you must remember not to blindly follow others’ opinions in everything; you must have your own ideas and judgments.”

Now, he had a much deeper understanding of these words than when he first heard them.

The status of the Qianlima Restaurant aside, after one day of interning, Sun Mingze discovered that here, the chefs, regardless of age or professional background, would discuss and learn about encountered culinary issues whenever they had the chance.

In their free time, they would also watch cooking instructional videos, discussing them whenever they had a chance.

Especially those assistants who had not yet become full-time, accompanying lead chefs, they would seize every opportunity to ask about culinary techniques and details in the cooking process.

This was not a pretense but a habit!

In comparison, the gap was quite noticeable.

The interns returned to the dorm together. After washing up, they agreed on the meeting time for the next morning and then went their separate ways, either calling girlfriends and family or playing games and watching short videos.

Because of his weight, after bath, Sun Mingze was exhausted and lay on his bed. Instead of sleeping immediately, he imitated others, finding cooking instructional videos online and diligently started watching culinary operations.

After all, this was his profession, and he should indeed improve.

…

In the kitchen of Shangshi Private Kitchen.

Liu Yunong lifted the pot lid, looked at the steaming meat inside, and found it decent; just a few more minutes to steam before it’s done.

She put the lid on casually, then turned to start deboning a whole chicken.

She had mastered the deboning actions long ago, so no thought was required; her hands could finish all the deboning steps efficiently through muscle memory.

While her hands were busy, her mind was distracted by other thoughts: had Fu Yu improved his cooking skills during this time?

He hadn’t contacted her for several days, whereas when he used to come to learn, he’d call almost every day without exception.

Were things really that busy at the Qianlima Restaurant?

Although business was hectic on her end with the upcoming New Year, it shouldn’t have been so busy that he couldn’t even make a phone call, right?

Was it because she wasn’t doing well enough?

Was it that her requirements were a bit too strict?

Or was it that her concern for Fu Yu was inadequate?

Whether being a mentor or an older sister, this was Liu Yunong’s first time experiencing this; she had never taken on an apprentice, so she didn’t know how a mentor should interact with an apprentice.

She considered it and thought she had treated Fu Yu well.

She was also very satisfied with him.

Smart, diligent, steady, and ambitious.

Most crucially, he had talent!

More outstanding than many self-proclaimed ‘genius’ peers she knew.

But why hadn’t Fu Yu contacted her?

Liu Yunong was accustomed to self-reflection when facing issues.

Although Fu Yu had already taken early leave, being busy at Qianlima before the New Year and temporarily halting the evening cooking lessons.

However, accustomed to daily cooking instruction, suddenly finding herself with leisure left her feeling like something was missing in life.

Especially when encountering some particularly unique Liu Family Cuisine, during the cooking process, she’d have a particular urge to teach. But without her apprentice around, she almost felt stifled.

Thinking about the few times her full teaching intentions couldn’t be executed, Liu Yunong felt a flash of frustration.

It seemed when Fu Yu returned to cooking lessons after the New Year, she really had to show some skills!

To keep a fish hooked, one needs good bait!

With this thought, a surge of determination filled Liu Yunong, which visibly stirred the few unmarried assistants nearby, filling them with excitement, trembling in fear and treading carefully!

Liu Yunong paid no attention to others’ reactions; her whole mind was focused on thinking about how to be a better mentor, how to guide Fu Yu to be motivated and committed to learning to cook under her.

She thought that firstly, she should present a few extraordinarily characteristic dishes, showcase some exceptional skills, to broaden Fu Yu’s horizons!

But before that, perhaps she should also have a good talk with Fu Yu, see what he was interested in learning, and then she would…