Chapter 143

After putting on the uniform, Qin Huai felt that he had completely integrated into the back kitchen of Huang's Restaurant.

He basically knew everyone.

Huang Shengli had taken in a total of 9 apprentices, and Zheng Siyuan said that this number of apprentices was considered very high in the culinary world. After all, the apprentices Huang Shengli took in were proper ones who had to be taught hands-on; the apprentices he took in earlier years even lived and ate at the master's house, making them no different from his own children.

Moreover, the span of years over which Huang Shengli took in apprentices was also very long, spanning a full 19 years from his eldest disciple to his closing disciple, Dong Shi.

Qin Huai basically knew all these apprentices; they had all appeared when Huang Shengli taught his online courses, and Qin Huai even remembered the names of a few. For example, the sixth disciple who was deeply troubled by hair loss had a handsome name that didn't match his appearance—Wang Jun.

Among Huang Shengli's many disciples, besides Dong Shi and Dong Li, the one Qin Huai was most familiar with was Huang Jia.

Huang Jia was Huang Shengli's cousin's son; he had apprenticed under Huang Shengli at the age of 11 and was only 30 years old today. In terms of age, Huang Jia was not as old as the third and fourth disciples who had apprenticed with skills, but perhaps because he had apprenticed from a young age and had many junior fellow apprentices below him, Huang Jia had the demeanor of a great senior brother, being very proper and organized in both his actions and speech.

The snacks and tea Huang Shengli usually had during his online courses were all prepared in advance by Huang Jia, which could be said to be very thoughtful.

To help Qin Huai adapt to the work environment faster and better, Huang Shengli dispatched his thoughtful eldest disciple to show Qin Huai around the back kitchen.

Just as Qin Huai was touring the cutting station, he asked a very layman question.

"Brother Jia, Master Huang has 9 of you apprentices, and when I just came to the back kitchen, I saw quite a few other chefs in the kitchen. By that count, there are over 10 chefs in the restaurant, right?"

Huang Jia smiled and explained: "To a certain extent, everyone is indeed a chef, but perhaps not the kind of stir-fry chef you understand."

As he spoke, Huang Jia pointed at Dong Shi: "For example, the youngest junior brother is a cutting chef, specifically responsible for cutting vegetables. The kitchen also has a dedicated water station, specifically responsible for the slaughtering and cleaning of fish and seafood. The ones you saw at the back kitchen entrance just now are likely all runners, responsible for plating and delivering dishes."

"The ones you understand as specifically responsible for stir-frying are the stove heads; there are only seven or eight of them in the restaurant, and they still have to take turns resting."

Dong Shi, who was passing by, protested with dissatisfaction: "Eldest Senior Brother, my brother and the Seventh Senior Brother are also cutting chefs, why single me out? Qin Huai, let me tell you, I feel I can become a stove head very soon, definitely faster than my brother! You must believe me, I learn things much faster than my brother."

Huang Jia ignored the chattering Dong Shi entirely and continued to introduce: "When our back kitchen reaches working hours, the temperature near the stoves is very high. Qin Huai, you are a pastry chef, so you surely won't be used to it. The last time our restaurant had a pastry chef was three years ago; the previous snack production area was changed long ago, and it can't be changed back for a while now."

"So I took the liberty of clearing a spot for you over there. That area is far from the stoves and also far from the water station, so you won't smell any fishy odors, and runners don't really pass by there. There's just one downside: the warehouse door is right nearby, so there might occasionally be people coming in and out."

"As for the molds and machines for pastry making, isn't Siyuan's pastry shop under renovation? Uncle Zheng directly moved everything from Siyuan's shop over. I feel it should be quite complete. If anything is missing, just tell me anytime, and I'll go fill it in."

Qin Huai felt there was nothing left to pick at. Huang Jia had even considered the temperature of the kitchen and specifically picked a place for him that wasn't too hot. With such thorough consideration, what else could he say?

Of course, it was—

Qin Huai rolled up his sleeves and walked to the sink to wash his hands seriously: "Brother Jia, no need to say more. My culinary station is this one, right?"

"I'll make a few steamers of fermented rice steamed buns for everyone first, let everyone taste my craft."

Qin Huai was very skilled at making fermented rice steamed buns.

Fermented rice steamed buns were a staple at the Cloud Canteen, made every morning. Qin Huai hadn't made them today, and there was still a buff; the staff in the back kitchen of Huang's Restaurant could be considered lucky.

The diners eating in the evening were also lucky.

According to Qin Huai's experience, although the fermented rice steamed bun buff had nothing to do with work, diners who ate fermented rice steamed buns with the buff were quite energetic when they went to work.

Of course, it might also be because the diners at the Cloud Canteen in the morning were basically corporate slaves who had to go to work after eating.

The ingredients at Huang's Restaurant were very complete, with fermented rice, and several types of fermented rice of different qualities. Qin Huai picked the one closest to the fermented rice he usually used to make fermented rice steamed buns and started work.

Mashing the fermented rice, unhurriedly.

Kneading the dough, with full confidence.

Kneading and rubbing, without any mistakes.

Waiting for fermentation, full of confidence.

Kneading again, smooth as flowing clouds and water.

Second fermentation, walking leisurely.

Until the fermented rice steamed buns were put into the steamer, Qin Huai felt that although today was an away game, his performance was excellent, one could even say slightly beyond normal.

With so many people watching, how embarrassing it would be to flip the car.

It wasn't that Qin Huai was complaining, but he genuinely felt that the staff at Huang's Restaurant were indeed a bit too idle.

After working hard all noon, instead of finding a place to rest and nap after getting off work, they all gathered in the kitchen to watch him make steamed buns.

What was there to watch about making steamed buns? The grandpas and grandmas at the Cloud Canteen were already tired of watching it. Now, unless Qin Huai did some fancy tricks in the kitchen, the grandpas and grandmas outside were too lazy to look into the kitchen.

What Qin Huai didn't know was that everyone was indeed watching him make steamed buns with great relish.

They really hadn't watched it much.

The last time Huang's Restaurant had a pastry chef was three years ago.

It could be said that when Qin Huai was making fermented rice steamed buns, except for Huang Shengli, who felt he should maintain the dignity expected of an old master and be reserved, not gathering around to watch Qin Huai make steamed buns, everyone else who had appeared in the teaching videos, one by one, was watching intensely.

Dong Shi was the most intense watcher; he squeezed into the very front, closest to him. Everyone was not only watching but also discussing.

"Qin Huai's dough kneading, it really does seem quite good. Is it my hallucination? Why do I feel he kneads dough even better than Siyuan?"

"Seems to be a bit better. I feel the dough Xiao Qin kneads is more... comfortable, obedient? Anyway, it's smoother."

"That steamed bun looks very good in quality."

"Indeed, I feel Xiao Qin's level is higher than Siyuan's. Didn't Siyuan go over specifically to teach Xiao Qin this time? What did he teach Xiao Qin?"

"Seems to be heat control."

"Oh... heat control, huh."

"I can teach heat control too, my heat control is very good!"

This last sentence was said by Dong Shi.

Zheng Siyuan, who had rushed over from home, dusty and tired, heard everyone dissing him as soon as he entered the kitchen:...

What do you red-case chefs know about kneading dough?!

What Qin Huai is clearly better at than him is seasoning!

No one cared about Zheng Siyuan, who arrived last; no one even saw him. After Qin Huai finished making the fermented rice steamed buns, he had already completely integrated into Huang's Restaurant, as if he had completed some kind of assessment and successfully joined the job. The onlookers, led by Dong Shi, all swarmed up, chattering and asking Qin Huai how his heat control practice had been recently.

Dong Shi expressed regret that Qin Huai's frequency of online classes recently hadn't been high, and he hadn't had the chance to chat with Qin Huai about gossip in the afternoon.

Wang Jun asked Qin Huai if his heat control had improved, stating that his own heat control was still quite good, and he could ask him anytime if he had any questions or needs. He had plenty of time; he had just broken up with his girlfriend recently, so time was all he had.

Huang Jia directly asked Qin Huai what type of high-end soup he was practicing recently, inquiring about his learning progress.

The others also successively showed their specialties, stating they would absolutely not hide their secrets and warmly welcomed their new colleague.

Then they asked Qin Huai what type of snacks he was good at and if he was interested in being responsible for staff meals. Ever since the restaurant's last pastry chef resigned, everyone hadn't eaten any snacks in the staff meals.

Huang Shengli walked in with a smile and patted Zheng Siyuan, who was standing at the very back.

"Siyuan, how have you been in Shanshi? Are you used to it?"

Zheng Siyuan said: "Quite good, it's just that I have to get up early every day, but it's alright once I'm used to it."

"It's good for young people's health to get up early." Huang Shengli said with a smile, "I was worried before that Xiao Qin wouldn't be able to integrate after changing places, but now it seems he's integrated quite well."

"Your dad told me you have something to ask me upon your return this time. It seems to be a problem with the snacks you and Xiao Qin are researching. What help can I provide regarding snacks?"

Hearing Huang Shengli take the initiative to mention this, Zheng Siyuan hurriedly switched to "seeking advice" mode and said respectfully: "Uncle Master, this is a favor only you can help with."

"I remember you know how to do the big flip of the wok."

Huang Shengli nodded, somewhat confused: "I know it, but I can't say I'm proficient."

"Do you think it's too late for me to start practicing the big flip of the wok at my age?" Zheng Siyuan asked.

Huang Shengli:?

Huang Shengli was truly stunned: "Siyuan, you... want to switch to the red-case? You have to discuss this with your dad. If your dad agrees... no, this kind of thing must be handled cautiously."

"It's not what you think. It's about the snacks Qin Huai and I are practicing recently. You know the recipe, those dough fruits."

"Qin Huai and I discovered that the filling for the dough fruits might be stir-fried better using the big flip technique, so I wanted to ask if it's too late for me to learn at my age. If it's not too late..." Zheng Siyuan felt it was absurd as he spoke to the end, and subconsciously glanced at Qin Huai.

Qin Huai was still trying to do a big flip of the wok when stir-frying the filling the day before yesterday.

Although Zheng Siyuan felt that ever since he met Qin Huai, he was increasingly being led astray by him, many absurd ideas, while sounding absurd, were really worth trying.

Huang Shengli:...

"Ah?"

"Stir-frying filling."

"Need to use the big flip of the wok?"

Although that recipe was very outrageous, it didn't write such an outrageous process on it.

This was too outrageous.

Too sleepy, there's one more update to be made up during the day, three updates.

(End of chapter)