Xu Ying gave a gentle nod. “I know a little,” she said, her tone modest but steady.
Zhang Youquan, standing nearby, immediately perked up, his lips curling into a mocking smile. Perfect. Just the excuse he needed to trip her up. It was one thing to say you could cook—it was another to actually make something edible, let alone delicious.
Since this little girl loved to show off, let her embarrass herself thoroughly in front of everyone.
“Xu Ying,” he sneered, crossing his arms, “since you know how to cook, why don’t you show us your skills today? We’ve got cabbage and potatoes. What do you want to make?”
Xu Ying blinked in surprise. They wanted her to cook? On the very first day?
Wasn’t this… a little too good to be true?
She had thought it would take at least half a month of effort to earn some favor, yet here it was—this golden opportunity served on a silver platter. She didn’t even need to fight for it.
For a moment, she remained silent, seemingly stunned, lost in thought.
Zhang Youquan mistook her reaction for fear. He smirked smugly, convinced that she was just a young girl playing pretend. Her hands were soft, her skin tender—how much real kitchen work could someone like her have possibly done?
The more he looked at her, the more certain he became: Xu Ying probably didn’t know anything beyond chopping vegetables.
“Xu Yingqing, does cat got your tongue?” he pressed, voice laced with sarcasm. “Were you lying when you said you could cook?”
From the side, Sun Lifang looked on curiously, eyes glinting with interest.
Xu Ying didn’t flinch. Instead, she turned to Chef Ge and asked calmly, “Chef Ge, may I try?”
The old chef, who was always eager to pass off a few duties, nodded without hesitation. If this girl really could cook, it would mean one less burden on his shoulders.
And who didn’t want to be lazy every once in a while?
Seeing his approval, Xu Ying’s eyes lit up. A smile ghosted across her lips as she surveyed the sparse ingredients around her. Not much to work with—cabbage, tofu, potatoes.
Still, it was enough.
For lunch, she decided on a plate of vinegared cabbage and mapo tofu—simple yet flavorful.
Little did Zhang Youquan know that his attempt to humiliate her was playing right into her hands. If he realized it later, he’d probably cough blood from frustration.
The front-office servers claimed they only worked the reception desk, but when things got busy, they all had to help in the kitchen.
Gao Guihua led a few people to tidy up the front hall, arranging tables and chairs before joining the bustling kitchen prep.
Some were steaming buns, others rinsing rice.
Xu Ying, too, rolled up her sleeves and got to work.
As the stove roared to life, she lifted the spatula, a look of serene confidence on her face. The cabbage hit the hot oil with a sizzle, and in moments, a rich, mouthwatering aroma wafted from the pan.
Everyone in the kitchen paused.
The scent was tantalizing.
Zhang Youquan’s face turned a deep shade of red. He clenched his fists, his jaw tight. She could actually cook?
This slip of a girl?
He had been here four years and only just learned knife work. Beyond that, nothing. He had long hoped that once Chef Ge retired, he’d take over as head chef.
Now, out of nowhere, Xu Ying had swooped in, and her cooking was… surprisingly good.
The restaurant’s routine was simple. They made a large pot of rice in advance, portioned it, and served it fresh as customers came.
Chef Ge, curious, walked over and took a bite of Xu Ying’s vinegared cabbage.
And froze.
The flavor exploded in his mouth. Crisp, sour, just the right touch of sweetness. His eyes widened in disbelief.
“Xu Ying, have you ever learned to cook?” he asked.
Xu Ying shook her head. “I just watched my mother when she cooked at home. I learned from her.”
Chef Ge was dumbfounded. This kind of cooking—just from observation?
If she trained seriously, she’d surpass even him one day.
Some people were just born for this trade.
Unlike Zhang Youquan.
Chef Ge had never hidden his skills. If anything, he’d encouraged Zhang repeatedly. But the boy was too dense. Four years, and still useless.
Xu Ying moved on to her next dish. Meat was a luxury these days, and the restaurant had only a small ration each day. Tofu, too, was precious.
She rummaged through the seasonings and began preparing mapo tofu.
By eleven, the restaurant started filling up.
“No steamed buns today?” someone asked.
“Nope,” came the answer. “Not enough ingredients. We’re stir-frying today.”
Everyone took their positions.
Gao Guihua served dishes, Sun Lifang took orders, while Chen Chunfeng and Gao Xianghong cleared tables and washed dishes.
Perhaps it was the aroma—vinegared cabbage had never smelled so enticing. In a short span, several orders came in just for that dish.
Xu Ying stood calmly at the stove, listening to the quiet sound only she could hear.
Ding—[Favorability +1]
Ding—[Favorability +1]
Ding—[Favorability +1]
A stream of system notifications filled her mind.
[Congratulations, host! You’ve unlocked new recipes: Spicy and Sour Shredded Potatoes, Stir-Fried Pork Liver, and Three Dumpling Fillings (Leek and Egg, Pork with Cabbage and Scallion, and Fish Filling). You’ve received: 1 box of sanitary napkins, and a set of bath and skincare products.]
The favorability kept climbing.
Meanwhile, Zhang Youquan looked on helplessly as more and more people came asking for Xu Ying’s dishes.
Someone even stuck their head in and shouted, “Chef Ge, are you the one making the vegetarian dishes today? They smell amazing! What did you do differently?”
Zhang’s face twisted.
Usually, he was in charge of vegetarian dishes on alternate days. When he cooked, the restaurant barely saw a handful of orders for those items.
But today—today they were flying off the counters.
His frustration boiled over. He had said nothing, waiting for Xu Ying to embarrass herself.
Instead, she had become the kitchen’s rising star.
From the side, Gao Xianghong snorted, looking at him with disdain. “You’ve been here how long? And still can’t cook like a girl on her first day?”
“Is your master hiding the real skills from you?”
Chef Ge immediately waved his hands. “He’s not my apprentice,” he said bluntly. “I never hid anything. I don’t even bother avoiding him when I cook. I have no idea what he’s watching when I work.”
He paused and added with a frown, “And even if I took on an apprentice, it wouldn’t be him. I’d rather go through life without one than have him ruin my reputation.”
Zhang Youquan’s face turned pale. Every word felt like a slap.
Still, he forced a smile and mumbled, “Chef Ge’s been generous with me. I’m just too dumb to learn. That’s all…”
As the heat in the kitchen reached its peak, Xu Ying turned and said, “Chef Ge, I’ve made spicy and sour shredded potatoes before. Can I cook that too?”
She had just unlocked that recipe. It would be another perfect opportunity to rake in favorability points.
Chef Ge waved a hand. “Go ahead! One less dish for me to make.”
Xu Ying accepted the pot of shredded potatoes. She had already rinsed them, washing off the starch so they would stay crisp when fried.
She chopped fresh green peppers, added dried red chilies, then minced ginger, garlic, and scallions.
As oil sizzled in the wok, she dropped in Sichuan peppercorns, letting the fragrance bloom. Quickly, she scooped them out—if left too long, they’d burn and ruin the flavor.
Then came the aromatics—ginger, garlic, scallions, and chili peppers.
The shredded potatoes followed.
She stir-fried swiftly, her movements fluid and practiced. After a few minutes, she splashed vinegar along the edges of the wok, letting the tangy steam rise.
Finally, she added a pinch of salt, a hint of sugar and finished with bright chopped scallions.
Just as she turned off the heat, Sun Lifang’s voice rang through the restaurant: “New dish! Spicy and Sour Potato Shreds!”
The scent hit everyone at once.
People looked up, sniffing the air, and soon they were queuing for the new dish.
Ding—[Favorability +1]
Ding—[Favorability +1]
Ding—[Favorability +1]
Xu Ying stood silently, spatula in hand, her face glowing from the heat of the stove—and the rising tide of admiration she was finally beginning to earn.