Until there were no more messages coming from Liu Yuqing’s side, probably because she had fallen asleep, Fu Yu then peacefully plugged in his phone to charge.
Maybe the earlier chat was too enjoyable, and he felt somewhat exhilarated.
Fu Yu lay down for a while but still couldn’t sleep, so he simply pulled out the classic old taste recipes and started looking into the records about stuffed dishes.
There are no stuffed dishes here in Bei’an.
When Fu Yu first heard about it, he thought it was just the kind of dishes where vegetables are pickled and cooked.
But after flipping through the classic old taste recipes, he realized that his understanding was worlds apart from what stuffed dishes truly are.
Turns out, stuffed dishes involve hollowing out vegetables as containers, filling them with minced meat, and then cooking them, much like how grains and water in a jar are brewed into fine wine.
No feast is complete without stuffed dishes.
Vegetables enveloping minced meat achieve a miraculous effect where the flavors create a synergy greater than the sum of their parts.
However, in general occasions, customers tend to order only one or two types of stuffed dishes, but Liu Yunong said tomorrow’s menu is a stuffed dish feast.
Which means there would be ten dishes, excluding the staple and soups, with at least eight being stuffed dishes for customers to order.
This really challenges the selection and creativity of the dishes.
Not only must the flavors not be too similar, but the types of dishes also have to appear novel to customers.
Ordering a table full of stuffed dishes won’t feel repetitive; instead, it becomes a feast in its own right.
That’s quite impressive!
Fu Yu was very curious about tomorrow’s menu, so he carefully reviewed several cooking methods for stuffed dishes.
Upon reviewing, he instantly felt like he had opened the door to a new world.
However, just reviewing recipes is not as effective as entering a teaching practice class, where it feels neither tiring nor a waste of time.
Fu Yu didn’t even remember at which recipe step he dozed off after reading.
In the early morning, because he slept too late, Fu Yu felt a bit dizzy.
It wasn’t until he clocked in, hearing the electronic prompt in his ear, that Fu Yu suddenly remembered he had a task reward from yesterday that he hadn’t claimed yet.
Mainly because when the task reward was distributed, he was busy flipping wok, and with Liu Yunong watching at the side, he didn’t get a chance to check it.
Later he got so busy that he put the matter out of his mind.
Fu Yu checked his task reward as he walked towards the kitchen.
[Ding! Daily Task: Successfully complete ten table settings, gain customer satisfaction praise, successfully completed, reward: A mysterious treasure box.]
Is this an upgrade in rewards?
Before, it was all random prizes, a lucky roulette.
Now it’s started producing mysterious treasure boxes.
Given that the previous rewards were all good, this mysterious treasure box must have something great as well.
Fu Yu excitedly chose to check.
[Mysterious Treasure Box Reward: Acquired NPC Celebrity Chef Liu Yunong’s personal skill: Stuffing (Advanced)]
[Stuffing: Method of cooking by wrapping minced meat with vegetables.]
This skill is great!
And it’s advanced.
You have to know, when it comes to stuffed dishes, aside from the effort put into the fillings, the most challenging for a chef’s cooking skill is the stuffing process.
This is just perfect, basically like giving himself a cheat code.
With this advanced stuffing personal skill in hand, tonight’s stuffed dish feast will definitely be a breeze.
Who would have thought?
He managed to gain more from Liu Yunong.
In high spirits, Fu Yu quietly said to Liu Yuqing when she came by with the delivery order list in the morning: "Don’t go to the cafeteria for lunch, Chef Wang just sent someone over to inform us that we’ll be having steamed mackerel shumai in the kitchen for lunch. Sun Wei received a box of mackerel from the seafood shop’s owner this morning while stocking up, and he left the box in the kitchen for us."
Liu Yuqing laughed, "Really? I thought mackerel was for dumplings, can it be made into shumai too?"
Fu Yu proudly winked, "Absolutely, with Chef Wang’s skills, not just mackerel, even beltfish can be minced and wrapped if you want it. So skip the cafeteria lunch, come and hang out with me instead!"
During the afternoon meal time, seeing the message from Fu Yu, Liu Yuqing quickly dashed to the kitchen.
Everyone in the kitchen was already used to Liu Yuqing wandering around occasionally, joining in for special treats.
They all liked the girl, who was not only pretty but also cheerful and amiable, with a straightforward manner that was easy to get along with.
Liu Yuqing had just finished helping with the delivery orders at the front desk, and she was already familiar with the business, even starting to take customer orders with Jiang Mo.
After a whole morning of talking, her throat was a bit hoarse.
Fu Yu first handed over a cup of red date water prepared in advance; this was brewed daily in the kitchen for customers to drink as free tea.
Liu Yuqing took it and drank more than half in a few gulps.
Fu Yu then handed her a plate of shumai, thoughtfully providing a small porcelain bowl with half a bowl of fragrant vinegar and a few pieces of sweet garlic on the side.
Liu Yuqing was truly hungry; smelling the steaming aroma, she smiled, "Wow, these shumai are beautifully made, look at the pleats! Chef Wang’s skills are indeed impressive!"
Each shumai was shaped like a pomegranate, glistening and white.
Impatient, Liu Yuqing picked up one, not bothering with the vinegar, and took a bite.
The filling was rich, the skin tender, fragrant and delicious, and surprisingly, despite its richness, it retained a glossy appearance, making it especially appetizing.
The texture was delicate and juicy; as she chewed gently, the fresh sweetness spread throughout.
Its savory charm filled her mouth; the minced meat was soft, plump, and the meaty aroma didn’t overpower the seafood taste, making it even more flavorful.
Mackerel made into shumai differed from traditional meat fillings; it was tender and delicate throughout.
After two bites, her eyes squinted in satisfaction, repeatedly exclaiming: "It’s so delicious!"
Seeing her enjoying the food, Fu Yu felt particularly happy, thinking all the effort was worthwhile: "I knew you’d love it!"
Liu Yuqing knew very well what the kitchen was like.
A bunch of young guys in there, all seemingly starved like wolves.
This plate of shumai, who knows how much effort Fu Yu had to put in to snatch it from the jaws of the lion.
Liu Yuqing smirked, her smile revealing, "You’re so good to me!"
Fu Yu beamed with pride and satisfaction, "Of course, I know how to spoil my wife the best!"
Liu Yuqing nibbled on the tangy sweet garlic, with a playful gaze, "Who’s your wife!"
Fu Yu retorted even more boastfully, "You will be someday, just wait and see!"
Later, Fu Yu heard from Zhao Meng that Liu Yuqing, after finishing work in the evening, bought a good pack of cigarettes for a few of Zhao Meng’s people in the kitchen.
She specifically mentioned that it was Fu Yu who asked her to help buy it, to thank them for helping with the work every night.
Zhao Meng’s tone carried a hint of relief and appreciation.
Unexpectedly, this kid Fu Yu, always looking busy, had managed to squeeze in time to deal with such an important personal affair amidst it all.
As for the girl Liu Yuqing, though her family background was unknown, just by looking at her, she was indeed a fine girl.
Pretty, at the right age, with a personality that’s quite likable, she and Fu Yu make a perfect match.
Hearing this, Fu Yu felt particularly moved, never expecting that, despite Liu Yuqing’s seemingly carefree nature, she would do these interpersonal tasks for him behind the scenes.
To Fu Yu, Liu Yuqing’s beautiful little face was incredibly endearing, warming his heart, and she was so considerate, this girl was truly wonderful!
The more Liu Yuqing acted this way, the more he liked her.
He liked her more each day, thinking about her all the time.
When Fu Yu was working in the kitchen, he stayed busy until almost closing time, quickly notifying Zhao Meng and changing clothes early to leave.
He planned to leave through the back door, unexpectedly running into Liu Yuqing who had just returned with bubble tea.
Liu Yuqing, slightly surprised, asked, "Isn’t it still early? Why are you leaving ahead of time today?"
Fu Yu explained, "Oh, my master asked me to come over earlier."
Liu Yuqing paused for a moment, nodded, and quickly handed him a cup, "I was going to bring it to you; here you go. Your cup has extra ingredients; it tastes better than theirs! It’s still hot, just right for the way."
Holding the warm bubble tea in his hand, Fu Yu’s gaze fixed on Liu Yuqing, his heart sinking bit by bit, as if he were being swept away by the whirlpool she created in front of him...