The young man is quite attractive, tall, has a house, does his job well, and earns a good amount of money.
With Fu Yu’s credentials, finding a girlfriend shouldn’t be difficult.
Yet nothing has happened so far.
Zhao Meng concernedly asked, "Fu Yu, it seems like there’s something going on between you and Liu Yuqing?"
Fu Yu is kind and gets along well with both male and female colleagues at the shop, maintaining good relationships.
However, this guy has been acting a bit unusual lately, frequently organizing small cooking sessions, just waiting for Liu Yuqing to come to the kitchen, then quickly presenting his dish like a treasure.
Young love.
At Fu Yu’s age, having a girl he likes is a good thing.
Although Zhao Meng hadn’t witnessed it more than a couple of times, he vaguely guessed that Fu Yu was racking his brains, meticulously planning something.
Yet Fu Yu said nothing about it, giving no clues in this regard.
Since Fu Yu said nothing, Zhao Meng couldn’t help but ask.
Fu Yu heard this, chuckled, and nodded, admitting, "There’s just a small start. I thought I’d wait until the plan develops more before talking to you about it."
Zhao Meng laughed at this, slapping his thigh, "Good boy! Quite efficient!"
Fu Yu deflected the conversation, "... How do you find the cape gooseberry drink I got you? Getting used to it?"
Zhao Meng replied, "I can’t really get used to the taste, but Bao’er quite likes it. I heard from Sister Dai that it’s quite pricey per bottle. Got money burning a hole in your pocket? Buying that stuff!"
Fu Yu explained, "It was given to me by my mentor. I like it, so I brought some for you."
Zhao Meng felt warm inside, touched by Fu Yu’s thoughtfulness, so seeing that Fu Yu didn’t want to discuss romantic matters further, he followed Fu Yu’s lead and talked about other things.
Fu Yu initially didn’t plan on going to the Shangshi Private Kitchen today.
After all, tomorrow is ’Minor New Year’, and the shop had taken a lot of reservations in advance; the kitchen needed to have all prep work done by the evening.
But when Zhao Meng heard this, he immediately frowned, "You should go, I’ve already arranged everything in the kitchen."
Fu Yu hesitated a bit, "Tomorrow is Minor New Year, I’m thinking of not going there today."
Zhao Meng waved it off, "No need, go as you should today, just stay tomorrow."
Understanding Zhao Meng, Fu Yu knew that once he made a decision, it wouldn’t easily be retracted.
So he nodded, "Alright, I’ll go today as usual, greet my mentor, and not go tomorrow."
Fu Yu actually treasured the time he spent learning at the Shangshi Private Kitchen every day.
Liu Yunong was a busy person, and it wasn’t clear how long she would stay in Bei’an.
While she was still around, Fu Yu intended to learn as much cooking as he could.
Otherwise, when Liu Yunong leaves, such a good learning opportunity would no longer be available.
...
That night, Fu Yu took a taxi to the Shangshi Private Kitchen.
Today, luck wasn’t on his side. He ran into traffic, and it was already half-past six by the time he arrived.
This was the busiest time for the shop.
Fu Yu didn’t dare to delay, hurriedly changed clothes, and went to the kitchen to work.
Tomorrow was Minor New Year, and the Shangshi Private Kitchen had also taken many reservation orders in advance.
Liu Yunong and Liu Zhangpeng were in charge of cooking, while Wang Yulong was busy preparing for the Minor New Year banquet.
Fu Yu followed Liu Yunong, learning to cook while helping out.
Today’s dishes were mostly semi-finished, not too challenging.
However, with a few unfamiliar new dishes, Fu Yu learned with considerable focus.
With one teaching and the other learning, it was a master-apprentice dynamic.
Fu Yu was engrossed in learning when suddenly a staff member came to report to Liu Yunong, "Boss, there’s a customer at the front with a VIP dining coupon."
Liu Yunong paused, put down her kitchen tools, and asked, "What kind of person are they?"
The staff described carefully, "Looks quite young, in his early thirties, not very tall, and people next to him call him President Wang."
"Surname Wang? In his early thirties..."
When the new shop opened, Liu Yunong had prepared some VIP dining coupons.
They were given to prominent figures in Bei’an.
VIP dining coupons were not like other regular vouchers; with the coupon, all dishes, no matter how many or how few tables, were complimentary.
Moreover, diners were directly seated in private rooms with a dedicated staff member accompanying them throughout the service.
This level of service would be ordinary elsewhere.
But in a private kitchen, there were fewer staff—each attending two to three rooms.
This dedicated service symbolized status.
Liu Yunong quickly ran through the list of recipients in her mind and pinpointed a distinguished person of high rank.
This time opening the new shop, numerous procedural matters were smoothly settled thanks to connections through this person.
If it were indeed a relative or friend of this distinguished guest dining here, Liu Yunong felt it necessary to personally greet them.
She handed over her tasks to Fu Yu and followed the staff out.
As they walked, she asked, "Which private room are they in?"
Staff member: "105."
"How many guests?"
"Two."
...
Liu Yunong returned shortly afterward, holding two live fish.
"Wow! Where did you get those fish from?"
Liu Zhangpeng spotted them first, quickly sending an assistant to help carry the fish.
The bag containing the live fish was filled with water, making it quite heavy.
The assistant took a peek and was surprised, "Two carp?"
Wang Yulong came over, took a look at the bag, and asked, "Who gave them?"
Liu Yunong’s expression was sour, her brows furrowed as she replied, "President Wang’s son brought them along with his girlfriend for dinner."
Wang Yulong was surprised, "Which President Wang? Could it be that one?"
Liu Yunong nodded, "That’s the one. Didn’t we give him a few VIP dining coupons? His son is using them to dine now."
Wang Yulong understood the background and nodded, "Coming for dinner, but why bring two fish?"
Liu Yunong was visibly frustrated, "Not a gift. Apparently heard somewhere to bring their own ingredients and have the kitchen make a live-cooked carp dish."
Wang Yulong was quite surprised, "Live-cooked carp? Isn’t on our menu!"
Liu Yunong sighed, "They said they brought the ingredients and had the kitchen do their best with it."
Discussing this made Liu Yunong feel irked,
though President Wang is smooth and shrewd, how come he has a son as clueless as this!
Who takes their own ingredients to a restaurant and asks the chef to cook them?
This is a private dining place, not a roadside food stall!
With Liu Yunong’s abilities, she wouldn’t easily agree to this.
But the problem was, this young Vice President Wang was clueless, losing his head at his girlfriend’s whims.
Using his father’s name to pressure others.
If it were anyone else, Liu Yunong wouldn’t indulge them, but it was President Wang’s son.
Strong local figures have their influence.
President Wang was a major player in Bei’an.
For Liu Yunong’s branch to operate smoothly in Bei’an, it relied on his support.
Looking at the live fish placed in a basin, Liu Yunong was at a loss.
"And these carp were specially raised for two months, to cleanse their bodies of impurities."
Wang Yulong was even more surprised, "Wow, quite knowledgeable?"
Liu Yunong gave a wry smile, "Knows nothing, just a spoiled kid! Easily misled, lost his way."
Vice President Wang was clearly here to show off to his girlfriend.
Wang Yulong was at a loss, "What to do now? No one knows how to make live-cooked carp."