Abnormal Gourmet Chronicle

After hanging up the video call, Qin Huai didn't immediately call Cao Guixiang to continue his online class. Instead, he walked over to Zheng Siyuan, who was making fresh meat mooncakes, and silently watched him.

Zheng Siyuan saw Qin Huai coming over and said without looking up, "The mooncakes will be ready in 13 minutes."

"I'm not here for fresh meat mooncakes," Qin Huai said, glancing at the mooncake pastries and then changing his tune, "Okay, save one for me later."

"Did you tell Tan Wei'an this morning that I wanted a new helper?"

Earlier, Boss Su mentioned he'd heard from Tan Wei'an this morning that Qin Huai needed a helper. Qin Huai did indeed say something similar this morning, but it was during a conversation with Zheng Siyuan.

No need for analysis; it's obvious that Zheng Siyuan deliberately told Tan Wei'an.

"I did," Zheng Siyuan nodded, "You mentioned needing a helper from Zhiwei Restaurant, right? Luckily, Zhiwei Restaurant never lacks helpers. Each year, many apprentices apply to work at Zhiwei Restaurant, and once hired, they stay to do odd jobs as helpers. If their talent stands out, they might be noticed by the master chefs and taken on as disciples or named disciples. If they fail to secure a master after several years, most will quit and move to other restaurants for higher-paying, more prestigious jobs."

"Zhiwei Restaurant is a classic traditional restaurant where all apprentices start by practicing basic skills, known for their endurance and hard work. Hence, employees who leave Zhiwei Restaurant, even apprentices, are highly sought after by restaurants everywhere."

"This model has made Zhiwei Restaurant famous. Though it's essentially just a restaurant, it has produced countless talents across the country. Many pastry chefs in restaurants nationwide are either chefs or apprentices from Zhiwei Restaurant, and even at Yunzhong Restaurant, both Pei Xing and Li Hua are chefs from Zhiwei."

"I know," Qin Huai replied, "But I still don't understand why you specifically told Tan Wei'an about this. If you tell him, isn't he going to ask Boss Su for help? That doesn't seem right; I'm not well acquainted with Boss Su, we've just added each other on WeChat."

"You still don't understand what I mean." Zheng Siyuan stopped his work, deciding to educate Qin Huai, a semi-trained outsider, on industry lending rules, "In this model, Zhiwei Restaurant never lacks apprentices."

"Although your standards for helpers are high, the quality of apprentices at Zhiwei Restaurant is equally high. Essentially, anyone from Zhiwei meets your requirements for helpers."

"You'd struggle to find so many capable, hardworking, diligent helpers anywhere other than Zhiwei Restaurant."

"And Boss Su is surely eager to exchange ideas in this aspect, as there are proven results."

"The results are visible to all. Tan Wei'an and others at Huang Ji have improved remarkably after a few months of exchange. If someone like Tan Wei'an shows visible progress, imagine the results for ordinary helpers."

"You might find it normal and not troublesome to come to the kitchen every morning, taste the snacks prepared by apprentices, and provide feedback and guidance. But that's because you don't have disciples, and thus have the time for those unrelated chefs."

"For master chefs at Zhiwei Restaurant, they have many direct disciples requiring hands-on teaching. Those apprentices who lack talent are just regular kitchen staff. Sometimes the mood strikes, they'll give a few pointers; when busy, ignoring them is perfectly reasonable. For ordinary apprentices at Zhiwei, getting a word of advice from a master once every three or four days is considered quite fortunate."

"Tan Wei'an probably didn't tell you, but he boasted nonstop during the New Year about how his culinary skills improved while exchanging at Huang Ji. He mentioned many apprentices and named disciples of the masters at Zhiwei regretted not seizing the opportunity to learn at Huang Ji. They thought it was mere hard labor, not realizing it was a culinary improvement class they'd fight to attend if they'd known sooner."

Qin Huai:...

If it wasn't awkward to scratch his head in the kitchen, Qin Huai would really want to scratch his head and say he really doesn't understand you chefs from Zhiwei Restaurant.

Are you all this competitive?

Uncontrollably, Qin Huai glanced at Pei Xing and Li Hua quietly making snacks.

No wonder these two were eliminated. Compared to Zhiwei's other top competitors, Pei Xing and Li Hua indeed aren't competitive enough.

"But you never said anything. Even if you mention it once in a chat with Tan Wei'an, by the next day, Boss Su would package up a group of apprentices to Yunzhong Restaurant as helpers for learning and exchange."

Qin Huai: "... I still wonder if I'm taking advantage?"

"They'll cover their own travel expenses, rent, and you don't even have to pay their wages. Isn't this pure freeloading to some extent?"

Earlier on the phone, Boss Su made it clear he would send people over, and Qin Huai wouldn't have to handle anything, not even meals.

It's practically an automatic nuclear-powered workforce.

"You're providing guidance," Zheng Siyuan said, "Haven't you realized yet?"

"Although you're gifted in certain areas, with your skill level, the snacks you make, and Xu Cheng's praise for you, even in Zhiwei, you're indeed qualified to accept disciples as a master chef."