Chef at the University Canteen

Chapter 557 296: This Is the Boss's Vision

You know, no matter where you work, if a chef wants to improve their skills, the most common way is to watch, learn, and practice more on their own. It's pretty rare for a head chef to willingly share their secrets.

Of course, if the head chef personally takes on an apprentice, that's a different story since they're considered part of the family.

But in the Seventh Dining Hall, Jiang Yu doesn't seem to care about these things. As long as the chefs in the kitchen want to learn, he is willing to teach.

This is vision!

Perhaps it's precisely because of Jiang Yu's personality that despite the increasing number of people in the kitchens on the first and second floors of the Seventh Dining Hall, no one thinks about forming cliques or engaging in scheming.

Everyone is dedicated to contributing their efforts to the Seventh Dining Hall, as if it has already become their second home.

You certainly wouldn't allow corrupt places in your own home!

"Don't get too excited too soon, you should use your time wisely and learn to make cold dishes with Xiaodu."

Jiang Yu waved his hand and said with a smile to Xiong Zhengtao,

"I might have to go on a trip next month, and by then, the Seventh Dining Room will have to rely on you and Xiaodu to keep it going."

It's still early July now, and next month will be August.

The Huaxia Cooking Association's Famous Chef Committee is organizing the Huaxia Young Master Chef Elite Competition, which will be held in Tanzhou in mid-August.

Several months ago, the Huaxia Master Chef Committee already sent an invitation to Jiang Yu and made a special call, wanting to invite Jiang Yu to participate as a guest in this Young Master Chef Elite Competition.

Just a few days ago, the Huaxia Master Chef Committee called again to confirm whether Jiang Yu would be able to attend.

Jiang Yu ultimately agreed.

Just like Jia Dequan used to advise him, as a chef, the most taboo thing is to work behind closed doors.

Only by moving around, observing more, learning from the strengths of other chefs, and tasting the unique points of some local dishes can one's culinary skills gradually elevate to reach a level that is hard for others to attain.

Although Jiang Yu has to go on a business trip in August, he doesn't plan to suspend the operations of the Seventh Dining Room.

After all, now the Seventh Dining Room is no longer like when it first opened, relying solely on Jiang Yu to keep it running.

Even if Jiang Yu is not around, Du Guangning and Xiong Zhengtao are still in the kitchen.

Of course, whether Jiang Yu is around or not makes a big difference.

For instance, some intricate dishes, Du Guangning can't make them; he can only cook some quick dishes.

As for Xiong Zhengtao, he's even less skilled; he hasn't even mastered making cold dishes yet.

This is why Jiang Yu reminded Xiong Zhengtao to master making cold dishes first; otherwise, once Jiang Yu leaves, Du Guangning would be so busy his heels wouldn't even touch the ground.

"Don't worry, boss. I won't delay learning to make cold dishes. I will definitely learn well from Brother Du!"

Xiong Zhengtao nodded repeatedly. He's only a few months younger than Du Guangning, but his stance is very humble.

After all, he understands that in the kitchen, the one with the best skills is the boss. Being new and having the lowest skill level, he naturally can only play the little brother role.

Except for Jiang Yu, who is indeed younger than him, he's a bit embarrassed to call anyone else "brother," so he started calling Du, "Brother Du," and Pei, "Brother Pei," as soon as he got to the second floor, sweet-talking everyone like his mouth was smeared with honey.

Moreover, the boss is eager to teach him skills; where else could you find such a great opportunity?

Only here at Jiang Yu's Seventh Dining Hall.

Therefore, although the workload is quite large every day, Xiong Zhengtao genuinely finds it to be a painful yet joyful experience.

Nothing makes him feel more fulfilled than working at the Seventh Dining Hall.

Jiang Yu nodded, not saying much more, and turned to help Du Guangning with stir-frying quick dishes.

The group kept busy until after 8 p.m., only then did they finish preparing the dishes for the four private rooms.

Jiang Yu took a break, but Du Guangning still had to prepare the employee meal.

Seeing him drenched in sweat, Jiang Yu felt tired for him, but judging by Du Guangning's expression, he seemed to enjoy the feeling.

Perhaps being acknowledged is a kind of happiness too?

After dinner, Yan Tongtong and the others were busy cleaning up the mess left behind by the guests in the private rooms, while Du Guangning and Xiong Zhengtao started tidying up the kitchen.

Meanwhile, Jiang Yu acted like the hands-off manager and wandered downstairs after dinner, heading to the first-floor kitchen.

At this moment, the first-floor dining hall had long finished its dinner service, and Ma Guoqiang, He Chunxiao, and the rest, living further away, had left for home early.

In the kitchen, only Lu Shuwu, Jia Zhibin, along with two new chefs Niu Daqiang and He Chunsheng, remained.

Niu Daqiang and Jia Zhibin were helping to brew sour plum soup and make hot braised dishes, while He Chunsheng, specializing in pastry, was naturally assisting Lu Shuwu with making dough and preparing soup dumplings in advance to avoid a rush the next morning.

Lu Shuwu was sitting at the workbench mixing stuffing when he saw Jiang Yu and greeted him with a smile,

"Boss, are you done for the day? It seems a bit late today."

"Yeah, there were a lot of guests in the private rooms today."

Jiang Yu nodded, pulled out his designated cup from a cabinet, made himself some tea, and sat comfortably in a chair,

"I'm heading to Tanzhou in mid-next month; the date for the Young Master Chef Elite Competition is set for August 15th."

"It's a pity I can't go back; I originally planned to take you to have a good look around in Tanzhou, but it seems there's no chance."

Lu Shuwu sighed deliberately, looking at Jiang Yu with feigned resentment,

"Who would have thought our dining hall would operate normally during the summer vacation?

What's most exasperating is that even during the holidays, there's as many people coming to eat here as before!"

"There's no other way; we can't stop operations on the first floor while the second-floor Seventh Dining Room remains open, right?"

Jiang Yu shrugged with a helpless look,

"If you want to take a break, just go ahead; I'll have Du Guangning come down and cover for you for a while."

"Forget it. He's never cooked down here before, and I worry he'd mess it up."

Lu Shuwu shook his head—he had finally organized the workings of the first-floor kitchen and wasn't willing to leave it to someone else, lest things get out of hand.

Since taking over management of the first-floor kitchen, Lu Shuwu treated it like his exclusive domain; other than the boss, no one else was allowed to touch it.

He'd glare at anyone who tried!

Pausing for a moment, he quickly changed the topic, addressing Jiang Yu,

"By the way, didn't you say you'd be visiting my grandfather this time in Tanzhou?

Here's some good news: my grandfather was invited to be an expert judge for the Young Master Chef Elite Competition.

So, you won't have to go out of your way to visit him—he'll be at the event venue!"

"Really? That's great news."

Jiang Yu immediately smiled upon hearing this, saying,

"I was worried that the schedule for this trip to Tanzhou would be so tight that I wouldn't have time to visit your grandfather, and that would be so impolite.

This is perfect; during the competition, I can chat with him just the same."

Previously, Lu Shuwu's grandfather came to Jiangzhou University intending to take Lu Shuwu back, but after meeting Jiang Yu and witnessing his culinary skills, he changed his mind.

Before leaving, he even left his decades of culinary notes to Jiang Yu.

For Jiang Yu, who had just entered the culinary industry at the time, it was a precious gift.

Such a significant favor could never be forgotten by Jiang Yu.

That's also why he readily agreed to become a culinary performance guest at the Young Master Chef Elite Competition in Tanzhou this year.

Most importantly, he wanted to take this opportunity to visit Mr. Lu well.

"Just going to chat?"

Lu Shuwu, hearing this, widened his eyes, quickly shook his head,

"No, no, no, you must be mistaken, thinking you can chat your way out once you meet my grandfather?"

Jiang Yu was startled, suddenly feeling a bad premonition arising,

"What do you mean?"

"At the very least, you'll have to cook a full table of dishes to satisfy my grandfather's appetite first."

Lu Shuwu chuckled mischievously, wriggling his eyebrows,

"Otherwise, don't think about leaving Tanzhou City!"