svetikya Chapter 334 Modifying the Silly Pillar
Chapter 334 Modifying the Silly Pillar
As evening fell, the group returned to their Deep Water Bay residence carrying large and small bags. As soon as they opened the living room door, they were greeted by lively laughter and chatter—Lin Yan and Lou Zhenhua, the couple, had been sitting on the sofa chatting for some time.
Xu Xiaoling, who was walking at the front, looked up and her gaze fell on the completely transformed Sha Zhu and his sister. She immediately exclaimed, "Ah—Yu Shui! How did you become so beautiful! Sha Zhu too!"
Her shout startled everyone. The little girl rushed forward, circled the rain twice, stared at Sha Zhu for a while, and finally turned to Xu Damao, grabbing his arm resentfully: "Brother! Look at them! I want to be pretty too! Take me to get my hair done and buy me new clothes tomorrow!"
This childish complaint elicited laughter from everyone present. Lou Xiao'e, suppressing her laughter, pulled her sister-in-law to her side: "Alright, alright, I'll take you tomorrow. Yuling," she turned to Wang Yuling, "why don't we go together tomorrow? We can see what else the rainwater needs."
Wang Yuling was admiring her "masterpiece" when she heard this and her eyes lit up: "Of course it's good!" This afternoon, she felt like she had opened the door to a new world—watching the rainwater be transformed from the inside out by her skillful hands, this sense of accomplishment was even more pleasant than making a table full of delicious food.
Standing to the side, Sha Zhu, though dressed in a sharp suit and with his hair meticulously styled with hair gel, was still uncomfortably tugging at his collar. This outfit made him feel extremely uncomfortable, far less satisfying than wielding a spatula in the kitchen.
Lin Yan held his teacup, his gaze lingering for a moment on the transformed brother and sister, a faint smile playing on his lips. He said nothing, but was clearly quite satisfied with the changes.
Wang Yuling deftly put down her shopping bags, changed her clothes, tied on an apron, and went straight into the kitchen to prepare for tonight's welcome dinner. Sha Zhu watched her retreating figure and almost instinctively followed—having grown accustomed to working in the steel mill's kitchen, he really couldn't stand sitting around waiting for food.
"Brother Zhu," Lin Yan said with a smile, gently stopping him. "You're a guest today, how can you let a guest cook? Perfect, you can try Yu Ling's cooking too. I think you should go upstairs and change out of this outfit first. It's uncomfortable to wear, and it's making me feel suffocated just looking at you."
"Hey!" Sha Zhu was relieved, and a simple yet embarrassed smile immediately appeared on his face. "Xiao Yan, to be honest, this thing is really like a dog leash, it's so tight that I can't even breathe properly! I'll go upstairs and change into this outfit right now!" As he spoke, he quickly loosened his tie and turned to walk quickly upstairs to his room. His eagerness seemed to make him afraid that if he was a step too slow, he would be forced back into that "restraint".
Not long after, Sha Zhu came downstairs wearing a set of cotton and linen clothes that Lin Gang had prepared for him. He instantly felt much more at ease and regained his somewhat carefree and down-to-earth demeanor. He sat down in the living room again, finally able to comfortably lean back on the sofa.
Lin Yan pushed a freshly brewed cup of hot tea in front of him and casually asked, "Brother Zhu, are you settling in well here? If you need anything, just tell Lin Gang or Yu Ling, don't hesitate to ask."
Sha Zhu took the teacup with both hands, feeling the warmth emanating from his palms. He chuckled, "I'm used to it, I'm used to it! It's just that this place is so nice, like a dream. It's just... my hands can't stay idle. From now on, I'll need to lend a hand with the kitchen work, otherwise I feel uneasy."
Upon hearing this, Lin Yan smiled knowingly, but did not reply immediately. Instead, he picked up his cup of tea and gently blew away the foam.
An hour and a half later, Wang Yuling began directing Lin Gang to serve the dishes one by one on the spacious dining table.
Lin Yan raised his glass, smiling as he invited everyone, "Come on, we're all family, don't be shy, start eating!"
The table was laden with delicacies, gleaming and emitting an enticing aroma. Aside from Xu Damao and Lou Xiao'e's family, who were already accustomed to such sights, Xu Fugui and his two daughters, along with Sha Zhu and Yu Shui, were all somewhat stunned, seeing such a scene for the first time. Sha Zhu stared at the glistening braised shark fin, the plump abalone with oyster sauce, and the tempting crispy suckling pig… but inappropriately, images of the greasy food in the steel mill canteen and his coworkers munching on cornbread and pickled vegetables flashed through his mind. A mix of emotions welled up inside him, leaving him with an indescribable sense of unease.
But he was an open-minded person after all, and knowing that times change, he quickly adjusted his mindset. Curiosity and the instinctive desire for delicious food took over, and he was the first to pick up a piece of the white grouper meat and put it in his mouth.
The next moment, his eyes widened suddenly!
The fish meat melted in his mouth with an exquisite freshness, tenderness, and smoothness, requiring almost no chewing before dissolving on his tongue, its rich juices instantly filling his entire mouth. This taste… was ten, a hundred times more wonderful than any fish he had ever cooked or eaten!
As if he didn't believe it, he quickly picked up the serving chopsticks again, and with the kind of discerning and meticulous spirit that a chef has, he took a small bite from each dish in turn.
The rich and smooth braised shark fin, the tender and chewy abalone with oyster sauce, the rich and silky foie gras with red wine, the crispy and not greasy suckling pig, the salt-baked chicken with its savory aroma, the refreshing jade roll, the rich and exotic aroma of black truffle and Wagyu beef... Every dish, from the cooking time to the seasoning, is precisely at the peak of his taste aesthetics, without a single flaw.
After this barrage of flavors, Sha Zhu felt all the pride and confidence he had accumulated over the past few decades at the stove had been utterly crushed into dust. He put down his chopsticks in a daze, looking at Wang Yuling, who had just come out of the kitchen after taking off her apron, his eyes filled with disbelief and an almost fanatical adoration.
His Adam's apple bobbed, and almost instinctively, he stammered, "Yu...Yu Ling...No, Master! Your...your skill is divine! I, I, He Yuzhu, am convinced! I really...I really want to kowtow to you right now and become your disciple!"
His words, spoken sincerely yet with a touch of naivety, amused everyone at the table, livening up the previously somewhat reserved atmosphere. Wang Yuling was also taken aback by his sudden "apprenticeship" offer, waving her hands repeatedly. Only Sha Zhu himself knew that what seemed like a joke was actually utterly sincere.
Lin Yan smiled slightly after hearing Sha Zhu's half-joking, half-serious words. He put down his chopsticks and looked at Sha Zhu:
"Brother Zhu, actually, even if you hadn't mentioned it, I was already thinking about this." His eyes were full of appreciation. "I can see that you have a talent for cooking, and even more so, a strong drive and passion. It's just that your experience in the courtyard house and the steel mill was limited, and you lacked systematic learning and practice with top-notch ingredients, which is why your skills have been stuck there and haven't improved much."
He then turned to Wang Yuling, who was standing beside him, and instructed her, "Yuling, the culinary training for Brother Zhu is now in your hands. Based on your available time and the content he needs to learn, you should systematically create a course."
"It's not just about the skills to make these signature dishes. From the most basic kitchen hygiene standards, the identification and storage of different ingredients, to the staffing and workflow of the kitchen, to the menu design and cost accounting of large banquets, as well as the procurement channels and identification points of high-end ingredients—you have to systematically teach him all the overall management knowledge required for a modern hotel kitchen."
Finally, he looked at Sha Zhu, who was listening in a daze, and said firmly, "Brother Zhu, only by mastering all of these things can you truly be competent for the position of our future hotel executive chef. Yu Ling is an expert in this area, and you should humbly learn from her."
Upon hearing this, Wang Yuling nodded earnestly, "Yes, young master, I understand. I will devise a detailed training plan." She then turned to Sha Zhu, "Brother Zhu, since the young master has spoken, you will have to start learning from me from the beginning tomorrow. It might be tough, and there will be many rules, so be prepared."
Sha Zhu was already pounding with excitement. He jumped up, his face flushed with emotion, and rubbed his hands on his pants, as if he didn't know how to express himself.
"Don't worry! Xiao Yan, Yu Ling, I, He Yuzhu, may not be able to say anything else, but I'm not afraid of hardship or fatigue! I will definitely study hard and never let you down!"
At that moment, a vast and boundless world of cooking opened its doors before him. His once-proud "Tan Family Cuisine" skills seemed like nothing more than a trivial starting point behind that door. His heart was filled with gratitude for Lin Yan's patronage and boundless anticipation for his future studies.