vrcanaries Chapter 119 On-site Selection
Chapter 119 On-site Selection
In the study, sunlight shines through the carved window lattices, weaving patches of light and shadow on the ground.
Ji Yanchuan wore a dark brocade robe, its dark patterns resembling flowing water ripples, appearing and disappearing with his movements, further accentuating his tall stature and extraordinary demeanor. He sat at his desk, his slender fingers casually resting on the edge of a book, seemingly flipping through it nonchalantly, yet his eyes were deep, revealing an elusive shrewdness.
The verbal battle between Cheng Yuntao and the chefs was reported truthfully by the secret guards. Ji Yanchuan paused slightly and a smile disappeared in an instant.
"Interesting." He opened his thin lips slightly, his voice low and magnetic, his eyes seemed to be able to penetrate the wall, and locked directly on the girl outside who was arguing and refusing to back down amid everyone's doubts.
In Junhua City, everyone was in awe of the name of Boss Ji. Most of them were timid and silent. It was rare to see such a bold and unique woman who dared to face the ridicule of others and fight back with such firm words. This courage and intelligence really made him curious.
Ji Yanchuan slowly put down the ancient book in his hand, and tapped the table rhythmically with his fingers, again and again.
After a while, he sat up slightly and calmly instructed the secret guards, "Keep a close eye on what this bold girl can come up with. I wonder if she really has the ability, or if she's just trying to show off her skills."
"Yes!" After receiving the order, the secret guard quickly retreated.
……
Mu Qingfeng led everyone through twists and turns and finally arrived at a spacious and almost exaggerated kitchen.
As soon as they stepped in, the chefs were stunned by the dazzling array of ingredients in front of them, their mouths wide open and their eyes as big as copper bells.
From rare fish and shrimps from the deep sea to precious mushrooms from the mountains, from exotic spices to fresh local fruits and vegetables, there is everything. The variety and quality are astonishing.
Mu Qingfeng's face was expressionless as he announced the rules in a cold and stern voice: "You will select your own ingredients, use all your skills, and use your best cooking methods to create a dish that will satisfy Boss Ji. Only the best performers in this group will stay, and the rest will collect their rewards and leave."
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone understood that Boss Ji was just trying to pick a relatively outstanding person from among so many mediocre people. After all, so many talented people had failed before.
In the crowd, a young chef who looked quite clever rolled his eyes and approached Mu Qingfeng with a broad smile on his face. He bowed slightly and said in a flattering tone, "Manager Mu, you serve Mr. Ji every day, so you must know what he likes. Could you tell me more?"
"Whether you prefer sweet or savory, we have a good idea of what to make, and the dishes we make will suit Boss Ji's taste, right?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the chefs around nodded rapidly, their eyes full of anticipation, and they all echoed them.
"That's right, Steward Mu, please be kind and show me a way forward."
"We are new here and have no idea what we are doing. We are completely dependent on your guidance."
Mu Qingfeng, however, acted as if he hadn't heard anything. His face still had that cold expression. He swept his eyes over everyone's faces without a trace of emotion. He opened his thin lips slightly and coldly spat out four words: "No comment."
The tone was firm and there was no room for negotiation.
The other chefs were displeased by his arrogance, but when they remembered that this was the Ji Mansion and that Mu Qingfeng had Boss Ji's backing, they swallowed their words back. They could only grit their teeth, muttering a few words in their hearts, while forcing themselves to appear respectful.
"Okay, stop talking nonsense here and get started." As soon as Mu Qingfeng gave the order, the kitchen, which was originally in order, instantly became a mess.
In order to compete for those precious and rare ingredients, the chefs instantly threw away their usual pretense of politeness, their faces turned red, they rolled up their sleeves, and started fighting. Shouts and curses were heard everywhere, and they no longer cared about the friendship between colleagues or the hierarchy of age.
"This deep-sea abalone is mine, don't try to grab it!" A burly chef with a fat face roared and rushed towards the seafood area like a hungry tiger. He swung his strong arms violently, knocking several thinner chefs next to him to the ground.
His eyes were as big as copper bells, staring at the plump abalones, and he kept muttering, "If I use these abalones to make abalone sauce rice, Boss Ji will definitely like it. Then the job of head chef of the Ji Mansion will be easy for me."
"You're dreaming! What do you know, a rough fellow? This superior bird's nest is the real deal." A thin man with a pointed chin and monkey-like features nimbly slipped through the gap in the crowd and grabbed the box of bird's nest with agility. A smug smile appeared on his face, and he glanced provocatively at the people around him.
The two old chefs, who were over fifty years old, didn't care about anything else and competed for a bundle of fresh Cordyceps.
"Brother, you are already so old, so stop arguing with me and go home to hug your grandchildren." One of the old chefs was gray-haired but energetic. Although his tone was polite, his hands were very decisive. He held the Cordyceps tightly and refused to let go. The blue veins on his forehead were exposed.
"Brother, you're wrong. I'm thinking of working for a few more years to earn more money for my family. I'm determined to get this Cordyceps." The other old chef blushed and pulled back with all his strength. He stumbled and almost fell, but he kept on complaining, "Boss Ji will definitely praise the Cordyceps stewed chicken I made."
The young chefs were even crazier. A young man with a shaved head and exposed veins on his neck got into a fight with others for a piece of top-quality beef.
He beat and scolded them, "You rookies, how dare you snatch this beef from me? This beef can only reach its greatest value in my hands. Let go of it if you know what's good for you!" The two of them punched and kicked each other, neither of them giving in, and the kitchen utensils around them were clanging.
In this chaos, Cheng Yuntao stayed out of it. She frowned slightly and stood in the corner, lost in deep thought.
She knew Boss Ji was a man of vast experience, a man of all things delicacies. If she blindly pursued novelty, took an unconventional approach, and created extravagant, formal dishes, she knew they wouldn't necessarily impress him. Furthermore, she had heard that Boss Ji was from out of town, so his tastes might not be as light as those of the local elite in Junhua City. Perhaps he might have a stronger preference for sweet or spicy food.
But who would order food without revealing any taste preferences? This really puts the chef in a difficult position. Cheng Yuntao sighed somewhat resentfully. What is even more difficult than cooking is guessing Boss Ji's taste.