Siheyuan: Reborn Silly Pillar, Taking Control of the Entire Courtyard

Inside the main room.

The oil lamp cast a dim yellow light.

The tiny flame flickered in and out of the window as the draft blew through.

He Daqing sat cross-legged beside the octagonal table.

He held a cigarette between his fingers, the paper loosely rolled, but the tobacco leaves tightly packed.

He smoked very slowly.

He puffed out one puff after another, the smoke billowing from his nostrils and spreading out under the light like a thin layer of gray mist.

The embers flickered on the cigarette butt, illuminating his stubble-covered face.

He was thinking about something.

I'm getting really frustrated by it.

Recently, the owner of the "Fu Man Lou" restaurant on Qianmen Street asked someone to pass on a message, saying that he wanted to take his son, He Yuzhu, as an apprentice.

The shopkeeper was a man of principle, and said that out of respect for He Daqing, he would grant him the title of "disciple in name only".

Unlike those menial laborers outside, they don't have to start from emptying chamber pots.

Even so, He Daqing still had some doubts.

These days, learning to cook is bound to be tough.

Three years of menial work, two years of full service—that's the industry standard.

Doing odd jobs sounds simple, but it really means working like a slave.

Serving tea and water, sweeping the floor and wiping the table are the least of their duties.

The truly tiring tasks were chopping wood, carrying water, and tending the fire; by the end of the day, your back would be aching terribly.

If you encounter a master with a bad temper, it's even more of a torment. If things don't go your way, you'll be beaten or scolded, and sometimes you won't even get enough to eat.

He Daqing himself went through the same process.

He entered the kitchen at the age of twelve and apprenticed under Liu Yishou, the famous "King of Knives" in Beijing.

Liu Yishou is skilled, but he has a terrible temper. If he is unhappy, he will hit his apprentice with the spoon in his hand.

He Daqing still has the scar on his leg from when he was hit by a spoon.

Thinking about this made him feel even worse.

How old is your son?

She was only twelve years old (by Chinese reckoning), her body hadn't fully developed yet, and she had thin arms and legs. How could she withstand the kind of torment in the kitchen?

or……

Wait another two years?

Should we send the child to school when he's stronger?

He Daqing tapped the pipe on the sole of his shoe and then refilled it with tobacco.

Just as he was about to light the cigarette, he heard his wife Chen Lanxiang coughing softly from the inner room. He paused and put the cigarette down again.

"Pillar's mother, why aren't you asleep yet?"

He shouted.

"The child just fell asleep, how can I possibly sleep?"

Chen Lanxiang's voice sounded a little tired.

"What are you muttering about outside? You're smoking like a chimney, it's making my throat hurt."

"I didn't mutter anything."

He Daqing put the pipe into his pocket.

"I'm just... thinking about something."

"What are you thinking about?"

Chen Lanxiang lifted the curtain and came out, wearing a patched cotton-padded coat and with her hair somewhat disheveled.

"Is it about the Fumanlou incident?"

He Daqing was taken aback.

How did you know?

"Do you think I'm stupid?"

Chen Lanxiang rolled her eyes at him.

"I heard the shopkeeper sent someone over a couple of days ago. You've been so distracted these past few days, what else could you be thinking about but this?"

"I'm thinking... should I send Zhu Zi?"

He Daqing sighed.

"The shopkeeper said he'd give me a nominal apprenticeship, so I wouldn't have to start from the bottom. This opportunity... is quite rare."

"Even if it's rare, it's still not acceptable!"

Chen Lanxiang refused without even thinking.

"How old is Zhu Zi? You're willing to let him suffer like that? Didn't you suffer enough back then? Have you forgotten how you got that scar on your leg?"

"I haven't forgotten."

He Daqing lowered his voice.

"But in our line of work, how can you get ahead without an apprentice? My skills, while not top-notch, are enough to keep me from starving. But if Zhuzi wants to have a job in the future, it won't be enough for me to teach him."

"Why not?"

Chen Lanxiang was unhappy.

"It's better for you to teach him than for an outsider to teach him. At least you won't hit him."

"What do you know?"

He Daqing was getting anxious.

"In this line of work, it's all about having a legitimate teacher. No matter how good your skills are, people won't recognize you if you don't have a proper master. Do you think I don't want to teach him? I just want him to suffer less in the future."

"I disagree anyway."

Chen Lanxiang's attitude was very firm.

"It's fine if he wants to go, but we can wait until he turns fifteen. Not now."

He Daqing opened his mouth, wanting to refute, but looking at his wife's reddened eyes, he swallowed his words.

He knew that his wife was worried about the child.

That's true. Life has been tough for the family these past few years, and the children have suffered a lot with them. It's really unreasonable to send them to the kitchen to suffer again when they finally get a decent meal.

"Fine," he conceded.

"Then let's wait another two years."

Chen Lanxiang nodded in satisfaction and glanced at him again.

"Don't overthink it. The child is still young, there will be plenty of opportunities in the future."

He Daqing didn't say anything, but picked up his pipe again, but didn't light it. He just stared blankly at the little spark.

He knew in his heart that this matter was not that simple.

Who can say for sure what will happen two years from now?

……

In the inner room, He Yuzhu was not actually asleep.

He lay on the hard bed, covered with a thin quilt patched in several places, his eyes wide open, staring at the dark beams.

In this era, not having enough to eat is the norm.

Although he now possesses top-notch culinary skills, even the most skilled cook cannot make a meal without ingredients.

Without ingredients and seasonings, even the best cooking skills cannot be displayed.

Moreover, he was missing one thing—the secret recipe.

True master chefs all have a few secret recipes they keep hidden away.

These secret recipes have been improved over generations, resulting in a unique flavor that others cannot replicate.

He Daqing had it.

His father used to be the head chef at Fu Man Lou, so he must have had a lot of good stuff.

But that old fellow is very tight-lipped and never teaches him.

He Yuzhu was thinking that if he could get his hands on the secret recipe from his father, and add the modern cooking concepts in his mind, opening a restaurant or becoming the head chef of a big hotel would be a piece of cake.

As for taking a master...

He wasn't opposed to it.

These days, it's important to have a legitimate reason for learning something; having a renowned teacher can certainly help you avoid many detours.

Moreover, he also wanted to see what made the top chefs of this era so exceptional.

However, he didn't want to start from scratch like in the original story.

What he lacks right now is an opportunity.

……

The next morning, before dawn, He Yuzhu was dragged out of bed by his mother.

"Get up quickly and go help your father in the kitchen," Chen Lanxiang said as she dressed him.

"Your father is preparing a feast today, and he's short-handed. Go and help him out."

"understood."

He Yuzhu mumbled a response, still half asleep.

Although the shop is not big, business is quite good, especially during holidays when many people come to book tables.

Today is the 60th birthday of Grandpa Zhang from the next alley, and we booked a table at his father's place.

He Yuzhu followed He Daqing to the kitchen, where they found the kitchen already bustling with activity.

Several helpers were busy washing and chopping vegetables, while He Daqing stood in front of the stove, holding a spoon in his hand, looking focused.

"Pillar, come here."

He Daqing saw him and waved, "Go and peel that basket of potatoes."

"Okay."

He Yuzhu responded and picked up the peeler to get to work.

His movements were quick and his technique was skillful.

In no time, a basket of potatoes was peeled.

He Daqing glanced at him, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

That kid's pretty quick.

However, he didn't think much of it, assuming that the child had practiced at home before.

"Go and cut the meat."

He Daqing then gave further instructions.

He Yuzhu picked up the kitchen knife, weighed it in his hand, and found it to be quite good.

He took a deep breath.

With a flick of his wrist, the kitchen knife flew up and down in his hand.

It makes a "clanging" sound with a brisk rhythm, like playing a piece of music.

In no time, the meat on the cutting board was sliced ​​into even, thin slices, so thin that light could pass through them.

The helper standing nearby was dumbfounded.

"This...is this something a teenager could do?"

"This knife skill is better than mine!"

He Daqing was also stunned.

He knew his son liked to wander around the kitchen and had taught him a little bit of basic skills.

But he didn't expect that the kid's knife skills would improve so quickly.

This goes beyond simply saying "having some talent".

This is simply... genius!

"Zhu Zi, who did you learn from?" He Daqing couldn't help but ask.

"I'll learn from you," He Yuzhu said casually. "I just watch you cut it a lot, and I'll get the hang of it."

That's not exactly a lie.

He had indeed watched He Daqing chop vegetables, but what truly enabled him to make such great progress was the system.

He Daqing looked at him with some skepticism, but didn't ask any further questions.

But he was wondering to himself: Has this kid been secretly practicing?

……

After a busy morning, the feast is finally ready.

Grandpa Zhang arrived with his family and was full of praise when he saw the table full of dishes.

"Da Qing, your cooking skills are truly superb!" Grandpa Zhang gave a thumbs up. "This braised pork has a beautiful reddish-brown color; it looks so appetizing."

"Please enjoy your meal." He Daqing smiled broadly.

He Yuzhu stood to the side, looking at the dishes on the table, but his mind was preoccupied with his own affairs.

He noticed that although the dishes his father made tasted good, they were still a bit lacking compared to the recipes in his head.

The braised pork, in particular, was a little too caramelized and tasted slightly bitter.

If we let him do it...

He shook his head, suppressing the thought.

Now is not the time.

……

After the lunch banquet ended, He Yuzhu was about to go back to his room to rest when He Daqing called him back.

"Pillar, come here."

He Yuzhu's heart skipped a beat. Had he discovered something?

He went over to him: "Dad, what's wrong?"

"Come with me." He Daqing led him to a corner of the kitchen, took out a small wooden box from the cabinet, opened it, and inside was a stack of yellowed notebooks.

"What is this?" He Yuzhu asked curiously.

"These are the recipes I've memorized over the years," He Daqing sighed.

"I was originally planning to wait until you're a bit older before giving it to you, but... judging from your behavior today, I think I can show it to you earlier."

He Yuzhu felt a surge of excitement.

at last!

He's finally waited for this day!

"However," He Daqing changed the subject.

You have to promise me one thing.

"Please speak," He Yuzhu nodded quickly.

"These recipes are for your own viewing only; you cannot pass them on to outsiders."

He Daqing's eyes were serious.

"Especially, we can't pass it on to that kid Xu Damao."

When Xu Damao was mentioned, He Yuzhu's lips twitched.

Xu Damao was their neighbor, the same age as him, and the two had never gotten along since childhood.

Xu Damao is petty, holds grudges, and especially likes to compete with him.

"Don't worry, Dad, I won't show it to him," He Yuzhu assured him.

"Okay." He Daqing handed him the wooden box.

"Take a look. If you don't understand anything, just ask me."

"Thank you, Dad!"

He Yuzhu took the wooden box, his heart filled with joy.

With these recipes, his cooking skills will definitely improve by leaps and bounds.

……

From that day on, He Yuzhu was like a man possessed, spending all his time in the kitchen studying recipes.

As he watched, he simulated the cooking process in his mind, and sometimes he would secretly try it himself when He Daqing wasn't paying attention.

That day, he was in the kitchen researching a recipe for "Buddha Jumps Over the Wall" when He Daqing walked in.

"Pillar, what are you doing?"

"Looking at the recipe," He Yuzhu said without looking up.

"What are you looking at? So engrossed?" He Daqing leaned over to take a look and frowned.

"Buddha Jumps Over the Wall? You can't make that dish now."

"I know," He Yuzhu looked up, "but I can study it first."

"This dish is very particular," He Daqing sighed. "There are dozens of ingredients alone: ​​sea cucumber, abalone, shark fin, scallops...aren't they all ridiculously expensive? How can our little restaurant afford them?"

"There will always be opportunities in the future," He Yuzhu smiled.

But in his heart he was thinking: When I have money, I must make a real Buddha Jumps Over the Wall.

……

As the days went by, He Yuzhu's cooking skills improved rapidly.

He Daqing saw this and was delighted.

He discovered that his son not only had excellent knife skills, but also had an increasingly precise grasp of the heat, and sometimes could even point out some minor flaws in his cooking.

This surprised him.

He began to regret not teaching his son sooner.

However, it's not too late now.

That evening, He Daqing was smoking in the main room when He Yuzhu walked in.

"Father, I have an idea."

"What are your thoughts?" He Daqing looked up at him.

"I want to...cook a dish myself," He Yuzhu said. "You can be my judge and see how it turns out."

"Oh?" He Daqing's interest was piqued. "Sure. What do you want to do?"

"Braised pork," He Yuzhu said.

"Braised pork?" He Daqing laughed. "Haven't you seen me make this dish countless times?"

"I want to do it my own way," He Yuzhu said.

"Okay." He Daqing nodded.

"Go ahead and do it. I want to see what tricks you can pull."

He Yuzhu turned and went into the kitchen.

He first redeemed some rock sugar and soy sauce from the system, and then got busy.

He first cut the pork belly into chunks, blanched it in cold water to remove the blood foam.

Then heat oil in a wok, add rock sugar, and stir-fry over low heat.

His movements were steady, and the sugar was caramelized to perfection, becoming a tempting, glossy red.

Next, he poured the pork belly in and stir-fried it, coating each piece of meat with the caramelized sugar.

Then add light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, and cooking wine, followed by ginger slices, scallion segments, star anise, cinnamon, and other seasonings.

Finally, he added boiling water to cover the pork belly, covered the pot, and simmered it over low heat.

Soon, a rich aroma of meat wafted from the kitchen.

He Daqing sat in the main room, his nose twitched, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.

This taste...

It tastes even better than what he made?

He couldn't help but stand up, walk to the kitchen door, and look inside.

He Yuzhu was standing in front of the stove, holding a spoon and stirring the meat in the pot from time to time, looking very focused.

The meat in the pot was almost cooked through, its color a bright red, and the broth thick and flavorful, making it look incredibly tempting.

"All done." He Yuzhu turned off the stove and put the meat on a plate.

He carried the plate to the main room and placed it on the octagonal table.

"Dad, you should try some."

He Daqing picked up his chopsticks, took a piece of meat, and put it in his mouth.

It's soft and tender, rich but not greasy, with a perfect balance of sweet and salty, a strong meaty aroma, and a subtle...

A fragrance that's hard to describe.

This tastes much better than what he made!

"Good! Good! Good!"

He Daqing said "good" three times in a row.

"Zhu Zi, your braised pork is even better than your father's!"

"Really?" He Yuzhu was overjoyed.

"Of course it's true." He Daqing looked at him with satisfaction in his eyes. "You're a natural-born chef."

"That's right." He Yuzhu said with a hint of smugness, "Don't you know whose son he is?"

"You little rascal, you've learned to brag now." He Daqing laughed and tapped him on the head.

However, he thought to himself: This kid will definitely be more successful than me in the future.

……

From that day on, He Yuzhu's fame in the alley grew.

The neighbors all know that He Daqing's son is a better cook than his father.

Sometimes, when guests come to the neighbors' homes, they will specially invite He Yuzhu over to show off his skills.

He Yuzhu never refused, and each time he managed to earn the guests' praise.

Xu Damao saw this and felt very uncomfortable.

He always thought he was better than He Yuzhu, but now, He Yuzhu has far surpassed him in cooking skills.

He secretly vowed to surpass He Yuzhu.

However, he also knew that he couldn't do it on his own.

He needs to find a good mentor.

……

That day, Xu Damao's mother, Zhao Cuifeng, came to chat with Chen Lanxiang.

"Lanxiang," Zhao Cuifeng sighed, "your Zhuzi is really becoming more and more successful. His cooking skills are simply superb."

"It's not as good as you say," Chen Lanxiang said modestly, but she was secretly delighted.

"If only my son Damao were half as successful as Zhuzi," Zhao Cuifeng said with a worried look. "That kid just idles around all day and doesn't know how to do anything worthwhile."

"The child is still young, let's take it slow," Chen Lanxiang comforted her.

"I want him to learn to cook," Zhao Cuifeng said. "You know, these days, you can't go hungry if you have a skill."

"Learning to cook is a good idea," Chen Lanxiang nodded. "However, we need to find a good mentor."

"That's what I was thinking too," Zhao Cuifeng said. "I heard that Chef Wang of Fumanlou is taking on apprentices, and I'd like to try and see if I can get Damao to become his apprentice."

"Chef Wang?" Chen Lanxiang was taken aback. "He's a renowned chef. If you could become his apprentice, you'd definitely have a bright future."

"Yes," Zhao Cuifeng said. "However, I heard that he is very strict in accepting apprentices. He not only looks at their talent, but also their character."

"Is Da Mao a decent person?" Chen Lanxiang said.

She thought to herself: Xu Damao may be a bit petty, but he hasn't done anything really bad.

"I hope it will work out," Zhao Cuifeng sighed.

……

After Zhao Cuifeng left, Chen Lanxiang told He Daqing about it.

He Daqing frowned upon hearing this.

"Chef Wang from Fumanlou?" he muttered. "He's a tough character. I used to work in the same kitchen as him, and his temper was even worse than Liu Yishou's."

"If Xu Damao were to become his disciple, wouldn't he suffer?" Chen Lanxiang asked.

"Suffering is inevitable," He Daqing said. "But that's his fate. Who can achieve great things without enduring hardship?"

He paused, then said, "However, this is an opportunity for Zhu Zi."

"What opportunity?" Chen Lanxiang asked.

"Although Chef Wang has a terrible temper, his cooking skills are undeniable," He Daqing said. "Especially his 'Nine-Turned Intestines,' that's a masterpiece. If Zhu Zi could learn something from him, then in the future..."

"You want Zhuzi to become his apprentice too?" Chen Lanxiang interrupted him. "No way! Absolutely not! Have you forgotten the suffering you endured back then? I don't want Zhuzi to follow in your footsteps."

"I didn't say he should become Chef Wang's apprentice," He Daqing said. "I meant, let Zhuzi go and have a friendly exchange with him."

"A sparring match?" Chen Lanxiang was stunned. "Are you crazy? How old is Zhu Zi? Sparring with Chef Wang? Isn't that just asking for trouble?"

"You don't understand." He Daqing shook his head. "Zhu Zi is just too talented. My teaching alone is no longer enough for him. He needs a rival, a rival who can help him improve."

"I disagree." Chen Lanxiang's attitude was firm. "You go if you want, but I'm not letting Zhuzi go."

He Daqing opened his mouth, wanting to refute, but seeing his wife's resolute eyes, he swallowed his words.

He knew that his wife was doing it for the child's good.

But he knew in his heart that this was indeed a rare opportunity for Zhu Zi.

……

That evening, He Yuzhu returned home and saw his father sitting in the main room with a worried look on his face.

"Dad, what's wrong?" he asked as he walked over.

"It's nothing," He Daqing shook his head.

"Something's definitely up." He Yuzhu glanced at him. "Is it related to me?"

He Daqing hesitated for a moment before telling him what had happened during the day.

He Yuzhu's eyes lit up after hearing this.

Chef Wang?

Nine-Turned Intestines?

This is a great opportunity!

He had long wanted to meet the top chefs of this era.

"Dad, I want to go," he said.

"You want to go?" He Daqing was taken aback. "Do you know how bad Chef Wang's temper is? He's notoriously strict."

"I know," He Yuzhu nodded. "But I'm not afraid. I just want to learn from him."

"Your mother definitely won't agree," He Daqing said.

"I'll go tell Mother," He Yuzhu said.

He turned and went into the inner room.

A moment later, Chen Lanxiang's voice came from inside the room: "What? You want to go too? No way! Absolutely not!"

Then came He Yuzhu's voice: "Mother, listen to me..."

Then, the voice gradually faded away.

He Daqing sat in the main room, feeling uneasy.

He didn't know if his son could persuade his wife.

After a while, He Yuzhu came out from the inner room.

"How is it?" He Daqing asked hurriedly.

"Mother agreed." He Yuzhu smiled.

"Really?" He Daqing asked in surprise. "What did you say?"

"I told my mother that I wasn't going to become his apprentice, but just to spar with him and learn something before coming back," He Yuzhu said. "And I also promised my mother that I would never let myself be wronged."

"Your mother believed it?" He Daqing was a little skeptical.

"Of course I believe you," He Yuzhu patted his chest. "I'm her own son."

He Daqing looked at him, feeling a surge of relief.

This kid has grown up.

……

The next morning, He Yuzhu went to Fumanlou with He Daqing.

Fu Man Lou is a famous restaurant located on Qianmen Street. It has a grand-looking signboard with black background and gold lettering hanging at the entrance.

The two had just reached the door when they were stopped by a waiter.

"Do you two have a reservation?" the waiter asked.

"We're looking for Chef Wang," He Daqing said.

"Looking for Chef Wang?" The waiter looked them up and down. "What can I do for you?"

"I am his old friend, He Daqing," He Daqing said. "Please inform him."

The waiter glanced at him, said nothing, and turned to enter the restaurant.

A short while later, a tall, middle-aged man with a face full of fat came out.

He was dressed in a white chef's uniform, holding a spoon in his hand, with sharp eyes, looking quite intimidating.

"He Daqing?" The middle-aged man frowned.

"Why are you here?"

"Old Wang, it's been a long time." He Daqing greeted him with a smile.

"Get to the point," Chef Wang said coldly. "I'm very busy."

"That's how it is." He Daqing pointed to He Yuzhu beside him.

"This is my son, He Yuzhu. He heard you're a great cook and wants to learn from you."

"A friendly spar?" Chef Wang paused, glancing at He Yuzhu. "Him?"

"Yes." He Daqing nodded. "He wants to have a braised pork competition with you."

"Braised pork?" Chef Wang laughed. "With him?"

His tone was full of disdain.

He Yuzhu frowned.

This Chef Wang is really looking down on people.

"What? You're afraid to compete?" he couldn't help but ask.

"You dare not compete?" Chef Wang's face darkened. "Kid, do you know who you're talking to?"

"No matter who you're talking to, it's about skill, not who has the loudest voice," He Yuzhu retorted without backing down.

"Okay! Okay! Okay!" Chef Wang said three times. "Since you're so confident, then I'll grant your wish."

He turned to the waiter and said, "Go, clear out the kitchen."

"Yes," the waiter replied quickly.

……

In the kitchen, all kinds of ingredients and seasonings are neatly arranged.

Chef Wang stood in front of the stove, looking at He Yuzhu: "Kid, how do you want to compete?"

"It's very simple," He Yuzhu said. "We'll each make a dish of braised pork and let the guests judge it."

"Okay." Chef Wang nodded. "You go first."

"You go first," He Yuzhu said. "I want to see just how delicious a master chef's braised pork really is."

Chef Wang didn't refuse and picked up a spoon to get to work.

His movements were very skillful and he looked very professional.

Soon, a rich aroma of meat wafted from the pot.

He Yuzhu stood aside, carefully observing his every move.

He discovered that Chef Wang's method was similar to his father's, except that he was more precise in controlling the heat.

However, it still falls short compared to the recipes in his head.

……

Chef Wang's braised pork is ready. It's served on a white porcelain plate, its bright red color making it look very tempting.

He carried the plate to the lobby, where several guests were having their meals.

"Excuse me, gentlemen," Chef Wang said with a smile, "This is braised pork I just made; please have a taste, it's free."

The guests were taken aback for a moment, then picked up their chopsticks and began to taste.

"Mmm, delicious!"

"This braised pork belly is so delicious, it's fatty but not greasy, and melts in your mouth!"

"As expected of Chef Wang of Fumanlou Restaurant, his skills are truly exceptional!"

Hearing the guests' praise, Chef Wang smiled smugly.

He turned to look at He Yuzhu, his eyes full of provocation.

"Your turn, kid."

He Yuzhu didn't say anything, turned around and went into the kitchen.

He took a deep breath, and the system's notification sound appeared in his mind:

"Host is about to participate in a cooking competition. Activate Perfect Mode?"

"Activate".

Instantly, he felt that he had reached his peak condition.

He first redeemed some rock sugar and soy sauce from the system, and then got busy.

His movements were fluid and graceful, with each step executed perfectly.

Soon, a rich aroma of meat wafted from the pot.

This aroma is even richer and more enticing than Chef Wang's.

The guests in the lobby couldn't help but stop eating and look around when they smelled the aroma.

"What's that smell? It smells so good!"

"It tastes like braised pork, even better than the last one!"

"Who's cooking? Hurry up and bring it out so we can have a taste!"

Chef Wang's expression changed.

He could tell that this aroma was much better than what he made.

Could it be... that this kid actually has some skills?

……

He Yuzhu came out carrying a plate.

His braised pork was a beautiful reddish-brown color, glistening with oil, and sprinkled with chopped scallions, making it look exquisite.

"Gentlemen, please try some of mine," he said with a smile.

The guests couldn't wait to pick up their chopsticks and start tasting.

"Wow! This is so delicious!"

"This tastes amazing! It's so much better than the last one!"

"This braised pork is not only fatty but not greasy, it also has a subtle, refreshing aroma—it's amazing!"

Hearing the guests' praise, He Yuzhu smiled.

Chef Wang's expression turned very unpleasant.

He never imagined that he would lose to a twelve-year-old child.

If word gets out, where will he put his face?

"Kid, what cheating methods did you use?" he couldn't help but ask.

"Cheating?"

He Yuzhu was stunned for a moment.

"I rely on my skills."

"you……"

Chef Wang was so angry he couldn't speak.

"Old Wang, a bet's a bet," He Daqing said, walking over with a smile. "My son's cooking isn't bad, is it?"

Chef Wang glared at him but didn't say anything.

He knew very well that He Yuzhu's skills were indeed better than his.

"Hey kid, what's your name?" he asked, taking a deep breath.

"He Yuzhu," He Yuzhu said.

"He Yuzhu..." Chef Wang muttered to himself.

"Okay, I'll remember you."

He paused, then said, "If you're willing, I can take you as my apprentice."

He Yuzhu was stunned for a moment.

He never expected that Chef Wang would take the initiative to offer to take him as an apprentice.

This is a rare opportunity.

However, he also knew that Chef Wang had a bad temper.

He glanced at He Daqing.

He Daqing was also stunned, then a surprised smile appeared on his face.

"Zhu Zi, why aren't you going to become my apprentice?" he said hurriedly.

He Yuzhu hesitated for a moment, then shook his head.

"I will not worship."

"What did you say?" He Daqing was stunned. "Are you crazy?"

"I won't worship," He Yuzhu repeated. "I already have a master."

"You have a master?" Chef Wang was stunned. "Who?"

"My father," He Yuzhu said, pointing to He Daqing.

"My father is my master."

He Daqing was stunned.

He never expected his son to say that.

Chef Wang was also stunned.

He looked at He Daqing, then at He Yuzhu, and suddenly smiled.

"Good! Good! Good!" he exclaimed three times. "That's ambitious!"

He patted He Yuzhu on the shoulder.

"Kid, learn from your father. You're a good prospect; you'll definitely surpass all of us in the future."

After saying that, he turned and went into the kitchen.

……

As they left Fumanlou, He Daqing couldn't help but ask, "Zhuzi, why don't you become Chef Wang's apprentice? That would be a rare opportunity."

"I think it's good to learn from you," He Yuzhu smiled. "Besides, I don't want to leave home."

He Daqing looked at him, feeling a surge of emotion.

This kid was definitely worth raising.

"Okay." He nodded. "From now on, Dad will teach you all my skills."