CHAPTER 629: CHAPTER 618: VICIOUS VILLAIN

He Jiangnan walked over to Ye Qiu and picked up a slice of lotus root for a closer inspection. With his years of experience as a chef, he could tell that this slice was neither too thin nor too thick. If fried for the right amount of time, it would surely be both flavorful and crisp.

The dish "Stir-fried Lotus Pond" requires lotus root, snow peas, and wood ear mushrooms as the essential sides. Of course, some might creatively add other ingredients, such as lotus seeds or Chinese yam, but Ye Qiu didn’t plan on adding anything else today. The basics would showcase true skill.

"I’m ready," Ye Qiu announced, placing the chopped vegetables onto a plate and addressing He Jiangnan.

He looked more serious than earlier as he gestured toward two available stoves: "Pick one for yourself."

Without hesitating, Ye Qiu casually chose the stove closer to her and skillfully lit the fire, washed the wok, added oil, and completed the entire sequence of motions smoothly in one go.

Ah De and Jin watched her slender wrists with trepidation, fearing she might lose her grip on the wok and injure herself. Meanwhile, Old Father He looked on with interest.

He was an old chef, and his son had been learning to cook with him since childhood. Despite graduating from a prestigious school, the son did not pursue a career in his field of study. Instead, he resolutely ignored advice and came back to open this restaurant.

The fact proved that his son indeed had a talent, having created an original menu related to lotus ponds and Jiangnan, thus attracting numerous patrons.

However, this talent also came with a hint of pride over time. Pride is not necessarily a bad thing, but he was concerned that if his son became too arrogant and refused to listen to others, it might not be good. It was quite fine for someone to come along and temper his son’s edge a bit.

Old Father He watched with a smile and hoped this competition would not disappoint him.

Perhaps it was because of Ye Qiu’s proficiency and natural movements, He Jiangnan frequently glanced over while he was stir-frying, but even so, it didn’t affect his performance.

Both of them turned off the stove and plated their dishes almost simultaneously. As soon as the dishes were presented, everyone’s gaze instinctively turned to Ye Qiu’s side—not because He Jiangnan’s was lacking, but because Ye Qiu’s was superior.

Each consistently sized, porcelain-white lotus root slice glistened with moisture, while the tender green snow peas and glossy wood ear mushrooms set off the simplicity of the three accompanying ingredients, capturing everyone’s attention.

Turning to He Jiangnan’s dish, he was the head chef of the restaurant, and his culinary skills were naturally impressive to attract so many customers. However, compared to Ye Qiu’s, it seemed to lack something.

He Jiangnan furrowed his brow, Ah De and Jin stayed silent, but Old Father He picked up his chopsticks, smiling, and said, "In terms of the dish, Jiangnan, you’re a notch below. Let’s taste it now."

He tasted his son’s dish first and nodded his head: "Not bad, the level is high. The lotus root is crisp, the snow peas are fresh and tender, and the wood ear mushrooms have absorbed the soup well."

As he spoke, the frown on He Jiangnan’s face loosened a bit, and Ah De and Jin hurriedly took a taste as well. Ye Qiu also tried a bite, but after eating, she didn’t say anything and just pushed her own dish forward.

Perhaps it was her confident gaze that made He Jiangnan even more skeptical. He was the first to reach out with his chopsticks, followed closely by Old Father He.

"Hmm?" The moment the lotus root hit their tongues, both men’s eyes widened, and they quickly picked up another piece to savor it carefully.

So, how was it? Ah De and Jin watched eagerly, and as the two finished the lotus root moved on to the snow peas, and the wood ears were nearly gone, they began to taste as well.

"Delicious!" They exclaimed simultaneously, then continued to eagerly grab for more.

At this point, He Jiangnan put down his chopsticks and sighed, his gaze intense as he looked at Ye Qiu, while Old Father He said to his son: "Jiangnan, today you’ve learned that there are always people better than you and skies beyond skies."

"I’ve lost," he admitted, his voice tinged with dejection.

Ye Qiu grinned, "So, can I start working at your restaurant now?"

"No can do," He Jiangnan still refused.

"Why not?" She asked incomprehensibly, "My dishes are clearly very tasty."

He Jiangnan chuckled: "Little sister, I agreed to have a cook-off with you, but I didn’t agree that if you won, you could work in my restaurant. You’re only fifteen, even if you have good cooking skills, I cannot hire you."

Ye Qiu puffed her face into a little pufferfish, prompting laughter from the others.

"Can’t I work as a summer job?" she asked again, looking pitiful.

Old Father He stepped forward and asked, "Young lady, are you in some kind of trouble?"

Ye Qiu didn’t hide anything and said straightforwardly, "I need money."

He Jiangnan had actually noticed from the start, the young lady in front of him was dressed in a plain T-shirt, with faded jeans below, and a pair of simple little white shoes that had turned somewhat yellowish; it was evident her family was likely not well-off.

"Where are your father and mother?" he couldn’t help but ask.

"Father passed away ten years ago, and Mom married a new uncle. We also have two older brothers and a younger sister in the family."

Two older brothers and one younger sister? Adding her, doesn’t that make four children? For an average family, supporting four children is indeed difficult, not to mention if the stepfather doesn’t treat her well?

He Jiangnan and his father looked at each other and finally, with a helpless sigh, said: "Let’s talk outside!"

Ye Qiu obediently followed him out where he asked the waiter from before to serve two cups of chilled sour plum juice: "Here’s the deal, I can let you work here, but we can’t sign a contract. If someone asks, you just say you’re helping out."

"Does this mean I’m hired?" Ye Qiu looked up joyfully.

He Jiangnan couldn’t help but tease her: "Aren’t you afraid that I’m a fraudster? Not afraid that I’ll have you work without paying you?"

"Not afraid." Ye Qiu’s face was one of trust.

He Jiangnan’s heart softened: "Your salary will depend on the amount of dishes you make. I will provide the dishes and ingredients. For a simple dish, I’ll give you five yuan; for a complex one, eight yuan or more. What do you think?"

"Can I create my own dishes?"

"Yes."

"Thank you, Boss!" Ye Qiu stood up excitedly and bowed. She knew that for a minor, such remuneration was very generous, after all, she only had to put in the work, and everything else like the dishes and ingredients were provided.

The more you work, the more you earn, and she believed in her culinary skills. If she wasn’t lazy, she would quickly have her own electric scooter.

In fact, Boss He was more generous than she imagined. Knowing that her home was far from here, he first lent her the shop’s electric scooter.

Due to her eagerness to earn money, after finalizing the deal with the boss, she went straight to the kitchen again and busied herself until nine o’clock in the evening. And indeed, she lived up to expectations, as many customers who tasted her dishes expressed that the food tasted even better today.

Boss He was both happy and worried—happy because the customers’ evaluations were higher, but worried about what to do if customers couldn’t enjoy such dishes and gave bad reviews once Ye Qiu went back to school.