Chapter 13 Did You Really Do This?
"Yeah, have you finished your meal?"

"Yes, Master. We just had enough to eat and are cleaning up now."

Cao Xiaodong answered honestly.

"Let them clean it up. With your skills, there's no need to bother with this."

Sun Qu asked, "The hot and sour potato shreds you made today are very good. All the chefs are very satisfied.
Tell me how you made it so good, and then I will ask Master Chai to give you some pointers. He is the best chef here who can make this dish."

"Your master is overpraising me, but I do have some experience in making spicy and sour shredded potatoes. Please tell me about it."

Chai Wenshan was reluctant in his heart, but he was still polite to Cao Xiaodong on the surface.

After all, with Cao Xiaodong's talent, it is only a matter of time before he is promoted to the second-level chef, and even the first-level chef is possible.

He couldn't treat this person, who would be equal to him in status in the future, or even higher than him, as an ordinary apprentice.

"Uh, this spicy and sour potato shreds is not made by me."

Cao Xiaodong finished speaking.

The smug smile on his master Sun Qu's face gradually faded and became stiff.

Chai Wenshan, who was standing next to Sun Qu, was suddenly enlightened.

The other chefs at the same table opened their eyes wide and mouths wide, expressing disbelief.

"Huh? You didn't do it?"

"That's impossible. This dish is so good, which other apprentice can make it other than you?"

"Isn't it an apprentice who did this? Was it a master who was already in the kitchen and felt itchy and did this?"

"..."

After hearing what they said, Sun Qu felt his face burning.

He blew the whistle for a long time, but ended up blowing the wrong person's hand. The person who made this dish was not his apprentice.

Sun Qu hurriedly asked: "Who made this dish?"

Chai Wenshan and other masters at the same table looked over, they all wanted to know very much.

"It was done by Wang Jianye."

Cao Xiaodong answered truthfully.

"Wang Jianye?!"

Chai Wenshan looked incredulous, "How is this possible? He is my apprentice, how can I not know his level?"

"Is he Lao Chai's apprentice?!"

Sun Qu also widened his eyes. He didn't expect that he would be related to Chai Wenshan.

If this is true, then Lao Chai has a good apprentice just like himself.

If that's the case, wouldn't Lao Chai be scolding me the same way I scolded him?

Sun Qu shuddered.

The other masters at the same table were also very shocked.

"How could he be Master Chai's apprentice? I remember that his apprentice's level was quite average."

"Yeah, I took a peek at the potato shreds his apprentice cut last time, and they were nothing like the ones used in this dish."

"If it was really done by his apprentice, then we should congratulate Master Chai for getting a good apprentice."

"..."

As they discussed this, Chai Wenshan asked hurriedly, "How do you know that this dish was made by Wang Jianye?"

"He came to me this morning and said he wanted to cook with us at noon. I saw no one was making spicy and sour potato shreds, so I gave it to him."

Cao Xiaodong talked about the situation at that time.

Although Cao Xiaodong confirmed it, Chai Wenshan still couldn't believe that his average-talented apprentice could improve so quickly and make such a high-quality dish of spicy and sour potato shreds. After Chai Wenshan recovered from his shock, he waved to Wang Jianye, who was cleaning the table, and motioned him to come over.

"Master, you are looking for me."

Wang Jianye still had a rag in his hand.

Although Li Si and the others were all rushing to work, they didn't let Wang Jianye do any work.

But Wang Jianye, like Cao Xiaodong, did not put on airs just because his level had improved, but cleaned up with them after the meal.

“Did you make the spicy and sour potato shreds?”

Chai Wenshan asked impatiently.

Sun Qu and several other masters at the same table looked at Wang Jianye.

"I did it, what's wrong, Master?"

Wang Jianye answered questions honestly.

"Did you really do this?!"

Chai Wenshan suddenly became excited and grabbed Wang Jianye's arm.

Wang Jianye smiled awkwardly and nodded. He had never seen a master so enthusiastic towards him before, and he felt a little uncomfortable.

"Oh my, it was really you who did it. My good disciple, you are so amazing. You have made your master proud."

Chai Wenshan shook Wang Jianye's arm excitedly.

Sun Qu thought something was wrong.

Looking at Chai Wenshan's excited expression, you can tell at a glance that he is really holding it back.

Sure enough, Sun Qu was right.

The next moment, Chai Wenshan looked at him proudly and said, "Master Sun, what do you think of my apprentice?"

Sun Qu congratulated with a smile on the surface.

But he felt uncomfortable in his heart. After all, it was his apprentice who had always brought him glory, and he was showing off to Chai Wenshan.

But now the situation is reversed.

For a moment, Sun Qu found it difficult to accept.

Seeing Sun Qu's uncomfortable expression, Chai Wenshan finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"Jianye, I remember you couldn't cook this well before. What happened today? Why did the level of this spicy and sour potato shreds suddenly become so high?"

Not only Chai Wenshan had this question, others were also very curious.

"Master, I'm about to take the grading test. I've been practicing at home and in the kitchen many times, but I'm still unsure of the quality of the dishes I can make.
So I applied to cook our lunch in the kitchen, so that the chefs can taste my dishes and give me some suggestions. This way I can know my level and make some improvements based on the suggestions of the chefs.
I put a lot of effort into making the spicy and sour potato shreds for lunch today, and maybe that’s why I performed a little better.”

Wang Jianye explained.

Chai Wenshan understood and looked at him approvingly: "So that's how it is. Well, hard work can make up for lack of talent. You are great."

Wang Jianye smiled and said, "Master, do you have any suggestions for the dish I made? What can be improved?"

"With your master's level, I haven't figured it out yet, though."

Chai Wenshan introduced Sun Qu, who was beside him, to Wang Jianye: "Master Sun is a great cook. I think he can definitely give you some advice, right, Master Sun?"

"..."

Sun Qu took a deep breath and forced a smile on his face: "Among us, your master's spicy and sour potato shreds are the best. Even he can't give you any advice, let alone me."

Chai Wenshan said proudly: "Master Sun, my apprentice may not have much talent, but he is hardworking and willing to endure hardships. He can make up for his shortcomings with hard work. It is not easy to cook dishes like this. You can just say it casually."

"I can't tell you that I can't just say it. What if I mislead my students? Your Master Chai finally got a satisfactory apprentice, but I misled him. You can't blame me, right?"

Sun Qu looked at Chai Wenshan's smug look, and now he had only one thought in his mind: run.

(End of this chapter)