Cute Wife Gourmet

Chapter 89 My Brother

As soon as Ye Jiayao got to work in the morning, she went to find Shopkeeper Li and told him about the birthday banquet she had taken over at the Helian Palace. After all, she was the head chef of Tianshangju, and this matter still needed Shopkeeper Li's full support.

Shopkeeper Li was overjoyed: "This is a good thing! If you can do it successfully, you will become famous."

Ye Jiayao said modestly: "I signed up to be the chef of Tianshangju."

Shopkeeper Li rubbed his hands excitedly, walked back and forth a few times, and said, "Just tell me what you need, and you just need to arrange the staff in the kitchen. This is a rare opportunity, and we must do it to perfection."

Although Tianshangju is quite famous in Jinling, most of these heavyweight private banquets are undertaken by Fu Ji. This is the first time for Tianshangju. If it does well, it will be like stepping up a level and becoming qualified to compete with Fu Ji.

"I have already selected the assistants, Zhong Liang, Deng Haichuan, Wang Mingde and Cui Dongpeng. The restaurant's business will not be affected. They just need to use the kitchen to research dishes in their free time, and some ingredients may be wasted." Ye Jiayao said.

"It's okay, it's okay. Just make a receipt, indicate the purpose and give it to the accountant." Shopkeeper Li said readily. Compared with the benefits that could be obtained in the future, these were nothing.

Praising a chef is a very contradictory thing for a restaurant owner. You spend time, effort and money to make the chef famous, but when the time comes, the chef will just walk away, just like Chef Niu, and your competitors will benefit in the end. But if you don't praise him, the restaurant will not have a famous chef who can stand out, and your business will be affected.

But Manager Li does not need to worry now, because there is a clause in the contract that Li Yao guarantees to train a chef for the restaurant after the three-year contract. Li Yao even taught his assistants how to make iced drinks without keeping any secrets. This alone is very rare in the industry.

This Li Yao is truly a lucky star sent to him by God!
"Manager Li, how is the income from private banquets distributed?" Ye Jiayao asked. As far as she knew, chefs usually had to pay management fees to the restaurant when they took on private banquets. However, it was a different matter for someone like Zheng Fugui of Fu Ji who was the manager himself.

Shopkeeper Li thought for a moment and said, "Usually, we pay 40% and split it 40% and 60% respectively. You can just pay 10% as a token of appreciation."

Ye Jiayao thought: Shopkeeper Li is really nice. If I pay 10%, I won't even be able to get back the cost, so she said, "Then let's pay 20%. We can't let the restaurant pay for it, right?"

Shopkeeper Li smiled and said, "Okay, 20% is 20%, and we'll pay according to this from now on."

Li Yao is definitely not an easy person to deal with. He cannot be trapped even if he wants to. It is better to give him a hand and be a good person to the end.

With the strong support of Shopkeeper Li, Ye Jiayao went to the kitchen to announce the matter.

"The assistants this time were chosen based on their expertise and recent performance. As long as everyone performs well, there will be plenty of opportunities in the future."

Firstly, it is to appease people's hearts, and secondly, it is to motivate everyone. Everyone has opportunities, it depends on how you fight for them.

She wanted to build a first-class team to take on private jobs, and just four or five people were not enough.

In the kitchen, everyone was excited. Those who were on the turn were full of fighting spirit. Those who were not on the turn were envious and began to think about how to win Yao's trust and favor. Only Liu Qisheng was unhappy.

He helped Brother Xiang to fight against Li Yao, but Brother Xiang joined Li Yao, and no one else paid much attention to him. He was in a difficult position. Among the second-class kitchen assistants, Deng Haichuan and Wang Mingde both took turns, but he was replaced by Cui Dongpeng, the third-class kitchen assistant. He didn't believe what Li Yao said that everyone had a chance. He offended Li Yao so much that Li Yao would not give him a chance no matter who he gave it to.

Liu Qisheng was busy chopping vegetables, the chopping board making loud noises, to vent his frustration. Others thought he was going to work hard too, so they started working one by one, and the kitchen was bustling with activity.

After lunch, Ye Jiayao called the four people together to arrange work.

"Brother Xiang, you should prepare the four cakes in the next few days. According to our previous requirements, determine the best recipe to avoid mistakes later."

Zhong Xiang nodded and said, "No problem, I'll go prepare the materials later."

"Wang Mingde, I want you to make me a bowl of vegetarian noodle soup. It must be simple, but delicious. Use all your skills."

Wang Mingde said: "I will try my best."

"Deng Haichuan, I will make a list of ingredients tomorrow. You go find the steward of Prince Helian's Mansion and check the ingredients together. They must be carefully selected and not mixed with inferior ones."

"No problem, I will complete the task." Deng Haichuan patted his chest and promised.

"Time is running out, everyone hurry up and act." Ye Jiayao made a gesture of encouragement.

"Brother Yao, what about me?" Cui Dongpeng did not receive the task.

Ye Jiayao then remembered something else: "Please take some time to go to the Iron Alley and find the best blacksmith to make me a set of handy knives. And by the way, go to the copper shop and help me check whether the ice jar is ready. I'll leave this matter to you."

"Okay, I know which shop Chef Niu and Chef Zheng's knives were customized by, so I'll ask the master to make an identical set for me." Cui Dongpeng said with a smile.

"I don't want the same one. I want something lighter. I'll also get a pair of carving knives." Ye Jiayao said. She is a woman, so her arm strength is naturally not as good as a man's. Even the knives used in the kitchen are too heavy and not comfortable to use.

"I understand. It has to be small, exquisite, fast and easy to use." Cui Dongpeng said.

Ye Jiayao patted his shoulder: "Smart."

While the meeting was still going on, Helian Jing and Xia Chunfeng arrived.

"It's too early to eat now!" Xia Chunfeng was a little uncomfortable: "Why not go to the teahouse and chat for a while."

"Not too early, not too early. Let me introduce someone to you first." Helian Jing had a legitimate reason to slip away early today. This was a rare opportunity and he must not miss it.

"Who is it? You're so mysterious. What mysterious person have you made friends with in the past few months since I left?" Xia Chunfeng asked curiously. Helian Jing pulled him inside and said, "You'll know when you see him."

Ah Xing saw Young Prince Jing coming and hurried forward to greet him: "Young Prince, Fuqiu Pavilion has been prepared for you, please go upstairs."

"Go and call Li Yao." Helian Jing ordered.

Xiao Lu quickly ran over and called out.

"Brother Yao, Young Prince Jing is here. He is at Fuqiu Pavilion. Please come over."

Ye Jiayao was stunned. So early? Are you coming for dinner? Snacks are more appropriate.

"How many people are here?"

"Just two."

Ye Jiayao said, "Brother Xiang, please make two cups of double smooth milk first. Xiao Lu, go make a pot of the best Lushan Cloud Mist, and some tea and fruit. The rest can be dispersed!"

Xia Chunfeng entered the private room, looked around the environment, opened the window, and looked out to see green willows lining the embankment and shimmering water.

“The scenery is quite nice.”

"The scenery is secondary. The dishes here are extremely delicious. Oh, yes, there are also iced drinks." Every time Helian Jing recommended Tianshangju to others, he felt a sense of pride, as if Tianshangju was owned by his family.

Xia Chunfeng pulled out a chair and sat down: "What kind of ice drink? Iced sour plum soup?"

Helian Jing sneered, "That kind of stuff is out of fashion. You just came back and didn't know that now in Jinling City, the double smooth milk, Pink Lady and Fairy Peach Milk are all the rage. They are not available anywhere else but here. If you don't make a reservation, you definitely won't be able to drink them."

Xia Chunfeng was very curious: "Is it so exaggerated?"

"It's not an exaggeration at all. We make 200 bowls of iced drinks here every day, not one more. There is always a shortage of supply. If you come late, it will not be your turn at all." Helian Jing said with an exaggerated expression.

Xia Chunfeng thought for a moment and said, "The shopkeeper here knows how to do business. He knows that rare goods are valuable. So, I want to give it a try."

"Feel free and enjoy the ice drinks and delicious food." Helian Jing said with a smile.

Xia Chunfeng disagreed: "It's not like I haven't tried Chef Niu's cooking before, it's just so-so."

Helian Jing said disdainfully: "Everyone says you are out of date and too uninformed. Chef Niu has gone to Xiangyilou, and now there is a new chef here."

Xia Chunfeng smiled and said, "You just like trying new things, just like Zhao Qixuan."

"What do you mean by trying new things? I was just looking for the flavor that suits me best. Now that I've found it, I won't change places anymore. I'll just come to Tianshangju for a meal." Helian Jing said with a sneer.

"Wow, the chef here is so good that even our young Prince Jing can't move his butt." Xia Chunfeng thought he was exaggerating and teased.

"Don't disbelieve me, it will be so beautiful that your tongue will fall off later." Helian Jing said angrily.

"Xiao Jing, can you stop bragging? I'm afraid you'll blow me too high and I won't be able to hold on, and it will be ugly if I fall down on my face." Ye Jiayao walked in with a smile.

"Yaoyao, let me introduce you. This is Xia Chunfeng, brother Chunyu's younger brother, and also my good brother." Helian Jing's brows brightened when he saw Ye Jiayao.

Ye Jiayao clasped his fists and bowed: "My name is Li Yao, nice to meet you, Master Xia."

While secretly looking at Chunyu's younger brother, he really looks like his mother. Chunyu only looks like his mother in the eyes, nothing else. He looks like her completely.

Xia Chunfeng nodded, then turned to look at Helian Jing: "This is..."

Helian Jing said: "Li Yao is my brother and the chef here."

Xia Chunfeng's expression was stern. Xiao Jing first said brother, and then chef, which meant that Xiao Jing valued this person very much. He and Xiao Jing grew up together. From childhood to adulthood, he seemed to be the only one who could be called a brother, but now this Li Yao was also regarded as a brother by Xiao Jing. It was so unexpected. It seemed that he had missed a lot of wonderful things during the time he was away.

Xiao Lu brought in food.

"Gentlemen, this is the double smooth milk you ordered."

"Yaoyao, you sit down too. It's still early anyway." Helian Jing pulled out a chair for Ye Jiayao and asked her to sit down.

This action surprised Xia Chunfeng again. Damn it, he and Xiao Jing had never enjoyed such treatment since they played together in open-crotch pants.

Ye Jiayao didn't act pretentiously and sat down generously.

Xia Chunfeng was extremely curious. How could a small cook like Xiao Jing become so close to him? Did Xiao Jing become a foodie?
"Hey, how did you two know each other?" Xia Chunfeng asked while drinking double-smooth milk.

(End of this chapter)