88 My Brother (1/2)
As soon as Ye Jiayao arrived at work in the morning, she told Shopkeeper Li that she had accepted the invitation to cook for the Helian Mansion's banquet. She was the head chef of Heavenly Residence after all, and such matter still required the support of Shopkeeper Li.
Shopkeeper Li was delighted. ”This is great! If you do an excellent job with this, you will become famous.”
”I signed up as the head chef of Heavenly Residence,” Ye Jiayao replied modestly.
Shopkeeper Li paced his office, excitedly rubbing his hands together. ”Do not hesitate to tell me what you need and feel free to deploy the kitchen staff as you please. This is a rare chance and you must perform perfectly.”
Although Heavenly Residence was quite renowned in Jin Ling, most private banquets of such caliber were only catered by Fu Ji. This would be the first time that Heavenly Residence accepted such task, and success in this would elevate them to a new level. It would give them the right to challenge Fu Ji.
”I have already chosen my assistants — Zhong Xiang, Deng Haichuan, Wang Mingde, and Cui Dongpeng. The restaurant's business will not be affected, don't worry. I just need to use the kitchen when it's available in order to study recipes, and I might waste some ingredients,” Ye Jiayao told him.
”No worries. Just fill a form with the specifics and hand it to the accountant,” Shopkeeper Li replied. Compared to the benefits he could receive in the future, these were all small gestures.
For restaurant owners, lifting chefs to fame was a conflicting task. There was always a huge chance that if their chefs gain fame, they'd jump ship to a bigger restaurant. That would just ultimately benefit their competitors. On the other hand, a chef that nobody knows would affect the business badly. It was all a big gamble.
However, Shopkeeper Li was not troubled this time because the contract had a clause that would benefit the restaurant. The clause basically stated that Li Yao would groom a head chef for the restaurant that would be as good as him in his three-year stint. Li Yao does not hold on to secrets and even taught his kitchen hands how to make cold drinks. That kind of generosity was rare in the industry.
Li Yao was truly a lucky charm sent to him by the heavens!
”How are we going to split the earnings from the private banquet, Shopkeeper Li?” Ye Jiayao asked. According to her knowledge, chefs who attend private banquets usually had to pay the restaurant management fees. Cases such as Fu Ji, where Zheng Fugui was the shopkeeper himself, were a different matter.
Shopkeeper Li thought about it for a short moment. ”Usually, the fee is forty percent. How about you just pay ten percent as a token gesture?”
Shopkeeper Li sure was willing to provide a gesture of goodwill, Ye Jiayao thought to herself. That ten percent would not even cover his expenses.
”How about I pay twenty percent? I can't let the restaurant lose money, after all, can I?” Ye Jiayao offered.
Shopkeeper Li smiled and nodded. ”Fine, twenty percent it is. In the future, we will go by this rate too.”
Li Yao was definitely special and not someone who could be restricted. Shopkeeper Li knew that he couldn't keep Li Yao tied to him so he might as well help him along his way.
After receiving Shopkeeper Li's support, Ye Jiayao went to the kitchen to announce the decision.
”This time, I chose the assistants according to their individual strengths as well as recent performances. As long as everyone works hard, there will be many more chances in the future.”
This announcement was to reassure and motivate everyone. She wanted them to know that everyone has a chance and they simply have to fight for it.
Ye Jiayao intended to build a top-notch team to accept private tasks like this banquet, and a team of just four or five people was insufficient.
The air of excitement in the kitchen was almost palpable. Those who were chosen were practically bouncing with eagerness, while those who were left out were filled with envy. Their envy was a good thing, though, because it was fueling them to do better in order to gain Ye Jiayao's attention and good graces.
The only one who was low in spirits was Liu Qisheng.
He had helped Brother Xiang oppose Li Yao, only to end up with Brother Xiang joining Li Yao eventually. Now, everyone was ignoring him and he was stuck in a no man's land. Amongst the second-class kitchen hands, he was the only one left out, and in favor of a third-class kitchen hand no less! He didn't believe Li Yao's claim that everyone had a chance. He had severely offended him and he was sure that Li Yao would give anyone but him a chance.
Liu Qisheng immersed himself in chopping vegetables, the hit of the knife against the chopping board echoing in the room as he vented out his frustration. The others simply thought he was making a determined effort.
After lunch, Ye Jiayao called the four that she chose to assign their respective tasks.
”Brother Xiang, focus on working on the four desserts. Based on the requirements we previously came up with, determine the optimal recipe so we don't make mistakes later.”
Zhong Xiang nodded. ”No problem. I'll go and prepare the ingredients in a while.”
”Wang Mingde, I want you to make me a very tasty vegetarian noodle broth. I want you to go all out.”
”I'll try my best,” Wang Mingde replied.
”Deng Haichuan, I will prepare a list of the ingredients tomorrow. Go and find the manager of Helian Mansion and go over the quality of the ingredients together. Remember, the ingredients must be carefully chosen.”
”No worries, I will make sure of that,” Deng Haichuan guaranteed.
”There's not much time left so let's get a move on,” Ye Jiayao said, gesturing with her hands for them to get cracking.
”Brother Yao, what about me?” Cui Dongpeng asked.
Ye Jiayao slightly winced at her forgetfulness. ”Go to the Forging Iron Alley and have the best blacksmith make me a set of knives. While you're there, go to the store that manufactures bronze products and check if the ice holder is done yet.”
”Sure! I know which store Chef Niu and Chef Zheng had their knives made. I'll have the blacksmith make you the exact same set,” Cui Dongpeng said with a grin.
”I don't want the exact same set. I want something that is more nimble. Oh, and I also want a set of carving knives,” Ye Jiayao said. Her arms were not as strong as the male chefs. The knives in this kitchen were already too heavy for her as it is.
”You want them fine and nimble. Got it.”
Ye Jiayao gave him a friendly pat on the shoulder. ”Smart.”
They were still in a meeting when Helian Jing and Xia Chunfeng arrived.
”Isn't it too early to eat now?” Xia Chunfeng exclaimed. ”How about we go to the teahouse to chat for a while first?”