The Lucky Wife of the Era Married a Rough Man With Space
Chapter 199: Show cooking skills
The usual monotony of the food factory kitchen was shattered by Xu Ying's arrival. That day, a new aroma wafted through the air, drawing everyone toward the cafeteria with its tantalizing promise. With just a touch of local magic, Xu Ying had transformed simple, humble ingredients into a feast.
Spicy and sour shredded potatoes, cabbage stewed with pork, a small portion of braised pork (cleverly bulked up with potatoes to stretch the meat for the masses), spicy pickled vegetables—served alongside steamed buns and rice porridge—proved that even factory meals could become extraordinary when prepared by the right hands.
As the scent drifted into the cafeteria, a visible change swept over Lao Li. His eyes widened, and he practically darted toward Xu Ying, snatching a piece of the hot and sour potato shreds. The burst of flavor—the earthy crispness of potato, the sharp tang of vinegar, and the fiery kick of chili—was exhilarating.
It was undeniably delicious. But along with that surprise came a wave of embarrassment; [Read More Here]
Lao Li hadn’t expected such culinary skill from Xu Ying.
Still doubting his own taste buds, he turned to the braised pork. Xu Ying, ever mindful of the budget and the factory’s large workforce, had used potatoes to enhance the dish. But the aroma alone—rich, deep, and subtly sweet—spoke of mastery.
The pork was incredibly tender, melting on the tongue, while the potatoes, having absorbed the savory essence of the meat, were soft, flavorful, and comforting. Every bite offered a delightful fusion of the potatoes’ mellow sweetness and the pork’s deep umami, lingering on the palate with a long, satisfying aftertaste.
Just then, Director Sun, drawn by the mouthwatering scent, arrived at the cafeteria. The moment he stepped in, a ripple of deference swept through the room—backs straightened, hands paused, and eyes respectfully lowered.
“Hello, Director,” came the chorus of voices from the kitchen and the serving line.
Director Sun gave everyone a polite nod and approached the serving counter.
“Director, what would you like?” asked one of the servers, her voice careful and attentive, especially upon noticing the smile on his face.
Xu Ying stood quietly nearby, lips curling into a faint smile. Human nature was predictable, after all.
“Give me some braised pork, shredded potatoes, a few steamed buns, and soup,” Director Sun said as he grabbed a bowl of rice and turned toward Xu Ying.
“Xiao Xu, how are you finding things here? Still getting used to it, I assume?” he asked, his tone casual but probing. Instantly, every person in the kitchen perked up their ears, pretending to be busy while hanging onto Xu Ying’s response.
Xu Ying calmly nodded.
“I’m doing very well. Everyone here has also been very kind to me.”
A collective sigh of relief swept through the staff. If she had complained, they feared it could’ve meant consequences for them all.
Director Sun’s smile deepened. Her smooth adjustment meant he could continue enjoying her cooking right here, no need to head out to a restaurant. He chuckled inwardly at the thought that how foolish was of the state-owned restaurant to let go of such a skilled chef.
As the employees finished their shifts, the cafeteria quickly filled with the usual post-work buzz.
"Auntie, this food smells amazing today! Has the chef changed?" one worker asked excitedly, drawn in by the rich, mouthwatering aromas.
"Indeed!" Aunt Xu beamed as she ladled soup into a bowl. "You've got a sharp nose! The new chef is none other than the former head chef from the state-owned restaurant. She's also part of our R&D department now, and I heard the director might promote her soon! Having her cook for us is a real blessing." Aunt Xu had just tasted Xu Ying’s food and was completely won over.
Meanwhile, Lao Li, stripped of his earlier arrogance, paced uneasily by his station. With a phenomenal cook like Xu Ying in their midst, he felt like a relic. A sinking realization struck him—he was old, and if he lost this job now, especially to someone so much younger, it would be a cruel joke at the end of his career.
“Old Li, what are you doing just standing there?” Director Sun’s voice cut through his thoughts.
Snapping out of his daze, Lao Li stepped forward guiltily. “Director, you’re dining in the cafeteria today?” It was rare for the director to eat with the staff; he usually dined at home. The fact that he was here, visibly enjoying Xu Ying’s cooking, sent a chill down Lao Li’s spine.
“Director... is the food Xiao Xu made particularly good?” he asked carefully.
Director Sun nodded with a smile. But noticing Lao Li’s dejected look, that smile faded slightly. “Xiao Xu’s cooking is indeed excellent, but you’re not bad either.”
Of course, even he knew the truth—ordinary chefs couldn’t compare to Xu Ying. She was simply in a league of her own. Lao Li, however, found no comfort in the director’s kind words.
Sensing his unease, Director Sun tried to offer reassurance. “Not everyone is born a chef. You know Chef Ge, right? He’s not as good as Xiao Xu either, so it’s not just you. Besides, Xiao Xu probably won’t stay long—she’ll move on once she’s tired of this job.”
Lao Li's eyes widened. Leave when she got tired of it? What kind of attitude was that? He had always believed Director Sun to be fair, never one to abuse power or let family interfere. Now, it seemed age had softened his judgment. Was this girl treating their workplace like some kind of hobby?
A bitter thought crept in—Director Sun was getting old, due to retire in a few years. And now this young woman was tarnishing everything he had worked hard for. Shaking his head, Lao Li turned to leave, swallowed by a wave of despair.
Meanwhile, Director Sun remained completely immersed in his meal. For the first time, he truly understood what all the praise had been about.[Read More Here]
Xu Ying’s food didn’t just fill the belly—it brought joy with every bite. It was the difference between food that was merely edible and food that made you want to lick the plate clean.
If only Xiao Xu could stay in the cafeteria forever, he mused.
Xu Ying, for her part, was beaming. The system’s constant pings notified her of rising favorability points, and she couldn’t help the smile that tugged at her lips.
“This is our Master Xu,” one of the workers said proudly. “She used to cook at a state-owned restaurant. Isn’t her cooking amazing?”
“It’s the best meal I’ve ever had here!” one employee exclaimed.
“No kidding!” another chimed in. “I used to be sick of shredded potatoes, but Master Xu’s version? I could eat it every day!”
The entire cafeteria buzzed with praise for Xu Ying. But curiosity soon took hold.
“Wait—she worked at a state-owned restaurant? Why would she quit? Isn’t that kind of job way better than this one?”
The women in the kitchen shared the same confusion. A state-owned restaurant job was stable and respected—why give it up?
Lao Li, who had been about to leave, paused and perked up his ears.
Xu Ying answered with a serene smile. “I love cooking. And I love seeing people happy after eating my food. At the state-owned restaurant, I’d been there a while. Most of the regulars had already tried my dishes. I just wanted a change of scenery—to let more people taste my cooking.”
One of the aunties nodded in understanding. “Master Xu, if everyone here ends up eating your food, won’t that mean you’ll have to leave again?”
Xu Ying smiled, her tone honest and without pretension. “You could say that.”
Lao Li’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Are you serious?”
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