"You should have come to me earlier!"
On the way to the Yunwan private room, Fang Xieqing had already listened to Manager Luo's account and knew what had happened.
He didn't care at all about Manager Luo's complaints about Yuan Tiantian being unreasonable. Fang Xieqing was a man deeply dedicated to cooking. For him, cooking was not just a job but a beloved profession.
In his mind, whether the customer was just looking for trouble or had really found something wrong with the dish, he had to check it out immediately.
Correct what was wrong and learn from it if there was nothing wrong.
Hearing Fang Xieqing's words, Manager Luo's face showed a hint of discomfort.
Wasn't she doing all this for Minglan Hotel? For Chef Fang's reputation?
If anyone and anything could summon the Chinese cuisine chef of Minglan Hotel at will, it would be a laughingstock if word got out.
Of course, she only dared to think this in her mind. On the surface, she showed no sign of it and respectfully nodded in agreement.
"If there's a next time, we'll definitely come to Chef Fang right away."
Fang Xieqing could sense the slight dissatisfaction in Manager Luo's words, but he didn't mind. Instead, he nodded at her.
"That's good."
Manager Luo was really fuming inside after hearing this, but she had to hold it in. The matter wasn't over yet today.
Since she couldn't get back at Fang Xieqing, Manager Luo thought that after Chef Fang confirmed that there was nothing wrong with the dish, she would definitely give this trouble - maker a good slap in the face to vent her anger.
Soon, they arrived at the Yunwan private room.
Fang Xieqing pushed open the door, and Manager Luo followed him in.
Because of the bamboo - shoots braised beef short - ribs, no one at this table had touched their chopsticks since then. To be exact, because of what Yuan Tiantian had caused, everyone had lost their appetite for food and were waiting for a result.
"Hello, I'm Fang Xieqing, the Chinese cuisine chef of Minglan Hotel. I just heard from my colleague that there's something wrong with the bamboo - shoots braised beef short - ribs tonight?"
Fang Xieqing was a straightforward man. As soon as he came in, he didn't say anything else and went straight to the point.
Yuan Tiantian looked at him. He was a middle - aged man in his fifties, slightly overweight, looking a bit simple and honest, with clear eyes.
Seeing this, Yuan Tiantian felt relieved. It seemed that this Chef Fang wasn't a difficult person to get along with or communicate with.
"Hello, yes, there's something wrong with this dish."
Yuan Tiantian stood up and greeted him.
"Please have a taste first."
Saying that, she turned the lazy Susan with the bamboo - shoots braised beef short - ribs in front of Fang Xieqing. Then the waiter in the private room, very observantly, handed over a pair of clean chopsticks.
The waiter was also looking at Fang Xieqing eagerly, as if hoping to hear him refute Yuan Tiantian.
Manager Luo had the same thought.
Yuan Lele, He Xiao, Yan Qing, and Fu Jinming were very nervous. If Chef Fang found nothing wrong with the dish, things would be embarrassing tonight.
Yuan Tiantian would surely be labeled as unreasonable and making trouble out of nothing. Just thinking about it, Yuan Lele tightened her lips.
However, since things had developed to this point, it was useless to think too much.
"Okay, I'll have a taste."
After Fang Xieqing took the chopsticks from the waiter, he first picked up a piece of beef short - rib. He tasted it carefully. Apart from the dish being a bit cold and the taste of black pepper being a bit strong, he didn't feel anything else.
After eating, he glanced at Yuan Tiantian. He could tell that it was her who had said there was something wrong with the dish and had driven Manager Luo crazy.
Although he didn't find anything wrong with the beef short - rib, Fang Xieqing didn't immediately voice his opinion in case he had tasted it wrong. He picked up another piece of beef short - rib and tasted it. Everything was still normal.
After finishing the food in his mouth, before Fang Xieqing could ask the waiter for a glass of water to rinse his mouth and get rid of the taste of the beef short - rib, Yuan Tiantian took the initiative to hand him one.
"I haven't drunk from it."
She simply explained. Fang Xieqing raised his eyebrows slightly at Yuan Tiantian's action. He felt that she seemed to be an expert in food, but he kept this thought to himself for the time being.
After drinking two sips of water to fade the taste of the beef short - rib in his mouth, Fang Xieqing picked up a piece of bamboo shoot.
As soon as the first piece entered his mouth, after chewing a few times, Fang Xieqing frowned slightly.
Then, he found a trash can and spat out the piece of bamboo shoot. He took another sip of water and then picked up a second piece. He did the same as with the first piece. Just like this, Fang Xieqing tried five pieces of bamboo shoots, and his frown deepened.
Manager Luo's mood was like a roller - coaster. At first, when Fang Xieqing tried the beef short - rib and there seemed to be nothing wrong, she was delighted. Now, seeing Fang Xieqing frowning tightly at the bamboo shoots, she was nervous.
She had a bad feeling.
Could it be that there really was something wrong with this dish?
Apart from the four guests from other places and Yuan Tiantian herself, the others were also extremely surprised by Manager Luo's thought.
"Chef Fang, is there really something wrong?"
Yuan Lele quickly asked. She was not only concerned about the problem with the dish but also wanted to hear from him that her sister Yuan Tiantian's insistence was completely justified.
"Go and call that brat Xie Hua for me!"
"Also, don't use today's bamboo shoots in any dish. Hurry up and inform them!"
Hearing Fang Xieqing's words, Manager Luo stood there rooted to the spot. Instead of leaving, she stared blankly at Fang Xieqing and asked.
"Chef Fang, is there really something wrong with this dish?"
Hearing Manager Luo's words and seeing that she hadn't left yet, Fang Xieqing was almost amused by anger.
"Nonsense. If there was nothing wrong, would I tell you not to use today's purchased bamboo shoots?!"
"Hurry up. Later, we still have to find the diners who ordered this dish today and apologize to them quickly!"
Fang Xieqing's face was now ashen. He really couldn't believe that someone dared to use bad bamboo shoots right under his nose!
"Fortunately, there are still people with real cooking skills in Minglan Hotel."
When Manager Luo turned around to leave and opened the door, she heard Yuan Tiantian's words. Her heart sank. Although she was unhappy with her words, Manager Luo had no way to do anything and couldn't refute. In today's argument, Yuan Tiantian had won comprehensively.
And Minglan Hotel was about to face a wave of chaos.
"Little girl, your sense of taste is really good!"
Hearing Yuan Tiantian's words, Fang Xieqing wasn't angry. Instead, he looked at her appreciatively.
"Are you interested in being my apprentice?"
Hearing Fang Xieqing's sudden and out - of - the - blue words, not only the others but even Yuan Tiantian was stunned.
Wasn't this supposed to be a discussion about the problem with the dish?
Seeing the seriousness in Fang Xieqing's eyes, Yuan Tiantian didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
"Chef Fang, would you take me as an apprentice just because I have a sensitive tongue?"
Hearing this, Fang Xieqing simply shook his head. Everyone thought he was answering Yuan Tiantian's question, but unexpectedly, it was a new explanation.
"No. Having a sensitive tongue is a high - level realm that senior chefs dream of achieving."
Then, he asked persistently.
"So, do you want to be my apprentice?"