In the 1970s, it started with contracting out communal dining.

Chen Wei stood calmly in front of the stove, holding a large ladle in his hand.

Wang Defa felt something was off. Normally, when apprentices first started working at the stove, they wouldn't be able to control the furnace temperature well, so they were all looking like they were facing a formidable enemy and were repeatedly testing the waters.

It's rare to see someone with Chen Wei's playful attitude.

"Sizzle sizzle—"

Just then, Chen Wei swiftly tossed a spoonful of vegetable oil into the pot.

Ha, I thought this kid was so great, but he's actually just as impatient as any newbie!

The pot has only been on the stove for less than 20 seconds, how could it possibly get hot?

If the pan isn't hot, the food won't have that wok hei (wok aroma) when it's cooked. This dish is wrong from the very first step.

"Splash—"

As soon as the Sichuan peppercorns were added to the pan, a fragrant aroma of Sichuan peppercorns, released by the high temperature of the hot oil, immediately wafted out.

Ok?

Wang Defa was taken aback by the aroma. His pot wasn't hot enough, but how could the fragrance of the roasted Sichuan peppercorns be so pure?

No! No!

Suddenly, Wang Defa woke up with a start—the pot with the stale smell was hot! It was hot!

Wang Defa forgot that Chen Wei's stove had been neglected for years, and the firebox was filled with ash. But it was precisely because of this ash that it created a natural heat-insulating effect, so Chen Wei's stove actually burned more intensely than his own.

Wang Defa's heart sank slightly; the slight contempt he had just felt had long since vanished.

Instead, there was a silent amazement—this kid was able to control the heat as soon as he stepped onto the stove; he was truly remarkable. Not only was he observant, but he also needed a great deal of patience and intelligence to discover the subtle differences between the stoves.

"cough--"

He coughed lightly, somewhat awkwardly.

On the other side, Chenwei was already in the process of preparing, and he took the shredded potatoes and carrots out of the water one by one to drain off the excess water.

When the peppercorns in the pot released a strong aroma, Chen Wei poured the shredded potatoes directly into the pot and started stirring them continuously with a large spoon.

"Sizzle—"

With a loud bang, white steam shot into the sky, and the numbing aroma of Sichuan peppercorns stimulated the oil-coated potato shreds, instantly giving the originally bland potato shreds a unique fragrance.

Then, shredded carrots and kelp were added to the pot one by one. Chen Wei kept stirring with his large ladle, while Wang Defa, who was on the other side, no longer cared about his identity as a head chef and stared at this side without blinking.

Almost there! It's almost time to toss the food in the wok!

He wanted to see if this kid could actually get the timing right when flipping the wok!

An extremely strong and complex aroma had already risen from the steaming oil pot. Then, Chen Wei grabbed a large ladle and quickly swept it across the spice boxes in front of him, scooping several seasonings directly into the pot.

Before Wang Defa could even see how much seasoning he had taken, he could already smell the strong, caramelized aroma emanating from the pot after the ingredients had been added.

"Wow—so fast!"

Wang Defa couldn't help but secretly admire him. Don't underestimate this seasoning skill. To master such a fast and precise seasoning skill, it would take at least ten or eight years.

But how old is this kid? He's only in his early twenties at most. Where did he get ten years of training from?

"Flip the wok!"

"Flip the wok!"

Just as Wang Defa was stunned, Chen Wei suddenly shouted from the other side.

With a light flick of the wrist, the food in the pot drew a bright arc in the air, then rolled over in the air like an obedient puppy, and landed precisely back in the double-handled pot.

Not a single drop of soup spilled out during the shake and drop.

Looking at the dish in the pot, it was already coated with a layer of glossy sauce.

Wonderful!

That technique! That strength! It's just as good as mine!

Wang Defa's eyelids twitched slightly, and for the first time, he felt a slight sense of crisis.

Meanwhile, the food in the old-fashioned pot had already been cooked.

In a white enamel basin, golden potato shreds, red carrot shreds, and green kelp shreds, along with a glossy sauce and a strong, mouthwatering spicy and sour aroma, make up the dish before you.

Although this hot and sour shredded vegetables dish is called a home-style dish, the technique and aroma are unmatched even by state-run restaurants!

Wang Defa glanced quickly in that direction, and seeing that Chen Wei had already turned around, he quickly looked away, but the saliva secreted in his mouth couldn't be stopped from flowing out.

"Plop—"

Wang Defa subconsciously rolled his Adam's apple and swallowed the overflowing saliva in his mouth.

Damn it!

This kid stole my thunder while I was in the hospital, how could I possibly even think of tasting his cooking!

"A showpiece..."

Wang Defa muttered something under his breath and quickly turned his attention back to the chicken soup he was slowly simmering, but his voice was weaker than before.

What happened next at breakfast surprised Wang Defa even more.

Suddenly, the number of people eating breakfast, which was usually sparse, increased like locusts. Every worker rushed towards the window as soon as they entered the room, like starving ghosts.

Thanks to Wang Xiuli and Wu Xiaochun holding them back from the outside, each waving a large ladle and shouting orders to line up, the canteen's rickety little window was barely saved from being breached by the group of hungry, burly men.

Wang Defa was somewhat stunned.

What happened?

Why have I never seen so many people eating breakfast before? Don't they all prefer to eat at home?

When he was in charge of cooking, not many people ate breakfast. Otherwise, he wouldn't have quit after making a few breakfasts and handed the job over to the kitchen helpers, who would just make some porridge and steamed buns to get by.

But what's going on right now!

Chen Wei, of course, had no idea what Wang Defa was thinking. He was just serving food while smiling and responding to the workers' conversation.

The hands moved quickly and steadily, and before long the long queue in front of the window reached the end of the line.

The enamel basin in Chen Wei's hand was already empty.

"This is the last one! Those of you who are coming later, please leave now and come earlier tomorrow!"

Chen Wei smiled as he filled the last bit of soup into the aluminum lunchbox of the worker in front of him before shouting to the people at the back of the line.

There was an immediate chorus of groans at the scene, but there was nothing they could do; they had arrived too late.

Dejected, everyone went over to get steamed buns to serve with porridge, occasionally adding a little bit of cold cabbage salad to make do.

Just then, three or five elderly men appeared at the window. They weren't carrying lunchboxes; they were just peering through the window.

Chen Wei thought he was also there to get food, so he quickly smiled and said.

"Sorry, we've already served all the food for today. Perhaps you could come earlier around lunchtime to queue up?"

The old man with gray hair and a dark face, who was at the head of the group, spoke in a deep, muffled voice.

"I didn't come to see you. I heard Chef Wang is back at work today, so I came specifically to ask about him!"