Chapter 1309 Past and Present

"ten minutes--"

The door to the kitchen was suddenly pushed open, and the waiter who rushed in raised his head and shouted, as if sounding an alarm, to the head chef at the end of the kitchen:

"It's been ten minutes since the ribs were served—"

In the busy kitchen, the apprentices at both ends of the long table were suddenly startled, then turned back to look at the head chef.

The atmosphere was tense.

The chef was silent and didn't speak. He just crossed his arms and stared at the huge oven in front of him.

In the dissipating heat, the pair of azure eyes never retreated or wavered at all, with a solemn expression, just waiting.

It was as if he was enduring invisible torture and suffering.

In his hand, the hands of the pocket watch rotated silently.

"Thirteen minutes——"

The waiter reported again and said hastily: "They drank half a glass of sparkling water, and there is not much left of the ribs."

The chef remained silent and did not speak.

Only the eldest apprentice turned back and waved, indicating that he would check again and report again. The waiter was startled and turned away. Soon, he came back again with a nervous look on his face: "They asked for the sauce."

"What sauce?" the students held their breath.

"Two black pepper sauces and sweet and spicy sauce, and lemon sea salt."

The waiter wiped his sweat and was trembling with fear. He was about to speak when he heard the clear sound of steel rubbing against the blazing heat of the furnace.

He involuntarily raised his head, looked over the apprentices' shoulders, and saw the burly back of the chef in front of the oven, holding an iron fork in his hand, as if he was about to fight a giant dragon. Shen Yi's face was full of solemnity, and he stabbed the huge oven in front of him. out.

The moment the oven door opens, an intoxicating blast of wind blows out from the flames, and the mellow aroma of fat and meat slowly roasted in smoke lingers on the tip of your nose.

A sizzling sound was heard.

"ha--"

The chef was so angry that he held the long hook in his hand and pulled it out suddenly.

Suddenly, the iron grid in the huge furnace body was drawn outward under the support of the rollers, along with the results wrapped in barbecue paper.

Not afraid of the heat and scalding, the calloused palms stretched out and grasped the fruitful results in the middle.

When the barbecue paper is carefully torn open, the plump and heavy fruit inside is revealed.

The slightly charred appearance looks unattractive, but with just a stretch of your hand, the soft beef that has been softened by the long smoky slow roasting is torn apart from the center, revealing the clear texture and mouth-watering rose color.

The apprentices are like an assembly line, cutting, spreading sauce, plating and decorating.

Until the end, the chef took a deep breath, held his breath, and solemnly and carefully placed a piece of rosemary that had been sprayed with a spray gun.

Under the illumination of the light, the freshly baked beef brisket reflects a dreamlike fluorescence.

Mesmerizing.

"What are you still doing?"

The head chef glanced at the waiter expressionlessly and rang the service bell, "Pass the dishes -"

The waiter stood up straight in a panic, straightened his tie, held up the product that took eight hours of hard work, and turned towards the restaurant.

The moment the door closed, the apprentices breathed a sigh of relief involuntarily.

Only the head chef remained calm, which was admirable for his calmness that was comparable to a landslide without changing his expression.

Only the apprentice who knew the teacher best could notice a wisp of relieved cold sweat on the back of his neck.

After passing through the hustle and bustle of the restaurant during evening business hours, the waiter quickly came to the window, placed the food on the plate on the table, and politely introduced softly:

“Slow roasted brisket, please use your time.”

After that, he took a few steps back and stood in an inconspicuous corner, waiting for the summons at any time. From the corner of his eye, he looked nervously in the direction of the dining table from time to time.

The girl who seemed to be chuckling.

To be precise, it was the man sitting directly opposite her.

Watch him reach out and grab the brisket, his serious expression as he examines it carefully, his slightly raised brows as he sniffs it, and the hint of a smile after his entrance.

He couldn't help but smile.

He made a gesture not far away. Suddenly, the apprentice guarding the kitchen door opened his eyes wide and rushed into the kitchen, like a messenger running for dozens of kilometers in a marathon, proudly conveying the victory to the teachers and colleagues in Athens. Good news:

"satisfy!"

Through the heavy door, the cheering sounds inside could not be heard. But the pride and relaxation that filled the waiter's brows were clearly visible to Fu Yi.

"Tsk, I thought people were looking at me..."

She muttered resentfully: "If I had known I wouldn't put on makeup before going out, there would be problems with both of them."

She was handed a tissue in response.

Huai Shi sighed softly: "Would you please wipe your mouth before you are so beautiful? This is what you said about eating BBQ. How can you come here and then dislike others looking at me but not you?"

"Yes, yes, I know, he is a contemporary cooking devil."

Fu Yi sighed softly, his tone making it hard to tell whether it was ridicule or admiration, it was just weird.

Since the return of Eternal Paradise, the Kitchen Demon Competition Committee has raised Huai Shi's star rating and evaluation, especially in terms of potential, and made a rather shocking assessment.

Known as the future Nine-Star Kitchen Demon, sooner or later he will be able to sit with the Yi Ya Food Demon of Eastern Xia, the contemporary Lord of the Golden Palace, and the Egyptian Tang Ke Granny.

It is really difficult to tell whether it is praise or affirmation.

But now Huai Shi is theoretically the youngest person in history to qualify as a judge and star inspector for the Demon Chef Competition - to put it simply, whether a restaurant with a star rating from the Mouth of the Abyss is suitable for him The final say.

It's no wonder that everyone was trembling with fear, as if they were facing a formidable enemy - even though Huai Shi had repeatedly said in advance that it was just for eating, and there would not be any evaluation or review, everyone tried their best.

Who wouldn’t want to conquer an explorer’s stomach?

Unfortunately... the difference between whether it tastes good or not is not big to Huai Shi.

When it comes to food, his main idea has always been to eat it. Of course, Uncle Fang’s home-cooked food is another matter...

Seeing Fu Yi's face covered with sauce as if he had been hungry for days, Huai Shi couldn't help but sigh: "You should be more particular about it."

"Do you know how troublesome it is for new employees to join the company?"

Fu Yi rolled his eyes: "Do the most tiring work and work the most overtime - I originally thought that an intermediary agency like the Silent Man between the governing bureau and the surviving institute would be better, but I didn't expect that the governing bureau would take the surviving institute along with it." Volume, the surviving hospital and the governing bureau are going crazy together... I will be exhausted every night after working, and if I don't eat more, I won't be able to survive."

"It's a hard time."

Huai Shi sighed with emotion and filled her cup with water: "Just wait for a while longer. After the war of all realms is over, we can have a big holiday."

"You are the one on vacation, and I am the one who works overtime, okay?"

Fu Yi rolled his eyes and looked up to the sky with a sigh.

God knows how to explain the working principle of the Silver Sea to a layman like Huai Shi. After the war of all realms is over, the Silent Ones will really be busy vomiting blood.

The residual poison accumulated during the war, the shadow formed by collective anxiety and panic, and the aggregation of evil thoughts formed by various large-scale disasters...

The days are getting really sad.

The world is so cold, only the brisket in front of me is still warm.

As for Huaishi...

Fu Yi looked up at him, shook his head, and snorted coldly.

Just fair-weather brothers.

Huai Shi was confused.

Don't know what happened.

Why are you staring at me again?

It wasn't until after finishing the roasted pork knuckle that Fu Yi finally stopped and wiped the sauce on his face with satisfaction, without caring about his demeanor or manners.

He collapsed on the sofa and let out a sigh of relief.

I am full.

Huai Shi also held a pork burger in his hand and chewed on it. When I go out, I only wear a sweatshirt and jeans, and my sneakers are the same pair from last year...

He doesn't look like a big shot at all.

This made Fu Yi doubt from the bottom of his heart: "So, are you really the commander of the army now?"

"yes."

Huai Shi nodded, wondering why she suddenly asked this: "Yesterday, the approval of the garrison was also officially issued, and it belongs to the Astronomical Society and the Border Defense Front Headquarters for dispatch and command... It sounds very majestic, but in fact it is just changing hands everywhere. Just a tool man."

"It looks like nothing has changed."

Fu Yi suddenly stood up and moved closer across the dining table. His smile became meaningful, "Why do you suddenly think of treating me to dinner?"

"ah?"

Huai Shi is puzzled.

Instinctively, I want to raise my head and ask, wasn't it like this before?

After playing the piano, I was lucky enough to take on some commercial performance and make some money. If I want to eat well, I always have to find someone to cook with me.

You can also consider whether it's Colonel Ken, sauced bones, hot pot, etc. You don't have to choose. I just instinctively want to find someone to celebrate with.

It's the same as when Fu Yi treats guests most of the time.

Speaking of which, this guy has also become a regular employee.

He looked at Fu Yi.

Fu Yi was also looking at him, his dark eyes seemed to be filled with some kind of sparkle, which made his expression stiffen and he couldn't help but roll his eyes:

"Just eat if I treat you to a meal. Why do you care so much? Can't I find a reason for you to post autumn fat?"

He paused, "I'll just thank you."

A momentary change of expression fell into the eyes of the silent man.

"Well--"

The professional instinct is triggered by the emotion revealed in that moment.

Subconsciously, she stared at Huai Shi's face and eyes, began to analyze, and soon came to a surprising and unbelievable conclusion:

"...Are you suffering from a terminal illness?"

"You wish me well!"

Huai Shi was furious: "Back in Xinhai, Lao Fu and I fought side by side, we were brothers, and our friendship was as strong as steel. Uncle, I'll treat you to a meal, why don't you think of me in your heart!"

He said in a shocked voice: "You don't even want to call me uncle!"

"..."

Fu Yi didn't speak, with a strange look on his face, as if he was studying something. Suddenly he grinned and shouted softly like a mischief: "Uncle Huaishi?"

Bang!

The water glass fell from the hand of Huai Shi who was choking, rolled down the table, and broke into pieces.

Huai Shi coughed violently, and food residue and water spurted out from the violently spasming trachea, and were blocked by the hand covering her mouth, leaving a mess.

As the waiters hurriedly cleaned up and looked nervous, Huai Shi waved her hand, indicating that they didn't need to pay attention.

After wiping the water off his body, he raised his head and glared at her.

"Be serious!"

Fu Yi was already lying down, banging the table and laughing.

Almost laughing to tears.

Huai Shi could only sigh helplessly.

It's your own fault.

However, looking at that awkward look, Fu Yi couldn't help but feel slightly dazed.

Recalling the summer long ago.

The first time she saw this face.

In the hottest part of summer, during the return run of the physical fitness test, I crossed the finish line amidst the cheers of my sisters.

He took the towel and ice water and wiped away the sweat. When she turned back, she saw the open window on the music building not far away.

The figure standing behind the window.

As if in a daze, looking at the playground with unfocused eyes.

That look...

"Who is that?" Fu Yi asked the people around him.

"Huh? You said Huai Shi - he seems to be from the next class, and he doesn't usually show up. Everyone says he is not easy to get along with."

"That's right..."

As if suddenly enlightened, Fu Yi sighed and thought for a long time. When I looked back, I could no longer see the figure.

But, I don’t know why, I feel envious from the bottom of my heart.

Different from myself who lives in everyone's eyes, and different from others.

Standing alone in the corner, staring at everything with a smile.

It doesn't seem to matter even if that beautiful and lively world excludes me.

Just focus on living for tomorrow.

Perhaps, he was attracted by that look?

But now, looking at this face that seemed completely different from the past, Fu Yi couldn't help but sigh, "It's still the same as before, Huai Shi."

"Um?"

Huai Shi scratched her face in confusion, not knowing what she was talking about, "Isn't this bad?"

"No, that's fine."

She smiled, bit the spoon of the sundae, thought for a moment and then told him:

"I love so much."