Chapter 62 Contest
Today is the annual grading assessment.

In addition to the apprentice grading assessment in the morning, the assessment for the third stove master to be promoted to the second stove master and the assessment for the second stove master to be promoted to the first stove master are both completed in the afternoon.

"This morning I passed the apprentice grading assessment and became a third-grade chef. Then I applied to Master Zhou to participate in the assessment for promotion to second-grade chef in the afternoon."

Wang Jianye has already thought about it and is ready.

The assessment content for promotion to the second-stove chef is that all fifty dishes must be upgraded to the second-stove level. During the assessment, nine dishes will be drawn from these fifty dishes.

If the person taking the assessment can cook all the nine dishes drawn to the second-stove level, then he or she can pass the assessment for promotion to the second-stove level and become a second-stove chef.

Zhou Qingde, the current head chef in the kitchen, took part in the assessment for promotion to second kitchen chef immediately after successfully passing the apprentice grading assessment. He impressed everyone and successfully became the second kitchen chef.

Zhou Qingde is the most talented apprentice since the establishment of Fengze Garden.

After he was promoted twice in one day and became the second kitchen master, he was highly regarded by the bosses of Fengzeyuan. They not only gave him the best treatment, but also focused on training him.

Big restaurants like Fengzeyuan are never short of second and first chefs. Even if the second and first chefs of Fengzeyuan are placed in other restaurants, they are all capable of standing on their own and becoming the restaurant's signature dishes.

What Fengzeyuan lacks is a top chef who can take charge, that is, a master chef who can cook dishes of state banquet level.

Although Fengzeyuan currently has two top chefs of this level, they are both very old and will not be able to work for long.

If Fengzeyuan cannot find someone to replace them as a top chef, then Fengzeyuan may not be involved in the preparation of state banquets in the future.

This will be a blow to the reputation of Fengzeyuan, which cannot produce dishes of state banquet quality.

Therefore, the boss of Fengzeyuan pays special attention to the training of successor talents, and treats the head chefs very well, especially the head chef Zhou Qingde who has the opportunity to be promoted to a top chef.

After Zhou Qingde passed the apprentice grading assessment, he took part in the assessment for promotion to second kitchen master and passed it successfully.

Zhou Qingde achieved this after only three years of studying cooking, demonstrating his extraordinary talent.

Fengzeyuan began to treat him very well. On top of his original salary every month, he received an additional incentive bonus and was allocated a house near Fengzeyuan.

Many apprentices in the kitchen want to be the next Zhou Qingde, but due to their limited talent, it is difficult for them to improve the quality of those fifty dishes to the second-class chef level within just three years of apprenticeship.

"After today, I will be able to become a legend of Fengze Garden like Master Zhou did, and I will also be valued by the boss of Fengze Garden and receive higher treatment."

Wang Jianye got excited just thinking about it.

The bonus and house that Zhou Qingde received after being promoted twice were what Wang Jianye needed very much at this time.

As long as he successfully passes the assessment to be promoted to the second stove master today, he can also have these things.

To this end, he had worked overtime and studied hard during the week he had traveled through time, and had made adequate preparations.

If he had not sought to be promoted to the second kitchen master today when he had just traveled through time.

Then he would have to wait another year, until the kitchen grading assessment was held around this time next year, before he would have the opportunity to be promoted to second kitchen chef.

However, Wang Jianye didn't want to wait that long, so he chose to take an unconventional approach and specially prepared nine recipes and enough experience points to upgrade the nine dishes from the entry-level to the second-level.

I plan to pass this assessment first.

The rest of the fifty dishes will be prepared after he successfully passes the assessment and becomes the second chef.

You can continuously gain experience points and master the skills in the daily cooking process.

Even if a customer orders a dish he doesn't know how to cook, he can use his experience points and recipes to upgrade the dish to the second-level chef level without any problem.

"I now have nine recipes and have accumulated 300 experience points, which is enough to upgrade nine dishes from entry-level to second-level. I can fully cope with the assessment for promotion to second-level chef."

Wang Jianye has worked hard for these days and is now fully prepared.

At this time, Sha Zhu walked over and said, "Brother Wang, look, Master Zhou and the others are here. Shouldn't you start the assessment now?"

After Wang Jianye came back to his senses, he looked at where Sha Zhu pointed, then nodded: "It's time for the assessment."

"Brother Wang, with your level, you will definitely pass the exam easily this time. When do you plan to have a banquet to celebrate? Tonight or tomorrow?"

Sha Zhu asked impatiently.

Wang Jianye smiled and said, "I haven't started the assessment yet, how can I talk about celebrating now?"

"Hey, Brother Wang, your current level is much better than that of my Senior Brother Cao. Even if you do it with your eyes closed, you can still pass it."

Sha Zhu trusts Wang Jianye very much.

Because in his opinion, Wang Jianye is much stronger than his senior brother Cao Xiaodong, who is known as the best apprentice.

His senior brother Cao Xiaodong passed the grading assessment this time with 100% accuracy, not to mention the even stronger Wang Jianye.

"Brother Wang."

Qin Huairu walked to the kitchen at this time.

The kitchen is strictly managed and not everyone can come in.

However, Qin Huairu's job at Fengze Garden is an intern receptionist, that is, a waiter, and she can go into the kitchen to serve dishes.

"Sister Qin, why are you here?"

Sha Zhu looked at Qin Huairu curiously.

Qin Huairu explained: "The kitchen is going to hold a grading assessment, it's quite lively, so I followed Sister Zhang to watch the fun."

After saying that, Qin Huairu looked at Wang Jianye again.

"Brother Wang, you are going to participate in this grading assessment, right?"

"Yes."

Wang Jianye nodded.

"Then you will definitely pass the test this time. I heard in the courtyard that you performed very well in the kitchen and the dishes you cooked were delicious. I also heard about you after I came to Fengze Garden. Many people said that you are very good."

Qin Huairu looked at Wang Jianye with admiration.

Sha Zhu looked at Qin Huairu and felt inexplicably unhappy.

But on second thought, it is normal for Sister Qin to admire Wang Jianye so much. After all, Wang Jianye is so powerful.

If he could be so awesome, Sister Qin would definitely admire him.

Thinking of this, Sha Zhu decided to work hard in the future, make some achievements, and let Sister Qin admire him.

"Brother Wang, let's go. It's time for the assessment."

Feng Qingjie came over and said something to Wang Jianye, and they walked towards the examination venue together.

In addition to Wang Jianye and him, Cao Xiaodong, Luo Youcheng and others will also participate in this apprentice grading assessment, a total of six people.

The examination venue has been set up.

There are six stoves in total, and each person who wants to take the test occupies one of them.

On the long table in the middle, there were chopping boards, kitchen knives, and various ingredients that could be used for the tests, all prepared.

In addition, there are three top-level chefs serving as judges and referees for this assessment, namely Master Qian, Master Zhao and Master Zhou Qingde.

After the person taking the assessment finishes making a dish, he or she will bring the dish to the three judges.

After tasting the food, the three judges will give a score.

Six points is passing, which means that the dish has reached the level that can be cooked.

Eight points is excellent, which means that the dish has reached the level of the second chef. Ten points is the full score, which can only be obtained if the dish reaches the level of the first chef.

The requirements for the apprentice grading assessment are the lowest. If the three judges give more than six points to the dish after tasting it, then you will pass.

Otherwise, even if you fail the assessment, you will not be able to stay in Fengze Garden.

Finally, the assessment time must be limited to two hours.

Within these two hours, if you are not satisfied with the dish, you can redo it.

If you think the dish is well cooked, you can serve it directly to the judges for tasting.

Zhou Qingde explained these precautions carefully in front of Wang Jianye and the other six people, "Is there anything else you don't understand? Ask immediately."

No one said a word.

They had heard these precautions from their master before the assessment.

"Then let's start drawing lots now, starting from the right."

Zhou Qingde had a wooden box with six sealed sides, leaving only a small opening on the top for one's arm to fit in, brought to the table.

Inside the box are wooden signs of the same shape and size, with the names of the dishes written on them with a brush.

The box is pitch black and only one can put one's arm inside, but one cannot feel what is written on the label. This ensures to the greatest extent possible that the person taking the test will not know which dish they have drawn before they take their hand out, thus avoiding cheating.

The person on the far right is Cao Xiaodong. He was the first to reach over and put his hand into the small opening of the box, then randomly picked up a wooden sign and took it out.

“Fried kidney slices.”

Cao Xiaodong read it out loud.

Someone nearby wrote down Cao Xiaodong's name and the dish he drew on a piece of paper.

Then Cao Xiaodong put the wooden sign in his hand aside and took out two wooden signs from the wooden box, one of which was Fried Yellow Croaker and the other was Leek and Dried Tofu.

After Cao Xiaodong drew the lots, he put the three wooden cards he had drawn back into the box.

The second person to draw the lot was Feng Qingjie.

He drew steamed cucumber, spicy and sour shredded potatoes, and braised prawns.

Cao Xiaodong was not interested in what others drew, he just wanted to know what Wang Jianye would draw.

It was Wang Jianye's turn to draw the lot. When he put his hand into the wooden box, Cao Xiaodong stared at him nervously.

When Wang Jianye took his hand out, the wooden sign read "Stir-fried Kidney Slices".

Seeing that Wang Jianye had drawn the same dish as himself, Cao Xiaodong took a deep breath and was filled with fighting spirit.

During this period of time, Cao Xiaodong has been practicing the dish of stir-fried pork kidney, and his level has improved to the second-level, which is the highest level dish he can make at present.

Two days ago, when eating in the kitchen, Cao Xiaodong made this dish, and Wang Jianye made leek and dried tofu.

At that time, Cao Xiaodong said that his cooking skills could not compare with Wang Jianye. Wang Jianye said that we were not cooking the same dish and there was no way to compare. He also said that next time when we cook the same dish, we can have a good competition.

Cao Xiaodong has always kept this matter in mind and wanted to compete with Wang Jianye.

This time they both took part in the apprentice grading assessment together and drew the same dish. So after they each made one, they asked three judges to taste and score it, and then they could determine who was better.

So Cao Xiaodong was full of fighting spirit and determined to perform well and strive to surpass Wang Jianye in making the best stir-fried pork kidney dish he could make.

But unfortunately, what he didn't know was that Wang Jianye's skill in making this stir-fried pork kidney dish had already reached the level of a top chef.

In this assessment, no matter how exceptionally Cao Xiaodong performs, he will never be able to surpass Wang Jianye.

Wang Jianye put the three wooden signs he had drawn back into the wooden box.

"I drew the stir-fried kidney, braised prawns, and sweet and sour carp. These three dishes are at the level of a master chef, so I can pass this assessment perfectly."

Wang Jianye is full of confidence.

At this time, Cao Xiaodong came over and whispered, "Jianye, we both drew the dish of fried kidney slices. Let's take this opportunity of the assessment to compete with each other?"

Wang Jianye looked at him strangely. Can you cook this dish to the level of a top chef?

I remember that the stir-fried pork kidney you made a few days ago was only at the beginner level. Now that such a short time has passed, have you improved the quality of this dish so much?
Although he thought so in his heart, Wang Jianye still said to Cao Xiaodong who was full of fighting spirit: "Well, let's compete to see who makes the best fried kidney dish."

"Ah."

Cao Xiaodong nodded seriously, thinking to himself, I must do a good job and not lose to you again.

On the other side, Chai Wenshan found Liu Shengbing.

Three years ago, when Wang Jianye entered Fengze Garden as an apprentice, the first person he wanted to become my apprentice to was Liu Shengbing.

When Liu Shengbing saw that Wang Jianye did not have much talent, he wanted to compete with Sun Qu to take Cao Xiaodong as his apprentice.

In the end, Cao Xiaodong became Sun Qu's disciple, and Wang Jianye became Chai Wenshan's apprentice.

Liu Shengbing felt disappointed that Cao Xiaodong did not become his apprentice.

He doesn't care about Wang Jianye.

After all, the talent shown by Wang Jianye at that time was average, far inferior to Cao Xiaodong.

After seeing Cao Xiaodong's talent, Liu Shengbing was unwilling to accept Wang Jianye, who had relatively average talent, as his apprentice.

Now, after Liu Shengbing returned from sick leave, he was extremely surprised to learn about Wang Jianye's performance in recent days.

Wang Jianye, who he originally thought was of average talent, has now become the most talented and highest level apprentice.

Then Liu Shengbing began to regret that he should have disliked Wang Jianye in the first place and should not have given Wang Jianye to Chai Wenshan.

"How's it going, Lao Liu? You've heard about my apprentice's performance these past two days since you came back, right? Wang Jianye, whom you didn't want at the time, has improved his talent and level in a short time after I trained him like this. Tell me, what do you think now?"

Chai Wenshan looked at Liu Shengbing happily and asked.

Sun Qu has been fed up with him, and now that Liu Shengbing is back, it's just right that he can find someone else to harass.

"Lao Chai, you are such a lucky guy. I was wrong in the beginning and shouldn't have given Wang Jianye to you."

Liu Shengbing snorted and said with regret.

The more unhappy he was, the happier Chai Wenshan became. "If I had known this would happen, I wouldn't have done it in the first place."

at the same time.

The six people including Wang Jianye have all finished drawing lots.

"It's 9:30 in the morning now. You have a maximum of two hours to cook. That means you have to bring out the food by 11:30 at the latest."

"Be careful of your time and start now."

Zhou Qingde said to the six people.

Wang Jianye nodded, tied an apron on himself, and took out a pork kidney from the vegetable basket. He planned to make a stir-fried kidney dish first.

Cao Xiaodong on the side also took a pork kidney. He looked at Wang Jianye and took a deep breath.

This time I must cook this stir-fried pork kidney well and try to surpass the level of Wang Jianye’s dish to bring honor to myself and my master.

After encouraging himself, Cao Xiaodong took the pork kidney in his hand to the chopping board and started to process it with a kitchen knife.

(End of this chapter)