Chapter 5: Fengze Garden

Chapter 5: Fengze Garden

The next morning, He Yuzhu woke up early, still energized thanks to the Jade Clarity Technique. Although he had been running around all day yesterday, he felt refreshed and not the least bit tired.

He went to the kitchen and checked the rice container. There was some millet, which would make a nice millet porridge for breakfast. He started the fire and began cooking the millet porridge. Then, thinking it over, he added a bit of spirit spring water to it, but not too much—he worried the effect might be too strong, as little Yu Shui’s body was still fragile. When the porridge was ready, he lifted the lid and a refreshing aroma immediately filled the air. There were also eggs at home, so he boiled two, one for himself and one for Yu Shui.

He set the millet porridge and eggs on the table, also bringing out some homemade pickled vegetables, which had been prepared by He Daqing.

“Yu Shui, get up, it’s time to wake up,” He Yuzhu called out to his sister.

He helped Yu Shui get dressed and urged her to wash up. After a while, the siblings sat down together to eat.

“Brother, the millet porridge you made today is really delicious,” Yu Shui said after taking a sip.

“Good, then drink more and finish your egg,” He Yuzhu said, handing her the peeled egg.

After they ate their fill and tidied up, they headed out.

He mounted his bicycle, took Yu Shui along, and rode toward their master’s home.

At the master’s house, he handed Yu Shui over to his master’s wife, then rode with his master, Fan Dakang, to Fengze Garden.

Fengze Garden was a large compound with four courtyards, featuring elegant halls and tiled pavilions. Its façade was finely decorated, the environment refined, and the style distinctive. All the tableware was made of silver, and there were rare colored floral wine vessels from the Kangxi, Qianlong, and Guangxu reigns, making it very precious.

The restaurant specialized in Shandong cuisine and was renowned as a place where one could taste all the flavors of Shandong dishes. It excelled in cooking techniques like quick frying, stir-frying, braising, deep-frying, stewing, sautéing, and steaming. Signature dishes included clay pot shark fin, dried shark fin, scallops braised with scallions, and braised large crucian carp.

Though its main focus was Shandong cuisine, it also served Sichuan dishes. Master Fan Dakang was in charge of the Sichuan cuisine section.

(Upon note: This is a work of fiction; some details should not be taken literally.)

Upon arriving at Fengze Garden, Master Fan first took He Yuzhu to meet Manager Luan, whose family had founded the establishment and held shares.

“Zhuzi, you and your father have helped out in the kitchen many times over the years. Your father... well, no need to say more. We’re all familiar with one another. You’re no stranger to Fengze Garden, so learn well from your master,” Manager Luan said to He Yuzhu.

Since He Yuzhu was still an apprentice and had not yet graduated, but given that He Daqing often brought him to help in the kitchen and out of respect for Master Fan Dakang, they set his apprentice wages at eighteen yuan per month. That amount was enough for both him and Yu Shui. At the time, poverty-level income was about five yuan per person per month.

Fan Dakang led He Yuzhu into the kitchen, where apprentices and junior disciples gathered around.

“Zhuzi, no need to say much, everyone knows you. Starting today, you’re officially part of Fengze Garden,” Fan Dakang announced. “Zhuzi, you’ll follow Xiao Qiang today. Alright, let’s get busy.”

With Fan Dakang’s command, the entire kitchen sprang into action.

Xiao Qiang was also Fan Dakang’s apprentice, roughly the same age as He Yuzhu but had joined earlier.

“Senior Brother Xiao Qiang, please take care of me,” He Yuzhu said to Wang Xiaoqiang politely.

“No problem. Just listen well to your senior, respect him, and I’ll make sure you succeed at Fengze Garden,” Xiao Qiang boasted.

“Wow! Senior Brother, you’re amazing!” He Yuzhu exclaimed, noticing Second Senior Brother Xu Guorong standing behind Xiao Qiang and playing along.

“Of course! Don’t you know who I am? There’s nothing at Fengze Garden I can’t handle,” Xiao Qiang continued showing off.

“Who do you think you are, strutting around Fengze Garden like that? Counting crabs, are you?” Second Senior Brother slapped Xiao Qiang from behind.

Xiao Qiang immediately turned around and grovelled, “No, no, it’s all thanks to Second Senior Brother that I can walk tall here.”

“Get lost,” Second Senior Brother laughed and scolded, “I’m no crab.”

“Zhuzi, if you need anything, just come find Second Senior Brother,” Xu Guorong said to He Yuzhu.

“Alright, Second Senior Brother,” He Yuzhu replied.

“Okay, everyone get to work,” Xu Guorong said before heading off to check other areas.

“Zhuzi, you’ve changed. You used to just be sharp-tongued, but now you’ve become sneaky. You didn’t warn me when Second Senior Brother showed up,” Wang Xiaoqiang said once Xu Guorong had gone.

“What change? Didn’t you hear him? Hurry up and work,” He Yuzhu said, nudging Wang Xiaoqiang forward.

Both were apprentices under Fan Dakang, so they went wherever kitchen help was needed.

That entire morning, He Yuzhu followed Wang Xiaoqiang, first helping wash vegetables, then assisting with chopping. Standing at the cutting board, He Yuzhu skillfully sliced various ingredients as required. Though in his previous life, He Chendong was not a chef, he had learned cooking from countless food videos online and was quite good, though not comparable to professional cooks—more of a food enthusiast. Now, with years of culinary memory and boosted by the spirit spring water enhancing his constitution and the Jade Clarity Technique refining his bodily control, He Yuzhu’s knife skills improved rapidly.

As mealtime approached, the main hall began filling with guests, and the kitchen grew busy.

Private rooms also started filling up. Second Senior Brother began bustling about, while Master Fan Dakang took care of a few VIP rooms. The rest were handled by Xu Guorong.

He Yuzhu and Wang Xiaoqiang stuck close to Xu Guorong, staying out of his way but watching how he cooked. Not everyone in the kitchen was allowed close; only those of the same master’s disciples could approach.

Xu Guorong didn’t just focus on cooking; he also explained key points while preparing signature Sichuan dishes.

He Yuzhu extended his spiritual awareness to observe Xu Guorong’s techniques—the timing, the changes in the ingredients in the wok.

Before he realized it, the lunch rush had passed. Thanks to his spiritual insight, He Yuzhu had learned a great deal from Second Senior Brother. As the saying goes, the master leads you to the door, but cultivation depends on the individual. Watching with only his eyes, he could learn the steps, but to cook well, he needed the spiritual sense to grasp the precise timing.

Now, He Yuzhu had learned with his mind, seen with his eyes, and should have mastered with his hands.

After one o’clock in the afternoon, the kitchen staff took their meal and rested.

By mid-afternoon, the kitchen was busy again, preparing ingredients for the evening.

After another long afternoon’s work, their shift ended at seven in the evening.

Apprentices were allowed to take leftover food home. He Yuzhu packed some leftovers and rode his bicycle, taking Master Fan Dakang home.

Upon entering the house, Yu Shui saw He Yuzhu and ran toward him, calling, “Brother!”

He Yuzhu scooped her up and asked, “Did you miss your brother?”

“Mm-hmm, I missed you,” Yu Shui replied.

“All right, let’s go home,” He Yuzhu said. Seeing Xiao Hu running after Yu Shui, he handed him three or four pieces of fruit candy and said, “Only one piece a day, or your teeth will rot. That really hurts.”

“Master’s wife, I’m taking Yu Shui home now,” He Yuzhu told the master’s wife who had followed them.

“Be careful on the way, don’t ride too fast,” she reminded.

“Okay, Master’s wife,” He Yuzhu replied.

He mounted the bicycle again, taking Yu Shui toward their courtyard home.