Seventies Sweetheart: From Breakup to Billionaire-Chapter 276: The Interview

Chapter 276: Chapter 276: The Interview
Lin Xiang noticed their hesitation and said, "Now there are many restaurants and eateries opening in Beijing, so Quanfu Building is no longer the only one, and inevitably, our business has taken a hit. To regain our former glory, we need to make some reforms. My proposal is that instead of focusing solely on authentic Beijing flavors, Quanfu Building should incorporate the eight major cuisines."
"I’ve instructed Manager Shi to recruit talents for Quanfu Building, hiring chefs specializing in the eight major cuisines from across the country, and we’ve scheduled interviews for ten o’clock next Saturday. Except for Yueyue, all four of you are from different provinces, so you can help taste the applicants’ culinary skills."
"I won’t pay you for helping with the interviews, and you won’t have to pay for meals at Quanfu Building. How does that sound?"
The group exchanged glances and gladly agreed.
Time swiftly passed to Saturday.
At nine-thirty in the morning, Wu Yan led the group of four to Quanfu Building with Zheng Miaoyue.
Lin Xiang had arrived early and was currently reviewing the week’s accounts.
With Lin Xiang’s previous reminder, Accountant Lu didn’t dare to tamper with the ledgers at all. Every expenditure and income was recorded clearly, fearing that Lin Xiang might be displeased and reward him with a silver bracelet.
"Manager Lin, the chefs who are here for the interview have mostly arrived. Should we have them start cooking now, or wait a little longer?"
Due to Lin Xiang’s influence, Manager Shi’s address for her shifted from ’boss’ to ’Manager Lin,’ and he, who was originally the manager, became Vice Manager Shi, though the ’vice’ is omitted in address.
"Let them start preparing now. Chef Mao, have each chef who comes for the interview register their specialty cuisines in advance, separating the major cuisines for easier tasting later."
"Additionally, ensure every applicant and yourself document the dishes they make. When the dishes are served, the plates shouldn’t have any marks that indicate their identities, or they will be treated as violations."
Chef Mao and Manager Shi went about their tasks.
At the entrance of Quanfu Building.
Wu Yan and the others looked at the tall doors, hesitating to enter.
"Yueyue, are we really going to eat in such a fine restaurant?"
"There are five of us. Will it cost Xiangxiang a lot of money?"
"With your little bird stomachs, how much could you possibly eat? Besides, the dishes today aren’t prepared by the chefs at Quanfu Building but by the applicants, so even if we don’t eat them, the staff will. By eating, we can provide valuable feedback."
"But..."
"But what! Don’t you want to help Lin Xiang?"
With those words, no one else spoke as they followed Zheng Miaoyue into Quanfu Building.
Yet as it was the first time entering such a prestigious restaurant, they followed like a mother hen leading her chicks onto a vast prairie.
The little chicks, setting foot on the "prairie" for the first time, were dazzled by the splendid decor, momentarily forgetting their apprehension, gazing around curiously.
Lin Xiang, having finished her arrangements, saw her roomies walk in and waved them over. "Come sit over here."
As soon as they sat down, the server poured them tea.
Thank-yous rang out one after another.
Lin Xiang pointed towards the kitchen, "They just started. I’ve asked everyone to make one special dish and two home-style dishes, so it’ll probably take over half an hour. Have you not eaten breakfast yet? I’ll have some buns brought up, but don’t eat too much, so you’ll have room for other things later."
Manager Shi, already perceptive when Zheng Miaoyue and the others walked in, took the opportunity to bring out buns and pastries. Hearing Lin Xiang, he promptly served them.
"Please have a little to tide you over; the dishes will be ready soon."
Zheng Miaoyue grabbed a piece of pastry, popped it into her mouth, chewed, swallowed, and then nudged Lin Xiang slightly. "I remember when I dined with my dad at Quanfu Building years ago, this Manager Shi acted all high and mighty, like everyone owed him a fortune."
However, as state-run restaurants and department stores generally had such staff, everyone was used to it and didn’t think much of it.
However, compared to his current fawning demeanor, it seemed like he was a different person.
Lin Xiang whispered to her, "I found out some of his little secrets and threatened that if he didn’t behave, I’d give him a pair of silver bracelets."
Zheng Miaoyue immediately understood what the silver bracelets meant and couldn’t help but give Lin Xiang a thumbs-up. "Nice one! So simple and effective."
After about forty minutes, the dishes prepared by the applicant chefs were uniformly served by the staff.
There were six chefs interviewing in total, one from Yu Province, one from Xiang Province, two from Lu Province, one from Guangdong Province, and one from Zhejiang Province.
The chef from Yu Province made husband and wife lung slices, Kung Pao chicken, and chicken tofu soup.
The chef from Xiang Province made steamed fish head with chopped peppers, stir-fried pork with peppers, and grandmother’s dish.
The chef from Guangdong Province made white-cut chicken, sweet and sour pork, and slow-cooked soup.
The chef from Zhejiang Province made West Lake vinegar fish, Dongpo pork, and braised pork with dried vegetables.
The Lu Province chefs made nine-turn large intestines, flash-fried kidney flowers, Boshan tofu, sweet and sour carp, flash-fried kidney flowers, and sweet and sour pork fillets.
A total of eighteen dishes were spread out on the table, each exuding tempting colors and aromas. Even though they had already sated their hunger with buns and pastries, Wu Yan and the others started drooling again.
"Yanzi, you’re from Yu Province, so you’ll evaluate these three dishes."
"Miao Miao, you’re from the Huaiyang area, close to Zhejiang Province, so these three are yours."
"Xiao Yu, can you handle the Lu Province dishes?"
"Yingying, you and Yueyue can eat whatever you want, just pick out your three favorite dishes."
As for Lin Xiang, she had to oversee everything, so she had to taste every dish.
Her requirement was that each chef must make one signature dish and two home-style dishes from their respective cuisines. However, it was unknown whether the six of them had discussed it beforehand or if they simply had unspoken understanding, for they all coincidentally prepared the signature dishes of their cuisines.
The two chefs from Lu Province, more surprisingly, both chose to make the flash-fried kidney flowers dish.
As the only duplicate dish on the table, the first one Lin Xiang tried was definitely the flash-fried kidney flowers.
She tried one and found it a bit salty.
Tried the other, and it was a bit spicy.
Although Lin Xiang was a food blogger familiar with dishes from various cuisines, she was ultimately not a local chef, so the flavors she produced differed somewhat from those of the traditional chefs.
Yet with her keen palate, she could easily discern the strengths and weaknesses of each dish.
But after trying all six dishes from Lu Province, Lin Xiang hit a dilemma.