Born in the 1980s, she was remarried and became a stepmother; a cold, rough man doted on her, pinchi

Chapter 61 State-owned Hotel
In the military compound, sunlight filters through the leaves, casting dappled shadows.

Jiang Man and Sister Zhang sat on small stools in the yard, with a pile of fresh vegetables in front of them, chatting casually as they picked the vegetables.

"Xiaoman, your cooking skills are so good, it's a bit of a waste that you stay at home every day cooking for Qin Yishen and the children."

As Sister Zhang placed the freshly picked vegetables into the vegetable basket beside her, she said...

Jiang Man raised her head slightly and smiled: "Sister Zhang, I'm quite happy cooking for my family, so what's the pity?"

Aunt Zhang gently patted Jiang Man's arm: "Don't be silly. It would be great if your skills could be put to greater use. I heard that a state-run restaurant is hiring chefs. Why don't you give it a try?"

Jiang Man paused for a moment, and a few thoughts flashed through her mind.

She knew that although her family still had some savings, Kyoto was a big city with a high cost of living, and if she planned to start a business in the future, the initial capital would be a major problem.

If I could work as a chef in a state-run restaurant for two years, I could definitely save a lot of money, which would be very beneficial for my family's future planning.

"Sister Zhang, is what you're saying reliable?"

Jiang Man asked, somewhat intrigued.

"I've checked it out, it's definitely reliable. With your cooking skills, you'll definitely be able to handle it."

Aunt Zhang patted her chest and assured him. Jiang Man pondered for a moment, then gradually made up his mind: "Okay, Aunt Zhang, I'll give it a try."

A few days later, Jiang Man carefully tidied himself up and went to the state-run restaurant to apply for a chef position.

The state-run restaurant was bustling with people. Jiang Man went into the kitchen and found the head chef in charge of recruitment.

The chef was a burly middle-aged man with a full beard and an arrogant look in his eyes.

When he saw Jiang Man, he was stunned for a moment, and then a look of disdain appeared in his eyes.

In his opinion, a young and pretty girl like Jiang Man was probably just a pretty face with no substance, and that she was just going through the motions by applying for a job here.

"You're here to apply for a chef position?" the head chef asked gruffly.

"Yes, Master, I'd like to try."

Jiang Man answered neither humbly nor arrogantly.

The chef snorted coldly: "Hmph, little girl, being a chef isn't so easy. You can't just rely on your looks."

Jiang Man smiled slightly: "Master, please take a look at my skills before you give your evaluation."

The chef waved his hand impatiently: "Fine, there are ingredients over there, just make whatever you like."

Jiang Man walked to the ingredients, took a deep breath, and quickly conceived the dishes she wanted to make.

She decided to make her best dishes: braised pork and steamed fish.

Jiang Man first washed the fresh pork belly and cut it into evenly sized cubes.

She skillfully poured a little oil into the pot, added rock sugar, and slowly simmered it over low heat to caramelize the sugar.

As the temperature rose, the rock sugar gradually melted, turning into a caramel-colored liquid that emitted an enticing sweet aroma. Jiang Man placed the chopped pork belly pieces into the pot and quickly stir-fried them, ensuring each piece was evenly coated with the caramelized sugar. Next, she added scallions, ginger, garlic, star anise, cinnamon, and other seasonings, continuing to stir-fry until fragrant. Then, she poured in an appropriate amount of soy sauce and cooking wine, added water to cover the pork, covered the pot, and simmered it over low heat. While the meat was simmering, Jiang Man began preparing the fish. She cleaned the fish and made several cuts on its body to help it absorb the flavors.

Then, place ginger slices and scallion segments on the bottom of the plate, put the fish on top, drizzle with cooking wine, sprinkle with a little salt, and steam in a steamer.

Soon, the aroma of braised pork began to fill the kitchen. The rich meaty fragrance, mixed with the scent of spices, was mouthwatering.

The chef, who had been standing to the side with his arms crossed and looking at Jiang Man with disdain, gradually changed his expression as the aroma grew stronger.

He unconsciously walked closer to the stove, his eyes fixed on the braised pork simmering in the pot, his throat bobbing slightly as he swallowed.

Jiang Man glanced at the chef's reaction and chuckled inwardly, but her hands remained perfectly still.

She opened the pot lid and gently stirred the braised pork with a spoon. The pork pieces had now turned a glossy red color and were tender and delicious. She then turned up the heat to reduce the sauce, making it thick and coating every piece of meat.

Meanwhile, the steamed fish was also ready.

As Jiang Man opened the steamer, a delicious aroma of fish wafted out.

She poured hot oil over the fish, then added steamed fish soy sauce, instantly enhancing the fish's aroma.

Jiang Man brought the braised pork and steamed fish she had prepared to the chef: "Master, please have a taste."

The chef couldn't wait to pick up his chopsticks and put a piece of braised pork into his mouth.

When the melt-in-your-mouth, rich yet not greasy, sweet and delicious braised pork spread its flavor on his tongue, his eyes widened instantly, and his face was full of ecstasy: "This...this taste is amazing!"

Then, he took another bite of the steamed fish. The fish was tender and juicy, and the delicious flavor lingered in his mouth: "Young lady, your cooking skills are amazing!"

The chef's attitude underwent a complete 180-degree change. He looked at Jiang Man with eyes full of praise and admiration: "I was blind to your talent before. With your skill level, you would definitely be a good chef in our state-run restaurant."

Jiang Man breathed a sigh of relief and a gratified smile appeared on her face: "Thank you for the praise, Master. I am very happy to receive your recognition."

In this way, Jiang Man successfully applied for a job as a chef at a state-run restaurant.

Filled with joy and anticipation, Jiang returned home with light steps.

As soon as she entered the house, she went straight to the kitchen, tied on her familiar apron, and began bustling about between the stove and the cutting board. She carefully selected the freshest ingredients from the house, intending to cook a sumptuous feast.

Soon, a symphony of pots and pans filled the kitchen, with the clattering of chopping vegetables and the sizzling of stir-frying vegetables all blending together.

Soon, the fragrant sweet and sour pork ribs were ready, their color a bright red, and their sweet and sour aroma filled the air; next came the bright green stir-fried vegetables, fresh and juicy, exuding a refreshing country flavor; and then there was the delicious fish head tofu soup, its milky white broth bubbling and its rich aroma tempting the mouth.

When everything was ready, Jiang Man brought the dishes to the table one by one and invited Qin Yishen and the two children to come and eat. The children sat around the table, their eyes sparkling as they stared at the delicious food.

Qin Yishen walked over with a smile and asked Jiang Man, "What's the occasion? Why are you making so much delicious food?"

Jiang's face beamed with happiness as she said, "I have great news to tell you all. I applied for a chef position at a state-run restaurant today and I got it! I'm starting work tomorrow!"

Upon hearing this, Shi An and Shi Ning were first taken aback, then Shi An clapped her hands excitedly and said, "Mom is so awesome! Does that mean we can eat even more delicious food in the future?"

Qin Yishen was slightly taken aback, then his eyes were full of relief and support: "Xiaoman, you are really amazing. You can go to work without worry. I'll take care of things at home and the children."