Is the beginning of a catastrophe? The little farm cook is raising a family with a full warehouse.

"Hey, who's that?"

The old chef with a goatee was the first to notice something was wrong. He caught a glimpse of the corner of Cheng Yuntao's clothes from the corner of his eye and turned his head alertly. The other chefs also looked over.

After seeing Cheng Yuntao's appearance clearly, everyone was stunned at first, and then showed a little contempt.

"Hey, where did this young lady come from?" The short and fat cook was the first to attack. He curled his thick lips and looked Cheng Yuntao up and down. "She looks young and pretty, but this is the Ji Mansion, not some embroidery pavilion. What are you doing here?"

The young, fair-skinned chef echoed him, "Exactly. Without ten or eight years of culinary experience, how could you possibly be worthy of Boss Ji's approval? Judging from your appearance, I'm afraid you haven't touched pots and pans much. Perhaps you've come to the wrong place? Go back now and don't embarrass yourself here."

Everyone burst into laughter. Cheng Yuntao was not convinced and was about to open her mouth to defend herself, but was interrupted by an even more sarcastic voice.

"Hmph, I see she might be up to something shady!" A triangular-eyed cook snorted, his eyes full of contempt. "Maybe she wants to use being a cook as an excuse to seduce Boss Ji and become a phoenix on the tree."

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone laughed even louder. Several chefs whispered to each other, their eyes full of ambiguity and ridicule.

Cheng Yuntao felt as if thunder was rolling in the sky. She hadn't even said a word yet, but these people had already thrown so much dirty water on her.

If you want to add a crime, there is nothing wrong with it.

Seeing that she remained silent, the triangular-eyed chef took a step forward and, pretending to be kind, reminded her, "Young lady, I advise you to be more sensible. Our boss, Mr. Ji, is not the kind to show mercy to women."

"In the past, there were foolish women who tried to seduce him, but guess what? They were all killed without mercy and thrown out of the mansion. That was truly a brutal act of destroying a beautiful woman! If you still want to save your life, leave now."

Cheng Yuntao originally just wanted to hide and listen to the news, but she never thought that she would be humiliated like this. The anger in her heart suddenly rose up, but this anger did not cloud her mind, but made her more sober.

She took a deep breath, quickly suppressed her emotions, and her eyes were as cold as frosty stars in a cold night, staring straight at the chefs who were still laughing.

"Hmph, you guys, if you have the time to gossip and slander others, why don't you consider your own worth?"

Cheng Yuntao's eyebrows arched, and her voice was clear yet full of unquestionable strength. "Although I'm still young, I've seen so many dishes and tasted so many flavors that you can't even imagine. Just based on this, how can I be inferior to you? Why wouldn't you dare come to the Ji Mansion and give it a try?"

"Frying, stir-frying, boiling, deep-frying, steaming, boiling, roasting, stewing, baking, braising, stir-frying, grilling, collapsing, blanching, and shabu-shabu—these fifteen common cooking methods, plus special techniques like honey glazing, frosting, and glazing—I'm proficient in all of them."

"I know how to stew wild mushrooms from the mountains with pheasants to unleash their ultimate flavor. I understand how to add unique flavors to dishes from the exotic flowers and fruits of the primeval forests. I know the optimal cooking time for each type of fresh seafood landed at the fishing port every morning. I also know how to restore the tenderness of beef and mutton air-dried on the vast grasslands."

"I understand the subtle differences in ingredients across seasons and regions. What about you? You stick to outdated recipes, limit yourself to local ingredients, and create uninspired meals, and you still have the nerve to question me? Why not go back and hone your skills again instead of embarrassing yourself here?"

Seeing the astonishment on their faces, as if they were stunned, Cheng Yuntao struck while the iron was hot, took a step forward, and continued, "Also, don't use your dirty thoughts to speculate about me!"

"I'm only here to find a job based on my real abilities. You guys are so shameless saying things like seducing Boss Ji. You don't even have the ability to gain a foothold in the Ji Mansion, but you slander others instead. Are you trying to cover up your own incompetence?"

The chefs' faces turned pale and red after being criticized. Triangle Eyes stiffened his neck and tried to argue: "You...you little girl, you talk nicely, but when it comes to cooking, you might be exposed!"

Cheng Yuntao sneered and replied calmly, "Exposed? I don't think so! You keep saying Boss Ji has a discerning palate, but have any of you ever truly taken the trouble to understand what he likes and dislikes? We're just blindly following the crowd, haphazardly putting together some dishes. Naturally, he wouldn't be impressed."

"If you have this much free time, you might as well think about how you can get through this stage. Don't try to put the blame on others when you get eliminated."

These words were well-reasoned and powerful. The chefs looked at each other in bewilderment and were left speechless. Their arrogance and domineering attitude were instantly extinguished, and they could only stare blankly in frustration.

As they were talking, the side door of Ji's house swayed slowly, making a slight "creaking" sound. Everyone fell silent instantly and dared not continue talking.

The guards in the mansion hid in the dark and watched the farce outside the mansion without making a sound.

A young man walked out with steady steps. He was dressed in a dark suit with a belt of the same color tied around his waist. He had an upright posture and a stern look in his eyes, which made people feel intimidated.

"Listen carefully, I am the steward of the Ji Mansion. My surname is Mu, and you can call me Steward Mu." His voice was low, but it revealed unquestionable majesty.

"From now on, you must follow me obediently and don't wander around on your own. If you accidentally see something you shouldn't see and lose your life in this large and deep compound of the Ji Mansion, don't blame me for not warning you." His eyes were like lightning as he swept around the crowd. The look seemed to be able to penetrate people's hearts, and the chefs immediately fell silent.

Everyone followed Mu Qingfeng and walked all the way inside. The bluestone road under their feet was flat and smooth, and the green plants on both sides were neatly trimmed. From time to time, a few rare flowers could be seen, which were gorgeous and eye-catching.

The cooks couldn't contain their curiosity and began to whisper among themselves.

"This steward looks too young, doesn't he? He can be the steward of the Ji Mansion at such a young age. There must be someone behind him." An older cook said in a low voice, his eyes full of confusion.

"Maybe he is Boss Ji's confidant. He holds great power at such a young age. We have to be careful." Another cook echoed, rubbing his hands nervously.

Cheng Yuntao said nothing and followed the team quietly. She seemed well-behaved, but in fact her bright eyes were quietly observing the surrounding environment.

There are several ponds in the courtyard. The water is clear and you can see the sand and stones at the bottom. Koi fish swim in the water, colorful, and occasionally jump out of the water, splashing small water droplets.

Green plants surround the rockery, including holly, bamboo, etc., with lush branches and leaves and full of greenery. The entire courtyard is exquisitely laid out, with a quiet and elegant environment, demonstrating the owner's excellent taste.

Cheng Yuntao originally thought that Boss Ji was wealthy and should like luxurious things, but when she saw him today, it was different from what she had expected.