Food: Senior year internship, you take over the university cafeteria

Chapter 53 Apprentice

Wang Sheng readily agreed.

The principal left not long after.

"call!"

The boy who went fishing was named Meng Qiuke.

The name sounds quite nice.

The fear of almost getting a demerit hadn't subsided when the news that the principal was suddenly going to hold a fishing competition hit him like a ton of bricks. His mind went blank, leaving only a buzzing of ecstatic joy.

"Senior—Senior—"

Meng Qiuke's voice trembled, "I—I really thought I was going to die just now—the principal—he actually wants to hold a competition? And he wants you to cook fish on the spot? My God—"

He looked at Wang Sheng, his eyes filled with lingering fear, ecstasy, and deep admiration.

Wang Sheng didn't speak, his gaze falling on the Jingyue Lake carp in the corner bucket, which was still alive after being bitten by Yuanbao and was still wagging its tail.

[Ding! Your catch comes from the rave review of "Fishing King" Meng Qiuke (dry-fried carp)! Popularity points +300!]

[Ding! Your reward is a high praise from Zhou Mingyuan (Braised Carp)! Special evaluation triggered! Popularity +1000!]

[Ding! The temporary mission "The Diner's Craving" has been successfully completed! Reward: Random Sichuan Cuisine Skill (3 stars) 1!]

[Random selection in progress————]

[Congratulations, host! You have obtained: Sichuan Cuisine Skill - Mouthwatering Fish (3 stars)!]

A new piece of information about how to cook saliva fish flooded Wang Sheng's mind.

The preparation of the chili oil, the grinding of Sichuan peppercorns, the blending of the compound soy sauce, the proportions of minced garlic and ginger, the crispy soybeans and roasted sesame seeds—the secrets and timing of each step are crystal clear. The core of a three-star "mouthwatering fish" lies in that bowl of sauce that makes your mouth water.

"That's good. This competition is a great stage."

When Wang Sheng came to his senses, he patted Meng Qiuke on the shoulder and said, "Hurry up and get that 'Ecological Research and Fishing Exchange' section up and running on the forum. The competition announcements will be personally posted by you, 'Fishing King'."

"Me? Publish?" Meng Qiuke was taken aback, then his eyes lit up. "That's right! This kind of good news must be shared with my comrades!"

Soon, a viral post appeared at the top of the Jinling University campus forum:

[Breaking News! President's Choice! The First Jingyue Lake Ecological Fishing Competition and Food Tasting Event at Jinling University is Coming Soon! (Includes Exclusive Insider Information from the Fishing King + Photos of the President's Tasting)]

Posted by: Fishing King (Verified: President of Fishing Association)

Content: Principal's personal approval! Next month, a campus ecological fishing competition will be held at the Jingyue Lake waterfront platform! The catch will be cooked on-site by senior student Wang Sheng! Freshly caught! Freshly cooked! Freshly eaten! Limited spots available. Rules to be announced by the Logistics Department. Co-organized by the Fishing Association! Brothers, let's go! Let's uphold the association's reputation! Let's cheer for senior student Wang Sheng! [Image: Remains of a dry-fried carp]

[Image: The principal's departing figure]

The post instantly went viral across the entire school.

"Holy crap! The principal stamped it? Senior Wang is awesome! Fishing King is awesome!"

"Fish being cooked live? I have to watch!"

"Ecological fishing? That's a brilliant reason! Logistics Department, quickly draft the rules and let everyone sign up!"

"Are the fish in Mirror Moon Lake really that delicious? I'm drooling!"

"Shengji is going to take things to the heavens!"

Meng Qiuke couldn't stop smiling as he watched the surge in replies and private messages.

the next day.

The school also issued a notice.

An apartment on the other side of the city.

Su Hang, who had just finished his live stream, saw the post and his eyes lit up.

"Jingyue Lake Fishing Competition? Live Fish Cooking? Chef Wang Sheng?"

He immediately sat up straight.

As a seasoned fishing enthusiast and a former "debunker" who was once captivated by Wang Sheng's culinary skills, this event was exactly to his liking! "I have to go!"

He scrolled to the bottom of the post to find the registration link, but saw a line that read: "Limited spots available. Rules to be announced by the Logistics Department. Participation is limited to faculty and students of this school (co-organized by the Fishing Association)."

"Limited to faculty and students of this school only?"

Su Hang's excitement froze.

He scratched his head in frustration. "Damn it! Discrimination against people from all walks of life?"

Looking at the lure rod in the corner, he was very unwilling. Such a good opportunity to join in the fun (mainly to catch fish)—why miss it? His eyes darted around, and his finger reached for his phone.

Wang Sheng had no time to pay attention to Su Hang's frustration.

He looked at the newly added "Saliva Fish" skill and 54727 popularity points on the system panel, and pondered the preparations for the competition. The logistics department hadn't arrived yet, but ingredients, cooking equipment, on-site setup, manpower—it was all a matter of great importance.

Just then, a timid voice came from the doorway of the control room: "Wang—Senior Wang?"

Wang Sheng looked up and saw Chen Mo, a junior student who often came to eat breakfast, clinging to the door frame with a look of tension and longing.

Wang Sheng knew that he had studied a niche liberal arts major that made it difficult to find a job.

"Chen Mo? Is something the matter?"

"Senior!" Chen Mo mustered his courage and walked in. "I—I want to learn a skill from you! To make xiaolongbao! Or anything!"

He spoke rapidly, "My major is terrible, and jobs are hard to find. But I really love the food here, and I love the kitchen! Seeing how busy you are—I don't want a salary! Just meals are fine! I just want to learn some real skills!"

Wang Sheng was somewhat surprised, but seeing the seriousness and longing in Chen Mo's eyes, he smiled.

It's true that there's a shortage of manpower, but he's happy to share with those who genuinely want to learn. With the system at his disposal, he's not afraid to pass on his core skills.

"You can't do without a salary; you still have to pay what you're owed." Wang Sheng patted Chen Mo on the shoulder. "Want to learn? Sure. Kitchen work is all about enduring hardship. Think it through?"

"I've thought it through! I can definitely endure hardship!" Chen Mo's voice trembled with excitement as he nodded vigorously.

[Ding! Detected that the host has actively intended to impart core skills and accept apprentices! Triggered the special mission "Passing on the Torch"!]

[Task Requirements: Successfully guide apprentice Chen Mo to master at least one system-certified basic skill (e.g., ...)]

(Basic version of Xiaolongbao), and received their heartfelt gratitude and recognition.

[Mission Reward: Max-Level Skill Targeted Upgrade Card (Upgrades one skill that is already at three stars or below to the highest level currently mastered by the host) 1!]

[Failure penalty: None. However, the apprenticeship is terminated, and similar tasks cannot be triggered for one month.]

Max level skill upgrade card?

Wang Sheng's heart skipped a beat.

This reward is too tempting!

"Okay!" Wang Sheng said decisively, "Starting at four o'clock tomorrow morning, come with me into the work area. We'll start with the most basic thing: kneading dough."

Chen Mo was overjoyed and bowed repeatedly, saying, "Thank you, senior! Thank you, senior! I will definitely study hard!"

The teaching plan has been finalized.

Wang Sheng had no intention of training Chen Mo to produce "Shengji" standard xiaolongbao or mixed rice noodles, which was entirely feasible.

This also serves as a talent pool for Sheng Kee's expansion.

In the future, when I make new dishes, I hope that people who want to eat the old dishes won't be unable to get them.

In the days that followed, the kitchen became even busier.

Before dawn, Wang Sheng led Chen Mo to knead the dough and prepare the filling, teaching him step by step.

Chen Mo studied diligently. Although he was clumsy at first and the buns he made were crooked, Wang Sheng appreciated his focus.

Zhao Gang and Lin Xiaowen also took care of this new apprentice.

During the day, Wang Sheng was busy dealing with the flow of customers and also had to plan for the competition. Someone from the logistics department quickly came to take over.

The competition will be held three weeks from now at the Jingyue Lake waterfront platform. The school will be responsible for the venue, safety, and basic publicity, while the fishing association will coordinate the participants.

It is estimated that multiple burners may need to be operated simultaneously.

Just then, my phone rang. It was Su Hang sending a WeChat message: "Boss Wang! Brother Wang! My dear brother! Can you bring a guy along for the Jingyue Lake competition? I don't need a fishing rod, I just want to join in the fun and help you out! Carrying gas cylinders, scaling fish, starting the fire—I'll do it all! Bring your own equipment (HD camera)! I guarantee you'll look incredibly handsome in the photos! [Poor thing][Poor thing]"