The food at Starry Sky Kindergarten has always been excellent.
This time, their boxed meals became an absolute sensation.
They prepared 5 different configurations, each with a large picture attached. You could simply go and take whichever one you wanted.
Each person was allowed only one box.
Typically, two parents and one child would take three boxes.
With 2000 people being interviewed in a day, they had to prepare 6000 boxed meals, plus meals for the helpers and teachers, totaling 7000 boxes.
Fortunately, Liu Chef had previous experience with this kind of task.
The large ladles in the kitchen were almost smoking from overuse.
Moreover, all the cooks were master chefs. The food they prepared was top-notch.
After cooking, the helpers began to serve the food, pack the boxes, working in a frenzy.
Chef Chen went out to smoke a cigarette.
His shoulders were still aching.
A chef who came to help today patted him on the shoulder and said, "Old Chen, with your culinary skills, you could be a private chef for the wealthy. Countless rich people would be fighting to hire you. Why are you here at Starry Sky Kindergarten, wielding a big ladle and cooking in bulk?"
Chef Chen replied, "I enjoy it."
In the past, he had lived a carefree life like an old Beijing local.
He hadn't felt much different over time, but now at Starry Sky Kindergarten, he was exceptionally busy.
Yet, he felt particularly fulfilled. His previous insomnia problem had been cured.
Now he cooked and enjoyed the praise from everyone.
It was really wonderful, and he got to interact with young children.
The little ones would softly call him "Grandpa Chen."
For Chef Chen, who had never married, this was a special experience.
However, today had really worn him out.
Using a huge ladle to stir-fry, with a spatula almost as big as a small shovel.
His arms ached from all the movement.
He had never smoked before, but today he was truly exhausted.
Too tired to mind others, he found a spot to smoke.
After a few puffs, he realized he still couldn't handle it, so he put it out.
But he felt much more energized and asked his friend, "Want to come work at our Starry Sky Kindergarten?"
The chef he was chatting with had been brought in by Liu Chef.
They had learned their craft together in the past.
Later, he had become a chef for wealthy families and was said to have retired to his hometown.
He hadn't even rested for two days before coming at Liu Chef's request.
Unexpectedly, just one day had worn him out completely.
Looking at Chef Chen again, hearing that every day was like this for him, he could hardly believe it.
In terms of culinary skills, Chef Chen was even slightly better than him.
"You two could be master chefs, yet you're content cooking at a kindergarten. I really can't understand it." Their peers in the culinary world had discussed this, wondering what spell Starry Sky Kindergarten had cast on them.
Making them so utterly devoted.
Chef Chen said, "It's really nice here. The relationships are simple, and people love the food we cook."
Moreover, they could cook without worrying about costs, making whatever they wanted.
Even if they wanted to make abalone or lobster in the large pots, dishes that exceeded the budget.
As long as they listed it on the order for the purchasing staff.
It would be bought and delivered properly.
In their spare time, they could grow some vegetables.
Every now and then, they could go fishing with old friends during their time off.
This life was even more promising than before.
Besides, Shen Wei never shortchanged them financially.
Chef Chen's salary here was already quite substantial.
During the last Chinese New Year, when year-end bonuses were given out, he received a six-figure sum.
With no worries about food or clothing, and a sense of accomplishment.
Who wouldn't like such a job?
Chef Chen was usually not one for small talk.
But after saying this,
His friend beside him also seemed a bit envious: "It's just that your workload here is too heavy. It's fine for you regulars, but for old bones like mine, it's really too much."
Chef Chen said, "Then go to Starry Sky Restaurant, it's not as busy there."
"I'll think about it. One might think Starry Sky Kindergarten gave you shares, the way you're recruiting for them."
Chef Chen was taken aback, then said, "It's up to you whether you come or not."
His friend laughed: "We'll see. I'll rest for a couple more days, and if I get restless at home, I'll come join you guys. We learned our craft together when we were young, who would have thought we'd be working together in our old age?"
Chef Chen's lips curved into a smile: "You won't regret it if you come here."
As soon as he said this, Chef Chen was startled, because these were the exact words Liu Chef had said to him initially. He hadn't expected that after all this time, he would come to believe it himself.
...
Once again, the boxed meals from Starry Sky Kindergarten became a sensation.
Whether admitted or not,
Everyone could come and get a boxed meal.
Some people left directly, not caring for the free meal.
Others took the meal home to eat.
Thinking that even if they weren't admitted, at least they didn't lose out.
And some came specifically for the boxed meal.
Wanting to know if it was really as good as rumored. So they patiently queued up! Craning their necks to see ahead, curious about today's menu.
When they finally got to eat, they understood what all the fuss was about.
They used high-quality rice here, the cooked rice glistening with oil.
Large chunks of beef, smooth and tender egg custard. Perfectly cooked spicy stir-fried pork.
It was truly delicious. Although each family could only take three boxes, no more, each box was generous in both rice and dishes. When opened, the aroma wafted out. At first glance, it seemed like too much food to finish. But after a while, it was all gone.
How did Starry Sky manage to make every dish so delicious? There wasn't a single unpalatable item.
Even children who were usually picky eaters were gobbling it up.
Parents were stunned, realizing their children didn't dislike eating, they just disliked the unappetizing food at home.
There were so many people that various social media accounts were flooded again. Everyone was talking about how delicious the boxed meals were. Netizens were drooling as they watched.
"I really want to eat it so badly."
"When can we get to taste it?"
"Seeing everyone eat, I really felt what it means to 'inhale' food. Everyone's eating so fast, as if afraid someone might snatch it away."
"I just saw a fashionable woman with big wavy hair, wearing high heels, eating with such relish. She didn't even care about her image anymore. It must be really delicious."
"And there was a chubby little girl earlier, such a greedy little thing. After finishing her own, she wanted to eat her parents' food too. But her parents refused, and her expression was hilarious."
"I really want to try it."
