Chapter 109: Are You Even Human?
Tian Xiaotao lowered her voice and asked Su He, “Why didn’t you use that trick from last time to cozy up to him?”
Su He smirked. “The same trick doesn’t work twice. Besides, don’t you think it’s fun pretending to have powerful backing?”
“Aren’t you afraid that bluff will get exposed?”
“If it does, I’ll just patch it up. No big deal!”
Tian Xiaotao was speechless.
After taking their order, the server brought over a plate of peanuts and a cold dish of shredded potatoes in vinegar. Smiling warmly, she said, “The food might take a bit. Please have some snacks first.”
Su He exchanged a few polite words, then started eating and chatting with Tian Xiaotao.
That was when Tian Xiaotao remembered the night school. “I went to your place earlier, and Grandma Su said you came to night school. What were you doing there in broad daylight?”
“Nothing much. I’m the student council president now. I was chatting with Principal Chen in his office.”
Clink! The peanut Tian Xiaotao had picked up dropped right back onto the table.
After Su He recounted what had happened, Tian Xiaotao was silent for a while before asking in awe, “Su He, be honest… are you even human?”
Su He: “…”
Tian Xiaotao meant it. Su He was simply too incredible.
Let alone everything else—within just a few days, she’d become the student council president and even secured a bunch of donations for the night school!
If she were Principal Chen, she’d treat Su He like a treasure too. This girl was like a living god of wealth!
While they chatted, more dishes were served.
Su He was impressed by the skill of the chef at this state-owned restaurant—better than many of the famous places she’d eaten at in her previous life.
Come to think of it, that waiter surnamed Lu mentioned before that Chef Jin’s family had once served as imperial chefs and that he used to run a restaurant in the capital. Only after going through all kinds of hardships did he end up tucked away in this little county’s state-run restaurant.
Moved by a sudden thought, Su He said to Tian Xiaotao after finishing most of the food, “I’m going to check out the kitchen. Wait for me.”
Tian Xiaotao thought, Why are you going into the kitchen? They don’t even let outsiders back there!
The next moment, she saw Su He whisper a few words to the waiter, who then smiled and led her straight into the kitchen.
Tian Xiaotao: “…”
Definitely not human!
As soon as Su He stepped into the kitchen, she was almost blinded by what she saw.
An elderly chef with graying hair was leisurely slicing radish into impossibly thin strands.
The radish shreds were crystal-clear and so fine they could pass through the eye of a needle!
Sure, many chefs could pull this off. But few could do it so effortlessly—he even yawned a few times with his eyes closed as he worked!
Truly, a master hidden in plain sight!
Who would’ve thought that such talent lay hidden in a small-town restaurant?
The waiter beamed and said, “Chef Jin, this is Su He from the county radio station. She’d like to interview you.”
Still calmly slicing, Chef Jin replied coolly, “What’s there to interview? Just an old man. Also, the kitchen is off-limits to outsiders. Take her out.”
The waiter looked awkward. Chef Jin’s great at everything… except his odd personality.
She was about to say something when a customer called from the front. Seeing Su He give her a signal, she had no choice but to leave.
Su He looked at the radish and said with a smile, “Chef Jin, the interview was just an excuse. I actually came to ask you a question.
Principal Chen at the night school mentioned a famous dish called Golden Relish with Jade Sashimi. He said it’s basically steamed perch and that ‘golden relish’ is some kind of secret sauce, but he couldn’t explain what it really is.
You’re an expert, so I was hoping you could help me out.”
Chef Jin paused mid-slice, surprised. “Your Principal Chen knows about Golden Relish with Jade Sashimi?”
Su He nodded. “He’s very interested in recipes with medicinal benefits—especially ones that promote hair growth.”
Meanwhile, Principal Chen—who was currently in a meeting pleading poverty to the county authorities—shivered. That girl Su He better not be dragging me into something again…
Chef Jin chuckled. “Steamed perch doesn’t help hair growth. He should try fish head with gastrodia or black sesame walnut porridge.
As for golden relish—it really is a secret recipe. It’s a mix of seven ingredients: scallions, young ginger, sea salt, green tangerine peel, white plum, chestnut, and japonica rice. The white plum is essential…”
Chef Jin launched into an enthusiastic explanation, while Su He occasionally chimed in at just the right moments. The two got along famously.
When the waiter returned, Chef Jin was still passionately explaining, and Su He was munching on radish chunks he had cut for her.
Mid-conversation, Chef Jin suddenly asked, “Little Su, have you ever thought about learning to cook? I think you’ve got potential!”
Su He nearly choked on the radish!
She liked eating, not cooking.
Back when she lived with Cao Hongmei, Cao Hongmei did all the cooking. Now Old Madam Su handled it. Su He could cook… she just didn’t want to.
Especially in an era with no range hoods and tons of grease—she always kept her distance from kitchens.
Also, how did Chef Jin see any culinary potential in her?
Come to think of it, Professor Qu from the agricultural bureau also said she had potential for crop breeding. Either these old men all have bad judgment… or she’s just too outstanding!
As Su He was mentally flexing, she replied modestly, “Don’t flatter me. I can’t even steam an egg custard properly—it’s full of holes on top. No cooking talent whatsoever!”
Chef Jin immediately latched onto that. “Steaming egg custard may look simple, but there are actually a lot of tricks to it…”
Su He: “…”
Thankfully, the waiter rescued her again.
“Chef Jin, a customer up front is placing an order!”
Only then did Su He manage to escape the kitchen.
Tian Xiaotao was getting impatient. Seeing her come out, she teased, “If you’d stayed any longer, I’d think you were going to become a chef!”
Su He laughed. “You’re not wrong—I almost did!”
Tian Xiaotao: “…”
But now it was time to get back to business.
“Su He, how are you going to talk to our station chief? From the look on his face, he’s already made up his mind to revoke your correspondent title.”
Su He narrowed her eyes. “Principal Chen forgot to include the radio station on the donation list. I’ll use this chance to get something from the station chief.”
Tian Xiaotao: “…”
You’re out of your mind!
Someone’s already trying to get you in trouble, and you’re asking our boss for a donation?
Are you trying to get yourself fired?!
