CELEBRATION
Ling Fen could not believe her ears. Zhuang Li Yu had casually given her the job even after saying her food was amateur at best.
"Ling Fen, welcome, the job is yours." Xiao Lu was all smiles as he told her about the job and what should be done including the time one should come to work.
Zhuang Li Yu on the other hand could not stop eating. His fork dug deeper into the noodles and slurped them into his mouth.
When Ling Fen had exited the room, Xiao Lu turned to Zhuang Li Yu who was still eating. Noticing his gaze, the elder turned around, some of the noodles hanging in his mouth.
"What" his voice was muffled. Xiao Lu only shook his head in complete defeat.
"You said her food was amateur, why are you still eating?"
Zhuang Li Yu was not at all embarrassed that the other had called him out but he proceeded to wipe his mouth with glee.
"That Ling Fen is not bad. She is only lacking experience" he said with a sigh.
Xiao Lu also agreed with him. "Isn't that what you are here for? I know you are going to teach her well but I still don't know why you are retiring, it's really troublesome." He sighed in resignation.
"My old bones cannot stand for long right now."
Xiao Lu looked at the old bones and sighed again.
****
Ling Fen stepped out. Her happiness could not be concealed at all. In the lobby, only Gong Xu was still there and he was pacing around with evident nervousness.
Ling Fen looked at him and laughed giddily then called out, "Didi*" (Younger brother)
Gong Xu looked over at once.
When Ling Fen had entered the room, he was calm but minutes were going and there was no sign of her so he began getting nervous all of a sudden.
He knew how much Ling Fen wanted this job and what it meant to her. Several hotels had rejected her application so this was like a saving grace to her. If she failed then...
He was ready to comfort her when she stepped out but when he saw her smile widely at him, he realized he had worried for nothing.
Among the people that he knew and the food that he had eaten ever since he was young until now, no second person could cook the way Ling Fen did.
It was as if her hands had been blessed. The simplest of meals turned extravagant when passed through her hands.
"You got it?" he asked even when he already knew the answer.
Ling Fen nodded happily.
Her documents had not even been used at all. She was thankful. Of all the ladies that had come for the interview, many of them had impressive CVs but she had not gone to any cooking school so she thought that she did not stand a chance.
Luckily they judged based on one's ability and not how many degrees they had.
Ling Fen looked so proud and walked languidly. Gong Xu saw this and felt that she wanted to start praising herself again.
"I told you not to worry. I am the best chef there is so who else would they hire."
These were quite the big words. Gong Xu sighed and let her be for once but he could not help himself from saying,
"Who was it that was shaking like a leaf on the way here?"
he even motioned the way leaves shook with his body.
"Do you want to die?" Ling Fen glared angrily at him then started to chase him around and just like this, the two began fighting again.
The secretary who had just come to deliver some news…
Zhuang Li Yu who got out to take a stroll…
Xiao Lu who had gotten out to accompany him…
Just what in the world was this?