CHAPTER 809: CHAPTER 407: MASTER ZHOU

Qin Huai didn’t expect his meeting with Master Zhou to happen under such circumstances.

He was holding a lemon tea in his left hand, and his right hand was still sticky with oil from eating an egg tart that he hadn’t wiped clean. There were some crumbs on his clothes that he hadn’t shaken off, and his mouth wasn’t wiped clean either. He looked a bit dazed, and his mental state and appearance were apparently not quite normal.

But his smile was a very standard social smile.

Moreover, Qin Huai reacted quickly. Realizing that his right hand wasn’t very clean, he swiftly took out a tissue from his pocket to clean his hand and shook hands with Master Zhou in a historic meeting.

Fortunately, there was no photographer next to him; otherwise, they would have captured Qin Huai’s eternal embarrassing moment.

Master Zhou’s eyes were full of admiration as he looked at Qin Huai. After giving him one last up-and-down glance, he asked in a purely warm tone without any sarcasm, "Where’s Su Qian?"

"I got a bit carsick, so Su Qian directly helped me put the suitcase up. He must still be tidying up," Qin Huai explained honestly, "This is my first time in Hangzhou, so I was just wandering around the area first."

Master Zhou nodded in satisfaction, his eyebrows relaxing as much as they could. Every small expression revealed that he was in a very good mood.

"So you came to wait for Su Qian at the entrance of Zhiwei Restaurant and had an egg tart in the meantime."

Qin Huai continued to nod.

"How was the taste?"

Qin Huai was taken aback. He didn’t expect Master Zhou’s main focus to be the taste of the egg tart. In fact, Qin Huai didn’t have much of an impression of the egg tart he had just eaten. When you’re carsick, you feel nauseous and have no appetite.

Qin Huai could say he found the egg tart delicious yet slightly nauseating at the same time. It was a battle between feeling sick and his appetite that made him finish it.

As for the specific taste...

Qin Huai struggled to recall and could only blandly say, "It’s... quite fragrant. I was just passing by and smelled the egg tart’s aroma, got a bit tempted. It tastes... pretty good. Maybe because of my carsickness, I couldn’t make out the specific flavors, but it feels different from the usual egg tarts I eat."

Master Zhou revealed a peculiar smile.

Qin Huai: ?

Su Qian and Tan Wei’an had only told him that Master Zhou liked sarcastic, sharp-tongued ways, was a radical in the reformist circle, had high demands for his apprentices, and might have a somewhat eccentric temper, but they didn’t say he was this eccentric.

Focusing on egg tarts would be one thing, but why did this person seem both easy-going and scatter-brained?

Is this the peculiar temperament of an industry leader? Never letting outsiders discern his inner thoughts from his expression, which was so chaotic it was impossible to read.

Master Zhou calmly said, "I made them."

"Huh?"

"Those egg tarts you just had were made by me," Master Zhou repeated.

Qin Huai almost blurted out, "Do you... enjoy making egg tarts?"

"Occasionally," Master Zhou said calmly, "Sometimes I also make tiramisu and mango pudding. I’ve been researching Western pastries recently and am starting with the simpler ones."

Qin Huai: ???

Oh no, he’s turned into a conservative.

Master Zhou seemed very pleased with Qin Huai’s surprised expression and continued, "I heard you were discovered by Zheng Da. Initially, Zheng Da brought you to Huang Ji. I bet Zheng Da often spoke ill of me to you."

Qin Huai: ... That’s not true; Zheng Da usually doesn’t reprimand Master Zhou since he rarely criticizes pastry masters better than him. To be precise, Zheng Da doesn’t really scold anyone, and even if he does, it’s usually Boss Su.

"Actually, no..." Qin Huai started weakly, but before he could finish, Master Zhou cut him off directly.

"I’m not some rigid old relic." Master Zhou slightly raised his eyebrows. "Whether it’s Chinese or Western pastries, both have their merits. Unlike Zhiwei Restaurant and Huang Ji, which can’t stand without their head chefs, we at Zhiwei are more diverse, expansive, innovative, and inclusive. Various styles, different schools, white案 pastry masters from all over are here at Zhiwei; it’s much more conducive for exchange compared to Huang Ji."

Qin Huai: ... Such a top-tier side-by-side comparison, truly fitting for the number one pastry restaurant, exuding confidence.

"Has your carsickness eased?" Master Zhou asked again.

Qin Huai really wanted to say no, but perhaps because he was overly shocked just now, he suddenly felt completely fine, without any nauseating discomfort, and even had a slight craving for another egg tart.

"I’m fine now," Qin Huai said honestly.

"Then let’s go inside and take a look, through the employee passage." After saying that, Master Zhou turned and walked to the left, and Qin Huai quickly followed.

The so-called employee passage Master Zhou was referring to was actually a side door, a small entrance at the back of Zhiwei Restaurant that required a card swipe to enter, looking very formal.

Master Zhou took out his work ID from his pocket, swiped it with a beep, and entered, maintaining a distance of about a meter, Qin Huai followed him inside, discovering that entering through this side door led directly to the employee lounge.

It actually was an employee passage.

Master Zhou led Qin Huai through the employee lounge to the changing room, took a key from his pocket, and handed it to Qin Huai, "Number Thirteen, there’s an employee uniform inside."

Qin Huai took the key and went in while Master Zhou stood at the door waiting. The layout of Zhiwei Restaurant’s changing room was similar to that of Huang Ji and Yunzhong Restaurant. One could only say that changing rooms around the world might all be the same—just like in TV dramas.

It’s just that Zhiwei Restaurant’s changing room was relatively larger, hinting at its large number of staff.

Qin Huai found locker number 13, opened it, and found an employee uniform inside, with his name on it.

Qin Huai could only marvel at Zhiwei Restaurant’s efficiency. He’d only learned a few days ago that he would be coming to Zhiwei for an exchange today, yet Zhiwei had managed to prepare an employee uniform in such a short time and even embroidered his name on it, living up to being the number one pastry restaurant.