Huayu Chef

043 Entertainment Circle

"Jiajie knows Zhu Xiangyang, the editor-in-chief of Youku who is in charge of content. If you need anything, Jinxuan, you can ask Jiajie to help you arrange a meeting."

Zhang Jinxuan was overjoyed upon hearing this and quickly said, "Yes, I need to. Please ask Sister Yao Yao to tell Sister Jia that you can let me know if there's any news. Meng Ying will be the food taster for the third episode of 'Wild Kitchen,' Yang Zi wants to come for the fourth episode, and the fifth through twelfth episodes can be reserved for Xiao Chongchong and the others. I will send the plan to Sister Yao Yao in advance before each episode's filming, and you can arrange it accordingly."

"Thank you, Jinxuan."

"You're too kind, Sister Yao. By the way, when will my assistant be sent over?"

Zhang Jinxuan is busy filming "Wild Kitchen" and running a restaurant, so he's too busy to even check the news online. Now that he's famous and his acting career is booming, he desperately needs an assistant to help with related matters.

Why did he sign the contract?

Isn't it all about these resources and conveniences?

Yao Yao pondered for a moment and said, "Sister Jia is going to Beijing on Wednesday to take you and Meng Ying to have a photoshoot. Your assistant will be flying to Beijing with Sister Jia. Find her a place to stay in advance. You'll be responsible for her food, lodging, and transportation at Jin Xuan. Any problems?"

Zhang Jinxuan asked, "Can the studio resolve any issues?"

"It may not be able to solve the problem. For example, the studio does not reimburse non-salary expenses for artist assistants."

"Stingy."

"Long live understanding."

Zhang Jinxuan was speechless. "Fine, I'll take care of it. Assistant—male or female?"

"A pretty girl."

"Really?"

"It's absolutely true, you'll see him on Wednesday."

"Let me take a good look. It's not like the pretty girl is going to send it back and rearrange it for you."

OK.

"I'm hanging up now, there are customers at the store."

"That's all for now, you go ahead with your work, bye."

"Bye-bye, Sister Yao Yao."

After ending the call, Zhang Jinxuan put his phone in his pocket and quickly walked out of the kitchen to greet Grandma Lin and her family who were entering the store with a smile: "Grandma Lin, Aunt Xie, Xiaoguang, Xiaoyan, you're here so early!"

Xie Baoxin joked, "Xiao Zhang, your shop is doing so well, there are no seats left if you come late."

"There are indeed many people during lunch and dinner hours. Grandma Lin, Aunt Xie, Xiaoguang, Xiaoyan, and this gentleman, please sit down and wait a moment while I get you some braised dishes."

"Wait a minute." Xie Baoxin handed two large bags to Zhang Jinxuan and said, "Xiao Zhang, these are the pastries you ordered."

Working in the wild kitchen is physically demanding, and people get hungry easily. Tired of eating the braised dishes at the restaurant all the time, Zhang Jinxuan bought some pastries from Xie Baoxin's pastry shop as snacks for the employees to change their appetites and also maintain the friendship between the two parties.

If Wild Kitchen wants to grow bigger and stronger in the future and needs to recruit pastry chefs, it can strategically bring in a few outstanding talents from Luxiang Pastry Shop.

We're all friends, so there's no way we'll hurt each other's feelings.

"Auntie Xie, how much?"

"120 pieces."

Zhang Jinxuan turned his head and called out, "Xiao Yu, give Aunt Xie 120 yuan in change."

Xiao Yu brought the money over, and Xie Baoxin accepted it generously. She greeted Xiao Yu and pointed to the man next to her, introducing him: "Xiao Zhang, this is Xiao Mao, his full name is Mao Juncong. Your shop was looking to hire a braised food chef, right? He used to work in braised food at the restaurant, but he recently quit."

"Oh, thank you so much, Auntie Xie. You're a real lifesaver in Beijing," Zhang Jinxuan said gratefully, clasping his hands together.

Xie Baoxin was amused and burst into laughter.

Grandma Lin said irritably, "Xiao Zhang, you're thanking the wrong person. It has nothing to do with her. Look at me properly. I'm the one who introduced Xiao Mao."

Zhang Jinxuan immediately changed his tune: "Grandma Lin, I didn't thank the wrong person, I just haven't thanked you properly yet. You are a well-known good person in Beijing, kind-hearted, compassionate, loving to children, and always ready to help others..."

"Stop flattering me. Let's get down to business with Xiao Mao while there are fewer people around. It'll be troublesome when there are more people later."

"Alright, I'll do as you say."

Zhang Jinxuan invited the five people to sit down first, went into the kitchen and brought out some braised dishes for them to eat, and then called Mao Juncong aside to talk to him alone.

Mao Juncong briefly introduced his work experience, listening to Zhang Jinxuan speak while flipping through the employee handbook. The more he read, the more astonished he became, and he couldn't help but ask, "Mr... Boss Zhang, are the benefits listed in the employee handbook all true?"

Zhang Jinxuan gave an affirmative answer: "Really."

"Can all of these be implemented?"

"All of these can be implemented."

Mao Juncong scratched his head and exclaimed, "What you're doing isn't running a restaurant, it's running a charity."

"It's not as exaggerated as Brother Mao makes it out to be." Zhang Jinxuan smiled and said frankly, "Brother Mao, you were introduced by Grandma Lin, so I trust you. The benefits and compensation at Wild Kitchen are all written in the employee handbook. If you're willing to work here, you'll be paid your original full-time salary during the probation period, and 5000 a month after you become a full-time employee."

"I won't play games with you. There's only one week left in March, and that week is your probation period. We're a two-way selection process, and we need to work things out together. If we get along well after March and both of us want to continue working together, we'll make you a full-time employee in April and complete the official onboarding procedures."

Whether a chef has any skills or not can be revealed by the dish they prepare. A person's character is often inadvertently exposed.

Spending every day together, a week is enough.

If Mao Juncong is really good at pretending, it's his skill to fool Zhang Jinxuan. Zhang Jinxuan has to admit defeat.

"Okay, I'll work for a week first. When can I start work?"

"Did you bring your health certificate, ID card, and temporary residence permit?"

"I don't have a temporary residence permit, but I have a Beijing household registration."

Tsk, Mr. Jing.

Zhang Jinxuan gestured with his chin and said, "Look, there's a photocopy shop over there. Brother Mao, go over there and make copies of each of your documents. We'll sign a food confidentiality agreement, an employee handbook confirmation, and a trial contract. You can start working today."

Mao Juncong exclaimed in surprise, "So fast?"

Zhang Jinxuan grinned so hard his mouth almost split open, and he reached out his hand to Mao Juncong, "Brother Mao, welcome to Wild Kitchen."

Half an hour later, Grandma Lin and her family of four finished their braised dishes, said goodbye to Zhang Jinxuan, wiped their mouths, and left.

As Grandma Lin left the Wild Kitchen, she glanced back at Yu Jingmin and Mao Juncong, who were busy working. She was overjoyed. She had brought Xiao Zhang another talented person. Look how hard they were working! They must love this job.

Xiao Zhang's shop is still too small; it won't be able to attract talent here in the future.

"Oh, are you Grandma Lin?"

"Girl, you look unfamiliar. Whose child are you?"

"Grandma Lin, you don't recognize me? I've seen you on 'Wild Kitchen'. This must be Aunt Xie, hello."

"Hello……"

"Can we take a picture together?"

"A group photo? Sure."

"It's Grandma Lin."

"Hello Grandma Lin, are you here to persuade Brother Xuan to change his name?"

"What name should I change it to?"

"Wild Kitchen Transformed into Chef Cloud Society."

Grandma Lin, Aunt Xie, and others: "..."

Zhang Jinxuan was unaware of what was happening outside the shop; he was busy cutting duck necks for three shifty-looking female customers. One of them was Yang Zi, and the other two were her classmate and best friend, Yu Yue and Zhu Mengyao.

"Brother Xuan, I've spoken to the studio, and they've given me permission to film 'Wild Kitchen'," Yang Zi whispered.

"Have your agent add me on WeChat so we can coordinate our schedules."

"I'll add it when I get back."

Zhang Jinxuan nodded, packed the duck necks, and handed them to Zhu Mengyao: "Big Head, here are your duck necks."

Zhu Mengyao was speechless: "Senior brother, don't call me Big Head, call me Mengyao."

"Okay, Big Head."

"Haha." Yu Yue laughed so hard, she leaned out the window and asked, "Brother Xuan, can we go on your show?"

Zhang Jinxuan said apologetically, "Junior Sister Yu, you're too late. I've already promised someone else for the first season."

"Who's so fast?"

"From our studio."

Upon hearing this, Yu Yue knew it was hopeless. No matter how close classmates are, they can't be as close as colleagues from the same company, especially since she had never kissed Zhang Jinxuan.

"Remember to contact me if you want to film your senior again."

"OK."

Zhang Jinxuan readily agreed. In the later episodes of the first season of "Wild Kitchen," only one food taster would be featured per episode. This would increase the appeal and enrich the storyline without disrupting the balance. If there were too many people, it would be difficult to allocate screen time, and it would definitely create chaos.

When they have more money, the second season will introduce the "Back to Field" guest ordering setting, allowing the guests to go out and get the ingredients themselves, adding side stories and extending the time, with Zhang Jinxuan still cooking in the end.

The difficulty is increased, with guests occasionally putting Zhang Jinxuan through a difficult time, making the show even more entertaining.

At this point, inviting two or three guests per episode is no problem. Over a season, dozens of guests will become Zhang Jinxuan's connections within the industry.

There's a saying in the Chinese entertainment industry: "The entertainment circle is centered around He Jiong, with Wang Han and Xie Haha as its radii."

Zhang Jinxuan tried to form a united front with them.

"Brother Xuan, let's go."

Come visit often when you have time.

"Senior, if you promise not to call me Big Head, I'll come often."

"Okay, Big Head."

Haha~~