Chapter 180 Crispy Pork Belly

Every step must be taken with extreme caution.

Following Bai Xiaoxiao through the oppressive dormitory area, we entered a relatively spacious building next door.

Upon entering, a mixture of smells of food, disinfectant, and cooking fumes hits you – this is the Sacred Heart Church's internal canteen.

The cafeteria is large and can accommodate hundreds of people at the same time, but it was empty at this time because it was not yet mealtime.

Bai Xiaoxiao didn't stop, but walked straight through the dining area and pushed open a metal door that read "Kitchen restricted area, no unauthorized personnel allowed".

The scene in the kitchen came into view.

The area is not small, and the equipment seems to be quite complete, but the overall environment gives people the feeling of neglect.

Several people dressed in white but slightly yellowed chef uniforms were busy with their own tasks, washing vegetables and cutting ingredients. When they saw Bai Xiaoxiao bring in two unfamiliar faces, they all stopped what they were doing and looked at her with curiosity, scrutiny, and even a bit of a scrutinizing gaze.

"Boss Zhang," Bai Xiaoxiao called out to a slightly overweight middle-aged man who was checking the ingredients list. He was wearing an apron that was cleaner than the others. "The person has been brought. Manager Wang introduced him. He will be working under you from now on."

The man known as Boss Zhang raised his head, his gaze sweeping over Su Xiaonuan and Lu Zheng, lingering for a moment, especially on their shabby clothes. He frowned almost imperceptibly, his face showing no enthusiasm, and simply nodded businesslike: "Okay, I understand."

Bai Xiaoxiao seemed to have completed her task. Without saying a word, she turned and left the kitchen, her figure quickly disappearing outside the door.

Su Xiaonuan felt a sense of relief. With Bai Xiaoxiao, their monitor, no longer watching them, their actions were actually easier.

If she stays by my side at all times, that would be really troublesome.

Zhang, the foreman, sized them up a few times, his tone not very polite: "What's your name? Have you worked in the kitchen before?"

Su Xiaonuan quickly stepped forward, a humble and honest smile on her face, and bowed slightly: "Master Zhang, my name is Su Xiaonuan, and this is my husband, Lu Zheng. We...we used to work as kitchen helpers in a small restaurant back home, just doing odd jobs like washing dishes and chopping vegetables..." Her voice grew softer and softer, tinged with a lack of confidence.

Lu Zheng nodded awkwardly and coughed twice in agreement.

A burly man chopping bones nearby scoffed upon hearing this, his voice booming: "Chopping vegetables? With your small frame, don't cut your hands! We have heavy work here!" His tone was clearly disdainful.

Another woman who was picking vegetables muttered, "Why did Manager Wang introduce these two... are they even suitable?"

Clearly, some of the original staff in the kitchen harbored some resentment and hostility towards the two who had been parachuted in and looked so "frail".

Su Xiaonuan's face immediately showed fear and unease, and she waved her hands repeatedly: "We...we can do it! We can do any dirty or hard work! We are not afraid of hardship!" As she spoke, she subconsciously tugged at Lu Zheng's sleeve.

Lu Zheng also raised his head, trying to straighten his hunched back, his voice hoarse but firm: "I...I can help too."

Seeing their eagerness to perform, yet also their pitiful appearance, Zhang's expression softened somewhat.

He waved his hand, interrupting the others' discussion: "Alright, alright, since you're here, do your job well. Um... Xiao Su, right? Go over there and help Aunt Li wash the vegetables. Xiao Lu... if you're not feeling well, don't touch the ingredients. Go peel those potato peels over there, be careful with your hands."

He assigned only the most basic and error-free tasks.

"Oh! Okay! Thank you, Master Zhang!" Su Xiaonuan's face immediately lit up with a grateful smile, as if she had received a great blessing. She quickly ran to the pond and gave Aunt Li, who was picking vegetables, a flattering smile: "Aunt Li, let me help you."

Lu Zheng silently walked to the pile of potatoes in the corner, picked up a peeler, and began peeling them slowly but with unusual seriousness.

In the time that followed, Su Xiaonuan fully lived up to her persona as a "warm and hardworking young wife".

She washes vegetables with exceptional care and speed. Whenever she sees someone in need of help, she immediately steps forward to assist, handing them a plate or carrying a basket, all the while calling them "Master," "Big Brother," or "Big Sister" with utmost humility.

She even "casually" mentioned that she and her man were in debt and had lost their child. She said she was working to pay off the debt and survive. When she got emotional, her eyes even reddened slightly.

Although Lu Zheng was a man of few words, he peeled potatoes meticulously, quickly and cleanly. Occasionally, he would look up at the busy Su Xiaonuan, his eyes filled with dependence and concern.

Their diligence, honesty, pitiful background, and ability to read the room and respect their "seniors" quickly won over some of the kitchen staff.

Especially Aunt Li, seeing Su Xiaonuan's thin figure busy running around, and recalling her "tragic" experience, couldn't help but feel pity. She took the initiative to talk to her and told her some rules and precautions for the kitchen.

The burly man who had initially been disdainful, though still not very friendly, at least stopped making sarcastic remarks.

In less than a morning, Su Xiaonuan and Lu Zheng had successfully integrated into the small kitchen environment, at least on the surface.

Their simplicity and enthusiasm temporarily quelled the underlying discontent, securing a relatively safe foothold for themselves.

All of this was carried out under the constant, omnipresent surveillance of their "eyes," with every expression and every movement meticulously designed and controlled.

Busy times fly by, and before we knew it, it was time to prepare lunch.

Boss Zhang came over with the menu set by the higher-ups for today to assign tasks.

As Su Xiaonuan listened, she busily helped prepare the ingredients.

When she heard that "braised pork belly" was on the menu and saw that there was quite a bit of high-quality pork belly in the ingredient section, she was slightly tempted.

The system's task for today is to sell [Crispy Pork Belly]. Although the situation is special right now, "making" should still count as part of completing the task, right?

Moreover, this is an excellent opportunity to further demonstrate one's "value" and attract the attention of higher-ups.

She carefully observed the seasonings and equipment in the kitchen and found that although they were not top-of-the-line, they were more than enough to make an excellent crispy pork belly dish.

When Zhang assigned her to help prepare the ingredients for braised pork, Su Xiaonuan hesitated, looking as if she wanted to say something but couldn't. She whispered to Zhang, "Master Zhang... um, I think the pork belly looks pretty good today... In my hometown, there's a specialty called crispy pork belly, it's really fragrant and goes well with rice... How about I try making a small portion? For... for the leaders to try? If it's not good, it's on me..."

Her voice trailed off, carrying a hint of insecurity and a fear of being blamed.