"Master Ma, we have a lot of customers today, so you'll need to adjust the flavors yourself!" Old Han's eyes were fixed on Ma Hua; he didn't want anything to go wrong on such an important day.

"Excuse me, but where are you from? And what about the guests we have today? Also, are there any dietary restrictions regarding the ingredients?" Ma Hua asked, frowning. He could see the doubt in Uncle Han's eyes. There was nothing he could do; his youthful appearance made him seem incompetent!

"There are no dietary restrictions, but most of the guests today are from the Northeast, and there are two from Hunan," Old Han thought for a moment.

Ma Hua nodded upon hearing this, then walked to the table and looked at the pile of dishes in front of him. He had already begun to think about what to cook.

"Hmm! Uncle Han, how about this? I'll give you a menu now, see if it suits you. If not, I'll revise it. What do you think?"

Seeing Lao Han nod, Ma Hua began to speak: "Today I plan to make shredded pork with sweet bean sauce, Kung Pao chicken, honey-glazed cabbage in a clay pot, sweet and sour pork, chicken stew with mushrooms, stir-fried pork with chili peppers, Dongpo pork, spicy chicken cubes, and braised pork slices."

"We have vegetarian dishes: stir-fried potatoes, eggplant, and green peppers; scrambled eggs with tomatoes; and tofu. Finally, we'll have two soups: clear broth with white fungus and mutton soup."

"Okay, okay, I think we'll do it the way Chef Ma suggested. The banquet starts at 12 o'clock. Please bear with us, Chef Ma," Old Han nodded in satisfaction after hearing the menu Ma Hua presented.

Putting everything else aside, these dishes have catered to everyone's tastes; I just don't know how they'll turn out in the end.

"Oh, right, since it's Grandma's birthday today, I'll make her a bowl of longevity noodles one last time. I'm sure she'll like it."

After hearing this, Lao Han couldn't help but nod to Ma Hua. Regardless of his skill level, the person Lao Wang recommended was truly meticulous: "Then thank you, Master Ma."

“It’s no trouble at all, it’s all part of my job. Just watch, the banquet will start promptly at 12 o’clock, and it definitely won’t delay your business,” Ma Hua said, then put on an apron and began to prepare the ingredients.

Seeing Ma Hua's focused expression, Lao Han nodded in satisfaction and left. A short while later, Ma Hua efficiently washed and tidied up the vegetables.

The continuous sound of chopping vegetables came from the kitchen. After Ma Hua finished preparing the various side dishes, he glanced at the clock on the wall and the time was just right.

The MCA (Malaysian Chinese Association) began their performance with flames rising, ingredients dancing in the wok, and enticing aromas wafting from the kitchen.

In the kitchen, Ma Hua used all his skills, frying, stir-frying, boiling, and deep-frying—he employed every culinary technique imaginable—and one delicious dish after another quickly appeared in his hands.

After Ma Hua finished cooking, she noticed Uncle Han standing to the side and said, "Uncle Han, it's all done. If it's not enough, just let me know, and I can add more."

“Okay,” Lao Han picked up the last dish and turned to leave. Ma Hua sat in the kitchen for a while to rest, and then began to clean up the kitchen.

Afterwards, the guests in the living room chatted and drank, and there was no embarrassing incident as expected. After all, the people who were invited here had seen all kinds of food and drinks.

After the banquet ended, Uncle Han saw Ma Hua off, giving him not only a red envelope but also several boxes of pastries wrapped in kraft paper.

Ma Hua carried the snacks and rode his bicycle to his mother's house. When he got home, it was already afternoon, and he saw his mother tidying up the house.

When Ma Hua's mother saw that he had arrived at this hour, she was quite surprised: "Xiao Hua, why are you back so early today?"

"Didn't our director ask me to cook for them? That's why I came back early. Mom, look, this is a thank-you gift they gave me!" Ma Hua proudly showed off the snacks to her mother.

"Good, good, our Xiaohua has made something of herself, she can even cook for others now." Mother Chen Hongmei's eyes were practically brimming with laughter.

However, her mother immediately said with a stern face, "Xiaohua, Mom has another principle to tell you. Since you have chosen to be a cook, remember, when you go to cook for someone else, only bring your hands and not your mouth, understand?"

Just focus on cooking. Don't ask about the guests, and absolutely do not pry into their affairs. You are a cook; just focus on making the dishes you're cooking, understand?

"Yes, Mom, I know. You know I'm not a talkative person." Seeing her mother's serious expression, Ma Hua immediately nodded to indicate that she understood.

"Hey, don't think you're so great now. Diligence in the trade is all about practice and learning. Only then can your cooking skills improve," the mother said, feeling much relieved to see Ma Hua nod.

"Also, Xiaohua, remember this: never follow the example of that silly Zhu you mentioned before. Being a cook is a profession that requires following the rules. Forget about the gifts from the employer, but never steal anything from them."

The mother was filled with mixed emotions. She hadn't expected Xiaohua to be so talented, starting to cook for people so quickly. Should she ask her friends to help Xiaohua find a tutor?

After all, having a master or disciple makes a world of difference compared to not having one.

Seeing that his mother had fallen into deep thought after speaking, Ma Hua immediately asked, "Mom, what's wrong?"

"Oh, it's nothing," the mother shook her head, deciding to stop overthinking it. She'd wait for the old man to return and discuss it with him.

"Mom, I'm home early today, so why don't I cook for you later?" Ma Hua volunteered, though she still felt a little embarrassed. She'd been so busy for so long that she hadn't cooked for her family yet; her mother had always been the one working so hard for the household.

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