Ling Dapeng wanted the leftovers from the restaurant's kitchen after closing time. Tao Wanniang was a little surprised, but she didn't refuse outright. She just asked, "The restaurant should use the food that can be used. If it's discarded, the taste will be different. Are you planning to eat it the next day if you take it home?"

"Mom, I'm the only one earning money to support the whole family, I can't afford not to be frugal!" Ling Dapeng cried out, "Mom, can't you at least let me take the rest of these things?"

Tao Wanniang frowned. From Ling Dapeng's words, she could tell he was in a bad mood. Without a doubt, he was still holding a grudge against her for deducting his pay.

There were indeed some leftover dishes in the kitchen, such as stewed bone broth, which she used as staff meals because they weren't sold out that day!

“Didn’t I already let you eat all the leftovers from the kitchen before you finished work?” Tao Wanniang retorted.

Ling Dapeng was taken aback, frowned, and thought for a moment. People at the restaurant finish work very late; after a long day, everyone usually gets together for a meal, so…

"Mother, is there nothing more?" Ling Dapeng asked, sounding quite disappointed.

“If you can’t even control the amount of food you eat every day, wouldn’t you be wasting a lot of food every day?” Tao Wan’s mother retorted. “I know you want to support your family, but you have enough money to feed Zhou Xiaoyun and the children! You should work hard for a year and I won’t treat you unfairly.”

Another expectation was dashed, and Ling Dapeng felt quite bad.

"Mother, if there's nothing else, I'll go and get back to work." Ling Dapeng walked away regretfully.

"Mother, what's wrong with Dapeng?" Wang Hongyu asked, seeing Ling Dapeng's appearance.

"It's alright, just get back to work." Tao Wanniang didn't reveal too much, as she suspected Ling Dapeng's thoughts would only deepen. "You've mastered a few dishes; if anyone orders anything today, you can cook them while I oversee things."

“Okay, Mother, thank you for teaching me.” Wang Hongyu said excitedly. Before, when she was at the small restaurant, she could only watch from the side and her mother-in-law wouldn’t say much. Now, however, her mother-in-law was teaching her step by step.

Moreover, Wang Hongyu also discovered that Tao Wanniang did not keep anything to herself. She would answer any questions asked by the apprentices in the kitchen, and when she had free time, she would also give them pointers on knife skills and plating.

"Manager Tao, you're really generous. I've heard that some master chefs treasure their culinary skills like precious gems," Liu Yueniang said curiously. Just like how her family doesn't pass on their pastry-making skills to outsiders!

"Cooking skills are developed through practice. The quality of a dish depends on the heat, the amount of seasoning, and how you toss the wok. I've only gained some experience after cooking for half my life," Tao Wanniang said modestly.

“That makes sense, but the methods are all accumulated from our predecessors. Just like my pastry-making techniques and recipes, they’ve been passed down through generations in my Liu family. Seeing how many apprentices you’ve taken on, I’m getting a little itchy to do the same,” Liu Yueniang said. “Manager Tao, do you think I could take on an apprentice?”

“Of course you can, but aren’t you worried about your family’s pastry recipes being leaked? Wouldn’t this apprentice become a member of your Liu family?” Tao Wanniang teased.

Liu Yueniang smiled and said naturally, "If he really becomes my apprentice, then after performing the apprenticeship ceremony, he will be considered a member of my Liu family. After he completes his apprenticeship, even if he opens his own shop, he will still be making pastries from my Liu family."

Tao Wanniang smiled but didn't say anything. Her apprentices didn't necessarily have to be apprentices.

The atmosphere in the kitchen was always quite harmonious and lively, while the waiters were all very busy. The restaurant was operating normally, with customers everywhere, so no one had time to think about anything else.

Today's performers are still the girls from the Jiaosifang (a type of music and dance troupe). Their pipa music is as clear and melodious as pearls, and the girls from the Jiaosifang are all beautiful and charming. At a table near the stage are several young gentlemen.

"Miss Shishi's skills are superb, and she is also very beautiful. I came to the Star-Picking Tower for no other reason than to see Miss Shishi." The speaker was a young, slightly overweight man who was sipping wine while leering at the girl playing the pipa.

"You don't usually get to see girls from the Jiaosifang, so if you're interested in Miss Shishi, you should seize the opportunity!" the man at the table urged.

"That's right. What's the use of just talking if there's not enough money? Miss Shishi only plays for an hour. If we miss today, we'll have to wait several days."

Qian Yuanbao stared at Shishi, picked up his wine glass, and shouted for his tablemates to pour him more wine. After downing three glasses himself, he picked up another glass, climbed onto the stage, and went straight for Shishi.

“Miss Shishi, ever since I met you, I’ve been a frequent visitor to this Star-Picking Tower. Come, give me some face and have a drink.” As Qian Yuanbao spoke, he handed the wine cup to Shishi.

"Have a drink, have a drink, have a drink!" Qian Yuanbao's classmates at the table below the stage cheered.

Shishi frowned slightly, stopped playing, and refused, saying, "Young master, please have some self-respect and do not delay my pipa playing."

"Keep playing, keep playing! Listening to your pipa makes my bones feel weak." Qian Yuanbao said lecherously. Upon closer inspection, this Miss Shishi not only had a graceful figure, but her skin was also so delicate that it seemed like it could be broken with a touch, making him really want to touch it!

"What are you doing?" Ling Dapeng leaped onto the platform in one stride. "Go down and don't disturb Miss Shishi's pipa playing."

"A mere waiter dares to obstruct me? You'd better get out of my way." Qian Yuanbao, feeling the effects of the alcohol, said, "Shishi, I like you, will you have a drink with me?"

As Qian Yuanbao spoke, he moved even closer to Shishi, almost spilling his wine on her face.

"Get out of the way!" Shishi shouted sharply, standing up with her pipa in her arms and hiding behind Ling Dapeng.

"Sir, didn't you hear what Miss Shishi said? Please leave and don't disturb her playing the zither." Ling Dapeng was tall with regular features, and when he put on a stern face, he was quite intimidating.

"You...you stinky waiter!" Qian Yuanbao was furious that he hadn't been favored by the beauty, and with his friends in the audience egging him on, he got drunk and splashed the wine on Ling Dapeng's face.

"This wine is yours!" Qian Yuanbao said disdainfully. "Miss Shishi, you wouldn't happen to have taken a fancy to this stinking waiter, would you? It's not like I can't have someone from the Jiaosifang!"

"You... talking nonsense!" Shishi stood behind Ling Dapeng, completely obscuring his body. After Qian Yuanbao said that, Shishi couldn't help but glance at Ling Dapeng. She was petite, and looking up at him like that, she felt inexplicably nervous.

"Ha, a prostitute from the brothel and a waiter from the restaurant, what a perfect match." Qian Yuanbao saw Shishi's eyes, and a surge of lust rose in his heart.

Ling Dapeng swung his fist and shouted with a stern face, "Get down!" This person had splashed wine on him, making him want to hit someone.

"What, you want to hit me again?" Qian Yuanbao saw Ling Dapeng's fist, took a step back, and then shouted, "He hit someone! The waiter hit someone!" Instantly, several of Qian Yuanbao's friends ran up.