The implication is that you can cook your best dish and let the judges see your highest level of culinary skills.
Upon hearing this, the other participants in the assessment couldn't help but look at Chen Jun.
What's the meaning?
This kid isn't very skilled, but he has a strong background, so the judges should give him a chance to succeed.
Or is it that the judges wanted to see just how good the kid's first two dishes really were?
For a moment, they were all confused about what it meant.
Chen Jun shook his head and said calmly, "Let's draw lots instead."
It's best not to make any special exceptions for this kind of senior cook assessment. It's safest to just participate in the assessment in a regular manner. Otherwise, what if you pass the level 2 cook assessment and get reported by some jealous people later?
"Alright, let's continue with the drawing of lots." The old man who had just spoken didn't say much and arranged for Chen Jun to continue drawing lots.
The third dish is a classic Shandong dish, Nine-Turned Intestines.
This dish is quite difficult to make, requiring a high level of skill in handling and cooking the ingredients. Improper handling can easily result in the dish losing its original flavor.
Of course, in this kind of advanced chef assessment, unless the contestant and the judge have a grudge, they will definitely clean the large intestine very thoroughly.
After the judges tasted the braised pork intestines, they fell into a collective silence.
No problem!
They couldn't find a single fault with this braised pork intestine dish. It was of the same standard as the previous two dishes, with perfect color, aroma, and taste. Its skill level was already on par with theirs, especially its knife skills, which were even more stable than some first-class chefs. They might even pass the first-class chef assessment.
Unfortunately, Chen Jun applied for a Level 2 cook position, and even the judges couldn't organize a Level 1 cook assessment on short notice.
"Young man, you must be Chen Jun from Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill?" the old man in his seventies asked.
Chen Jun nodded.
"Hmm, very good." The old man smiled. "After our evaluation, you have passed this test."
"Are you interested in taking the Level 1 assessment? We can conduct a separate evaluation for you in a few days."
When the old man said this, his eyes were filled with anticipation and excitement.
If a first-class cook in his teens or twenties really appeared in Beijing, it would probably cause quite a stir, right?
"My skill level isn't high enough for Level 1 yet. I'll train for a few more years before I take the Level 1 cook exam again." Chen Jun shook his head slightly, declining the judges' suggestion.
For now, the rank of a second-level cook is sufficient; any higher and he might be transferred from the steel rolling mill to another unit.
These past few years haven't been a good time to show off; it's been just fine to be a director at the steel rolling mill.
"Hehe, young man, you are quite steady, neither arrogant nor impatient."
The old man nodded, and then loudly announced Chen Jun's assessment results.
"Chen Jun of Hongxing Steel Rolling Mill passed the assessment for Level 2 cooks."
The other candidates looked at Chen Jun with envy. If nothing unexpected happened, Chen Jun would be the only one to pass today's senior cook assessment.
After Chen Jun left the examination site, he did not rush to leave, but instead strolled over to another examination site.
This is the testing ground for junior cooks; Sha Zhu is taking the seventh-level cook exam inside.
That's right, he's a level seven cook.
This guy had only taken the ninth-level cook exam once before, but after learning from Chen Jun for so long, he skipped a level this time.
After waiting for about two or three minutes, Sha Zhu came out from inside, shaking his head.
Seeing that Chen Jun was waiting for him, he ran over excitedly.
"Chen Jun, I passed! I passed! I'm a level seven cook now!"
It's quite difficult to skip level eight and go straight to level seven, but Sha Zhu followed Chen Jun around all day learning to cook, and he could even cook some dishes for guests from time to time. His skills improved very quickly, and he was much better than when he was at Fengdenglou.
"Congratulations," Chen Jun said with a smile.
"Hahaha, I'm nowhere near as good as you. You're a Level 2 cook, we can forget about ever reaching that level in our lives." Sha Zhu grinned foolishly, his words full of envy.
The level two cook qualification is no longer something that can be obtained simply through hard work.
Otherwise, second-level cooks wouldn't be so rare.
Sha Zhu thought he had some talent, but he never thought he could pass the Level 2 exam. He thought that if he could become a Level 5 cook, he could live a life without worrying about food and drink.
Even if you don't become a foreman in a steel rolling mill, you can still become a master chef in a restaurant.
Thinking of this, Sha Zhu couldn't help but recall his days as an apprentice at Fengdenglou.
Chef Liang, the head chef in the kitchen, seems to be only at level five or six, yet he earns more in a month than everyone else in the kitchen earns in a year.
Not only is the salary high, but you can also bring groceries home.
New cooks can only bring one vegetarian dish, those who have been cooking for a year or two can bring two vegetarian dishes, and those who have been cooking for a second year are even better off, able to bring one meat dish and one vegetarian dish.
For someone like Master Liang, there are no restrictions. As long as it's not too excessive, he can bring as many as he wants.
So Master Liang's whole family ate well and were plump and healthy, living a very comfortable life.
If Sha Zhu were to return to Fengdenglou now, he could at least become a second-in-command.
"Let's go back to the factory. Come to my house for drinks after work!" Sha Zhu readily got on his bicycle and took Chen Jun back to the steel rolling mill.
After get off work, Sha Zhu went to the market and bought two pounds of mutton, planning to have hot pot at home.
But as soon as he stepped into the courtyard, he was noticed by the third uncle.
"Hey, you silly Zhu, are you tired of living?"
Yan Bugui was startled. Although Sha Zhu and Liu Lan earned a decent salary, they usually couldn't afford to buy meat like this, especially mutton, which was much more expensive than pork.
"Hey, I'm so happy today, let's go home and have hot pot!" Sha Zhu said, beaming.
A seventh-level cook, he was already higher than his father who had run away. If it weren't for Chen Jun in the courtyard, he would be the highest-ranking cook in the entire courtyard.
Despite how much Sha Zhu dislikes He Daqing, it's still something to celebrate that his son has surpassed his father in certain aspects.
"What good news? Tell Uncle San." Yan Bugui glanced at the mutton, then smiled and leaned closer: "Is your wife pregnant again?"
"Oh, it's not about the kids. I passed the cook exam today, and my salary increased by ten yuan."
Wow!
Ten yuan increase in a month?
Yan Bugui quickly asked, "You get a ten-yuan raise for each level you get?"
His son, Yan Jiecheng, works in the canteen, and Yan Bugui is hoping that Yan Jiecheng will become a chef in the future.
"No, I've been promoted twice and I'm a level seven cook now." Sha Zhu proudly raised his chin: "Speaking of which, I have to thank Chen Jun. If it weren't for him always guiding me, I would have had a hard time passing the level eight exam."
"This mutton is for treating Chen Jun to dinner."
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