Universe Infinite Canteen

"So, does the kitchen still need help? I could... I could clean," Hou Yihan still hadn't given up.

"The kitchen isn't hiring," Ma Lu shook his head.

The kitchen was the most critical area of Universe Infinite Canteen, and with Valkyrie People working inside, only Ma Lu and Ma Youyou had access, not even He Xiaoqian, let alone Hou Yihan.

"Oh." Hou Yihan, upon hearing this, was very disappointed and sniffed forcefully twice, as if trying to smell what delicious food the restaurant was preparing for that day.

Seeing her so eager, Ma Lu thought for a moment and then said, "The front of the house and kitchen really aren't short of people, but if you really want a job, there is another position..."

"What position?" Hou Yihan perked up again.

"Being my personal assistant."

The girl took two steps back and clutched her chest, looking wary.

"What are you thinking? I just have too many things on my hands and need to look after the shop. I need someone to run errands for me outside, and you can come back for the staff meal when it's time to eat," Ma Lu said.

Upon hearing this, Hou Yihan breathed a sigh of relief, "What do you need me to do, boss?"

"I'm planning to move soon and have found a few properties, but it would be a waste of time to check each one out. You could help me make a few visits.

"I'll send you the contact numbers and WeChat of those agents; you can help me take some photos when you go, see what the occupancy rate of the community is like, and check if the facilities in the surrounding area are convenient."

"Sure, boss." Hou Yihan took the contact details and was about to leave but was called back by Ma Lu, "Wait a minute, we haven't discussed your pay yet. What's the rush?"

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Hou Yihan scratched her head, not hiding her intentions anymore, "I'm really just here for the food, but as for the money, you decide, boss."

Ma Lu pondered for a moment, "The students who worked part-time in my shop previously got 50 yuan per hour. Since you'll be running around outside, let's make it 70 yuan per hour including transportation costs. If you do a good job, I'll also give you a red packet as a bonus. How does that sound?"

"No problem," Hou Yihan happily responded, "I love wandering around aimlessly. I usually have nothing better to do, just roaming around looking for food."

Seeing the girl about to dash out the door again, Ma Lu called after her once more, "Hey, hey, hey, don't rush; it's mealtime. Finish eating before you go."

"Right, right, right," Hou Yihan immediately stopped in her tracks, standing there with a look of anticipation.

The staff meal usually differs from the dishes on the weekly menu.

What they eat mainly depends on which ingredients are abundant in the Desktop Farm at the time, but since Old Wang is in charge, the quality is assured.

Additionally, since Ma Lu also eats the staff meals, he wouldn't subject his employees to the misfortune of eating the same thing for several days. Essentially, the menu changes daily.

For instance, tonight's meal was Chef's sheep stomach grill rice, a dish cooked using the stomach of a Sickle-horned Antelope as a container.

According to Old Wang, it was originally invented by a clan of the Sand Lizard People.@@novelbin@@

These Sand Lizard People live in deserts filled with various dangers and can't cook using fire. So, after hunting a Sickle-horned Antelope, they would remove its stomach pouch, clean it, and use it as a container, and then stuff all other ingredients and spices right in.

At noon, when the sun was at its strongest, they would find a spot of sand directly exposed to the sunlight, bury the prepared stomach there, and wait for an hour. The heat from the ground would then cook the contents of the stomach, and after digging it out, it was ready to eat.

Old Wang had modified the original dish to a certain extent, and it had become Chef's special sheep tripe charred rice.

The main challenge was simulating geothermal heating for the sheep tripe, a task modern ovens struggle with. Old Wang had tried several times before he found the right kitchen tools to cook this dish.

Unfortunately, the cooking process was still a bit too complex, and coupled with Ma Lu's recent obsession with medicinal cuisine, he didn't add this dish to the menu.

However, it was precisely because of this that Hou Yihan was even more excited when she got to try it.

Although the high prices at Ma Lu's restaurant had deterred her initially, as a die-hard fan of Universe Infinite Canteen, she still kept up with every move of the restaurant.

She knew every new dish by heart each week, so she was well aware that this dish was not on the menu.

Was the staff meal actually a rare hidden version?

Hou Yihan couldn't wait to fill a bowl and then handed it first to Ma Lu, respectfully saying, "Here you go, boss."

"Ah, we're all friends here, no need to be so formal," Ma Lu said with a smile as he took the bowl.

"Xiao Hou, this isn't good. You're putting too much pressure on everyone else. Besides, what if one day you're too far away and can't make it back for a meal? Then no one will serve me food," he said.

"Don't worry, boss, no matter how far, I will definitely come back for the meal!" Hou Yihan declared resolutely.

Hearing this, He Xiaoqian also put down her chopsticks, "Do you need someone to serve you food, boss? If Xiao Hou isn't here, I can help, and actually, I might as well just do it from now on."

"Hey, that would be too awkward for me," Ma Lu said, though his smile was clearly one of joy.

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Ma Youyou wanted to say something but ultimately decided to focus on her meal instead.

By this time, Hou Yihan's heart had entirely flown to the Chef's special sheep tripe charred rice. She planned to serve others, but He Xiaoqian was quicker. She took Hou Yihan's bowl and filled it to the brim.

Hou Yihan hurriedly thanked her, took the bowl, and upon smelling the enticing aroma, she couldn't hold back any longer and began to devour it eagerly.

Indeed, the flavor did not disappoint her. The first bite brought the unique scorching sensation of the desert. Each grain of rice was like a tiny sun, harboring an astounding amount of heat.

But oddly, it didn't feel dry; it seemed that the sheep tripe had locked in the moisture. Unlike a typical rice cooker which only heats from the bottom, when the sheep tripe was buried underground, it was surrounded by heat from all directions, allowing for an even cooking and the meaty aroma infiltrating the rice and the side dishes.

Hou Yihan finished a bowl in less than three minutes, then looked at Ma Lu and raised her hand, "Boss, may I have some more?"

"Of course, since you work here, you'll definitely have enough food," Ma Lu said.

So Hou Yihan joyfully served herself another bowl, and she didn't stop until she had consumed two and a half bowls. She didn't dare drink any water and was leaning against the wall when she walked out the door.

After she left, He Xiaoqian quietly asked Ma Lu, "Does Xiao Hou come from a poor family?"

"Ah, I shouldn't think so. She's always running around, not like someone from a family without money," Ma Lu said. "Next time she comes back, I'll ask her. If her family really is struggling, I can give her a bit more bonus."