Chapter 45: Pastry Chef

Chapter 45: Pastry Chef

The descent from the mountain was arduous for the trio once again.

Ming Yue noticed that her constitution was improving with each passing day.

They arrived at Ming Yue's home for a gathering, where they cooked hotpot to enjoy together.

Wang Qian, being a local, lived with her parents. Zhang Heng, on the other hand, was still renting a place, but thanks to the generous salary from Ming Yue, he managed to secure a one-bedroom apartment near the company, leading a comfortable life on his own.

After dinner, Zhang Heng drove back home, while Wang Qian stayed over at Ming Yue's place for the night. The house had three bedrooms and a living room, with one of the rooms occasionally used by Wang Qian, leaving another to be converted into a study.

Ming Yue's bedroom was the largest, featuring a floor-to-ceiling window that offered a view of the city's twinkling lights.

In the past, as she roamed through Yan Jing, gazing upon the sea of lights, she could only dream of finding her place in this bustling metropolis. She thought it would take years to achieve, yet here she was, having realized her dream.

It would be wonderful if her parents were willing to move in, allowing her to purchase a house with a yard. However, they were accustomed to their hometown, where their relatives resided, and Ming Yue didn't want to force them to relocate.

She enjoyed a peaceful night's sleep, waking up to find Wang Qian still in bed, seemingly sealed by its comfort.

Ming Yue went out for a jog and returned with breakfast.

There were matters to attend to at the company, and as a small boss, Zhang Heng had to work overtime.

Ming Yue, however, was more relaxed, reviewing her status panel:

"Charm: 83 (100) 'A Feast for the Eyes'

Career: 38 (100) 'Modest Success'

Assets: 218.6 million yuan

One property at Royal Palace, Hoi Fook Building, garden villa, one African mine, 80% of Yuehua Technology, 30% of Songmo Media.

Skills: Business Administration (Beginner), Culinary Arts (Intermediate), Makeup (Intermediate), Investment (Beginner), Midas Touch (Advanced) 'Shallow Skills'

Special Item: Portable Space 10x10m"

Ming Yue stroked her chin, contemplating her wealth. Compared to tycoons, she was still lacking, but it was a dream come true compared to her past self.

She opened Boss Zhipin, curious about the job opportunities available to her.

Having previously worked as a Didi driver, she wondered what else she could do now.

Ming Yue's thoughts raced.

An idea struck her.

Become a pastry chef.

With her intermediate culinary skills, the system provided by Yuan Bao proved effective, including pastry-making lessons.

Applying for a pastry chef position would allow her to put her skills into practice.

Without hesitation, she grabbed her bag and prepared to leave.

Realizing her attire wasn't suitable, she quickly changed into a simple white T-shirt before heading out.

Driving to the nearby patisserie, she had seen the job posting on the recruitment website.

Upon entering, a staff member greeted her warmly.

"Welcome! What can I get for you?"

Ming Yue surveyed the surroundings. Though primarily a patisserie, it also served beverages.

The shop was divided into two sections, offering both takeaway and dine-in options.

The ambiance resembled that of a café, with elegant piano music playing softly in the background.

"I'm here for the job interview."

Ming Yue said with a smile, handing over her phone which contained her conversation with the manager.

The staff member's eyes lit up. Who wouldn't appreciate having a beautiful colleague?

She promptly contacted the manager, who emerged from the kitchen, his eyes brightening at the sight of Ming Yue. He felt elated inside.

Undeniably, beauty held an advantage in society.

"Let's see your skills in the kitchen!"

The manager led Ming Yue directly to the back.

"What type of pastries are you proficient in?"

He asked, already deciding that as long as Ming Yue's skills were decent, he would hire her. A beautiful pastry chef could potentially attract a significant number of customers with just a bit of promotion.

"I'm skilled in both Western pastries and traditional Chinese desserts."

Ming Yue stated confidently. She often experimented with these creations at home, equipped with all the necessary appliances like ovens.

"Then let's start with a cake. Show me what you've got."

The manager didn't specify a particular recipe but gave a broad theme, allowing Ming Yue to showcase her abilities.

Making a cake might seem simple, but impressing the manager would prove to be a greater challenge.

After some thought, Ming Yue settled on a design she wanted to create.

The sponge cake was ready-made, its surface coated with animal cream.

At this stage, the store manager still found it unremarkable, thinking it could be handled with his right hand alone, but at some point, he realized it was heading towards something extraordinary.

The forty-something store manager's composure crumbled, his mind filled with countless exclamations of surprise.

Mountains towered, lush forests and elegant bamboos, clear streams and swift rapids.

A meandering stream banquet, arranged in perfect order.

The scenery was there, the people were there—it was perfect.

This wasn't just a pastry chef; calling her an artist would not be an exaggeration.

He wasn't wrong. Ming Yue had been interested in this field since childhood, so she had self-taught herself painting, which paired beautifully with pastries—a match made in heaven.

Just when the store manager thought it was over, he was surprised to find that it wasn't.

Using fondant as her canvas, she penned down the Preface to the Poems Composed at the Orchid Pavilion, draping it over the cake, poetry adorning the artwork—a stroke of genius!

Good!

Good!

Very good!

The store manager clapped his hands vigorously, his face beaming with joy. Ming Yue's movements were fluid, the finished product highly artistic, leaving him extremely satisfied.

"Do I need to make Chinese-style desserts?"

Ming Yue put down her tools, removed her gloves, and asked.

"No need. Just come to work tomorrow."

It was clear she was an expert, and they couldn't let her slip away to another store, becoming their competition.

Thus, Ming Yue was simply hired.

"That... "

The store manager looked at her, hesitating to speak.

"Manager, if you have something to say, just say it."

Ming Yue spoke kindly.

"I was wondering if the cake you made could be displayed outside?"

To be honest, Chinese-style cakes were relatively rare in the store, especially such works of art resembling ink paintings.

"Yes"

Ming Yue said nonchalantly. She could create one, and she could create another, so it wasn't anything special to her.

"Manager, I might not stay long."

When Ming Yue said this, the manager's smile vanished.

"We'll give you good benefits—five insurances and one fund, a monthly salary of twenty thousand."

He didn't want Ming Yue to go to another store.

"It's not what you think. This job is just temporary for me. If the manager doesn't need temporary staff, then I might not be able to work tomorrow."

Ming Yue wasn't lying. Although she enjoyed such creations, she couldn't be a pastry chef for life.

The manager hesitated for a long time before reluctantly saying:

"Alright, you can start working, we'll talk about the future later."

Everything depended on the results. If Ming Yue didn't significantly impact customer traffic, he could search for a more suitable pastry chef during this time. If her influence was significant, he would improve her benefits to keep her.

They agreed, and they signed a contract.

The store manager had another pastry chef show Ming Yue some of the pastries sold in the store. Ming Yue followed along, trying her hand at making some, without any major issues.

Their store had dedicated bakers, and Ming Yue and the other pastry chef only needed to make higher-end, more exquisite pastries.