Learning Fast
Detective Lang indeed wanted to ask her some questions but had expected such an answer.
"It's alright, I understand. You need time to process what happened," said the detective as he turned to leave.
"I'll have some people escort you home when you're discharged."
"No, it's fine. You don't have to do that."
"Oh no, Miss Qincheng. Until you have given a statement at the precinct, I cannot close the case. Meaning, you're still a valuable witness to the crime. I must insist."
The detective didn't wait for a reply and left the room.
Outside, the detective's colleague, Detective Kris Chen, was waiting by the car.
"That was fast,"
He spoke.
"As expected, she wouldn't say anything about last night. She's not mentally ready for that."
"And you're willing to wait till she is?"
"She'll come around eventually, there's no rush. It'd be unfair to make her relive such an experience so soon. Call some people over to escort her back home when she gets discharged. We'll keep an eye on her until she gives her statement."
~Shen's Appetite~
The restaurant welcomed new customers over time. Among them was a customer who ordered the broccoli and bacon soup, the same as the first customer.
"This order is yours," said old man Shen.
"You've seen me make it already… it shouldn't be a problem for you, right?"
Old man Shen's idea of a test was to cook a meal once and let Zhi Luan handle it subsequently. Zhi Luan didn't mind and started prepping his utensils, just as old man Shen did.
Old man Shen watched as Zhi Luan replicated his every move to near perfection. From the way he sliced and fried the bacon, to the way he molded the tarts. Zhi Luan's movements weren't rushed nor was he anxious with the old man watching raptly.
It took longer than estimated, but Zhi Luan presented his dish, served steaming hot with a spicy rich aroma. Old man Shen silently observed the customer gobble up Zhi Luan's dish.
The restaurant welcomed more customers with each passing hour, and the employees always served with a smile. Over time, Zhi Luan cooked other dishes on the menu, and though he wasted a bit of time, he still delivered a wonderful dish at the end. Old man Shen handled a portion of the orders while Zhi Luan handled the rest. And though, old man Shen had his misgivings about Zhi Luan, he had to compliment the lad's cooking.
Time passed until mid-day. The Breakfast menu was withdrawn, and the Main Course menu was circulated. It was barely five hours from the time the restaurant opened till afternoon. And though old man Shen served the Breakfast menu, the supplies for it were limited, but it wasn't the same for the Main Course menu. Hence, why it was called that. Old man Shen was popular in the neighborhood, and everyone knew how he ran his restaurant.
An order was placed on the kitchen board, a Main course dish. Old man Shen looked at the order and called out,
"Watch closely," as he started prepping his utensils.
The order was a dish called the Orange Chicken. It consists of bite-sized pieces of breaded and deep-fried chicken breasts or thighs, coated in a sweet, savory, orange-flavored sauce, served with steamed vegetables and rice. Old man Shen worked fast, and after not too long, the order was ready.
Zhi Luan didn't take his eyes off the old man even for a second. Another order was pasted on the board, and it turned out to be the beef noodle stir fry. Shi Luan didn't need to be told what he had to do and took up the order. Watching Zhi Luan make this dish again filled the old man with a strange feeling, a feeling that bordered on belief and disbelief. And when he tasted it again, old man Shen unconsciously smacked his lips.
The other employees were equally astonished by Zhi Luan's output. The dishes he made were the same dishes they've served for a long time, yet they had a different appeal when he made them. This made them wonder how he suddenly started working here. Based on appearances, Zhi Luan looked like a young man in his early twenties, while the youngest among them, John Cang, was twenty-seven. Completely disregarding the old man's introductions, they had to know everything they could about Zhi Luan.
Another day at the restaurant was coming to an end. The restaurant closes by 10 pm, but old man Shen lets his employees leave at 9 pm.
"The restaurant was a little lively today."
John muttered to himself as he got ready to leave.
"I didn't think the old man would let anyone else cook,"
Yu Lu chimed.
"I have to admit… the new guy was impressive."
"Yeah, he was."
John complimented. He decided to have a little chat with Zhi Luan before leaving.
"Hey, aren't you done cleaning? It's time to go home."
Zhi Luan didn't know the employees could leave before the restaurant closed for the day. Plus, he was currently staying in a room upstairs.
"I still have some work to do… you guys can leave without me."
John sighed and shook his head,
"Look, I know you're new and you're trying to get on the old man's good graces. But a piece of advice from someone who has worked here for a while… no overtime is worth anything to the old man. He's so uptight and difficult to impress, that you'd think watering a rock was more fulfilling..."
John didn't go to lengths about it, but Zhi Luan could sense his frustration. John placed his hand on Zhi Luan's shoulder,
"Don't push yourself too much. The old man wouldn't care what you did today and require the same output tomorrow."
After that, John and the rest left the restaurant.
Old man Shen, who went on a little break, came back to the restaurant.
"Are the others gone already?"
He asked Zhi Luan, to which the latter affirmed with a nod.
Old man Shen grouchily muttered something under his breath, before assessing what Zhi Luan was doing.
"I thought you'd be done cleaning by now."
"I'm not."
"I can see that much. Looks like you're not as quick to clean as you are at observing. Then tell me, of what use are you to me?"
Zhi Luan paused his actions and glared at the old man.
"I know we had a deal, but there's a thin line between testing and disrespecting me. Do well to know the difference."
Old man Shen frowned,
"You punk! Are you threatening me?"