Ma Hua Chao looked incredulously at the takeout box in his hand.
The dishes he just ate were all made using vegetarian ingredients to replace the original ones?
But...
He couldn't taste the difference at all!
Those eel shreds and the fried fish fillets, they clearly tasted like fish!
The fresh, tender flavor still lingered in his mouth, leaving him with a lingering aftertaste.
Ma Hua Chao widened his eyes: "How is it possible that this isn't seafood? Then, what exactly did you use to make them?"
It's not sothing secretive either.
Fu Yu smiled and said, "Dried shiitake mushrooms, tofu, and water gluten. Rest assured, the ingredients we use in our restaurant are genuine and the prices are fair and reasonable."
Ma Hua Chao was dumbfounded upon hearing this...
"It's amazing to be able to create a seafood taste using vegetarian ingredients!"
Fu Yu smiled: "So, you don't need to feel any burden."
Ma Hua Chao stared at Fu Yu in a daze, and after a long while, his eyes suddenly reddened: "Thank you, I..."
He had just uttered one word when he choked up, unable to speak further.
When the tears finally couldn't be held back and burst out, this frail man completely lost control and began to cry loudly.
Fu Yu's expression changed instantly, instinctively wanting to go up and comfort him, but didn't know what to say in this situation.
Yao Shi was equally stunned...
It's said that n don't cry easily, just because they haven't reached the point of heartbreak.
Only when people fall ill do they understand how precious health is, and how important money is.
The difficulties of survival and financial pressure had driven this frail man into a corner.
And at this ti, the care and kindness from this stranger, Fu Yu, was like the last straw that broke the facade of his feigned strength.
Even the severe pain during the illness hadn't made him cry, but now, he was crying like a child.
Ma Hua Chao cried bitterly for a long ti before he slowly regained his composure.
"I... I ca to Bei'an all alone, in the hospital, with no one caring or asking... My family doesn't know my situation. They all think I'm busy with work and never actively contact ..."
"Every day, I watch money flow out like water, diminishing... I really can't afford to live..."
Fu Yu and Yao Shi were both silent.
Birth, aging, sickness, and death are what everyone must experience in life.
As the saying goes, the worst thing one can have is illness, but who can say they won't fall ill in a lifeti?
Fu Yu took the tissue from the table and handed it over.
Ma Hua Chao took it and wiped the tears from his face, then turned to the sympathetic waiter beside him and said, "The bill, please."
After paying, Ma Hua Chao turned back to Fu Yu and deeply bowed.
"Chef Fu, thank you."
Fu Yu hurriedly waved his hand: "Hey, hey! Be careful with your waist..."
Ma Hua Chao straightened up, his eyes still red, but he smiled at Fu Yu.
But the helplessness and desolation in his eyes made one's heart ache even more.
Watching Ma Hua Chao go to the cashier to settle the bill with the waiter, Fu Yu greeted Yao Shi and hurried back to the dormitory.
He had a thousand yuan cash in his suitcase, which he had set aside for ergencies.
Fu Yu wanted to give Ma Hua Chao so money, although it wasn't much, it was still a gesture.
He knew if he tried to transfer money to Ma Hua Chao, he would surely refuse it, but if it was cash, he might be able to give it to him.
Fu Yu rushed to the front hall and saw the waiter who had served Ma Hua Chao earlier coming over.
Fu Yu hurriedly asked, "Where is he?"
The waiter was startled and replied, "He's gone!"
Fu Yu ran out the door.
At this ti, it was the peak dining hour, and the restaurant was at its busiest.
As Fu Yu went out, new custors were entering the restaurant, and he quickly stepped aside to make way for them.
As a result of this delay, by the ti he got outside, Ma Hua Chao was nowhere to be seen.
Fu Yu looked at the thousand yuan in his hand and sighed.
Back in the kitchen, Zhao ng had already learned about what had happened from Yao Shi.
Seeing Fu Yu looking dejected, Zhao ng asked with concern, "You helped him save money, why the long face?"
Fu Yu told Zhao ng about his intention to donate money to Ma Hua Chao.
Zhao ng looked at Fu Yu, feeling both proud and helpless.
He comforted him in a tone used for a silly child: "Having the intention is already enough! And didn't you help him save over a thousand yuan? Isn't that the sa as giving it to him?"
Fu Yu thought about it and agreed.
eting by chance, they had a connection, he did what he could, and it was sowhat comforting.
Busy until the end of the night shift.
Because Zhao ng's hand was injured, the chefs had to work long shifts, while the junior workers could rotate as usual.
When the day shift ended, soone from the pastry departnt brought over a pot of cooled mung bean soup.
"Chef Wang said it's too hot today, he worried about everyone getting heatstroke, so we made extra, so everyone can have so."
Zhao ng thanked them with a smile: "Thank you, Chef Bai!"
The pastry and main course departnts at Qianlima have always had a good relationship, and the main course departnt often sends food over to them.
A junior worker ca over to serve the mung bean soup.
Fu Yu took a bowl and drank a big gulp of it.
It was like a thin mung bean paste, with rock sugar added, offering a slight sweetness and coolness, reaching deep into his heart.
Fu Yu enjoyed it so much that when he called ho that evening, he couldn't help but ntion it.
His mother said imdiately, "When you co back on vacation, I'll make so for you too! We'll add honey, it'll be even sweeter and tastier!"
Fu Yu chuckled, suddenly recalling the nostalgic yet helpless look in Ma Hua Chao's eyes when he talked about his family.
Fu Yu missed ho even more.
Since Yao Shi took him to work part-ti at the music restaurant, Fu Yu hadn't had a break.
Fu Yu was in a real dilemma.
He wanted to take two days off to visit his parents.
After returning ho for three days of annual leave early in April, almost half a year had passed without a break, His parents must miss him a lot too.
If he visited now, his parents would surely be delighted.
But he worried about disrupting orders if he took a break since Zhao ng's hand wasn't fully recovered, and the boss might have sothing to say.
He only had fifteen days of annual leave; after excluding eight days from New Year's Eve to the eighth day, and the three days he already took, he had four days left.
After October, Zhao ng's hand should be healed, and he could take a break and return ho, right?
That's what Fu Yu hoped for.
He really, really wanted to go ho now.
Partly because he finally earned so money and could buy gifts to honor his parents.
On the other hand, working day and night without a break, even with additional support, left him feeling sowhat exhausted.
If there was anything that kept him motivated and excited during this ti, it was the extra inco he had earned at the music restaurant.
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