Old Mei said again that he wouldn't stay long in Qi Yuan and wanted to find the right person to hand over the noodle shop to. He saw potential in Xiaowang...
Just this wasn't enough to be attractive; Old Mei also promised the next step would be to invest in opening a chain of noodle shops with a unified brand and technical standards, setting up a restaurant group.
By then, Xiaowang would become a co-founder of the restaurant group.
If it were a different situation, Wang Yuheng might not have been moved by such rhetoric, but his state was a bit special at that time, or perhaps Mei Wenhua was exceptionally persuasive, Xiaowang somehow agreed as if under a spell.
Becoming a co-founder of the restaurant group was a matter for the future. The first task Boss Mei gave him was to take over the shop next door, then merge it with the current shop and remodel it according to a unified style.
Wang Yuheng completed this very well. Although it was just an inconspicuous small project, there were many details and procedures, all handled by him, and he oversaw the renovation from start to finish.
During this process, Wang Yuheng gradually adjusted his state, finding an active and confident mindset as he had something to do and did it well.
After finishing this, Mei Wenhua told Jiang Yuheng that to manage the noodle shop well, he must master all core techniques and processes.
Specifically, he needed to learn to make every noodle dish, including those on the menu or those that might be added.
Today's food industry is quite advanced; the kitchen has noodle machines where you input ingredients and set parameters, producing various noodles.
Yet, Mei Wenhua required him to learn to do it by hand, mastering all the skills from kneading, molding, fermenting, blanching, rolling, pressing, pulling, cutting, slicing, stretching, throwing, to straining.
He needed to learn to make a variety of noodles and understand their characteristics well. As for why, Boss Mei explained——to know the reason why.
Although the noodles sold in the shop are made freshly with machines, machines imitate humans. Wang Yuheng needed to know what texture each noodle requires and whether the machine-made noodles are suitable.
Sometimes, due to temperature, humidity, or even regional and seasonal differences, including subtle variations in each batch of ingredients, the ideal texture may vary. Adjustments are needed based on the situation, not just fixed machine settings.
Besides that, Wang Yuheng also needed to learn all the garnish dishes, both those pre-stewed and those stir-fried on the spot, totaling one hundred and eight dishes, like a grand meeting in the mountains.
The Meishan Noodle Shop offers only eighteen garnish dishes, selected from those one hundred and eight.
Boss Mei's requirement was not only to follow the recipe, because even with the same ingredients and processes, the taste could differ.
Wang Yuheng had to truly learn how to do it, grasping the characteristics of various flavors and being able to adjust flexibly.
Did Wang Yuheng learn? From his start at the noodle shop to now, only six months have passed, barely managing a rough grasp, still far from meeting Mei Wenhua's final requirements.
Especially at first, he couldn't handle kneading the dough, which was a giant dough, not something taught in school, requiring stamina and energy.
Mei Wenhua smirked and told him——to do good work, one must practice skills.
Wang Yuheng was puzzled; did running a noodle shop require practicing skills, and what skills? It turned out there were indeed some; Boss Mei taught him a set of skills to nourish the internal energy and strengthen muscles and bones, also to adjust breath and calm the mind.
Wang Yuheng was a bit bewildered, wondering if it was that miraculous. Boss Mei, sensing the timing was right, finally demonstrated a few techniques, astonishing Wang Yuheng, making him doubt if he was dreaming!
When he came to his senses, Xiaowang realized he must have met a hidden master, as the story in novels became reality, so he immediately asked to be Mei Wenhua's disciple.
Mei Wenhua didn't refuse, saying he already intended to take him as a pupil, first enrolling him, and when he can be admitted, formally making him a disciple.
For now, Wang Yuheng didn't need to stay in Qi Yuan. Mei Wenhua told him to find the eldest disciple to lay a solid foundation before entering, also for a change of environment to focus on cultivation.
The eldest disciple ran a noodle shop in a rural town in Zhouyuan Province, a relatively secluded place suitable for secluded cultivation. Wang Yuheng stayed there for four months, helping the eldest disciple and practicing skills.
Until his Foundation Establishment Skills had some foundation, Mei Wenhua called him back to Qi Yuan, just returned the day before yesterday, and today He Kao saw him.
Mei Wenhua finally said: "So far I have three disciples, or maybe two and a half. The eldest disciple has been practicing for nearly ten years and is just a Tier Two Angler in the Xingshen Sect, unlikely to achieve much.
The second disciple is merely a Guest of Fate, unfortunately not able to enter cultivation, but always on good terms with me, practicing some Foundation Establishment Skills to strengthen health and prolong life. He also learned some crafts from me, now running a noodle shop.
As for the third disciple, it's this Wang Yuheng. I have the highest hopes for him. If he has opportunities and diligently progresses, he might break through to High Tier and inherit my teachings."
He Kao listened in astonishment, realizing Mei Wenhua had taken three disciples, all starting noodle shops, and seeming to imply Wang Yuheng might also start a noodle shop?
He Kao knew that within the Magic Sect, there were factions, like the Huiming Shi Family, the Jianji lineage led by Li Xiuyuan, or the Huailin Lineage passed down by Zhao Sanjin...
Then perhaps Mei Wenhua's successors in the Magic Sect could form a faction, possibly called the Noodle Shop Faction?
He Kao didn't express these thoughts but sighed: "I didn't expect you to have such high hopes for Wang Yuheng, planning to cultivate him well. As I know, he is quite emotional; you must be aware of his relationship with Luo Mingzhi, right?"
Mei Wenhua laughed: "I understand your meaning, but perhaps such a person is more suited to practicing the Spirit Awakening Skill. I wonder if you've heard the saying——a Guest of Fate is one without fate, and a Heart Stealer is a person full of feelings."
He Kao: "I've heard it, but there's another version——a Heart Stealer is an emotionless person."
Mei Wenhua: "It's roughly the same meaning."
After chatting, Mei Wenhua reminded He Kao to be cautious lately. A mysterious Tier Five Heart Stealer has sneaked into Qi Yuan, investigating the disappearance of Jiaobide, possibly targeting He Kao too.
Boss Mei also suggested to He Kao to not wander around these days and go back to Sesame Apartment after work. With Mei Guyu and him there, few would dare cause trouble, and if they come, there's nothing to fear.
But He Kao had special circumstances and couldn't avoid running around, and after all, endless precautions against a thief make no sense.
After sending off Mei Wenhua, He Kao thought it over and used a secret contact method to immediately get in touch with Mr. Mi, who he had just met, arranging to meet again to discuss something in person.
**
