Chapter 11: The chef
It was early in the morning, Jon woke up early and went into his restaurant.
The billowing of smokes and the sizzling of oil was occasionally heard, gentle music was playing in the background. His moves are refined and precise.
The whole room was dimly lit but the light up on his head was on, ingredients filled the whole table, to the side of the table was the grill and it was glistening with the fire underneath the saucepans.
He held the knife and started slicing the onions, garlic, tomatoes and grated the carrots. He added salt into the saucepan then stirred it and turned the fire volume.
Sweat was trickling in his face so he wipes it out and reaches the water, he takes a sip. He returned to slicing and checking the saucepan then he prepared a wok, he pours some chicken oil.
He put onions and sauteed in twenty-second after that he threw six cloves chopped garlic, he walked to the refrigerator and picked the pork meat that was cut into cubes, went to the sink, and washed it. He added it, the wok flames he just ignored it that's was normal. He shook the wok and stirred it, he let the fat render first. He added salt and black pepper then continue to saute in high flames.
Added soy sauce and oyster sauce, he let the sauce simmer down and then added a cup of beef stock and a cup of sprite and put a lid to the wok.
The door opened, it let a squeaking sound while opening the door. The sunshine went inside through the door.
"Chef I pick up the pig you ordered," the man said while he held a whole pig wrapped in plastic on his shoulders.
"Thank you Von" he led him to an empty table "put it here"
Von put the pig on the table.
"turn it" Jon instructed and unwrapped the plastic.
"Good" as he gently rubbing the pig's skin.
He heard a little sizzling so he turned his head in the direction of the grill.
"Von turn off the grill," he instructed. Von swiftly went to the grill, first he stirred the wok and turned off the stove, he picked up the chopsticks, took one, and took a bite.
"Wow chef this is good," he said in amazement he keeps chewing and walks back to Jon.
"The meat is tender and juicy, the sweetness of the soy sauce seeps into the meat," he said while inspecting the meat in the chopsticks.
Jon nodded, Von said it right it's 'adobo' a Filipino cuisine, very popular in the Philippines.
"Hand me my knife," he said while reaching out, Von put it on his hand.
Jon held it delicately, he started slicing the pig piece by piece. First, with his steady hands he cut off the head, then the legs and the ribs and belly. Von was following his moves and put the parts in a cooking tray and put them in the refrigerator.
"It's all done, clean the kitchen and prepare I will go to the market to buy some of the missing ingredients," Jon said when he was washing his hands, takes off the apron.
"Yes, chef" Von replied.
He got in his car and drove to the wet market. He would buy fresh fish for the fish dishes. Normally he has a supplier but he was out of stock so he had no choice but to buy in the market.
He drove thirty minutes and arrived to his destination. He sees a building that looks like a warehouse but inside rows of stalls. The smell of fish lingers in the air, the floor was wet, few of the stalls were open because it was still 5 am.
One by one he walks to the stalls and checks the fishes if they are still fresh but to his dismay none of them are fresh but he did check the last one if this last one is still not fresh he will wait for more stalls to open.
As he walked to the stall he observed the stall owner was a woman, she tied a bandana into her hair, her clothes were wet and her hair flowed on her shoulder.
Jon's eyes lit up, her fish fresh swiftly walking to her. He wanted to immediately buy her fish so could return to his restaurant.
"Hi Miss, good morning" he greeted her but the woman raised her brow.
He ignored what the woman did. "How much is this?"
But the woman just ignored him, his brows knitted, he asked again but this time he raised his voice a little "Miss how much is this?"
"Scram! Tell that man I will not agree!" her thunderous voice echoed to the market.
The people looked in their direction but returned to their work. It was a normal occurrence at that stall but they still talked about it.
"another? That man was persistent"
"he never learned his lesson"
When Jon heard that he got the picture.
"Look ms, I don't know anything. I just want to buy fi--" he was cut off because the woman throws water in his face.
"WHAT THE ****!" his deafening voice roared.
The woman's face was plastered with a smirk "Do not lie to me, I warned you but you didn't listen now scram don't ever come back!"
She was confident that he got the man, he would not come. It's such a shame the man didn't go personally, she prepared that water for a few days, and that water was used to wash the fish.
Jon's face twitching with anger, his hair was wet so was his clothes and it was stinky, the smell makes you puke. His eyes were full of rage.
"Ms. I am not one of those men, I just want to buy your fish!" he barely controls the tone of his voice, he wants to explode like a volcano but he keeps it in.
"I don't believe you" the woman did not believe him.
Jon gritted his teeth and walked with a huge stride to the stall. Her expression hardened. She was afraid of what the man would do to her.
Jon arrived in front of the stall and grabbed something in his pocket. The woman yelped when she saw Jon throw something on the table and heard a clang she hid under the table but did hear anything her eyes were closed.
For a few minutes, she still hid under the stall's table her eyes were tight shut and she snuggled herself but when she heard it was quiet she slowly raised her head.
The man was gone and one of her crates was missing, she noticed a clamp of money on the table, she picked it up and fixed it, she counted it.
It was over a thousand then recognition dawned on her face that man wanted to buy her fish. She was feeling guilty.
***
With a loud bang the door opened, the people turned their heads to the door, they saw Jon's face was cold, Von immediately went to him.
"What happened Chef?" he asked.
"This happened. I met a crazy woman" Jon replied coldly, Von wanted to laugh but he saw his boss's face was serious so he held it.
Jon went to the shower, washing the stink from his body while he was doing he remembered the woman's face.
"I will not forget you!"
A grin appeared on his face.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone