These days, Huang Jun has been quite busy.
He washed and aired the quilts for the two little ones, took them to a nearby photo studio for ID photos, and accompanied them to the hospital for check-ups.
The beginning of the school year was approaching.
Both the photo studio and the hospital were crowded with parents and children.
Thankfully, the two little ones were well-behaved, otherwise, Huang Jun would have been overwhelmed.
After all the hustle and bustle, everything needed for school was ready.
Even his health certificate was in hand.
So...
He didn't delay any further.
The next morning, after breakfast, he took Qingqing and Weiwei to Dorami Kindergarten.
"Police Offic..."
Weiwei saw Uncle Li in the security office wearing a security uniform and mistook him for a police officer, greeting him enthusiastically. But seeing his gray hair, she quickly corrected herself, "Hello, Grandpa Police Officer~"
Indeed.
She couldn't distinguish between police uniforms and security uniforms.
In her eyes, anyone in a blue uniform was a police officer.
Qingqing, also confused by uniforms, politely greeted, "Good morning, Grandpa Police Officer."
The gatekeeper, Uncle Lin, was momentarily stunned, then realized and laughed, "Good morning, little friends, are you here to enroll?"
"No, I'm here to accompany my daddy to work," Weiwei said proudly.
Accompany daddy to work?
Could it be the new chef?
After all, in this kindergarten, besides himself, the most likely other male employee would be the chef.
Uncle Lin belatedly remembered the kindergarten had hired a new chef recently, and Aunt Li had mentioned that the new chef was very young but had excellent cooking skills.
Seeing him up close now, he indeed looked very young.
And quite handsome too!
He even seemed a bit familiar!
But Uncle Lin was mostly skeptical, wondering if Aunt Li was overwhelmed by his looks and thus exaggerated his culinary skills, claiming they surpassed Chef Zhao's.
It's understandable why he thought this way, as Aunt Li, though not young, had a weakness for handsome guys.
She often acted starstruck.
Don't ask him why he knows—it's because her Douyin feed is full of handsome guys, and she watches with an auntie smile.
Oh!
The world is deteriorating, and the elderly aren't behaving!
Moreover, his preconceived notions about chefs made him suspect Aunt Li's words were a bit exaggerated.
Of course.
If he caught Director Liang's eye, his cooking can't be bad.
Whether it's better than Chef Zhao's requires a taste test to be sure.
Though he was doubtful about Huang Jun's cooking skills, he still smiled and asked, "You're the new chef, Huang Jun, right? You're reporting for duty today, correct?"
"Yes!"
"I've heard your cooking is excellent. I'll have to give it a try at lunch."
"Sure, come by early then."
After a few pleasantries, Huang Jun took the two kids to Class (4) first.
Previously, Yang Yuxi had informed him via WeChat about Qingqing and Weiwei's assigned class and had offered to let them stay in the classroom when he reported to work, offering to help look after them.
So he didn't leave Qingqing and Weiwei with Granny Jiang, but brought them directly to the kindergarten.
"You're here, good morning."
As soon as Yang Yuxi saw them enter, she stood up with a smile to greet them.
"Good morning, Miss Yang!"
Right after Huang Jun spoke, Qingqing and Weiwei politely greeted, "Good morning, Miss Yang."
"Good morning."
After saying this, Yang Yuxi took the bedding and mat from Huang Jun's hands. After confirming that all items were labeled with their names, she placed them in the corner of the classroom and then introduced the two other teachers in the class.
One teacher's surname was Xie and the other was Wang. The younger and smaller in stature was the assistant teacher, Xie Jianing, while the one in her thirties, Wang Wenxia, was the childcare teacher.
After greeting the two teachers, Huang Jun instructed the two little ones to be good in the classroom and listen to the three teachers.
"Daddy, you can go without worry. We'll be good."
Earlier at home, Huang Jun had already explained the situation to the little ones, so they were earnestly reassuring him. Once he left the classroom, they behaved quietly without causing trouble.
"These two kids are so well-behaved!"
Xie Jianing was delighted to see Qingqing and Weiwei not making a fuss after their parents left, but instead sitting quietly at the table playing with toys.
"Of course, don't you know who picked them?"
Yang Yuxi had a proud little expression on her face, "I went through a lot of trouble to get Director Liang to place them in our class."
"Alright, alright, you're the hero of our class."
Xie Jianing couldn't help but feel a bit hopeful, "You know, it would be great if the other students in our class were as well-behaved as those two."
One can only say, it's a nice thought...
Yang Yuxi, who had handled younger classes before, knew that this was absolutely impossible.
So she wasn't as optimistic as Xie Jianing.
"If half of our class were as well-behaved as them, I'd laugh in my sleep."
...
At the entrance of the director's office, Huang Jun stopped.
"Knock, knock, knock~"
He lightly knocked on the door, and a calm voice from inside quickly responded, "Please come in."
With permission, Huang Jun pushed the door open and entered.
Liang Yinqiu looked up and, slightly surprised, said, "Oh, Chef Huang, you're here!"
"Director Liang, I'm here to report today. Here is my health certificate, please have a look."
Huang Jun said, placing the document on her desk.
Liang Yinqiu picked up the health certificate, glanced over it, and nodded in satisfaction, "No problem, it's fine."
Then, she picked up the phone and dialed a number.
After a moment.
A plump woman walked in and respectfully said to Liang Yinqiu, "Director, you called for me!"
"Chef Huang, let me introduce you."
Liang Yinqiu smiled and said, "This is Liu Suyu, the head of our kindergarten's logistics department. She's been in charge of kitchen procurement. In the future, if you need any ingredients, you can contact her directly. Of course, if you prefer to purchase the ingredients yourself, that's okay too, just find her for reimbursement later."
After speaking, she introduced Huang Jun to Liu Yusu, "Suyu, this is Huang Jun, the chef I've mentioned to you before. You two should get along well."
"Okay!"
Liu Yusu nodded.
Actually, when Director Liang first told her that the new chef was a young dad, she was a bit dubious.
Considering that the kindergarten meals are cooked in large batches, which is naturally much more challenging compared to home cooking.
This not only requires excellent cooking skills but also a wealth of experience and understanding of children's nutritional needs.
Out of her responsibility for the kindergarten, she couldn't help but gently remind Director Liang, "Isn't it a bit risky to hire a parent as the chef?"
However, Director Liang didn't mind her doubts and instead asked her, "Suyu, are you questioning my judgment?"
Faced with Director Liang's firm attitude, she didn't say anything more.
After all, the director's decision is the highest authority here.
Now, seeing Huang Jun in person, her doubts not only didn't dissipate but grew stronger.
Huang Jun looked young and inexperienced. Can someone like him handle this job?
The kindergarten meals are critical to the children's health and can't be handled carelessly.
She couldn't help but worry.
But she didn't show it on her face, instead smiling at Huang Jun and then extending her hand, politely saying, "Chef Huang, please take care of us in the future."
"Likewise, please take care of me too."
Huang Jun also smiled and shook her hand, but when his gaze lowered and caught sight of her prominent figure, he quickly looked away, feeling a bit embarrassed.
"Alright, you both can get back to work now!" Liang Yinqiu said.
Huang Jun and Liu Yusu left the director's office one after the other.
Liu Yusu pointed towards her office, "Chef Huang, my office is at the end of the corridor. You can come find me anytime if you need anything."
"Okay!"
Huang Jun noted the location of her office and then parted ways with her, heading straight to the kitchen.
The two staff members in the kitchen, Aunt Li and Aunt Lin, had met him during the tasting session last time, and they greeted him warmly upon seeing him come in.
"Chef Huang is here, welcome, welcome."
"Aunt Li, Aunt Lin, you're too kind. Just call me by my name or Chef Huang."
Huang Jun, feeling that his culinary skills weren't yet worthy of the title 'chef', said a bit shyly.
"Alright, then we'll call you Chef Huang from now on!" Since Huang Jun had mentioned it, they gladly went along with his preference.
It's not officially the start of the school year yet, so the kitchen only needs to handle lunch for the teachers at the moment, so he mainly needs to familiarize himself with the kitchen affairs and prepare today's lunch.