Abnormal Gourmet Chronicle

Chapter 1198 573: Basic Common Knowledge (2)

Because he's upset, Jiang Weiguo usually refuses his children and grandchildren to come back for meals, except during holidays when he cooks for these debt collectors, telling them that not inheriting the family craft and just waiting to eat leads to such outcomes.

Qin Huai wants to comfort Jiang Weiguo, telling him this isn't just his predicament; it's the plight of many culinary masters these days. Take Tan Wei'an as an example; his great-grandfather was also a famous snack master in Jiangnan back then, and even got wealthy by selling recipes.

Tan Wei'an's grandfather inherited his great-grandfather's skills and was considered a master in pastry. Under the platform of Zhiwei Restaurant, the world's top pastry hotel, he took on many disciples but couldn't find a truly promising one.

Not a single one of his children inherited his skills. If it weren't for having one grandson, Tan Wei'an, the Tan family's craft would have been lost.

Although Tan Wei'an didn't inherit it very well either.

But in Tan's family situation, in Zhiwei Restaurant, it's already considered quite good. Master Zhou, who received good disciples, didn't have his skills passed down to his children or grandchildren. Many masters at Zhiwei Restaurant, when mentioning the late Master Tan, express some envy, feeling that although Tan Wei'an is a bit lazy, his talent isn't bad. If he was willing to learn diligently, given time, he could hone his skills, and Tan family's craft might be elevated by Tan Wei'an.

This is the situation with pastry.

The situation on the meat cooking side isn't very clear, but if we take Huang Shengli as an example, Huang An Yao struggles not to mention inheriting the craft, even maintaining hotel management.

Jiang Weiguo, with his sons and grandchildren all having trained, and one son having inherited the craft, is actually not doing too badly. His main disadvantage is staying in a small city, not working in a famous restaurant, not gaining fame, not recruiting other disciples, and not entering the Chef Record.

Qin Huai thinks that given Jiang Weiguo's expertise in pork dishes, getting into the top 50 of Chef Record would be quite easy.

This is where Xu Cheng is not working well.

However, Jiang Weiguo doesn't care about these things at all. He's currently in doubt about life because his grandson Jiang Feng abandoned culinary arts for studies, and he won't take party orders, focusing on raising pigs at home.

Feeling very bad.

This is also why when Qin Huai and the other two arrived, they were kept out for 10 minutes; if Jiang Weiguo were in a good mood, the three could at least talk in the yard before being driven away.

Even though he's in a bad mood, Jiang Weiguo personally escorted the three to the town's bus stop, becoming the only one who sent the old leader to the bus stop.

Not living in a nursing home has its perks, like free movement.

"I'll call before the next pig slaughter, let me know what meat you want in advance." Even the parting words from Jiang Weiguo to those leaving were practical, "The fried meatballs can only be kept for half a month, longer storage affects the texture."

"I know, Grandpa Jiang, I'll go home and finish the meatballs." After meeting each one of Jiang Weiguo's sons, An Youyou showed remarkable respect and courtesy towards Jiang Weiguo.

Jiang Weiguo turned to Qin Huai again: "If there's anything you don't understand, call me."

"Thank you, Master Jiang." Qin Huai was also very respectful and courteous towards Jiang Weiguo, and seeing Jiang Weiguo about to leave, couldn't help but add, "Master Jiang, I also studied during high school and didn't make snacks."

Jiang Weiguo paused.

"I come from a self-taught background, my knife skills and fire control are still not good, but being a little deficient in pastry hasn't had too much impact."

"I've seen Jiang Feng's knife skills, his foundation is much more solid than mine. As long as he likes cooking, it's never too late to start. I think... he should enjoy it."

"He just has the face of a chef." Qin Huai's words came from the heart; these past few days, whenever Qin Huai saw Jiang Feng, he felt he could make a flashy s-class dish in the kitchen.

Jiang Weiguo didn't speak, just nodded lightly.

Qin Huai and the others boarded the minibus heading to Z City's train station.

As soon as they got on the bus, An Youyou sighed: "Raising sons is really expensive, I initially thought Thirteen's cooking wasn't good enough to earn money to buy a restaurant."

"Turns out Thirteen's cooking is excellent yet still so poor. If he hadn't had five sons, he'd have gone back to Beiping by now."

Qin Huai: ...? You concluded this after eating the village's four-day all-pork feast?

"Youyou, what are your plans after you return?" Qin Huai asked.

An Youyou replied without hesitation: "Of course, going to work, then waiting for the boss to promote and give me a raise, make me the manager of Yunzhong Restaurant, and eventually award me 52% of the shares."

"We've been out for half a month; even though this time the leave was specially approved by you, boss, and won't incur extra deductions, missing half a month's salary, plus I've bought so many things for Little Seven, Little Ninth, and Thirteen, I don't know if next month's money will be enough."

"I originally liked a wooden table worth over 2000 on a certain treasure, that table was gorgeous with carvings, perfect for placing my Three-legged Golden Toad. Now, it seems I won't have money to buy it. Boss, can I start work a day late? I'd like to check the second-hand market for a cheap wooden table under 200 to put the toad."

"I suddenly feel the Yunzhong District's apartment isn't that good either; the property fee is too expensive. Each month, paying for property and utilities costs me almost half a month's salary; this month I only have half a month's salary and didn't have perfect attendance."

"Why am I so poor!"

Qin Huai: ... This problem is philosophical and also quite perplexing.

Although An Youyou seems pretty rich, with a box of Da yang, a sandalwood box, a pure gold Three-legged Golden Toad, and even a painting by Zhang Daqian, she's still really poor.

Perhaps that's the way with Three-legged Golden Toads; they don't like living lavishly.

"Are those your only plans after returning?" Qin Huai couldn't resist asking again, "Hasn't this trip had any impact on your future plans?"

Qin Huai personally found this journey searching for little brothers quite exciting.

Reuniting with one little brother, chatting with another, and eating a four-day all-pork feast at one's place. Like a cultivator who visited the otherworld and returned, still young, but old acquaintances have aged; theoretically, this should be An Youyou's cultivator journey.

Qin Huai knows that spirits are likely wary of these things.

Spirits who fail crossing tribulation are often hindered by past obsessions, success followed by hindrance upon meeting old acquaintances. Qu Jing initially contacted prior life's parents in secrecy, afraid of Luo Jun and Chen Huihong finding out.

Zhao Cheng'an and Xia Mubing's recognition came from mayfly's unstable spirit.

As for An Youyou...

Qin Huai feels the brain of Three-legged Golden Toad is actually normal; upon waking and taking the place of Three-legged Golden Toad, An Youyou can maintain the human regard for necessary worldly relations, evidenced by her diverse attitude when facing Lin Qi, Xu Chenggang, and Jiang Weiguo.

When she can act as the leader, she does; when she can't, she is An Youyou.

Under rational and clear-thinking circumstances, An Youyou committed actions seemingly impulsive for spirits, yet not possessing deep ties to little brothers like Qu Jing.

Qin Huai senses An Youyou simply wishes to meet her three little brothers, verify if they're well-off, request something if so, and if not, grab a meal.

"What impact could there be? Their future plans don't include me, so naturally mine wouldn't include them either." An Youyou said, "Of course, if in a few years I become successful, Dr. Qu conquers Alzheimer's and Lin Qi recovers, I'd certainly invite Lin Qi to enjoy life together."

"Since I've already succeeded in crossing tribulation, I shouldn't interfere much with others' matters; it would affect them."

"Spirits indeed observe cause and effect." Qin Huai was hearing this version for the first time.

"Not really," said Shi Dadan, "but meddling excessively would surely bring negative influence."

"Just like spirits shouldn't intervene with others crossing tribulation; it's a natural process. Forcing help would likely raise difficulty, and success probability falls to nearly zero."

"Exactly." An Youyou nodded firmly, "This is basic knowledge of spirit crossing tribulation; every spirit knows."

"All plant spirits know."