Abnormal Gourmet Chronicle

Chapter 1260 603: So Many People

Qin Huai happily spent five days in Gusu, then five more days in Shanghai, before returning to Shan City.

The five days in Shanghai were strongly suggested by An Youyou, who, as a fair leader, insisted on spending equal time with each of her little brothers.

As for why she didn't go to Z City to see Jiang Weiguo for five days...

An Youyou explained that Jiang Weiguo didn't recognize her as his leader, and besides, Z City was too far away to bother visiting. Ten days off were her limit, and if she added five more days, she'd be broke and bankrupt by next month.

Although this business trip allowed Qin Huai to pay An Youyou a salary, it was only her regular salary, without any commissions or delivery bonuses. The apartment she lives in now was signed over to her by Chen Huihong, and just paying the maintenance and utility fees eats up half her salary every month. If the conditions allowed it, she'd consider begging after work.

On this matter, An Youyou even exclaimed philosophically that not everyone can afford to live in a good house, and the maintenance fees are just too expensive!

Of course, Qin Luo went back on her own on January 3rd.

Qin Luo expressed her reluctance to return to Shan City alone, trying to use tears and pretending she didn't want to part from her brother to express her desire to stay in Gusu, but Qin Huai ignored her and put her on a plane.

During this time, Zheng Da worked hard at Huang Ji for two days and then decided that working hard during the New Year's holidays wasn't a good idea — the business was too good, he nearly worked himself to death, and finally, he found an excuse about needing to attend a meeting to discuss New Year's orders and slipped away.

Zheng Siyuan also didn't come to Huang Ji, staying at his pastry shop selling cakes.

On the other hand, Qin Huai went to have a look at Zheng Siyuan's pastry shop and found that indeed real talent is hidden among the common people, just like fine wine fears no tavern's depth.

Zheng Siyuan's pastry shop was even more unremarkable than the Yunzhong Restaurant, selling common and simple pastries at low prices, located at the entrance of a residential area without even a sign. They weren't on any platforms, didn't do takeout; if you didn't know Zheng Siyuan or Zheng Da, and didn't live nearby, you wouldn't find such a shop.

It's truly lacking in prestige.

Qin Huai felt that most of Zheng Siyuan's customers only thought of the shop as a place where the pastries were cheap and tasty, but actually didn't appreciate the mastery in his skills.

After all, most customers don't have many chances to experience high-end pastry skills, and their definition of upscale food often comes down to the price.

This was very much like the Qin Family Breakfast Shop; after Qin Huai took over the Yunzhong Restaurant in Shan City, the basic metrics rapidly improved, and the breakfast quality rapidly improved as well, but this didn't change the fact that before at the Qin Family Breakfast Shop, the buns and steamed buns they made were exceptionally good.

The Qin Family Breakfast Shop indeed did good business and was quite famous in Qiu County, but because Qiu County was just a small county, the fame of the Qin Family Breakfast Shop couldn't spread to other counties or cities. Customers wouldn't think that the breakfast chef there had exceptional skills that could compare to high-end pastry shops, or even pastry chefs at grand restaurants, especially since at the Qin Family Breakfast Shop, the buns made by Qin Huai and Qin Congwen were sold at the same price.

People would only think that Master Xiao Qin's skills were better than Old Master Qin, and would try to buy buns made by Master Xiao Qin whenever they could.

Qin Huai had a chat with Zheng Siyuan in his pastry shop.

Zheng Siyuan held on to old beliefs, preferring to be a head in a small alley than a tail in a large avenue. Unless he could go to a high-end grand restaurant and hold his own, while receiving significant appreciation from the boss and where the pastry could overshadow meat cooking, promoting pastry heavily and he being the definitive head chef, otherwise, he'd rather own a pastry shop at the residential area's entrance.

At the same time, Zheng Siyuan also tasted the Red Silk Cake made by Qin Huai.

While acknowledging that Qin Huai's skills had reached a higher level, Zheng Siyuan didn't agree with Qin Huai's broad approach to practicing pastry. In Zheng Siyuan's view, to become a top pastry master, having one or two kinds of pastries that you can excel at is enough, and perfecting one or two pastries to the extreme isn't necessarily the wrong path.

He knows he is talented, but he's also clear that he's not that gifted; he doesn't have the skills to excel in everything equally, he can only push one single item to his maximum capability without any weaknesses.

When he first met Qin Huai and saw his astonishing talent and incomprehensible way of mastering pastry, Zheng Siyuan also wavered, wondering if he should practice more broadly and widely, expanding his skill tree.

After some confused attempts, and even seriously practicing the big spoon stir-frying technique for a while, Zheng Siyuan confirmed that Qin Huai's method wasn't suitable for him.

He has his own path to follow.

This even made Qin Huai exclaim just like Master Zhou, wondering how Zheng Da could have a son like Zheng Siyuan.

Such comments Qin Huai had heard Master Zhou mention a few times at Zhiwei Restaurant. Qin Huai knew Master Zhou didn't like Zheng Da; despite recognizing Zheng Da's talent and culinary skills, he hated Zheng Da's lack of loyalty to the culinary arts.

On this point, Master Zhou and Zheng Da perpetually disliked each other. Qin Huai had also heard from Zhao Cheng'an some past gossip; currently, Master Zhou wasn't very friendly and quite sarcastic, but in the past, his temper was worse; rather than being sarcastic, he'd directly scold without showing any kindness.

As much as Master Zhou disliked Zheng Da, he liked Zheng Siyuan equally.

Zhao Cheng'an and Zheng Siyuan had not met each other before knowing Qin Huai. Most of the chefs at Zhiwei Restaurant had never met Zheng Siyuan either, since he always stayed in Gusu and never attended any culinary exchange events.

But Zheng Siyuan was well known at Zhiwei Restaurant.

Because everyone envied Zheng Da for having such a good son.

Such a gifted son who can inherit the father's craft, pass on the skill, and potentially surpass his predecessors.

Zhao Cheng'an secretly complained to Qin Huai, saying he thought that most of the dislike for Zheng Da at Zhiwei Restaurant came from the fact that the master chefs were jealous he had such a good son like Zheng Siyuan.

This guy isn't even a chef anymore, yet he has a son to inherit his skills. Isn't that infuriating?

Many Zhiwei master chefs were so mad they could grind their teeth to pieces.

Realizing Zheng Siyuan's current mindset and status, Qin Huai thought there would be even more teeth-grinding master chefs at Zhiwei in the future.

Qin Huai also constantly shared his new information and gossip with Zhao Cheng'an, who immediately expressed that if Zheng Siyuan had really found his culinary direction and determination, this news must never reach Zhiwei, otherwise, things would become very difficult for him.

Since Zhao Cheng'an woke up remembering the bad habits of his first life and spent half a year working hard to correct them, and after half a year of standing still, Master Zhou inexplicably felt this little apprentice of his was quite a malleable talent.

Before Su Qian officially became Master Zhou's closed-door disciple, Zhao Cheng'an was the little apprentice.

Although Master Zhou still couldn't understand why Zhao Cheng'an suddenly picked up so many bad habits, during Zhao Cheng'an's effort to correct them, Master Zhou saw the shining points in him, saw his persistence and love for culinary skills, and saw that this lazy apprentice could indeed work hard, he just needed some pressure.

Then Zhao Cheng'an received a one-month apprentice experience card, as if he had returned to the time when he first joined the kitchen to learn culinary skills.

After this, Zhao Cheng'an didn't even have the enthusiasm to replenish stock and didn't manage to get...money from Xia Mubing; Xia Mubing would proactively transfer money to him at the beginning and middle of the month, thinking Zhao Cheng'an probably had no money to replenish stock.

The first time An Youyou knew Xia Mubing would proactively transfer money to Zhao Cheng'an, she was so envious she could cry, lamenting why her little brother didn't have this initiative.

All in all, for this period, the person who seemed to have had the worst time was Zhao Cheng'an.

But Zhao Cheng'an wasn't that miserable because Master Zhou was his fatherly teacher who watched him grow up and knew that this little apprentice needed pressure and also needed holidays.

So, when Zhao Cheng'an daily expressed his work life to Qin Huai as so miserable he'd rather hang himself in the Zhiwei kitchen, crying his heart out for the whole month, he brought Qin Huai some good news.

Master Zhou specially approved, giving him a full 15 days of annual leave.

Zhao Cheng'an said he absolutely had to join the lively celebrations at Qin Huai's house for New Year's. This year, Zhao Cheng'an decided to make a decision that defies family tradition, not going home to spend New Year's with his parents, but staying 7 days at Qin Huai's house, then going to Beiping to stay 7 days with Xia Mubing, with one day in between for commuting.

Considering that whenever he goes to Beiping, Xia Mubing will cook a meal comparable to a New Year's Eve banquet for him, but Qin Huai won't, Zhao Cheng'an decided he would spend New Year's Eve dining at Qin Huai's house.

Zhao Cheng'an shared this great news in the "Loving Family" group.

The day after Zhao Cheng'an shared this news, Cheng Gong announced in the group that he had already asked President Han and would have 7 days of annual leave for the New Year. Since he usually doesn't celebrate New Year with family, this year he could join everyone to celebrate at Qin Huai's house.

Realizing everyone planned to celebrate at Qin Family Village this year, Qin Huai instinctively opened the game panel to check Luo Jun's status, finding Luo Jun still in reincarnation.

Though it was a bit strange, Qin Huai inexplicably felt everyone was isolating Luo Jun.

When Luo Jun was alive, they didn't celebrate New Year with him, but once he died, they all gathered joyfully.

Qin Huai originally planned to inform his family ahead that so many people would come to celebrate the New Year together, but considering the growing number of people, he decided he couldn't wait until the end of the year.

He directly called his dear grandpa, Old Master Qin.

"Hello, Grandpa, how many empty rooms do we have at home for guests?"

"Still three rooms. What's up, Huaihuai? Did you get a girlfriend? Is she coming back with you for New Year? Don't worry, your grandma and I will make sure the biggest, brightest room is cleaned up for you! If the young lady's too shy to share a room with you, Grandpa understands."

"No, Grandpa, it's because I have some friends who want to come visit our village for New Year. There are quite a few of them, so you might need to borrow a few empty rooms from other villagers; they'll be staying for a while."

Although a bit disappointed, Old Master Qin understood: "No problem, Grandpa knows you youngsters value privacy, so I'll find…"

"Not all of them are young."

"The oldest is even older than you."

"The youngest just came of age."

"There are both males and females. I'll send you their details via WeChat, and you can arrange the accommodations."

Old Master Qin: ?