Abnormal Gourmet Chronicle

Chapter 1273 612: Priority Client Maintenance

The freshly cooked soy sauce noodles were still steaming.

The soup had a light brown color due to the soy sauce, topped with mushrooms, greens, and a perfectly hard-boiled egg. Not a soft-boiled egg, but fully cooked, as Director Qin preferred.

Specks of oil floated on the soup, the result of the sesame oil Qin Huai intentionally added. Compared to regular soy sauce noodle soup, this one was darker because Qin Huai intentionally added more soy sauce.

Director Qin had a heavy taste; Uncle Qin once remarked that she cooked as if salt was free, not just because of her mediocre cooking skills, but because of her strong taste preferences.

The soy sauce noodles were simple, but the freshly cooked ones were aromatic, with the heat bringing out the fragrance of the soy sauce and sesame oil. No matter where this bowl of noodles was placed, the aroma was always inviting.

Director Qin momentarily forgot what she was saying, was about to say, or had planned to say. She excitedly stood up, her eyes fixated on the soy sauce noodles.

Although the orphanage had become more affluent and even had a full-time chef, the frugal Director Qin wouldn't hire a truly skilled cook—the so-called chef was merely someone who could cook.

Director Qin had been eating Qin Huai's buns for over a decade. The two years Qin Huai was away from Qiu County were the worst culinary years for Director Qin in the past ten-plus years.

Not to mention, Qin Huai was now miles ahead of where he used to be—a top-tier Pro Max version of himself.

Director Qin stood in the kitchen, holding the bowl of noodles, and started devouring it with big mouthfuls, slurping continuously.

Clearly, this bowl of noodles was made specifically for Director Qin by Qin Huai. He deliberately served the first bowl to her.

Of course, this wasn't to shut Director Qin up, preventing her from spilling childhood antics Qin Huai himself might not remember. Even if Director Qin hadn't sat in the kitchen reminiscing with Mr. Xu, Qin Huai would still have given her the first bowl.

Under normal circumstances, Director Qin was always the last one in the orphanage to have breakfast.

Earlier, Uncle Qin said Qin Huai was difficult to handle as a child, crying when anyone held or touched him, except for Director Qin and a few volunteers. But volunteers couldn't stay at the orphanage every day, which led to Director Qin having to hold Qin Huai while feeding other children.

Over the years, there have been more children like Qin Huai at the orphanage.

Not everyone had the patience of Director Qin. To be precise, Director Qin didn't have this much patience when she was younger. Years ago, when graduates would reunite at the orphanage during the lunar new year, Director Qin often complained that kids today were much harder to handle than before. What was once an exception with Qin Huai had become the norm, and Director Qin's two hands simply couldn't hold so many kids simultaneously.

Fortunately, the orphanage now had more staff; otherwise, Director Qin would've been worn out long ago.

Even with more staff, Director Qin remained the last to eat every day. She had to ensure every child was fed and comfortable before she could eat. She either ate last or very early, and oftentimes eating early was unrealistic — where would she find the extra time?

If Qin Huai hadn't arrived early today, causing Director Qin to get up earlier, she wouldn't have had time to enjoy this bowl of soy sauce noodles.

Director Qin ate quickly, finishing the steaming bowl of noodles, soup and all, in just over two minutes.

"Mrs. Qin, would you like another bowl?" Qin Huai asked.

The rest of the soy sauce noodles, sans special touches, were cooked in one pot by Qin Huai.

"No need. It's almost time for the kids to get up. I need to get over there," Director Qin waved her hand dismissively. "Which room is Luoluo sleeping in? I'll let the kids know to keep quiet around her."

"No need for a special reminder. Regular noise won't wake Luoluo. Even if they're renovating upstairs, as long as there's no drilling, she can sleep," Qin Huai replied.

Qin Luo was indeed a child with exceptionally high-quality sleep. During school, no matter what the teacher said or how loudly, or how noisy the class was, nothing could disturb her slumber.

Director Qin smiled as she washed the bowl and hurriedly left the kitchen, not forgetting to remind Mr. Xu that they'd chat later.

This special attention made Qin Huai whisper, "Mr. Xu, did you mention wanting to donate to the orphanage to Mrs. Qin yesterday?"

Mr. Xu nodded slightly, "I am considering it. Yesterday, Director Qin gave us a tour of the orphanage and explained the situation of the children, which is indeed quite challenging. Although the orphanage has received significant donations these past two years, they're unstable. Supporting and educating these children is a long-term investment, and I want to do what little I can."

"If you're willing, a few hundred yuan a month will do, not too much. If the orphanage truly lacks funds, I'll donate," Qin Huai said. "Mrs. Qin has been wary of poverty for so long, she's habitually frugal, even when there are funds available."

"She is an excellent person and would never misuse donations. Even when Uncle Qin tries to take an extra can of oil from the orphanage, Mrs. Qin will bring back several dozen kilos of vegetables from his place, so he ends up losing money," Qin Huai continued, seizing the moment while Director Qin was busy.

"The orphanage had been short-staffed for years, relying heavily on volunteers, which were also unstable. Taking care of children is indeed tiring, and there are numerous other tedious tasks, even if not directly involving the children. Back when the orphanage was on Third Street, many kind-hearted volunteers would regularly help on weekends and occasionally on weekdays. After moving to the outskirts, fewer were willing to make the long trip."

"Director Qin often coaxed the kids at the orphanage to draw, do crafts, and write thank-you letters to attract more volunteers. With the recent trend of video sharing, Director Qin considered making videos, but then decided it was inappropriate, especially if it required showing the children."

"According to Director Qin, these activities don't cost much, provide fun for the children, develop their skills and interests, and offer emotional rewards for the volunteers."

"During the most financially challenging years for the orphanage, Director Qin insisted on sending New Year gifts to the volunteers annually. The gifts might not have been valuable, but for those who moved out of town, the postage was quite costly."

"The orphanage has survived until today largely due to Director Qin's operational approach. Volunteers with emotional ties to the orphanage, even if they've left Qiu County, occasionally donate, especially during the New Year period. Every time after sending out those New Year gifts, Director Qin would receive several donations."

"For us children once in the orphanage, it's all about contributing when we can. Those with money donate money; those with strength contribute effort. If we can't offer either, we send some affordable goods like fruits, snacks, or candy. A 50-yuan red envelope might seem paltry, but it can buy quite a lot of bulk candy, and Mrs. Qin maintains a monthly list of required supplies. She periodically shares it in her friend circle, and everyone donates accordingly."

"But she hasn't shared it much in the past two years."

"Mr. Luo donated a lot."

After speaking, Qin Huai suddenly felt that everyone's praise for Luo Jun at his funeral was not misplaced; Luo Jun was indeed passionate about charity!

"I checked the accounts yesterday. Director Qin hasn't misused any funds; you can rest assured about donating," Chen Huihong interjected. "Not only did I review Luo Jun's donation records, but also Jingjing's. Director Qin spends thoughtfully, not just using up donations, but saving most for the children's long-term medical and educational needs. Basic special education is free, but many children at the orphanage are too special for these schools, and some require relatively costly treatments—not to mention various miscellaneous expenses. After talking with Director Qin for over two hours yesterday, I think even Luo Jun and Jingjing's donations might not suffice, and I feel like donating 100,000 yuan myself."

Qu Jing also nodded in agreement: "I also feel I donated too little last time, but I don't have much money on hand now, so I only donated 20,000 yuan."

Cheng Gong said: "I donated 50,000."

Wang Gen Sheng was shocked: "I thought I was the only one who donated. I gave 100,000 yuan."

Zhou Hu: "... Is 2,000 yuan too little?"

An Youyou: "? Little? I just bought two bags of fruit and a box of milk."

Qin Huai: ...

Alright, he figured out who taught him his knack for charming people and why Director Qin only focused on chatting with Mr. Xu today.

Turns out everyone else had already donated, leaving Mr. Xu as the potential major contributor.

As for Chen Huihong…

She's the account checker.