Abnormal Gourmet Chronicle

Chapter 1311 629: ?? (Part 5)

When Qin Huai followed the little beggar all the way from outside the border along the railroad tracks to Beiping, it felt unreal to him the moment he saw Beiping City.

Even if the little beggar was a spirit, this was too absurd.

For a guy with such good physical fitness and abilities way beyond average, whose aspiration wasn't necessarily to be a beggar, he still insisted on begging for so many years without making much of it, still unable to fish out a couple of coins from his pocket.

One can only say that Qin Huai really didn't understand the world of philosophers.

When the little beggar arrived in Beiping, it was midsummer, and he already looked exactly like a real refugee. What he was wearing could barely be called clothing; it was more accurate to describe it as rags tied around his body. His hair was long and messy, worse than a bird's nest. It wouldn't have been surprising if two small birds flew out from his hair. His face couldn't simply be described as filthy, and the dirt on his body seemed more like a protective shell. From a distance, even a nearsighted person couldn't easily tell if he was human.

The first thing the little beggar did upon reaching Beiping was to find a somewhat dirty river on the outskirts and wash himself clean. His hair was too dirty and tangled to clean, so he picked up a thin sharp stone to cut it off. During these years of begging, he hadn't learned to read or write, but he had picked up many survival skills.

A renewed little beggar entered the city to continue begging.

Beiping City was different from outside the border, with more clearly divided territories among beggars. After entering the city, the little beggar had to fight for four or five days straight before securing a begging spot for himself. It was also through these fights that Qin Huai judged the little beggar's combat power—

Slightly stronger than Chen Huihong, about the same as An Youyou, around a 1 vs. 4 level, which was considered very capable among beggars.

After stabilizing his territory, the little beggar began wandering around Beiping City. He first found the newly opened and already famous Taifeng Building, then the newly opened but still unknown Qin's Steamed Bun Shop, and finally the small residence where the Jiang family lived.

The little beggar started loitering around the residence, continuing to act like a camera, not approaching, not interacting, just observing.

Qin Huai: …

Seriously, dude, you traveled thousands of miles, braved the elements, and faced numerous hardships, going from outside the border to Beiping, just to continue being a camera?

Don't get it, really don't get it.

Qin Wan's life after moving to Beiping was similar to when she was outside the border. She stayed at home most of the time with the children, occasionally going out to buy groceries, and sometimes carrying a food box to deliver snacks to Jiang Chengde at Taifeng Building. Her life was simple and warm.

Perhaps because life was a bit more affluent after moving to Beiping, sometimes even in summer, Qin Wan would make some black steamed buns to share with the local little beggars. Just like outside the border, she would put the prepared black steamed buns in a basket, place it at the door, and let the beggars take them themselves.

Her kindness attracted some ill-intentioned people.

Outside the border, there might have been such people too, but due to the Jiang family's power and Boss Lu's protection, ordinary scoundrels wouldn't target Qin Wan just for some buns. But in Beiping, the Jiang family had no reputation, being merely cooks at the newly opened Taifeng Building, and Boss Lu didn't have such great influence, merely a wealthy hotel businessman.

Not to mention, the Jiang family lived in an ordinary residence, surrounded by regular folks, which made it seem easy to bully them.

The little beggar started fighting every day.

Fighting with beggars who had their eyes on the Jiang family, dealing with petty thieves attempting robbery, and battling thugs lacking money who tried to extort protection fees. As he fought, the little beggar made a name for himself in the area. Quite a few beggars and hooligans learned that this was his territory, one not to be trifled with, where a madman fought recklessly.

Over time, the area's security improved significantly, and even the thieves dared not come close.

Qin Wan knew nothing of all this.

Whenever Qin Wan went out, the little beggar would inevitably follow her, maintaining a safe distance. Wherever Qin Wan went, he followed. When Qin Wan went to Qin's Steamed Bun Shop, he squatted near the shop. When she went to Taifeng Building, he waited outside there too.

Just like that, the little beggar followed from summer to autumn, until one autumn morning when Qin Wan wore a slightly snug dress, and it was then that Qin Huai realized belatedly that Qin Wan might be pregnant again.

It was already showing.

Only then did Qin Huai understand why the little beggar had been sticking close to Qin Wan for this period. A pregnant woman, with no one to watch over her, especially in these unstable times, venturing out alone meant danger. And for Qin Wan, life was quite similar after moving to Beiping compared to outside the border; she hadn't realized that the environment had changed. If the little beggar didn't stay close, it would be really hard to ensure Qin Wan's safety.

At this moment, Qin Huai realized that the little beggar wasn't a crazy stalker of his idol, but a fan worrying and working hard for his idol like a doting mom.

One peaceful afternoon, the little beggar met Chen Huihong.

The place where they met was familiar to Qin Huai, and so was the scene, which he had once seen in Chen Huihong's memory—outside Qin's Steamed Bun Shop.

Only the last time, Qin Huai saw the little beggar through Chen Huihong's perspective, and this time, he saw Chen Huihong through the little beggar's eyes.

Different perspectives, completely different experiences.

The moment he saw Chen Huihong, Qin Huai was even a bit dazed, then belatedly realized that the little beggar who stared at Chen Huihong with hostility outside Qin's Steamed Bun Shop was actually the protagonist of this memory. At that moment, Qin Huai felt like he might have watched documentaries for too long and made himself stupid; why hadn't he realized this until now?