Abnormal Gourmet Chronicle

Chapter 1332 1332: Xia Mubing Side Story (Part 1)

Now, Qin Huai is awake.

Looking through his memories, Qin Huai and Xia Mubing actually have quite a connection.

Let's put it this way, back then Qin Huai and Zhao Cheng'an were known as the famous patient duo at Taifeng Building, both suffering from a strange condition of never growing up, and both were connections.

In the eyes of outsiders, Qin Huai was a distant relative of Qin Wan, initially staying at the Jiang Family, recognized as the head chef brought into Taifeng Building by Jiang Chengde. Zhao Cheng'an, on the other hand, was seen as Master Chen's unofficial and foolish apprentice who needed care, and he was the second chef's connection.

The relationship between these two connections wasn't great.

Qin Huai thought Mayfly had a mental illness; we're spirits, not fools, so why act as if there's something wrong in the head every day, not taking work seriously, lacking dedication in learning cooking, and being most concerned about what to eat each day, with no ambition.

Zhao Cheng'an thought Feifei had a mental illness; we're spirits, not here for work, so why work so hard, hustling like crazy, who are you trying to out-hustle? At Taifeng Building, it's just the two of us working full-time on pastries, how can you be so good, which makes me seem truly foolish? I know you want to repay Mrs. Qin, just repay her; aren't you Feifei? Let her make a wish to you, why play the king of office hustle?

Yet the two of them were actual colleagues, required to work and learn crafts together during work hours.

And at that time, because Zhao Cheng'an was recognized as having mental issues, Xia Mubing was very caring towards this junior, and while caring for him, he'd also show some concern for his peer.

Doing small things like saving some dishes for Qin Huai.

Plus, since Xia Mubing was also a hustle king, the two hustle kings would occasionally exchange hustle insights. So even though Xia Mubing rarely spoke, and Qin Huai wasn't keen on interacting with anyone except the Jiang Family, most of the time there was little exchange between them, but their relationship was actually quite good.

At least in Qin Huai's view, his relationship with Xia Mubing at that time was much better than with Zhao Cheng'an.

In such a situation, how could one not visit an old friend during the New Year?

Especially now that Xia Mubing has sent the Lantern Festival menu.

The last time Qin Huai saw dishes comparable to this menu was at Cao Guixiang's Yan Chi Banquet.

Speaking of Cao Guixiang, she specially went to Qin Family Village on the seventh day of the New Year to join in the fun. The Zhang Family enjoyed the snacks so much, and left with large bags and a car full of snacks.

The day Cao Guixiang came, Qin Huai made snacks with restraint; the villagers of Qin Family Village couldn't taste the subtle differences, but the A-Level to S-Level breakthrough was something Cao Guixiang could definitely see. Qin Huai's past achievements could be explained by extraordinary talent, but the overnight flash of insight this time was difficult to explain.

So Qin Huai chose not to explain and kept quiet.

Even with much obscured, Qin Huai's progress still deeply shocked Cao Guixiang. Cao Guixiang initially came to help and to encourage Qin Huai, telling him not to rush, not to worry excessively, and to trust his talent.

After arriving, the words Cao Guixiang memorized for two days at home remained unsaid, and she ended up merely assisting in the kitchen, and later was so exhausted that she left at 2 PM, not even staying through the whole day.

Before leaving, Cao Guixiang did not forget to remind Qin Huai to come to her house for a meal after the New Year, and if possible, to bring Luoluo along.

Luoluo, being straightforward, was told by Qin Huai to give Cao Guixiang's family more snacks, and Luoluo packed all the snacks in the kitchen into the car trunk, nearly unable to close it.

This made Zhang Zhiyun and Chang Qingqing so happy, they wished they could become sworn siblings with Qin Luo on the spot.

Cao Guixiang's New Year feast is something to look forward to, but right now, Qin Huai and Zhao Cheng'an clearly have something more worthy of their research—

Fen Garden's Lantern Festival menu.

"Claypot Shark's Fin, Wanfu Meat, Clear Soup Willowy Goose Soup, Braised Sea Cucumbers with Scallions, Floating Peach Blossoms, Oil-Burst Double Crisps, Braised Lamb Strips, Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix, Fish Maw Stewed with Ham, Almond Buddha Hand, Crisp Apples, Fried Pearl Chicken, Flower Mushroom Duck Web, Lotus Pod Tofu, Shredded Chicken with White Fungus, Fresh Mushroom Heart of Vegetables, Roasted... Roast Suckling Pig?"

"And Roast Duck, Red Braised Lamb Ribs, Pineapple Sweet and Sour Pork, Tomato Sauce Prawns, Golden Ham Braised Round Fish, Crab Meat with Double Bamboo Shoots."

"I can understand these, but Provencal Ratatouille, Burgundy Red Wine Beef Stew, and Duck Confit are French dishes, does Xia Mubing also know French cuisine?"

Qin Huai sat on the plane, puzzled as he studied the Lantern Festival menu.

"Zhang Guanghang does." Zhao Cheng'an took a bite of Yam Cake, a sip of cold Coke, and after finishing it, called out to the flight attendant, "Another cold Coke, please!"

"Certainly, sir." The flight attendant smiled as she took the cup away.

"Are you sure this is the Lantern Festival menu sent by Xia Mubing and not the March menu for Fen Garden?" Qin Huai incredulously reread the menu from start to finish, "If I remember correctly, Fen Garden doesn't operate on Lantern Festival day, theoretically, the diners that day would only be me, you, Zhang Guanghang, and Xia Mubing."

"That's right." Zhao Cheng'an nodded.

"We four are going to eat so many dishes?"

"That's right." Zhao Cheng'an continued nodding, "I asked if you wanted to bring Old Shi, and you said Old Shi doesn't know Xia Mubing, inviting him without reason just to eat isn't appropriate. Also, the reason we're visiting Xia Mubing this time is because you're awake and the three of us want to reminisce, Old Shi sitting there not understanding would be awkward."

"You also said there's no need to worry about Old Shi's thousand-day breakfast mission getting interrupted, you've left him enough breakfast for the next few days, if he eats sparingly it will be fine, and you'll be back after the Lantern Festival."

"Since you put it that way, of course I didn't insist."

Qin Huai: "… I didn't think you suggested bringing Old Shi because he has a big appetite."

"I sent you this menu two days ago, didn't I?"

"I've been making snacks during the day and sorting memories at night these past few days, where would I have time to look at this?"

"Oh." Zhao Cheng'an took another bite of Yam Cake, "I thought since you woke up your appetite skyrocketed, thinking these dishes would be no challenge, and that the four of us could finish them without bringing Old Shi."

Qin Huai: …

"I am Feifei, not Dang Kang, much less a Taotie."

Zhao Cheng'an showed a look of disappointment.

"However…" Qin Huai pointed to the menu on his phone, "With so many dishes, even if Zhang Guanghang helps, can Xia Mubing finish cooking them? I heard when I wasn't awake that he wasn't in good health recently, and Fen Garden often hasn't been operating. Previously, Fen Garden was open during the New Year, but this year it seemed to operate for only a day."

Zhao Cheng'an rolled up his sleeves: "That's why the two of us are going two days early!"

"If the main chef can't manage, us two helpers are professionals!"

Qin Huai gave Zhao Cheng'an a deep look.

"Flight attendant, could we have two more Cokes, please."

"Hey, why are you drinking Coke? You usually don't like drinking anything on planes."

"I ordered it for you."

Zhao Cheng'an: ?

"When it comes to helping, you better not get involved, it's more important to help by eating more. Start practicing your meal capacity from now, I have faith in you!"

Zhao Cheng'an: ???