Abnormal Gourmet Chronicle
Chapter 419 - 237 Rich Ways to Die_2

Chapter 419: Chapter 237 Rich Ways to Die_2

He knew that back in the day, Chen Huihong was known as the crazy lady. In Beiping City, there was a Taifeng Building, whose main chef at the time was Jiang Chengde. Master Jing happened to be Jiang Chengde’s son, Jiang Weijin. So, through these connections, he could link the roasted pork and mixed fruit filling glutinous rice ball and speculate on the idea of using so many ingredients for the mixed fruit filling glutinous rice ball.

But Qin Huai couldn’t tell Zheng Siyuan this way.

He needed to come up with a reasonable explanation that a normal person could accept.

If this reason was based on his successful creation of the mixed fruit filling, then even if the reason wasn’t that rational, a normal person could still accept it.

Ouyang went to buy winter melon candy for Qin Huai, so when Qin Huai took an afternoon break, instead of making Four Happiness glutinous rice, he practiced by making Hedgehog Buns.

Hedgehog Buns were at least a bit more difficult than Rabbit Buns.

The Qianhua Gongdeng Bun was too challenging, and Qin Huai knew not to rush too much, so he planned to practice Hedgehog Buns first to get a feel for it.

Noticing Qin Huai had found a new passion, Zheng Siyuan wore an expression as if saying, "I knew you were like this."

Even during the afternoon when practicing stir-frying, Huang Shengli couldn’t help but tease Qin Huai while eating a Hedgehog Bun: "Xiao Qin, the snacks you’re practicing are too varied. I see that Xiao Tan wants to follow your practice but seems to be falling behind your pace. One moment it’s Four Happiness glutinous rice, then rice cakes, then Hedgehog Buns, leaving Xiao Tan all confused."

Qin Huai could only smile sheepishly: "It’s just that I’m not really used to making the same snack every day, so when practicing, I like to try a few different kinds to change things up a bit."

Hearing this, Huang Shengli felt a bit guilty: "It’s Huang Ji who’s dragging you down. Have you been exhausted recently?"

"Not tired, not at all."

It’s a lie to say he’s not tired, but it’s true that he’s not overly exhausted.

Qin Huai is now working full-time on making guo’er, unable to rely on assistants, so he has to do almost every step himself. Thus, even though the quantity of guo’er isn’t too large, the workload is significant.

Yet, guo’er is a very magical snack for Qin Huai.

Indeed, it’s quite difficult, with complex steps, but for Qin Huai, it’s not too challenging. The shaping isn’t too hard, neither is the coloring, and after making it for a long time, he even starts feeling a bit bored as issues rarely arise, and he hasn’t encountered any bottlenecks.

If not for practicing some other snacks daily, Qin Huai might actually be bored to death from only making guo’er.

Huang Shengli laughed: "How can it be not tiring? Look at Huang Jia and Qi Tian, after work they look like walking corpses. I have to keep an eye on them to do less, afraid of wearing them out."

Every day, Huang Shengli watches Huang Jia to make him do less, and conversely, Huang Jia watches Huang Shengli to make him do less, creating a sort of cycle between this master and apprentice duo.

"I see everyone’s worn out lately, money can’t be earned endlessly, and our reputation has been built. During the break just now, Xiao Cao and I discussed, thinking Huang Ji should take a day off so everyone can have a good rest."

"Xiao Cao suggested a week’s notice before taking the day off, because all the private rooms are booked for the next seven days, and it would be best to reserve time to inform both new and old customers."

"So it’s tentatively set for the 16th. Xiao Qin, if you’re free that day, come over to your Junior Master Zheng’s place, and he and I will make something good for you."

Qin Huai replied: "Even on a day off, isn’t it too much trouble for you and Junior Master Zheng to make food for me?"

Huang Shengli quickly said: "It’s no trouble. Your Junior Master Zheng just can’t stop, and if he stops, he gets lazy. If you come over, he’ll have the motivation to make snacks. Otherwise, if it’s just me going, he’d probably just buy two buns from the community entrance to feed me."

"See, distracted while chatting, and this meat’s obviously overcooked."

Qin Huai:?!

Entrapment, Master Huang, you’ve changed!

After finishing the fire control practice, there’s only 15 minutes left until working hours. Qin Huai went outside to buy a bubble tea to treat himself, and on his return, he caught Dong Shi who was engrossed in gossip at the door.

The last time the gossip-gathering task was assigned to Dong Shi, there has been no word from him up to now. Even when he’s in the kitchen, Dong Shi avoids Qin Huai.

Seeing Dong Shi about to sneak away once more, Qin Huai hurriedly called out to him: "Dong Shi."

Realizing there’s no escape, Dong Shi could only brace himself and face the music.

"How’s the investigation on Xiao Xu going, which I asked you about last time?"

Dong Shi showed a troubled expression.

Qin Huai knew this task might be a bit challenging and reassured him: "It’s okay if you couldn’t find anything; after all, it happened many years ago."

According to the pattern of memory given by the game’s system, the memory of Wang Gen Sheng must be related to Xiao Xu. Qin Huai asked Dong Shi to help investigate, just to learn a bit more beforehand to avoid being completely lost when entering the memory.

It’s okay if nothing was found out; at worst, he could focus on completing tasks and watch directly.

"Actually, I found some things." Dong Shi’s expression grew even more conflicted. "I asked my master, and also Junior Master Zheng. This matter was quite famous back then, and not just my master and Junior Master Zheng remember it. Even Mr. Gong and the local neighbors all have an impression. I asked many people, and almost everyone could say a few words."

"It’s just that... everyone’s version seems a bit different."

Qin Huai:?

How could they all be different?

"How so?" Suddenly, Qin Huai felt a bit curious.

"Here’s how it is." Dong Shi began his performance.

"After my extensive inquiries, the confirmed facts are as follows:"

"This Xiao Xu’s real name was Xu Nuo, the youngest son of the head of a textile factory, Mr. Xu. Mr. Xu also had an elder son who joined the army, leaving only the youngest son at home. So, Mr. Xu and his wife loved their youngest son dearly."

"Xu Nuo loved eating and would head to the State owned Restaurant whenever he had some spare cash. Plus, he was diligent, sweet-talking, and humble, making many friends. It was said my grandmaster liked him quite a bit and often made special meals for him."

"He had another famous story. After he graduated high school, his grandmother gave him a sum of money. It was probably four or five hundred yuan, quite a lot, meant for dating or spending on food and drinks. Well, he didn’t find a girlfriend but spent it all on food and drinks. He spent 780 yuan buying the recipe for Double Crab Bun and gave the recipe to my grandmaster just so he could make the buns for him, angering Mr. Xu to no end, who threatened to disown him."

"Though he wasn’t actually disowned, Mr. Xu laid down a final warning that Xu Nuo must start working at the textile factory, or he wouldn’t give him any more money. Back then, the textile factory was a hot commodity with the best benefits, but Xu Nuo refused to go, insisting on staying as a temp worker at the State owned Restaurant, even if it meant no pay, he just wanted to stay there."

"Were it not for the help of friends, Xu Nuo might not even get a decent meal."

"And then?" Qin Huai asked.

This sounds like a comedic story of a factory director’s foodie son.

"And then he died."

Qin Huai:?

The turn of events in this story is beyond expectations.

Wasn’t there supposed to be some buildup in between? Just dying straight away.

Seeing Qin Huai’s bewildered expression, Dong Shi quickly explained: "And this is where the versions differ."

"Xu Nuo died quite suddenly, and since Mr. Xu’s whole family refused to talk about it, no one really knows how Xu Nuo actually died."

"Everyone just knew he died."

"Some say he was caught in illegal trades and was stabbed in a double-crossing by the underworld."

"Some say he flaunted his wealth, and was killed by a drifter during a robbery."

"Others say he died of an acute illness."

"There’s even a story that he was dating multiple women, and one of their suitors pushed him into a river where he drowned."

"That one seems the most far-fetched."

"There’s one about him being backstabbed by his closest friend, leading to suicide as a result."

"Another tale says he fell into despair being enamored with a married woman and ended his life."

"Of course, the most common story I’ve heard is that he probably just died accidentally. Mr. Xu was so heartbroken by the loss of his beloved son that he refused to speak about it, and nobody dared ask, leaving everyone unsure of the actual reason."

"So that’s it, but no one knows the specific reason for his death."

Qin Huai:...

Although he knew this might come off as disrespectful to the deceased, there sure are a lot of ways to die.

Suicide, murder, accident.

All bases covered.

Even in detective dramas, they don’t have such a rich array of death causes.

Dong Shi pondered: "I was planning to investigate further, to sift through the information before telling you. Some of this stuff really sounds absurd."

"But with elder Brother Liu dating again these past two days, I just couldn’t help but be preoccupied with his matters, so I got somewhat lax in gathering this info."

Qin Huai:...

That’s quite the dedication.