Abnormal Gourmet Chronicle-Chapter 1017 - 496: Papaya Cake (Part 2)

Seeing Qin Huai emerge from the room, He Cheng sat up like a carp springing from the water and eagerly asked, "Bro, do you want some fruit? Want some juice? Is my voice too loud, disturbing you? Are you still releasing the first batch of breakfast at 6 AM tomorrow morning? I've set 10 alarms this time, definitely arriving earlier than Sister Luo tomorrow!"

Ignoring the first few unimportant questions, Qin Huai answered the last one, "Every day at 6 AM."

"Alright, bro, I'll definitely be there by 5:50 AM tomorrow, aiming to be the first to finish eating so I can start collecting plates and wiping tables!"

Qin Huai didn't quite comprehend the subtle competition between He Cheng and Qin Luo, and he felt He Cheng was less suitable than Qin Luo to be a waiter. From today's plate-cleaning speed and efficiency, Qin Huai could see that He Cheng's hands weren't as nimble as Qin Luo's.

After finishing two cheesy sticks, Qin Huai went to sleep contentedly and, as usual, rose early the next morning, arriving at Yunzhong Restaurant a little after 4 AM to start making Yam Cake and Rice Cake. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

When Qin Huai arrived at the restaurant, An Youyou was already bustling in the back kitchen. Despite Qin Huai giving An Youyou two days off, her eagerness to improve meant she rested for only one day before returning to work, brimming with enthusiasm, and wishing she could handle the work of three people alone.

"Good morning, Master Qin!" An Youyou greeted Qin Huai with vigor.

"How's the house? Are you adapting well?" Qin Huai asked with a smile.

"It's simply wonderful!" An Youyou said excitedly, "I've never lived in such a good place in my entire life! I don't need to wait for the elevator; it even has floor-to-ceiling windows. I spent the whole day lounging on the sofa yesterday—it's huge and soft. The sun shining on me felt so warm that I fell asleep playing on my phone."

"Sister Hong is also really nice. She left a lot of things in the house for me. I spent the afternoon tidying up and discovered three air purifiers, a vacuum cleaner, a microwave, a rice cooker, two boxes of incense, six boxes of expired band-aids, a box of cups, and a box of ribbons. I asked Sister Hong, and she said she didn't want them; they were all to be given to me."

Qin Huai: ? What on earth has Chen Huihong been hoarding?

"Well... that's nice." Qin Huai could only nod and smile.

"By the way, let me tell you something."

"Youyou, would you be willing to briefly stay for two extra hours in the afternoon a few days from now?"

"I'm willing!"

"It's like this, the specific day isn't determined yet, but in a few days Zhao Cheng'an and I are going to Mr. Luo's house to make snacks. There will be quite a variety of snacks, and we'll need someone to assist. You can join us then. After finishing the snacks, you can stay to eat together and chat with Mr. Luo for a while. You know Mr. Luo's disposition and character, it's not great, but he's actually a nice person."

"At that time, you should accommodate Mr. Luo more. No matter what he asks, just answer him."

An Youyou nodded solemnly, "I understand, Master Qin. Older people can be eccentric; my grandmother is also like that. She's just over 70, and Mr. Luo is in his 90s, so I'll be agreeable with him."

After convincing the easiest one, Qin Huai contently moved over to the culinary counter to start working, pondering in his mind how to persuade Uncle Wang next.

Uncle Wang is actually easy to convince; just tell him the tasting location is changed to Luo Jun's house. It doesn't look good openly giving everyone special treatment in the restaurant. However, the rhetoric needs careful crafting, and when confronting Uncle Wang there might be a bit of a tug-of-war. Fortunately, Crab Shell Cake is on the list of snacks provided by Luo Jun, and I can say the Crab Shell Cake is specially made for Uncle Wang.

Kill two birds with one stone! Perfect.

.

At 6:05 AM, He Cheng hurriedly arrived at the inner door of Yunzhong Restaurant, panting heavily. Because he left in such a rush, he didn't wear his glasses, making it almost impossible to see anyone or anything 10 meters away.

He knew he was late again today.

There was nothing to be done; his body was like iron and his bed like a magnet; even ten alarms couldn't wake someone who refused to get up.

However, He Cheng felt it wasn't too bad; 6:05 AM is still an early time. At most, he's only a few minutes later than Qin Luo, surely still among the first batch of people at Yunzhong Restaurant, definitely showing his dear cousin his commitment to eating breakfast.

He Cheng pushed open the inner door of Yunzhong Restaurant with force and walked inside, seeing a crowd of people and a long queue.

He Cheng: ?

Was his 600-degree nearsightedness really so bad, causing him to see a shadow and mistake three people for 30?

He Cheng couldn't believe his eyes, and in the next moment, Qin Luo's gloating voice made him realize that his vision wasn't that bad.

"Oh, who is this? Isn't it my dear cousin He Cheng? Didn't you claim you'd be the earliest at Yunzhong Restaurant yesterday? Why are you arriving at this time? I'm almost done with breakfast; I'm about to help clear the plates. Do you not want to help my brother work? Can you see clearly to wipe tables without glasses? If you don't want to help, just say so. No need to arrive at this time; you can come at 9 and still get breakfast."

He Cheng: "…What time did you arrive?"

Qin Luo proudly raised his head, "You think I'm like you? I got up at 5 AM today and arrived by 5:10. Before you came, I was in the back kitchen helping my brother wash vegetables for half an hour!"

He Cheng: …

"I'll arrive at 5 tomorrow too!"

"Forget it, I'll arrive at 4 AM tomorrow!"

"I'll come at 3 AM!"

"Then I'll come at 2 AM!"

"I won't sleep!"

"I'll just sleep in the hall!"

The voices of these two unfortunate souls grew louder and louder, to the point Qin Huai, temporarily cosplaying as a server at the window handing out Rice Cakes to the elderly, could hear them. Qin Huai helplessly poked his head out and shouted, "Alright, you're talking about sleeping in the hall now. Luoluo, the Fermented Rice with Steamed Buns is ready; do you still want some? Xiao Cheng, go back and get your glasses first. I'm afraid, without them, you'll crash into the glass door while walking."

"No breakfast without wearing glasses."

He Cheng dashed off, running back.

Qin Luo, like a victorious rooster, proudly held his head up high, carrying his tray to queue up for buns.

Qin Huai shook his head helplessly, swiftly handing Grandpa Qian Rice Cakes while saying, "Grandpa Qian, unlike yesterday, today the Yam Cakes and Rice Cakes are limited to six Rice Cakes and three Yam Cakes per person. You want 20 Rice Cakes, you can't possibly eat all of them alone. There are more snacks later. Aren't you going to eat Master Zheng's wontons at around 7 AM?"

Grandpa Qian hurriedly pledged allegiance, "What wontons? Master Qin, my favorite snacks are the ones you make! You know me well; don't listen to that Xu Tuqiang talk nonsense. I didn't intend not to come at 6 AM yesterday. I just recently fell in love with bathing—can't stand it if I don't shower after my morning run."

Qin Huai: "What strategy did you discuss in the group yesterday?"

Grandpa Qian chuckled sneakily, "As long as Master Qin, you like what you hear, any strategy is fine. Just wondering, for the food reviews, what style do you prefer? Is there a word count requirement? Is 1000 words okay? I wrote only 800 words last night; if 1000 isn't enough, I'll try my best to extend it maybe to 1500. I can't write more than that. I'm not as good at creating as Xu Tuqiang; don't be fooled by his long reviews—they're full of nonsense."

From the last of the line, Xu Tuqiang couldn't bear it anymore and shouted, "That's enough, old Qian. We agreed in the group, just complain about me a little. Why are you critiquing my food reviews here? I only saved a piece of Yam Cake for you, yet you're still going on. If you keep it up, I'll have to charge extra!"

Grandpa Qian replied loudly, "Two pieces!"

From the last of the line, Xu Tuqiang clammed up.

Grandpa Qian continued to openly criticize, "See, Master Qin, that's the kind of person Xu Tuqiang is."

Qin Huai couldn't help but laugh, "It's okay, Grandpa Qian, I'll give you two extra Yam Cakes on top of the limit this time, but only this time. Next time, it won't happen."

Grandpa Qian chuckled happily.

The other elderly folks and grandmas behind Grandpa Qian showed disappointed expressions as they cursed him inwardly for using the earliest tactics. What tactic can they use later?

Master Qin rarely cosplays as a server. Such a good strategy was used by old Qian; can't you leave us a path?

As for why Qin Huai personally sold snacks at the window today, even though there were enough helpers who could have sold them...

With Grandpa Qian happily carrying his tray away, Qin Huai turned his eyes to Uncle Wang, who stood behind Grandpa Qian.

"Good morning, Uncle Wang."

"Do you have any free afternoons in the next few days? If so, pick a time to visit Mr. Luo's house and socialize."