Abnormal Gourmet Chronicle-Chapter 1049 - 508: One Wave Hasn’t Settled Before Another Arises (2)
Cheng Gong said, "With a failed crossing tribulation Dang Kang, anything is possible."
"So, do you know the specific situation of Mr. Xu, Mr. Gong?" Qin Huai asked curiously.
Luo Jun shot Qin Huai a look of exasperation, his face full of annoyance at their shared tendency to get sidetracked like Chen Huihong. Is this really the time to worry about this issue?
"I know a little." Gong Liang said, "Doesn’t Mr. Xu have two sons? Their family dotes on Xu Nuo primarily because the eldest son is capable and works abroad for many years, seldom returning home, requiring no worry. Thus, comparatively more attention is given to the less accomplished Xu Nuo."
"A few years after Mr. Xu retired, the cotton mill closed down. Later, his eldest son’s job was transferred to Shanghai, and he took both Mr. Xu and his wife with him when he moved there."
"About ten years ago, Mr. Xu’s eldest son passed away due to illness, reportedly from overwork after years of employment. A few years later, his wife also died from illness."
"That’s when I heard that Mr. Xu returned alone to Gusu and moved into a high-end nursing home. Occasionally, some of the older folks from the mill visit him, so I’ve been hearing bits about Mr. Xu over the years. His health seems to be quite good."
"Speaking of which, Mr. Xu is quite pitiable. Xu Nuo’s death was an instance of an elder seeing off a younger with black hair, and now in old age, he had to send off his eldest son and wife. I heard he has two grandsons who visit him at the nursing home during holidays from afar. But they only come a few times a year; I don’t know much else."
Qin Huai sighed along with him.
"By the way, I don’t even know what Mr. Xu’s full name is. If Old Shi uses that name, can he find out where Mr. Xu is in Gusu?" Qin Huai asked.
"Xu Chenggang."
"Without needing a name, Old Shi can just hire a reliable private detective like Mr. Luo did. A bit of inquiry should pinpoint Mr. Xu’s whereabouts. It wouldn’t be difficult."
Hearing this, Luo Jun was displeased: "What do you mean by ’scammer’? Are you implying my hired private detective is unreliable? You do realize it was my private detective who found out about the parents in Qu Jing’s last life, right? Could just any private detective have done that?"
Cheng Gong interrupted Luo Jun’s outburst: "Mr. Luo, this isn’t the time to argue over this."
Luo Jun: ?
They’ve been prattling on about all kinds of nonsense, and you interrupt me?
You auspicious beasts are all no good!
"So." Luo Jun glared at Cheng Gong, his words heavily stressed, "You all came to my house to babble this string of nonsense just for all this rubbish?"
"We’re just analyzing the situation." Cheng Gong explained further, "Given Old Shi’s impulsive character, he might indeed do something more radical than Qu Jing. It’s not impossible he would go straight to Gusu to ask Mr. Xu how Xu Nuo died."
"Would he really?" Qin Huai was startled, "Wouldn’t that directly expose him as Xu Mo, reincarnated?" 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺
"Didn’t Xia Mubing also know that Zhao Cheng’an is Chen Sheng?" Cheng Gong retorted.
Qin Huai was at a loss for words, "But... aren’t these two situations different?"
Cheng Gong nodded, "That’s the core issue. Xia Mubing knowing Zhao Cheng’an is Chen Sheng is controllable. It’s like Dr. Qu’s past life parents knowing her true identity—although a little risky, it’s manageable overall."
"Old Shi’s case is different. Once Mr. Xu learns of his identity, the situation spirals beyond our control. Anything, even the worst circumstances, could happen."
"So we absolutely cannot let Old Shi recklessly go to Gusu, at least not now."
"But we might not be able to persuade him."
Luo Jun commented plainly, "We might not convince him, but someone else can."
Qin Huai knew Luo Jun was referring to him.
Even though Shi Dadan appeared much later as a spirit, in terms of relationships, Qin Huai had the best bond with Shi Dadan among all the spirits.
It was a friendship forged over countless shared snacks.
There isn’t a single snack master in this world who could resist someone who loves their snacks, leaves not a crumb, and even catches crumbs with a plate, making sure to eat every last bit clean.
"I’ll try to talk to him." Qin Huai said.
"Just talk?" Luo Jun raised an eyebrow.
"I’ll also work on winning over Uncle Wang, strive to unlock his side quests as soon as possible, unlock recipes, and unlock his memories to wake him up." Qin Huai added.
Only then did Luo Jun seem satisfied.
"But Master Qin, when you persuade him, it’s best to be tactful and mindful of your approach." Cheng Gong advised, "Even the gentlest and easiestgoing spirit becomes stubbornly fixated when it concerns their own obsessions."
"Just like Mr. Luo stubbornly refuses to die, and I am stubbornly intent on finding a boss who genuinely treats me well. I’ve awakened now, and logically speaking, I should immediately die to eliminate future trouble. But I insist on staying in the human world to continue working for President Han, because that is my obsession."
"I realize that’s risky. If President Han turns out like my previous bosses, ending up ’crossing the river and dismantling the bridge.’ Or if with time, President Han no longer trusts, values, or desires to treat me well, I could fail another crossing tribulation."
"It’s a gamble, but one I’m willing to take."
"Even if I fail, I won’t regret it."
"Old Shi’s mindset might be similar to mine now. He successfully crossed the tribulation, but Xu Nuo is his obsession. He could have failed the crossing tribulation by causing Xu Nuo’s death and choosing suicide, and could fail again in this life due to his fixation on uncovering the truth about Xu Nuo’s death."
"Mr. Luo always mistrusts Old Shi, believing he’s not being truthful, but I believe there’s one thing Old Shi hasn’t lied about to us."
"He’s terrified of going to Gusu. He’s avoiding it because Gusu is tied to his obsession. He doesn’t know how to confront it, so he chooses to evade. Yet for spirits, avoidance solves nothing; it only temporarily hides the problem."
"Facing the problem directly is the only solution."
"I’ll give that piece of advice to Mr. Luo as well."
Originally, Luo Jun didn’t really want to listen to everyone’s chatter since he thought they came to his home just to spout nonsense. He continued watching TV while passively participating in the talking.
But when Cheng Gong ended with a little jab at him, Luo Jun was immediately incensed.
"Are you done?"
"If you’re done, get out!"
"Keep talking nonsense, and I’ll charge you rent—ten times the rent!"
With that, Qin Huai and the others were chased out by Luo Jun.
Standing outside Luo Jun’s house, Gong Liang looked at the tightly shut security door and sighed, "As it’s rumored, Mr. Luo has quite the temper. It must have been hard for him to act so long the other day."
"No wonder he stuffed mooncakes into my mouth so forcefully, almost choking me."
Qin Huai: ... Is now really the time to sigh over such things? You spirit scammers really have strange priorities.
Seeing that the two had no intention of leaving, Qin Huai figured they might as well finish their conversation right in front of Luo Jun’s door.
"So... should I go talk to Old Shi now?"
"The sooner, the better." Cheng Gong suggested.
"Alright." Qin Huai immediately took out his phone and called Shi Dadan.
For such a conversation, there wasn’t anything to organize. To Qin Huai, Shi Dadan was honest enough with him, so he should respond with the same honesty.
He would directly tell Shi Dadan about everyone’s concerns, use emotional appeal to make him hold off, and wait for Wang Gensheng to wake up for the truth instead of rushing off to Gusu to find Mr. Xu.
"Hey, Old Shi, where are you? I need to talk to you."
"I’m at the airport. I have a matter that needs me to go to Shanghai, and I didn’t have the time to tell you all."
Qin Huai: ...
"Are you landing in Shanghai and then taking the high-speed train to Gusu?"
Shi Dadan remained silent.
"Old Shi, don’t be impulsive just yet, hold on. I guarantee that I’ll find out the truth about Xu Nuo’s death within this year, okay?"
"Come back first. If you don’t trust me, we can talk face to face."
After a few seconds of silence, Shi Dadan slowly replied, "Okay, I trust you."
