Abnormal Gourmet Chronicle-Chapter 1060 - 517: Mr. Xu on the Offensive

When An Youyou got off work, she unusually requested to pack some potato dumplings in a takeout box and happily headed home.

Qin Huai didn't expect An Youyou to be such a fan of potato dumplings. Although An Youyou has always enjoyed all the food at the Yunzhong Restaurant (as she views these free meals as employee benefits), she had always been delighted whenever Qin Huai offered her extra snacks to take home, but she rarely requested them on her own.

An Youyou's upbringing made her understand that there's a fundamental difference between being given something and asking for it.

Qin Huai picked up a dumpling and took a bite, chewing it thoughtfully.

"It's just a dumpling, not as tasty as Four Happiness Dumplings. I can't believe An Youyou likes this flavor. I'll make more of each kind tomorrow and let her try them too."

Zhao Cheng'an, who wanted to eat but was put off by a previous incident, quipped, "Potato dumplings are delicious to begin with. Qin Huai, I've noticed you just don't like dumplings. When you were at Zhiwei Restaurant, the only dumplings you made were Four Happiness Dumplings, and those were steamed."

"You southerners just don't appreciate dumplings."

Qin Huai: ? Just because you were a northerner living in Beiping in a previous life, doesn't mean you're the same now living in Hangzhou in this life.

Qin Huai's voice elongated as he said, "An Youyou is a northerner?"

"More north than you."

Qin Huai: ...

"If you keep losing it, Zhao Cheng'an, I'm going to shove a potato dumpling in your mouth," Qin Huai warned.

Zhao Cheng'an immediately fell silent.

Zhao Cheng'an thought that in terms of skills, Qin Huai surely couldn't catch him. As the infamous Beiping Thief King, how could he possibly be caught by Qin Huai alone? There's no way Qin Huai could achieve the feat of stuffing a potato dumpling into his mouth by himself. But this kitchen was filled with Qin Huai's helpers, especially Shi Dadan, and Zhao Cheng'an's instincts told him that as soon as Qin Huai made a move, Shi Dadan would assist.

Not to be underestimated.

Even though Qin Huai made a lot of potato dumplings today, he didn't just focus on potato dumplings. Besides completing Wang Gen Sheng's side quest, he had a more important task—

Level up his yeast skills to Master Level.

This was the main quest, an unignorable one.

Originally, Qin Huai wanted to let Wang Gen Sheng try the original version of the potato dumplings, Elm Bark Steamed Buns, and Rice Cake Soup, but in the end, he made too many delicious potato dumplings to change the plan.

Wang Gen Sheng's appetite is just that of a typical elderly man, having a normal appetite for his age, much smaller than Xu Tuqiang's.

Among the elderly, Xu Tuqiang is considered to have quite a big appetite, and Qin Huai observed that Xu Tuqiang's large appetite was developed. Previously, Xu Tuqiang didn't like morning runs. Morning jogging was merely an excuse to prove himself as a health-conscious, life-loving retiree. He just pretended, wrapped it up with a bit of jogging, and called it a day.

Now, Xu Tuqiang genuinely enjoys morning runs. The high-intensity workout whets his appetite, allowing him to eat a bit extra during breakfast.

In supporting Qin Huai's breakfast venture, Xu Tuqiang is indeed the most diligent among the retirees. If Xu Tuqiang were a spirit, Qin Huai would gladly cater to him daily; however, unfortunately, Mr. Xu truly isn't.

Given the regular contact between Qin Huai and Xu Tuqiang, as well as Xu Tuqiang's enthusiastic demeanor, if Xu Tuqiang were indeed a spirit, a task would've triggered by now; it must be a bug in the game system.

Faced with a high-probability, 100% pure human Mr. Xu, Qin Huai could only quietly treat him to special meals whenever he had free time, serving as a personal token of appreciation from Master Qin.

The last snack Qin Huai made was rice cake.

Making rice cake doesn't require much technical skill, mainly physical effort.

The process of beating the rice cake is labor-intensive. Repeated steaming and stirring of glutinous rice is a pure physical task, yet it requires a bit of technique.

One can't simply stir mindlessly, nor steam without thought. The stirring time and intensity must be adjusted according to the glutinous rice's status, truly controlling heat and timing.

If Qin Huai merely wanted to make B-level sticky rice cake, he could offload the entire process to his helpers and only need to occasionally glance over, fulfilling a supervisory role.

But Qin Huai aimed to craft A-level sticky rice cake capable of triggering a buff, which required his personal involvement throughout the process.

A-level snacks demand not only high culinary skills from the chef but also strict quality from the ingredients. With rice cake being the sole component of sticky rice cake, poor quality hinders even the most extraordinary chef. Thus, personal involvement is imperative.

What's the difference between A-level sticky rice cake and E-level Rice Cake Soup? Isn't it just about the person making it?

Frankly, Qin Huai admired Qu the Hunter a bit for being able to make Rice Cake Soup at E-level. Previously, even when Qin Huai tried his utmost at Huang Ji, extrapolating to the point of concocting something akin to a witch's brew, all he could manage was E+ level.

Indeed, cooking requires a touch of talent.

Qin Huai is indeed someone with extraordinary talent, as is Chen Huihong.

Who said reverse talent isn't talent?

Xu Tuqiang witnessed Qin Huai's entire laborious process making rice cake from his steadfast perch at table number 9.

As a retired grandpa, Xu Tuqiang truly had time on his hands.

Previously, Xu Tuqiang occasionally visited his children's homes, stayed for a couple of days, looked after his grandchildren, savoring family bliss.

Now, Xu Tuqiang doesn't go at all unless it's a holiday or if Qin Huai isn't at the Yunzhong Restaurant. His daily routine strictly consists of home—morning jog—Yunzhong Restaurant—home, making it a three-point, not one-line pattern.

Even during long absences of Qin Huai from the Yunzhong Restaurant, Xu Tuqiang would still hold vigil at table number 9, thinking of him when seeing his belongings.

Family members fully support Xu Tuqiang's staying-out-all-day habit. Being a renowned elder at Yunzhong Restaurant, Xu Tuqiang understands how to utilize the rules, skillfully navigating purchase limits to secure benefits for his family by buying extra assorted snacks for his children.

Nowadays, Xu Tuqiang doesn't even need to visit his children. After work, their first stop isn't home but Yunzhong District to tend to their dear old father and pick up snacks. Xu Tuqiang's household stature increased dramatically; he moved from being an ordinary retired grandpa to one managing his family's snack supply.

Sitting at table number 9, which serves as a prime observation point, Xu Tuqiang didn't occupy it idly.

Daily, Xu Tuqiang closely observed Qin Huai's activities.

For instance, today, he noticed Qin Huai made a bunch of dumplings but didn't sell them. Then in the afternoon, he began making rice cakes, uncertain whether those would be offered for sale.

Wang Gen Sheng ate many dumplings that weren't sold.

Thinking of Wang Gen Sheng, there're only two words to describe Xu Tuqiang's feelings—

Jealousy.

Very jealous.

That guy surnamed Wang, what merits or abilities does he have? Can't even write food reviews, nor speak pleasantries. Before, when everyone teamed up to buy houses in Gusu, he was the only one who didn't, claiming it was because he hadn't sold his work-provided house there and had rented it out, deciding that renting a place was fine for short stays.

He's definitely not a team player.

Although it seems wise in hindsight not to have bought a house, as we hardly visit Gusu, and those bought houses are rented out one by one in the end.

Master Qin's movements are unpredictable, now in Gusu, now in Hangzhou. Following and buying homes everywhere requires considering the cost-benefit, regardless of how wealthy one is.

Xu Tuqiang couldn't fathom what special quality Wang Gen Sheng had to earn such favor from Master Qin. Previously, occasional secret treatings were begrudgingly accepted, but now he's directly eating in the kitchen, and today he's enjoying an exclusive treat today.

Not occasionally, but continuously eating in the kitchen.

Xu Tuqiang suspected that Master Qin seemed to be facing trouble again.

This was his opportunity, and he intended to seize it.

Recently, to better his observations, Xu Tuqiang even learned a bit of lip-reading.

Xu Tuqiang watched Qin Huai say to Zhao Cheng'an:

"Making rice cake is truly exhausting. Were it not for the lack of high-quality rice cake in the market, I wouldn't have resorted to handmade production."

"Why isn't there a dedicated handmade rice cake store in Shan City? Gusu has one; Huang Ji's rice cakes are sourced from a specialty shop in Gusu, and it's of good quality. If Shan City had a similar store, sticky rice cake could become a staple sale item."

"My hands are numb. Zhao Cheng'an, can you stir it for me?"

"I won't stir unless you let me have some."