Abnormal Gourmet Chronicle-Chapter 929 - 457: Set Menu Blind Box (Part 2)

"Ever since the theft incident, Fen Garden has only been open until 9:30 p.m.; Mr. Xia doesn't want to keep an eye on the surveillance any later."

"Those two petty thieves were truly foolish. What good is it to steal at night? Fen Garden has surveillance too, and those cameras have night vision."

Qin Huai instinctively looks at Zhao Cheng'an, who has already entered a slacking mode, not wanting to do any work at all. Seeing Qin Huai suddenly looking at him with a somewhat complex expression, Zhao Cheng'an thinks he must have been slacking off too openly, ruining Zhiwei Restaurant's reputation for productivity, and quickly starts working.

As a result, Zhao Cheng'an starts kneading dough and notices Qin Huai is still looking at him.

"Is something wrong?" Zhao Cheng'an asks.

"It's nothing, I just wanted to ask your thoughts after hearing about these things," Qin Huai says.

Ling Guangzhao: ? Wasn't he just sharing some ordinary gossip? Is Zhiwei Restaurant requiring a reflection on gossip now—is it that strict?

Tong Dayan: He really can't decide now who between Qin Huai and Ling Guangzhao has a more eccentric mind. Both are truly exceptional.

"What thoughts could I have? I already knew everything Ling Guangzhao said," Zhao Cheng'an says proudly, with an expression: Didn't expect it, did you? Even though I'm far away in Hangzhou, I know about Beiping's gossip.

"Later, those two foolish thieves were sentenced to a year and three months; the incident even made the news back then. Sister Yan used this matter to lecture me, telling me to buy fewer art pieces and paintings. Even Mr. Xia, with all his wealth, got conned when buying antiques, losing all his money. So with my little money, I better not get conned."

"Isn't it different? I'm investing!"

"Why don't you open the app and take a look at those frustratingly plummeting stocks and funds?"

"Qin Huai, sometimes your words are so unpleasant."

The two look at each other in silence, focusing on making snacks. Ling Guangzhao doesn't leave, just watches, not knowing if he understands, causing the atmosphere in the kitchen to become very quiet.

Breaking the silence is Tong Dayan.

Tong Dayan directly takes a steaming hot dish of crispy fried double delights to Qin Huai, placing it on his culinary table: "Yesterday, after you left, you didn't come to Babaozhai. I guessed you must have had something on, so I didn't ask on WeChat."

"Yesterday's dishes were a benefit for Ling Guangzhao. Today you can just eat casually in the kitchen."

Although Tong Dayan says it nonchalantly, his face is full of you better give me a reasonable explanation.

Qin Huai: …

Darn, I was too excited after watching some memories yesterday, just thinking about Xia Sheng actually being Xia Mubing, and forgot to come to Babaozhai to eat.

"Sorry, Master Tong," Qin Huai quickly apologizes, "I unexpectedly got my hands on a new recipe yesterday—the one for yam cake. I got so excited, immersing myself in the research of that recipe, I forgot about eating."

Hearing this from Qin Huai, Tong Dayan's expression softens a lot. As an exceptional meat Chef, Tong Dayan can truly understand what it means to be completely absorbed with researching a good recipe to the point of forgetting some trivial matters.

"This recipe is particularly good. Once I make the yam cake, you'll understand when you taste it."

"Mm." Tong Dayan nods, pointing to the crispy fried double delights, "Eat while it's hot."

"Alright." Qin Huai picks up chopsticks, grabs a big piece, and stuffs it in his mouth, chewing with satisfaction.

Ling Guangzhao, adhering to the principle "I'm the boss, I'm here, eating a little doesn't hurt," starts eating right there.

"What time is your reservation at Fen Garden for tomorrow?" Tong Dayan asks.

"Six in the evening."

"What dishes did you reserve?"

"I'm not sure, Master Zhou helped us with the reservation."

"My master didn't order any dishes. Fen Garden's signature shark fin pot is limited to three servings per day; Wanfu Meat is limited to eight servings, clear soup with willow leaf and bird's nest is limited to six servings, braised sea cucumber is limited to twelve servings. Our table with Qin Huai is actually an added table through connections; we can't get the limited dishes. Mr. Xia doesn't charge us for the added table considering my master's connections, and recommended the twin set meal, 18,000 per person, 36,000 for two, guaranteeing no fewer than five dishes in the set meal, with sure inclusion of signature dishes like sweet and sour carp and Nine-Turned Pork Intestines, so my master ordered a set meal for us."

As soon as Zhao Cheng'an says this, Tong Dayan and Ling Guangzhao's expressions become somewhat complex.

"Is there a problem?" Qin Huai asks.

Tong Dayan doesn't speak; Ling Guangzhao organizes his words and explains gently, "Fen Garden has been offering this set meal for five or six years now. Many customers liked ordering such a set meal in the previous years because the dishes weren't fixed, mainly depending on Mr. Xia's mood and play. Sometimes, Mr. Xia introduces new dishes directly into the set meals, and sometimes, if Mr. Xia is in a good mood, the intended five-dish set meal could increase to eight for the customers."

"But in the past couple of years... Mr. Xia's mood hasn't been great, which led to the set meal..."

Qin Huai interrupts, "Low value for money."

"Right," Ling Guangzhao nods, "but Master Qin, you are added tables queuing out of order, so ordering a set meal is quite normal. If you happen to catch a good mood from Teacher Xia, you might get signature dishes like Wanfu Meat and shark fin pot in the set."

"Does that happen?" Zhao Cheng'an curiously asks.

"It does," Tong Dayan says, "but only once. It was a boss from the south who did soy sauce business. The first time he came to Fen Garden, he didn't understand the routine and ordered a four-person set. But that day, Fen Garden's food delivery ran into issues, missing dishes, so Mr. Xia saw this was the guest's first time here and didn't want to ruin Fen Garden's reputation; he put his own evening shark fin pot into their set meal. That incident was quite the sensation at the time."

"That guest became a regular at Fen Garden afterward."

Qin Huai: …

I kind of know which soy sauce business boss this is now.

No wonder it's you, Mr. Han. Having an assistant like Wen Yao Fish, you're just capricious. Opening this kind of blind box with extremely low odds, you still managed to get a super limited item that originally wasn't supposed to be included.

Ling Guangzhao eagerly says, "Master Qin, your first time experiencing a set meal at Fen Garden is quite nice. I have connections here; why not stay a few more days in Beiping? If Master Zhao is busy, he can head back first, and Master Qin, you can stay a few more days. I'll help you reserve a spot at Fen Garden, guaranteeing you'll taste the true signature dishes." 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Zhao Cheng'an: ???

Such hurtful words, Boss Ling says right to my face?

Qin Huai smiles, "Boss Ling, we've already booked our flight back. If given the chance, yeah, next time I'm in Beiping, I'll bother you to help reserve a spot at Fen Garden."

Ling Guangzhao: QAQ

Master Qin, why are you so unyielding, guarding your corner so firmly? My pickaxe is nearly worn out, yet you won't let me pry a bit.

Between Zhiwei Restaurant and Huang Ji, who's even around?

Ling Guangzhao can only eat sadly, converting grief into appetite, until later he finds it not enjoyable enough to eat alone and serves himself a bowl of rice.

After Tong Dayan's premium tofu comes off the stove, Qin Huai's yam cake turns out well too.

[Yam Cake A Level]

Seeing this rating, Qin Huai isn't surprised.

Chen Qiusheng's video tutorial was very detailed, Qin Huai watched it intently, plus the yam cake itself isn't very challenging; for Qin Huai, who now excels at making snacks, achieving A Level is quite easy.

Getting an A first try is normal.

Because the current Master Qin isn't the previous Master Qin; he's the upgraded Master Qin.

This batch of yam cakes Qin Huai made has a name, though it didn't reach A+ Level without any bonuses, having a name doesn't help, but Qin Huai doesn't mind; he insisted on putting that name on.

Qin Huai takes a gentle bite of the yam cake.

It's very light, very soft, perfect for youngsters who aren't keen on sweet treats.

It's a dessert one can keep eating without feeling sick of it.

"Qin Huai, what do the two words on your yam cake mean?" Zhao Cheng'an holds the yam cake, pointing at the name above and asks, "Chen Sheng? Why put these words on yam cake—is it a brand of yam cake or are you planning to follow Master Zheng to start your own snack brand called Chen Sheng?"

"Never mind that, just eat it." Qin Huai says, "I love practicing calligraphy on the cakes."

Zhao Cheng'an doesn't understand, but he eats it anyway.

Under Qin Huai's watch, Zhao Cheng'an takes a bite out of half of the yam cake, letting out a satisfied sound: "Mm, Qin Huai, you're really holding out on us, your yam cake is so delicious; how come you never made it before?"

"Because I just learned it."

"Haha, who would believe that."

Ling Guangzhao: I believe it.

Waaah, Master Qin, I can believe it!

This yam cake is too delicious; please, let me strike it once, just once!

Just one strike!

I have connections at Fen Garden here, I really do! Access to the shark fin pot, Wanfu Meat, clear soup with willow leaf and bird's nest connections.