Abnormal Gourmet Chronicle-Chapter 933 - 459: Is Master Xia Really in Such a Bad Mood Today? (2)

Fen Garden does not have a dedicated surveillance room; there are only two places where surveillance footage can be accessed, one is the kitchen, and the other is the room opposite Xia Mubing's bedroom.

There are only three screens in the kitchen, used to monitor the dining area. When Xia Mubing was younger, he was a super workaholic, capable of doing the work of five people alone, managing Fen Garden without hiring help and handling everything effortlessly.

Now that Xia Mubing is older, his energy is far less than before. He and Zhang Guanghang together find managing Fen Garden a bit taxing, but Xia Mubing is accustomed to not hiring servers or kitchen helpers. To better monitor the dining area, Xia Mubing installed surveillance.

If customers have any needs, if they feel the dishes are not to their taste or have other matters but don't know where to find the chef, they can wave at the camera, and when Xia Mubing notices, he'll come out if he has time.

Normally, Xia Mubing wouldn't keep his eyes fixed on the surveillance; he would just casually glance at it while cooking. In typical circumstances, he doesn't need to watch the cameras—

If Zhang Guanghang is at Fen Garden, Zhang Guanghang will keep an eye on the surveillance. If Zhang Guanghang is not at Fen Garden, Xia Mubing might only serve 6 to 8 tables a day and sometimes close up—there are so few people that watching the cameras is unnecessary.

But today, Xia Mubing can be said to occasionally lift his head to take a glance or two at the surveillance, sometimes each glance lasting four or five seconds.

Zhang Guanghang didn't say anything, silently working, speaking up when it was time to remind: "Master, the meat in the pot seems to be about right for fire control." 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

Xia Mubing withdrew his gaze and went to the stove to handle the braised meat. As he turned, Zhang Guanghang could clearly see his expression—a look he rarely saw on Xia Mubing's face.

A trace of surprise, some happiness, more nostalgia, and a certain complex emotion he couldn't quite describe.

These expressions, Zhang Guanghang hadn't seen on Xia Mubing's face for many years.

Since Xia Mubing contacted the descendants of the Li Family, wanting to buy back Taifeng Building at three times the market rate but was refused, and year after year trying to buy it, being rejected year after year, Xia Mubing has rarely been cheerful.

Living to this age, there are few things left to surprise Xia Mubing. After all, he has seen, experienced, and heard of most things in this world; things he's never heard or seen before are truly scarce.

And that nostalgia and longing often found in elderly people, Zhang Guanghang seldom sees it in Xia Mubing. Zhang Guanghang always thought it was because his master had been a loner for many years. Ever since returning to Beiping, he's been solitary, without close friends, or old acquaintances and their descendants, so he has little to reminisce or long for.

Zhang Guanghang always thought his master was a highly individualistic, aloof, bad-tempered, yet very affectionate old man.

His master is capable in all things, never lost, seldom hesitates, and never regrets.

Then Zhang Guanghang heard doubt and disbelief in his master's voice: "Xiao Hang, do you think people have a next life?"

Zhang Guanghang: ?

Since when did his master become a philosopher?

Just as Zhang Guanghang was unsure how to answer this question, Xia Mubing's next sentence pulled Zhang Guanghang back to reality from the philosophical world.

"Are you still having dinner tonight? I remember you said last month upon returning to the country that you ate too greedily and wanted to diet; indeed, eating Wanfu Meat at night is not good. Serve your portion of Wanfu Meat to the guests."

"You just said the guests wanted to eat fish in oil; we happen to have carp, so prepare the fish later."

Zhang Guanghang: ...

"Alright, Master." Zhang Guanghang obediently agreed, continued working, and started contemplating what to eat outside after work.

Zhang Guanghang had a feeling that once the two guests outside said that today's set menu had somewhat fewer vegetables, the last dish of oyster sauce lettuce for his dinner would also be served to their table.

.

Qin Huai and Zhao Cheng'an whispering beside the Eight Immortals table were completely unaware that because of them, a handsome guy in the kitchen lost his dinner.

The two continued whispering.

But the topic of conversation shifted from the size of Fen Garden and why not even a server was hired, to whether the chef's uniform on Zhang Guanghang was tailor-made, or simply due to his tall and well-proportioned figure making any ordinary clothes look exceptionally good on him.

Everyone's a chef, usually wearing employee uniforms, and wants to improve their image in this aspect.

While chatting, the dishes arrived.

"Five-spice peanuts, scallion mixed with tofu, Jade Fan, please enjoy." The once amicable Zhang Guanghang inexplicably turned into a cold handsome guy, coldly placing dishes on the table, turned and left without looking back.

Qin Huai and Zhao Cheng'an were dumbfounded. Qin Huai even checked the time and found it was only 5:37.

Zhao Cheng'an's voice was trembling, tears nearly falling from his eyes: "I'm so foolish, really."

"I knew coming late would possibly make the master angry, but I didn't know coming early also displeases Master Xia. Our set menu had a total of 4 to 5 dishes, three of which are cold dishes: scallion mixed with tofu, fried peanuts. Will we have hot dishes today?"

Facing Zhao Cheng'an's pessimism, Qin Huai was much more optimistic; mainly because three cold dishes had already been served, there was no choice but to be optimistic.

Qin Huai calmly reached out with his chopsticks, picked up a peanut, chewed a few times, and swallowed: "The peanuts are quite tasty, a divine snack to accompany alcohol, though it's a pity we don't drink. Fried, sprinkled with grains of salt and sugar—just from this fire control, these peanuts are at least B+ level. You won't easily find something like this elsewhere."

"At times like this, can't you help it?"

Qin Huai glanced at Zhao Cheng'an: "Do you have any other options?"

Zhao Cheng'an turned sadness and anger into appetite, picked up a small piece of scallion mixed with tofu, tasted it:

"Wow, delicious!"

It was clear that Zhao Cheng'an's psychological state wasn't very good now, having been influenced by Zang Liang.

"Qin Huai, quickly try this scallion mixed with tofu, it's absolutely amazing. I've never tasted such delicious scallion mixed with tofu in my life. You say, why isn't this scallion mixed with tofu one of Fen Garden's signature dishes? This could easily be a signature dish! Quickly taste it and tell me what level this scallion mixed with tofu would get in your game system."

Qin Huai tried a bite, not entirely sure: "B+ to A, perhaps."

Zhao Cheng'an tasted Jade Fan again and frowned: "This dish used to be a signature long ago. Has Master Xia not made it for many years? Why do I feel it isn't as good as scallion mixed with tofu?"

Qin Huai also picked up some with chopsticks, first eating the vegetable heart, then the magnolia slice, and finally the mushroom, assessing: "It does seem to be a bit lacking. Is it because the dish mainly sells based on its presentation, making the preparation somewhat perfunctory? Plus, Master Xia isn't in a good mood today, so he made it casually."

"Alas." Zhao Cheng'an sighed deeply, "Let's eat. We're just unlucky that Master Xia's mood is so off today. Jokingly ordering a set menu to get scallion mixed with tofu, and we truly ended up eating it."

The two of them just calmly ate one bite after another, quickly demolishing the scallion mixed with tofu, focusing then on the fried peanuts, eventually almost casually eating Jade Fan.

Xia Mubing watched the surveillance from the kitchen, frowning: "Do young people eat so much nowadays? Or did they look very hungry when they came in? It's not even 5:50 yet, and the three cold dishes are almost gone."

Zhang Guanghang said: "When I opened the door, I heard them say they were planning to buy baked buns."

"Baked buns?" Xia Mubing was puzzled, "Love baked buns? Just like you when you were little, only liking those random things. The oven for baked buns is in the storeroom, we certainly can't clear it out in a short time. When would I have time to make them today?"

Zhang Guanghang: ?

Master, when did you become so accommodating, ready to cook once a guest wishes so?

Xia Mubing looked at the ingredients already prepared, somewhat helpless: "Fine then, since they eat so much, let's casually stir-fry a couple of dishes for them; just eating cold dishes won't do."

"Xiao Hang, prepare a fruit platter for them, serve it first, I'll casually stir-fry a couple of dishes."

"Alright, Master."

Three minutes later, Zhang Guanghang coldly served a delicate fruit platter, placing it without a word and left immediately.

Qin Huai & Zhao Cheng'an: ...

Even the always-optimistic Qin Huai couldn't maintain his optimism anymore.

"How many dishes are there in our set menu?" Qin Huai's voice was trembling.

"4...4 to 5."

"That makes four already." Qin Huai looked at the delicate fruit platter, "With each setback comes growth; next time we won't come this early."

"Eat."

The two of them devoured a chunk of watermelon and a slice of honeydew, resignedly.

In the kitchen, Xia Mubing was watching the surveillance while preparing to stir-fry two dishes quickly: ?

Are they that hungry? Eating a fruit platter so ravenously?

What's up with Ling Guangzhao? Hosting a meeting without feeding people?