Abnormal Gourmet Chronicle-Chapter 942 - 462: Somewhat Like an Old Friend (Part 3)

"That night, after dinner, I returned to the woodshed. My junior disciple took out five white steamed buns from his chest and stuffed them into my hands, telling me he could see that I wasn't actually full, and that during the New Year, if I didn't eat until I was full now, I wouldn't have another chance."

"That night, I lay on the haystack in the woodshed and ate all five of the white steamed buns, stuffing myself until my eyes went wide."

"Later, when escaping, no matter how hungry I got, I was so hungry I dug up grass roots, gnawed on wood, ate dirt, and drank the wind. My stomach hurt from hunger, stars danced in front of my eyes, and I felt that with the next step, I would collapse to the ground, and that's how my life would end. But as long as I thought about that night, I didn't feel as hungry."

"Back then, I returned to Beiping with so much gold, silver, and jewels, thinking of finally reuniting with my junior disciple, master, and Ping'an, and the first thing I'd do once back in Beiping was invite them to a grand feast."

Xia Mubing's lips trembled a few times but then stopped speaking.

"Xiao Hang, maybe Master Xia has aged. Just now, while I was watching the surveillance, I kept wondering if people really have another life, would my junior disciple, master, and Ping'an come to see me after reincarnation? Would they blame me for leaving Beiping and taking years to return, for not being there to bury them, while I've lived on alone for so long?"

"I even wonder if they'd be surprised that my culinary skills have surpassed those of the master back then. But given my junior disciple's temperament, he'd probably make a fuss and then proudly tell my master it was right not to apprentice under him; having me as a master would be better."

Zhang Guanghang: ... Such a complicated relationship. It's a bit hard to understand, but somehow I get it.

Xia Mubing smiled, leaving behind the past, and continued cooking.

Zhang Guanghang tried to sort out the logic, but couldn't make it clear. Yet, there was one thing he knew very well—

His master wanted Qin Huai and Zhao Cheng'an to have one more hearty meal at Fen Garden.

Zhang Guanghang said, "Master, I just added Qin Huai on WeChat. Do you want me to message them asking what dishes they'd like to have tomorrow and let them order in advance?"

Xia Mubing nodded slightly.

Meanwhile, Qin Huai and Zhao Cheng'an successfully carried the clay pot back to the hotel, handing it to the hotel front desk, instructing them to store it in the fridge properly, as it's their breakfast for tomorrow morning.

The front desk didn't understand but followed the instructions.

The two returned to their room and collapsed.

Zhao Cheng'an, feeling dizzy from food, suddenly blurted out, "Qin Huai, do you feel something was missing from today's meal?"

"Didn't have the staple food."

Qin Huai: ...? Buddy, are you okay? You talked about Baked Bun so much, it really became a thing?

The next second, a game notification sound echoed in Qin Huai's mind. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"Ding, congratulations on discovering a new side quest [Zhao Cheng'an's Desire], please check the game panel."

Qin Huai: ?

Qin Huai immediately opened the game panel to check the side quest.

[Zhao Cheng'an's Desire]: As the direct disciple of the number one pastry master, Zhao Cheng'an never fully indulged in such a Taotie feast. In retrospect, Zhao Cheng'an only feels something lacking; today's meal included cold dishes, hot dishes, and fruits, yet lacked soup and staple food. Soup might not be crucial, but the absence of staple food makes Zhao Cheng'an, the pastry snack master, quite uneasy. Please satisfy Zhao Cheng'an's desire and let him have another feast with staple food fitting for a Taotie feast.

Task reward: [A Segment of Zhao Cheng'an's Dream]

Qin Huai: ...

Buddy, why don't you go all out? Even with today's meal, you just have to have staple food? Do you love staple food that much?

You truly live up to your passion, loving staple food so much in your first life that you'd only make staple food, and in this life, even dining on a grand meal at Fen Garden, you're still thinking about staple food.

No surprise there.

Next time, you and Dang Kang should sit together, the two of you comparing staple foods.

Qin Huai was at a loss when Zhang Guanghang's message arrived.

Zhang Guanghang: Hello, I'm Zhang Guanghang. I wanted to ask what special dishes you two would like to eat tomorrow?

Zhang Guanghang: Any dishes are fine, whether they're on Fen Garden's menu or not.

Zhang Guanghang: Feel free to order anything.

Zhang Guanghang: Whatever you want to eat.

Zhang Guanghang: Any number of dishes is fine.

Qin Huai, seeing the message: ...

Has Zhang Guanghang's WeChat been hacked? Was it hacked by Zhao Cheng'an?

Qin Huai: Can we have staple food too? We're kind of craving staple food. If Master Xia doesn't have time to make it, I can make it myself.

Holding his phone, waiting for a reply, Zhang Guanghang: ...

What's with these two? Are pastry snack masters all like this, loving staple food so much?

They'll make it themselves just to have some.