Abnormal Gourmet Chronicle-Chapter 1154 - 555: Sugar Cake (2)
Creator: Zhang Yi
Recipe Details: Due to the times and cost pressures, the Zhang Family's sugar cake shop cut corners, resulting in this product. Zhang Yi, as the heir to the Zhang Family's century-old sugar cake shop, has often felt deep remorse for his cutting corners, but earning money isn't shameful, so he can only apologize while cutting corners even more, hoping the old customers won't notice. But for An Youyou, this piece of sugar cake was the last snack she ate during her days as a boss. Although it didn't taste great, nowhere near as good as pork knuckles, braised pork, and buns made by her junior Jiang Weiguo, it carried the flavor of the boss. Afterwards, An Youyou worked as an accountant in Jinling, diligently earning money, hoping to return to Shanghai to be a boss again one day. Every day, she would reminisce about this taste, because it was the flavor of being the boss. This dish, once consumed, can ignite the eater's ambition within 12 hours, though the exact effect varies by individual.
Friendly Reminder: If An Youyou could eat such a piece of sugar cake, there might be an extra surprise.
Daily and Production Count: (0/888)
Qin Huai: ...
An Youyou's persistence for being the boss was beyond his imagination.
Since the sugar cake is only Level D, Qin Huai is very certain he can replicate it perfectly. After all, sugar cakes aren't particularly difficult snacks; they are very common homemade desserts.
Therefore, Qin Huai isn't in a rush to check the recipe details; it doesn't matter if he looks at it tonight or tomorrow. At this point, An Youyou is already off work, waking up tomorrow would be the same, and as a good boss, Qin Huai thought it best not to disrupt the Three legged Golden Toad's pleasant after-work hours.
Qin Huai looked up, glancing at everyone.
Chen Huihong was already munching on sunflower seeds, watching Qin Huai with eager eyes, ready to hear the story.
Qin Huai: ...
Qin Huai cleared his throat, first recounting the memories he saw, then sharing his guesses, and finally discussing the recipe he discovered.
Everyone was dumbfounded upon hearing that An Youyou didn't end up dead, wasn't betrayed by her juniors, and that there were no dramatic plots like those in gangster or business novels. Instead, she ended up quitting being the boss due to life's demands and went to Jinling to work as an accountant, honestly working hard—it left them all in shock.
Luo Jun was also in shock.
Luo Jun actually understood the Three legged Golden Toad quite well, and he was the only spirit among them who had some connection with An Youyou, as the green brick house the Chen family lived in was gifted to them by him.
"Are you saying the Three legged Golden Toad finally stopped begging and went to Jinling to work as an accountant?" Luo Jun's voice was filled with disbelief and a sense of what's happening to the world, and after speaking, he glanced at Cheng Gong, with eyes full of questions like whether it was because at that time Shanghai had the presence of Wen Yao Fish as well. Though you didn't meet the Three legged Golden Toad, your work culture aura might have affected her, influencing the Three legged Golden Toad's mind.
Cheng Gong: ...
"Actually, working as an accountant can be quite good, stable too." Wen Yao Fish, who loved working throughout his life, spoke up for the importance of a job.
Qin Huai quickly said, "I'm not entirely sure, because I didn't see An Youyou get on the ship. But based on the description in the recipe details, it seems that An Youyou continued working in Jinling to save money to return to Shanghai and become a boss again, but she failed."
"The specific situation will have to wait until An Youyou wakes up tomorrow to ask her. Right now, I mainly want to ask everyone something. Tomorrow, I plan to make sugar cake first thing when I get to Yunzhong Restaurant. Once An Youyou arrives, let her eat it first. Youyou comes early every day, and at that time the restaurant is empty, so it's very safe."
"Or we could have a tea party at Mr. Luo's house tomorrow afternoon. I'll leave work early and find an excuse to get Youyou to come and help, so everyone can listen and ask together."
"I actually have a lot of questions I want to ask her."
Luo Jun slightly squinted his eyes, capturing the keyword: "What do you want to ask her?"
Qin Huai couldn't really articulate it clearly, so he organized his thoughts a bit and hesitantly began: "I just feel... An Youyou is a bit special."
"Special?" Shi Dadan took a bite of banana and asked.
Qin Huai hurriedly explained: "I'm not saying An Youyou is different from everyone else in an unflattering way, of course Old Shi, you are also quite special. You're the only spirit I met who woke up right away, confessed everything before I even had a chance to probe."
Shi Dadan quietly continued eating his banana, without responding.
"An Youyou's special quality isn't in her memory or species; I just think... I really don't know how to put it, but I think it's special."
"Because every memory of hers unfolds from the main quest."
The more Qin Huai spoke, the clearer his logic became: "Just looking at her memories alone, you can't see much, in terms of excitement, it might not compare to Mr. Luo's, Qu Jing's, or Sister Hong's, and it even feels a bit comedic, with a slightly warm ending, not like a failed crossing tribulation but more like a successful one."
"But I just feel like she must have some special trait that's not in the memories. Even though this game system is kind of like a half-finished product, with main quests and side quests appearing inexplicably without logical connection. The main quest just abruptly ended, and we don't know why, but I feel like each quest is assigned for a reason." 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖
"There must be some rationale for it, and each memory of An Youyou derived from the main quest likewise has its own rationale."
"So... that's about it."
Qin Huai finished speaking and looked at everyone, wanting to hear their thoughts.
Chen Huihong continued happily munching on sunflower seeds, withholding any comments.
Shi Dadan silently continued eating his banana.
Cheng Gong was typing away on his phone, with a serious expression, seemingly responding to work messages.
Gong Liang was busy sending a voice message to his daughter, informing Gong Baozhu that he would be back soon, asking if she wanted any particular fruits.
Qu Jing was also frowning and texting, seemingly on the verge of rushing off for overtime at the hospital.
Finally, it was Luo Jun who spoke: "If you find it a concern, just ask; you have a mouth to talk."
"No need to have a tea party at my place tomorrow either, what do you see my home as, a place for a swarm of people to rush over to every day? Don't I get to watch TV? You ask on your own, and report back in the group page."
"Or we could set a time to throw Youyou a welcome party," Chen Huihong added, "Youyou's had a tough life, being a beggar in her first life, and now with her family conditions not being good, working such long hours for such low wages."
"I think instead of having the welcome party at Luo Jun's house, let's find a place with good food and treat Youyou to a nice meal."
"Sister Hong, I think that's a great idea," Qu Jing raised her hands in support.
Luo Jun was furious: "Chen Huihong, what do you mean 'find a place with good food and have a nice meal,' isn't the food at my home good enough for you? Do you have any complaints about the food at my house? Why are you even eating my sunflower seeds then? Just stop eating them!"
Chen Huihong quickly munched on the sunflower seeds and said with a laugh: "Oh come on, Luo Jun, don't be mad. How about you pay for the dinner out then?"
"What do you mean, Chen Huihong? If you don't want to pay, just say so. Do I really have to thank you for making me pay?"
"No need to thank me. Just remember to order some steamed eggs with black truffle, my Huihui loves it. I'll pack it to go for her."
Qu Jing suggested: "Sister Hong, how about bringing Huihui along?"
Chen Huihong waved it off: "Oh, that wouldn't be good. Even though she's young, Huihui understands our conversations, and it would be bad if she accidentally lets something slip."
"Gong Liang, Cheng Gong, what do you guys like to eat? I'll book the restaurant."
"I'm fine with anything, as long as it's not too spicy," Cheng Gong said.
"Recently I've had a heavier taste preference," Gong Liang added cheerfully.
Luo Jun was even more upset: "What's going on with you all? You're planning without my consent?!"
"One doesn't want it too spicy, and the other wants a strong flavor? Fine, Jingjing, do you have any particular dishes you'd like to eat?"
"Chen Huihong, are you now just outright ignoring what I say, pretending not to hear me?"
"Hey, Xiao Qin, do you know what Youyou likes to eat? If not, it's still okay, since Youyou will wake up tomorrow. When you talk with her tomorrow, make sure to ask what special dishes she'd like to eat, so I can book the restaurant."
"Okay, Sister Hong, I'll definitely ask her tomorrow," Qin Huai nodded quickly.
Luo Jun: ...
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