Abnormal Gourmet Chronicle-Chapter 741 - 375: Heading to Gusu (Part 2)
Previously, Qin Huai made it sound simple, saying directly to Wang Gen Sheng that Master Qin needed him, but in reality, he had to come up with a reason.
Qin Huai pondered for a day and came up with a perfect excuse.
He told Wang Gen Sheng that his account at Huang Ji wasn’t settled.
Indeed, it wasn’t settled. Qin Huai exchanged with Huang Ji for a few months, making countless snacks.
Initially, when Qin Huai went there for the exchange, they didn’t set a salary for him, only a share of the snacks. After all, Qin Huai went there to learn, just under the guise of an exchange.
No one expected Huang Ji could rely on Qin Huai to make money, and later, when the business at Huang Ji boomed unexpectedly, they hadn’t finalized the split of the snacks earnings. Of course, neither party was really bothered by it.
Qin Huai wasn’t short of money, and Huang Ji wasn’t the type to delay employee wages. Not to mention, what Qin Huai learned during those months at Huang Ji was invaluable, and since the Young Master’s personal abilities were limited, the accounts between Qin Huai and Huang Ji were never fully settled.
Huang An Yao directly gave an amount far exceeding the share Qin Huai was supposed to take and deposited it into Qin Huai’s public account.
Qin Huai was stunned when he saw the money, realizing why Huang Ji, despite being a decent high-end restaurant, encountered problems when the head chef had health issues, leading to a business decline and even financial difficulties.
All thanks to the Young Master.
The Young Master must have been taken advantage of over the years.
Qin Huai also told Wang Gen Sheng the truth, stating that he felt the share was unfair. Huang Ji had helped him a lot, and he couldn’t just take that much money from Huang Ji without proper grounds. Business is business; personal affairs are personal. The correct amount is the correct amount.
As for the exact amount, Yunzhong Restaurant indeed lacks a professional accountant, so Master Qin has to seek help from Wang Gen Sheng, an accountant with a spotless record for 40 years, who is widely trusted and reliable.
As a return favor, Master Qin will treat Accountant Wang to a good meal at Huang Ji.
Accountant Wang, who has lived an upright life, couldn’t refuse after hearing this from Qin Huai. Immediately, he patted his chest, guaranteeing that this matter was on him. Even though Uncle Wang had been retired for many years, the basic skill of accounting was still second nature to him.
Don’t worry, this trip, Uncle Wang will surely go to Gusu! Will definitely help Master Qin settle the accounts clearly, not letting Huang Ji spend an extra penny. The correct amount is the correct amount, and all excess money will be returned.
So, Qin Huai successfully persuaded Wang Gen Sheng to accompany him to Gusu, even making him bring three pairs of reading glasses, fearing he might not see clearly when accounting.
In this way, Qin Huai prepared for three days at Yunzhong Restaurant, meanwhile selling special-priced Double Crab Bun for three days, allowing new and old customers at Yunzhong Restaurant to enjoy an extraordinary treat of feasting on Double Crab Buns. And then he vanished.
When Xu Tuqiang and others saw the announcement from Yunzhong Restaurant stating that Master Qin needed to go to Gusu for a 10-day exchange, they didn’t feel sad, nor upset, not even surprised, just a sense of serenity and predictability.
This feeling was hard to describe, perhaps it was just a habit.
It’s like: no matter what, there’s no stopping him. The outside world is always exceptionally alluring, whether it’s Gusu or Guangdong Province, Master Qin is destined not to stay long at Yunzhong Restaurant.
No worries. He’ll come back sooner or later. Gusu and Guangdong Province can’t keep Master Qin. Yunzhong Restaurant is his eternal home.
Ridiculous, what "exchange for 10 days," no way to believe. Coming back within 13 days would be lucky.
Three days later, Qin Huai and a group of six were ready to depart, boarding a flight to Shanghai.
As for why six people, it’s because Shi Dadan volunteered that he wanted to go too. As a financially free successful person, Shi Dadan indeed had a bit too much free time.
His business strategy was simple: raise some seafood and sell it, or go out for fishing, sell it, and the money would come. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖
He wasn’t afraid of business competition or natural disasters, the only considerations were what to raise and whether to go fishing.
Shi Dadan hadn’t had enough of the Double Crab Buns at Yunzhong Restaurant, and Qin Huai was heading to Gusu. As the freest of the idle, he naturally had to follow Qin Huai there to continue feasting.
Besides, he was quite eager to dine at Huang Ji. According to Shi Dadan, since his rebirth, he hadn’t returned to Gusu, although there were many acquaintances for him there. Whether it was Huang Shengli or Zheng Da, Shi Dadan had encountered them in his first life and even met Gong Liang a few times.
These years passed, and Shi Dadan indeed missed Master Jing’s culinary skills—during his first life, he often enjoyed Master Jing’s cooking with Xu Nuo.
Now that he had let go of the past and had the opportunity to revisit old places, he definitely wanted to join the fun. Qin Huai also found it good that Shi Dadan wished to go to Gusu. Wanting to go showed that old grudges and Heart Demon were gone, and after successfully overcoming tribulations in this life, Shi Dadan remained in the human world. The chances of failing the tribulation again were also much lower, making this trip beneficial for him.
Thus, the original team of five became a team of six, with Shi Dadan generously purchasing plane and high-speed train tickets for everyone, taking the flight together with Qin Huai.
Before the plane took off, Shi Dadan exclaimed, "Just thinking about seeing Shengli and the others, maybe even having a chat, my heart is a bit excited."
Qin Huai was somewhat curious, "Were you familiar with Master Huang and the others?"
"Not really." Shi Dadan shook his head, "From what you’ve seen in my memories, you should know I was quite simple-minded in my first life. Often I couldn’t understand implications in others’ words nor react quickly, so I rarely communicated with others, only being familiar with the crew members."
"Even with Wang Gen Sheng, I just knew he and Xu Nuo were close, but I didn’t interact with him. I might have seen him in the restaurant but don’t have any impression."
"Xu Nuo never told me he was a spirit, probably afraid I’d spoil things, since I wasn’t particularly smart back then."
"To Huang Shengli and Zheng Da, they might not be very familiar with me, but from where I stand, they were among the few people I interacted with."
"After Xu Nuo bought the Double Crab Bun recipe, his parents strictly controlled his money. During harsh times, even fetching food from the State owned Restaurant meant secretly climbing through windows. Fearing Xu Nuo might break his leg, there was a time when I helped fetch the food. Due to the need for discretion, we had to secretly rendezvous. When Master Jing couldn’t personally deliver, it was often Huang Shengli or Zheng Da handing me the lunchbox. I feel like I’m quite familiar with them."
Qin Huai understood, a bond formed through secret rendezvous.
"So you haven’t seen Master Huang and Master Zheng for many years; recognizing them on your first encounter, can you?" Qin Huai asked.
"Of course I can. I’ve searched their photos online. You wouldn’t believe how much they’ve changed. Back then, Huang Shengli was quite reserved, just like me, not fond of talking, never expecting he’d end up taking so many apprentices."
"Zheng Da was entirely different from Huang Shengli, being very talkative. During secret exchanges, he often couldn’t resist asking about Xu Nuo’s current situation. Back then, there were frequent rumors claiming Mr. Xu broke Xu Nuo’s leg—Xu Nuo allegedly had his leg broken over a dozen times a month. Zheng Da often asked me if Xu Nuo’s leg was really broken, making him unable to leave home."
"I’d thought he would take many apprentices too, but never expected he didn’t take even one and didn’t even pursue a chef career but switched to business."
One could tell Shi Dadan indeed checked into Zheng Da and Huang Shengli’s recent status.
Listening to Shi Dadan, Qin Huai felt like hearing someone talk about old acquaintances’ embarrassing moments from years ago, quite refreshing.
"Master Zheng mentioned he arranged a car to pick us up at the high-speed railway station; when you meet Master Zheng, make sure not to slip up. Technically, you don’t know him." Qin Huai reminded.
"Certainly, I’m not like I was in my first life. I won’t make such a mistake." Shi Dadan nodded, taking out a large bag of buns from his carry-on. It was the last batch of Double Crab Buns Qin Huai made yesterday.
The buns were humid inside the plastic bag, already a bit chilled.
Shi Dadan cheerfully started eating the buns.
"Want one? Although they’re a bit cold." Shi Dadan offered to Qin Huai.
"No, no." Qin Huai waved his hands repeatedly, "You really do love buns, don’t you?"
"I love any staple food." Shi Dadan spoke unclearly, "Everything you, Xiao Qin, make, I love. Delicious."
