Abnormal Gourmet Chronicle-Chapter 743 - 376: Four Happiness Rolls (Part 2)

"They’re sold very cheaply, but each person can only buy one, as a token of good luck. When I first joined the team, Brother Liu even reminded me to remember to buy one."

"But I gave all my monthly money and tickets to Xu Nuo, so before the year ended, I specifically told Xu Nuo to leave me a ticket for a Four Happiness Roll."

"Xu Nuo told me not to worry, that I could go to his house for dinner during the New Year. He said that although Master Jing’s skills were better, for the sake of selling cheaply, the Four Happiness Rolls used regular pork stuffing instead of ham bits. Xu Nuo’s family had ham, and every year during the New Year, he would make a lot of Four Happiness Rolls because his grandmother especially loved them."

"Actually, Mr. Xu isn’t stingy. He just couldn’t stand Xu Nuo not taking college entrance exams or working in the factory. Xu Nuo was idle and did nothing all day but loved to eat well, so Mr. Xu intentionally withheld his money and tickets."

"Anyway, until the year Xu Nuo and I died, every year before the New Year, Mr. Xu would always have someone buy ham or exchange something for ham, so Xu Nuo’s family was guaranteed to have enough Four Happiness Rolls during the New Year."

"I’ve tried the Four Happiness Rolls made by Master Jing, and I don’t think they’re as good as the ones Xu Nuo makes."

"Perhaps it’s because the regular pork bits aren’t as tasty as the ham bits."

For Shi Dadan to say that Master Jing’s Four Happiness Rolls aren’t as good as Xu Nuo’s is definitely a high praise of Xu Nuo’s culinary skills. Even with the bias of a close friend’s perspective, it’s still an extremely high evaluation.

As he was speaking, Shi Dadan seemed to get a little hungry. Smacking his lips, he glanced at the unfinished bun but didn’t have much desire to continue eating it, swallowing a gulp of saliva.

"I had forgotten about it, but now that I think about it..."

"Since being reincarnated, I haven’t eaten a Four Happiness Roll during the New Year."

At the same time, a game notification sounded in Qin Huai’s mind.

"Ding, congratulations to the player for discovering a new side quest. Please check the game panel for details."

Qin Huai: ?

No way, so there are many side quests to be found from Shi Dadan? Previously, none of them were discovered simply because Shi Dadan forgot and didn’t remember.

What kind of trigger mechanism is this?

"Hold on a second, I’ve triggered your side quest. Let me take a look first," Qin Huai said softly, casually opening the game panel.

[Side Quest]:

3. [Shi Dadan’s Longing]: As a fairly not very smart Dang Kang with not the best memory, Shi Dadan has many beautiful memories and the tastes hidden within those memories that he really can’t recall. Yet, when these tastes, symbolizing beautiful memories, surge to his heart but not his taste buds, Shi Dadan feels somewhat disappointed, longing to taste these delicacies again. This may also be the reason he insists on staying in the human world. Let the player make Shi Dadan eat Four Happiness Rolls that satisfy him, and fulfill Shi Dadan’s longing.

Quest Reward: [A Memory of Shi Dadan]

Qin Huai finished reading the quest details. It was a very simple and straightforward quest, much better than those previous enigmatic quests.

This is the kind of quest a novel protagonist like him should trigger.

"What quest did you trigger?" Shi Dadan asked curiously. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

"A side quest to make you Four Happiness Rolls," Qin Huai said succinctly, adjusting his sitting posture and straightening his back. "Old Shi, let’s not focus on this quest right now. I have another question for you first."

"Think quickly if you have any other deeply memorable, particularly delicious things you want to eat. Hurry and think!"

Shi Dadan: ?

All the way to the ground, Shi Dadan couldn’t think of a snack comparable to the Four Happiness Roll. He did mention some snack names, but none triggered a side quest, showing that he didn’t want them that badly.

However, Qin Huai didn’t come away empty-handed. At least Shi Dadan is very knowledgeable about this snack and knows who can make it—

Zheng Da.

When Shi Dadan connected with Zheng Da, because Zheng Da talks a lot and enjoys chatting, Zheng Da once mentioned to Shi Dadan that Master Jing was forcing him to practice making Four Happiness Rolls. At that time, apprentice Little Zheng felt quite troubled and upset about it.

After all, for the nearby neighbors, the Four Happiness Roll symbolizes New Year’s joy. If the Fermented Rice with Steamed Buns isn’t made well, you might just get two scoldings. But if the Four Happiness Rolls aren’t made well, you’ll receive a severe scolding.

Given that Qin Huai has known Zheng Da for a long time but has never seen him make Four Happiness Rolls, it’s clear (of course, Zheng Da never voluntarily makes any high-difficulty snacks, especially those that seem simple but are actually very difficult and thankless) that Zheng Da either isn’t very skilled at making Four Happiness Rolls or doesn’t like them very much.

The main information Shi Dadan can provide is: the ham version of the Four Happiness Roll tastes much better than the pork version; the ham is the true essential version.

That’s enough.

Next, Qin Huai just needs to show a humble, bright smile that suits Zheng Da’s taste at his first sight of Zheng Da at the high-speed rail station entrance.

What Qin Huai doesn’t know is that his advance announcement of a sudden visit to Gusu has disrupted many people’s plans.

For instance, Zheng Da rushed back to Gusu from Sanya overnight, asked the cleaner to tidy up the house where Qin Huai used to live, and Gong Liang and his wife moved back to the house next to Qin Huai’s place again—don’t ask why—just because they like the atmosphere of the old neighborhood.

By the way, Zheng Da has already purchased the apartment where Qin Huai used to live.

Zheng Da unusually arrived at the high-speed rail station an hour early to pick him up.

In truth, he felt very conflicted inwardly.

Zheng Da knows very well that Qin Huai is unlikely to become his apprentice. This thought has crossed his mind numerous times and has been confirmed countless times. He tried many times and gave up many times, going back and forth, just like how a lovesick admirer would repetitively ponder every night if their beloved goddess or god loves them back.