Abnormal Gourmet Chronicle-Chapter 816 - 410: Someone Else’s Shadow

By the time Master Zhou finished assessing Su Qian’s progress and came back to see how Qin Huai’s new snacks were going, Qin Huai had already familiarized himself with the head chefs at Zhiwei Restaurant.

When Master Zhou saw so many old acquaintances gathered around Qin Huai, he was taken aback. His expression quickly shifted from that of a gentle elder to a stern leader, as he squeezed through to the very center, creating even more congestion around the already packed cooking station.

The culinary station, already crowded, became even more packed.

Although Master Zhou hadn’t been around previously, he did get a taste of the Four Happiness glutinous rice balls. When Qin Huai was cooking the second batch of these dumplings, he made sure to serve a bowl for Tan Wei’an to deliver, so Master Zhou wouldn’t miss out or eat them when they were past their prime taste.

Master Zhou was very satisfied with Qin Huai’s glutinous rice balls, especially with the Mixed Fruit Filling.

Sharp-eyed friends may remember that when Qin Huai first began studying the Mixed Fruit Filling, Tan Wei’an provided him with the recipe that Master Zhou had taught him.

This recipe is Master Zhou’s, indicating that Master Zhou himself is particularly skilled at making snacks with Mixed Fruit Filling, though he specializes more in mooncakes than glutinous rice balls. As for the version of the Mixed Fruit Filling that Qin Huai is making now, Master Zhou neither understands nor respects it, but there’s nothing he can do about it.

In Master Zhou’s view, with Qin Huai’s skills, he could make a better, more reasonable, and more streamlined Mixed Fruit Filling. There’s no need to complicate the ingredients and add a bunch of ineffective items, which increase the difficulty of the filling while decreasing its flavor.

However, Master Zhou could grudgingly express understanding, as he recalled Tan Wei’an mentioning that Qin Huai was a bit unusual, liking to fantasize about having a gaming system that assigned him tasks.

Faced with geniuses, especially diligent ones, Master Zhou could tolerate and accept all sorts of quirks, as long as it didn’t involve giving up cooking to go into business, everything was negotiable.

Master Zhou had already prepared his words in mind, intending to feign a casual attitude, give a brief compliment on Qin Huai’s impressive skill at making the Filling for the Four Happiness glutinous rice balls, and then he saw this crowding spectacle.

Master Zhou: ?

Is today a holiday? Are none of you working, and did Xiao Tan catch this bug of slacking off right when he returned to work?

Master Zhou squeezed next to Qin Huai with a stern face, finding Qin Huai making noodles, with Bald Master Hua closer to Qin Huai than himself. Master Hua was looking at Qin Huai with an affection that exceeded Master Zhou’s previous gaze, at least five times more loving.

To those in the know, it was an exchange between snack masters. To those who didn’t, it seemed like they were consulting a famous doctor who could cure their son’s hair loss.

In Master Hua’s eyes, Master Zhou didn’t exist.

"Xiao Qin, you really haven’t learned noodle-making from anyone else? How did you come up with that noodle-rolling technique? Did you figure it out yourself, or does someone in your family really love noodles, or is there an elder in your family skilled in handmade noodles?" asked Master Hua.

Qin Huai saw Master Zhou arrive, smiled and nodded in greeting, without stopping his hand movements. After careful consideration, he responded, "My sister quite likes these types of noodles, although she also likes egg noodles. My sister is not picky."

"I learned this noodle-making from video tutorials online. I once considered learning the stretched noodles; there’s a noodle house in our county with great noodles, but the noodle master there was too busy to teach me. After a few unsuccessful attempts, I gave up."

"The noodles at that noodle house are quite affordable, too, with the beef noodle only costing 6 yuan a bowl, although it only has two pieces of beef. Whenever I want noodles, I just go there." 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Master Hua’s eyes sparkled, thinking he could barely keep his thoughts from being carved on his face, bearing the words, ’Isn’t this just what Master Hua Zhongxing has been longing for, dreaming of day and night, a destined future disciple with the Innate Noodle Saint Physique?’

Master Zhou: ???

"Well, Xiao Qin, you are very suited to pursue a path with noodles!" said Master Hua earnestly. "You may not be very aware, but the variety of noodles, once categorized, is no less than those pastries or steamed items. Wide noodles, thin noodles, hand-cut, hand-rolled, each has its techniques. Some years ago, many pastry masters had their exceptional skills in noodles; a bowl of gold-threaded or silver-threaded noodles could attract countless patrons. As long as you are willing to spend time delving into this field, your achievements in noodles will not be inferior to those masters."

"Hua Zhongxing," Master Zhou, unable to bear any longer, spoke up. The master chefs on the side instantly started winking at each other, communicating silently: Look, look, here comes the fight!

"Your disciples’ noodles are stretched into such a mess, knowing they’re making dragon’s whiskers noodles. Without knowing, one might think they were trying to make catfish whiskers, what with how they’re breaking. They’ve been learning under you for years, and they can’t even properly do a 14-fold noodle. Yet, you have the leisure to be here chatting with Xiao Qin."

Master Hua: ?

Master Hua initially looked up in shock, with an expression saying, ’What grudge do I have with you, surnamed Zhou, for you to be so sarcastic towards me; I haven’t even gone over the top... alright then.’

Somewhat unwilling to concede, Master Hua replied, "14-fold Dragon’s Whiskers Noodles aren’t easy to master, Xiao Qin. Let me tell you, for an ordinary snack master to make Dragon’s Whiskers Noodles, it takes at least ten years of effort."

"But I believe you wouldn’t need that much time; at most, half that time would suffice. You truly have a talent in this area. Although you currently do not know how to stretch noodles, I am confident that once you try, you’ll realize your talent in this surpasses others. I can already fully feel it from your hand-rolled noodles!"