Abnormal Gourmet Chronicle-Chapter 868 - 432: Reflection

Zhao Cheng'an worked quickly. Before Shi Dadan could finish eating all his bread, he successfully bought the painting and even brought along a staff member, supposedly one of the organizers of the exhibition and also a student at the art academy.

The staff member came specifically to thank Qin Huai for his strong support of the exhibition and to discuss the delivery time with him.

Only then did Qin Huai realize that the paintings from the exhibition couldn't just be taken after purchase. The exhibition would continue for a few more days. After the Hangzhou exhibition, there would be another in Beiping, as it was a collaboration among several schools, and they would display it in the cheapest galleries in each school's location for a few days.

Of course, if Qin Huai really liked the painting and was eager to have it, he could take it directly.

If Qin Huai wasn't in a rush, they would settle on a time to mail the painting to him after the exhibition ended.

Shipping is free.

There was no chance of substitution with these student artworks. Faking a painting would incur costs, and there was no need to fake a painting worth 1800.

Qin Huai waved his hand to express that he wasn't in a hurry. If shipping was an option, he asked them to mail it to Shan City, providing his contact information so they could confirm the address before shipping.

As he left the gallery, Qin Huai remarked to Zhao Cheng'an, "I thought they'd just let me get in touch with the author directly, but it turned out to be a staff member."

"It depends. Sometimes you can contact the author to negotiate prices. Like when a sculpture is priced at 15,000, but after the exhibition, they sell it at a discounted price of 10,000 with free shipping. If you're interested in more of the author's works, you can ask a staff member to connect you with the author," Zhao Cheng'an suggested.

Qin Huai waved his hand dismissively, "No need for that. I just need one to urge my sister to study."

Qin Huai pointed out he wasn't a mayfly, interested in experiencing all life's vicissitudes, nor was he inclined to wander through the art world to spend money and learn a lesson.

Master Zhou had given Qin Huai and Zhao Cheng'an the whole afternoon and evening off, but Qin Huai left the gallery before 4 PM. Zhao Cheng'an initially wanted to invite Qin Huai and Shi Dadan to a nearby Western restaurant. According to Zhao Cheng'an, despite being a bit pricey, the food there was quite delicious.

But Qin Huai's comment, "The 1800 you earned today might not cover the meal," quickly dampened that idea, and the three of them parted ways to head home.

To be precise, it was Zhao Cheng'an who parted ways with the two, and after watching Zhao Cheng'an leave, Qin Huai and Shi Dadan took a taxi to the Western restaurant for dinner.

The food was indeed good. With Shi Dadan's guidance, Qin Huai tried a bit of every dish in the restaurant, eventually leaving with a satisfied burp under the admiring eyes of the waiter.

In the evening, Qin Huai initiated a group video call to share the sensational news that Zhao Cheng'an was actually a mayfly.

Shi Dadan hadn't lied to Qin Huai. Mayflies were indeed famous among spirits. Even the usually quiet Qu Jing exclaimed in surprise upon hearing that a mayfly was undergoing tribulation; she had only ever heard of it, never actually seen one.

Regarding mayflies, Luo Jun's explanation was similar to Shi Dadan's. Luo Jun had also never seen a real mayfly.

"So, what other special spirits, besides mayflies, have you mentioned to me before?" Qin Huai asked curiously.

That afternoon, upon learning that the mayfly was what everyone referred to as a special spirit, Qin Huai realized that his idea of "special" differed from how the spirits defined it.

Qin Huai had always thought special spirits were those rare or powerful beings like the Taotie or Yinglong, often playing villains in mythical dramas, or those so obscure he couldn't even name them.

But the special spirit turned out to be the mayfly. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

The mayfly was so well-known that most people even knew how to pronounce it.

Qin Huai's question left everyone silent. Seeing this, Qin Huai glanced at Shi Dadan, who was sitting beside him, eating a slightly browned banana he had forgotten to eat for a few days. Qin Huai gave him a look as if to ask, "Did I ask something difficult?"

Shi Dadan didn't notice, as he was busy peeling the banana.

Finally, Qu Jing spoke up, "Qin Huai, your sudden question is hard to answer off the top of my head."

"When you mentioned the mayfly, I knew it was a very special spirit. But when you ask me about other special spirits? I don't have any clear ideas right now."

Chen Huihong quickly chimed in, "Yes, yes, just now I also suddenly couldn't remember, as if the names were on the tip of my tongue but wouldn't come out. Luo Jun, are you the same?"

"I'm not," Luo Jun stubbornly replied, "I'm different from you. I'm old and forgetful, not unable to recall."

Everyone: ...

After a long silence, Qin Huai quietly asked, "Has Mr. Luo visited the hospital for a check-up recently?"

Qin Huai implied whether he had consulted a doctor to see how much longer he might live, and it did sound like he wasn't expected to live long.

"What's there to check?" Luo Jun said with an annoyed look, "And then what? Give me surgery to extend my life by two years? Does Qu Jing's hospital have doctors bold enough to perform surgery on a 92-year-old man?"

"Qin Huai, stop talking nonsense. Didn't you have a side quest reward that was a mayfly's memory?"