Abnormal Gourmet Chronicle-Chapter 902 - 445: Finding Someone (2)
Shi Dadan could only smile innocently and answer honestly, "I'll go back tomorrow. My two kids attend a private school, and their vacation starts early. They finished their exams today."
"I'm flying tomorrow morning, and I expect the results to be out by the time the plane lands. Gui Xiang, I have a favor to ask. If I haven't messaged you by 5 PM tomorrow, please call me and say you've made a table of delicious food so I can come to your place for dinner."
Cao Guixiang: "… Is this necessary?"
Shi Dadan sighed deeply, giving a look that said 'you don't understand': "Your Yunyun and Qingqing have always ranked first or second in exams since they were little. My two little rascals have always been at the bottom."
"You know my level of education; I can barely read a few characters. Seeing too many words gives me a headache. When I hired a tutor for the kids, I couldn't even understand what they taught. My wife has taken care of their studies all these years; it's only natural she gets a little temperamental."
"Just one bad habit—she tends to take her anger out on others."
Qin Huai nearly burst into laughter, wondering how he didn't realize Shi Dadan was this humorous before.
"Old Shi, are you going to visit Xiao Qin this time?" Cao Guixiang asked, "I know you like staple foods; you'll definitely love Xiao Qin's snacks, but you should eat less of them. At this age, you have to be careful of high blood pressure, sugar, and cholesterol."
Shi Dadan continued to smile, "I won't."
He truly wouldn't. Shi Dadan had made it past a critical junction, and in a sense, was now beyond human—in great health. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖
For an idea of just how well, just look at Bi Fang causing a ruckus at the age of 92.
"Let's see how things go this time. I haven't been sea fishing in a while; I need to catch some good stuff. I promised my little ones I'd take them abroad for a vacation this summer. Probably won't be able to visit Xiao Qin until late August when I return."
"Originally, I really wanted to tag along when Xiao Qin goes to that exchange meeting in Beiping in mid-July, but after I calculated the time yesterday, I found I couldn't make it."
Hearing Shi Dadan mention Beiping, Cao Guixiang was momentarily stunned, "There's an exchange meeting in Beiping?"
Qin Huai noticed a hint of melancholy in Cao Guixiang's tone and looked up at his phone, asking, "Master Cao, during my trip to Beiping, after attending the exchange meeting, I'll be staying an extra day. You mentioned your two senior brothers went abroad; do you want me to ask around at Yonghe Inn for their contact information?"
Cao Guixiang shook her head, "It's been so many years, just forget it."
Zhang Chu chimed in, "Gui Xiang's two senior brothers left for abroad quite early. Those days, we relied on letters. At first, there was an address, but later, for some reason, the letters went unanswered, and contact was lost."
"I actually had a friend check at Yonghe Inn more than ten years ago. That's when I found out that Gui Xiang's two senior brothers took most of their apprentices abroad when they left, and the ones who stayed in the country retired early. The chefs and boss at Yonghe Inn didn't know who Gui Xiang and I were; we were just ordinary folk without much influence, so they naturally didn't help. Communication wasn't as advanced back then, so we just let it go after that failure."
"Yes." Cao Guixiang nodded, "So many years have passed now. Sometimes I search for my senior brothers online but find nothing. He's already retired and hasn't returned to the country over the years."
"It's likely that Yonghe Inn can't contact him either, Xiao Qin, don't go to the trouble. Back when I was a sent-down youth, it was just such a long time ago, almost a half-century past. Some things just aren't meant to be."
"Like Old Shi, I remember when his restaurant closed, and he said he wanted to find someone, traveling all over the country and world, but never found them. One New Year's, he got drunk at my place, sobbing in Old Zhang's arms. We thought he was swindled by some girl before he explained, and we spent the entire night comforting him."
Zhang Chu nodded wildly, "Yeah, I thought it was something major, but it turned out he couldn't find the business he wanted to start."
"After that crying episode, he didn't travel much and settled into his current farming business."
Shi Dadan: "…Hey, Xiao Qin, what snacks are you making? Steamed buns?"
Shi Dadan awkwardly changed the subject, making Cao Guixiang and Zhang Chu laugh heartily.
"Yes." Qin Huai answered earnestly, "Old Shi, don't you love white steamed buns? I'll make extra for you."
"Um… could you make more Four Happiness glutinous rice balls? My wife loves sweet things. If I can bring back 100 pounds of it, maybe I'll get scolded less."
Qin Huai: "…Sure, I'll call Tan Wei'an now to deliver some supplies. However, Four Happiness glutinous rice balls shouldn't be stored in the freezer too long, 100 pounds..."
"They need to be eaten quickly."
.
Within twenty minutes, Tan Wei'an, along with four apprentices, delivered the ingredients Qin Huai needed. As soon as he entered, he exclaimed, "Qin Huai, aren't you off today? Why are you needing so many supplies? Are you setting up a community kitchen in your neighborhood to compete with Zhiwei Restaurant?"
Tan Wei'an looked at the prepared dough and shouted, "Wow, you're doing more work off than on the job!"
"Since Old Shi is leaving tomorrow, of course, I have to make more snacks for him to take back." Qin Huai replied without looking up.
Tan Wei'an immediately felt miffed, "Last time I went back, you didn't make extra snacks for me to take back!"
Qin Huai: ?
Buddy, have you forgotten what profession you're in?
Qin Huai checked the supplies Tan Wei'an brought to make sure nothing was missing, mentally calculating how many snacks to make that day.
"Did you finish today's KPI?" Qin Huai asked.
Tan Wei'an responded blankly, "What KPI? I don't have a KPI."
Qin Huai grinned broadly, "Great, I'm short on manpower here. Hold on; I'll call Boss Su to see if I can borrow you to help with the snacks."
Tan Wei'an: ??
Qin Huai called Boss Su to explain the situation. Boss Su, being quite generous, agreed since Tan Wei'an was practically slacking off at Zhiwei Restaurant. Might as well work more at Qin Huai's place. He even asked if one Tan Wei'an would be enough.
Then Zhao Cheng'an was sent by Boss Su to help at Qin Huai's with the snacks.
Zhao Cheng'an: ???
Tan Wei'an and Zhao Cheng'an worked at Qin Huai's until 8 PM, making so many snacks that Qin Huai's two refrigerators couldn't fit them all, so they transported batches to Zhiwei Restaurant's freezer.
By the end of the shift, Zhao Cheng'an and Tan Wei'an were exhausted, realizing deeper than ever that Qin Huai not taking a vacation earlier made sense—because this guy should never have a day off, it's terrifying!
"Qin Huai," Zhao Cheng'an asked meaningfully, "Can Old Shi take all these snacks back? Even first-class luggage only allows 30 or 40 kilos!"
Shi Dadan said honestly, "I'm not shipping them; I rented a cold chain truck to deliver everything straight to my home."
Zhao Cheng'an: …
Did a human come up with this way to bring gifts?
After work, Tan Wei'an and Zhao Cheng'an headed home, while Qin Huai cleaned the kitchen. As Qin Huai was cleaning, Shi Dadan stood by the kitchen door watching.
"Old Shi." Qin Huai suddenly asked, "When they called today, Master and them said you were searching all over when you were young, both nationwide and worldwide. Who were you looking for?"
Shi Dadan didn't expect Qin Huai to care about this question and hesitated for a moment before answering, "I was looking for Xu Nuo."
"When I knew Xu Nuo, Xu Nuo was already in the middle of a reincarnation cycle. I was worried he'd forget he was a spirit in his next life, and about the low probability of him succeeding in his trials, so I've always been searching for him."
"But the world is too big; finding someone is really hard."
"I'm also a bit daft, unable to recognize a spirit in their middle reincarnation stage."
