Abnormal Gourmet Chronicle-Chapter 922 - 454: Life Reborn (Part 6)

Qin Huai watched Zhao Cheng'an make snacks in the Li Mansion's kitchen for over an hour, pretty much figuring out the current situation.

This point in time is now a full six years since last time. Xia Sheng is already 13 years old, if you count actual years, so it's no wonder he looks like a teenager. People have readily accepted the fact that Zhao Cheng'an's appearance hasn't changed a bit in six years; originally, Zhao Cheng'an looked like a boy of 12 or 13, very fit, a style many adults in this era struggle to attain their whole lives.

Plus, everyone just assumed Zhao Cheng'an had a problem with his brain and was a fool, so any difference in appearance compared to normal people didn't seem odd.

Not to mention, from a spirit crossing-the-tribulations point of view, being a fool is quite convenient; as long as you're a fool, every strange behavior is reasonable.

During these six years, Zhao Cheng'an and Xia Sheng stuck around Taifeng Building to learn their craft. Zhao Cheng'an specialized in pastry, while Xia Sheng learned whatever he could. Both were apprentices receiving wages, with one distinction being that Xia Sheng became Chen Qiusheng's direct disciple at the beginning of this year.

Of course, the wages were the same.

The Li Mansion, where they worked, is a rather ordinary affluent household in Beiping. Naturally, it can't be compared to nobility, though the family had a former Hanlin which rendered them somewhat prestigious. After the abolition of the imperial examination system, Mr. Li turned from academia to business, thus is quite wealthy.

The Young Master Li mentioned earlier by Xia Sheng is Mr. Li's only son. He's still engaged in his studies and just got married at the end of last year, his bride being Jiang Chengde's sister, Jiang Hui Qin.

Thanks to this connection, Chen Qiusheng was recommended by Jiang Chengde to become a cook at the Li Mansion, bringing along Zhao Cheng'an and Xia Sheng.

It's clear that work in the Li Mansion's kitchen isn't as busy as Taifeng Building. Taifeng Building, being a restaurant, had endless streams of guests every day, from young lads to masters, everyone wished they had eight arms and legs in order to keep up.

The Li Mansion's kitchen staff, which included everything from cooks to helpers, numbers over a dozen, serving only this one family. The masters are many, yet they are also divided into levels of importance.

The most privileged are, naturally, the Old Madam, Mr. Li and his wife, along with Young Master Li and his wife, the direct line. Next are Mr. Li's sons by the concubines and his brothers who have not separated from the family. Then there are the daughters born of concubines and the concubines themselves, and the lowest are poor relatives who visit the family.

The kitchen is always full of gossip, with the sounds of the stove providing a nice cover for it. Qin Huai hovered throughout the kitchen, listening to the workers gossip about the family masters, enjoying it as if he were back in college days with Qin Luo watching palace intrigue and family drama shows.

Mr. Li juggled reading the four books and five classics while engaging in commerce, whereas Young Master Li balanced university studies with preparing to study abroad alongside his romantic escapades and marriage, a scene straight out of idol drama. Over at the eldest daughter, she was subject to a sensational reported divorce and planned to return home with her daughter, prompting Mrs. Li to weep at home for four to five days lamenting their misfortune producing a discarded daughter.

The concubines indulged in family strife within the mansion, while the elderly Grand Madam indulged in sweet snacks; meanwhile, a few illegitimate brothers of Young Master Li suffered at new-style schools, having no heart to fight for family assets.

Truly a marvelous Li Mansion.

If today's version of Zhao Cheng'an worked in such a place where daily gossip overflowed, he would've been too engrossed in munching melon seeds to care about earthly matters.

But evidently, the Zhao Cheng'an of the first lifetime was different; he possessed strong professionalism. As long as there was work, he would diligently perform it, even if his skill wasn't great, he'd make up for it with sincerity.

Indeed, Qin Huai found Zhao Cheng'an's culinary skills weren't very strong now.

Whether it was dough kneading or filling preparation, everything was quite mediocre, even somewhat poor. Zhao Cheng'an's red bean bun's filling contained sugar quantities near lethal levels, and if such red bean buns were sold at Zhiwei Restaurant, a single bite could leave any sweet-toothed child unwilling to consume anything sweet for six hours.

From Qin Huai's estimation, the snacks Zhao Cheng'an made now ranged between C+ and B-level. Not terrible, considering Zhao Cheng'an had only learned how to make snacks for seven years, during which he undoubtedly spent long periods cleaning as an apprentice. Still, this level was quite acceptable.

But when compared to Xia Sheng, he fell short.

With the same seven years, Xia Sheng seemed to have unlocked some potential.

Not only was he extremely efficient in work, executing all of Chen Qiusheng's required tasks rapidly. His skills covered a wide range, any ingredient could be handled, he could knead shoulders, massage legs, chop wood, ignite fires, and when necessary, whip up a few dishes at the stove.

Owing to an evening banquet, this afternoon the kitchen was particularly busy, everyone couldn't afford idleness. If one had to point out the most idle, it'd definitely be Zhao Cheng'an—

He was solely tasked with making buns, without other duties.

Such an easy and rewarding job, no wonder Zhao Cheng'an shouted tearfully to work at the Li Mansion.

However, Zhao Cheng'an soon wouldn't find it so relaxed.

A person entered the kitchen.

The one who came was a master dressed in light green attire, hair tied up adorned with two gold hairpins, gem earrings, and a jade bracelet on her wrist, followed by a maid.

Qin Huai guessed this master might be Jiang Chengde's sister, Jiang Hui Qin.

Jiang Hui Qin burst into the kitchen with a cheerful smile, dramatically taking a deep breath and exaggeratingly said to Chen Qiusheng, "Wow, today's dishes smell so good, Master Chen, I could smell the aroma of the pork knuckle and fish soup from miles away."