Chapter 634
Extra: Shi Dadan's Secret and New Year's Eve Dinner
Chapter 634 Extra: Shi Dadan's Secret and the New Year's Eve Dinner (Part Two)
That night, Qin Huai kept replaying his past memories in his mind until after midnight before finally falling asleep.
If asked what he had come up with from the debriefing, Qin Huai would honestly say he hadn't. Everything he wanted to know, everything that had previously puzzled him, flooded his mind the moment he woke up. The debriefing was merely a process of sorting things out; it couldn't resolve any confusion. For Qin Huai, he was now free of any confusion.
Rather than reflecting on the past, Qin Huai is more interested in planning how to make desserts for the Chinese New Year.
Qin Huai's original plan was to turn Qin Family Village into a snack banquet during the Spring Festival, to hone his skills and give back to the villagers.
As it turns out, plans can't keep up with changes.
Qin Huai's game panel now looks like this:
Player Name: Qin Huai
Unlocked illustrations: 12/12
skill:
Dough Leavening (Master Level): Your dough leavening skills have surpassed 99.99% of the nation's top pastry chefs. (62423/10000000)
Filling Preparation (Master Level): Your filling preparation skills have surpassed 100% of the nation's top pastry chefs. (5891346/10000000)
Fingering (Master Level): Your fingering has finally reached the level of a master. (11111/100000)
Deep-frying expert (advanced): You're still not good at deep-fried snacks. (6666/100000)
Knife skills (Master level): Your years as an apprentice at Taifeng Restaurant were well worth it. (399/1000000)
Master Level: Your years as an apprentice at Taifeng Restaurant were well worth it. (19/1000000)
Culinary Tasting (Master Level): Only by tasting the works of true masters can one understand master-level culinary tasting. Of course, you are now a true master. (Cannot be upgraded)
Management (Master Level): Back when you were Chen Shun, you were a shrewd businessman. (13697/1000000)
Lies (Grandmaster Level): A true master of lies doesn't deceive others, but rather deceives himself, and believes it without question. (6666666/100000000)
Evaluation: In terms of pastry chef skills, you are undoubtedly the best in the world. After all, no other pastry chef can integrate the culinary experience of several generations like you, truly achieving 80 years of experience at the age of 20.
With such super-model-level base stats, if Qin Huai still says he wants to grind basic proficiency during the Spring Festival, then he's really asking for trouble.
Not to mention Zhao Cheng'an, who would feel compelled to hit him, Qin Huai himself would feel compelled to slap himself a few times.
Qin Huai was also learning for the first time that there was a Grandmaster above the Master, and a Great Grandmaster above the Grandmaster. This game rating system gave people the feeling of being obsessed with a cultivation fantasy novel.
Does the Grandmaster level require ascension?
Now Qin Huai can confidently say that his style is textbook-perfect. What? You say what's textbook-perfect? Are you blind? Can't you see me standing right in front of you? Aren't I a walking textbook?
In this context, the Lunar New Year period becomes purely a time to give back to the villagers.
Qin Huai was thinking about how to give back to his fellow villagers.
First, you can't make desserts that are too difficult to make.
Making things like the complicated steps of making palace lantern buns with pliers and fruit dumplings is out of the question; they're too time-consuming. Making things like locust flower steamed buns, which are technically too difficult, is also out of the question; they're too energy-intensive.
Qin Huai felt that with his basic stats, he could theoretically have made the locust flower steamed buns to an S-grade last night. However, there were just too many desserts to make on New Year's Eve, and he didn't have enough energy to allocate to the locust flower steamed buns, which resulted in a slight underperformance and only an S-grade.
As for the S+ grade desserts...
Qin Huai could only say that he was still a bit unaccustomed to the new environment after waking up. He had regained his proficiency but hadn't fully mastered it. Given time, once he had fully absorbed the culinary experience and skills from his previous lives, and was giving it his all to try making his best desserts, such as fermented rice buns, he should be able to produce S+ grade ones.
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, Qin Huai decided to make poria cocos sandwiches, steamed buns, meat buns, and beef pancakes.
The reason for making Fuling cakes is that this snack is meant to be eaten during the Lunar New Year, especially on the first day of the Lunar New Year. Back when Qin Huai was still in her first life, Qin Wan would get up early every Lunar New Year's Day to make a lot of Fuling cakes, not only for her own family to eat, but also to give as gifts and to entertain guests when visiting each other for New Year's greetings.
The children felt proud to carry two poria cocos sandwiches in their pockets when they went out to play with their friends. With Qin Wan's skills, poria cocos sandwiches were definitely better than melon seeds, nuts, candies, or even chocolates.
After Qin Huai moved out of the Jiang family, he would receive a basket of Poria cocos cakes made by Qin Wan every Lunar New Year's Day. The Chen family did the same, and Zhao Cheng'an probably ate quite a lot of them back then.
Although Fuyou is impulsive, he is reliable. His proposal to make Fuling cakes before the New Year was definitely intentional, fearing that Qin Huai might not wake up during the New Year.
Even though it's no longer Beiping a hundred years ago, Qin Family Village has never had the custom of making or giving away Fuling cakes on the first day of the Lunar New Year. The location has changed, the time has changed, the people have changed, and the customs have changed, but the memories remain the same.
Upon waking, Qin Huai felt that Fuling cake was the perfect snack for the first day of the Lunar New Year.
As for the rest...
White steamed buns are Shi Dadan's favorite, meat buns are decent and easy to eat, and most villagers in Qin Family Village love them. Beef sesame cakes are Qin Luo's recent favorite; this kid just likes to eat things with lots of meat.
Qin Huai said he might get up late on New Year's Day, but he actually woke up before 6 a.m. By the time the refreshed young chef Qin finished washing up and rushed to the kitchen, Old Master Qin was already outside preparing.
Qin Huai didn't tell her family what kind of snacks she was going to make today, but some things don't need to be known to prepare in advance, such as bowls and chopsticks, and firewood. There are no high-powered appliances in the kitchen, so when you really need to steam a large batch of snacks, the earthen stove is still the fastest way.
Feeling that he was in good health and still vigorous despite his age, but with a smaller appetite than before, Grandpa Qin started chopping wood early in the morning.
"Grandpa, what time did you get up to chop the firewood? If you don't have enough firewood today, Luoluo can chop some. Be careful not to hurt your back." Qin Huai was stunned when he saw the pile of firewood piled up like a small mountain at the kitchen door.
Grandpa Qin waved his hand casually, but the gesture of supporting his waist revealed that he was not so nonchalant: "This is only a little firewood. When I was young, I could chop hundreds of pounds without stopping. Luo Luo can't get up that early during the New Year, so I'm chopping some firewood to keep in reserve, just in case we don't have enough later."
As he spoke, Old Master Qin smacked his lips, as if savoring the delicious New Year's Eve dinner from the previous night: "Before, I thought that if only people from the village came to eat today, it wouldn't be too busy, but now..."
“Your grandma went out and told everyone to let us know if they need anything. If we don’t have enough people in our village, we can ask the neighboring village for help.”
Qin Huai: ...
Qin Huai began to worry that the villagers of Qin Family Village would go to the hospital on the first day of the Lunar New Year because they ate too many snacks and suffered from indigestion.
Thankfully, I wasn't planning on making Four Happiness Tangyuan (glutinous rice balls); glutinous rice snacks are more filling.
"Grandpa, did you and Grandma have breakfast today? I specially kept a pot of chicken soup warm last night to make chicken noodle soup this morning. Would you like to have a bowl of chicken noodle soup first? Today's snacks are pretty ordinary. The poria cocos pancake is sweet, but the rest are normal breakfasts," Qin Huai asked.
Grandpa Qin really wanted to say that last night's meal would have kept him full until tonight, and that he didn't need to eat so much at his age, but he still nodded very honestly: "Give me a small bowl."
"Your grandma and I will just eat a small bowl together."
Qin Huai went into the kitchen and started working.
First knead the dough, then make the Poria cocos sandwich cakes.
Around 7 o'clock, the rest of the people began to get up one after another.
On the morning of New Year's Eve, An Youyou, overjoyed to have acquired 52% of the shares in Yunzhong Canteen and finally escape poverty, instinctively went into the kitchen to help Qin Huai. After working for over half an hour, she realized Qin Huai was already awake and that she didn't need to serve her boss so diligently. For a moment, An Youyou wanted to quit, but considering the delicious poria cocos pancakes, Qin Huai's improved cooking skills, and the fact that the future of Yunzhong Canteen depended entirely on him, she continued to work diligently. Life had smoothed out the three-legged toad's rough edges, turning her into a typical working-class person.
At 7:30, Chen Huihong and Qu Jing came to the kitchen and asked if they needed any help. After receiving their reply that not helping was the greatest help they could offer, Chen Huihong left satisfied with a plate of Poria cocos sandwiches.
As for Director Xu...
He woke up very early in the morning. According to Grandma Qin, Director Xu should have gotten up around 5 a.m. He hadn't been around the village much in the past few days, but for once after dawn, he wandered around the village, arranged to play chess, ate a small bowl of chicken soup noodles for breakfast, and then took a box of freshly made, still steaming hot, slightly scalding poria cocos pancakes to play chess.
According to a report from frontline reporter Chen Gong, Director Xu's box of Poria cocos sandwiches deeply impressed his chess opponent. In less than half an hour, all the elderly men and women in the village who knew how to play chess challenged Director Xu to a game, hoping to eat a couple more Poria cocos sandwiches while playing chess with him.
The reputation of the chess king of Gusu Nursing Home will surely spread throughout Qin Family Village in the next few days.
At 7:42, Shi Dadan drove his wife and children to Qinjiacun.
Without any unnecessary movements or greetings, as soon as Shi Dadan entered the kitchen, Qin Huai gestured to Qin Luo with his eyes. Qin Luo then brought out a plate of meat buns, a plate of white steamed buns, a plate of beef pancakes, and a plate of poria cocos pancakes. Shi Dadan took them and left directly to eat inside the house, not wanting to stand in the kitchen and delay Qin Huai's work.
This is the tacit understanding between good brothers who have been friends for many years!
This tacit understanding deeply shocked Lin Xiaohong, making her feel a little embarrassed. She felt that her husband was too tactless, coming to someone else's house to freeload during the Chinese New Year without even saying "Happy New Year," and then running away after taking the food.
They're not even childhood friends who've known each other for decades. And it's a shame that her husband, Lao Shi, is so much older than Master Qin. He's really wasted his life!
Feeling quite ashamed, Lin Xiaohong quickly ate a steamed bun and two dumplings, then rolled up her sleeves and went into the kitchen to help. Qin Huai readily accepted, as Lin Xiaohong was quite efficient and wouldn't be a hindrance.
"Master Qin, I'm so sorry, I didn't know what was wrong with my husband, Lao Shi, today. He wasn't like this before. He's usually very polite. Although neither Lao Shi nor I are very well-educated, we are both really polite." Lin Xiaohong explained for Shi Dadan while working. "He just forgets everything when he sees something delicious. He was like that when he was young. Before we got married, he often traveled all over the country. When I asked him what he was doing outside, he would tell me he was looking for something good to eat."
“Sometimes when I say I’m going to find someone, my husband Lao Shi is like that. Please don’t be offended by his muddle-headedness.”
Qin Huai smiled and said, "I know. Lao Shi already wished me a Happy New Year last night, so of course he didn't need to say hello this morning. Besides, I guess he saw that I was quite busy and didn't have time for small talk, so he simply didn't say anything. I quite like Lao Shi's personality."
Hearing that Qin Huai really didn't blame her, Lin Xiaohong breathed a sigh of relief and continued to work diligently.
Instead, Qin Huai took the initiative to start the conversation.
Lin Xiaohong just mentioned that when Shi Dadan was young, he often traveled all over the country. Qin Huai knew about this, and Shi Dadan had also told him about it. At that time, Shi Dadan was looking for Qin Huai. He hadn't successfully transcended his tribulation yet, and he didn't know where Qin Huai would be reincarnated. He was running around like a headless fly, searching everywhere.
Later, because Cao Guixiang was moving to the city and had to close her restaurant because she was no longer a chef, Shi Dadan inexplicably woke up during their farewell dinner, and that's when they gave up the search.
"Old Shi told me that he traveled to many places when he was young, even abroad, and he couldn't stay at home. After he married you, Sister Xiaohong, and had children, he stopped going out so much," Qin Huai said with a smile. "Actually, I'm a little embarrassed. Last year, Old Shi basically stayed in Shanshi to discuss cooperation with me and didn't have time to be at home with you and your two children."
Lin Xiaohong waved her hand: "I'm used to it. My husband Lao Shi has always been like this. He can't stay idle. Every year he has to go out and stay for several months without coming back. I understand. It's a business matter. Those of us who do seafood farming need to go out and learn technology and expand our business even more."
“I’ve been taking care of my two kids all these years. Old Shi doesn’t really take care of them, and he can’t control them.”
Qin Huai was taken aback.
Shi Dadan goes away for several months every year? How come he didn't know about this? He always thought that Shi Dadan was running around looking for him before he woke up, and after successfully overcoming his tribulation, he stayed in the city to live a leisurely life of retirement and occasionally going out to sea to fish.
Qin Huai asked tentatively, "Does Lao Shi go out often?"
"Yes, Master Qin, you don't know, when I first started dating Lao Shi, he was always running away from home. My family didn't approve of it. They thought that although Lao Shi had a little money, he was unreliable and inexplicably liked to grow a full beard that covered his face. They also thought he had a problem with his taste."
“I remember the first time Lao Shi came to my house, I asked him to shave his beard, but he refused no matter what, which scared my little niece to tears.”
Qin Huai was taken aback again.
"Did Lao Shi have a full beard when he was young?"
“That’s right!” Lin Xiaohong got excited when she talked about this, and she wanted to talk to Qin Huai for three days and three nights. “Now there are very few people with this kind of beard. Back then, some people had it, but they were all middle-aged. How old was Lao Shi back then? There were no young people who liked to have a full beard. He looked 40 when he was 20.”
"But my husband has always been like this. When he was a teenager, he wanted people to call him Lao Shi. In his twenties, he liked to grow a full beard to look like he was forty. But when he got a little older, he stopped growing it and shaved it off, saying it made him look younger. Isn't that strange?"
Qin Huai felt his head buzzing. He didn't hear what Lin Xiaohong said in detail. He pressed on, "When Lao Shi grew a beard, did he particularly like to wear a black woolen hat?"
"How did you know, Master Qin? Oh, it must have been Lao Shi who told you, right? I even knitted that hat for him. I had just started dating Lao Shi back then. I originally wanted to knit him a sweater, but I didn't know how. Then I wanted to knit him some woolen pants, but I didn't know how either, so I just knitted a hat instead."
"Because I don't know how to knit, the hat was ugly and thick. My husband, Lao Shi, loved it and wore it every day, even in the summer. But there's really no difference between summer and winter here. It's hot all year round, and Lao Shi often gets sweaty wearing it, but he still likes it and always wears it when he goes on a long trip."
"That's when I realized that although my husband, Lao Shi, is a bit strange, he's actually a really good guy."
Qin Huai was completely stunned.
Normal people don't remember things from their childhood, let alone when they were just learning to speak. Even when they were three or four years old and in kindergarten, they don't have many memories.
But Qin Huai is not a normal person; to be precise, he is not human.
The moment he woke up, he not only remembered his memories from his previous lives, but also from when he was very young in this life. Theoretically, he should have forgotten them long ago, but in reality, he still remembered them.
Director Qin once said that Qin Huai was a very difficult child to take care of when he was young. The staff and volunteers at the welfare home would cry if they touched him. Only Director Qin and a volunteer who often came to help could hold Qin Huai.
Dean Qin didn't have much of an impression of that volunteer anymore, after all, it was more than 20 years ago. Even adults would find it difficult to have a deep impression of someone they had only briefly spent a few years with more than 20 years ago.
I still have an impression of Qinhuai.
He remembered the volunteer, who had a thick beard and often wore an ugly black woolen hat. When the volunteer hugged him, he went from being clumsy at first to becoming skilled later on.
He often feeds himself, and he clumsily sings and tells himself stories. He doesn't come often, only appearing every few months, and when he does, he stays for half a month.
That volunteer worked at the welfare home until Qin Huai was almost ready to start elementary school before finally disappearing completely.
Qin Huai always thought that he was just an ordinary kind-hearted person.
He is actually...
"Sister Xiaohong, you just said that Lao Shi doesn't really take care of the children. Did Lao Shi take care of your two children when they were little?" Qin Huai asked.
"Yes, Lao Shi doesn't take care of the kids much after they grow up, but he was very involved when they were little. Holding the baby, comforting the baby, changing diapers, feeding the baby, my Lao Shi seems to be born knowing how to do these things. I used to joke with him that people who didn't know would think he had a baby behind my back."
"But it's normal for Lao Shi to be like this. Although he doesn't talk much, he is quite responsible. He has younger siblings, so he probably helped his family take care of them a lot when he was young."
Qin Huai took a deep breath: "Sister Xiao Hong, I like to hear interesting stories when I'm making pastries. Do you have any interesting stories about Lao Shi? Tell me secretly, and I promise I won't tell Lao Shi."
Lin Xiaohong said happily, "Yes, there are plenty, Master Qin, let me tell you."
(End of this chapter)