Abnormal Gourmet Chronicle
Chapter 158 - 136 Rice Cake Soup

Chapter 158: Chapter 136 Rice Cake Soup

The apartment that Chen Huihong rented to Qu Jing is in Building E, Unit 1101, a nicely decorated one-bedroom unit.

When Qin Huai was carrying the housewarming gift he bought this morning from a nearby mall and encountered Chen Huihong in the elevator, they both looked at the boxes in each other’s hands, bewildered.

How to say this, it was quite the coincidence.

They were both air purifiers, even from the same brand.

"Sister Hong," Qin Huai broke the awkward silence first, "What made you decide to buy so many apartments in the district back then?"

Qin Huai knew Chen Huihong had many apartments in Yunzhong District, but he didn’t expect that all types were so complete.

Chen Huihong herself lives in a model similar to Luo Jun’s, she rents out a similar two-bedroom to Qin Huai for free, and now she rents a one-bedroom to Qu Jing.

Qin Huai didn’t even know there were one-bedroom apartments in the district; he thought his apartment was the smallest unit available.

What was Luo Jun thinking when he designed this district as a developer? Was his design concept to ensure everyone could find a suitable home? Couldn’t they lower the house prices a bit?

"At that time, I had some spare money on hand and thought of buying more units to rent out as an investment," Chen Huihong said, "but later encountered several troublesome tenants and greedy agents, so I gave up on that idea."

"How much did you pay for this air purifier?" asked Chen Huihong.

"599."

"That’s expensive, when I stocked up, they were only over three hundred."

"Stocked up?"

"Next time someone moves in and needs a gift, just take one from my house. I have seven or eight more in my utility room."

"Next time?"

Chen Huihong nodded calmly, "I still have several apartments, don’t I? If the next person you bring in isn’t a resident of our district, just use the old method to move them in!"

"I bet it’s not a resident from our district. If there were any more spirits, Luo Jun would have spotted them a long time ago."

With that, Chen Huihong carried her air purifier and stepped out of the elevator, with Qin Huai following suit.

The doorbell rang.

Qu Jing opened the door, probably because she was at home and the visitors were all familiar faces; she wasn’t wearing a mask or gloves, which was rare.

She wore a very casual, loose-fitting light-colored long-sleeve set. Her lips appeared slightly rosy, much better than the day at the hospital. Her hand skin was completely exposed, displaying the scars to the air.

The apartment’s decor was very trendy, with a fabric sofa, light-colored curtains, white dining table and chairs, and a sideboard with a flowerless vase whose purpose was unclear.

Luo Jun had already arrived, seated on the fabric sofa watching TV, with an air purifier still in its package on the living room cabinet.

Luo Jun glanced at the air purifiers in Qin Huai and Chen Huihong’s hands and victoriously turned his head to continue watching TV.

It seemed his air purifier was more expensive.

Qu Jing handed them slippers, saying, "The food will be ready soon. Please make yourselves comfortable in the living room and watch some TV."

Saying that, Qu Jing jogged into the kitchen, clearly indicating that the battle with the kitchen had reached a fervent stage.

Qin Huai took a deep breath, not smelling anything noticeably burnt.

It seemed Qu Jing’s culinary skills were alright, at least better than Chen Huihong’s.

Qin Huai sat on the sofa and glanced at the TV—it was Luo Jun’s favorite fantasy drama.

"Today’s guo’er is much better than yesterday’s," Luo Jun said as soon as Qin Huai sat down.

"Thank you for the compliment," Qin Huai smiled. Today’s guo’er, which Zhang Shumei came to pick up, was made with filling that Zheng Siyuan didn’t mess up, naturally better than yesterday’s.

"But still far from what Xiao Jiang makes," Luo Jun continued, giving Qin Huai a slightly disdainful look, "You couldn’t complete the quests without knowing the specific details, and even with them, you still can’t complete them."

Qin Huai: ...

Bi fang ate gunpowder today? Opening fire at me right away?

Chen Huihong smiled warmly to ease the situation, "I think Xiao Qu is doing great now, she’ll likely live eight more years!"

Qin Huai: "... Is there a possibility we’re not at Luo Jun’s house, and Qu Jing is still in the kitchen."

"The kitchen in this house is soundproof; once the door is closed, you can’t hear anything being said outside," said Chen Huihong. "I think Luo Jun just doesn’t want Xiao Qin to see his last piece of memory, considering the normal progression of storylines, that final memory might explain how he ended up like this."

"That’s why he’s deliberately mocking you, so you focus less on guo’er and more on making the rice cakes Qu Jing likes."

Luo Jun remained silent, indicating that Chen Huihong’s observation was on point.

Even plant spirits have days when they expose Bi fang’s little schemes.

Qin Huai knew he should articulate his stance too, "Mr. Luo, rest assured, I’m someone who handles tasks with a methodical approach, moving forward step by step, and doing a few things simultaneously is no problem."

"I’ll make rice cakes, and practice guo’er too."

Luo Jun: "... Go ahead and practice, I’m eager to see when you’ll master Xiao Jiang’s skills."

Qin Huai was intrigued by Luo Jun’s statement. Qin Huai slightly leaned forward, looking at Luo Jun with a half-smile.

"I remember when I first recited the task details, I asked you what exactly it was. You said you couldn’t remember; it was dumplings, but not the normal kind. I thought you truly forgot, but now I think you remember very well."

Chen Huihong also turned to look at Luo Jun.

Luo Jun replied without changing his expression, "I truly didn’t remember back then."

"Have you flipped through the photo album?"

This abrupt question left both Chen Huihong and Qin Huai momentarily paused, both shaking their heads.

"Back then, our family was poor, no money for photos," said Chen Huihong straightforwardly.

"We were poor at the orphanage too, definitely no money for photos," added Qin Huai in absolute honesty.

Their responses left Luo Jun momentarily speechless, as he said, "Once you’ve flipped through an album, you’d know. There are many things that might indeed be in your memory, but until you flip through that album, you can’t recall them. In your mind, there are only vague impressions and shadows, and unless you see the photos, you won’t remember the clear images."

"But now I don’t even have the album. The album is with Qin Huai, if he doesn’t flip through it, how would I know what’s in it?"

"What photo album?" The kitchen door swung open as Qu Jing came out carrying two dishes, placing them on the table, "Time to eat."

The three of them took their seats.

The dishes were very simple: a plate of stir-fried cabbage, a plate of minced meat tofu, a plate of braised eggplant with green beans, a plate of freshly steamed marinated ham, and a plate of marinated duck.

The ham and duck were clearly purchased from a marinated food store.

The last dish brought to the table was a bowl of red bean rice cake soup.

"It’s a bit simple. I can’t cook meat dishes well, so I made a couple of simple vegetarian dishes and got some from the deli to make up the numbers. This soup is red bean rice cake soup. Last time I moved, I cooked this at home and had it with Dean Qu. The rice cake isn’t as good as the handmade ones Qin Huai makes every day. I bought these from the supermarket this afternoon," Qu Jing explained the dishes sheepishly.

"Mr. Luo, just have some soup to taste the flavor; older folks can have digestive issues eating glutinous rice at night, leading to stomach pain."

Luo Jun looked at the red bean rice cake soup, "I don’t like boiled rice cakes."

With cheer, Chen Huihong praised, "You call this handiwork not good? Better than mine! Xiao Qu, despite being busy with studies and work all these years, who would’ve guessed you’re a secretly good cook. This cabbage stir-fry is way better than mine!"

Qu Jing served herself a bowl of red bean rice cake soup, "I don’t usually cook much either, mostly meals from the hospital canteen and Qin Huai’s snacks."

"Now that you’ve moved here, it’s even more convenient, straight to Xiao Qin’s restaurant." Chen Huihong, as expected of Yunzhong Restaurant’s ambassador, chimed in.

Qin Huai quietly served himself a bowl of red bean rice cake soup.

Honestly, Qin Huai hadn’t tried rice cake soup much before.

The Qin Family never cooked rice cakes in soup; they either fried them with sugar or roasted them into crispy rice cakes with sauce, and if more complex, sliced them and stir-fried with eggs for a savory taste.

Rice cake soup...

Might not even be in Zhao Rong’s recipe.

Qin Huai took a small sip of the soup first.

Qu Jing’s red bean rice cake soup wasn’t made with soaked red beans; it was made with store-bought red bean paste. The soup was sweet. Stirring brought up the settled red bean paste, offering a grainy texture. The rice cakes were cut into small pieces, likely cooked so long that they nearly disintegrated in the soup, giving it a sticky feel.

Warm, just right for winter.

Very homestyle, inexplicably fitting for the occasion.

"This soup is really nice," Qin Huai remarked, "Using red bean paste, if consumed as breakfast on a winter morning, it would likely be very popular."

"The weather is turning cold soon, I must try it in a few days."

Qu Jing, holding the bowl, looked over the homestyle dishes on the table. She glanced at the exposed scars on her hand, then at the others present.

Seeing everyone start with red bean rice cake soup and even Luo Jun intending to have a small bowl.

She noticed Luo Jun sneakily served himself two rice cakes while Chen Huihong promptly called him out.

And nearby, Qin Huai smiled, diffusing the situation, noting a couple of rice cakes wouldn’t hurt, since Luo Jun had consumed plenty of rice cakes before.

Nobody acknowledged her oddity, nor did anyone critique her culinary skills. They genuinely just sat together, enjoying a happy meal.

Such a candid setting, sitting and joyfully eating with friends, for Qu Jing seemed distant, akin to a thing of a past life.

This weather doesn’t need air conditioning, but indoors, while wearing long sleeves, it can indeed be warm.

Qu Jing rolled up her sleeves and lifted her bowl, "Then I’ll certainly support the restaurant more in winter."