Abnormal Gourmet Chronicle
Chapter 322 - 199: There Isn’t Much Time Left for Zheng Da_3

Chapter 322: Chapter 199: There Isn’t Much Time Left for Zheng Da_3

Team leader Cao hasn’t been guarding the kitchen door these past two days, and has been stationed at the main entrance to mediate disputes.

The output of the kitchen has been increasing day by day.

To prevent his future treasured apprentice from suffering, Zheng Da is working hard. He’s still not making snacks seriously, the Fermented Rice with Steamed Buns remains at a B-level, yet the quantity keeps rising dramatically.

He took on the spirit of when he was an apprentice at a State owned Restaurant, turning into a production line master, making snacks from the moment he opens his eyes every day.

After work, he rushes off, not staying a second longer, as if the day would end if he lingered any longer.

In the face of such an astonishing customer flow, Xu Cheng’s prolonged stay seemed less noteworthy.

Yes, it’s been 5 days and Xu Cheng hasn’t left.

He clocks in at Huang Ji every day, once at noon and once in the evening, come rain or shine, and only orders snacks.

Initially, he would buy Three Meat Buns and Fermented Rice with Steamed Buns, but later he stopped buying those, specifying that Qin Huai make him snacks he hadn’t tried before.

If Qin Huai wasn’t too busy to meet Xu Cheng, he would have taken the time to chat with him, asking if Xu Cheng could reduce his coverage in the food review and increase Huang Shengli’s.

Huang Shengli’s back is almost fully healed, allowing for regular business, but he dares not.

Recently, the customer flow has been a bit too exaggerated, and Huang Shengli is afraid that if he works his normal hours, he won’t be able to hold back, causing his back to be overworked again.

Qin Huai glanced at the date.

Today is already December 28.

There are only three days left until the end of December.

Seeing Xu Cheng wandering leisurely around Gusu every day, stubbornly wanting to eat new snacks he hadn’t tried before, clearly indicated that his article must be completed.

If things move quickly, "Taste" might really be able to publish in early January.

What does this mean?

This means that Qin Huai and Zheng Da don’t have much time left.

Since yesterday, Zhiwei Restaurant’s menu no longer offers Zheng Siyuan’s flaky pastry, and the amount of fresh meat mooncakes has also reduced, because Zheng Siyuan needed to help his father and Qin Huai.

Yes, Zhiwei Restaurant is so short-staffed that even Zheng Siyuan is being roped in to help.

These formally trained assistants like Wang Jun are indeed professional, having experienced the glorious days of Huang Ji, practiced and experienced.

But none of them can replace a professional pastry assistant.

On the morning of December 28, at 8:42, Qin Huai carefully observed Zheng Da eating Chicken Soup Noodles, pondering whether he should talk to Zheng Da about reducing his workload and increasing his own.

Recently increased workload has mostly been added onto Zheng Da alone.

When something’s up Zheng Da truly steps up.

He may not ensure quality, but he ensures quantity.

Moreover, his skills are balanced, and his level is high; even if he makes mistakes, the snacks he produces are still of a very considerable level.

Even Huang Shengli remarked that had Zheng Da had this drive back then, he would have already made it into the top 30 of the Chef Record, creating pastry history.

Qin Huai wanted to tell Zheng Da that he could actually stick it out.

Because Qin Huai felt that Zheng Da might be reaching his limit soon.

Qin Huai can hold on now because Zheng Da is there, but if Zheng Da bails Qin Huai really can’t hold on.

At that point, Qin Huai might have to discuss with Huang Shengli about whether Huang Ji should introduce a policy against the ancestors, like imposing purchase limits or rationing snacks.

Zheng Da expressionlessly finished his noodles, not drinking the soup, leaving the bowl on the rack.

Qin Huai slowly approached, thinking about how to start the conversation.

Then Zheng Da’s phone rang, and upon answering, his voice burst with such joy, it nearly pierced through the kitchen:

"They’ve arrived, have they? Six of them, they’ve gotten off the high-speed train and are on their way over."

"Great, if they didn’t come, I’d have to run to Hangzhou to poach people!"

"Can only have an exchange for a month; during the New Year Zhiwei Restaurant needs its busy people back. The guy named Su, you’re being too unreasonable, where isn’t busy during New Year? I’m willing to devote everything and you let us only exchange for a month."

"What, I can’t teach people?"

"Don’t slander me with your words, don’t think you’re so great just because you have a lot of disciples. So what if you have many disciples?"

"Go outside and ask around, wasn’t Xiao Qin’s Crab Dumplings taught by me? Didn’t I train my son Zheng Siyuan? Be glad to have my guidance, Zhiwei Restaurant’s chefs should secretly celebrate, yet they’re still being picky."

"Don’t think I don’t know, last month you definitely came in disguise to Huang Ji to taste their Crab Dumplings."

"Alright, alright, not wasting words with you. I’ll have An Yao go pick them up; I’ve arranged where they’ll stay, it’s convenient, right across from Huang Ji."