AGN -Chapter 218 Xiezhi

“Xiao Qin, heading back?” Huang Shengli noticed Qin Huai seemed a bit distracted and asked.

Qin Huai was still in shock that Old Master Wang wasn’t human either. What was going on with Yunzhong Community? At this rate, one day he might be making pastries and suddenly the system would tell him Luoluo wasn’t human either—but a Taotie.

Of course, if Luoluo really were a Taotie, then she’d had it rough all these years—her appetite would barely count as intermittent fasting for such a creature.

“Master Huang, you go ahead. I’ll head back in a couple of minutes.”

At that moment, the students’ table had just moved on to some juicy gossip about a certain teacher.

Huang Shengli assumed Qin Huai just wanted to finish listening and smiled. “Alright then, I’ll go first. If you ever feel tired from making pastries, come watch for a few minutes—it’s very relaxing.”

With that, he turned and went back to work.

As soon as Huang Shengli left, Qin Huai decisively opened the game panel and checked the illustrated guide.

As expected—another entry had been unlocked.

Out of twelve entries, he had now unlocked seven.

Name: Wang Gensheng
Species: Xiezhi

Status: About to awaken

Dreams: 0 / ?

Recipes: None
Rewards: None

Xiezhi?

About to awaken?

Qin Huai had only skimmed parts of Classic of Mountains and Seas, so he had no impression of this creature. He quickly pulled out his phone to search and discovered it was actually one of the famous ancient mythical beasts—on par with Bi Fang.

According to Book of Song · Records of Auspicious Signs: “Xiezhi knows right from wrong; it appears when justice prevails.”

Legend says Xiezhi understands human speech and nature, can distinguish right from wrong, good from evil, loyalty from treachery. It resembles a sheep and symbolizes bravery and justice.

It is also a symbol of fairness, integrity, and righteous judgment.

After reading about Xiezhi, Qin Huai felt it fit perfectly.

No wonder—forty years as a professional accountant, never making a mistake, never falsifying accounts.

But what exactly did “about to awaken” mean?

In the illustrated guide, Qu Jing, Chen Gong, and Gong Liang were all marked as “awakening,” which made sense—according to Luo Jun, it meant they had the potential to awaken naturally in this lifetime.

But “awakening” and “about to awaken”…

Just one word apart, yet Qin Huai had the strange feeling that “about to awaken” was a better state.

Almost like being one step away from successfully transcending a tribulation.

He made a mental note to ask Luo Jun about it after work.

Then he checked the newly unlocked side quest.

Side Quest 4: [Wang Gensheng’s Desire]

As a man who enjoys reminiscing, with a harmonious family and filial children, and forty years of flawless accounting without ever falsifying records, Wang Gensheng believes his life has been complete and without regrets.

However, after revisiting old places and reuniting with old friends, he suddenly remembers a long-buried regret.

Once, he thought it would remain an unfulfilled wish for life.

But when he sat in Huang Ji Restaurant eating Guo’er, the desire resurfaced—

He wants to sit in Huang Ji Restaurant and eat Double Crab Buns once.

Task: Create Double Crab Buns that satisfy Wang Gensheng and fulfill his desire.

Reward: [Wang Gensheng’s Approval], [A Memory of Wang Gensheng]

Looking at the task, Qin Huai felt the system still loved being cryptic.

Suddenly craving double crab buns while eating Guo’er… Old Master Wang’s regret was certainly hard to understand.

Still, the task itself was clear: make double crab buns.

And it wasn’t urgent.

Old Master Wang was in great condition—healthy, active, mentally stable, with a loving family. Compared to Gong Liang and Chen Gong, he was practically the definition of normal.

Aside from liking to reminisce, he was just… a regular person.

Qin Huai made a note of the dish and planned to ask Zheng Siyuan later if he knew how to make it.

Since Wang Gensheng had eaten it back in the days of the state-run restaurant, it was likely originally made by Master Jiang. As his apprentice’s apprentice, Zheng Siyuan probably knew the recipe.

With that sorted out, Qin Huai returned to the kitchen to continue working.

Shaping Guo’er.

After an entire morning, Qin Huai felt his dough-making and seasoning skills hadn’t improved much—but his finger techniques definitely had.

Since obtaining the recipe, he had never made so many Guo’er in a single day.

Still, it wasn’t tiring. Compared to making San Ding buns or fermented rice buns, this wasn’t too intense.

The difficulty lay in shaping, not in kneading or filling—those were handled by Huang Shengli.

The only issue… was how monotonous it felt.

He had never spent so long making just one type of pastry.

After finishing the final batch, Qin Huai surprisingly didn’t go to rest.

Instead, he immediately started making Four-Joy Tangyuan—like taking revenge.

“Finally off work. Time to relax by making some tangyuan,” he said.

Tan Weian, who was assisting him, immediately gave him a knowing look: I knew you’ve been secretly practicing!

Even Master Qin was working hard openly—how could the Zhiweiju chefs slack off? Tan Weian instantly gave up resting and resumed practice.

Out of pure muscle memory, he started making the hundred-fruit filling.

Qin Huai was surprised. He hadn’t expected Tan Weian to still be so committed to it.

“I thought you didn’t like making that filling,” Qin Huai said. “Any progress?”

“No,” Tan Weian replied bluntly.

His filling was still bad—just slightly worse than Qin Huai’s. And his Guo’er still wasn’t as “ugly with soul.”

Sometimes he almost laughed at himself.

When talent was needed, he had none. When it wasn’t, he couldn’t suppress it.

“Why aren’t you cooking the sugar first?” Tan Weian asked.

“We’re not making that filling today,” Qin Huai replied. “Just relaxing. And making tangyuan for my friends.”

He pointed at the Guo’er nearby:

4 for Mr. Gong

2 for Huang Anyao

2 for Ou Yang

5 for his friend

Since returning from Beijing, Gong Liang no longer ate in the kitchen doorway—it wasn’t appropriate with so many customers. He wanted to eat inside, but Huang Shengli refused.

So he had to take takeout home instead.

“Has Sister Hong arrived?” Zheng Siyuan asked while passing by, eating Guo’er.

“Not yet. The rest are for Doctor Qu,” Qin Huai said. “She’s been too embarrassed to ask for special treatment lately. I’ll have Ou Yang deliver some to her later.”

Zheng Siyuan nodded. “She likes sweet, soft foods—glutinous rice cakes. She’ll probably like tangyuan.”

“Exactly. I’ll make more sesame and red bean ones,” Qin Huai said. “The hundred-fruit version… I only succeeded once. Better not risk it.”

Tan Weian: ?

So you know the previous batch was the normal one?!

He stared at his own filling and began questioning his life.

At 2 p.m., the staff finally had their meal.

The downside of booming business: longer working hours and exhausted cooks. The staff meal was simple, and some even complained it wasn’t as good as ordering takeout.

Meanwhile, Qin Huai and the others ate Huang Jia’s special dishes. Huang Shengli critiqued every dish as usual.

Zheng Da had already slipped away to the bone-setting clinic next door.

As they ate, they discussed Huang Shengli’s upcoming physical therapy appointment—arranged through Doctor Qu.

“Bring some Guo’er for the hospital staff,” Qin Huai suggested. “Doctors love coming here for group meals.”

“I’ll make some Ding Sheng cakes too,” Zheng Siyuan added.

They also planned to invite Doctor Qu for a meal on January 7th.

When asked about her preferences, Qin Huai said, “She likes sweets, especially soft, glutinous foods. And she doesn’t eat cilantro.”

Huang Shengli began planning the menu immediately.

Then Huang Anyao showed Qin Huai a message:

Doctor Qu was asking—indirectly—if Qin Huai had time to make glutinous rice cakes.

Her favorite shop was closed.

Qin Huai gave an “OK” sign.

He’d make sure she got her glutinous rice cakes the day after tomorrow.

As expected of the young boss—his “subtle inquiry” was anything but subtle.