AGN -Chapter 388 Lotus Root Starch Balls

When Qin Huai came out of Wang Gensheng’s memories, he was still a little slow to react.

The memories he had previously viewed were all quite long. Whether it was Chen Huirong, Luo Jun, or Qu Jing, they all spanned at least several days. Luo Jun’s final segment and Qu Jing’s memories were even so long that the flow of time felt accelerated—unnecessary scenes flashed by like a movie in fast-forward.

But Wang Gensheng’s and Shi Dadan’s memories were both very short. So short that Qin Huai felt like he hadn’t really seen much before they were over. They didn’t even qualify as micro-films; at most, they were two-episode mini-dramas.

If you combined the memories of those two, you could probably piece together a whole “Xu Nuo memoir.”

While thinking this, Qin Huai stood in the bathroom stall and opened the game interface, planning to take a look at the newly obtained recipe before going back to eat.

Yes—he still remembered to go eat, which showed just how short the memory had been.

In the illustrated collection, Wang Gensheng had clearly unlocked a new recipe.

Name: Wang Gensheng
Species: Xiezhi
Status: About to awaken
Dream: 1/?

Recipe: [Lotus Root Starch Balls] (click for details)
Gift: None

As expected, it was Lotus Root Starch Balls.

Without hesitation, Qin Huai clicked on it to view the details.

[Lotus Root Starch Balls — A Rank]

Creator: Jing Lixiang / Jiang Weijin

Dish details: A casual creation by a famous chef at a state-run restaurant, made to cheer up his apprentice. As a master chef in a state-run restaurant, Jing Lixiang’s daily dishes were highly random—he often cooked whatever ingredients were available. Coincidentally, his beloved apprentice had brought over all the lotus root starch from home in one go. In order to help maintain harmony in the apprentice’s family, Master Jing had no choice but to use his own ingredients to make a batch of lotus root starch balls for the apprentice to take home, and also to share with the younger generation he liked.

This was the first dessert Wang Gensheng ever ate at the state-run restaurant. It was also the first time he clearly understood the meaning of the phrase “sugar-coated bullet,” making this young workplace newcomer realize how difficult working life could be.

After consuming this dish, there is a high probability that within 24 hours, the eater’s emotional intelligence at work will improve, allowing them to better handle workplace pressure.

Daily production limit: (0/996 servings) (no more than 6 pieces per serving)

“Wow.”

Qin Huai couldn’t help but exclaim.

He hadn’t expected Lotus Root Starch Balls to actually be a functional dish. Its buff was work-related—practically a must-have for office workers.

One bowl a day, and you can handle your boss’s problems with ease.

Well… not exactly easily.

And maybe not even effectively.

But at least it would help a little.

Qin Huai had already guessed this recipe would be Lotus Root Starch Balls, since Wang Gensheng had only eaten a single bite in the memory—he didn’t even drink water afterward—so there was basically no way it would be anything else.

A casual dish that turned out to be A-rank. That Master Jing really was terrifying.

Qin Huai had already been in the bathroom for a while. He was worried that if he studied the recipe any longer, there wouldn’t be much food left on the table when he got back.

He had full confidence in Shi Dadan’s appetite.

He quickly left the stall, washed his hands, and returned to the private room.

In just a few minutes, the situation at the dining table had completely changed. The atmosphere was tense, as if a storm was brewing—everyone was eating with unusual urgency.

Shi Dadan didn’t need mention; he was a true champion of eating, head down, devouring food like a storm sweeping across the land, maintaining his usual unstoppable performance.

Wang Gensheng seemed to be influenced by the atmosphere. He hadn’t intended to eat so aggressively, but somehow found himself eating faster and faster. Unfortunately, his age limited him, and he got full quickly—he was almost done by the time Qin Huai sat down.

As for Gong Liang…

This was the first time Qin Huai had seen him eat like this.

Normally, Gong Liang ate in a measured, appreciative manner, savoring every dish. But today was different.

Today, his chopsticks moved so fast they seemed to spark fire—like he would starve to death if he hesitated even a second.

Qin Huai: “……”

What exactly happened in the few minutes I was gone?

Did Shi Dadan do something? Did he get so hungry he started eating bowls too?

The next second, he got his answer.

Shi Dadan waved enthusiastically at Qin Huai, urging him to sit down quickly and eat—eating was the most important thing.

Then he called the server:

“Please bring another basin of rice!”

Only then did Qin Huai notice that the rice basin in front of Shi Dadan was almost empty.

At that moment, Qin Huai immediately realized the seriousness of the situation. Without hesitation, he rushed back to his seat, picked up his chopsticks, and started eating.

“Xiao Qin, want some rice? This braised pork head is amazing with rice!” Shi Dadan enthusiastically recommended.

Qin Huai quickly waved it off. He knew braised pork head went great with rice—but only if you still had room for rice.

With such a lavish spread, there was no way he had stomach capacity left for rice. The braised pork head would have to be enjoyed on its own.

After the meal, Gong Liang didn’t say a single word.

This was completely unlike him.

In fact, Gong Liang had prepared a whole list of topics in advance. After seeing Shi Dadan’s unusual way of talking and thinking, he had even carefully prepared some deliberately odd questions.

According to his plan, the meal should have started with introductions, everyone tasting dishes together, then a warm and friendly atmosphere for ten minutes before conversations began.

But none of that happened.

No introductions. No warm atmosphere. Not even ten minutes of normal eating.

Wang Gensheng was full after seven minutes.

Gong Liang lasted slightly longer—sixteen minutes.

Qin Huai, delayed by the bathroom, barely made it to twenty-one minutes.

After that, everyone spent the rest of the time just watching Shi Dadan eat.

All of Gong Liang’s prepared topics were swallowed back down.

Because at this moment, only one question remained in his mind:

Bro… are you still not full?

Can you still eat?

With this many dishes, it was actually just enough for four people?

Wang Gensheng, having previously witnessed Shi Dadan’s appetite at the Yunzhong cafeteria, accepted it relatively calmly—he just felt that Shi Dadan was eating even more than before.

Qin Huai, on the other hand, was genuinely shocked.

Because he hadn’t only seen how Shi Dadan ate buns at the Yunzhong Canteen, but also how he ate at Cao Guixiang’s home. He knew Shi Dadan’s appetite well—but it was absolutely never this exaggerated.

Could it be that Shi Dadan also needed some “buff of reminiscing the past” when eating? Cao Guixiang’s cooking was certainly delicious, but it still wasn’t as good as sitting in the familiar Huang Ji, in a familiar private room, eating semi-familiar dishes with added bonus effects.

For creatures like them, it was always about eating memories and youth.

If he followed this line of thinking, letting Shi Dadan eat a few more meals at Huang Ji might even unlock a side quest.

As Qin Huai was thinking this, Shi Dadan was already finishing up his meal.

Mainly because most of the dishes on the table were already gone.

Gong Liang had gone from being completely stunned at the beginning to now being utterly amazed. Seeing Shi Dadan finally finishing, he couldn’t help but sigh:

“Mr. Shi’s appetite is really… eye-opening. I’ve seen competitive eating contests abroad before, but someone your age still having such an appetite is truly… unheard of.”

Shi Dadan gave an honest, slightly silly smile.

“It’s been a long time since I had Huang Ji’s cooking. I just couldn’t control myself and ate a bit too much. Xiao Qin knows, my usual appetite isn’t this big.”

Qin Huai nodded repeatedly.

“Yes, yes, yes. Old Shi usually only eats about twenty-something buns.”

Gong Liang: ?

Wang Gensheng, however, became curious. Holding his teacup, he sipped slowly and asked:

“Old Shi, you’ve eaten at Huang Ji before? Aren’t you from Guangdong? How come I never heard you mention it?”

This question made Qin Huai’s heart jump. He subconsciously looked at Shi Dadan, afraid he might say something wrong.

But Shi Dadan calmly cleared his plate and said naturally:

“I’ve been here before. Business trips, you know—you end up traveling everywhere.”

He didn’t say much, but listeners would fill in the gaps themselves.

Wang Gensheng suddenly understood.

“No wonder you’re so familiar with the roads around here. You even led me back when I took the wrong turn just now.”

“There’s no such thing as familiar or not,” Shi Dadan chuckled. “I just walked around last night nearby. It was Old Wang who was thinking about accounts too much. The road was straight ahead, but you insisted on turning right—I couldn’t even stop you.”

Gong Liang’s eyes lit up and quickly seized a new topic:

“This area is actually quite worth exploring. I live in the neighborhood opposite, right next to Xiao Qin’s place. This is the old district—used to be full of state-owned factories. Even though most factories and dorms have been demolished, many old shops are still around. Next time I’ll show you around.”

“Accountant Wang, you worked in the textile factory back then, so you must be familiar with this area. But it’s changed quite a lot over the years. Do you still remember where that grain-and-oil shop was? It’s still there, still selling groceries and nuts. Their roasted peanuts are especially amazing—small peanuts, super fragrant and crispy. You can’t find them anywhere else.”

Shi Dadan suddenly asked:

“Is it the grain-and-oil shop two streets to the left after turning right out of Huang Ji?”

“I walked around there yesterday. The roasted peanuts were really good—I bought some.”

Then he added cheerfully to Wang Gensheng:

“It’s the peanuts I brought from my place this afternoon.”

Gong Liang: ?

So who’s the local one here, me or you?

Qin Huai: ?

No wonder Old Wang got full in just a few minutes—how much did this guy eat this afternoon?

Gong Liang wasn’t giving up and continued:

“There’s also that sesame candy from the rice-sugar shop…”

Shi Dadan said excitedly:

“I saw that shop too yesterday! I bought sesame candy. Old Wang also ate some this afternoon.”

Gong Liang: ??

Still refusing to accept defeat, he pulled out his final trump card:

“And there’s the old wonton shop’s shrimp skin wontons…”

Shi Dadan looked thrilled, as if he had found a soulmate:

“I went there too yesterday. The small wontons were pretty good. But they’re still not as good as Xiao Zheng’s or that ‘Zou something’ wonton.”

Gong Liang: …

Bro, who exactly is the local one here?

Weren’t you guys only here yesterday evening? How did you go everywhere? Do you really like walking that much?

Qin Huai looked at Gong Liang, who now had despair written all over his face—the first time he had ever seen such clear despair on him. He could almost read Gong Liang’s thoughts: stop competing, you can’t win.

This one really was a local. A true local. A reincarnated local.

Qin Huai knew he had to change the topic. He needed something Gong Liang would definitely be interested in—and give him a way down the ladder.

After thinking for a few seconds, he suddenly had a brilliant idea.

He gave Shi Dadan a look:

“Gold-medal support player, your role isn’t over yet. You’ve got another scene.”

Shi Dadan: ?

“Wow, I didn’t expect so many old shops around Huang Ji,” Qin Huai said with a smile. “Mr. Gong, you’re really not very sincere. I stayed in Suzhou for months and you never invited me to visit these places.”

Gong Liang quickly caught on and replied:

“They’re just small shops that are fun for novelty. Compared to your craftsmanship, Xiao Qin, they’re nothing.”

“If you’re interested, I can take you around when you’re free.”

“Sure, sure,” Qin Huai smiled politely, then abruptly changed the subject:

“Mr. Gong, I heard you really like lotus root starch balls?”

Gong Liang: ?

Who said that? Where did this rumor come from?

Wait.

He hesitated for two seconds.

“…Do I?”

“Yes,” Qin Huai continued smoothly. “I heard about it a while ago. I’m actually quite interested in lotus root starch balls myself. You know how much Luo Luo likes palace dramas—those dramas always show imperial consorts eating lotus root starch balls, and she’s been craving them for ages. I never made them for her before. Since I’m in Suzhou now, and I’ve already finished researching the double-crab buns, I was thinking of developing a new dessert. I just don’t know if I can find good-quality lotus root starch here.”

“I thought, since you like lotus root starch balls, maybe I could use this time to research them properly—and make something specially for you.”

The words “specially for you” hit Gong Liang right in the heart.

“Make it… specially for me? Isn’t that too much trouble? Xiao Qin, you really don’t need to—”

“No trouble at all,” Qin Huai said with a smile. “Making desserts for you is only right. How could it be trouble?”

Gong Liang was already completely moved, not even stopping to question who exactly started the rumor that he liked lotus root starch balls.

At that moment, Shi Dadan casually chimed in:

“Oh right, I think I also heard you like lotus root starch balls, Mr. Gong.”

Gong Liang was shocked.

“You’ve heard of it too?”

“Yes,” Shi Dadan nodded earnestly. “Xiao Qin told me. He often talks to me about how you helped him a lot in Suzhou. He also mentioned what dishes and desserts you like, and whether you have any dietary restrictions.”

Gong Liang was moved again.

Qin Huai silently gave Shi Dadan a thumbs-up.

As expected, as long as you accept that Shi Dadan might not be very bright and isn’t exactly the most clever person, whatever he says will be believed.

After all—he was a “Taotie-like” being.

A sincere, food-focused, not-so-bright but extremely honest Taotie.