AGN -Chapter 394 Four Happiness Roll Research Squad

No matter how absurd things had become, Qin Huai had genuinely started learning cloud-pattern techniques from Gu Li.

Qin Huai realized that although Gu Li usually seemed quiet and reserved, almost poor at speaking, he actually communicated quite effectively.

His language was extremely concise and clear.

Wherever there was a problem, he pointed it out directly.

If Gu Li felt the amplitude of Qin Huai’s cloud-pattern rolling was too large, he would say so directly. If he thought the filling was spread too thick, he would point it out. If he felt the reverse-rolling motion was incorrect, he would demonstrate it himself. Even though his demonstration wasn’t perfect either, it was enough for Qin Huai to see what was wrong.

He was a very good teacher—because he himself was a collection of mistakes.

And Qin Huai was truly learning.

As for Tan Weian, he was completely stunned.

He had originally come just to watch the fun. In his view, Qin Huai was just acting on impulse—suddenly inspired, blurting things out, and doing something ridiculous.

And now he actually wanted to learn cloud patterns from Gu Li.

Did Tan Weian not know what level Gu Li was at? As his senior brother, he knew his junior well. Gu Li had many strengths—mature, steady, quiet, never talking too much, diligent, extremely diligent.

But his weakness was obvious.

He wasn’t very good.

What could Qin Huai possibly learn from him? Even Gu Li himself couldn’t properly make cloud patterns.

Yet somehow, one of them dared to teach, and the other actually dared to learn—and it just… started happening.

Tan Weian once again felt like he didn’t understand the world anymore. He wanted to find someone to vent to. Looking at Zheng Siyuan, he found Zheng Siyuan also listening carefully to Gu Li, seemingly trying to study the cloud pattern of the Four Happiness Rolls.

He turned to his good brother Zang Liang, only to find him completely immersed in red-stove culinary discussions, utterly unconcerned with what was happening here.

So Tan Weian could only watch in confusion.

And as he watched, he gradually found himself getting drawn in as well.

Huh… when did he not notice that his junior brother had actually been seriously studying cloud patterns all along?

What Tan Weian didn’t know was that Gu Li teaching Qin Huai cloud patterns had not only shocked him, but had deeply shocked everyone at Zhiwei House as well.

How should one put it—Gu Li and the word “teaching” were rarely used in the same sentence.

Yet this absurd thing had happened, and what’s more, Gu Li was teaching Qin Huai—and seemingly doing it quite well. Because not only Qin Huai was learning, even Tan Weian and Zheng Siyuan were starting to pick it up.

Su Qian, overwhelmed by shock, did something extremely uncharacteristic. During work hours, he secretly went to the locker room, took out his phone, and messaged Boss Su about what had happened.

Boss Su responded with a string of question marks and exclamation marks, fully expressing his shock.

No matter how shocked everyone was, it had already happened—and Gu Li was actually teaching quite well.

At least Qin Huai thought so.

Qin Huai looked at the first batch of freshly made Four Happiness Rolls—complete failures. They didn’t look like cloud patterns, didn’t look like Four Happiness Rolls, and barely even looked like food… maybe just some kind of flower bun variant—and calmly took a bite.

Hmm. Setting aside the fact that it was supposed to be a Four Happiness Roll, it actually tasted pretty good.

The diced ham really was the “meta answer.”

Qin Huai quietly ate, and seeing that Gu Li, Zheng Siyuan, and Tan Weian were all just watching him expectantly, he pointed at the remaining rolls.

“Why aren’t you all trying them? Even though the cloud pattern didn’t come out and the shape is completely wrong—it doesn’t even look like a Four Happiness Roll—it still tastes pretty good.”

The three of them: ?

Confused, Tan Weian obediently picked up a piece, took a bite, chewed carefully, and his eyes lit up.

“Wow!”

“It looks like a total failure, but it’s actually delicious!”

“How did you even do this? When I saw it coming out of the steamer, I thought it would taste terrible. I didn’t even dare to get close.”

He chewed again thoughtfully.

“It’s just scallions and diced ham… how can it be this good?”

“Maybe because the ham, scallions, and sesame oil are well balanced,” Qin Huai said. “And what do you mean ‘just scallions and ham’? Ham is already a very high-end ingredient in pastries. You don’t normally use diced ham in everyday pastries.”

“The complexity or luxury of ingredients doesn’t determine how good a pastry tastes. Often, the simpler something looks, the better the flavor balance. Isn’t that basic knowledge? How did you forget that, Tan Weian?”

Tan Weian: …

He looked at Qin Huai with an expression that said, “You really have the nerve to say that—you should think about what you’ve been making me practice lately.”

Who could switch from ultra-complex high-end pastries back to simple ingredient combinations as smoothly as you? My brain just hasn’t switched back yet.

Tan Weian asked, “So… does this count as a success in some way? Even though the shape is off and there’s no visible cloud pattern, it tastes good—the dough is solid, and the filling is great.”

Qin Huai shook his head.

“Not yet.”

“This morning when I was talking to Gu Li, you weren’t there. The cloud pattern in the Four Happiness Roll doesn’t change the taste much—maybe only a slight improvement—but it is the soul of the dish. Without the cloud pattern, it’s not a Four Happiness Roll. It’s something else entirely.”

“Maybe that’s what palace cuisine is like. Presentation and symbolism matter more than taste,” Qin Huai sighed. “If Gu Li hadn’t told me earlier, I wouldn’t have understood this.”

Tan Weian: ??

What? His junior brother had such deep understanding of imperial pastries?

Junior brother, what exactly have you been secretly studying all these years? I’ve watched you work hard every day—what did I miss?

Gu Li, being praised like that, felt embarrassed and quietly retreated to the back to eat his roll, no longer participating in the “high-level discussion.”

After finishing half a roll, Zheng Siyuan commented, “Gu Li’s understanding of cloud patterns is indeed very deep.”

Then he looked at Qin Huai.

“So are we starting full research on Four Happiness Rolls now? Without waiting for my father to come back?”

Qin Huai thought for a moment.

“Master Zheng is probably still adjusting his mindset. We don’t need to trouble him with the early learning phase. I think Gu Li is teaching quite well. We’ll ask Master Zheng once we’ve mastered the basics.”

Zheng Siyuan nodded. “Alright.”

“By the way, does Gu Li have time? Will this affect his regular pastry work? He seems quite busy every day—making Ruyi rolls, golden silk shumai, and other pastries.”

All of them turned to Gu Li.

Gu Li, who just wanted to be a background character: …

He quickly nodded, a bit nervously. “I… I have time.”

Seeing this, Tan Weian only wanted to rush over to Zang Liang, grab his shoulders, and shout:

Zang Liang! What are you doing?!

Ever since coming to Yunzhong Canteen, you’ve forgotten your original purpose!

You’ve become so absorbed in red-stove cooking that you’ve abandoned the group! Your spot has already been taken by my junior brother!

Although… this “Four Happiness Roll Research Squad” probably never had a place for Zang Liang anyway—it was a pure white-stove pastry project, unrelated to red-stove cooking at all.

Tan Weian glanced at Zang Liang, still completely immersed in red-stove cuisine, and sighed as he took another bite of the Four Happiness Roll.

Ah… how did things end up like this?