AGN -Chapter 396 Don’t Miss the Opportunity

That night, Gong Liang’s wife, Guo Mingzhu, got to eat meat-filled flower rolls. For this somewhat oddly shaped meat bun, Guo Mingzhu gave it very high praise, saying it was the best flower roll she had ever eaten—worthy of being made by Little Qin Chef. Even a meat-filled flower roll could taste this good.

Gong Liang faithfully relayed his wife’s praise to Qin Huai, and Qin Huai felt warm inside, but also a slight chill.

Guo Mingzhu had likely eaten “Four Happiness Rolls” when she was younger, but she didn’t recognize them at all.

Fortunately, Qin Huai had already prepared for this. Don’t ask—if asked, they were just flower rolls.

That night, Qin Huai spent the whole night mentally reviewing the Four Happiness Roll.

The review method was simple: he dreamed he was making Four Happiness Rolls, making them extremely impressive and delicious. In the dream, Zheng Da was shocked beyond belief after tasting them, crying uncontrollably, regretting that if he had been able to make Four Happiness Rolls like this in the past, he wouldn’t have been endlessly criticized by neighbors, and his reputation as a pastry chef wouldn’t have been so bad back then.

Qin Huai finally woke up from Zheng Da’s crying in his dream. Even after waking, Zheng Da’s voice of repentance still lingered in his ears.

“I was so foolish, really. I only knew that cloud patterns and shape were important for Four Happiness Rolls, but I didn’t realize they were this important. I secretly practiced Four Happiness Rolls for six months before New Year’s, spending most of my salary, but the final product was mocked by neighbors from the first year into the second year. Then I failed again in the second year and got mocked into the third year…”

All of this was actually what Gong Liang had described the night before. One could only say Gong Liang described it so vividly that Qin Huai had already formed mental images while listening, and then directly dreamed about it at night.

Even while brushing his teeth, Qin Huai was still savoring last night’s dream.

Ah, it was truly wonderful—the completely broken, crying, tearful Zheng Chef.

After washing up, Qin Huai checked the time: 7:18 AM. Not early, not late. It took about 5–8 minutes to walk from his home to Huang Ji, and arriving around 7:25 would be perfect for the first batch of breakfast.

Now at Huang Ji, there was a deputy team leader, Su Qian, who was extremely good at reading the head chef’s thoughts and observing his routine. As long as Qin Huai wasn’t delayed or early due to accidents, he would always be able to walk into the kitchen and immediately be served tea at the perfect temperature, along with the breakfast he wanted most.

Qin Huai smacked his lips, thinking about what to eat today.

Should it be rice noodle rolls, soup dumplings, pan-fried buns, or hot dry noodles?

Wontons also sounded good. Spicy beef noodles were tempting too.

Forget it—he’d decide when he got to the kitchen. Su Qian would handle it anyway.

Qin Huai trusted Su Qian.

Before leaving, he took a cheese stick from the fridge and headed out to work.

On the way to Huang Ji, he ran into many familiar customers from his neighborhood. There were office workers rushing to work, housewives returning from grocery shopping, and of course, many elderly men and women.

It was an old residential community, with almost no new residents. Most young people with means had already moved away, so the proportion of retired elderly people here was even higher than in Yunzhong Community.

Everyone greeted Qin Huai warmly.

Whether the news of “Little Qin Chef’s limited-time return” had spread throughout Huang Ji’s customer circle, Qin Huai didn’t know—but at least it had spread through this neighborhood, and everyone had already tried his new dishes.

Compared to his previous fermented rice buns and premium diced pork buns, the sales of the crab soup buns were not as good.

This was understandable—the price was simply too high. A single bun costing over a hundred yuan could be bought as a rare treat, but it wasn’t something ordinary working people could afford every day.

Also, Zheng Da had been stimulated that day and made a large batch of crab soup buns, basically satisfying both new and old customers’ curiosity. So there was no panic buying rush. Huang Ji’s business had indeed improved slightly during Qin Huai’s limited return, but not dramatically—not at the level of the explosive New Year issue of Zhiwei.

While mentally reviewing the cloud pattern folding technique, Qin Huai walked briskly into Huang Ji’s kitchen, changed clothes, and stepped inside—only to see something he had never imagined.

He saw Zheng Da.

A living Zheng Da.

Wearing kitchen staff uniform, clearly ready to work in the kitchen, standing there talking quietly to Gu Li as if giving instructions.

Qin Huai seriously suspected he hadn’t woken up yet. Otherwise, it was hard to explain why at 7:24 AM Zheng Da was already in the kitchen—earlier than him—and even standing next to Gu Li.

He looked around and noticed Tan Weian hadn’t arrived yet.

Exactly—at this time, Tan Weian wasn’t even here yet, so why was Zheng Da already here?!

Was this reasonable?

Was he still dreaming?

“Chef Qin, your tea. This is Phoenix Dancong. If you don’t like it, there’s also Liu’an Guapian and Longjing.”

Qin Huai took the cup and nodded. Anything was fine—as long as it was brewed by Huang Ji’s apprentices. Honestly, he couldn’t distinguish teas clearly; he only knew they tasted slightly different.

Holding the tea, Qin Huai stretched his neck to look toward Zheng Da. Zheng Da didn’t even notice him, fully focused on Gu Li.

From a distance, Qin Huai could tell Gu Li was making a pastry—it was the Ruyi Roll, which he had been practicing every morning recently.

Qin Huai walked quietly toward them. One very tactless apprentice tried to offer him breakfast for tasting, but Su Qian stopped him immediately, signaling him not to disturb Qin Huai.

Qin Huai’s “important task” right now was eavesdropping.

He saw Zheng Da frowning—three parts confusion, five parts disdain, and two parts “is that it?”—all his emotions were concentrated in that expression.

Gu Li, however, didn’t notice at all. He was fully focused on rolling the cloud pattern of the Ruyi Roll.

Yesterday, when Gu Li was teaching Qin Huai the cloud patterns of the Four Happiness Roll, he had said that Four Happiness Rolls were slightly harder because they required both forward and reverse rolling. But compared to Ruyi Rolls, they were actually simpler, because Ruyi Rolls were fried, while Four Happiness Rolls were steamed.

Generally speaking, steamed pastries are easier because heat control is less strict.

With Gu Li’s current level, he couldn’t properly make authentic Ruyi Rolls, nor could he master their cloud patterns. So Zheng Da’s expression—five parts disdain and two parts “is that it?”—was understandable. But where did the three parts confusion come from?

Confused that Gu Li was making it this way?

That made sense—Ruyi Rolls were already nearly lost. With Gu Li’s level, being able to make them like this already counted as effort.

Qin Huai stood there holding his tea and staring at Zheng Da. After seventeen seconds of frowning, Zheng Da finally couldn’t hold back.

“How can you roll it like this?”

“I’ve eaten Chef Tan’s Ruyi Rolls before. They were fried—high-temperature setting cloud patterns and steamed ones can’t use the same technique!” Zheng Da spoke more clearly than ever.

But soon, his speech became messy again.

“You can’t roll it like that. It should be like this. Your curvature is too exaggerated, and the egg layer—how can you spread it like that? Cloud patterns require finesse, do you understand finesse? With your method, even after frying and setting, you still have to cut it to see anything—how could anyone see the cloud pattern?”

Gu Li stopped and asked humbly, “Chef Zheng, how should I do it? I know I’m doing it wrong, but… I don’t know exactly where the problem is.”

“Didn’t I just say it? You have problems everywhere!”

Gu Li continued humbly, “I understand what you said just now, but where exactly is the issue in this step?”

“It’s right there where I just said! Your movement is too exaggerated. Pastries require flexibility, not rigidity. You already made a mistake when spreading the egg layer earlier. When that step is wrong, you should correct it in the next step—but you didn’t. You kept using the wrong method, so of course the final result is wrong!”

Zheng Da was so anxious he almost wanted to step in and do it himself—but he couldn’t, because he didn’t actually know how to make Ruyi Rolls.

“You’re at this level of cloud pattern skill—how did you even teach Qin Huai and the others yesterday?” Zheng Da finally asked the question he had been holding back.

It was as if he was about to say: Are you people really brave enough to teach, and brave enough to learn?

“Is that right?”

“Is that how cloud patterns are made?”

“Can you make Four Happiness Rolls?”

“I can’t.” Gu Li answered honestly. Then he looked up and saw Qin Huai. Just as he was about to speak, Qin Huai stopped him with a glance, signaling him to pretend he hadn’t seen him and continue.

Gu Li’s acting skills weren’t great, but fortunately he had almost no expression, so his poor acting didn’t show.

Gu Li continued, “Chef Qin can make Four Happiness Rolls. He knows the general process and recipe, but he can’t do the cloud patterns.”

“My skill with cloud patterns isn’t great either, but I know what good cloud patterns look like. After all, I’ve seen my master make many Ruyi Rolls in the past, and he also taught me personally, so that’s how I taught it yesterday.”

Zheng Da muttered softly, “Isn’t this just messing around?”

“Cloud patterns are already a high-difficulty technique in any pastry. If you practice it incorrectly and form bad habits, it’ll be impossible to fix later. How can you just mess around like this? Truly reckless. Siyuan didn’t stop you either, and even learned along with you—how did I end up with a son like this?”

Gu Li didn’t dare respond after hearing Zheng Da’s muttering.

Qin Huai knew it was time for him to shine. He walked over as if he had just arrived and said, “Chef Zheng, you’re here so early today!”

“I just heard you mention cloud patterns and ‘messing around.’ Did you already know we were researching cloud patterns yesterday? I originally wanted to consult you, but since you were taking care of a dog at home yesterday, I didn’t want to disturb you. So I thought we’d let Gu Li guide us through some basic practice first and build a foundation ourselves, so it wouldn’t trouble you to teach everything from scratch later.”

Qin Huai’s sudden voice startled Zheng Da. He blurted out faster than he thought: “Not a dog at home—it was my neighbor’s. I just didn’t want to come yesterday.”

Qin Huai: “…”

Zheng Da: “…”

Gu Li: “?”

The atmosphere turned awkward.

Zheng Da quickly explained, “It’s not that I didn’t want to come. I just wasn’t feeling well yesterday. Yes, not feeling well! My shoulder hurt—getting older, suddenly doing so much pastry work, my body couldn’t handle it. I rested all day at home before recovering.”

“I was thinking you, Xiao Qin, were still waiting to learn Four Happiness Rolls, so I came early this morning. I arrived even earlier than Siyuan, right, Siyuan?”

Zheng Siyuan reluctantly nodded. “Yes, my dad came early. He didn’t have the key, so he waited for me to open the door.”

Zheng Da straightened his back proudly.

Qin Huai knew exactly what Zheng Da wanted to hear and cooperated perfectly.

“Wow, Chef Zheng, you came so early today! That must have been hard work!”

“And you still remember Four Happiness Rolls. If you’re free today, that would be great—we’re all waiting for you to guide us.”

Hearing “Chef Zheng” repeatedly, Zheng Da felt extremely satisfied. Just as he was about to say he had time today, he suddenly reacted.

“‘All of you’?”

“How many of you?”

“Me, Siyuan, Tan Weian, and Gu Li. We’re all very interested in Four Happiness Rolls. Especially Gu Li—he’s the one who understands cloud patterns the most among us. We’re all relying on him to learn first and then teach us.”

Gu Li: “?”

Since when did that happen? Why didn’t he know?

Zheng Da hadn’t expected the situation to develop this way and panicked slightly, but still forced composure.

“It’s nothing difficult. Cloud patterns can be hard or easy. Your Chef Zheng here is best at cloud patterns. Back then, when I learned Four Happiness Rolls, I could already make very beautiful ones right away. My master—Siyuan’s grandmaster—praised me endlessly. Don’t believe me? Ask your Chef Huang.”

Qin Huai nodded enthusiastically in agreement.

Zheng Da felt relieved internally. Luckily, he had prepared—last night he barely slept, only three hours, spending the rest of the night desperately practicing Four Happiness Rolls. He finally managed to produce a batch that could at least pass as decent.

Damn cloud patterns—this thing is really not human work!

Thinking this, Zheng Da yawned.

Qin Huai immediately asked with concern, “Chef Zheng, didn’t you rest well? Or are you hungry?”

Two options, but effectively only one answer.

Zheng Da replied without hesitation, “Hungry.”

Qin Huai looked toward Su Qian. Their eyes met in silent communication.

Su Qian signaled the apprentices. Immediately, the apprentices rushed forward carrying various breakfasts.

“Chef Qin, red date sponge cake—you praised it last time!”

“Chef Zheng, have some hot dry noodles first!”

“Chef Zheng, want shrimp wontons?”

“Chef Qin, soup dumplings!”

Zheng Da was overwhelmed by food offerings.

Qin Huai calmly sampled everything, then took his favorite soup dumplings and walked to his workstation, starting to make lotus root starch balls.

Four Happiness Rolls had to be learned—but lotus root balls couldn’t be neglected either.

From Zheng Siyuan’s expression earlier, Qin Huai already knew: he hadn’t made wontons this morning because he was waiting for chicken soup noodles and lotus root balls.

If Zheng Siyuan showed even a hint of interest in breakfast tasting, Su Qian would have had him fully stuffed already.

Qin Huai planned to make lotus root balls first, then chicken noodles.

Zheng Siyuan had even already kneaded the dough for him. Qin Huai noticed immediately.

Sure enough, just as Qin Huai started shaking the balls, Zheng Siyuan walked over carrying the dough.

“Chef Zheng seems stimulated. Why did he show up today?” Qin Huai asked directly.

“My uncle told my dad yesterday that Gu Li was teaching you cloud patterns. He got upset,” Zheng Siyuan explained simply.

“He came to Huang Ji at 6:30 this morning, kept calling me to open the door.”

“Gu Li arrived at 6:47. From the moment he started making Ruyi Rolls, my dad stood beside him criticizing everything—saying this was wrong, that was wrong, nothing was right.”

“Gu Li was so scared that when my dad went to the bathroom, he came to ask me if we had specially invited my dad to thank him for teaching cloud patterns yesterday.”

Qin Huai: “…”

Not bad. Gu Li has the right mindset—he’ll succeed at anything he does.

“So how long do you think Chef Zheng’s ‘broken state’ of arriving at 6 AM will last?”

“Today,” Zheng Siyuan said decisively.

“Opportunity doesn’t come twice. We have to seize it today.”

“Starting tomorrow, if you see him before noon, that’s already lucky.”