Abnormal Gourmet Chronicle-Chapter 680 - 349: Foolishness, Cowardice, and Kindness

Chapter 680: Chapter 349: Foolishness, Cowardice, and Kindness

Qin Huai could sense an abundance of information from Shi Dadan’s simple words, even detecting a murder case.

But at the same time, he also realized that Shi Dadan actually didn’t want to elaborate, which is understandable. Shi Dadan failed to transcend because of this matter. Although he has succeeded now, there’s no certainty that he won’t fail again. Such taboo topics are best avoided.

Qin Huai asked very tactfully, "About what happened back then... could you tell me a bit more about what actually occurred?"

Shi Dadan thought for a moment: "Actually, I am not very clear about what precisely happened then, since I was too naive at the time. I only know, Xu Nuo offended someone, to the point of deep hatred, and the other party wanted to kill him."

"But initially, I didn’t actually know about this matter. At that time, I just heard that Xu Nuo meddled in affairs he shouldn’t have and offended someone. Mr. Xu asked Xu Nuo to stay home and not go out. But for some reason, Xu Nuo still sneaked out. At that time, I was a truck driver at the textile factory, delivering goods every Tuesday."

"The route was fixed, but that Tuesday I was suddenly notified to deliver the goods elsewhere. I didn’t think much of it, assuming it was another arrangement, so I complied. That route wasn’t one I usually took, and I wasn’t very familiar with the road conditions. Shortly after leaving the city, the wide road became a narrow path, and there was a bicycle parked on the narrow path."

"I saw from afar that the bicycle seemed to have a flat tire, and the rider was squatting by the bike checking the tire. I honked the horn and pressed the brake, but unexpectedly the brake malfunctioned. The truck was loaded with goods, and I hesitated for just a moment about whether to maneuver the wheel to flip the truck, then it crashed into him."

Qin Huai said, "The one riding the bicycle was Xu Nuo."

"Yes." Shi Dadan looked a bit sorrowful. "I may not be clever, but I’m not completely a fool either. I managed to get a job as a truck driver at the textile factory thanks to a spirit friend’s help in getting me in through the back door and worked there for many years due to my cautious driving. I always checked the vehicle for issues before setting off, and that day, I clearly inspected the vehicle before departure, and the brakes were fine then."

"It was before setting off that my supervisor notified me to change routes. I went to sign off the paperwork and left the vehicle for a while, and then the brakes inexplicably failed."

"Xu Nuo’s reaction was actually quick; he dodged, but not completely. I rushed him to the hospital for emergency treatment, and the doctors tried their best, but they said his internal organs were severely damaged with massive bleeding and couldn’t be saved. I could only watch as he passed away in the hospital."

"Later, Mr. Xu investigated the accident scene and found Xu Nuo’s bicycle tire was punctured by nails. Someone deliberately placed nails there."

"The person Xu Nuo offended wanted him dead. They knew Xu Nuo would definitely pass that road to the countryside that day, so they deliberately laid nails on that section, had me change routes, and sabotaged my brakes."

"What distresses me most is that, even though I was set up, I still bear responsibility. I clearly knew Xu Nuo had a conflict with someone during that period, knew he was in trouble, yet never wondered why my supervisor would suddenly have me change routes. Why didn’t I recheck the truck before setting off after signing the paperwork?"

"At that time, I thought if I had reacted quicker to maneuver the wheel to flip the truck, didn’t hesitate thinking whether to save the goods or the person. Or even just honked the horn a bit earlier, giving Xu Nuo just one more second to react, maybe he wouldn’t have died."

"I was the one who crashed into Xu Nuo, but Mr. Xu never blamed me. Even his hair turned white in a few days, yet he comforted me saying it wasn’t my fault and helped me collect evidence."

"From that moment on, I knew I had failed to transcend. I’m dumb, clumsy, a coward, lacking the courage to face reality, unable to confront Mr. Xu, and no match for those people. I failed them with their understanding and tolerance, couldn’t find out who really killed Xu Nuo, and even lacked the courage to live."

"So I became a runaway, choosing to commit suicide."

Qin Huai began to understand that Dang Kang’s failure to transcend wasn’t due to his stupidity, but his cowardice.

"Though I know I’m not qualified to say this, I also think Xu Nuo’s death can’t be blamed on you," Qin Huai said. "You’ve already done all you could. Life can’t be rewound, and there’s no medicine for regret. Mr. Xu is indeed a very sensible person; his tolerance and comfort are meant to prevent you from blaming yourself, letting you continue living."

Shi Dadan sighed: "I didn’t understand then, it’s only right I failed to transcend at that time. Maybe it’s because I didn’t want to read, I hadn’t really learned how to be a person at that time."

"Only this life, carrying most of my memories, after reincarnation did I understand Mr. Xu’s reason for holding back his grief in front of me and his painstaking thoughts. Sadly... I let Mr. Xu down; my suicide might have made him even more heartbroken."

"If Mr. Xu had already uncovered the truth back then, even if he had avenged Xu Nuo, I still wish to know what really happened. You mentioned Wang Gen Sheng, I know who he is, but I didn’t know he was a spirit, as it’s hard to tell unless it’s the final lifetime."

"I don’t have much interaction with him; his relationship with Xu Nuo was closer."

"When he wakes up, maybe I can catch up with him. If Mr. Xu had uncovered the truth back then, I believe Wang Gen Sheng certainly knows. I know you likely can’t ask him directly now, wait till he wakes up. As for the Double Crab Bun, I’ve eaten it but truly don’t know how it’s made."

"However, if you guessed that the Double Crab Bun Wang Gen Sheng ate wasn’t made by Master Jing, I could indeed guess who made it."

"Who?" Qin Huai asked eagerly.

"Xu Nuo."

Qin Huai was shocked, "He could make snacks?"

"Not only could he, but Xu Nuo’s skills were very good; otherwise, he wouldn’t have been so intent on working at the State-owned Restaurant. He not only wanted to work there, he even wanted to apprentice under Master Jing. Though Mr. Xu did not allow it, insisting Xu Nuo had good academic performance and should pursue a more promising career, like becoming an engineer or technician to serve the country, rather than becoming a chef at a State-owned Restaurant."

"Because of this, Xu Nuo argued countless times with Mr. Xu, while Wang Gen Sheng was just an ordinary accountant at the factory. Though being a college student he was valued, due to his lack of seniority, rapid promotion wasn’t possible. He was valued also because of his good relationship with Xu Nuo, and as a result, Mr. Xu held him in high regard."

"Every day Mr. Xu hoped this college student Wang Gen Sheng could lead Xu Nuo back on the right path, not obsessing over becoming a chef, to go to college, further study, and serve the country."

"With Wang Gen Sheng’s salary, he surely couldn’t afford Master Jing’s Double Crab Bun. If Xu Nuo’s Double Crab Bun wasn’t made by Master Jing, then he would’ve made it himself at home as an experiment. After all, he bought the recipe and knew how to make it."

Qin Huai suddenly understood.

Shi Dadan pointed Qin Huai in a direction, even though Qin Huai had already decided on that path beforehand.

"Have you eaten the Double Crab Bun made by Xu Nuo?"

Shi Dadan paused, then said a bit reluctantly, "No."

"This kid made something so good and only let Wang Gen Sheng eat it and not me. It’s a shame, I always bring him treats when I deliver goods."

"Forget it, respect the dead."

Qin Huai: ...

"Do you know about Xu Nuo’s style of making snacks?"

Although Shi Dadan always said he was slow, in his first life he couldn’t understand people and didn’t get their ways. But from the start of his interaction with Qin Huai, he felt Shi was just pretending to be simple-minded, habitually honest, while actually very observant and insightful.

Perhaps because of the lessons learned from not understanding others in his past life, in this life he added quite a few experience points in this area.

Shi Dadan immediately understood the implication of Qin Huai’s words: "Feel free to call me if you need help, I can go over to give you a hand anytime... What do you call this again? Oh right, tasting."

"That would be greatly appreciated." Qin Huai was deeply moved.

Shi Dadan chuckled: "No need to thank me. Though I’m not sure if Master Cao has taken you as an apprentice, but she doesn’t easily praise people. She’s complimented your skills several times these days to me, so your skills must be good."

"I have a large appetite and love to eat staple food, hope you don’t mind if I come to eat more at your place?"

"Rest assured, plenty of staple food!" 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

Shi Dadan chuckled again, glanced at his phone, and realized they have talked for quite some time; delaying any longer might cause Qin Huai’s flight to be delayed.

Navigate to the airport again, Shi Dadan set off once more. Qin Huai actually had many questions still, after all, today was the first day meeting Shi Dadan and he had already successfully transcended his status, Qin Huai had not gathered any information beforehand. He could chat for half an hour, an hour, or even five, six hours.

But catching the flight was more important; discussions can continue over WeChat calls. If he missed the flight today, there was no later flight and he would have to fly tomorrow.

The customers at Yunzhong Restaurant would have to wait another day to enjoy the snacks prepared by their beloved Master Qin. Master Qin had been in Guangdong Province honing his skills in thickening, fire control, and knife skills, all making leaps forward; he was eager to return to Shan City to share this happy news with everyone.

"Being wealthy and not returning home is like wearing fine clothes and walking at night, not knowing what Zang Liang will say on hearing ’wow,’ is excruciating for Master Qin."

Worried that talking to Shi Dadan might again make him distracted and go the wrong way, Qin Huai dared not say a word sitting in the passenger seat until it was impossible to get lost again, then he asked the question he most wanted to ask.

"Actually, I have one more question, but it’s a bit presumptuous."

"I’ve introduced my basic situation and the spirits’ basic situation to you earlier. I have talked to many spirits, so I am fairly knowledgeable about their transcending."

"Under normal circumstances, once the transcending succeeds, shouldn’t one immediately commit suicide to avoid any unforeseen misfortunes? Qiu County’s restaurants have been closed for many years, why did you stay to sell seafood?"

"Is it because Master Cao’s craftsmanship is so good that you are reluctant to leave and want to mooch a meal?"

Shi Dadan countered, "Am I the kind of spirit who risks so much just to eat something good in the human world?"

"...Sort of."

"Alright, I am." Shi Dadan laughed, "But not entirely."

"Remember I told you that when I came to the human world to transcend last life, I met a spirit friend who was very warm and helped me a lot, even helped me find a job?"

Qin Huai nodded.

"At that time, he actually needed help from others as well, I promised to help him, but later I failed my own transcending and committed suicide, and ultimately couldn’t help him."

"After reincarnating, starting as an infant, it took me over a decade to find the opportunity to go out and do business. And my priority in this life was actually to ensure my own transcending success, which got delayed for over twenty years."

"I don’t even know whether my friend succeeded in transcending or failed, if he succeeded that’s great, but if he failed... I want to fulfill my promise."

"So I continue my seafood business, I believe if fate allows, I can meet my spirit friend again."

Qin Huai was momentarily speechless, the reasons for spirits failing in their transcending are myriad, each obsession unique. There are those like Bi fang who remain neutral in chaos, and the Luan bird and Yujiao known for their inherently good nature among birds.

But Dang Kang is too kind, kind enough to risk failing his transcending again by staying in the human world for nearly 20 years for the promise from his first life.

In a certain sense, he is somewhat like Qu Jing, they have both received too much kindness and so are willing to repay the world with good intentions.

All Qin Huai could say was, "You will meet him, if you don’t, it means he has already transcended successfully, which is a good thing."

Shi Dadan smiled and nodded, "I hope so too."