Abnormal Gourmet Chronicle-Chapter 737 - 372: It’s Done

Although Tan Wei’an was hospitalized, temporarily leaving the Double Crab Bun research team short a member, it didn’t affect the research progress at all.

The progress remained promising, or even faster.

Of course, this was definitely not because Tan Wei’an was impeding progress; rather, even while lying in a hospital room receiving IVs, he remained concerned about the progress, moving both Qin Huai and Zang Liang deeply, to the point where Zheng Siyuan was at a loss for words.

To render Zheng Siyuan speechless means there was an emotional impact.

The three of them worked harder together on the Double Crab Bun in honor of Tan Wei’an. As Zang Liang put it, they had to let Tan Wei’an taste a successful Double Crab Bun right in the hospital. Otherwise, if he was discharged and returned to Yunzhong Restaurant to eat it, his stay would have been in vain.

Qin Huai could only express that he really didn’t understand the brotherly bond between Zang Liang and Tan Wei’an.

Of course, Tan Wei’an didn’t disappoint his family; his condition was rather serious, making a one-day hospital stay insufficient. He lay in the hospital for a full three days, giving Qin Huai and the gang ample time to perfect their preparation.

Finally, after working day and night making Double Crab Buns for over two days, the group managed to complete the final product just before Tan Wei’an’s discharge.

More precisely, the three were quite satisfied, believing they had produced something of commendable quality.

This time, all three participated in the tasting.

Each took a bun, standing in a row, looking at each other, eating with slight uncertainty while observing each other’s expressions, hoping to see approval, yet everyone was waiting for someone else to show it first.

Qin Huai looked at Zheng Siyuan, Tan Wei’an looked at Qin Huai, Zheng Siyuan looked at the floor; Shi Dadan sat in Ouyang’s former spot, eating the bun with relish, occasionally looking up at the trio.

"Is there something wrong with the bun? It tastes pretty good." Shi Dadan didn’t understand, so he directly asked.

These past days, Shi Dadan had eaten the most buns—not because he was the most suited for eating buns, but because he ate the most. No one could out-eat him. Even when Tan Wei’an ended up in the hospital, he didn’t consume a third of what Shi Dadan ate in one meal.

When it comes to tasting, being able to eat is key.

While Shi Dadan might not have the correct version, he had eaten enough and sampled good snacks. On the matter of Double Crab Buns, Shi Dadan actually had authority, at least more than Ouyang.

The three looked at Shi Dadan.

Shi Dadan: ...

Had he said too much?

Shi Dadan revealed a sheepish smile, asking, "Is there...a problem?"

Zang Liang looked at Shi Dadan with piercing eyes, "Old Shi, do you think there’s no problem? Do you really believe there’s no problem at all? Do you feel the bun doesn’t have any issues when eaten?" 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Shi Dadan: ?

"Weren’t your three questions just the same question?"

"I think the bun tastes quite good, the best I’ve had these days. It’s...tasty."

Though redundant, it was useful.

Zang Liang jumped up, cheering, "I agree, it’s fine, we did it, we did it!"

"Qin Huai, Zheng Siyuan, didn’t we succeed?"

"Didn’t we make a successful version of the Double Crab Bun? Is this Double Crab Bun perfectly fine? Isn’t its dough soft yet elastic, with stuffing lacking in juice but not dry? Although not as fragrant as normal buns with stuffing soaking into the dough, the crab roe oil moistened the inside dough well, offering a rich crab roe flavor. Despite its savory aroma, you also taste a unique sea cucumber flavor, which, though atypical, isn’t necessarily unpleasant."

"However, this doesn’t affect the overall dish; the tender sea cucumber texture makes it more like a dish. But as you chew, especially when the filling blends with the dough, you realize that yes, this is the Double Crab Bun!"

Zang Liang’s forceful words echoed through the entire kitchen.

Zheng Siyuan nodded slowly, "Seems about right, tasted nothing wrong, guess we did it."

Then both turned to Qin Huai.

Qin Huai: ...

Really? One’s excited, one’s calm, one talks a lot, one talks little—what am I supposed to say when you’ve said everything?

Leave some words for your dear Master Qin, I’m the leader of the Double Crab Bun research team!

Zang Liang, do you know that the key words should be left for the leader to use in a speech? I’m the leader, yet you went on and on, what am I supposed to say?

Qin Huai stared at the two, speechless for a while, and finally said, "There are only two buns left, let Ouyang have them."

"Let’s keep the momentum, make another batch, and send fresh warm ones to the hospital for Tan Wei’an. It’s 1 PM now, and if I’m right, he should be discharged at 3 PM. He seems to need one last check-up before leaving."

"Let’s start early, go early, and make sure to make it in time."

Hearing this, Zang Liang immediately realized the severity, nodding earnestly, "Got it, don’t worry, we’ll finish the buns before 2 PM. I remember the hospital is quite far from us, I’ll text Tan Wei’an telling him not to rush his discharge, rest for a bit, we’ll pick him up later."

After speaking, Zang Liang went to the locker room for his phone, then hurried back to fry the stuffing.

Qin Huai helplessly exchanged glances with Zheng Siyuan, whose eyes expressed long-held opinions about Zang Liang’s mental state being off, nothing new.

"So, does this mean we made the Double Crab Bun?" Zheng Siyuan asked.

"I guess so." Qin Huai wasn’t quite certain, really.

From a technical standpoint, the three successfully crafted the Double Crab Bun. Any further improvement would require an unexpected performance boost or someone excelling at a specific step, raising the bun’s level.

Based on Qin Huai’s current assessment, the Double Crab Bun’s level seemed to fall between B-level and B+ Level, which isn’t low.

But whether it truly counts as completed depends on Wang Gen Sheng’s tasting and whether the task marks as done.

Ultimately, the Double Crab Bun is Wang Gen Sheng’s side task.

Qin Huai had some speculations about Xu Nuo’s culinary skills, believing that at Xu Nuo’s level, making A-level snacks consistently should be possible. But with the Double Crab Bun not quite reaching A-level, completion of the task remained uncertain.

However, Qin Huai felt the odds were pretty good.

As Wang Gen Sheng ate a Double Crab Bun many years ago, similar to how Gong Liang views the Four Happiness Tang Yuan, those who store rich emotions in a snack tend to augment or beautify them. Meanwhile, these emotions make them lower their standards for these snacks.

As for how to lower the standards, Qin Huai already had an idea.

For now, however,

the three members of the Double Crab Bun team most wanted the fourth member to enjoy a Double Crab Bun in the hospital, and discharge afterward.

Don’t ask why—it’s the thought that counts.