Hearing Qin Huai say this, Huang Shengli finally felt relieved and nodded readily, indicating that it was a small matter.
"No need to rush, traveling back and forth in one day is too exhausting and bad for your health. Just come back the day after tomorrow, and I’ll prepare more fillings for you to take back. I remember your family and friends are in Shan City, you can share some with them. Tomorrow, I’ll have An Yao buy some local specialties, and you can take them all back the day after tomorrow."
"Thank you, Master Huang!"
The next day, Huang Ji announced to regular customers and neighboring residents that Qin Huai would be taking a two-day break, and everyone took it well.
The chefs at Huang Ji aren’t working non-stop all year, they take turns for rest. Since Qin Huai just arrived, everyone was overly enthusiastic. The new Master Qin was a bit unaccustomed and it was normal for him to feel exhausted and want a break for two days.
Even Gong Liang didn’t say anything, he just quietly added extra items to the special local purchases when Huang An Yao was buying them, slipping in 20 bolts of silk.
A bit of trivia, under normal circumstances, one bolt of silk can make 15 tops.
Qin Huai was astonished when he saw the local specialties that Huang An Yao bought for him, he almost thought he was not visiting Gusu for an exchange but coming to do business, like restocking.
Huang An Yao felt a bit guilty, but there was no choice; Uncle Gong gave too much.
In the end, it was Huang Shengli who made the final decision, having Huang An Yao send the items to Qin Huai at Yunzhong District, so Qin Huai traveled light, carrying only 20 pounds of flaky pastries.
The plane landed at noon.
During this season, Shan City is very cool, with clear and refreshing autumn skies and pleasant temperatures, perfect for wearing medium-thick clothes to take photos.
Theoretically, in such a comfortable environment, even going to work shouldn’t feel so unbearable.
This is theoretically speaking.
The residents of Yunzhong District don’t think so.
The office workers in the office buildings near Yunzhong District don’t think so.
Even the doctors in the neurology department of the private hospital where Qu Jing works think differently.
What’s the use of good weather? Master Qin has been in Gusu for a week!
A week, a whole week, do you know how everyone has been living this week!
No Fermented Rice with Steamed Buns, no Five Fillings Bun, no Three Meat Buns, no Crab Shell Cake, not even Dried Tangerine Peel Tea!
How could this be a life for humans!
Everyone was so distressed that even the egg cake at Yunzhong Restaurant was sold out, every day buying unsatisfactory snacks at the cafeteria, hoping Master Qin would see their determination and return soon.
Come back, after all, what does Gusu have?
Today, Master Qin returned.
But he came back secretly.
Chen Huihong picked up Qin Huai at the airport, driving her brother’s Maybach instead of her own Bentley to avoid being recognized by neighbors.
Qin Huai was also fully disguised, with a hat, mask, sunglasses, trench coat, scarf, and gloves, wrapped up like Qu Jing version 2.0. Without knowing better, one would think it was Qu Jing cross-dressing.
Qin Huai struggled into the car, took off his scarf, and mask, and let out a deep breath.
"Phew, I feel so heavy, it’s really tough for Qu Jing to wrap up every day ."
"Sister Hong, your flaky pastries are in my suitcase. Later we’ll go straight to the elevator from the underground parking and I’ll give you the pastries when we get to Luo Jun’s house."
"Sure." Chen Huihong didn’t mind, "Did you bring the other things? Dingsheng Cake, Fermented Rice with Steamed Buns, Lard Rice Cake, when is Master Xiao Zheng coming back with you?"
Qin Huai: "...isn’t it possible that Zheng Siyuan went back to Gusu, which is home, and won’t be coming back."
Chen Huihong looked a bit disappointed.
"I didn’t bring the other snacks, but I asked Luo Jun to prepare the ingredients, and I can make them for you today."
"To avoid alerting anyone, I’ll be staying at Luo Jun’s house tonight, and Sister Hong, I’ll need your help to get to the airport tomorrow morning." said the undercover Qin Huai.
"Isn’t that a bit exaggerated?" Chen Huihong thought Qin Huai was being too dramatic, "Everyone knows you’re staying in Gusu for a month, they can understand."
Qin Huai paused: "Maybe it’s more than a month."
"Now, with things changing, if nothing unexpected happens, I might have to stay in Gusu until New Year, and then go straight back to Qiu County hometown, and return to Yunzhong Restaurant after the New Year."
Chen Huihong gripped the steering wheel, resisting the urge to slam the brakes and demand answers like in a drama, trying hard to adjust her expression, and squeezed out some words through her teeth.
Chen Huihong felt tempted to buy a house in Gusu.
She finally understood why Qin Huai was so sneaky about it.
Chen Huihong hesitated to speak, after a long time of hesitation, she opened and closed her mouth before slowly asking, "Does Huang Ji Restaurant support cross-province deliveries?"