It’s important to note that in "The Su Yuan Food List," sea cucumber is described as a tasteless ingredient, sandy and fishy.
Qin Huai is self-aware. Before practicing Crab Dumplings, he wasn’t familiar with crab as an ingredient and spent a lot of time getting to know it.
Similarly, Qin Huai isn’t very familiar with sea cucumber either. In his previous pastry-making endeavors, he used sea cucumber very sparingly, mostly in the Five Fillings Bun, but in that dish, sea cucumber is a definite supporting player, primarily serving a nourishing role.
Not knowing the ingredient well and the flavoring being very challenging, Qin Huai feels that at his current level, even with hard practice, he might not be able to make Double Crab Bun.
Qin Huai thinks he might need to wait until his seasoning skills reach a Master Level before he can try to learn how to make it.
Wang Gen Sheng is in great status, and the side quests aren’t urgent, but there is one side quest that’s actually urgent.
Cheng Gong’s side quest.
His side quest is to make Han Guishan shine at his son Han Youxin’s birthday banquet.
In plain words, Qin Huai is supposed to put on a good show at the birthday banquet and make some snacks that will surprise the guests, giving Han Guishan a moment in the limelight.
Han Guishan is a very generous client.
He offers a high price, pays promptly, and doesn’t boss you around.
Originally, Han Guishan planned to personally visit Gusu to try Qin Huai’s skills and determine the snacks for the birthday banquet. However, as the New Year approached, work got busy, and Han Guishan, a self-made CEO, couldn’t be like those domineering CEOs in novels who only focus on romantic affairs and ignore everything else. He couldn’t find the time to come to Gusu.
Qin Huai also didn’t have the time to go to A City where Han Guishan resides.
This matter was stuck there, but isn’t Xu Cheng a friend of Han Guishan? Since Han Guishan couldn’t come to taste the snacks, Xu Cheng helped him taste them.
Xu Cheng initially just wanted to test Qin Huai’s depth, but he almost got stuck in Gusu. With Xu Cheng’s endorsement and the fame of "Taste" magazine’s annual issue, Han Guishan decided to transfer 60% of the payment upfront to Qin Huai without tasting the snacks, allowing Qin Huai to do what he’s good at.
Not being able to make guo’er is fine; Han Guishan knows why Qin Huai can’t make guo’er and also knows he’s unlikely to invite Huang Shengli.
Faced with such a generous and understanding client, Qin Huai felt very touched and decided to double his efforts.
Originally, he should have given his all to complete the side quest, but now, for the client, he must give his all again, so it’s double.
A birthday banquet, after all, needs snacks with a good meaning.
The Four Happiness Glutinous Rice fits well, with a pleasing name and auspicious meaning. Once the meaning behind the Mixed Fruit Filling is explained, it will fill the room with good fortune. No other dish on the table can match the auspiciousness of the Four Happiness Glutinous Rice.
Once Qin Huai reviews Gong Liang’s memories, touches the recipe of the Four Happiness Glutinous Rice, and applies some buffs.
Qin Huai dared not imagine how impressive this snack would be at the birthday banquet then.
It would surely make Han Guishan shine!
As Qin Huai kneads the dough, he plans in his mind the time and daily frequency to make the Four Happiness Glutinous Rice. He glances at the clock on the wall and realizes it’s already 10 o’clock.
Thinking of Qin Luo being with him—his little brother working, while Qin Luo, his little sister, is studying—he feels a warmth in his heart, making him work even harder.
Qin Huai felt warm inside, but Qin Luo felt chilled to the bone.
Originally, having her brother’s cooked rice balls for breakfast was nothing special. She could eat as many as she liked, and the rice balls were quite tasty.
If Qin Luo hadn’t seen the photo Qin Huai sent her, the rice balls would have tasted even better.
Still lamenting staying up playing on her phone late and missing out on a sumptuous breakfast, the first tutor arrived.
With short, efficient ear-length hair, shrewd silver metal-framed glasses, a slightly thin and angular face, slight wrinkles at the corners of his eyes, perpetually mildly pursed thin lips, and the piercing gaze typical of a school disciplinary officer.
Qin Luo sat up straight the moment she saw the tutor, not daring to breathe audibly.
"Qin Luo, right? My surname is Chen. You can call me Mr. Chen. From today onwards, I’ll be tutoring you in math every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday from 10:00 to 12:00 in the morning."
"I’ve reviewed your school’s textbooks, your monthly test papers, and midterm exams for this semester. The results aren’t ideal, but don’t be discouraged. I believe with tutoring and effort this winter break, your math grades will improve significantly."
"I’ve prepared a test paper especially for you. Let’s complete it today."
"It’s 10:02 now. You have an hour to get started."
Inside, Qin Luo’s inner self was wailing.
This holiday isn’t going well at all.