The first thing I did was to find out

Chapter 470 Potato Dumplings (Bonus chapter for the generous donation from True_XiaLong, the Alliance Leader!)

After emerging from Zhao Cheng'an's memory, Qin Huai remained stunned in the toilet stall for a long time, unable to recover.

Well, Qin Huai had actually seen scenes of war in Luo Jun's memory.

But the feeling it evokes is completely different, perhaps because Bi Fang is powerful enough. In Luo Jun's memory, ordinary people like Zhao Cheng'an and Chen Qiusheng are merely background figures in his memory, and even Qin Huai, the viewer observing the memories, subconsciously ignores these background characters. After all, most people watching TV dramas only focus on the main characters, and at most glance at the supporting characters. Who would pay attention to the indistinct, unspoken extras in the corners?
However, in Zhao Cheng'an's dream, these passersby A, B, C, and D are the main characters. When they are with Zhao Cheng'an, their eyes will always unconsciously turn to other people, looking at Chen Qiusheng and Chen Ping'an, because for Zhao Cheng'an, these people are the main characters in his dream, the people he cares about the most.

This was also the first time Qin Huai had witnessed the death of a spirit in the spirit's memory.

Previously, whether it was Chen Huihong, Qu Jing, or even the already awakened Shi Dadan and Chen Gong, they all described their deaths to Qin Huai in a very calm and understated manner. They were the protagonists of the event, and when the protagonists themselves didn't seem to care much and described the event to the listener in a very casual way, the listener couldn't feel the cruelty of the essence of death.

Only in Zhao Cheng'an's dream did Qin Huai witness him die in Chen Qiusheng's arms.

How do you describe this feeling...

There's a sudden, unsettling feeling, like a friend who was eating with you one second, so full he was about to faint, and then suddenly he actually ate himself to death the next second.

Qin Huai took a few deep breaths to calm himself down, mainly to compose his expression so that he could face Zhao Cheng'an when he returned to the private room later.

He needed to look at the recipe first; only after looking at the recipe could Qin Huai determine whether Zhao Cheng'an wanted to wake up.

Based on Zhao Cheng'an's last words before his death, Qin Huai had reason to suspect that Zhao Cheng'an, like Chen Huihong, was a fool in his first life, except that his situation was an accident and he wasn't as foolish as Chen Huihong.

Chen Huihong only realized she had failed her tribulation many years after it happened, right before her death.

Zhao Cheng'an's failure to transcend the tribulation came too suddenly. He failed just before his death, so much so that he didn't realize he had succeeded.

Qin Huai opened the game panel and checked the encyclopedia.

Name: Zhao Cheng'an
Species: Mayfly

state:???

Dream: 3/3
Recipes: Rice Cake, Red Eggs, Yam Cake, Potato Dumplings (Click to view details)
Gifts: None
Click on the potato dumplings.

[Potato Dumplings - Grade C+]

Producers: Chen Qiusheng, Chen Sheng

Dish Details: A simple potato dumpling, a collaborative effort between master and apprentice. Limited by ingredients, even with his considerable pastry-making skills, Chen Qiusheng was powerless to cook without ingredients. Adding to his woes, his unlucky apprentice was a liability, and his own poor mood caused him to frequently lose focus while preparing the filling, ultimately leading to a somewhat disastrous "feast" for the last time he cooked. However, for Chen Sheng himself, this was the last delicious meal he ate before his death, a meal worth savoring and remembering. He died with a lingering regret, feeling he hadn't eaten enough for his final meal before leaving the Chen family. If there were an afterlife, he would definitely want to enjoy another hearty meal of potato dumplings with Chen Qiusheng and Chen Ping'an. Unfortunately, Ping'an didn't have an afterlife. Consuming this dish may increase running speed and endurance to some extent within 12 hours (specific effects depend on the consumer's physical condition).

Number of items that can be produced per day: (0/120)

(Friendly reminder: Giving this dumpling to Zhao Cheng'an might have some unexpected positive effects!)
It was that familiar, friendly reminder pressed against my face.

Qin Huai looked at the menu details and fell into deep thought.

Qin Huai had discussed the topic of whether or not to help the mayfly awaken many times with the other spirits in the group "We Are a Loving Family". Even Chen Gong had joined the discussion, but they had never reached a conclusion that satisfied everyone.

The mayfly is a very special creature. Normally, creatures aim to successfully transcend their tribulations, but the mayfly does the opposite, aiming to fail in its tribulation.

These spirits all seem normal, but they fail to transcend their tribulations, which shows that they are stubborn to the core. This is perfectly demonstrated in Luo Jun.

Even Qin Huai couldn't persuade Luo Jun, who failed his first tribulation and was determined to die and start over. Should Zhao Cheng'an, who was aiming to fail his tribulation, really help him wake up?

Qin Huai could only look at the menu details over and over again.

I can't worry about that anymore, bro.

I know you may not want to succeed that much, or you may want to succeed. I also know that your wish will never be fulfilled. Chen Qiusheng and Chen Ping'an will not have an afterlife, and you are destined never to be able to eat a not-so-delicious potato dumpling with them again in this life.

But your senior brother Xia Murui is still alive!
Old Master Xia is so strong and resilient; he survived the chaos of the world and is still alive today. He even had the chance to meet his junior brother, who has been reincarnated countless times, by such a coincidence. Yet their relationship ends here, and they become the most familiar strangers. This plot is just too hard to accept.

Bro, I'm the protagonist of this system novel, I'm in charge!

Have some potato dumplings first, we'll talk about the rest later. Whether you want to succeed or fail, if you really want to fail and I accidentally let you succeed, no problem, we've got some clever people here. Let's pool our wisdom and brainstorm a way to make you fail again.

Among the many spirits in the group who have failed their tribulations, there are many experiences and methods to learn from those failures.

Qin Huai opened the video tutorial and began to watch it carefully.

Qin Huai had actually watched the video tutorial on how to make potato dumplings once in his dream, but it was from the early part of the dream, and he had almost forgotten it. Afraid he might not remember the details, he watched the video tutorial again to reinforce his memory.

The process was simple. Zhao Cheng'an's first-life kneading skills were limited, and the dough he produced was neither good nor bad.

Because of limited ingredients, Chen Qiusheng only had potatoes and cured meat. The filling for potato dumplings was simply steamed potatoes, mashed them, and diced cured meat mixed in. The dumplings were made by simply seasoning the filling and wrapping them.

It's understandable that dumplings with this kind of filling would only be rated C+; they wouldn't be particularly delicious.

simple!
With Qin Huai's current culinary skills, making potato dumplings would be a piece of cake.

Qin Huai decided to borrow the kitchen to cook right away. Although it was abrupt and made him seem like a lunatic, it didn't matter, since he wasn't known for being mentally sound anyway.

It's time to give Mr. Xia a real shock from Master Qin.

Qin Huai and Zhao Cheng'an's tickets were rescheduled for tomorrow afternoon. While there would be time to borrow the kitchen from Babaozhai tomorrow morning, it would be a bit too late for Zhao Cheng'an to eat there. After he woke up, would he just run to Fenyuan to meet his senior and junior brothers Xia Murui? That would be even more absurd.

Since he was going to be treated like a lunatic anyway, Qin Huai was willing to sacrifice himself and take on the role of the lunatic by himself.

I wonder if Zhao Cheng'an can still eat potato dumplings now.

Never mind, I have to eat even if I can't. Even if the food is already stuck in my throat, I'll try to push it down and stuff another dumpling in.

After thinking it through, Qin Huai got right to work, striding confidently out of the restroom, only to bump right into Zhang Guanghang, who was carrying a fruit platter and preparing to enter the private room to serve the dishes.

Qin Huai grabbed Zhang Guanghang and said, "Zhang Guanghang, I have another favor to ask."

"Zhao Cheng'an and I suddenly have a strong craving for potato dumplings. Today's meal was so delicious, and it would feel incomplete without them. We would regret it for the rest of our lives. Could I borrow the kitchen for another hour to make some potato dumplings?" Qin Huai pleaded, his eyes filled with entreaty.

Zhang Guanghang subconsciously glanced at Zhao Cheng'an in the private room, who was trying his best to finish the rice cake, but he was too weak to continue and felt like he was about to collapse from exhaustion.

Zhang Guanghang: ...You two can still eat potato dumplings? I'm thinking of calling 120 for you.

Your pastry chefs are really strange. Even if they love staple foods, they don't have to love them this much. They even put potato filling in their dumplings.

"I... I'll ask my master?" Zhang Guanghang couldn't directly answer for Xia Murui, but indicated that he would ask.

"Thank you so much!" Qin Huai was deeply moved and took the fruit platter. "I'll take this fruit platter inside."

The next second, Qin Huai walked into the private room and shouted to Zhao Cheng'an inside, "Zhao Cheng'an, stop eating! Stop eating that lousy rice cake. If you really can't eat it, pack it up and take it back to eat. There's another dessert coming up later. I'll go to the kitchen to make it for you now."

Zhao Cheng'an: "Huh?"

Zhao Cheng'an was stunned. He burped first, then wondered if he had just eaten too much and was hallucinating.

He heard Qin Huai say there would be snacks later. Qin Huai is addicted to making snacks at Fen Garden. He makes them when he's hungry and when he's full.

We should take him back to the city to see a doctor. His condition has deteriorated too quickly these past few days in Beiping.

It progressed even faster than Huang Anyao's gastroenteritis.

Huang Anyao is almost discharged from the hospital, and Qin Huai is about to be admitted as well.

"Burp." Zhao Cheng'an burped.

(End of this chapter)