Abnormal Gourmet Chronicle

Chapter 1361: Xia Mubing Extra Story (Finale)

After Zhang Guanghang left, Qin Huai didn’t enter the room right away. Instead, he stood outside, looking at Zhao Cheng’an with some concern. Seeing that Zhao Cheng’an showed no emotional fluctuation, he asked, "Zhao Cheng’an, are... you okay?"

"I’m fine. Shouldn’t you be asking Zhang Guanghang?" Zhao Cheng’an replied, "Everyone dies. Xia Mubing lived more in one lifetime than I could in eight; he definitely died at a good old age. It’s a happy death. If I live as long as he did, I could go back to being buried underground and wake up laughing."

Qin Huai: ...

Qin Huai quietly pushed the door and entered Xia Mubing’s room.

Xia Mubing was sitting on the bed, wearing reading glasses and holding a stack of papers in his hand, looking as if he was reading documents.

Seeing Qin Huai and Zhao Cheng’an finally come in, Xia Mubing smiled kindly at the two, put down the documents, took off his glasses, and pointed to the two stools in front of him: "Sit."

The stools were quite close to the bed.

"Since yesterday, I’ve had no strength in my body, and even talking tires me out. If you don’t sit closer, you won’t hear me."

Both sat obediently.

Xia Mubing sighed, "I didn’t expect it to be this sudden. Last year, I thought I wouldn’t live to this time, and now I feel like I should live a little longer."

"Asheng, you must live well in this life, try to live longer than me."

Zhao Cheng’an nodded, "I’ll try my best."

"I originally wanted to go to Taifeng Building to eat a few more meals, but I couldn’t eat, no appetite. This is how it is when you get old. Sometimes being alive seems meaningless, but when you’re about to die, you suddenly don’t want to let go."

"Asheng, Qin Huai, I’d like to ask you to stay in Beiping for a few more days, stay in Fen Garden during this time, and keep Xiao Hang company after I pass. He hasn’t experienced much death like you two have. When he heard about his grandfather’s death, he locked himself in a room and cried for over a month. It was only with snacks and candied haws that I managed to barely console him."

"Now... He’s not a child anymore, snacks and candied haws probably won’t work, I can only rely on you more."

Zhao Cheng’an patted his chest, "Don’t worry, leave it to us. I’ll be in charge of buying candied haws, and Qin Huai will make the snacks!"

Xia Mubing couldn’t help but laugh.

"Most of my estate still has to go to Xiao Hang. Asheng, I originally wanted to leave Fen Garden to you, but Fen Garden is also very important to Xiao Hang, and you wouldn’t be able to maintain it. It’s more practical to just give you money."

"I’ve left you two hundred million in my will, spend it sparingly, don’t use it all to cover your investment losses."

Zhao Cheng’an did not expect Xia Mubing to leave him two hundred million. He had initially expected tens of millions, which would’ve been enough to cover his losses, but he couldn’t control his expression, showing an inappropriate hint of delight.

Xia Mubing gave him an annoyed look, "If you’re happy, just laugh, don’t hide it. I know you too well."

Then, Xia Mubing added, "But Asheng, you really need to pay more attention to your cooking in the future. I know you aren’t exceptionally talented, but you shouldn’t have made no progress at all over the years. You can’t lose face for your master and me."

Zhao Cheng’an, feeling hurt: ꒦ິ^꒦ິ

"As for Qin Huai, I know you don’t lack money, but there’s a house you might like."

"A few months ago, I asked someone to buy a small courtyard next to Li Family’s courtyard. It’s not big, just over 600 square meters, and it’s currently being renovated."

Qin Huai didn’t expect to also receive a share, feeling a bit surprised.

Zhao Cheng’an curiously asked, "Xia Mubing, have you seen the Li Family’s big flower pet? I’ve always heard about it but haven’t seen it. Is it really just a pig? I always felt it should be of Old Shi’s kind or at least a distant relative, if not a Dang Kang then some other pig spirit."

Qin Huai, a bit speechless, replied: "These days, what spirit uses their original form to cross tribulations? I’ve seen it, it’s just an ordinary pig. I don’t know why my ability attached a bit to him."

"Can it become a spirit?"

"How would I know?"

"Isn’t it your ability?"

"It’s not like I can control it. Is this the focus right now? Shouldn’t we be discussing more serious matters?"

After Qin Huai’s words, Zhao Cheng’an realized he got off track again and quickly sat up straight: "Actually, I do have serious business."

Both Qin Huai and Xia Mubing looked at him.

"Senior brother, how do you plan to handle your funeral? Should we use my funeral plan? I don’t think I’m going to die anytime soon, but I think my plan is really good. A lot of it was inspired by Luo Jun’s funeral, and though his was nice, I think there’s room for improvement. Senior brother, do you want to try my plan?"

Xia Mubing: ...

Qin Huai: ...

Xia Mubing was speechless for a long time, just sitting quietly on the bed, looking at Zhao Cheng’an helplessly, and then let out a relaxed smile: "I was a bit worried that Asheng you were forcing a smile in front of me, but now..."

"As expected from a spirit who has died many times, you’re much more carefree about death than I am."

Qin Huai: ...No, only Mayfly is like this! Though we spirits generally have problems, very few have problems this big!

Out of brotherly affection, Xia Mubing forced himself to review Zhao Cheng’an’s years of research on funeral planning.

What can I say...

If conditions allowed, Qin Huai thought Zhao Cheng’an might want to hold the funeral in Jiang Qi’s amusement park, where it’s more lively, fun, and vibrant.

Such an outrageous funeral plan was, of course, not adopted by Xia Mubing. In fact, Xia Mubing’s funeral had long been decided. However, Xia Mubing did adopt part of Luo Jun’s funeral plan, starting the next day by pulling out a notebook listing all acquaintances in the industry and calling each to scold them.

He mercilessly criticized all their culinary skills, scolding them for a whole day.

That night, after eating chicken wrapped in cabbage and with Qin Huai, Zhao Cheng’an, and Zhang Guanghang by his side, Xia Mubing quietly closed his eyes, as if he had fallen asleep.

When Xia Mubing closed his eyes, Zhao Cheng’an was telling a story, regaling his embellished experiences from his early days at Zhiwei Restaurant where he was a renowned prodigy, stunning everyone with embellishments.

Spirits have far better hearing than humans, so the moment Xia Mubing’s breathing stopped, Qin Huai and Zhao Cheng’an realized it.

The two instinctively looked toward Zhang Guanghang. Zhang Guanghang hadn’t even reacted yet, only realizing after meeting Qin Huai’s eyes to then look at Xia Mubing, then he stood frozen for a long while, finally forcing a bitter smile.

"Master... should have no regrets, right?" Zhang Guanghang said softly.

"As long as you’re not sad, he has no regrets," Zhao Cheng’an said, "The first night after we arrived, Master Xia advised us to stay a few more days in Fen Garden and talk to you more, so you won’t be too sad when the time comes."

"So, tell us, what snacks do you want? Qin Huai will make them all for you."

"I’ll buy you candied haws, my treat!"

Zhang Guanghang forced another smile, slightly better than before: "I still need to call and inform others. Candied haws, let’s have them in a few days."

He said, then hurriedly went outside to make calls, like fleeing.

Zhao Cheng’an watched Zhang Guanghang’s back with a bit of melancholy, asking, "Qin Huai, do you think there’s really no afterlife?"

"No."

"I originally thought I wouldn’t be sad, but now I’m starting to feel a bit sad too."

"Can you make candied haws? Maybe you should go make some now. If Zhang Guanghang doesn’t eat them, I will."

"Can you leave candied haws in a cemetery? Did Xia Mubing like candied haws? Why didn’t I think to ask him about this when he was alive?"

"Will Zhang Guanghang still give me money to cover my losses in the future?"

Qin Huai said softly, "I don’t know if Xia Mubing liked candied haws, but if you make them and place them in front of his grave, I’m sure he’d be happy with it."

"Didn’t you say there’s no afterlife?"

"So what? Since the year I woke up, I’ve asked a private detective to look for Mrs. Qin’s grave back in Beiping. That place is a park now. Two years ago, after it was found, I asked Zhou Hu to feng shui and move her grave. Every time I come to Beiping, I visit Mrs. Qin’s grave and bring snacks."

"So what if there’s no afterlife? As long as I remember, she lives on in my heart."

"Haven’t you watched ’Coco’? Death is not the end; forgetting is."