Qin Luo happily received a loving lecture from her mother, not even knowing why.
However, having been disciplined throughout her childhood, she maintained a good mindset. After the lecture, she found out she didn’t have to go back to high school and could stay in Shan City to attend the legendary international high school for nobles. She was so happy she ate two bowls of Chicken Soup Noodles.
Qin Luo slurped her chicken soup happily.
Qin Huai suspected she was eating the Chicken Soup Noodles so eagerly just to drink the soup, especially because Zheng Da had only made two pots of soup, and each bowl consumed meant one less.
"Brother, is that international noble high school just like in Meteor Garden, where all the boys and girls are exceptionally good-looking, wearing loads of bracelets, earrings, necklaces, and rings, all glittering with bling, with backpacks casually costing millions?" Qin Luo asked, her face full of longing.
Qin Huai poured brown sugar into the pot with dried tangerine peel, added a pinch of salt, and looked utterly speechless: "Which version of Meteor Garden are you watching? Backpacks costing millions, in what currency?"
Qin Luo began to reminisce.
"Also, who told you Shuanghai High School is an international noble high school? Where did these words ’noble’ come from? It’s a proper international high school, and you’ll have to study even there. Don’t think that not going back to school means you can relax. Here, Mom, Dad, and I will be watching you. Don’t waste the spot Sister Hong’s brother got you."
"If your monthly exams are the same as your high school entrance exams with only passing marks in two subjects, guess whether Mom and Dad will let you eat the Three Meat Buns and Five Fillings Buns for breakfast? Don’t look at me with those eyes. Crying is useless this time. It really is. You still haven’t paid off your food expenses from before. The wages from your summer job don’t even cover your usual snack expenses." Qin Huai’s face was filled with cold indifference.
When Qin Luo was getting a loving lecture from Zhao Rong, she didn’t really feel like crying. Now, she actually felt a bit like crying.
Qin Luo knew she didn’t have much time left.
Qin Luo picked up the noodle bowl, guzzled down the broth, even shoving the last two pieces of green vegetables into her mouth, then slammed the bowl onto the table, gathering her breath and shouting:
"Brother, I want another bowl!"
"No," Qin Huai mercilessly refused.
He had already cooked the last two bowls for Qin Luo, and making more would require starting from scratch. Qin Huai declared he was already off work and would definitely not be doing extra work.
Qin Huai stirred his dried tangerine peel tea, feeling it was ready, and served a bowl to cool.
"If you’re still not full, have a bowl of dried tangerine peel tea later. It’s good for you to drink more in August. I have a package that’s been delivered to my doorstep by the property management. Tell Mom and Dad at dinner tonight. I’m heading home and won’t eat in the restaurant."
"Stay off the smartwatch," Qin Huai gave one last reminder before heading out of the restaurant and crossing the street to buy a sausage from a convenience store, munching on it as he headed home.
Leaving Qin Luo to sit sadly in the restaurant, quietly licking the bowl, she lamented how tough her life was.
Indeed, Qin Huai had a package delivered.
The Classic of Mountains and Seas that he ordered yesterday had arrived.
A local delivery, always fast.
When he returned home, Qin Huai began seriously reading the Classic of Mountains and Seas.
Even though he didn’t think reading the Classic of Mountains and Seas would help him complete tasks, since the game system’s encyclopedias would eventually identify species. But since Chen Huihong was already a divine tree from the Classic of Mountains and Seas, Qin Huai figured it wouldn’t hurt to know more.
It’d be useful to communicate if he met any strange flowers or herbs.
Qin Huai felt all these plant spirits seemed rather confusing and that living such a muddled life wasn’t good.
It’s time to prepare just in case.
Qin Huai focused his attention, opening the Classic of Mountains and Seas and began reading from the first page.
"The first of Southern Mountain Classics, called Xian Mountain..."
Five minutes later, Qin Huai felt like playing with his phone.
Ten minutes later, Qin Huai yawned, feeling it was time to sleep.
Even with plain text translations, the contents were still a bit too boring...
Qin Huai could only say maybe the Qin family was naturally not gifted in studying.
Qin Luo not passing her Chinese exam can’t be entirely blamed on her.
Half an hour later, Qin Huai posted on his social media.
[The Classic of Mountains and Seas is indeed a book worth studying] [crying] [crying] [crying]
Within less than a minute of posting, Chen Huihong sent a private message.
Chen Huihong: Stop reading it.
Chen Huihong: Even I can’t get through it.
Qin Huai paused for a moment and replied with two words.
Can’t continue reading, just can’t.
The next morning, right on time, Qin Huai arrived at Yunzhong Restaurant.
Today was different from usual; when Qin Huai arrived, Qin Luo was already wiping the menu board in the main hall.
"Luoluo, why are you up so early today?" Qin Huai was a bit surprised as it was 4 a.m., and Qin Luo usually slept until 7 a.m. before coming for breakfast.
"Brother, I’ve made up my mind!" Qin Luo said earnestly, "From today on, I want to wake up early every day to memorize words and strive to improve!"
Qin Huai showed a delighted expression.
"This way, I’ll burn energy and feel hungry in the morning, so I can eat more Three Meat Buns and Five Fillings Buns!"
"Then why didn’t you memorize words today?" Qin Huai asked, soulfully.
Qin Luo replied, "Today, when my alarm went off, I realized I didn’t have a single book."
"I told Mom I wanted to use my phone to memorize words, but she didn’t believe me. She thought I wanted to sneakily play on my phone. Mom will take me to the bookstore this afternoon to buy books. Only with books can I memorize words."
Qin Huai felt like he suddenly understood why Qin Luo sometimes got up occasionally to memorize words in the morning, with her English grades soaring, often making them suspect Qin Luo copied her English.
"Buy some Chinese books too," Qin Huai sincerely advised, "If not, a writing book will do. Memorize some excellent compositions to score more points."
"Brother cooked chicken soup yesterday afternoon, so I’ll make you Chicken Soup Noodles again today."
After that, Qin Huai changed clothes and entered the kitchen to start kneading the dough for Chicken Soup Noodles, cooking a hot bowl of Chicken Soup Noodles for Qin Luo.
It didn’t take long for the Chicken Soup Noodles to be ready.
[Longevity Noodles C-grade]
Qin Huai thought perhaps he really needed to improve his soup-making skills.
Before, without comparisons, he didn’t feel anything, but after drinking Zheng Da’s savory broth for a while, looking at his own now was different.
Zheng Da did have his merits.
Qin Huai took out his phone and sent a message to Zheng Da.
Qin Huai: Master Zheng, do you have any tips for making savory broth that you could share with me? I really need your help, thank you [shy]
After sending the message, Qin Huai continued with his work.
There were still the usual Three Meat Buns, Five Fillings Buns, and Fermented Rice with Steamed Buns to prepare.
For Luoluo, who was willing to wake up early to study just to eat a few more bites, Qin Huai, as her brother, certainly couldn’t hold her back. He needed to provide enough motivation.
Qin Huai thought that Four Happiness Dumplings, Five Fillings Buns, and Fermented Rice with Steamed Buns were not enough to support Qin Luo through three years of high school studying. He needed something new, something Qin Luo hadn’t eaten but was certain to love.
Preferably something special, as Qin Luo liked things with a bit of hype that she could post on social media, something she could specifically brag about to He Cheng.
Qin Huai began searching his memory for the snacks he had mentioned when chatting with Zheng Siyuan the other day.
Dream Come True Sesame Bun.