Chapter 3 Steamed Chicken in Lotus Leaves

After about ten seconds of stalemate, Li Hongmei spoke.

“Can your game really make money?”

“Yes, it can.”

“You’re already in senior year of high school and still playing games. I have to change your phone!” Li Hongmei took off her apron, her face full of Life Qi as she glared at him, “You’re not allowed to play anymore. Keep the money yourself and don’t waste it.”

“Ah, alright, alright.” Jiang Nian was indifferent; anyway, he didn’t need a phone to complete the System’s tasks.

After she finished speaking, her tone softened again, “The food is quite rich. My son has grown up.”

Hearing this, Jiang Nian couldn’t help but let out a sigh of relief and became playful again.

“When does Old Jiang get off work?”

“Soon. You’re such a character, even getting vain now. Go call Qianqian over for dinner.” Li Hongmei’s face was stern; her son had always been a bit mischievous since childhood, easily getting carried away with a little encouragement.

“Where’s Uncle Xu?” he asked.

Li Hongmei took a watermelon out of the refrigerator, “He went on a business trip for training. He left this morning.”

Knock knock knock.

A knock on the door sounded, and Xu Qianqian pulled the security door halfway open, revealing a flushed face.

“What do you want?”

“To call you for dinner. Hey, why is your face red?” Jiang Nian noticed the blind spot, shamelessly trying to squeeze in, “What were you doing at home this afternoon?”

“Get lost!” Xu Qianqian guarded the door tightly.

Jiang Nian’s hand slapped onto her arm, and Xu Qianqian instantly stiffened all over, then cried out in a loud voice towards the Jiang family across the hall.

“Auntie, Jiang Nian touched me!”

“Um, no, you…?”

Li Hongmei’s scolding voice came from the kitchen, “Jiang Nian, are you looking for trouble?! Don’t bully Qianqian!”

“I didn’t, don’t talk nonsense.” He was suddenly startled, and in his panic, he squeezed directly inside. Seeing that Xu Qianqian was about to shout again, he quickly covered her mouth.

“Wuwuwu!!”

The two were extremely close; he could even see the fine downy hairs on the girl’s face. A pair of bright, watery eyes stared at him, filled with panic.

The summer evening wind was hot and dry, and he could smell the fragrance emanating from Xu Qianqian’s neck, feeling inexplicably awkward.

“Don’t shout.”

“Wuwu.”

“If you don’t shout, I’ll let go. Nod if you agree.”

Xu Qianqian whimpered, then nodded.

As soon as Jiang Nian let go, he was bitten. A clear teeth mark appeared on his arm. It hurt so much that he gasped, but he dared not cry out.

“Xu Qianqian, are you a dog?”

“Hmph, you deserve it.” Xu Qianqian turned her head away.

Perhaps due to their recent struggle, a faint blush covered her face. Jiang Nian then noticed that Xu Qianqian’s outfit seemed a bit different. He looked her up and down, slightly stunned.

“JK skirt? New?”

No wonder she didn’t open the door earlier; she was trying on clothes. But it wasn’t like she was changing clothes, and this JK outfit wasn’t revealing, nor was the skirt particularly short. What was there to hide?

Xu Qianqian didn’t think that way and felt a bit embarrassed.

“What does it have to do with you!”

“Nothing, it looks good.” Jiang Nian rubbed his arm, walking out, “Come over for dinner later, there’s your favorite lotus leaf steamed chicken.”

Dong, the door closed.

Xu Qianqian stood in her living room, took a deep breath to calm herself, then turned and went back to her room to change.

Seven thirty.

Jiang Weizheng returned home, saw the table full of dishes, and was momentarily stunned, placing his briefcase aside.

“What’s the occasion today?”

“No occasion. These were all made by your son.” Li Hongmei gave him a glare, urged him to wash his hands and eat, and also called over the two younger ones who were watching TV on the sofa.

“Dinner’s ready, stop watching.”

Soon, the four sat at the dining table. Li Hongmei recounted Jiang Nian’s earlier words. Old Jiang and Xu Qianqian listened, bewildered, and both looked at Jiang Nian.

“This can make money too?” Jiang’s dad asked.

“Of course, Comrade Old Jiang.” Jiang Nian said without batting an eyelid.

“Really or fake?” Xu Qianqian looked at him several times. She had never lacked money since childhood, and her food, clothing, and expenses were always a step above Jiang Nian’s. “You’re in senior year of high school and still playing games, be careful you don’t get into college!”

When they were little, their relationship was good, and she often gave Jiang Nian small bread. Later, their relationship wasn’t as good, and then they both grew up and didn’t like snacks anymore.

Hearing this, Li Hongmei also sternly lectured him several times, and again mentioned changing his phone and such.

Old Jiang picked up a piece of lotus leaf steamed chicken with his chopsticks, ate a bite, and his expression was complex.

“Xiao Nian, did your grandfather teach you this?”

“Mm, is it good?”

“Alas, it’s not as good as your grandfather’s.” Jiang Weizheng sighed, put down his chopsticks and said, “When I was little, what your grandfather made was truly a masterpiece.”

After speaking, Jiang Weizheng hesitated, “Never mind, it’s all in the past. Eat, eat.”

Jiang Nian didn’t care; he didn’t have much appetite for the food he made himself. He just saw that Xu Qianqian seemed to really like it, and uncharacteristically ate two bowls of rice.

Ding! The settlement panel appeared.

【Task: Make a sumptuous dinner for your parents. Reward: 800RMB (Completed).】

Almost simultaneously, his phone buzzed.

Even though Jiang Nian knew it was a bank transfer notification, he still couldn’t resist taking out his phone to check. Groceries cost nearly four hundred, plus the eight hundred reward that arrived.

His current balance was 1350.64 RMB.

“By the way, Hongmei, have you paid the utility bills?” Old Jiang suddenly looked up and asked.

“No, why?”

“Our home’s utilities seem to be…” He paused mid-sentence, as if he remembered something, and turned to look at Jiang Nian, “Did you pay the utility bills?”

“Huh, why?”

Old Jiang was stunned for several seconds, “Nothing, keep your money, you’ll always have places to use money when you grow up.”

As he said this, his gaze subtly drifted towards Xu Qianqian. He couldn’t help but sigh in his heart; his son was like an unawakened ox.

Both families were well-matched, knowing each other’s backgrounds. But unfortunately, the two children didn’t get along. A forced melon isn’t sweet, and he wondered who Old Xu’s little cabbage would end up with.

After dinner, Xu Qianqian and Li Hongmei went to wash dishes, and Jiang Nian cleared the table. Twenty minutes later, a basin of chilled watermelon was brought to the table.

After eating watermelon and chatting for a while, Xu Qianqian went home.

After closing the door, the family of three also prepared to rest.

Old Jiang sighed, “Xiao Nian, which class is Qianqian in again?”

“The class next to ours, haha!”

As soon as he heard Jiang Nian laugh, Old Jiang immediately got angry, “Laugh at what? If you were half as sensible as Qianqian, I’d have to thank our ancestors.”

Jiang Nian wasn’t laughing at Xu Qianqian, but because the task had updated again.

【At thirty-eight, your body is already overdrawn. The body is the capital of revolution. Rebuilding a good body and enhancing personal charm are the foundations of a comeback.】

【Side Task: Complete a 2-kilometer long-distance run in one go (no rest), Reward: 300RMB.

Complete a 3-kilometer long-distance run in one go (no rest), Reward: 700RMB.

Complete a 5-kilometer long-distance run in one go (no rest), Reward: 1000RMB.】