AGN -Chapter 246 Vacation Life Is Truly Wonderful!

With the side quest completed and the title [Gong Liang’s Approval] obtained, Qin Huai immediately made a tactical retreat to the bathroom to inspect his new reward.

As a side note, Zheng Da’s first-floor bathroom was surprisingly spacious.

[Gong Liang’s Approval]:
The recognition of Mr. Gong, a gold-medal salesman. With this title, there is a high chance of receiving Gong Liang’s help, and during the New Year, you’ll likely get a bigger red envelope than others. After all, Mr. Gong’s fondness for handing out red envelopes everywhere during the holidays is well known.

Qin Huai’s eyes lit up.

What a practical title!

He declared it to be the most useful title the game system had ever awarded.

He already knew that Gong Liang loved giving out red envelopes during the New Year. In fact, this habit had even rubbed off on Zheng Da. Huang Shengli’s direct disciples, like Dong Shi, could collect several red envelopes every New Year. But Qin Huai had never realized that it was actually one of Gong Liang’s hobbies.

What a gloriously wealthy hobby. He wholeheartedly approved.

After checking the title, Qin Huai glanced at [A Memory of Gong Liang] and decided not to view it today.

Although Gong Liang’s previous memory had been relatively short, there was no guarantee this one would be the same.

If it turned out to be like Qu Jing’s memory, spanning several years, then even with the ability to fast-forward through less important parts like watching a movie, it would still contain an enormous amount of information. Qin Huai was worried that after emerging from the memory, his head would be so full of its contents that he’d forget all about picking up Qin Luo from the high-speed rail station that evening.

Although Qin Luo was already an independent high school student—taking the bus to and from school every day, and in previous years often entrusted by Grandma Qin to take money and ride a van into town to buy roast goose during the New Year—she was still just a teenager.

More importantly, if he, as her big brother, forgot to pick her up at the station, then after today, he might very well be demoted to second brother.

And once tutoring started tomorrow, Qin Luo would probably use that incident as leverage, crying and bargaining to get out of at least two subjects.

That absolutely could not be allowed to happen!

After finishing his inspection of the title, Qin Huai returned to the table. He discovered that Gong Liang had already finished off all the decorative palace lantern buns and was now vigorously attacking the Four-Joy Tangyuan.

He was eating with the imposing momentum of a man standing alone against ten thousand.

Qin Huai himself was already nearly full, so after sitting down, he started on a palace lantern bun.

The bun was both beautiful and delicious. When he took the first bite, he actually felt a little reluctant—such a lovely bun seemed almost too pretty to eat. But once that first bite entered his mouth and he started chewing, all such thoughts vanished.

There was only one thing left in his mind:

Eat. Delicious. Love it. Want more.

What “too pretty to eat”? Nonsense. Food only becomes real once it’s in your mouth!

Zheng Siyuan had already finished eating and began chatting with Qin Huai.

“Got time this afternoon?” he asked.

“What for?” Qin Huai replied through a mouthful of bun.

“I’ve recently made some progress with the big wok toss. Since you’ve also been practicing heat control, and I noticed yesterday that you’re starting to toss the wok too, want to stay at my place this afternoon so we can exchange pointers?”

Qin Huai was stunned. He hadn’t expected Zheng Siyuan to still be pursuing the big wok toss. How passionate could one person be? A pastry chef practicing one of the signature skills of savory cooking!

“This… big wok toss… what exactly does it have to do with my tossing yesterday?” Qin Huai asked, bewildered.

Hand on heart, the reason he’d accidentally flipped a slice of carrot out of the wok yesterday was simply because he’d been too engrossed in gossip. It had been a pure technical mistake—a spectacular blunder.

That was completely different from failing a big wok toss and sending food flying. Both involved food leaving the wok, sure, but not in the same way.

What was there to exchange? This was like a graduate student asking an elementary schooler to discuss quantum physics.

“I noticed your tossing isn’t very good either,” Zheng Siyuan said honestly. “My big wok toss isn’t going that well either, so I wanted to ask how you stay motivated.”

Qin Huai: …

He felt that Zheng Siyuan’s recent arguments with Zheng Da had truly sharpened his tongue into a poisoned weapon.

Was that really necessary?

Fine, his wok tossing wasn’t great.

But he felt that wasn’t entirely his fault. Heat control was one of the most fundamental basic skills. And basic skills, by definition, offered no shortcuts. No cheating. No slacking. Just endless practice.

For someone who had only been training for a few months, he was already doing quite well—at least, Huang Shengli said so.

Could these all-round geniuses maybe show a little kindness to those of them with lopsided skill sets?

“No time,” Qin Huai replied honestly. “I’m going home to sleep this afternoon.”

Zheng Siyuan blinked in surprise.

He clearly hadn’t expected Qin Huai to be the kind of person who spent vacation afternoons sleeping in.

But then, in the next moment, he understood. Qin Huai had been working incredibly long hours lately. That was entirely different from his father, who was simply and purely lazy.

“Luo Luo’s school let out early,” Qin Huai explained. “Originally, they weren’t supposed to break until the 19th, but the final exams were moved up, and she finished today. She’s never been one to sit still, and she probably hasn’t eaten very well these past few months. She insisted on coming today, so my mom bought her a ticket for tonight. She’ll arrive at the high-speed rail station at eleven, and I need to pick her up.”

Zheng Siyuan nodded in understanding.

“Luo Luo’s coming? Then I’ll make some flaky pastries and fresh meat mooncakes this afternoon and have Huang Anyao deliver them to you.”

Qin Huai: ?

Are you trying to become Luo Luo’s big brother?

You’re making pastries and meat mooncakes, while all I’ve prepared in the fridge are free cheese sticks and four tutors scheduled for tomorrow. You’re making me look like a terrible older brother who doesn’t care about his little sister.

What? Qin Luo had only just finished her exams today, and the results weren’t even out yet, so how could he know which subjects she needed tutoring in?

Qin Huai felt that, based on his understanding of his sister, there were certain subjects that unquestionably needed extra help.

Even if, during the months he had been away from Shan City, Qin Luo had studied with extraordinary diligence—hanging her hair from the rafters, stabbing herself with an awl, engraving determination on her bones, and striving tirelessly—her grades in those subjects still wouldn’t improve all that much.

He had complete confidence in his sister.

After the meal, everyone sat around chatting for a while longer. Most of it consisted of Zheng Da boasting. After all, he had worked so hard and concentrated so intensely to make a batch of decorative palace lantern buns; he deserved to show off a little.

And everyone played along enthusiastically, switching into full praise mode and showering him with compliments.

Even Zheng Siyuan, who had been arguing fiercely with his father lately, offered high praise for Zheng Da’s palace lantern buns.

After all, Zheng Da didn’t get many opportunities to show off like this, and everyone was happy to let him enjoy the moment.

After chatting for more than an hour, Qin Huai once again transformed into Driver Xiao Qin and headed home behind the wheel.

Gong Liang was in exceptionally high spirits the entire ride. He kept chatting away to Guo Mingzhu, reminiscing about the old days—about how he had landed an earth-shattering deal at a trade conference, then secured another major contract in Jinling, snatched business right out from under competitors in Shanghai, and later accomplished what seemed impossible in Beijing.

It was even more exhilarating than a wish-fulfillment novel.

At first glance, it sounded exactly like the story of a protagonist with maxed-out business skills, charging through obstacle after obstacle, overcoming every challenge with ease.

And with Gong Liang’s gift for storytelling—concise, vivid, and never rambling—his tale was full of twists and turns. Even Gong Baozhu, sitting in the back seat, was completely captivated, constantly asking, “And then? Did the hero close the deal?”

She had completely forgotten that the hero of the story was her own father.

By the time they arrived downstairs at the apartment complex, Gong Liang had only just gotten to the part where he dominated the business scene in Beijing, astonishing a room full of factory directors and even prompting one of them to try poaching him on the spot.

Qin Huai honestly wanted to hear the rest, but it was getting late.

Lunch had started rather late, around 12:40. By the time everyone finished eating, it was already after 2:00. Then they spent another hour chatting, which pushed the time past 3:00. Now it was rapidly approaching 4:00.

Qin Huai still needed to squeeze in a two- or three-hour nap, grab something to eat, chat a bit on WeChat, join the video call in the “Loving Family” group to check in on the “empty-nest old bird,” and then head to the high-speed rail station to pick up Qin Luo.

He’d have to save the rest of Gong Liang’s epic business saga for another day.

Based on Qin Huai’s experience listening to Old Master Wang reminisce, once someone started revisiting the past, they would never stop. Sooner or later, you’d hear the same stories again anyway.

So Qin Huai went upstairs and took a nap.

The rest of his day unfolded exactly as planned: sleep, wake up, eat something simple, video chat, and then go pick up Qin Luo.

Even on the taxi ride to the high-speed rail station, Qin Huai was still on a group video call. At this hour, Qu Jing had already gotten off work, so everyone was present.

“Just hearing the name Decorative Palace Lantern Bun makes it sound delicious,” Chen Huihong said regretfully. “Too bad you can’t make it yet, Xiao Qin. It would be so festive to eat such a celebratory bun during the New Year.”

“What does a flower-clamped bun, symbolizing the beginning of beautiful new things, have to do with New Year?” Luo Jun deadpanned.

“It symbolizes the beginning of beautiful new things! Out with the old, in with the new. That’s perfect for New Year!” Chen Huihong replied.

Luo Jun: …

“Oh, right! Luo Jun, Zhang Shumei will probably go home for a few days during New Year, won’t she? Can you manage by yourself? Why don’t you come spend New Year at my place? Or better yet, go to Qu Jing’s orphanage. It’s lively there.”

Chen Huihong’s train of thought switched tracks at lightning speed.

“I’m old, not disabled. I can take care of myself, okay?” Luo Jun snapped, so irritated he switched to English. “I’ve spent New Year like this for years. Why didn’t you care before?”

“Well, in previous years, I didn’t know I wasn’t human, and I didn’t know you weren’t human either.”

Qin Huai couldn’t help laughing out loud.

“Sister Hong, Qu Jing, Mr. Luo, I’m getting out now, so I’ll leave you to it. Mr. Luo, I actually think Sister Hong’s suggestion is excellent. You could spend New Year at the orphanage. Since you’ve donated so much money, Director Qu would surely give you a warm welcome. Maybe the kids would even draw pictures for you, sing songs, put on performances, make crafts, or prepare pastries for you. Those would be precious memories.”

Speaking from experience, Qin Huai made the suggestion—and then, with even greater experience, ended the video call before Luo Jun could start berating him.

After sending Qin Luo a message, the siblings met up at the station two minutes later.

“Brother!” Qin Luo came running toward him, dragging two large suitcases behind her. “Brother, I finally get to see you! Do you know what kind of life I’ve been living lately? Dad’s steamed buns have gotten even worse. If it weren’t for Brother Chen An’s buns, I don’t know how I’d have survived.”

“I’ve already recorded that speech,” Qin Huai said solemnly. “I’ll send it to Dad later. Your New Year’s red envelope is officially canceled.”

“Brother!”

“Relax, I’m kidding. Have you eaten?” Qin Huai asked, taking one of her suitcases.

“I did. I had airplane food. One serving wasn’t enough, so I ate two. On the train, I wanted to buy a boxed meal, but it was too expensive. The 30-yuan one was sold out, so only the 50-yuan one was left. Mom only gave me 1,000 yuan for spending money when I left. Spending one-twentieth of it on a single meal would be way too wasteful.”

“Brother, is there still food available at this hour? Is barbecue the only option? Do you know any good barbecue places? Can my first barbecue meal in Suzhou be on your tab? Also, can I hold off on paying you back that 1,000 yuan? I want to save it for milk tea.”

Qin Luo chattered nonstop.

“Keep it,” Qin Huai said. “You can use your New Year’s money to pay me back. And drink less milk tea. If you really want something, ask Brother Ou Yang to make you some hand-shaken lemonade. Make sure you get the regular kind.”

“There’s food at home. Brother Siyuan specially made fresh meat mooncakes and flaky pastries for you, and Ou Yang bought you snacks and drinks.”

“I’ll send you the Wi-Fi password later. Tomorrow morning at ten, your first tutor will arrive. I’ll be working at Huang’s Restaurant then, so I won’t be around, but I’ve asked Sister Hong to bring Huihui over to do homework with you.”

“Don’t stay up too late playing on your phone tonight. You need to make a good impression on the tutor.”

“And don’t worry about meals. I’ll bring dinner back at night. For breakfast and lunch, Sister Hong will take you to Huang’s Restaurant. You’ll have to eat standing up in the kitchen, but the food is excellent, so no complaints.”

“Did you hear all that? Nod if you did.”

Qin Luo nodded vigorously.

At this moment, her mind was completely occupied by flaky pastries, fresh meat mooncakes, snacks, drinks, and Wi-Fi.

She had entirely overlooked the real key point: the first tutor arriving tomorrow morning.

Wonderful!

A tiny, joyful figure was already running laps inside Qin Luo’s heart.

There would be food, fun, and entertainment.

Vacation life was truly wonderful!