Chapter 20 Your Skills Fluctuate Quite A Bit, Huh

In the kitchen, Qin Huai had no idea that his reputation had been damaged because of a salad. After finishing two salads, he packed them into takeaway boxes, brought some chopsticks, and leisurely headed out to the neighborhood committee office to find Chen Huihong and Ou Yang.

The neighborhood committee office was just across from Yunzhong Residential Area—very close, only about a three-minute walk from Yunzhong Canteen.

As Ou Yang put it, aside from the slightly low salary, the neighborhood committee job was practically a dream position: little work, close to home, with full social insurance and housing fund, and even gifts during holidays.

The office door was open. Inside was a typical workspace, and next door was a senior citizens’ activity center. Many potted plants and greenery were kept in the office, filling the air with a faint fragrance of plants. The environment looked lush and pleasing to the eye.

Several people were seated at their desks in the office—some knitting sweaters, some playing on their phones, others chatting. It was clear that the workload was very light.

Ou Yang’s desk was near the entrance. His computer was on, displaying a spreadsheet, but he himself was sitting there slacking off and watching videos.

Seeing Qin Huai arrive, Ou Yang looked up in surprise, his eyes immediately locking onto the lunch boxes in Qin Huai’s hands. He enthusiastically took them and said, “Wow, Qin Huai, you didn’t have to—if it’s a tasting, just call me and I’ll go pick it up. You even delivered it yourself, that’s embarrassing.”

Though he said that, his hands didn’t slow down at all. He quickly opened the lunch box and said, “You have no idea, I’ve been starving all afternoon at work. I was counting on your salad to save my life.”

Then Ou Yang shouted inside, “Sister Hong, Qin Huai is here delivering food!”

“Sister Hong is in the inner office. There are nine of us in the neighborhood committee; one office isn’t enough,” Ou Yang explained.

Qin Huai glanced around and noted that four people were already slacking off.

Chen Huihong came out from inside and, upon seeing Qin Huai, smiled and said, “Ou Yang said in the afternoon that you were coming to deliver salad. I thought he was joking. Xiao Qin, you’re too polite.”

Ou Yang, already silently sitting at his desk after taking the first bite of salad, remained motionless and said nothing.

Without noticing Ou Yang’s condition, Chen Huihong opened the lunch box and praised, “Vegetable and fruit salad—very healthy.”

She also took her first bite.

Her expression soon showed a hint of hesitation.

Qin Huai immediately focused, wondering if a dream trigger might drop.

Chen Huihong thought for a moment and took a second bite.

She seemed to want to say something but held back.

She glanced at Qin Huai, then forced herself to take a third bite. Her expression gradually became more serious.

Ou Yang’s gaze toward Chen Huihong was already filled with admiration.

Still, there was no system prompt sound.

Qin Huai took the salad back and stopped her: “Sister Hong, the taste of this salad might be a bit unusual. I came here mainly to gather your opinions—to see if anyone might like this kind of special flavor.”

Chen Huihong and Ou Yang both let out a sigh of relief. Having already begun to regard Qin Huai as a friend they could occasionally confide in, Chen Huihong replied tactfully, “Most people might find it hard to accept.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Ou Yang, who was still hoping to get a free treat, nodded vigorously.

Qin Huai pretended to be embarrassed: “Seems like I still have some issues with seasoning. At home, my mom usually cooks, so I don’t often cook myself.”

Chen Huihong suddenly understood and encouraged him, “Everyone has their own area of expertise. If I had a son like you, I wouldn’t bear to let you cook at home either.”

After saying that, she checked the time, pointed at the fruit in the corner, and said, “I need to pick up Huihui. She told me this morning she wants to come to your shop for dinner tonight. Ou Yang, print the report later and put it on my desk. There’s fruit over there, Xiao Qin, help yourself. I’ll get going now—traffic will get worse if I’m late.”

With that, Chen Huihong left briskly, walking faster than usual.

Seeing her off, Ou Yang pulled over a chair for Qin Huai and handed him a banana, keeping one for himself as they started chatting.

Qin Huai glanced at the computer and noticed it was a spreadsheet tracking isolated elderly residents.

“Are there really isolated elderly people in our community?”

“Yes, every neighborhood has a few—not many,” Ou Yang replied. “Next week we’re planning visits. Sister Hong asked me to prepare a report.”

“Actually, it’s nothing major. Most of them are elderly people living alone because their children are working elsewhere. Only one in our community is a bit special.”

“There’s an old man who lost his wife when he was young, has no children, and his health isn’t great. He rarely goes out and may be a bit confused mentally now. His doctor is a friend of Sister Hong’s, Dr. Qu, who asked her to keep an eye on him to prevent cases of caregivers mistreating the elderly living alone—news like that appears every year.”

“If something like that happened nearby, it wouldn’t look good. So Sister Hong organizes monthly visits to these elderly people. Everyone here isn’t short on money and doesn’t need to bring gifts—the main thing is just to visit and check in.”

Qin Huai nodded, thinking that Chen Huihong was not only warm-hearted but also attentive. Most importantly, she had money—perfectly suited for this kind of role. No wonder she was the leading figure in Yunzhong Residential Area.

“By the way,” Ou Yang changed the topic, “I heard the buns your shop sold this morning for 35 yuan each were insanely good—so good they’re unforgettable after one bite. Qin Huai, that’s not fair. You had something like that and didn’t make it on the day you moved in? You were hiding it from me.”

Qin Huai looked at him calmly and said, “Didn’t you say you went to my shop this morning to strongly support my business?”

Ou Yang smiled shyly. “I supported you in spirit. You know my financial situation—my heart was willing, but my wallet wasn’t. Supporting two meat buns is already my limit; I can barely afford tea eggs.”

Qin Huai: “…”

Wait—no rent, utilities, or transportation expenses, and you still have two or three thousand a month. How can you be so broke?

Aren’t you supposed to be a rich second-generation?

“Come earlier tomorrow morning.”

“Sit in the shop and eat—no charge.”

Ou Yang was instantly moved, thinking there truly was warmth in the world. Good brothers are in the heart, friends walk together through life. Choked up, he said, “Then you…”

“Can you make some sesame puff pastries tomorrow morning too?”

“Honestly, I’ve been craving them for days. Shrimp filling, please.”

“Dad!!!”

“Get lost.”