QTIMP -Chapter 27 Character Persona – Greedy (Part 27)

“So you really liked today’s dishes? Next time I manage to get some ingredients, I’ll have this chef cook for you again.”

The moment Qin Bei finished speaking, Si Qiu’s eyes lit up. “Is it the ingredients that are hard to get? What do you need? Let me see if I can get my hands on them.”

As soon as she said that, Qin Bei recalled what had happened before—Si Qiu had once mentioned going to the black market.

A flicker of disapproval rose in his heart, but he didn’t show it. Instead, he smiled and said, “Qiuqiu, seems like you’ve got quite a few connections. But if there’s anything you want to eat, just tell me. Don’t go to those dangerous places yourself. Those places are full of all kinds of people. You’re a girl—there’s always some risk.”

Si Qiu understood what he meant and waved her hand. “It’s not like everything comes from those places. I have my own connections and channels too. It’s just that the sources aren’t very stable. It’s not like I can get whatever I want to eat whenever I want.”

Hearing that, Qin Bei relaxed a little and nodded. “That’s only natural. Everything’s under state planning and distribution now. Luckily, I know someone in the transport team, so I can occasionally get some scarce ingredients.”

If it had been anything else—gold, jewelry, or money—Si Qiu wouldn’t have cared much. But the moment it involved food, she couldn’t even bring herself to refuse.

You could say that although Qin Bei’s pursuit wasn’t particularly sophisticated, it struck Si Qiu at her weakest point.

“Alright then. When the time comes, we’ll split the cost of the ingredients and the cooking.”

“We can be considered friends now, right? Even if not friends, at least eating buddies. There’s no need to be so formal.” Qin Bei felt helpless at her strong sense of boundaries.

“That won’t do. Even between friends, accounts should be clear. Besides, no family is well-off these days. A single bite of food could save a life—how could I shamelessly take your things for free?”

Si Qiu was about to wash the lunchboxes when He Kuang quickly snatched them from her. “Sister Qiu, I’ll do it, I’ll do it!”

“Let him wash them. Your work shift is almost starting, isn’t it? Hurry and go. Next time I get something tasty, I’ll come find you. If you need me, you can come here. If I’m not around, He Kuang can find me. If you’re short of anything, you can ask him too. He knows people in the black market. Don’t go there yourself…”

Si Qiu felt he was getting a bit naggy. She slung her bag back over her shoulder, waved at him, and said, “Got it, got it,” before jogging toward the alley entrance.

Watching her disappear around the corner, Qin Bei suddenly felt a wet hand land on his shoulder.

“Brother Qin Bei, what’s up? Standing here like a stone statue waiting for your wife? Not that I’m saying you’re bad at singing love songs, but Sister Qiu doesn’t seem to have much interest in you.”

Qin Bei glanced at the water stains on his shoulder and shook the arm off. “Hurry up and wash the dishes. What’s a kid like you meddling in this for?”

Watching Qin Bei turn and head inside, He Kuang quickly followed. “Hey, how am I a kid? You’re only two years older than us. Besides, I’m only one month younger than Sister Qiu, okay? Don’t you think it’s inappropriate to say that?”

His muttering stopped when Qin Bei fixed him with a half-smile. He Kuang scratched his head and hurriedly changed the subject. “Boss, should we prepare some gifts to smooth things over?”

“Mm. And we need to prepare some money too. A formal worker’s position costs around 800 to 1,200 now.” Qin Bei wiped the dried lunchbox one more time and put it back into the mesh bag.

“Ah, that much? I don’t have that much money on me. If it really doesn’t work out, I’ll just take out two gold bars to sell?” He Kuang said as he moved to rummage around.

Qin Bei grabbed him at once. “Why are you in such a rush? Don’t touch that stuff for now. I’ve got some here. I’ll scrape together a bit more over the next couple of days. Once you start working, we’ll slowly save up. But I do have one request.”

“What? A request? Brother, why are you being polite with me? Just say it. If you tell me to go east, I’ll never go west.” He Kuang felt that Qin Bei had suddenly become distant. With their relationship, he’d even give up his life without hesitation.

“When you’ve mastered your cooking skills and come back, you have to teach me.” Qin Bei felt a little shy saying it.

“Hmm? That’s it? Don’t worry, when I come back, I’ll definitely teach you properly. If you weren’t preparing for the college entrance exam, this job should’ve been yours.” He Kuang let out a breath of relief. So it was just something this small.

“Better not. Being a chef doesn’t suit me.”

“Then why are you learning to cook?” He Kuang felt his brother had been acting more and more strangely lately. In the past, Qin Bei wouldn’t have minded eating plain vegetable buns every day, but recently he’d been searching everywhere for good food.

Asking friends to bring back delicacies from different places, whether ingredients or snacks—he spared no expense.

Qin Bei glanced at him but said nothing.

He Kuang’s eyes shifted, and suddenly he grasped the key point. Everything Qin Bei was doing was for Sister Qiuqiu. Looks like he and Sister Qiuqiu were serious.

In that case, he definitely couldn’t drag them down.

As soon as Si Qiu returned to the work unit, the old gatekeeper told her there was a package for her.

“A package?” She ran through the possibilities in her mind. The only person she could think of was her biological elder brother. She really couldn’t imagine who else would mail her something.

She went to take a look. It was a medium-sized parcel, and it felt fairly heavy in her hands. Without checking anything else, she first glanced at the address pasted on it.

Because of her cultivation practice, her memory was excellent. One look was enough for her to know the package hadn’t been sent by her elder brother.

Then the sender’s identity became obvious.

With a faint smile and slightly narrowed eyes, Si Qiu thanked the gatekeeper, picked up the parcel, and carried it into their office.

“Qiuqiu, you’re back?”

“Director Li, you’re early this noon. Is there something going on?” At the work unit, they usually addressed each other by title. It wasn’t that Si Qiu insisted on it—it was simply the result of understanding unspoken workplace rules.

She casually placed the package under her desk, leaning it against a table leg.

“There is indeed something.” As she said this, she raised her voice slightly, and everyone else in the room turned to look at her.

“You’ve all heard about the explosion earlier. Two people at the purchasing station were seriously injured. On top of that, the houses and shops need to be rebuilt. Because the construction period is tight—after all, autumn harvest is coming soon, and the purchasing tasks will begin shortly. Agricultural and sideline products—like mountain goods, chickens, ducks, geese, pigs—these are all essential for livelihood. So we need to recruit a batch of temporary workers to assist.”

As soon as she finished speaking, a small buzz rose in the room.

After all, who doesn’t have relatives? In these times, few people could study. Many formal positions required at least a primary or junior middle school education—not easy to qualify for—but temporary jobs were still attainable.

“Director, how many spots are allocated to our neighborhood?” Zhang Ying asked anxiously. Her own child was too young, but her brother-in-law’s son had just turned eighteen. He’d come to her two days ago asking for help. If this worked out, she’d gain some face at home.