Chapter Twelve: Qin Xue in Shock (An Extra Chapter for the Handsome Readers Who Voted)

“Brother… Dong’er peed her pants again.”

In the small courtyard, Yang Qing, dressed in a sleeveless shirt, sat in front of a washbasin scrubbing bed sheets and covers. A tiny figure waddled over, squatted down in front of him, and said in a sweet, childish voice, “Brother… Dong’er didn’t know, so she peed again.”

“Hmph, you did it on purpose! You made my pants all wet!” Xiaoqiu, who was playing with water in a basin nearby, said mercilessly.

Dong’er’s eyes filled with tears. “Sister…”

Yang Qing couldn’t help but laugh at the pitiful little one. He reached out and comforted her, “Your sister’s just teasing you. Don’t be sad. You’re still a little baby—babies wetting the bed is perfectly normal.”

“Brother…”

Suddenly, Xiaoqiu splashed Dong’er with water.

“Ugh… Sister…”

The two little ones began chasing each other around the courtyard, giggling.

Bang! The courtyard gate was flung open, and another child dashed in, shouting.

“Xiaoqiu, you silly goose!”

“Xiaobai!”

“Haha… Silly goose! Sister Qin’s here!”

“Sister Qin!” Xiaoqiu looked toward the gate in surprise and delight. There she saw Aunt Bai and Qin Xue entering, carrying heaps of things.

“Sister Qin!”

Xiaoqiu ran over excitedly, Dong’er tottering after her with her little steps.

“Sister, did you come to see me?” Xiaoqiu asked, her small face upturned in joy.

“Yes, I did,” Qin Xue replied with a laugh.

“Sister, hug,” Dong’er reached up with open arms.

Qin Xue laughed again, picking her up.

Yang Qing, surprised by their sudden arrival, stood up, a little dazed.

“Come on, Qingzi, why are you standing there? Invite our guests inside,” Aunt Bai urged, seeing Yang Qing’s distraction.

“Oh, right.” Yang Qing wiped his wet hands on his shirt and hurried over. “Sister-in-law, Miss Qin, please come inside. Xiaoqiu, go call Chun’er and Xia’er to serve tea.”

“No need to be so formal,” Qin Xue said, hugging Dong’er with a smile. “It’s Sunday, I had nothing to do, so I came to see these little cuties. These are some clothes and school supplies I bought for them. Take them inside.”

“Oh, you shouldn’t have, this is too…”

“No refusing, these are for the children,” Qin Xue insisted.

“Well… alright then, please come inside and have a seat.” Yang Qing picked up the packages Qin Xue had set down, took some from Aunt Bai as well, and quickly invited them in.

Qin Xue’s arrival filled the courtyard with laughter and joy. The five children—Chun, Xia, Qiu, Dong, and Bai—crowded around her, asking her all sorts of questions. Qin Xue’s face was radiant with smiles. Despite her status being far above that of anyone in the house, she showed no impatience or annoyance, but rather a warmth that made each child feel cherished.

Aunt Bai glanced at Qin Xue, then at Yang Qing, who had changed into a faded white t-shirt. She sighed quietly. All good people, what a pity.

“Come, see if you like the clothes I brought,” Qin Xue began unpacking gifts for the children—not to show off, but because she truly considered them her little sisters and brothers.

Both Aunt Bai and Yang Qing could see that clearly. New clothes, little shoes, small backpacks, all kinds of school supplies—she’d bought a set for each child, including little Dong’er.

“This… you really shouldn’t have,” Aunt Bai said, feeling embarrassed as she watched Xiaobai gleefully clutching her pile of gifts.

Xiaobai grinned.

Qin Xue stroked Xiaobai’s head and smiled. “Xiaobai and I are good friends.”

Xiaobai nodded vigorously. “Yes, we are!”

Aunt Bai relented. “Alright, Xiaoxue, you haven’t eaten yet, have you? I’ll make you something.”

“Make spicy chicken! Sister Qin loves it best!” Xiaobai shouted before Qin Xue could reply.

Aunt Bai looked curiously at Qin Xue. Spicy chicken? Was this beauty from Sichuan, perhaps?

Qin Xue simply smiled, as if to say, “I’m not from Sichuan, but I’d like to try spicy chicken.”

“Alright, I’ll go buy a chicken.”

“I’ll go!” Yang Qing quickly stopped Aunt Bai from leaving. “Sister-in-law, stay and chat with Miss Qin. I’ll get it.”

Before Aunt Bai could respond, he had already gone out.

…

By one in the afternoon, the table was filled with dishes. Aunt Bai’s spicy chicken, Yang Qing’s homemade pancakes and soup dumplings, along with a few home-style dishes. The tempting aromas whetted Qin Xue’s appetite.

“So this is spicy chicken! So spicy, so fragrant. And these pancakes and dumplings—they’re delicious!”

“Hehe, Sister, my brother’s pancakes and dumplings are the best in the world,” Xiaoqiu declared proudly.

“My mom’s spicy chicken is the best!” Xiaobai retorted, unwilling to lose face in front of her friend.

Qin Xue soothed their budding rivalry with a laugh. “Everything is delicious! This is the best meal I’ve ever had.”

The meal was full of joy. Afterward, Aunt Bai left, the children played in the courtyard, and Yang Qing and Qin Xue sat together, watching them with smiles.

“Children are always so happy, so carefree,” Qin Xue sighed. “When I was little, I always wanted to grow up, thinking I could do whatever I wanted, eat whatever I liked, buy whatever I wanted. But once you grow up, you realize it’s not so easy, not so smooth.”

Yang Qing nodded in agreement. “A smooth life is an ideal; stumbling and struggling is reality.”

“You know, that’s quite profound. I wouldn’t have expected it from you,” Qin Xue teased.

Yang Qing waved it off. “Oh, I haven’t had much schooling—no great wisdom, just talking nonsense. By the way, you seem troubled. If you feel like sharing, I might not be able to help, but I’m a good listener.”

“It’s just work,” Qin Xue admitted, frowning slightly. “Nothing I can’t say. It’s about the show we’re planning. We…”

As Qin Xue explained, Yang Qing listened, but the more he heard, the stranger his expression became.

This system is almost supernatural! How could I randomly draw a prize that predicts the unknown future?

Qin Xue soon noticed his odd look and paused. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” Yang Qing replied, coming back to himself. He hesitated, then said, “I have some thoughts about your proposal.”

“Oh? Tell me,” Qin Xue’s curiosity was piqued.

Yang Qing thought for a moment. “In every country, every culture, what do you think is fundamentally the same?”

“Food, clothing, shelter, and transportation,” he answered before she could. “These are basic needs for everyone who lives on this planet. There are differences, of course, but at the core, they’re universal. And of these, I believe our country’s greatest strength is in our culinary culture.

“So why not create a food show? Our culture has a long and rich history, and there’s an old saying: ‘To the people, food is heaven.’ From street snacks to imperial banquets, our cuisine has a unique charm unmatched by others. Since you want to spread culture through your program, start with the basics. Food may not be grand, but it’s something everyone can relate to and accept. Don’t you think?”

Yang Qing finished in one breath, then turned to look at Qin Xue.

“Yes! You’re absolutely right! Do you have any concrete ideas for this food program?” Qin Xue’s eyes shone with excitement. Of course, she didn’t expect Yang Qing to come up with a full plan—after all, that would be too much to ask. But with this inspiration, she was sure her team could develop a complete proposal.

She asked almost out of habit, but to her surprise, Yang Qing replied, “I do!”

Qin Xue stared at him in disbelief. “What did you say?”

Yang Qing repeated, “I said I do. I can help you work out a detailed plan, if you want.”

“Yes! Wait, let me get my notebook!”

“Alright.”

Three hours later, Qin Xue stared at the ten densely written pages she’d filled, her mind in turmoil.

“How… how do you know all this? You did a full program plan, all by yourself, and in such detail… This…”

Qin Xue looked at Yang Qing in shock and disbelief, suspecting he was some kind of hidden expert.

Yang Qing, embarrassed by her gaze, cleared his throat. “I just read it in books.”

Qin Xue was speechless. Was he playing her for a fool?

“Really, I…”

He wanted to explain further, but Qin Xue cut him off sharply.

“Which school did you graduate from? What was your major?”

Yang Qing’s face reddened. “I… graduated from Red Star.”

“Red Star?” Qin Xue was puzzled. “What school is that? I’ve never heard of it.”

“Elementary… school,” Yang Qing admitted, mortified.

“Elementary school!” Qin Xue’s voice shot up eight pitches.

She was certain now—this man was definitely pulling her leg! She had proof!

“Heh, graduated from Red Star Elementary, and yet you know so much and speak so well—better than a fancy university graduate like me,” Qin Xue said, self-mocking.

“No, really, you misunderstand. I did only graduate from elementary school, but my grandmother taught me to read and study.”

Yang Qing explained earnestly. He remembered his grandmother’s words: you might not have a diploma, but you must have knowledge.

“Your grandmother—what kind of person was she?” Qin Xue was curious about the old woman who had already passed away. To take in five orphans required more than just kindness.

“My grandmother was a kind, gentle, and great woman. In her youth, she was a sent-down educated youth.”

A sent-down youth… that era…

Qin Xue fell silent, and Yang Qing gazed upward, lost in memory.