Chapter Three: Novice Benefits
“Ding! Newbie reward has been granted. Please accept it, Host!”
Yang Qing stared at the translucent screen that suddenly appeared before his eyes, utterly dumbfounded. In that instant, a once vague and dreamlike memory from the darkness of his sudden death began to sharpen and clarify in his mind.
After a while, having fully absorbed the now vivid memory, he looked again at the translucent panel, no longer in shock, but elated!
The Full Profession Achievement System!
This was the system, the golden finger described in the novels from that memory!
With this... this life would never again be humble or ordinary!
"A... accept!" he stammered, taking a deep breath, a trace of nervousness in his trembling voice.
“Ding! Opening reward package...”
“Ding! Congratulations, Host, you have acquired Master-Level Jianbing Guozi Skill. Note: The jianbing you make will be fragrant for miles, irresistible to all, rich in nutrition, and even the elderly will want to dance after eating it!”
Yang Qing: ...
This system seemed a little improper. What was with the part about making old men dance? If someone danced themselves into trouble, would he have to bring some liquor to the feast?
Just as he was inwardly grumbling, his eyes suddenly lost focus, and a blurry silhouette began making jianbing guozi in his mind.
From selecting ingredients, to slicing, to making the batter, pairing the fillings, adding seasonings, all the way to the finished product... again and again, endlessly repeating...
“Phew!”
A moment in reality, a hundred years in a dream.
Yang Qing’s gaze refocused. He let out a heavy breath and looked at the ingredients for jianbing guozi before him, a wellspring of masterful culinary insight surging in his heart.
“If it’s from the system, it must be top-notch. The novels did not deceive me!”
“With a master’s skill, then for tonight’s dinner... I’ll make tomato and egg stir-fry!”
Clang, clang, clang...
The knife flashed like a shadow. A sausage lay perfectly still on the cutting board. With a light touch, uniform cubes of sausage leapt forth.
“Sausage bits, lettuce slices, egg batter... Let’s make a jianbing guozi for the little one first.”
Three minutes later, as the golden jianbing was about to be served, a delighted voice rang out.
“Wow! Brother, what are you making? It smells so good! Let Qiu’er have a taste!”
Little Qiu’er bounded in, her voice bright with excitement, trailed by Dong’er, her little bottom wiggling behind her.
Yang Qing laughed. “Haha! This jianbing guozi is for you, Dong’er sweetheart.”
“Jianbing guozi? No way, how could it smell this good? Brother, you’re tricking me. I have to taste it to believe it!” Qiu’er slurped back the drool threatening to fall, reaching out for the jianbing already plated, only to have her sleeve tugged.
“Nn... Sis, that’s my pancake, it’s mine, my, my...”
Qiu’er paused, then patted Dong’er’s head. “Alright, sis will help you taste it first.”
“Nn... but only a little, okay?”
“Okay, just a little!”
“You little rascal,” Yang Qing chuckled at their antics. “You two share this one, then I’ll make another for each of you. Chun’er and Xia’er will have theirs too.”
“Hee hee... Long live brother! Qiu’er loves you!”
“Nn... love you too, brother,” Dong’er echoed.
“Haha... Brother loves you both as well.”
...
Bathed in slanting sunlight, the four little ones lounged on their stools, bellies round as piglets.
In the end, Yang Qing hadn’t managed to make the tomato and egg noodles he’d planned, masterful technique or not.
Who could blame him? The jianbing was too fragrant, too delicious. If he didn’t let them eat it, they would pout and wheedle until he gave in.
“That’s what you get for being greedy—now you’re stuffed,” Yang Qing scolded them, half-amused, half-exasperated. “But I’m to blame too. Couldn’t resist your pleading. But from now on, you mustn’t do this again!”
With that, he stood, went inside, and returned with a bank card. “Chun’er, Xia’er, watch these two little rascals and lock the door. I’m heading out for a bit.”
Qiu’er’s bright eyes sparkled as she chirped, “Brother, where are you going?”
“To get our cart back.”
“Our cart? Then I want to come too!”
Yang Qing glanced at her round little belly with a smile. “Do you think you can still walk?”
Qiu’er: ╯▂╰
...
The Urban Management Bureau of Yang City stood slightly east of center, more than ten kilometers from Nanyuan Village.
Yang Qing mounted his sturdy old bicycle and set off with a creak. He stopped by a bank along the way, withdrew five hundred yuan, and sighed deeply at the two-digit balance remaining in his account.
At 5:40, just before closing, he arrived at the bureau, drenched in sweat. Entering, he saw his jianbing cart and several other snack carts shoved haphazardly into a corner.
After a stern lecture, a fine, and the payment process, at six o’clock Yang Qing finally wheeled his cart out the gate.
Securing the bicycle to the tricycle cart, Yang Qing set off for home.
After seven, he finally returned, sweat-soaked. As the gate swung open, four little heads peeked out in unison.
“Brother, you’re back! Here’s water!”
“Good girl, Qiu’er.”
“Hee hee...”
Seeing the bright smile on Qiu’er’s thin face, Yang Qing’s heart ached as he smiled back.
“Is everything ready?”
“All set!”
“Then let’s go.”
“Let’s go! Let’s go! Claim our spot!”
...
Once more, the jianbing tricycle rattled down the road.
Yang Qing hunched forward, pedaling. Dong’er sat in a small basket at the front; the other three squeezed in the back. When they reached a steep slope, the three girls jumped off nimbly and helped push.
Their faces flushed red from the effort, but their smiles could not be hidden—the joy was genuine.
Life was hard, but love was warm.
As neon lights flickered on, Yang Qing parked at the end of the bustling night market on May Day Street.
They’d arrived late; all the best spots were taken. Qiu’er, frustrated, shook her little fist at the uncle who’d claimed their usual place.
Yang Qing chuckled. “Alright, little firecracker, enough grumbling. Time to start calling out.”
“Hmph!” Qiu’er huffed, then, with Xia’er flanking her, began to hawk their wares.
“Jianbing guozi, delicious jianbing guozi!”
“Uncle, want a jianbing guozi? It smells so good!”
“Miss, you’re so pretty—have a jianbing guozi!”
Accompanying Yang Qing to market every morning and evening, Qiu’er had developed her own unique style of hawking. Three minutes later, a sweet and fashionable young woman was charmed by her cuteness.
“Hee hee... Little one, you’re so cute, and your voice is adorable. Just for that, I’ll have one!”
“Brother, one order!”
Business at last. Yang Qing grinned at the young woman and began to make the pancake.
Sss...
As soon as the batter hit the griddle, a tantalizing aroma wafted out. The waiting girl inhaled deeply, anticipation lighting her eyes.
With each movement, the scent grew stronger, drawing a crowd of over a dozen within a minute.
“Brother, this big sister wants one.”
“Brother, this pretty lady wants one too.”
Qiu’er’s face glowed with excitement as the line suddenly grew. She looked absolutely adorable.
...
Wang Xiaoke, a popular singing streamer, had run her broadcast late today and missed lunch. Deciding to find something to eat, she brought along her streaming gear as requested by her fans, chatting and showing the scenery as she searched for food. Suddenly, a mouthwatering aroma drifted to her, making her stomach growl.
“Hee hee, family, I smell something delicious! Let’s check it out.”
In the stream:
“Go quick! Eat, then come back and sing more!”
“Yeah, singing! I had to change my sheets three times listening to you!”
“...Something’s off with you!”
...
Following the scent, Wang Xiaoke arrived at the source.
“Wow! So many people!” she exclaimed, seeing the crowd around the stall. She turned her camera to show her viewers.
“Whoa! What are they selling? So many people! Is it stinky tofu or something?”
“Stinky tofu? Didn’t you hear her say it smells good? Is your nose a dog’s?”
“Go on, Xiaoke! Now I’m curious!”
“Who cares! I was just about to see the food, and you turned the camera away! Back! Even for one second!”
...
A lively, mischievous stream—nothing new to Wang Xiaoke. She wove through the crowd, only to freeze in surprise.
Her chat exploded:
“No way! Is she eating jianbing guozi? But her expression... it’s making me think all kinds of things!”
“She’s acting! Definitely acting! Look at that uncle; he’s licking the wrapper!”
“And that one—wow, is he crying from eating it?!”
...
“Xiaoke, quick, order a jianbing! No one can out-act you!”
“Hurry! I need to know if this is worth sending a super gift!”
...
Wang Xiaoke swallowed nervously, squeezed forward, and stood on tiptoe to peer inside, but she could see nothing—too many people.
“Ha, silly Xiaoke, lift your selfie stick up! We’ll help you look!” someone suggested in the chat. She giggled and obliged, holding up her camera.
A moment later, the feedback poured in:
“Wow! Golden jianbing! I want one so badly!”
“The stall owner’s hands are so fast!”
“...I just got flattened by a wheel, but I saw two cuties!”
“Two? It’s three!”
“Three? No, four! When did you all go blind?”
“Two! You wrote Xiaoke’s name backward!”
Wang Xiaoke: ...
She was speechless at the ongoing debate. Weren’t they here for food? How did it become a contest over how many cuties there were?
Could her fans ever focus? What a handful this crowd was!
Still, their words piqued her curiosity.
Golden jianbing, a group of adorable kids...
She couldn’t help but look forward to it.