Chapter Thirty-Seven: You Are Worthy (Vote Requested)

(Special thanks to the six benefactors: Xu Wei, Xi Yuan, Phantom Fish, Chen Tangsheng, Bai Xiaosheng, and Night Starwatcher, for their recommendation votes.)

Saturday, at the entrance of Hope Primary School.

Spring and Summer had just finished their little artist training class and, spotting Yang Qing waiting at the school gate, they rushed into his arms with the joy of fledgling swallows.

“Brother, why are you picking us up today?”

“Because… your sister Jin’er has graduated!” Yang Qing’s lips curled into a smile.

After four days of his instruction and guidance, Tan Jin’er had mastered the “Delicious Pancake Wrap,” and her proficiency with “Delicious Steamed Buns” had reached eighty percent. In another two or three days, she would likely perfect that as well.

Yang Qing couldn’t help but marvel once again at Tan Jin’er’s extraordinary culinary talent—truly unmatched!

Even with the system’s comprehension bonus, comparing her to Mama Bai, whose proficiency with “Delicious Porridge” was currently at seventy percent, Jin’er’s innate talent was clearly exceptional.

“Jin’er Sister is amazing!”

“Yes, Jin’er is very talented. By the way, what did your teacher teach you today? Was it easy to learn?”

“Drawing and dancing!” Little Summer chirped, eyebrows bouncing. “The teacher said we’ll start with simple drawings, and later, we’ll learn traditional painting!”

“Brother, what is traditional painting?”

“Um… traditional painting is…”

“Yang Qing!” Just as Yang Qing was holding the two little ones, chatting as they left, a voice called out.

“Hello, Teacher Zhang!” The girls saw Zhang Yue approaching and greeted her in unison.

“Hello, Yang Chun and Yang Xia. How was your learning today?” Zhang Xue smiled as she asked.

Little Spring nodded, a smile in her brow. “Very good!”

Little Summer grinned, “Teacher praised my sister, said she’s quick to learn dancing and very gifted!”

“Oh, really? Spring, why didn’t you tell your brother just now?”

Yang Qing was pleasantly surprised. Little Spring’s cheeks flushed red as she whispered shyly, “Spring wants… wants to wait until she’s learned it, then dance for Brother.”

“Haha… Wonderful!” Yang Qing laughed heartily, then looked curiously at Zhang Yue. “Teacher Zhang, is there something you need?”

“Yes, I do need your help with something,” Zhang Yue nodded.

“Please, go ahead.”

“Well, since Children’s Day is coming up, Yang Chun will be performing on stage that day. I heard her song—it’s fantastic! She said you taught her. Is that true?”

“Hehe… That… yes, I did.”

“It really was you!” Zhang Yue looked at Yang Qing in disbelief. “So did you write the song? I couldn’t find it online.”

“Hehe… just lucky, I suppose.”

Zhang Yue: “……”

What kind of luck lets you write such a song!

Especially those lyrics—even she, a grown woman, felt her heart stirred.

She gazed at Yang Qing and said softly, “Should I take that as modesty?”

Yang Qing: …

He was helpless. Though not everything he said was the whole truth, every word was honest—yet no one believed him!

“Ahem, Teacher, just tell me what you need.”

“Alright.” Zhang Yue’s gaze burned as she fixed her eyes on Yang Qing. “To write such a song shows you have a deep soul. Since that’s so, you surely won’t refuse my invitation to represent our class’s parents and perform a program for the children on Children’s Day, will you?”

“Huh!” Yang Qing was stunned. “Me?! Performing on Children’s Day?!”

Yang Qing hurriedly chuckled, waving his hands to refuse. “Teacher, please don’t joke. I’m an adult now, how could I—”

“What about being an adult?” Zhang Yue rolled her eyes and interrupted him. “We all once had a child’s heart. Besides, every year, every class has parents performing; you’re neither the first nor the only one.”

“And this is the best way to draw parents and children closer, to share joy together.”

As she spoke, her gaze suddenly shifted to Spring and Summer, smiling. “Yang Chun, Yang Xia, would you like your brother to perform on stage?”

“Yes!” The girls nodded earnestly.

“Brother, please say yes to Teacher. Summer really wants to see you and Sister on stage.”

“Spring wants to see Brother too.”

Yang Qing: “…Alright then.”

He was helpless.

He could refuse anyone, except his beloved sisters.

Zhang Yue left with a victorious smile, while Yang Qing, resigned, led the two joyful little ones away.

In the shop, Tan Jin’er was busy making pancake wraps. Little Xi’er stood by her feet like a tiny stump, clutching a water cup.

“Sister, won’t you drink some water? You’re sweating!”

“Sister doesn’t need it. Go play with Qiu’er and Xiao Bai.”

“No, Xi’er wants to stay with Sister! You’re so tired, please drink some water.”

“Alright, Sister will drink.”

Tan Jin’er couldn’t bear to refuse her little sister’s concern. Having finished a pancake wrap, she took the water cup and drank.

“hiahiahiahia…” Xi’er laughed gleefully like a sparrow, mouth wide.

Just then, Yang Qing returned with the girls. Tan Jin’er’s eyes brightened, but Xi’er spoke first.

“Yang Qing Brother, you’re back! Please switch with my sister—she’s so tired!”

“Huh!” Tan Jin’er was flustered and quickly waved at Yang Qing. “No, I…”

“Alright, let Sister rest. How about I take you upstairs to play?” Yang Qing smiled kindly at the little one at his feet. “Since you’re so thoughtful, today you get an extra candy.”

“Ah! Really?! Really?! hiahiahiahia… I’m so awesome! I’m just too awesome, hiahia…”

The little one was ecstatic, stomping her feet as she ran upstairs to show off to the two watching cartoons.

“Brother Qing, I’m not tired,” Tan Jin’er said shyly as her sister ran off.

“Haha, it’s fine, go rest. I’ll take over—you can’t be busy all the time.”

Yang Qing laughed, sending Jin’er and the girls upstairs to rest, then took over the shop. But the next male customer’s comment left him speechless.

“Little boss, how come it’s you now? Where’s the beautiful Jin’er?”

Yang Qing: “…Are you here for pancakes or to see beauties?”

The customer rolled his eyes. “Is there any conflict between the two?”

Yang Qing: “Then I guess I’m holding you back.”

Customer: “You finally figured it out!”

Yang Qing: …

Sadness. My apprentice’s on the job, and I—the master—am about to be forced off!

…

Nine o’clock in the evening, the shop closed. The three families gathered upstairs for dinner.

“Qing, eat less. Later I’ll take you out for skewers, let’s have a feast.”

At the table, seeing Mama Bai in the kitchen, Bai Zhijun whispered to Yang Qing.

Yang Qing laughed, “A feast? Aren’t you afraid your wife will scold you?”

Bai Zhijun smirked, “I’m staying at the old shop tonight!”

Yang Qing: “…No, I’m not going. Call Big Zhu and the others.”

“Call them? No way!” Bai Zhijun shook his head. “Ever since you introduced them to that job, they’ve gone crazy! Not even drinking anymore—they’re afraid it’ll slow their progress!”

“Haha, that’s good news,” Yang Qing laughed. “Big Zhu and the guys are reliable. But be sure to tell them, don’t let progress affect quality.”

“Ah! You worry too much. I can guarantee you they won’t!”

“Good, that’s important. This is our first venture together—if we do well, the next will be easier!”

“Absolutely, don’t worry!”

As they chatted, Mama Bai and Tan Jin’er brought out the dishes.

Six dishes and a soup—everyone dug in.

Qiu’er, Xiao Bai, and Xi’er, the three little ones, were the happiest, snatching up food with joy.

Yang Qing fed Little Dong a piece of meat, and then turned to Tan Jin’er and the others.

“Jin’er, Sister-in-law, Big Brother Bai, I’ve been thinking about changing the business hours.”

The three paused in surprise.

Bai Zhijun: “Hmm? Change the hours? How so?”

“Morning eight to twelve stays the same. Afternoon shifts to four to eight. Saturdays only open in the morning, rest in the afternoon. Sunday, closed all day!”

Yang Qing looked at them. “The reason is the hours are too long—everyone’s exhausted. Plus, we need time with the kids. They’re the most important.”

He waited for their opinions.

Tan Jin’er lowered her head in silence. She was an employee, so she had no say in the boss’s decisions, and she sensed Yang Qing was thinking of her.

“I…”

Bai Zhijun was about to speak, but Mama Bai kicked him under the table and cut him off. “We have no objections. Qing, you decide.”

Bai Zhijun: …

Yang Qing chuckled, “Big Brother Bai, it’s fine, just say what you think, Sister-in-law.”

Bai Zhijun looked timidly at Mama Bai, “Should I… or shouldn’t I…”

Mama Bai: “Speak!”

“Ahem, well, I just wanted to say… I have no objections!”

“Haha…”

Yang Qing laughed, then turned to Mama Bai, “Sister-in-law, you don’t have to change your shop’s hours with mine—it won’t make a difference.”

“No, I must!” Mama Bai laughed. “I’m still young—don’t want to grow old early from overwork.”

“Right!” Bai Zhijun grinned mischievously. “We still need to level up an alt!”

Mama Bai: “…Get lost!”

“Haha… Then it’s settled.”

“Yes, settled.”

“Alright, one last thing.” Yang Qing looked seriously at Tan Jin’er. “I’ve decided to give Jin’er a raise—seven thousand a month!”

Boom!

Tan Jin’er’s mind went blank, staring at Yang Qing in shock.

“Brother Qing, I… I can’t…”

“Don’t refuse,” Yang Qing interrupted gently. “You deserve it.”