Thank you Gofa for the ko-fi! Here’s your bonus chapter(s) <3
Sponsored chapter (1/3)
Li Shasha follows a well-organized daily routine, engaging in activities like solving Rubik’s Cube puzzles, reading books, and browsing headlines on the computer to stay updated with current events.
“News?” Mr. Li’s initial thought was that Li Xiangfu had discreetly betrayed him and participated in a variety show.
Li Shasha quickly corrected his misconception, saying, “This is social news.”
To prevent any further misunderstanding, he emphasized, “It’s highly social.”
“…”
Effortlessly moving the computer between floors, Li Shasha anticipated that Li Xiangfu might frequently appear in the news, so he set aside a dedicated disk for storing relevant materials.
Out of the blue, Mr. Li asked Li Huaichen, “What grade did you give him?”
Without a direct reply, Li Huaichen casually stated, “They are all the same.”
“…”
“Just last night, a group of thugs broke into a house with a peculiar motive. It’s unbelievable.”
Li Shasha had already started playing the video, capturing the attention of the other two individuals. Even Aunt Zhang temporarily abandoned her work to take a second look.
The suspect on screen, still sporting a plaster on his arm, complained helplessly, “He didn’t tell us to kill or set fires. The employer just wanted us to arrest people for watching stripteases.”
The camera then shifted to a policeman who stated, “After our investigation, this is indeed one of the purposes of their crime. Due to the main suspect’s unstable mental state, deeper reasons need to be uncovered.”
The final person shown was Li Xiangfu. Though his face was blurred, his distinctive outfit and long hair made him easily recognizable to those around him.
The reporter asked him for his thoughts on the motives of the criminal gang.
With the microphone close to his mouth, the familiar deep voice reached everyone around the dinner table: “Everyone has their ambitions. I just want to say… Times have changed.” The last four words carried a mixture of sighs and relief.
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
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“…”
—
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The young reporter, named Cao, was not one to sit idle. Despite the delay, she actively searched for interesting topics. Intrigued by Li Xiangfu making pastries, she approached with curiosity.
Li Xiangfu, focused on frying sesame seeds, nodded in agreement when asked if they could record the process with a camera. Maltose bubbled in the pot as he skillfully flicked it with a ladle, sprinkling sugar evenly into the freshly ground powder.
While Reporter Cao wasn’t a fan of sweets, she enjoyed watching the production process. Quick to grasp the technique, she inquired, “Are you making inlaid bean candy?”
Li Xiangfu nodded.
Aware that introducing food alone might not be captivating, Reporter Cao planned to add an interesting twist to her news report the next day. She thought, “Remember Mr. Li, the supposed kidnap victim, watching a striptease? Is it true? He’s actually an inheritor of intangible cultural heritage…”
The inlaid bean candy, cut into adorable pieces, was distributed to reporters and photographers. The small portions, combined with witnessing the birth process, made the pastries exceptionally sweet.
Suitable as a post-meal treat, Li Xiangfu also prepared braised pork and stir-fried green beans. The tantalizing aroma caught the attention of the house owner, who was busy overseeing the children’s homework.
“What are you cooking? It smells delicious.”
Li Xiangfu smiled and explained, “I saved some non-spicy braised pork for the children.”
Grateful, the house owner thanked him repeatedly. Li Xiangfu, not far away, borrowed a dinner plate and brought over a portion.
Meanwhile, Qin Jin, having moved to another room, was packing his belongings. When Li Xiangfu entered, he slid the dinner plate forward, claiming, “I believe my cooking skills are quite decent.”
Qin Jin glanced at him, sat down, picked up the chopsticks, and took a taste.
The braised pork was a perfect blend of crispy and tender, igniting the taste buds with every chew. Combined with fresh green beans, the dish proved to be delightful without causing palate fatigue.
Li Xiangfu, calling his craftsmanship good, was being modest. It wasn’t just good; his skills easily surpassed many top chefs.
Midway through the meal, Qin Jin raised his eyes and commented, “If you open a restaurant, the bonus from collecting activities will only be a fraction.”
Li Xiangfu shook his head, “It’s easy to hurt my hands while cutting vegetables, which could affect my ability to play the guqin.”
“… ”
When discussing injuries, Li Xiangfu suddenly thought of Zhou Panbai, wondering if the group of people had been handed over. His concern seemed genuine, even expressing worry about the potential lack of delicious prison food.
Qin Jin paused, chopsticks in hand, at this unexpected turn of conversation.
“If he hadn’t appeared in time, I don’t know when my issue of dizziness when seeing naked people would be cured,” muttered Li Xiangfu. He expressed a desire to send some snacks, his long hair hanging over his cheeks, a silent plea not to comment on his sentiment.
Qin Jin pursed his thin lips and stated, “Hiding your gratitude in your heart is the best way to repay Zhou Panbai.”
The free drawing session had eliminated half of the participants, leaving only Mo Yijing, Yu Bin, and Lin Yanshu. The eliminated players still received full accommodation and food, allowing them to focus on creation and broaden their horizons.
That night, everyone gathered as Judge Zhao informed them of a change in plans due to a heavy rain warning. The collection of artworks will be postponed to the day after tomorrow. The judge also emphasized psychological issues, using Zhou Panbai as an example to caution everyone to act rationally.
Returning to his residence, Li Xiangfu contemplated Judge Zhao’s words, suspecting that the final competition might not be based solely on Tianxi Ancient Village but extend to the outside world.
In deep thought, he considered the possibility of snowy mountains but dismissed it due to safety concerns.
With his mind filled with undisclosed information, Li Xiangfu lay on the bed, cicadas chirping outside. It took a while for him to drift into sleep.
The next day, before the rooster crowed, Li Xiangfu stood at the window contemplating whether to practice writing or go for a run when he received a call from Qin Jin.
Rushing downstairs, he opened the door to find Qin Jin with a tall box next to him.
Surprised at the outer packaging’s words, Li Xiangfu exclaimed, “Guqin?”
Qin Jin explained, “Luoxia Pavilion recently acquired a fine guqin, and I asked them to send it here.”
Considering the shipping cost, Li Xiangfu accepted it, but his mind was already pondering Qin Jin’s intentions. When he questioned the purpose, Qin Jin casually mentioned changing his mobile phone ringtone, claiming to have been thinking about it lately.
Skeptical, Li Xiangfu was about to point out the logical contradiction, but Qin Jin interrupted, casually stating, “I have money.”
These three words seemed to explain everything. The willingness to spend a considerable amount on seemingly trivial items exemplified the extent of Qin Jin’s financial capacity.
“…”
—
The rainstorm warning proved accurate, but the weather was far from ideal that day. Lightning flashed across the sky, accompanied by thunderous rumbles. The muddy road, devoid of any cars, left the hitchhiking driver uneasy. In this inclement weather, he had to navigate the wilderness to find passengers, and the weight on his heart mirrored the dark clouds overhead.
The driver occasionally glanced at the passengers in the rearview mirror, reassured by the belief that someone as good-looking as the man in the back seat wouldn’t pose a threat.
The man’s phone vibrated twice and was disconnected both times. On the third attempt, he answered coldly, “I don’t like answering calls during thunderstorms.”
The voice on the other end was audible, and the driver could vaguely sense its urgency.
“It’s not just Qin Jin. He made the news yesterday for encountering a robber. In the ancient village, troubles are limited, and such coincidences are rare. If we delay, more crimes might occur. Wait for him to suffer.”
“Call me again when I arrive,” Li Anqing curtly ended the call without allowing further conversation.
The driver silently acknowledged the man in the back seat as a customer not to be trifled with.
News spread quickly in the village. After Li Anqing disembarked, he inquired and located Li Xiangfu’s residence.
Upon seeing the stranger, the homeowner, still recovering from the previous night’s intrusion, became wary. Li Anqing placed several hundred yuan bills on the table and stated, “I’m here to find someone.”
Reassured that it wasn’t a vengeful visit, the homeowner stepped aside, pointing to the second-floor room where music flowed out from the half-open window.
As the song concluded, Qin Jin applauded, expressing admiration for both the piano performance and the well-made pastries. Li Xiangfu, accustomed to receiving feedback from Li Shasha, smiled and welcomed his comment.
The harmonious atmosphere was disrupted by the vibrating sound of a mobile phone outside the door. Li Xiangfu’s breath caught as he saw the newcomer. After a moment of realization, he called out, “Second brother?”
“Go on, I’ll answer the phone.” Li Anqing, with an expressionless face, answered the call on speakerphone to ensure everyone could hear.
Li Xichun’s voice echoed in the room, expressing concern for Li Xiangfu and urging Li Anqing to check on him. Li Anqing calmly looked at Li Xiangfu and asked, “Answer her, how are you doing?”
Li Xiangfu: “…”
The author has something to say:
Li Xiangfu: Thank you for the invitation, next question.
Second brother appears to be quite the character. Thank you for the translation