Chapter Fifty-Two: Ding! Your Achievement Points Have Been Credited

“Thank you to ‘Having Read All Online Novels in Vain,’ ‘Monty Dragon,’ ‘Laughing Paste,’ and ‘He’ for your monthly votes. Thank you.”

“Mmm~ Sister~~”

With the three little ones staring at her, Dong’er widened her innocent eyes, rummaging in her small pockets with her tiny hands, finally pulling out two and a half pieces of bear-shaped biscuits.

“Eat~ Sister~”

“Sigh…”

Seeing Dong’er pitifully offer the bear biscuits, the three little ones sighed in unison, then grinned brightly.

Dong’er was their little sister, the most cherished and adorable of all. How could they bear to blame her or be angry at her?

“Hiahiahia… Dong’er, Sister won’t eat, you should eat more and grow up big!”

“Hoho… Dong’er, let me have a hug!”

“Dong’er, come to Sister’s room, let me help you change your clothes. Your shirt is already stained by the bear biscuits.”

Dong’er: (｡ˇεˇ｡)

While the four little ones frolicked upstairs, downstairs Yang Qing was bewildered by the diners’ questions.

Diner: “Little boss, when will you switch shifts with Miss Jin’er again?”

Yang Qing →_→: “Shift? What shift? I just switched over! What, are my pancakes not tasty enough?”

The diner chuckled: “Delicious, but Miss Jin’er’s are equally good—and she’s prettier than you.”

Yang Qing: …

Honestly!

You eat my pancakes and still want more—you even want me!

“Little boss, are you and Jin’er dating?”

At that moment, a stylish woman with bright red lips spoke up, not afraid to surprise.

Yang Qing showed the calmest of smiles: “No, Jin’er is my business partner.”

The woman: “Oh, that’s great! I’m the matchmaker in this neighborhood. Why don’t you and Jin’er sign up for a membership? I guarantee your future will be properly arranged.”

“Er~”

Yang Qing shivered, quickly waving his hands: “No, no, your pancakes are ready, big sister, please go home.”

“Hehe… Brother Yang Qing, I’m back! Where’s cute Qiu’er? Let me play with her!”

Ma Ting, president of Yangcheng University’s student council, smiled with arched brows. Three roommates followed behind her, their fair legs on display, chiming in.

“Haha… I want Dong’er, the cutest little one! Never enough hugs and kisses!”

“Giggle… Little Xi’er is adorable too. I love her laughter, so magical—hiahia…”

“Where’s Bai, our dear Bai? Quick, call her out for a quarrel, it’s so much fun!”

Yang Qing: …

He gazed at these youthful beauties, speechless.

What was with today? Everyone eating pancakes, yet their eyes lingered on the people here!

Laughter and chatter, busy hustle—time slipped to around six forty, and Qin Xue arrived.

“Qing.”

She entered, watching the busy Yang Qing, calling out sweetly.

Yang Qing was a bit stunned; he quickly prepared a pancake for the customer in front, then apologized to the rest waiting in line:

“I’ll take a short break, be right back.”

A group of male diners’ eyes shone brightly as they gazed at Qin Xue, smiling mischievously at Yang Qing: “Don’t hurry, little boss, take your time resting. We’re not leaving—we’ll just watch here. Hehe… you’ve got great perks!”

Yang Qing: (ー_ー)!!

You guys are really “dogs”!

He shook his head wordlessly, turned to Qin Xue and smiled: “Why did you come by? Did you watch the film?”

“I did,” Qin Xue nodded with a smile, handing him a napkin. “Wipe your sweat, you look tired.”

“Hehe…”

Yang Qing smiled foolishly, took the napkin and wiped his sweat, suddenly at a loss for words.

Qin Xue watched his silly expression and burst out laughing: “I’ll go play with the little cuties.”

“Mm… um… well… Xiao… Xiao Xue, tonight… why don’t you stay for dinner?”

Just a few words, a single sentence—Yang Qing seemed to use all his strength to say it.

“Mm.”

Qin Xue’s body trembled gently, shyly murmured assent, then ran upstairs.

“Eh~~~”

After Qin Xue left, Yang Qing returned to his post, but was greeted by a chorus of sighs from the diners.

“Go, go, are you going to serve pancakes or not?” Yang Qing joked, a bit embarrassed.

“Haha…” One diner laughed. “Congratulations, little boss, you’ve won the fairy’s heart! To celebrate, will you offer steamed buns tomorrow?”

“Right, little boss, you haven’t sold steamed buns for days!”

“That’s true, that’s true. Men—once the home flower is enough, sometimes you need to pick a wild flower too.”

Diners: …

You are truly a character!

Though we’re all “eating,” could you not say such things here? Now my mind’s running wild!

Yang Qing looked at this diner, puzzled—what home flower, wild flower? Nonsense.

After thinking a moment, he smiled: “Tomorrow, I’ll start selling steamed buns again. Also, another thing—from tomorrow afternoon to the day after tomorrow, the shop will be closed for three days.”

He spoke gently: “I’ll be accompanying my little cuties for the holiday.”

“Ha, good!”

This time the diners were very supportive, offering their blessings.

Wishing the little cuties a happy Children’s Day, and Yang Qing’s family a joyful Dragon Boat Festival.

Yang Qing smiled and returned the well-wishes, adding an extra sausage to each pancake.

In the happy, lively atmosphere, time reached eight o’clock—the day’s business ended.

Upstairs, Yang Qing found three little ones huddled together watching cartoons on a tablet, while another tiny one perched on the floor, playing with toys.

In the kitchen, Jin’er and Qin Xue’s voices echoed.

“Xue, pour the oil!”

“Oh no, that’s too much!”

“Ah, what do we do? Should I ladle some out?”

“No, the oil is already hot, quickly add the vegetables!”

“…”

Yang Qing entered the kitchen with a wry face, seeing Jin’er anxiously teaching the flustered Qin Xue to cook.

“Ahem…”

He cleared his throat; both women instantly looked at him.

Jin’er’s face was full of helplessness, Qin Xue’s cheeks blushed red.

Seeing this, Yang Qing smiled, then took over the kitchen without argument, sending both women off to play with the children.

When the dishes were ready, Mother Bai and Bai Zhijun came in carrying a box of bear biscuits and milk.

“Bought a box of bears for the kids, milk for Chun’er and Xia’er, for nutrition,” Bai Zhijun said, sitting down with a smile.

“Thank you, Uncle Bai.”

Chun and Xia thanked politely, while Bai was already impatiently tearing open the bear biscuits.

“Kid! What are you doing! Is your bottom itchy again? Sit down for dinner!” Mother Bai scolded, but Bai was undeterred, tearing at the box; when she couldn’t open it, she gnawed at it like a puppy.

Mother Bai: (‵□′)

“Bai, Bai, give me a bear to drink too!”

The bear biscuits were finally opened by Bai, and Xi’er called out sweetly.

“You’ll wet the bed again,” Jin’er said at the right moment.

Xi’er protested: “I won’t! Xi’er is the big sister, I don’t wet the bed! It’s Dong’er who does!”

Dong’er: ಥ_ಥ

“All right, all right, everyone gets one, you can all drink.”

Yang Qing stepped forward with a smile, handing each child a bottle of bear biscuits. “Let’s eat.”

“Mm, let’s eat!”

The three little ones called out in unison, and soon the sound of slurping filled the air.

Yang Qing: …

Jin’er: (；一_一)

Mother Bai glared at Old Bai and scolded: “Look at you! Why buy bear biscuits? Now the kids won’t eat!”

Bai Zhijun dropped his head, mumbling innocently: “Didn’t you ask me to buy them?”

“Hmm?! What did you say?!”

“Giggle…” Qin Xue watched the scene, laughing happily.

How wonderful, to be lucky enough to meet all of you.

…

The next day, May thirty-first.

At five o’clock, Yang Qing got up and found Jin’er already in the kitchen.

“Jin’er.”

He called out, smiling at Tan Jin’er: “Today I’ll keep teaching you to make steamed buns. You’re almost ready to graduate.”

“Mm,” Tan Jin’er nodded excitedly.

Then the two got busy—one teaching, one learning. After more than an hour, Yang Qing smiled.

Jin’er had graduated; now only Mother Bai remained.

With that thought, he pondered for a moment, then said to Tan Jin’er, who was now making steamed buns skillfully:

“Jin’er, you’ve been working hard in the shop lately. I’ve decided from now on, you’ll get forty percent of the store’s income.”

“Eh!”

Tan Jin’er was stunned, looking at Yang Qing in disbelief, lost in thought.

“Heh…”

Seeing this, Yang Qing chuckled, not giving her a chance to recover, and slipped into the “Bai Congee Shop.”

At seven-thirty, Yang Qing returned to his own shop, smiling brightly. At the moment he entered, a system prompt sounded in his mind:

“Ding, congratulations to the host for completing the ‘Teach a Man to Fish’ apprentice task. Twenty achievement points have been issued!”