Chapter 56: Another Me in This Life

“Okay, Grandma Feng.”

Xu Kai nodded, then began explaining point by point.

His pace was steady, his explanation clear and well-organized. It was almost identical to what Doctor Feng had said earlier, without missing a single detail.

Doctor Feng couldn’t help but nod in satisfaction, sneaking a glance at Lu Qingqiang.

Her look said it all.

See? Didn’t I say this Xu Kai kid was something?

Lu Qingqiang nodded back, giving her a look of genuine approval.

Doctor Feng gripped her thermos cup a little tighter.

Back when she was teaching students at the hospital, even after they’d graduated from university, they were still constantly asking questions.

Even when she’d already explained something once and asked them to repeat it, some couldn’t even get it right.

Now look at Xu Kai in front of her, just a four-year-old kid.

And yet he remembered everything perfectly.

If Doctor Feng could go back to those days of teaching, she’d definitely point at her students’ noses and scold them.

“Look at you all. What are you even good for? Not even as good as a three- or four-year-old.”

“Little kids are more focused than you, and have better memory too.”

“You’re the worst class I’ve ever taught.”

Unfortunately, there was no going back.

Soon, Doctor Feng took the opportunity to quiz Xu Kai on some basic knowledge of medicinal herbs.

During their morning hike, she had introduced several common wild herbs, covering their appearance, properties, effects, medicinal uses, and contraindications.

And once again, Xu Kai’s answers were nearly perfect.

Doctor Feng looked at him with even more warmth in her eyes.

What a promising seedling! Xu Kai really was born to study medicine.

Of course, one must be fair to everyone.

So soon, Doctor Feng began randomly quizzing the other kids.

The moment they heard they might be called on, several of them instinctively shrank back, eyes darting in every direction to avoid her gaze.

Their little faces were full of anxiety and dread.

They weren’t like Xu Kai, who could remember everything so clearly.

Ahhh, next time Grandma Feng gives a lesson, they swear they’ll pay attention.

Right now, they had only one wish.

Please don’t pick me. Please don’t pick me. Just don’t pick me.

Lu Qingqiang, who had been working with the wood, glanced up and saw all their expressions.

She couldn’t help but laugh.

Another me in this life.

She still remembered, long ago, when she hadn’t paid attention in class and the teacher suddenly called on her, she had reacted the exact same way.

Tsk, how the tables turn. How amusing.

“Director, the rabbit hutch is done and they’ve been fed.”

At that moment, Yan Fang came over to report.

Her arrival was like a ray of light for the kids praying not to be called on.

“Mama Lu, can I go see the bunnies?”

“I wanna go too! Me too!”

“Mama Lu, when will the big-bellied bunny have baby bunnies?”

“How many babies will it have?”

“Rabbits are really good at having babies. Usually three to five, but the really good ones can have five to eight at once.”

“Alright, go on then. Go see the rabbits,” Lu Qingqiang said.

“Okay!”

“Mama Lu, after we see the bunnies and water the vegetables with Grandma Feng, I’ll come back to help stuff the mushroom spores into the logs.”

“Me too, me too!”

“Alright, off you go~”

Led by Doctor Feng, the chattering, lively little kids finally left.

“Yan Fang, are you busy right now?”

“Not really, Director.”

“I’ve got something for you. I need you to look into something for me.”

“Just say the word, Director!”

“Our library is almost finished. Once it’s done, I want to fill all the shelves with books.”

“Any kind of books is fine, as long as they’re positive and uplifting.”

“See if you can get in touch with some book suppliers, wholesale distributors, or publishers during this time.”

“Got it. No problem. Leave it to me,” Yan Fang replied.

As a security staff member at the orphanage, she felt her days had been a bit too idle lately.

Now that she had something else to do, she was actually quite happy.

Young people shouldn’t just lie around all day.

When there’s work to be done, you’ve got to get moving.

Once the library was up and running, she could pop in whenever she had time, read a book or two.

It was the perfect chance to start studying again, maybe even aim for a bachelor’s or master’s degree.

Yan Fang left, full of enthusiasm.

Lu Qingqiang continued working on the logs.

As she drilled, she had the system switch to reading mode and started listening to an audiobook.

Not long after, she received a call from Zhang Qiang.

“Hello, Director. The two people I recommended to you are being discharged this afternoon. I’d like to go pick them up now for their interviews.”

“Alright. Come get the car keys and take my car.”

“Got it, Director.”

Soon after Zhang Qiang left with the keys, Master Zhao came looking for her.

“Director~”

“What is it, Master Zhao?”

“Remember I said I wanted Liu Xiang to come for an interview?”

“He just called me. Said he can probably come by tomorrow morning. What do you think?” Master Zhao started rubbing his hands together.

Lu Qingqiang had noticed that whenever Master Zhao got nervous, he’d start rubbing his hands like that.

“Master Zhao, didn’t I already tell you? The kitchen is your responsibility, including hiring staff.”

“If Liu Xiang is coming tomorrow, then just go pick him up.”

“Or, if you’re busy, just tell Driver Xiao Zhang to go get him.”

“Once he’s in the kitchen, you’re in charge of managing him.”

“When you’ve got time tomorrow, bring him to me so we can sign the contract.”

“Alrighty, Director. I’ll get back to work then.”

“Go ahead.”

After leaving Lu Qingqiang, Master Zhao didn’t head straight back to the kitchen.

He made a detour to the backyard.

They had planted quite a few vegetables back there, and some of the greens were just about ready to be picked.

He figured he might as well grab a handful and cook up some vegetable porridge for everyone tonight.

Also, he wanted to check out the rabbits that the Director and the others had caught.

According to Taozi, the rabbit had voluntarily run into a tree and that’s how they caught it.

Master Zhao was extremely curious!

He wanted to see what kind of rabbit could be that dumb.

Charging headfirst into a tree?

Would a rabbit that stupid affect the quality of the meat when they made braised rabbit or spicy rabbit head?

No, he had to see it with his own eyes to be sure.

Master Zhao insisted he was only going to pick some greens and just happened to check out the rabbits while he was at it.

It wasn’t like he was going to the backyard specifically to gawk at the rabbits.

He wasn’t that nosy.

After seeing the rabbits, Master Zhao sighed quietly.

They didn’t look dumb at all. Fluffy, with soft fur.

Their little mouths were munching away at the leaves, and they were actually kind of… cute.

Sigh. If only he had gone with them into the mountains.

He realized now just how much he’d missed out on by staying behind.

Life was too ordinary. Zhao Guojiang sighed.

But soon, Zhao Guojiang had no time to sigh—only to marvel.

Because…