Chapter 4

Qian Jianing pedaled her tricycle home happily, listening to Treasure Bowl’s constant chatter in her mind. Originally, Treasure Bowl just wanted to recoup the cost of the potatoes, but upon seeing how profitable fries and mashed potatoes were, it immediately began complaining about shredded potatoes, sighing repeatedly.

With a schoolbag full of money, Qian Jianing was in such a good mood that she felt like singing. As for Treasure Bowl’s childish grumbling, it sounded more like a kitten’s meowing in her ears—not annoying, actually quite amusing.

“If Food Elder asks you to shred potatoes again tonight, remember to cut them thicker. We’ve still got three vats of shredded potatoes left unsold,” Treasure Bowl reminded loudly when it saw Qian Jianing ignoring it.

“It’s fine, shredded potatoes can also be used to make mashed potatoes.” Qian Jianing smiled. “The shredded potatoes stored with you haven’t been soaked in water, so they won’t go bad. Even if we can’t sell them, we can just keep them and eat them at home.”

Treasure Bowl’s voice sounded a lot more cheerful. Ignoring the option of eating them at home, he jumped on the mashed potato idea, “We’re almost out of chicken broth. Tonight, have Food Elder prepare some more. Better yet, ask him to teach you how to make it. Mashed potatoes sell better than fries!”

Qian Jianing rode her tricycle to the front gate and saw that it was still locked, realizing her parents hadn’t returned from work. She took out the key to open the gate, pushed the tricycle into the courtyard, and left everything on it untouched—after all, she’d be selling again the next day.

After a whole day out in the sun, she felt drenched in sweat, her hair sticky from the heat. Qian Jianing opened the house door, scooped a large basin of water from the giant tank outside, and carried it into the bathroom. She washed from head to toe several times and cleaned her hair thoroughly before feeling refreshed.

With her hair towel-dried and draped over her shoulders, Qian Jianing went to the kitchen to cook a pot of green bean soup. Seeing a basket of potatoes on the floor, she couldn’t help picking up two. Treasure Bowl’s voice quivered in protest, “Haven’t you cut enough shredded potatoes yet?”

Qian Jianing chuckled, her eyes crinkling, “I want to fry fries for my parents and Jiafeng to try.”

With the experience from the previous night, her potato sticks now came out neatly uniform, practically perfect. She poured some oil from the oil barrel and swiftly fried up a big plate of fries, which she placed on the dining table in the living room. Looking at the vegetables left in the kitchen, she made scrambled eggs with tomatoes and spicy pickled cabbage. Thinking about Qian Guosheng and Qian Jiafeng’s large appetites, she also smashed up a plate of cucumbers.

Qian Guosheng and Li Wanzhen were both textile workers. Qian Guosheng worked as an assistant manager in the office, and Li Wanzhen was a workshop worker. While their salaries weren’t as high as people in the rail or power sectors, a dual-income household like theirs was already considered enviable locally.

Just as she ladled out the green bean soup, Qian Jianing heard the sound of the gate. She opened the door and saw her parents returning with bicycles and her younger brother. She immediately called out with a smile, “Dad, Mom, you’re back!”

“Did you go out with classmates this afternoon?” Li Wanzhen asked as she parked the bike. “Your dad’s been complaining that I didn’t ask and forgot to give you lunch money.”

Qian Jianing smiled. “Didn’t Dad give me twenty cents yesterday?”

“That was for you to buy popsicles.” Li Wanzhen grabbed the steamed buns from the bike basket and hurried into the house. “You must be hungry. What do you want to eat? I’ll cook something right away—” Before she could finish speaking, she stood frozen at the door, staring at the dishes on the table. “Did you make all this?”

“Yeah!” Qian Jianing took the buns from her hands and placed them on the table. “I came home a bit early, so I cooked while I was at it.”

“You child…” Li Wanzhen was touched but also worried. “It’s so hot today, wasn’t it exhausting to cook? Did you cut yourself?”

“Don’t worry, Mom. I’m already grown—should’ve been helping out with chores long ago.” Qian Jianing hugged her by the waist, gently steering her toward the bathroom. “Go wash your hands so we can eat.” Her tone changed instantly upon seeing Qian Jiafeng sneaking toward the fries: “Qian Jiafeng, if you dare touch those fries without washing your hands, I’ll smack you!”

His hand immediately retracted midair, and he turned and ran to wash up. Watching his son’s retreating figure, Li Wanzhen laughed, “Jiafeng fears his sister the most. No matter how many times we tell him, one shout from her works better than anything.”

Qian Jianing had only learned to make fries from Food Elder. The other three dishes were simple home-cooked meals she remembered from her past life. Though the taste was average, the Qian family weren’t picky eaters. What’s more, this was their daughter’s first time cooking at home. After just one bite, Qian Guosheng and Li Wanzhen couldn’t stop praising her—smart, capable, graceful—a truly wonderful girl. Qian Jianing blushed from all the praise.

Seeing her parents’ surprised and touched expressions, Qian Jianing felt a pang in her heart. Even though they had a son despite already having a daughter during China’s strict family planning era, their love was always equal. In fact, because of Qian Jianing’s good grades, intelligence, and looks, they even favored her slightly more. Sadly, in her past life, after falling in love early with Chen Kai, she completely changed. She grew distant from her family and transformed from a promising student into someone everyone sighed about.

Thinking about this point of her rebirth, Qian Jianing frowned slightly. By now, she should’ve already been dating Chen Kai for two months, passing notes in class, writing love letters at night. Her grades had dropped from third place to twentieth. As a student used to excelling, she couldn’t accept her sudden decline and cried for a whole day at home, which led to a summer heatstroke and fever. That was when she was reborn.

Seeing his daughter deep in thought with a frown, Qian Guosheng and Li Wanzhen exchanged worried glances. Li Wanzhen gently placed some pickled cabbage in Qian Jianing’s bowl and tentatively asked, “Xiaomi, are you feeling unwell? You don’t look so good.”

“No, I’m fine.” Qian Jianing came back to herself and immediately smiled. “I was just thinking about a question and zoned out.”

“Don’t think about studying while eating. You’ve got two whole months of summer vacation—just do more exercises, and your grades will bounce back.” Li Wanzhen reassured her and piled on more food.

Meanwhile, Qian Guosheng noticed his son only eating fries and no vegetables. He couldn’t resist picking up a stick himself. “What’s this? Tastes good?”

“It’s better with ketchup.” Qian Jianing pointed to a small bowl beside it. “It’s easier to eat with your hands.”

Qian Jiafeng tried and his eyes lit up. “Sis, it really is better with ketchup! How do you make this?”

“Just cut the potatoes into strips, boil, and then fry them.” Qian Jianing grinned. “If you like them, I’ll make more next time.”

“You’re the best, Sis.” Qian Jiafeng immediately flattered her. “I like you the most!”

Qian Jianing ruffled his hair with a laugh, then turned to Li Wanzhen and said, “Mom, summer break is long. I want to try selling snacks outside to get some life experience.”

“But it’s so hot in the summer,” Li Wanzhen said, heart aching for her daughter. “You already went out today, didn’t you? I saw the stove still on your tricycle. Listen, now is the time to focus on studying. If you need money, just ask me. Making money isn’t your concern.”

“Mom!” Qian Jianing quickly stopped her from getting the money. “You spoil me too much. I’m already eighteen—I need to understand how hard life can be. I just want to try, to gain experience. I promise it won’t interfere with my studies.”

“Sis, are you planning to sell fries then?” Qian Jiafeng’s eyes sparkled. “If you are, take me with you! I’m ready to face life’s storms—and I can help collect money too!”

****

After dinner, Qian Jianing sat at her desk to review. Though she clearly remembered textbooks from grades 10 to 12 in her mind, it felt more reassuring to go over them again.

She picked up a math book and started reviewing from page one. After taking Treasure Bowl’s Enlightenment Pill, Qian Jianing noticed her memory had improved tremendously, and her comprehension and reading skills had also skyrocketed. She finished the thick math book in just ten minutes.

Putting it aside, she picked up her Chinese textbook, when suddenly a letter slipped out. She bent down to pick it up, and her body froze upon seeing the double hearts pierced by a sword drawn on the cover.

She had practically memorized this letter—it was full of sappy love talk, and Chen Kai had even invited her to meet at the skating rink every Friday at 9 a.m. Glancing at her calendar, she saw that tomorrow was Friday.

Expressionless, she tore the letter to shreds and dumped it in the trash can. Then she grabbed her brand-new summer homework and began answering questions. Just a quick glance was enough for solutions to appear in her mind. She filled out half the workbook in one go, finally calming her mind.

“It’s already 8 p.m., hurry up and go learn skills from Food Elder!” Treasure Bowl had held back long enough. Seeing her finally put down the pen, it urged, “The more skills you learn, the faster we make money. Chop-chop! Don’t delay my journey back to the heavens!”

Urged forward, Qian Jianing quickly brushed her teeth, washed up, and lay down, closing her eyes to begin training. Perhaps due to today’s great business with premium gear, Food Elder looked quite pleased. As soon as she arrived, he handed her a bowl of porridge. Unlike the plain one from yesterday, this time it had a few shrimp on top—quite the luxury.

Qian Jianing knew the porridge wasn’t ordinary. Yesterday’s plain porridge had enhanced her control and strength. Who knew what the shrimp-infused one would do?

She bowed gratefully and took a sip. Beyond the rice’s natural aroma, the shrimp added sweetness. After finishing half the bowl, she felt—perhaps it was psychological—her taste had become more acute. At first, it just seemed fresh, but eventually, she could even detect hints of ginger and the sweetness of crab meat.

Once done, as usual, she washed the bowl to return to Food Elder. With a wave of his hand, ten baskets of glistening green radishes appeared. He picked up a carving knife and randomly grabbed a radish, motioning for her to focus. “Think about the tips I taught you yesterday. I’ll only demonstrate once.”

Perhaps to help her see clearly, Food Elder slowed down his movements, but even so, Qian Jianing found it dazzling. In just ten minutes, he turned a fat radish into a statue of the Eight Immortals. Peering at the sculpture, she could even make out the strands of Lü Dongbin’s beard.

{T/n: Lü Dongbin is one of the Eight Immortals in Chinese Taoist mythology. He’s a legendary Tang dynasty scholar who, after failing in life’s ambitions, turned to Taoism, mastered inner alchemy, and achieved immortality. He’s often shown with a sword that cuts through evil and a gourd holding elixirs. Lü is seen as a protector of scholars, a spiritual teacher, and a trickster figure who uses wisdom and humor to guide others toward enlightenment }

He tossed the knife onto the cutting board and slumped back onto the couch. “Carve whatever you want—flowers, grass, insects—but one thing’s for sure: it must be lifelike.”

Qian Jianing picked up a radish, preparing to carve a bunny, when Treasure Bowl suddenly popped up, “Wait! Can we sell these carved radishes?”

Food Elder smirked. “If they don’t sell, just dice them up and fry them into radish balls—crispy and tasty, you’ll want more after one bite.”

Treasure Bowl’s chubby face lit up instantly. “Great idea! Xiaomi, get carving! For tomorrow’s radish balls! Oh—I wonder if the radish peels are edible too? If so, don’t waste them. Wash them and use them in the balls too!”

Qian Jianing’s hand twitched. Instead of the rabbit, she carved a mythical beast with a dragon’s head, horse’s body, scaled legs, and lion-like form and handed it to Treasure Bowl.

“What is this thing?” Treasure Bowl stared blankly at the creature, which was even bigger than his fist.

Qian Jianing beamed. “Pixiu.”

————
Pixiu is a Chinese mythical creature that looks like a winged lion with a dragon’s head. It’s believed to attract wealth and protect against evil. In feng shui, people use Pixiu statues or charms to bring in money and keep it from leaving—symbolizing lasting prosperity.