Chapter 19

The group slumped by the wall for a while before reluctantly getting to their feet. They had eaten way too much for dinner, and just squatting there made them feel like their stomachs were about to explode. Wang Dong staggered a few steps away with trembling legs, leaning against the wall, and patted his chest with lingering fear. “Good thing you all stopped me from making a scene. If I had flipped the table, she really might have ripped my head off and crushed it into powder.”

The image was too vivid—everyone turned pale just imagining it, goosebumps spreading across their bodies. Li Qiang rubbed his arms and remembered the meal cost nearly seventy yuan, adding to his worries. “Bro, we spent all that money and didn’t even get the job done. What if Zhao Dazhuang comes looking for us?”

Wang Dong gave a cold laugh. “Even if he doesn’t come looking for me, I’ll go find him. If that bastard hadn’t set us up, would I have been this scared today?” His anger deepened the more he thought about it. “I’ve been in this game for over ten years, and I’ve never suffered such a loss. I won’t let this slide.”

Wang Kun’s legs started trembling again at those words, just after they had finally stopped shaking. “Brother Wang, you plan to get revenge?”

“No shit. Otherwise, I can’t breathe easy.” He pulled out a cigarette and stuck it in his mouth. “Let’s go!”

The others exchanged glances and slumped against the wall, unwilling to move. “Go where?”

Wang Dong shot them an impatient look. “Didn’t I already say? We’re going to find Zhao Dazhuang and get revenge!”

“Huh?” Wang Kun was stunned, staring at him in confusion. “Weren’t we going to beat up that girl?”

Wang Dong nearly collapsed to the ground. He staggered forward a few steps, bracing himself against the wall, then turned around and smacked the back of Wang Kun’s head. “Are you brain-dead? Who could take even one of her pinches? You? If you’re so damn brave, you go!”

Wang Kun’s head shook like a rattle drum. He hadn’t even gotten married yet—why would he go mess with that girl unless he had a death wish? Wang Dong snorted, took a couple of drags from his cigarette, then threw it on the ground and crushed it hard underfoot. “Come on, let’s go find Zhao Dazhuang.”

Inside Meiwei Restaurant, only two tables were occupied. Zhao Dazhuang finished stir-frying a plate of spicy shredded potatoes, set it on a customer’s table, and grabbed a pack of cigarettes from behind the counter before stepping outside. Normally, this time of night was peak business for Meiwei Restaurant, but today, for some reason, even regulars like Cheng Tianxiang—who typically spent freely—hadn’t shown up. Only a few scattered diners came by, and all ordered cheap dishes that barely turned a profit.

Zhao Dazhuang stared out into the darkness. The thick night obscured the far end of the street, but he could still clearly hear the voices and laughter coming from that direction. It sounded like taunting and made his blood boil. He spat on the ground with disgust. “Damn brat, one day you’ll be begging me on your knees.”

“Zhao Dazhuang.” A cold voice rang out.

Zhao Dazhuang froze and instinctively took a step back. But when he saw that it was Wang Dong and his crew emerging from the shadows, he let out a sigh of relief. “Bro, you’re here. I was lost in thought just now. Come in, come in. I’ve got some primo pork intestines today—I’ll stir-fry you a plate.”

Wang Dong strode up and kicked Zhao Dazhuang hard into a nearby tree, knocking the wind and sense out of him. Wang Dong had been in street fights since childhood. While he couldn’t handle someone superpowered like Qian Jianing, taking care of a guy like Zhao Dazhuang was child’s play.

Zhao Dazhuang clutched his stomach and tried to get up, but the moment he forced his muscles into action, pain seared through his entire body and he collapsed again.

Wang Dong finally let out all the pent-up rage that had been simmering all night. He stood over Zhao Dazhuang, looking down with disdain. “I used to bring you so much business, and you dare set me up? You’ve got some nerve.”

Zhao Dazhuang, though burly and tough-looking, had lost his edge over the years. Once, his fierce appearance alone could intimidate many. But after running a restaurant and gorging on greasy meats day and night, his once firm muscles had turned to fat. He’d get winded just from walking too far, let alone fighting.

“What are you talking about?” Zhao Dazhuang was baffled. He felt more wronged than Dou E—what did he even do to deserve getting kicked like that?

Wang Dong wasn’t in the mood for explanations. He grabbed Zhao Dazhuang by the collar, hauled him upright, and landed a solid punch on his pudgy face. Stars exploded in Zhao Dazhuang’s vision, a molar felt loose, and he could taste blood on his tongue.

Wang Dong let go of his collar and jabbed a finger in his face. “Watch yourself from now on.”

Wang Kun and the others looked at Zhao Dazhuang with a mix of pity and derision. This guy was not only a lousy cook but also petty and conniving. Picking a fight with that girl was bad enough, but he dared use them as pawns too? That beating was totally deserved.

As the group’s figures disappeared into the night, Zhao Dazhuang gnawed his teeth in hatred. He couldn’t understand—all friendly camaraderie just the day before, and now they’d turned on him completely?

He spat out a mouthful of bloody phlegm and sighed. He’d really hit a streak of bad luck lately—not just getting pushed around in business, but now beaten for no reason. Struggling to his feet, he suddenly remembered giving Wang Dong a hundred yuan and three packs of cigarettes yesterday. The thought alone made his chest hurt more.

After Wang Dong left, Qian Jianing got busy again. She didn’t have time to figure out who had sent him. Against true strength, all plots are just paper tigers. The immortal kitchen’s top-tier equipment, along with her fists, were all the strength she needed.

With Qian Jianing’s expert culinary skills, outstanding flavor, and environment far superior to the average eatery, the restaurant had only been open five days, yet news had already spread among those with influence in Zibo City. Many had come to try it and were utterly charmed by her cooking.

But while everything about Qian Xiaomi’s shop was great, the one annoying thing was the long wait times. For casual gatherings with friends or family, it was fine. But for business dinners or professional meetings, waiting in line was a deal-breaker—you can’t bring clients to queue at a restaurant.

Just as people were starting to regret this, Qian Jianing announced an appointment-only policy for Monday through Saturday dinner service. On the first reservation day, the line of people booking was longer than those actually eating. Bookings instantly filled from September this year through to October of the following year. Some even brought their own checklists, writing down every dish they’d heard of or tried. It was livelier than the grand opening of Zibo City Department Store.

****

Before she knew it, school had begun. Qian Jianing posted a notice on the wall ahead of time: the restaurant would be closed during the day and open at 6 p.m., and only guests with reservations would be admitted—others would not be served.

It had been more than 20 years across both lives since Qian Jianing had last stepped into a school. As she slung her backpack over her shoulder again, nostalgia washed over her. After a ten-minute walk, she reached the school gate and, reading the plaque that read “Zibo City No. 18 High School,” she felt dazed for a moment. School… I’ve finally come back.

“Qian Jianing!” a girl ran up from behind and playfully tapped her shoulder. “I thought that was you. Did you finish your homework?”

Qian Jianing turned to see the girl who sat next to her—Li Xue—and smiled, nodding. “It’s done.”

“Really?” Li Xue laughed and hooked her arm through hers. “I was worried you spent the whole summer hanging out with Chen Kai and forgot about it.”

Just hearing that scumbag’s name killed half of Qian Jianing’s good mood. She frowned slightly and looked at Li Xue seriously. “We broke up. Don’t bring him up again.”

Li Xue was overjoyed. As Qian Jianing’s good friend, she didn’t dare directly advise her to dump Chen Kai, but she had prayed for it a hundred times. She grabbed Qian Jianing’s hand, face full of excitement. “Really? That’s great! Because of your puppy love, even the teachers thought less of you. Good thing you realized it in time. You kept spacing out in class last semester, and a few subjects didn’t go so well. Anyway, if there’s anything you don’t understand, come to me—I’ll help you review. Let’s catch up together. I want to apply for the same university as you!”

Qian Jianing felt warmth in her heart and nodded with a sincere smile.

Li Xue was one of the few good friends Qian Jianing had in high school. When she’d first entered high school, she had quite a few friends, all bright girls who loved studying. They’d chat about math and discuss English together. But once she started dating, all those girls, except Li Xue, began to distance themselves, some even looking at her with disdain.

Qian Jianing had understood that. In a time when the mindset was still a bit old-fashioned, her behavior practically screamed rebellion.

But Li Xue hadn’t abandoned her—she even asked the teacher to assign her the same desk. She would nudge her any time she drifted off during class. Past-life Qian Jianing had found her annoying, but this time, she was full of gratitude.

The two walked into the Class 2 Grade 11 classroom, already bustling with students cleaning. As Qian Jianing walked in, a few girls shot her gossipy looks. She didn’t have to ask to know—Chen Kai must be flirting around again; he had a long history of such behavior.

Qian Jianing’s smile didn’t flicker. She and Li Xue glanced at the seating chart on the blackboard and went to their spots. She pulled a clean cloth out of her bag to wipe the desk.

The gossipy girls exchanged looks, clearly confused. How had Qian Jianing changed so much over just one summer break? She used to be glued to Chen Kai. If another girl so much as talked to him, she’d flip out on the spot. Meanwhile, Chen Kai sat in a corner, peeking over a girl’s shoulder at Qian Jianing, who hadn’t spared him a single glance. He clenched his fists.

After cleaning the desk and chairs, Qian Jianing and Li Xue washed their hands and returned. Qian Jianing pulled a lunchbox from her bag and handed it to her. “I made these—brought them just for you.”

“Really?” Li Xue was pleasantly surprised. “Did you learn this during summer with your mom?” She opened the lid and found eight square-shaped, snow-white pastries. Curious, she picked one up. “What are these called?”

Qian Jianing smiled. “Golden Money Rice Cakes. I made four flavors—rose, red bean paste, pumpkin, and candied fruit. See which one you like.”

Li Xue took a bite. The rice cake was soft and chewy, with the sweetness and floral aroma of rose instantly winning her over. “This is amazing! I had no idea you were this good at it.” She chewed up the rest and looked blissfully satisfied. “So delicious. I’ve never had anything this good before.”

Before Qian Jianing could reply, Zhao Ran turned around from the front with a mocking look. “So what if you can bake? Planning to sell pastries for a living?” She paused dramatically, sneering. “Well, actually, that’s a decent path. With no hope for college, better learn a trade early than starve later.”

“How can you talk like that?” Li Xue exploded, banging her desk into Zhao Ran’s chair. “If you’ve got nothing decent to say, shut up.”

Zhao Ran turned back angrily. “Of course you’d take her side. Someday you’ll end up just like her.”

Li Xue was about to retort when Qian Jianing gently pressed her hand with a chuckle. “Why bother? Not worth the time.”

Amidst the tension, the homeroom teacher Wang Yarong entered with a thick stack of exam papers. The rowdy students instantly quieted and rushed back to their seats.

Wang Yarong scanned the class and nodded approvingly when she saw everyone present. “Students, starting today, you’re now in your second year. Time to refocus and dive into your studies. To assess your summer review, we’ll conduct a start-of-term exam. Rankings will be made based on scores, and your parents will sign the report card.”

Groans echoed through the class. Wang Yarong tapped the blackboard with her pointer stick, eyebrows raised in full authority. “Silence! Listen carefully. Keep only your textbooks in the desk slot. Students from rows one, three, five, and seven, go to Class 1 Grade 12 for the exam. It starts at 9:00 a.m.”

While gathering her things, Li Xue muttered to Qian Jianing, “Even cross-grade testing? This is a bit much!”

Qian Jianing checked her pencil case and smiled. “Hurry, the exam’s about to begin.” Li Xue saw the Grade 12 students filtering in and dashed off.

The math paper and scratch pads were handed out. Qian Jianing wrote her name and got to work. Wang Yarong patrolled the room, checking names. When she reached Qian Jianing’s side and looked at her sheet, her steps halted—only five minutes in, and Qian Jianing had already finished the multiple-choice and fill-in-the-blank sections.

Wang Yarong, both homeroom and math teacher, had felt deeply disappointed in this student. Such promise, wasted on early romance—it was every teacher’s nightmare. She had expected Qian Jianing to be a lost cause by now, but seeing the progress gave her a spark of hope.

Maybe… this child was back on the right path?

That morning they had math and Chinese exams. Afterward, Qian Jianing stretched and got ready to go home. Chen Kai watched her all morning, feeling like he was on fire inside. Not once had she glanced at him. For the first time in his life, a girl had dumped him. The memory of being mocked for having no money, laughed at for skipping ice rinks and dance halls—all because she stopped funding him—made him want to beat her to a pulp. How dare she dump him?

Seeing her leave, Chen Kai lunged to grab her arm.

Qian Jianing turned around, saw his twisted, angry face, and shook him off impatiently. “What are you doing? Still not had enough of a beating last time?”

Chen Kai sneered. “Don’t scare me with that crap. I figured it out—it was just me tripping. You really think you’re that good?”

Qian Jianing cracked her neck and smirked. “What do you think?”

Seeing her mocking smile, love and hate surged in Chen Kai’s chest. Right now, he still really liked Qian Jianing—she had a sweet face and made him look good in public. But he also resented her deeply for breaking up, for cutting off the cash flow.

As more students gathered to watch, Qian Jianing’s expression turned cold. “Chen Kai, I’ll say it one more time: stay away from me. Or I won’t be polite next time.”

Students from Class 2 Grade 11 were stunned. Just last semester, they were an insufferably clingy couple—how did they become enemies over one summer? No wonder she ignored him chatting with other girls—they broke up!

As whispers spread through the crowd, Qian Jianing rolled her eyes and turned to leave. Chen Kai grabbed her arm again, and she immediately countered, flipping him to the ground.

The whispers abruptly stopped. Everyone stared wide-eyed—what just happened? They hadn’t even processed what was going on, and someone was already down?

Suddenly, someone laughed, followed by a chorus of giggles. Embarrassed and furious, Chen Kai jumped up and swung at Qian Jianing. A few girls screamed. Qian Jianing blocked him with her arm. He felt like he’d hit steel—his arm throbbed. Before he could react, a slender fist appeared before him.

And then Chen Kai felt himself flying.

The students of Class 2, Grade 11 stared in shock as Chen Kai was sent flying more than a meter by a single punch from Qian Jianing. Their mouths hung open in disbelief, and what was even more horrifying was that a bloodied tooth had flown out of Chen Kai’s mouth. Everyone turned their eyes toward Qian Jianing, their gazes filled with a mixture of awe and astonishment. They had been classmates for a year, and only now did they realize that Qian Jianing was a hidden master of her craft.

At that time, martial arts TV dramas were all the rage. If someone hadn’t seen at least two of them, they were embarrassed to even strike up a conversation. Qian Jianing’s swift and decisive moves stirred the martial arts fantasies in many of her classmates, and their eyes practically sparkled as they looked at her. Zhao Ran, who had just mocked Qian Jianing that very morning, had turned pale. She stared at the blood at the corner of Chen Kai’s mouth, covering her own cheek in fright, terrified that Qian Jianing would remember what happened that morning and give her a punch too.

Lowering her fist, Qian Jianing walked toward Chen Kai. All the resentment and dissatisfaction that had filled him earlier had vanished, replaced instead with sheer terror. That punch might have looked crisp and elegant to the others, but only he knew—in that moment when Qian Jianing’s fist sent him flying—he had genuinely thought he was going to die.

Qian Jianing crouched down in front of Chen Kai. “Don’t ever pester me again. Do you understand?”

Chen Kai quickly nodded. The wound in his mouth ached terribly, and he could only mumble incoherently, “I heard you. I won’t dare again.”

Qian Jianing let out a cold laugh and stood up. “I hope you remember what you just said. Otherwise, it won’t be just a light punch next time.”