NOVEL NEXT Chapter 18: New day
That night I ate longevity noodles made by grandmother Li. I was full from dinner but still finished it. We all went to bed very late, the trio had to set up their new beds and put away our purchases while I had to cultivate. I skipped that activity yesterday but I could not afford to skip it again.
I thought I would have trouble sleeping due to the evening unpleasantries but I was so tired that I was asleep before my head hit the pillow. I woke up with a cup of cold water poured on my face for the second time since my return. Li Bo looked at me in amazement. For him, sleeping like the dead was a skill that I already mastered.
The autumn mornings were getting colder. With my 3rd level, I did not feel the difference but Li Bo had to put on an extra layer of clothes. Yesterday’s bad mood disappeared. I even made fun of Li Yao because he kept apologizing for pouring the cold water on my face - Grandma Li was the one who did it yesterday - I asked the youngest Li to do it tomorrow. He looked so distressed that I expect him to force me to sleep early today. Not a chance Li Bo!
After a hearty breakfast of green leaf onion pancakes, meat steam buns and fish porridge, I had some extra time. I asked my flash messenger - Li Yao - to tell the driver to be ready 1 hour earlier. I planned to take the trio to the market to buy vegetables and fruits. Then, I took a piece of paper to write the employment agreement and salary scales that I should have given to the trio yesterday. Grandma Li told me that she was paid 100 silver tael a month in her previous job but she asked if she could get instead a low level spiritual stone a year. This would not do, her previous salary was too low. Now I understand why at her advanced age, she was only at level 4. Li Yao went to school city and cultivated at every chance he got to reach level 3. Li Bo’s education was lacking so I had to find him a tutor or register him for school.
The mandatory education rule started a bit late in the former Huo city. It was implemented only 10 years ago so when the beast attacked, the citizens' overall power was too low for survival. AnNan city established this rule when the current city lord took power, this was 50 years ago. This law raised a lot of dissatisfaction at the beginning. However, 20 years later, with the first generation of fully educated cultivators improving the city's strength and safety all those voices died down. The poor families of the new generation of cultivators also benefited which directly increased the overall living environment in areas that were formerly considered slums
Basically, I agree with my city's education plan. In this world, only when the citizens are strong and educated can a city be safe. Hence, I am going to help the trio get stronger alongside me. Even if the Li boys decide to go to a sect later on, helping them would create a favorable relationship for the future. I liked grandma Li, so the higher the cultivation level, the longer she would live - and the longer she can stay by my and her grandsons' side -
My first strategy is to motivate them to cultivate well so I plan to use the capitalist way I learned in my second life; use bonuses and incentives. Because of the morning shopping, I had to put away the half finished employment contracts. I hoped to have some time at school to finish them
No one bothered me on my way out. The driver was sleepy but did not complain. I bought some snacks for everyone on the way as compensation for waking up early. The farmer's market was noisy and crowded so I asked the driver to wait for us at the entrance. For once, he did not insist on following us. Maybe he does not work for dear 1st aunt anymore as she lost the household's management power.
We bought a lot of fruits and vegetables in a record time - I still had to go to school - We added some chickens and ducks that we took to the butcher to be slaughtered as my ring could only accept inanimate objects. I did not forget to buy eggs too. I asked grandma Li to talk to some of the farmers, later on, to see if we could visit their villages to directly buy their produce. It was too late this season but that would be a cover for me to take a look at their living conditions to plan for the freezing winter.
That hour quickly passed and I went to school. This time some students from the free section looked at me instead of ignoring me. I recognized the two who had the same exam as me. They nodded toward me as a greeting and I waved. There was an unspoken rule, learned from my she-wolf cousin, that the students from the free section cannot initiate a talk with the student of the wealthy section. My wave was to show them that I did not care about that rule. But as soon as I waved they lowered their heads and disappeared into the crowd. Weird, was a wave at school considered an insult?
“Shin-ge! Shin-ge!” Sui-er was walking toward me with an adult man following him.
“How did the exam go?” he asked when he reached me. I used a victory sign and said “I passed of course. Cultivation history starting today”
“Congratulations Shin-ge! today’s lunch is on me”
“Thank you Sui-er” I looked at the adult next to Sui-er and asked with my eyes
“I forgot … sorry dad. Dad, this is the friend I talked to you about Shin-ge…euh Bai YuShin. He is the one who introduced me to cafeteria food” and then turn to me
“Shin-ge, this is my dad”
“You can call me uncle Qin,” said Sui-er's dad. Not the same surname may be Sui-er is adopted
“Nice to meet you, uncle Qin” I said while bowing
“Tell me Shin-er, why do you eat cafeteria food?” asked uncle Qin
Sui-er looked at me as if to warn me but I already knew what NOT to say
“It is just convenient. I live on the north side of the city. Pretty far from the school so the food would turn cold before it reaches me so once in a while, I would prefer dealing with my own lunch instead of having it delivered” nanny Wei never gave me my lunch before going to school despite my dimensional space ring's capabilities of keeping it warm. My talk was full of holes and uncle Qin looked smart so he most likely knew that I left out some details
“I already made enough food for both of you as a return gift for buying lunch for Sui-er yesterday. How about eating it together and giving me your review?” offered uncle Qin
“That would be great! Thank you uncle Qin. Sui-er, let's meet at lunchtime near the golden Koi fish pond area. It is a day sunny enough to have a picnic”
“What is a pic.nic?” asked Sui-er
“Eating and chatting while watching a nice scenery,” I said without missing a beat
