After Zhou Xiu returned to the Xi family home, the first thing she did after putting down her schoolbag was to go for a run.
The butler was about to ask her for a favour, but before he could say anything, she had disappeared in the blink of an eye after putting down her bag.
He wanted to ask her to teach Aunt Niu how to make plum-flavoured Pork Ribs.
The butler glanced at the young master, who exuded a cold aura and had only eaten half a bowl of rice with a lack of interest, and sighed silently.
Zhou Xiu, drenched in sweat, reminded herself while looking at her watch, “One hour is enough.”
System: [You can choose to exercise again tomorrow.]
[Ding—You have earned a 5 RMB reward for exercising for one hour.]
Zhou Xiu shook her head. “No.”
For Zhou Xiu, once she started something, she had to see it through to the end. Sticking to the same task is neither too hard nor too easy, but missing even a day or a minute doesn’t count as persistence.
“I’ve said it before, I need money.”
On a winter night, the temperature was very low. After being exposed to the cold wind for a while, Zhou Xiu’s sweat had almost dried. She was already starving and desperately needed to replenish her energy.
But remembering the Xi family’s eldest son’s habit of being a clean freak, Zhou Xiu insisted on taking a shower first.
By the time she was done, the dining table was already empty.
The food was also cold.
Zhou Xiu reheated the food and started thinking about another daily task.
To catch up on writing a self-reflection essay, Zhou Xiu missed discussing her studies with her classmates. But asking Xi Shaoyuan for help was out of the question; she would rather forgo the reward.
She was very satisfied with their current relationship—clearly defined and non-interfering. As long as Xi Shaoyuan had no objections to her, Zhou Xiu wouldn’t try to charm him for money.
Zhou Xiu didn’t feel regretful, but she was a bit annoyed at missing out on the reward.
System: […]
It had seen poor students before, but never one so poor and stingy.
At this point, seeing that Zhou Xiu had finished her meal, the Xi family’s maid couldn’t help but call out to her.
“Xiuxiu, can you teach Aunt Niu how to make yesterday’s plum-flavoured Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs?”
Zhou Xiu put down her bowl and chopsticks, her eyes lighting up at the request.
She replied excitedly, “It’s not about teaching, Aunt Niu is being polite. We can exchange ideas. I’d like to learn how to make Osmanthus Cake.”
Aunt Niu gladly agreed.
Aunt Niu was an excellent cook, professionally trained and holding a senior technician certificate. But she couldn’t replicate the taste of Zhou Xiu’s dish; something always seemed missing.
Following Zhou Xiu’s demonstration, Aunt Niu observed and engaged in the process. Zhou Xiu explained, “The secret to the dish’s red colour is the red yeast in the sauce.”
“Auntie, watch how I mix the ingredients.”
Zhou Xiu finely chopped garlic, scallions, vinegar, and rock sugar, emphasizing that the perfect balance between sugar and vinegar was the key to success.
After watching the whole process, Aunt Niu murmured, “So that’s it. No wonder I couldn’t get it right.”
Zhou Xiu smiled.
Aunt Niu brought out some osmanthus sugar and dissolved the gelatine powder in it. She added water and brought it to a boil. As the water bubbled, the kitchen was filled with the sweet aroma of osmanthus.
Aunt Niu ladled the hot osmanthus syrup and patiently instructed Zhou Xiu, “Put it in the fridge to cool, and it will be ready to eat tomorrow.”
Zhou Xiu nodded, “Got it! Thank you, Aunt Niu.”
As soon as she finished speaking, a “ding” sounded: [You have completed 5 interactions today and earned 5 RMB.]
Aunt Niu looked at the sweetly smiling girl and felt her heart melt. She thought about her previous worries and felt embarrassed.
At the same time, a voice sounded in Zhou Xiu’s mind:
[Good cooking can improve the quality of life. Please learn to make ‘Coconut Osmanthus Cake’ and earn 5 RMB.]
Zhou Xiu yawned, ready to sleep. But hearing this, she immediately perked up.
She prepared a new set of ingredients. The steps for Coconut Osmanthus Cake were more complex, requiring the addition of a layer of coconut milk every thirty minutes until it cooled. Repeating this five times resulted in a beautifully layered yellow and white osmanthus cake.
After finishing the cake, she placed it in the fridge to cool. Rather than waste time waiting, she decided to do her homework.
Zhou Xiu brought down her textbooks and homework, reviewing her lessons. Every half hour, she would go to the kitchen to add another layer of coconut milk.
After several repetitions, and with the final layer of osmanthus syrup added, Zhou Xiu was so tired she could barely keep her eyes open.
She rested her head on the table and dozed off for a while.
Xi Shaoyuan came downstairs to get some water and saw this scene.
The lights in the living room were left on, casting a soft glow on the girl. She was wearing pink plush pyjamas, and a textbook had left a mark on her cheek.
Her face was unusually serene.
Xi Shaoyuan remembered how frenzied she could be, how impossible it was to get rid of her, and slowly moved his gaze away, refusing to look at her again.
She had better maintain this docile demeanour, or he would surely kick her out of the Xi family!
Xi Shaoyuan took his water and went back upstairs to his room.
……
The next day.
Zhou Xiu opened the fridge and took out the Coconut Osmanthus Cake. The gelatinous texture was smooth and translucent, with the osmanthus flowers embedded like a piece of art.
Taking a bite, it was chewy and refreshing, with the fragrance of coconut and osmanthus.
It was a delightful way to start the day, despite being a bit too cold.
After eating, Zhou Xiu shivered from the cold, so she steamed some in a basket and took a portion to school.
Hua Xu was once again treated to a sample and couldn’t help but praise her, “Xiuxiu, your cooking is amazing!”
“Whoever marries you will be so lucky. You shouldn’t marry anyone; we should open a dessert shop together.”
Zhou Xiu paused her writing and said, “Just eat. If this isn’t enough to shut your mouth, nothing will be.”
Hua Xu ate half of Zhou Xiu’s breakfast and excitedly asked, “I heard from the boys that Old Huang made you write a self-reflection for the Monday flag-raising assembly?”
Zhou Xiu nodded.
“You don’t have to go. Let’s see what he can do,” Hua Xu said, turning to face Zhou Xiu seriously. “Xu Qing said if he makes you do a self-reflection, we can sue him for character defamation. I’ll have my dad’s team of lawyers handle it, and we’ll definitely win.”
Zhou Xiu instinctively glanced at Xu Qing, who sat to her right. He had a clean-cut hairstyle, with jet-black hair like ink. His face was handsome and poised, giving the impression of a model student. Zhou Xiu took note of him.
Zhou Xiu looked at Hua Xu, “It’s okay, you guys don’t need to get involved.”
She paused and then slowly said, “A student’s issue should be resolved using student methods.”
……
That afternoon, they had another math class.
Mr. Huang was usually late, often arriving well after the bell had rung. But this time, he surprisingly arrived in Class 24 just as the bell rang.
He started by asking, “Zhou Xiu, have you finished your 10,000-word self-reflection?”
“You’re still children and bound to make mistakes. As an adult, I won’t hold it against you. But once you’re in society, who will tolerate you—”
Zhou Xiu interrupted him honestly, “I haven’t finished it.”
Mr. Huang thought that after his reprimand yesterday, Zhou Xiu would have changed her ways, but she hadn’t. He immediately became furious and roared, “Zhou Xiu, get out of the classroom. Don’t come back until you’ve written the 10,000-word self-reflection.”
Zhou Xiu calmly packed her textbooks, assignments, and notes. She walked up to the teacher and said, “I don’t have to attend your class.”
“But please remember, teacher, it’s you who is driving out your best student today.”
The entire class was stunned: “???”
Everyone was confused.
Hua Xu: “???”
What was she saying?
Mr. Huang was taken aback by her audacity, then burst out laughing in anger.
He had looked into Zhou Xiu’s records and found that she had transferred from an unknown, underperforming county school with average grades. She had no notable background, so he felt secure in dismissing her.
Mr. Huang sneered, “If you, Zhou Xiu, are the best, then I’ve wasted all my years teaching.”
“Being placed in Class 24 already proves your abilities.”
What arrogance!
Yude Middle School, though private, was a top-tier school with excellent teachers. It attracted many top students after the entrance exams and boasted well-trained elites. The competition was as fierce as at any key public school.
Even the top students from the Rocket Class wouldn’t dare speak so boldly to him. Who did Zhou Xiu think she was?
Zhou Xiu said seriously, “So, teacher, do you dare to make a bet? I won’t attend your classes. If I get the highest score in math at the end of the term, you will apologize and admit that I was the best student you ever taught.”
“If I lose, I’ll publicly apologize to you at the flag-raising assembly and personally present you with a banner.”
Mr. Huang laughed in disbelief, “You already need to write a self-reflection!”
“So you don’t dare to bet? Then…” Zhou Xiu slowly said:
“What right do you have to drive your best student out of the classroom?”
“Zhou Xiu, you’re talking nonsense!” Mr. Huang roared.
Hua Xu couldn’t help but laugh out loud, pounding the desk.
Xu Qing also burst into laughter.
“Hahahahahahahahaha.”
“Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha…”
The entire class erupted in laughter, the noise almost lifting the ceiling.
Zhou Xiu shrugged, holding her math textbook as she walked out of the classroom.
……
After class, Class 24 was buzzing like a pot of boiling oil.
Hua Xu was nearly dying of laughter because of her new desk mate.
She was still laughing after class, her shoulders shaking as she tried to contain her laughter. “You really did it, Xiuxiu. Look at how mad you made Old Huang.”
After laughing, she gave Zhou Xiu an admiring look. “Is this just a delaying tactic?”
“Well done, no one will remember this by next semester.”
Zhou Xiu put down her pen, closed her textbook, and calmly said, “What do you think?”
Hua Xu’s elbow slipped, and she looked at Zhou Xiu with the shocked gaze of a slacker discovering a hidden genius.
“You… really want Mr. Huang to apologize?”
At this point, all the nearby classmates turned to look at Zhou Xiu, grinning and craning their necks to see her better.
“Transfer student, let’s get to know each other. I’m Du Feiyang.”
“I’m Tan Ming, Xu-jie’s little brother.”
“Xiuxiu, and I’m Yu Qingyan,” a girl interrupted.
Zhou Xiu turned and nodded to them, “Nice to meet you.”
Du Feiyang, a notorious slacker, was thrilled. For the first time, he hadn’t slept through a class and felt entirely invigorated.
He said, “Xiuxiu, you’re a top student, right? Study hard and show him up! Make him regret calling us useless.”
Tan Ming, who struggled with academics, sighed. “Zhou Xiu, be honest with us, can you really do it?”
“The top students from the Rocket Class are incredibly good.”
Zhou Xiu wanted to be honest, but seeing the expectant faces and feeling the heat of their anticipation, she doubted she could leave the classroom safely if she told the truth.
She slowly pulled out a smile.
“I’ve made my statement. Even if I can’t, I must.”
The slackers were instantly pumped with adrenaline.
Zhou Xiu added, “Class is about to start, let’s listen carefully. I hope I’m not fighting this battle alone.”
“At the end of the term, let’s win back our deserved respect together.”
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