By nightfall, the bright red lanterns hung high in front of every household, their fiery hue adding a festive cheer to this Chinese New Year.
The incessant sounds of firecrackers and the aroma of dinner preparations from every home intermingled, creating a unique festive atmosphere.
At this moment, in front of the “Screaming Glasses Noodles” shop, two tables were pushed together, laden with a variety of delicacies. Jiao Dad was still constantly stirring food on the stove, clearly with more dishes yet to come.
A moment later, Tu Jun and his father each carried a dish and walked over.
“Old Tu, what’s this dish you’re making?”
“Braised pork and cured sausage,” Tu Fu chuckled, then sat down directly.
“You make braised pork and cured sausage every year, can’t you change it up?”
“Who told me to only know how to make this?”
As they spoke, Luo Shen Xi’s mother and Ding Rong Liang’s parents also carried dishes and arrived.
“Everyone’s here, come sit.”
Jiao Ma quickly greeted them, looking around, then shook Jiao Dad’s arm, asking,
“Where’s Jiao Jiao?”
Jiao Dad kept stirring the food on the stove, not lifting his head as he replied,
“She probably went to Xiao Chuan’s place. She’ll be here soon.”
As he spoke, Jiao Ma saw Zhu Wei Jiao and Luo Chuan walking over, carrying bowls and plates from afar, and quickly went to take them.
“Oh, Xiao Chuan even made pork belly soup.”
Luo Chuan smiled, then placed the sweet and sour pork and braised meat on the table. He had prepared all the hard-to-make dishes.
“Did you make all of these?” Luo Shen Xi’s mother asked in surprise.
“Yes,” Luo Chuan nodded, these home-cooked dishes were nothing to him.
“I’ll have to taste your cooking later.”
“I won’t disappoint Auntie,” Luo Chuan was confident.
Soon, Luo Shen Xi and the others ran over, everyone gathered around the table, filled with joy.
“Don’t be shy, everyone, we’re all family, no need to be polite,” Jiao Dad brought out the last dish, urging them.
Tu Fu poured wine as he joked,
“The head chef hasn’t sat down yet, how dare we eat first?”
“Hahaha,” everyone laughed.
“Then your head chef is going to drink today, no returning until he’s drunk, how about that?”
Tu Fu chuckled,
“If you say that, I’ll naturally accompany you to the end, today we’ll get drunk.”
Mimi’s parents were older and didn’t drink, the rest were just kids and women, so the only ones who could taste the wine were these two.
“Come, let me try Xiao Chuan’s dishes,” Luo Shen Xi’s mother picked up a piece of sweet and sour pork and put it in her mouth.
After chewing a few times, her eyes lit up. She called out,
“You all try it, Xiao Chuan’s cooking is really good.”
Everyone picked up their chopsticks, except for Zhu Wei Jiao, the others couldn’t help but nod. To be honest, Luo Chuan’s cooking was beyond their expectations.
Especially Zhu Wei Jiao’s dad, he had been a cook for decades, although not a great chef, he still had his own experience. He could guarantee that he couldn’t make sweet and sour pork as delicious as this.
“Not bad, Xiao Chuan, with your skills, you can definitely become a chef....”
Jiao Ma glared at Jiao Dad, a hint of reproach in her eyes. What was he talking about? Luo Chuan would definitely go to college, becoming a chef would be a waste of his talent.
Luckily, Luo Chuan didn’t mind, and happily ate with the others.
After dinner, it was time for a group photo. Everyone quickly moved chairs together, with the adults sitting in the front and Luo Chuan and Tu Jun, the younger generation, standing behind.
“Ready?” Jiao Jiao’s dad adjusted the camera, quickly returning to his seat.
With a click, everyone’s smiling faces were captured in the photo. Luo Chuan, who had been wandering alone because of his grandmother’s death, seemed to have found a small place to stay.
After taking the picture, there was still some time before New Year’s Eve. At Tu Jun’s instigation, everyone ran around with fireworks and firecrackers.
In the dazzling fireworks, in the booming explosions, in the joyful laughter, Luo Chuan welcomed the new year.
【Luo Chuan】
Age: 17
Abilities: Wuji Stake LV2, Programming LV2, English LV2, Chinese Language LV2, Cooking LV2, Math (Mental Calculation) LV2, Physics LV2, Running LV2, Biology LV2, Chemistry LV2, History LV2, Politics LV2, Geography LV2, Eight Extremities Fist LV1, Astronomy LV1.
Titles: Experienced Gold Digger, Rookie Politician
Items: Disappearance Card, Grand Eunuch Experience Card.
The system interface was still simple, but compared to the large number of LV1s before, the current panel was undoubtedly much better.
On the day before the New Year’s Eve, Luo Chuan finally upgraded Politics and Geography to LV2.
The reward for upgrading Politics was a white title, called “Rookie Politician.”
Rookie Politician: Remain calm in the face of major events, Emotional Stability +10%.
The effect of this title had not yet been seen, and it was not as helpful to Luo Chuan as the Gold Digger title, but it was still a title, so he didn’t hesitate to put it on. Titles were always better in larger numbers.
As for the reward for Geography, it was Astronomy knowledge, giving Luo Chuan Astronomy LV1.
Learning Geography but getting Astronomy as a reward, Luo Chuan had complained about this many times.
After the first day of the New Year, Luo Chuan, who didn’t have many relatives, only visited a few neighbors. He spent the rest of the time practicing Eight Extremities Fist and Wuji Stake.
It was this morning that the Eight Extremities Fist officially reached LV1.
【Eight Extremities Fist upgraded to LV1, reward Physique +1】
Physique again?
Luo Chuan was stunned, the last time he upgraded Wuji Stake to LV1, the reward was also Physique. Before he could think further, a familiar warm current appeared out of thin air in his body, continuously strengthening his muscles.
Subcutaneous fat burned rapidly, the muscles on his abdomen, which were only faintly visible before, immediately revealed distinct six-pack abs. His arms and legs also had obvious muscle lines.
The muscle lines were smooth and natural, each muscle as if carved from marble, yet not as bloated and weak as a bodybuilder’s. Every part was just right.
Luo Chuan clenched his fist, his strength had increased considerably. The increase in Physique brought about a comprehensive improvement in physical fitness. With a strong body, strength could become stronger, and speed could become faster.
Chapter Note: Thanks to “yig..”, “Feng Ying Luo” and other book friends for your monthly ticket support. Thank you all for your flower and comment support.