CHAPTER 520: CHAPTER 284: LITTLE BIRD ALWAYS MAKES TROUBLE_2

"I saw my uncle and third uncle this New Year," Qu Jing suddenly spoke up.

Qin Huai paused in the middle of mixing fruit salad and asked, "Did you go volunteer at the nursing home during New Year?"

"Yes." Qu Jing nodded, "My parents invited me to go with them. Our hospital also had tasks in that area, so I volunteered."

"Third Uncle said I really resemble a niece of his who passed away many years ago." Qu Jing laughed, "He told me a lot about my previous life."

"In my past life, I was always muddled, not knowing much of anything. I never realized I was so exceptional in Third Uncle’s eyes. He said I used to come first in every class test, got the highest score in the city for my high school entrance exam, and was in the top ten for college entrance exams."

"I distinctly remember my high school entrance exam was first in the school, top ten in the city, but in Third Uncle’s memory he embellished it even more."

"He remembered I liked wearing dresses, enjoyed painting, and in middle school, because I wanted to be an artsy young woman, I followed the trend and wrote poetry. In high school, I learned to play the flute with classmates, but after two months I still couldn’t play a full tune."

"Third Uncle even remembered the day I got into Kyoto Medical College, my dad was so happy he drank half a bottle of liquor, got drunk and slept until the next afternoon."

"He remembered when I started college and wanted to join the literary club, but my poetry was so bad they didn’t accept me. I was so sad I wrote a letter to my parents to complain, and he remembered that too."

Qu Jing quietly said this as she gently served the rice cake soup.

"Third Uncle said his niece was excellent, but because of her excellence, heaven was jealous of her talents. Somehow, she just snapped."

"He, my uncle, and my parents tried many ways and saw many doctors, but nothing cured me. In the end, my parents, having no other options, started praying to gods. My mom secretly burned lots of incense and begged for many charms."

"I was unaware of this, my mom never believed in those superstitions. She often said at home how patients who get sick don’t go to hospitals but believe in village witch doctors instead."

"After I committed suicide, many advised my parents to have another child while they still could. But they insisted on adopting a child from relatives, specifically a daughter."

"Third Uncle said my father’s exact words at the time were: ’I’ve already had the best daughter, having another one, that child will never be as important as Shen Ai in my heart. It’s unfair to that child and to Shen Ai.’

"So he preferred to adopt, because that way Shen Ai would remain their only child."

"So I did something I shouldn’t have done." Qu Jing lowered her head, "Qin Huai, I’m only telling you. Don’t tell Sister Hong or Mr. Luo, they will definitely scold me if they find out."

"What did you do?" Qin Huai asked.

"I told my parents I had a dream where my classmate said he and his parents went to the Capital Zoo and saw big lions and big tigers. I told my dream parents about it, and they promised to take me to the zoo once I got into a university in the capital, but we never went because of delayed plans."

Qin Huai was stunned, thinking Qu Jing truly engages in remarkable actions silently—she actually did such a significant thing behind everyone’s backs.

"So... what was your parents’ reaction?"

"My mom told me she often dreams of her daughter growing up to be a doctor, and now her dream has come true."

"I’ve arranged with my parents and Mr. Chen that this summer, I’ll take my annual leave and go to Beiping with them, to the zoo."

For a moment, Qin Huai didn’t know what to say. It sounded like a very happy story ending but was also full of potential issues.

Chen Huihong often spoke bluntly, but most of what she said was true.

For instance, if someone successfully transcends an ordeal, they should immediately die, because being alive means risking failure.

While such occurrences are rare, they’re not unheard of. There’s one lying in Qin Huai’s guidebook, still in elementary school, currently in an extracurricular class.

"Aren’t you worried... about the risk... as long as you’re happy," Qin Huai could only say.

"I know there’s risk, but I think this is the right thing to do," Qu Jing said. "The life of a spirit is long and dull. If every spirit didn’t need to transcend ordeals, perhaps most would live as long as the universe, until they no longer want to live and choose to die."

"Before transcending the ordeal, I never knew what it was for. Even now, I’m not very sure. But I think it’s to teach us how to live, how to have emotions, how to enter the world, and how to truly become a person."

"People have seven emotions and six desires. As a spirit, I shouldn’t be doing this, but as a daughter, I don’t want my parents to have regrets."

"I think Mr. Luo might be right, you’re not my lifeline."

"My lifeline has always been by my side. Even if I hadn’t met you, perhaps in a moment of breakdown due to self-harm, I would have encountered my Third Uncle, or other relatives from my previous life, and I would have awakened."

Just as Qu Jing finished speaking, Chen Huihong walked to the kitchen door: "Jingjing, Xiao Qin, need any help? Xiao Qin, are you making snacks? Can you steam some buns? I haven’t had Fermented Rice with Steamed Buns in ages and really want some!"

"Alright, but making Fermented Rice with Steamed Buns with yeast takes some time, so Sister Hong, you might have to wait until evening to eat them," Qin Huai replied loudly, "I’m mixing fruit salad, you and Mr. Luo can have some fruit salad first."

"Bring the stuff out," Qin Huai told Qu Jing.

"Okay." Qu Jing nodded, reminding again, "You mustn’t tell Sister Hong and Mr. Luo."

"I know."

Qin Huai and Qu Jing brought out the fruit salad and rice cake soup, and only then did Luo Jun get up from the sofa and walk to the dining table, holding his phone. The drama had been paused long ago.

"I want Dried Tangerine Peel Tea," Luo Jun ordered blankly, "I’ve asked Zhang Shumei to prepare all the ingredients."

"I’ll make it for you in a bit," Qin Huai readily agreed, "There will be plenty of snacks today."

"But Sister Hong, you might not have room for Fermented Rice with Steamed Buns today. I’m going to make Four Happiness glutinous rice today. I’ve sent the ingredients in advance, let me call to check if they’ve arrived."

"They arrived yesterday and are in the fridge," Luo Jun said.

Chen Huihong showed an understanding expression: "Don’t worry, I’ll give you feedback. I’ve had my father, mother, brother, and sister-in-law all write reviews for the Four Happiness glutinous rice, hold on, I’ll find them on my phone to send to you."

Qin Huai: ...?

Wait, why is the first thing everyone tells me about is the Four Happiness glutinous rice review? Am I that obsessed with reviews on Four Happiness glutinous rice?

Okay, before it reached A-Level, I was.

Seeing Qu Jing already scrolling on her phone, Qin Huai waved his hands repeatedly.

"No need, no need."

"There’s no need for feedback now, I’ve mastered the Four Happiness glutinous rice. It’s A-Level now! My Four Happiness glutinous rice has reached A-Level, my seasoning skills are at Master Level, didn’t I tell you guys? Oh right, I didn’t join the video tea party during New Year."

"Anyway, the current Four Happiness glutinous rice is different from before, A-Level Four Happiness glutinous rice is really far superior to the B-Level."

The three of them calmly watched Qin Huai.

Luo Jun’s expression was: so? It’s A-level, so what? I’ve tasted better.

Qu Jing’s expression was: then my review was wasted.

Chen Huihong’s expression was: can’t imagine an A-level, you’d have to let me eat it before I can praise it.

The three spirits had their own internal monologue, all written on their faces.

Qin Huai: ...

For some reason, this scene was originally meant to be a smooth and triumphant brag, but lately, every time he tried to flaunt, it seemed unsuccessful.

Could it be that he’s inherently unsuited for showing off?

No, I’ll try again tomorrow.

"I’ll go make the dumplings," Qin Huai returned to the kitchen, deciding to prove his ability through action.

Chen Huihong silently put away her phone.

If Qin Huai had just seen Chen Huihong’s WeChat interface, he would have noticed she had actually been chatting with Luo Jun on WeChat a few minutes ago.

Lone bird: I’m old but not dead, didn’t they know the kitchen door wasn’t closed tight?

Chen Huihong: Maybe they didn’t know.

Lone bird: Little bird is too fussy.

Chen Huihong: Exactly, I say one should die immediately after transcending an ordeal, leave no loopholes.

Lone bird: That’s true, but what if Jingjing fails again?

Chen Huihong: What can I say? Pull her up again, I guess if I’m still alive by then.

Lone bird: Little bird is too fussy.