The next day
Tang Qing, with nothing to do, was preparing to embark on a tremendous endeavor.
---Copying homework.
No.
It should be called 'information sharing'.
Otherwise, when his uncle and aunt returned and saw that he hadn't done any homework in four days, they would undoubtedly scold him. But it's not about the scolding, as it only represents their concern for him.
The real fear is his older cousin, Qin Shiqi.
She would definitely insist on making him do his homework.
She might even be by his side, watching him write.
But he didn't know how, which would be getting him into more than just an awkward situation. He would be 'exposed'.
Whose homework should he copy?
The first choice, of course, would be the class' top student. Even though his school was not the best in the city, there would always be someone with a strong will and ambition.
After all.
Even in the worst class, there has to be someone at the top. The top student lived in the same neighborhood as his uncle's, and both families' windows could be seen from each other's living rooms.
Incredibly close.
Then.
Tang Qing left the neighborhood.
He bought some fruit as a gift.
Even though they were classmates, the high-achiever belonged in a different species, and they hardly interacted. It wasn't appropriate to ask him to let him copy his homework without warming up first. Bringing some fruit as a bribe would pave the way for their friendship, and take advantage of the fact that those who take gifts are pliable.
All things fell into their natural place.
So.
After enjoying food and drinks.
Tang Qing had passed a pleasant day copying homework.
Although he didn't finish copying, you can't exactly copy an essay, and he didn't copy the simple problems either. Once his uncle came back, it would not be easy for him to go out. He might as well sit quietly at home and study some books.
In the end.
He even dragged the top student out for a big meal. They were in the same class, after all, and he anticipated needing the scholar's help in the future. A meal was nothing, and wouldn't cost much.
The top student's parents owned a business.
They had a dumpling restaurant near the school.
It tasted good, Tang Qing had visited a few times to support them. The top student who couldn't cook at all would usually just have dumplings for lunch when home.
After that fabulous meal.
The reserved top student's impression of Tang Qing improved dramatically.
And they became much closer.
......
October 5th.
Approaching noon
Uncle Qin Yugang and his family finally returned.
Upon entering the house.
They were greeted by a pleasant aroma.
A glance at the dining table revealed several covered dishes, because flies were rampant this time of the year.
Qin Yugang was puzzled.
Who had cooked in his house?
As for Tang Qing.
He quickly disregarded him.
As Tang Qing's uncle, he knew Tang Qing too well to believe he could cook. Usually, the meals at home were prepared by his wife and daughters. Tang Qing barely even washed the dishes, let alone cook. Then again, if it wasn't Tang Qing, then who else could it be? Surely, a thief wouldn't break into his house to cook.
"It smells incredible, Dad, who is cooking?"
The moment his elder daughter, Qin Shiqi, entered the house, she smelled the culinary scent.
"I don't know, I… Tangtang?"
As Qin Yugang was about to say how puzzled he was, he saw Tang Qing coming out of the kitchen wearing an apron. Qin Yugang was shocked. Tang Qing would cook? He would sooner believe that a pig could climb a tree.
"Wow, brother! When did you learn to cook? No, wait. Jiaxue must be here. And what on earth are you trying to do with a spoon? Just go back and help her,"
"One might think you made an effort. Jiaxue and us always cook, and you just eat. If it wasn't for Jiaxue's understanding, you might still be single."
"Look at me, you should be grateful for your past life's good karma to have met Jiaxue in this life. If you ever mistreat her, I'll make you pay. Why are you looking at me? Am I not right?"
"You lazy bum, you don't do chores, you don't do laundry…." Qin Shiqi could not stop herself from criticizing Tang Qing while her paternal aunt and second cousin watched him sympathetically.
These two cousins were born to bicker.
Normally, Qin Shiqi would not say much.
But when it came to her cousin, she simply couldn't stop.
Tang Qing was caught between laughter and tears.
Unable to even interject.
As for his cousin's character, he also had no choice. She talked all day, but her heart is incredibly kind. He was so used to it, it would feel wrong if she didn't talk.
This... might be what it means to 'be a sucker for punishment'!
Ha-ha.
He could only attribute this to one of the 'great traits' of humans.
You only treasure things when you lose them.
Tang Qing had not heard these words in a long time. Although they were all criticizing him, it sounded delightful to the reborn Tang Qing.
In his previous life.
Qin Shiqi would often call to scold him, just not as much as now. As they grew older, and with the accident involving Lin Jiaxue, Qin Shiqi seldom criticized him that way after their accident.
He cherished those moments a lot.
"That's enough, Shiqi, stop criticizing your brother. Look, you made him blush. Learn from your sister." His aunt immediately stopped her daughter's non-stop criticism. Otherwise, who knows when she would stop.
However, such an atmosphere in her family.
Made her ecstatic.
"Alright, see that you didn't turn lazy today, my lady will let you off the hook today. No wonder you called this morning to ask when were we arriving, there was a show waiting to be played."
Qin Shiqi gave a snort.
As if she were doing him a great favor.
After all, criticizing her cousin was her favourite pastime.
Tang Qing was very excited.
The depth of his affection for his uncle's family is hard for outsiders to understand. From the moment his uncle offered to give him a house as a wedding gift and even help him buy a car, he knew he still had true relatives.
But he had always struggled to make the leap.
And failed to live up to their expectations.
"Tangtang, did Jiaxue come over?" Qin Yugang asked.
Being a police officer, he was sharp and quick-witted, unlike his daughter, who tended to be more relaxed. If Lin Jiaxue had come over, she would have definitely come out to say hello. The silence and lack of any sounds coming from the kitchen were off-putting.
Obviously, no one was cooking.
There was no response at all.
No shoes at the door.
The number of slippers in the house had not decreased.
He could see from the living room that the toilet and Tang Qing's bedroom doors were open.
The lack of anyone, the place settings for five, the mismatched numbers, all these details flashed through his mind in an instant, leading to his question.
"Jiaxue didn't come today. One of my classmates' family runs a restaurant. I learned some cooking from them while I was doing homework a couple of days ago. I wanted to prepare a meal for all of you." Tang Qing replied half-truthfully.
"Oh, big bro, you can cook now, how interesting. It smells good and looks not bad at all. I must taste it," Qin Shiqi put down the vegetables in her hand on the chair next to the dining table.
In surprise.
She knew her cousin very well.
He had never cooked before and barely washed the dishes. It was usually her and her sister, along with their mother, who took up these chores. It was difficult for her to accept the fact that he had suddenly become capable of cooking — almost like magic.
"Little sis, stop teasing. The meal is ready, and there's soup cooking on the stove. Uncle, Aunt, please start eating. I'll go and serve the soup." Tang Qing planned the timing perfectly before heading out the door this morning.
He finished.
Turned around and went to serve the soup.
"Alright, I'll give you a chance to win over my stomach," Qin Shiqi retorted with her usual banter, took her chopsticks and started tasting the food.
"This is really good! Sis, come and eat."
Qin Shiqi tried a bite.
Her eyes lit up.
Qin Shiyu, who is a year younger and in her second year of junior high, has a quiet personality, similar to Lin Jiaxue's, she rarely speaks or participates in family discussions. As such, she hadn't said a word despite being home for quite some time.
But she has a good heart.
Whenever she gets something good, she always saves some for Tang Qing and her elder sister.
Though she didn't mention it.
She would act on her own initiative. She often washes clothes for Qin Shiqi and Tang Qing herself or silently cleans the house. Therefore, both Qin Shiqi and Tang Qing adore this younger sibling.
As someone who knows the future, Tang Qing of course knew this.
His cousin Qin Shiyu has a bit of OCD and is a bit of a neat freak.
She can't stand messiness.
Keeping things neat and clean was her greatest pleasure. Tang Qing could relate to her since he also had OCD, albeit in a different direction.
"This is really good."
"Mom, this is for you..."
"Little sis, this one is for you..."
"Bro, you can definitely open a restaurant..."
"This is so good..."
"From now on, you must cook regularly..."
...
Although the whole afternoon was filled with the voice of his elder cousin.
But Tang Qing felt extremely satisfied.
Everyone was here.
This was happiness!
After everyone joyfully finished their lunch.
As per usual, the task of cleaning up fell to the two cousins, and Tang Qing did not wish to interfere. Having a sister with OCD is very interesting, but he couldn't deprive his younger cousin of her greatest pleasure, could he?
Tang Qing would never admit that he was just lazy!
...
The following days.
Tang Qing's life returned to its peaceful state.
On October 6, he visited Lin Jiaxue's house for two meals, procrastinated the whole day, and conveniently asked for help with some academic problems. It wasn't that he needed help, he just wanted to stay close to Lin Jiaxue.
Hearing her voice was enough.
He felt very fortunate just being able to hear her voice.
He spent his other time reading books and doing homework.
His mobile phone and clothes were discovered by his cousin and he had to come up with a melodramatic story of repaying a benefactor's kindness. This was deemed acceptable by his uncle and aunt, only after intense scrutiny and questioning.
As for whether his uncle truly believed him.
Tang Qing wasn't entirely certain, but at least he had an excuse.
No matter how his uncle investigated, he wouldn't be able to trace the origins of the money. Originally, he thought of mentioning he had some leftover money and would hand out parts of it, but then he remembered that if his uncle took the cash to the bank for investigation.
He would be left speechless.
Evidence must not be left.
...
Time flies.
The new school year was fast approaching.
The thought of going back to school after a long holiday was a heavy burden for the students.
Tang Qing hated attending classes. Although it wasn't too bad, the thought of a person who had been out in society for many years, having to sit up straight and pay attention in class all day, was simply unbearable.
He still remembered his teachers' demands clearly.
---During class, one must sit up straight and not lean on the table. When the teacher is writing on the board, one must look at the board. Anyone caught looking down would have a piece of chalk thrown at them, and then they would have to stand up and listen.
It was absolutely tyrannical.
Of course.
Except for the top students.
Anyone who was not in the top ten of the class had to obey these rules. It seemed that he would have to improve his grades quickly, not for anything else, but just to avoid having to stare at the blackboard like an idiot for the entire class.
If this situation continued for a year.
It would be simply inhumane.