In the next few days, Mu Erpang lived very comfortably at his grandparents' home.
After all, Chen was the only aunt in the family who disliked him. With other people in the family around, Chen didn't dare to do anything or say anything. So it has no impact.
Of course, Mu Erpang did not forget the "mission" of his trip, and he took every opportunity to speak well of his mother.
When Zheng cooked something delicious for her, he would say, "Grandma's cooking skills are really good. When my mother was at home, she always praised you. It's a pity that she didn't have the good fortune to enjoy it."
Zheng took out a new cotton-padded jacket that she had made for him to wear during the Chinese New Year and asked him to try it on. He said, "The jackets grandma made are really nice, and are no worse than those sold outside. In previous years, grandma made one for me and my mother, but this year my mother won't be able to wear new clothes."
But no matter how he mentioned his mother, Zheng would not respond to him, which made it difficult for Mu Erpang to continue speaking.
It was not until New Year's Eve that Zheng woke Mu Erpang up early in the morning.
Mu Erpang has become much smarter, but he can't change his lazy nature for the time being. Compared with his peers, he still sleeps more.
Now he no longer gets angry easily. He just rubs his eyes and says aggrievedly: "Why are you calling me so early in the morning? Today is not even the first day of the new year."
"Good boy, wake up. Grandma made you some candied eggs. Eat them while they're still hot."
Mu Erpang's nostrils twitched as he smelled the fragrance of food, then he opened his eyes.
The same candied eggs, but Zheng's are much better than the ones Shen Cui made last time. Not only are the eggs round and plump, but they are also soft and pink when bitten into. Plus, there are candied dates in the bowl, which makes it even sweeter to the heart.
Mu Erpang ate three eggs effortlessly.
While he was eating, Zheng also packed up his new cotton-padded jacket and new shoes that he would wear on New Year's Day and packed them into a bundle.
"What are you doing, grandma?"
"What else can I do? Of course I'll let you go home. You keep talking about your mother everyday. Don't you want to go back after being out for a few days?"
Mu Erpang scratched his head and smiled embarrassedly.
Zheng personally escorted him out of the city, put him on a bullock cart, and sent him to the entrance of Shuiyun Village. Zheng then produced a small bag like a magician and gave him some more instructions before letting Mu Erpang go home.
Mu Erpang waved goodbye to his grandmother and went home skipping and jumping.
His grandmother was right. Although he lived a very comfortable life at his maternal grandparents' home, he did miss his mother, and his mother must have missed him too!
…………
You know what, Shen Cui really thought of Mu Erpang at this time.
She sneaked into Shen’s house to see him first, and then saw that Mu Erpang was in a very good mood, so she knew that he was living well. She was very relieved about her silly son’s “vacation” there.
But early this morning, Shen Cui heard a familiar system sound.
【System prompt: The system has completed the upgrade.】 The upgrade contents are as follows...】
Shen Cui immediately perked up and savored the update log carefully.
A piece of information caught his attention - [Voice service was added after the system was upgraded. The host can choose to turn it on or off. 】
Voice service? Shen Cui couldn't help but curl her lips, she needed it so much!
You should know that during the past period of time, when the system issued tasks, no sound would be made except for the occasional mechanical system announcement!
She read through those tasks and regulations word by word, fearing that she might have made a mistake or missed a single word.
She had read a lot of online articles, and other people's systems were able to communicate directly with the host. What's more, they could even transform directly in the real world and become cute pets. It was nothing like hers, which was not only tiring for the eyes, but also time-consuming and laborious.
After finding the enable option on the main interface, Shen Cui called the system again.
【I am here. 】A clear and deep male voice sounded beside Shen Cui's ears. It was exactly the one she liked most in the otome games!
Shen Cui:! ! !
In the past, in games, characters with such ear-pregnant voices had to spend a lot of money to be purchased. Can she listen to this for free? ! !
Shen Cui touched her hot ears. She reasonably suspected that the system spent energy to spy on her, the host's preferences.
The system waited for a while, but did not receive any further instructions, so it continued to ask: [Is there anything I can do to help the host? 】
The system's attitude was very gentle. Compared with text communication, this kind of communication made Shen Cui's satisfaction soar.
Shen Cui was communicating with the system while continuing with the task at hand. She was making breakfast for herself.
When Mu Erpang was not at home, Shen Cui had simpler meals three times a day.
Breakfast is a bowl of vegetarian noodles with some pickles. There were only a few eggs left at home, and she couldn't bear to eat any herself.
As expected, this cooking attempt failed again.
When the noodles were put into the bowl, they became a mess.
This is not the first time this has happened in this period of time.
At first, Chen Cui thought that she was not used to the earthen stove, but after going there so many times, she knew that was not the reason.
Just as the system asked, Shen Cui asked about the matter that had puzzled her for several days.
[I’ve been here for a few days, and I always fail when I cook. It shouldn't be my problem? 】
[When the host travels to this world, he will be affected by the laws of this world. Therefore, some changes will occur unconsciously in the host. 】
[You mean, in this world of imperial examinations, "I" am just a person with poor cooking skills. So even though I had experience cooking in my previous life, I can’t cook delicious food in this body. 】
[That’s right.] 】
Chen Cui searched through the original body's memory carefully. It turned out that the original body was lazy by nature and cooked only a few times, but it was true that every time she cooked, she ended up in failure. There was even one time when she ridiculously mistook oil for water and almost burned down the kitchen at home.
It was after that that the Mu family father and son no longer dared to let her cook. The original body is naturally happy to have leisure time.
In this comparison, Shen Cui’s current failure in cooking is already a great improvement compared to her original self.
[That's not right. You said 'some' changes. What else has changed? 】
[Host, haven’t you noticed that you have become lazy recently? For example, you just finished cleaning the house in the past two days, or for example... please recall carefully. 】
Shen Cui:! ! !
It would have been fine if the system didn't mention it, but once it did, she immediately thought of a lot of things.
She was definitely a clean person in her previous life, even a bit of a germaphobe. Even if she had to work overtime very late, she would always wash her hair, take a shower, and clean the house. She was a complete workaholic.
But a few days ago, she cooked a meal in the afternoon and read with Erpang for a while, and she was too tired to take a shower.
And after she came here, she only cleaned the kitchen the day before, which was so dirty that there was no place to step... Then, what did she do?
Anyway, once she was interrupted by other things, she never thought about cleaning again.
Later, Mu Erpang was not at home and the system was being updated. She was bored, so she cleaned several rooms during the New Year.
Moreover, she had only been here for a few days, but she had already been affected so much. Then in the future...
Shen Cui shuddered. Being a little lazy wasn't really a big problem, but she was afraid that she would become as vicious and greedy as her original self.
[Host, rest assured. The laws of this system are stronger than those of this world.] As long as the host completes the task well, this system has the ability to allow you to escape from the rules of this world. 】
Shen Cui was relieved, and immediately urged: "Hurry up, issue a new task, I'll go pick up Er Pang now. 】
[Host, there is no need to rush out. There is a task here that is suitable for you to do alone. 】
[Side Quest: As an excellent imperial-style parent, you have to take care of your child's daily life. How can you not know how to cook and do needlework? Please choose at least one to study. 】
[Task time: unlimited]
【Mission reward: 100 shopping points.】 】
【Growth rewards: ranging from 100 to 10,000 points. 】
[Penalty for failure: None.] 】
Not to mention, after the upgrade, this system not only has an additional voice service, but the tasks have also become more diverse, with side quests in addition to the main quest.
However, such a change is naturally a good thing, as it can improve cooking skills while completing tasks at the same time.
After reading it, Chen Cui asked: [Before this system upgrade, there were only tasks and time given, but now there are even rewards and punishments. It’s a big upgrade. 】
The system explained to her: [No, host, this is unique to the side quest, the main quest remains the same as before. 】
[Eh? Why didn't you tell me the penalty for failing the main quest? What will happen if I fail? 】
The system was silent for a moment, and Shen Cui suddenly realized something and slapped her head.
Look at the stupid question she asked. The punishment for failing the main mission is to directly remove the system and return to the body that died suddenly in the original world!
There are rewards for successful side quests and no penalties for failure. It is a sure win, so Shen Cui immediately chose [Study Cooking].
Soon, her personal panel automatically opened on the light screen.
Before this, her panel did not have the five attributes of the Mu brothers, only basic personal data.
At this time, there is another item [Cooking] on the panel.
【Cooking Skills】: 0
[Cooking skills evaluation]: Dark chef. A pair of hands cursed by this world. Any food will be deformed when it goes into these hands.
[Next level]: Junior chef.
[Proficiency]: 0/10
【Reference recipe:】: Stinky tofu, dumplings, wontons...
Shen Cui: ...
It’s okay, as long as I can upgrade, Shen Cui calmed down.
[This proficiency means that as long as I cook ten meals cumulatively, I can advance to the next level? 】
[Yes, but host, you cannot use real ingredients to upgrade your cooking skills here. You have to use ingredients from the system mall. 】
Shen Cui was speechless again.
The system has been upgraded, but its cunning nature has not changed at all.
Just now she said that this side quest was a sure win, but she didn't expect that it was waiting for her here.
After going around in circles, the wool still comes from the wool, and after going around in circles, it’s still her shopping point!
Noticing her declining enthusiasm, the system patiently advised: [Host, think positively. The items in the mall are all beneficial to the object of cultivation. It is not a waste if you buy the ingredients and then cook them for the object of cultivation. Moreover, as the host's cooking level increases, the effect of one plus one being greater than two can be achieved. 】
Shen Cui stroked her chin and thought for a while, and had to admit that what the male god voice system said was really right.
Just after choosing cooking to study, the system sent another 100 shopping points to the account, and Shen Cui now has 300 points in her account.
She chose for a long time, and finally bought a piece of tofu, a pot of oil, and a bowl of stinky tofu sauce, which cost a total of 30 points.
This was not a random choice. After Shen Cui read the reference recipes provided by the system, she found that to make stinky tofu with the same level of proficiency, the steps required were the least. She only needed to cut the tofu into small pieces, fry it directly in a pan, and then pour the sauce on it.
As for dumplings and wontons, you still need to start with flour, knead the dough and mix the fillings.
Shen Cui now has the consciousness of a level 0 chef and does not force herself to challenge those steps.
Cut the tofu into pieces, fry them in bubbling oil for a while, and then remove them from the pan when the surface turns golden brown.
Pour the black sauce provided by the system on top, and a plate of freshly fried stinky tofu is ready.
This stinky tofu is completely black and has many broken pieces. The evaluation given by the system is - [Failed product. After being eaten by the cultivated object, a small random gain will be generated. 】
The system explained the system rating to her again.
Every time she makes food, the system gives her a rating.
If the rating is high, then a ten-point deliciousness will become a twelve-point rating for color, aroma and taste.
With such a low rating as the current one, it will go from being just averagely unpalatable to extremely extremely unpalatable!
Sure enough, as the system finished the evaluation, a strong smell that seemed to have condensed into substance rushed to Shen Cui's nose.
But Chen Cui didn't care about that. After making sure that her proficiency had reached 1/10 and that this plate of stinky tofu would indeed bring benefits after consumption, she took out a handkerchief to cover her nose, and prepared to pack up the plate of stinky tofu and secretly send it to Mu Erpang.
The male god endured for a long time, and finally advised: [Host, it is best not to give this food to the subject to be cultivated. It smells... not very good. 】
[No way,] Chen Cui glanced at the stinky tofu, [As for stinky tofu, the stinkier it is, the better. And you don’t know Erpang at all. He is very easy to feed and he is not picky about food. 】
The system was silent for a while, and Shen Cui seemed to hear his barely audible sigh.
Just at this moment, Mu Erpang came back from outside.
It is better to arrive at the right time than to arrive early. Shen Cui was about to ask him to eat the practice dish while it was hot, but she saw Mu Erpang's nose flaring, and then his face changed and he yelled, "Mom, run! Our manure pit exploded!"
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