1025 Smoking the Strongest Cigarette, Cooking the Most Delicious Food (2)
An afternoon nap would help a four-year-old child like him grow taller.
Mr. Zhang was clearly concerned about Ah Kong, but he always put on a fierce expression. His fierce appearance reminded Yu Huang of her mentor, Lin Jiansheng.
They were really similar.
Ah Kong came out after washing his hands and sat down obediently. Then, he looked up at Mr. Zhang and waited for him to take a seat before eating.
Although he was young, he knew the rules very well. He knew that one had to wait for the elder to eat first.
Mr. Zhang noticed Ah Kongâs gaze and said, âYou can eat. Iâll eat at the canteen today.â
Ah Kong nodded and picked up his chopsticks to eat quietly.
Ah Kong had a big appetite. Three dishes and a bowl of rice were all devoured by him. After he finished eating, he obediently brought the bowl to the kitchen. Then, he stepped on the small stool to wash the dishes.
Ah Kong was under someone elseâs roof, so he was very grateful that Mr. Zhang could give him a bed and let him eat his fill. Therefore, Ah Kong tried his best to do as many chores, like washing the dishes and sweeping the floor, as possible.
After Ah Kong washed the dishes, Mr. Zhang said, âGo upstairs and rest.â
âOkay.â
Ah Kong nodded at Yu Huang and walked up the stairs.
After hearing Ah Kong reach the room on the second floor, Mr. Zhang took out another cigarette. As he lit it, he said to Yu Huang, âKeep an eye on him. Only allow him to leave after two oâclock.â
âGot it.â
At this moment, the owner of the Magical Hand Rejuvenation Center stood on the street and shouted at Mr. Zhang, âLetâs go and eat! Itâs Mr. Baiâs birthday today. I heard that thereâs a big feast in the canteen.â
âOkay.â
Mr. Zhang walked out.
Yu Huang heard the owner of the Magical Hand Rejuvenation Center ask Mr. Zhang, âWhereâs that little fellow?â
Mr. Zhang replied calmly, âHe ate already.â
The owner of the Magical Hand Rejuvenation Center asked him in amusement, âDid you cook for him again?â
Mr. Zhang remained silent.
The owner of the Magical Hand Rejuvenation Center smiled and said, âWhat did you tell us two years ago when you took him in? You said that your house was big, and it was a waste to leave your room empty, so taking in a little child was a piece of cake. A few days later, your kitchen, which accumulated dust in the past, was filled with pots and pans. You, who never entered the kitchen, even learned to make soup. Are you taking in an orphan or raising a child?â
Mr. Zhang froze. As he bit his cigarette, he looked at the canteen building at the end of the town and said coldly, âHis mother and I dated once, so I canât abandon this child.â
The owner of the Magical Hand Rejuvenation Center sighed and said, âYouâre just too kind. None of us know who Ah Kongâs father is. When Qingya broke up with you back then, she was pregnant, right? But Ah Kong isnât your child.â The owner of the Magical Hand Rejuvenation Center had a sympathetic and helpless expression as he said, âYou were cheated on, but youâre still willing to be his father.â
Mr. Zhang was also angry, but he still couldnât leave Ah Kong in the lurch.
Mr. Zhang retorted, âI just⦠canât bear to see her son on the streets.â
âSighâ¦â
When Yu Huang heard the conversation between the two bosses, she gradually became interested.
What was going on? Ah Kongâs mother and Mr. Zhang were actually a couple?
When Qingya and Mr. Zhang were still together, she was pregnant with Ah Kong?
But Ah Kong wasnât Mr. Zhangâs child.
Who was Ah Kongâs father?
Yu Huang was puzzled.
* *
At half past six in the evening, all the bases were about to close for the night.
When Yu Huang saw the remaining half-pocketed demonic insects, she knew there wasnât enough time to kill them all today. She might as well get off work and come back tomorrow.
Yu Huang put down the cotton bow and had just walked out of the base when she saw Ah Kong running back anxiously.
Mr. Zhang was about to close the door when he saw Ah Kong return. He scolded angrily, âYou still know to come back?!â Although he shouted, Mr. Zhang stopped closing the door.
Ah Kong was used to being scolded by Mr. Zhang.
He slipped in and stood behind Mr. Zhang while waving at Yu Huang.
Yu Huang said, âSee you tomorrow.â
Ah Kong nodded.
Mr. Zhang closed the door. At the same time, the doors of the other bases in town also closed.
Yu Huang stood at the entrance of the base and waited for a while. Then, she saw Sheng Xiao walking back with Yin Rong and the others. Sheng Xiao looked tired, so Yu Huang asked him, âAre you tired?â
Sheng Xiao said, âI challenged five defensive warriors in a row today, so Iâm a little tired.â If Yu Huang remembered correctly, Philand had set seven candidates for Sheng Xiao. It seemed that Sheng Xiao could complete the assessment tomorrow.
Yu Huang asked Yin Rong and the others, âHowâs your situation? Did it go smoothly?â
Yin Rong, Beatrice, and the others nodded and said, âWe should be able to complete our tasks in four days.â
âThatâs good.â
At this moment, Yu Huang saw a white-haired old man walking over with a walking stick and following behind a group of young Beast Tamers. The old man was wearing a white vest and black pants that reached his navel. He had his vest tucked into his pants and tightly tied with a black belt.
His canvas shoes were covered in mud.
Other than the owner and staff of the base, the only people who could appear in the small town were ascenders. The clothes on this old man wasnât the uniform of any base, which meant that he was an ascender.
Perhaps sensing that Yu Huang was watching him, the old man raised his head and looked at her.
Yu Huang nodded at him in a friendly manner as a greeting.
The old man nodded back at her.
Seeing this scene, Donor asked in surprise, âYu Huang, you know He Zhiqiu?â
Yu Huang asked Donor, âWho are you talking about?â
Donor looked at the old man whose feet were covered in mud and said, âThat old man is He Zhiqiu. Our fencing arena is quite close to the Plant Cultivation Center. When we were resting at noon today, I heard them talk about that old man. I thought you knew him.â
Most of these ascenders were very busy and couldnât be bothered to care about other peopleâs matters. Something sensational must have happened to this old man. Otherwise, he wouldnât have been discussed by the ascenders of the fencing arena.
Yu Huang was somewhat interested in this old manâs experience, so she asked Donor, âIs that old man an ascendant at the Plant Cultivation Center? What did he do to deserve such a discussion?â
âHe stayed here for ten years, but still hasnât completed the assessment mission.â
Yu Huang, Sheng Xiao, and the others fell silent when they heard the number ten years. What kind of difficult assessment mission was it to make the old man stay in the town for ten years?
âWhat assessment mission did Mr. Philand give him?â Everyone was curious.
Estelle said, âI heard that he has to successfully cultivate a Bone Nurturing Grass.â
âBone Nurturing Grass?â Feng Yuncheng, Beatrice, and the others revealed confused expressions.
What was Bone Nurturing Grass?
On the other hand, when Yu Huang heard the words Bone Nurturing Grass, her eyes suddenly lit up. Yu Huang looked at Estelle and asked with a serious expression, âAre you sure itâs Bone Nurturing Grass?â
Upon being asked by Yu Huang, Estelle became uncertain.
Estelle looked at Donor and asked, âI think itâs called Bone Nurturing Grass, right?â
Donor nodded and said, âI think so. I heard that itâs a Grade 9 spirit herb that can grow bones and is extremely difficult to nurture. Itâs said that this spirit herb only appeared in ancient times. In the past thousands of years, no one has seen any traces of this grass.â Donor realized that Yu Huang was a little excited, as if she was very interested in this grass, so he asked her, âYou know about Bone Nurturing Grass?â