Chapter 13: What’s Wrong with Living Off a Woman?

Chapter 13: What's Wrong with Being Supported

After casually nibbling on a few pastries, Zhou Zhihan walked down the stairs.

As he descended, the short-haired girl approached him and handed over a wad of cash. “Sir, here’s your change.”

Zhou Zhihan was momentarily puzzled. “My money?”

“Yes!” the girl smiled. “That young lady who was with you left earlier, saying you’d pay her back. This is your change—please keep it safe.”

Zhou Zhihan understood now. He Ningyu must have paid the bill first and left, so naturally the change was given to him.

The short-haired girl’s eyes were clear and bright. She wore a deep red Tang suit with a white apron and a white cap. Smiling broadly, she said, “Every time you come here, we prepare small change in advance for you!”

Zhou Zhihan realized the truth: he was essentially living off someone else’s generosity. Every time he came here for tea, He Ningyu would leave first, go downstairs to leave a large sum of American dollars as a deposit at the counter, and he would take the change when he came down.

What’s wrong with being supported?

What’s wrong with receiving without labor?

At least, being supported is good for the teeth.

Before his transmigration, which loser didn’t dream of being kept by a wealthy woman?

Feeling perfectly justified, Zhou Zhihan reached out his hand. Just as he took the money, a soft chime rang in his ear!

At the same moment, a mixed fragrance that only a Chinese person could appreciate wafted over.

Zhou Zhihan looked at the short-haired girl. “What day is it today? I seem to smell the scent of zongzi and the fresh aroma of mugwort!”

The girl smiled at him without a word and pointed toward the calendar behind the dozing, portly shop owner.

A calendar used only by Chinese people.

“Today is Qingming Festival?” Zhou Zhihan glanced at the calendar—Qingming.

“It is Qingming Festival today, young man. Didn’t expect you to remember our old Chinese tradition. That’s rare, truly rare!” The chubby owner, who had been dozing with an I Ching book in hand, yawned, put the book down, picked up his large tea cup, opened the lid with one hand, drank deeply, then closed it and placed it back on the table. Near the crescent-shaped mark on the cup sat a neat water stain.

The chubby owner casually grabbed a folding fan and fluttered it in front of his chest, lifting the few hairs left on his head. “Young man, if you like the smell of zongzi, stay for lunch!”

“Then I’ll trouble you!” Zhou Zhihan didn’t hesitate. As he spoke, a trickle of saliva slid down the side of his tongue.

The kitchen was spotless. On the large traditional Chinese square table were several dishes:

A plate of raw rice,

A dish of pig’s head meat,

A bowl of braised lion’s head meatballs,

A plate of braised fish chunks,

A plate of stinky tofu, accompanied by a small bowl of their homemade chili sauce,

Two vegetable dishes,

A rice basin filled with fragrant zongzi, boiled eggs, whole cooked garlic cloves,

And several salted duck eggs, their shells peeled away with oil glistening on the surface,

Along with a few small plates of homemade pickled vegetables, spicy sauce, salted beans, and other side dishes.

On the table lay several stalks of mugwort.

The aroma of the mugwort mingled with the fresh scent of lotus leaves wrapping the zongzi, instantly awakening Zhou Zhihan’s appetite.

Oh my, mouth watering.

Including the chubby owner, Zhou Zhihan, the pastry chef, and the waitress, there were nine people in total.

The chubby owner took a bottle of white liquor and two small cups from the cabinet. “This bottle of Hengshui Laobaigan has been resting for almost a year. A couple of years ago, someone brought these bottles back from China for me. I’ve never had the heart to drink this one. Today, you and I will finish it.”

Zhou Zhihan hurriedly took the bottle, opened it, and poured the liquor.

“Uncle!” The short-haired girl peeled a zongzi, placed it in a bowl, and handed it to the chubby owner. “Drink less, or you’ll be dizzy again this afternoon and give customers the wrong change.”

“Wrong change?” The chubby owner said, “Ask this young man. He’s been here many times, and that young lady pays each time, either 50 or 100. Have I ever given him the wrong change?”

Zhou Zhihan’s heart tightened. It seemed every visit, He Ningyu paid the bill in advance and left early. He really was being kept by a wealthy woman.

How lucky!

“Uncle! I toast you!” Zhou Zhihan raised his cup as a rich aroma wafted over—it was genuine Hengshui Laobaigan.

“Tsk!”

The chubby owner carefully raised his cup, squinted to savor the aroma, took a big sip, puckered his lips, and said, “Still the same flavor, the kind of liquor only China has!”

After two cups, his round face flushed. He chewed a few grains of raw rice and a large piece of pig’s head meat. “Americans don’t understand fine food. They won’t even eat pig’s head meat. Try this—it was braised by me last night, absolutely authentic. I tell you, young man, in the whole of America, this pig’s head meat is unique to my place—authentic and delicious!”

Zhou Zhihan picked up a piece of pig’s head meat and popped it in his mouth, saying nothing but giving a thumbs-up. After finishing it, he clinked cups with the chubby owner, then grabbed a piece of stinky tofu, dipped it in chili sauce, and stuffed it into his mouth. “Mmm... truly authentic! When it comes to cuisine, China is number one!”

“If you like it, come here often. I’ll have my niece, Shu Qin, make you some authentic Chinese braised pork belly. It’s rich but not greasy, just a gentle tap on the table and a little shake, and it melts in your mouth.” The chubby owner finished his cup.

Zhou Zhihan quickly took the bottle and refilled the cup.

Judging by how carefully the chubby owner held his cup to avoid spilling, it was clear he loved his liquor but his tolerance was average. After a few cups, his face grew even rounder, he talked more, and his speech became a bit slurred and sticky. “Young man, you haven’t been here for half a month. I thought you’d gone back to China. You know, your girlfriend treats you really well. Every day for the past half month, she comes here on time to wait for you.”

“Uncle!” Shu Qin took away the half-empty bottle. “Auntie said you can’t drink more than two cups, and you’ve had six already.”

The chubby owner’s face was red and round. Seeing Shu Qin take the bottle, his cheeks twitched helplessly. “Shu Qin, just one more cup for Uncle, just one, you fill it...”

Zhou Zhihan smiled ingratiatingly at the girl. If you don’t let us finish this Hengshui Laobaigan, I’m not leaving.

After bidding farewell to the chubby owner, Zhou Zhihan rode his bicycle and wandered aimlessly for a while. In a park, he found a bench, sat down, and took off his socks to let his feet breathe.

He opened the system.

...

...

Air Combat Coins: 1700+

(Note: The host received a payment of 93 US dollars, convertible into Air Combat Coins.)

Zhou Zhihan understood: this was the change He Ningyu left after paying the bill, handed to him by Shu Qin, so the money was his.

The system said you could also earn Air Combat Coins in daily life—so that’s what it meant.

Zhou Zhihan used his consciousness to click “Convert.”

Air Combat Coins: 1793.

He went into a store and bought a pack of Marlboros, then checked the system again—still 1793 Air Combat Coins.

Damn,

Money only goes in, never out.

This feels a bit like getting something for nothing.

He then bought a dozen pairs of socks and a dozen pairs of shorts.

Opened the system.

Air Combat Coins: 1793.

Still only going in, never out.

Zhou Zhihan whistled casually, unfazed by the slightly strange looks from the female clerk, and walked out of the store carrying a bag of underwear and socks.

Recently, he could continue not washing his underwear and socks.

Just thinking about it made him happy.

Though New York was bustling, to Zhou Zhihan it was nothing special. After cycling around and visiting a few stores, bored, he returned to the military academy.

(End of chapter)