"Beep!"
"Mission issued: Fully master the professional notes content. Reward: 50,000 cash, and the specialized book 'Chinese-English Translation Cultural Differences' (complete edition). Time limit: 6 months."
After a week of learning with her teacher, it was Qiu Xi's first time opening the professional notes she had received as a reward.
She was quite surprised when, the moment she opened it, she heard the broadcast for a mission being issued, and it was a time-limited one.
Following the system's usual habits, the reward for this mission should be extraordinary.
Looking at the long name of the reward, she was already looking forward to it.
...
"Teacher, remember to pack up tomorrow, you and Grandma Du. I'll come to pick you up in the afternoon."
Since tomorrow was the apprenticeship banquet, Du Bin had specifically granted a day off for Qiu Xi to help at home.
"Got it! Your mouth, why are you more talkative than your Grandma Li!"
Just hearing this one sentence, her little disciple had brought it up several times. She was truly more naggy than the old woman at home.
"Hehe~"
"Then I won't say anything more. I'll go find Grandma Li to chat before I leave."
Upon hearing this, Du Bin quickly waved his hand dismissively, "Go on, go on."
Seeing her master like this, Qiu Xi wasn't annoyed. She smiled and slipped away.
After all, she knew her master had a sharp tongue but a soft heart, so she wasn't afraid!
...
The next day, except for Qiu Ge, the entire Qiu family, old and young, were up early and busy.
"Grandpa, Grandma, you two just need to oversee everything. Leave the physical work to us."
"Your grandpa and I know. You kids hurry and get ready."
"Okay."
They said "get ready," but it really meant the family listened to the elders' arrangements for the living room, so it would be convenient for the tea ceremony.
That's right! The elders were professionals in this regard, having consulted masters for advice.
Besides this major task, the rest was essentially the specialty of Qiu Xi and her father. The father and daughter duo were responsible for the food for the apprenticeship banquet.
Although the banquet was scheduled for the evening, the father and daughter left early to buy fresh ingredients.
...
"Dad, you keep busy then. I'll go pick up my teacher and Grandma Li first."
When the afternoon preparations were almost done, Qiu Xi bid farewell to her father and prepared to pick up the guests first, and then start working upon her return.
"Go ahead, I can manage on my own."
This was the confidence of a little chef who had been learning for almost a year.
"Got it!"
Saying so, she wiped her hands and disappeared.
"This impatient child, who does she take after?"
"Who else could she take after, just look."
"..."
She had forgotten, her mother was watching from the side.
She had said she could finally rest for a bit, and now she had the perfect opportunity to watch the father and daughter prepare their culinary delights.
...
In just fifteen to twenty minutes, Qiu Xi returned with the two of them.
"Grandpa, Grandma, Mom, Dad, this is my teacher, Du Bin, and my teacher's wife, Li Minglan."
"Teacher, Grandma Lin, this is my..."
After introducing everyone carefully, Qiu Xi let them chat amongst themselves.
She herself followed her father into the kitchen to start preparing today's dishes.
"Teacher Du, we're troubling you with our little Xi."
Seeing his granddaughter leave, Grandpa Qiu pulled Du Bin over to sit down and started making small talk.
"Not at all, not at all. Just call me Old Du. If it weren't for this girl Xi saving my old life, I would already be buried in the earth. So this is all fate."
"Okay, then Old Du, don't be polite either. Just call me Old Qiu."
"Alright!"
"Xiao Li, your dress is really nice. This color combination suits you so well."
"And my old sister's outfit..."
While Grandpa Qiu was happily chatting with Du Bin, the three women were not to be outdone. The older ones were already addressing each other as sisters.
"Oh my, if you like it, Xiao Li can make one for you when she has time."
"Mom, why wait for later? Go up now. I'll measure Aunt Li for her size, and I'll make it when I have time."
Grandma Qiu spoke generously, and Mom Qiu was also very accommodating.
"This might not be proper..."
To be like this on the first day of their visit, even though Li Minglan felt close to the girl Xi, she still felt a bit embarrassed.
"There's nothing improper about it. Anyway, your father and daughter will be busy for a while."
Glancing at the father and daughter busy in the kitchen, Grandma Qiu and Mom Qiu felt they could still manage something.
"Aunt Li, let's go!"
"Alright then."
If they refused any further, it would be a bit too affected.
"That's the spirit, old sister!"
Saying so, the three of them went upstairs.
...
After more than half an hour, the three of them came downstairs.
When they came down, they coincidentally arrived just as the father and daughter finished their work.
"Xiao Xi, come quickly. Before we start, offer a cup of tea to your teacher."
Seeing her teacher already seated by her grandfather, Qiu Xi smiled inwardly. She took the brewed tea from her mother's hand and walked over.
Bowing,
Kowtowing,
Offering tea.
The apprenticeship ceremony was thus completed.
"Here, this is what the two of us old folks prepared for you. Please accept it."
After drinking the tea, Du Bin took out a pre-wrapped red envelope and a small box, handing them to Qiu Xi.
"Okay, thank you, Teacher."
"Alright, alright, you two old and young, come over quickly. Let's eat first."
"Okay."
"Teacher, let's go over."
"Mm."
After the meal, everyone gathered again and chatted for a long time.
"Xiao Xi, since it's not too late yet, you should escort Teacher Du and the others back first."
After chatting, the two intended to return. The old, after all, couldn't stay up late.
"Oh, and don't forget to bring the things we prepared!"
Grandma Qiu reminded her again, for fear that Qiu Xi would forget the gifts.
"Don't worry!"
Qiu Xi, already at the door, turned back and responded politely.
"Xiao Xi, what are these things? If they are too valuable, your teacher and I cannot accept them."
"Oh, Grandma Li, these are just some local specialties that Grandpa and Grandma brought back, and some tonics prepared by Mom and Dad. They are very common."
Qiu Xi's words were good, but she had prepared a special set for herself, exchanged from the system shop: a pair of jade pendants.
It was said that these jade pendants could nourish people and would be beneficial to health if worn for a long time.
Following the principle of "system products must be masterpieces," Qiu Xi prepared them for everyone in her family.
Then she realized that while everything was good, it was a bit of a drain on her points.
After this batch, her points had fallen to rock bottom again, with only a basic reserve left.
Then she thought about what she needed to redeem for that kid Qiu Ge, and it was estimated that even the basic reserve would be gone.
"Alright, Xiao Xi, you should go back soon."
Seeing the little girl put away the items, Li Minglan urged her to leave.
It was late at night, and it was better for her to return as soon as possible.
"Okay, coming right up."
"But before I leave, you and Teacher must wear this. I spent a lot of effort on it, and it's said to ensure safety."
Saying so, Qiu Xi took out the jade pendants she had prepared earlier.
"You, at such a young age, engaging in such things."
"I don't care. You old man must wear it for me today."
"Okay!"
"And Teacher!"
"I'm wearing it, I'm wearing it. Can I go back now?"
"Alright, and don't you dare take it off!"
"Okay!"
Really, this mischievous girl had so many ideas.
Although they thought this way, both of them felt very touched.
After so many years, they could still feel this way.