Chapter 88: The Cannon Fodder in a Dogblood Novel (88)
“Aunt Lin, the usual, two liang (100g) of beef noodles…”
Before Shen Tangqing finished speaking, Aunt Lin took over with a smile, “No vinegar and no coriander, right?”
Shen Tangqing chuckled, “Right.”
Aunt Lin’s noodle shop was an old, established brand, not far from the apartment Shen Tangqing rented. He usually came to her place for breakfast when he was too lazy to cook. One bowl of noodles solved both breakfast and lunch directly.
Coming often, he became familiar with Aunt Lin. She was a native of Wuxian, simple and hospitable, and would give Shen Tangqing an extra spoonful of minced meat topping every time.
Shen Tangqing sat at the table on the right side of the entrance. Aunt Lin’s husband cooked the noodles, while she sat at the counter gossiping with Shen Tangqing.
“Hey, Xiao Shen, have you heard? Yesterday at Yuntai Temple, a tourist from who knows where, a very handsome young man, kowtowed every three steps all the way up to the temple.”
Shen Tangqing looked up in surprise. “Kowtowed every three steps all the way up?”
Shen Tangqing had been to Yuntai Temple once after coming to Wuxian, but he went up by tourist bus. That Ten Thousand Steps Cloud Ladder was very steep; climbing it took three or four hours, let alone kowtowing every three steps. This guy was simply a ruthless person!
“Yeah, oh my, you don’t know, I heard them say that man’s legs were almost ruined from kneeling. He went early in the morning and only finished kneeling up there near evening…”
After speaking, Aunt Lin sighed, her tone full of lament. “Don’t know what he wanted to pray for, to have such great perseverance.”
Shen Tangqing echoed, “Indeed, climbing up is exhausting enough, let alone kowtowing every three steps.”
After speaking, he looked at Aunt Lin. “Aunt Lin, is that legend true?”
Aunt Lin sighed, “Don’t know, I’ve never seen anyone really kowtow all the way up to make a wish. But regardless of whether it works or not, I guess it’s just seeking peace of mind!”
Shen Tangqing nodded. Better to rely on oneself than on others. For many things, if begging the Bodhisattva was useful, where would there be so much injustice in the world?
Just another person deceived by rumors…
Soon, the noodles from the back kitchen were ready. Aunt Lin brought the steaming noodles to Shen Tangqing.
This time was already past the peak breakfast hour. Apart from Shen Tangqing, there was only a middle-aged woman eating wontons in the shop.
Aunt Lin sat back at the counter, her gaze falling on Shen Tangqing’s profile, and suddenly changed the topic.
“Xiao Shen, are you dating anyone?”
Shen Tangqing froze for a moment. Li Qiulan’s face flashed through his mind without warning. Suddenly losing his appetite for noodles, he looked up at Aunt Lin, suppressed the inexplicable irritability in his heart, and shook his head.
“Not yet.”
Aunt Lin didn’t notice Shen Tangqing’s abnormality and looked very enthusiastic.
“I have a niece, about your age. She stopped studying after graduating from high school and is working in Shanghai. Isn’t she back for the New Year and hasn’t gone out yet? Shall Auntie introduce you two?”
Shen Tangqing pursed his lips. Like this… could he still have a normal relationship? If a future girlfriend knew he used to… that would be too embarrassing.
His hand holding the chopsticks tightened. Shen Tangqing forced a smile.
“Aunt Lin, I don’t have plans to date for the time being, and I don’t know how long I can stay here.”
“Is that so? I thought you would stay in Wuxian from now on…” Aunt Lin looked a bit regretful. Shen Tangqing was the most handsome boy she had ever seen, and he spoke very politely; she liked Shen Tangqing very much.
“I will go back to my hometown.”
Aunt Lin knew he was from another province, but really didn’t know where Shen Tangqing was from.
“Xiao Shen, where is your hometown?”
Shen Tangqing paused for a moment, then smiled, his expression somewhat melancholy. “Very far, extremely far from here.”
Aunt Lin wanted to ask more, but the woman eating wontons called her to settle the bill, so she busied herself collecting money.
After the table was cleaned up, Shen Tangqing put down his chopsticks, took out his phone, and scanned eight yuan to Aunt Lin.
“Aunt Lin, I’m done eating. going to stroll around the vegetable market opposite.”
“Alright,” Aunt Lin looked at the noodles still more than half left in his bowl and couldn’t help frowning.
“Was the taste not right today?”
“No, it’s just that I’m not very hungry…” Shen Tangqing smiled. “Goodbye, Aunt Lin, I’ll come again tomorrow.”
“Oh, okay, take care, Xiao Shen.”
As soon as Shen Tangqing went out, and Aunt Lin had just cleaned the table, Lu Yanli and two others entered the noodle shop.
He scanned the room and walked to the table Shen Tangqing usually sat at, sitting down. His two subordinates sat opposite him.
Aunt Lin hurriedly stepped forward to greet them. “What would you like to eat? The menu is on the wall here.”
Lu Yanli’s gaze fell on the menu posted on the wall. After looking for a moment, he spoke slowly, “Two liang of clear soup noodles.”
After speaking, he looked at the two sitting opposite him. “Order for yourselves.”
“I’ll have three liang of sliced noodles with ribs…”
“Give me three liang of chicken giblet noodles.”
“Okay, please wait a few minutes.” Aunt Lin smilingly let her husband cook the noodles.
This small noodle shop was introduced to them by the hotel front desk, saying it had been open for over twenty years and the taste was very authentic. Lu Yanli and his group prepared to eat something casually and then set off back to Beijing.
The car was parked right at the entrance of the noodle shop.
When getting into the car, the driver swiftly stepped forward to help Lu Yanli open the door. Lu Yanli’s leg injury hadn’t healed yet; it was wrapped in gauze with medicine, so he walked somewhat slowly.
After getting into the car, the driver trotted back to the driver’s seat.
The car started slowly. Lu Yanli lifted his eyelids to glance at the street scene outside the window. A moment later, he lowered his eyes again, his gaze falling on the Buddhist beads on his wrist, wondering what he was thinking.
Shen Tangqing carried a few tomatoes and eggs, walking toward the residential area. His gaze fell on the receding off-road vehicle.
Beijing A plate—
He froze for a moment. To see a Beijing car here…
After spring began, Shen Tangqing found a job as a network administrator not far from his rented apartment.
Three shifts. Morning shift from 7 AM to 3 PM, middle shift from 3 PM to 11 PM, and night shift from 11 PM to 7 AM the next day. The work was easy, with one day off a month, and a salary of 1500.
Most importantly, it was very close to where Shen Tangqing rented, only a ten-minute walk, and didn’t require an ID card to “start work.” Although the salary wasn’t high, earning back the monthly rent and utilities was better than sitting and eating until the mountain was empty.
In the third month of his work, the system that had disappeared for a long time finally appeared.
Shen Tangqing almost thought the system had abandoned him. Suddenly hearing the system’s voice, Shen Tangqing’s eyes reddened with excitement.
“Brother System, I thought you didn’t want me anymore.”
0032 looked confused. For it, one month in this small world was only one day in the space station; it had only been gone for a few days.
“Host, what’s wrong with you? Where is this broken place?”
In 0032’s view, this place was indeed a bit dilapidated. The paint on the walls was peeling, and there were even mottled mold spots on the ceiling. The entire apartment wasn’t even as big as Shen Tangqing’s bedroom in the Jiang family.
Did the Jiang family go bankrupt in the few days I was gone?
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