"Qingmiao'er, you're back. Come, we're talking about your great achievements."
Gu Ma came over enthusiastically and pulled Su Qinghe to sit down at the table. The whole family gathered around, eyes all on her.
Su Qinghe suddenly panicked. Could it be that something had been discovered?
She tried to stay calm and said, "Parents, what's going on?"
"Qinghe, we all know your thoughts," Deputy County Magistrate Gu said seriously.
Gu Ma said, "That's right, silly child, why didn’t you tell us? We understand you."
Gu Ersao added, "It’s a good thing, and it's not like you're meeting some stranger. It's better to let others know. Parents like motivated kids!"
Su Qinghe: "...!!!" System, system, what's going on? What are they talking about?
The system didn’t respond at all. Su Qinghe felt something was wrong. This might be the end. What could she be doing that she couldn’t let others know? Other than the existence of the Grandet system, everything else should be fine!
She glanced at everyone. All of them were looking at her with expectation.
Su Qinghe started to sweat. Her mind was a mess. But after thinking it through, she could only play along. "Parents, I really don’t have anything going on. I’m fine."
"Don’t lie to us!" Gu Ma said excitedly.
Su Qinghe was startled. What now? "Mom, what do you know?" She wanted to cry. Please don’t force me, I’m just a child!
Gu Ma said emotionally, "We know that you want to study. You’ve been too embarrassed to tell the family. You’ve been studying by yourself at the unit every day. We all know."
So it was this… Su Qinghe sighed in relief. But before she could catch her breath, Gu Ma continued, "Your dad has arranged for you to attend night school in the county. It’s run by the county party committee, and the conditions are better than other units."
Su Qinghe nearly choked on her breath, clutching her chest. What? When did she say she wanted to study?
Gu Ma saw her like this and thought she was happy. She smiled and patted her back, "Oh, look how happy you are. Silly girl, why didn’t you tell us earlier? We just didn’t think about it. Since you haven’t touched a book in so many years, we thought you didn’t want to read. Turns out, Qingmiao likes studying so much. That’s great. It’s a good thing to be motivated. It’s just a little harder."
Su Qinghe was still trying to understand the situation when Deputy County Magistrate Gu added sincerely, "Qinghe is a hardworking child and not afraid of difficulties. That’s very good. We all support you."
Su Qinghe: "..." Who says that? I'm obviously afraid of hardship!
She looked at everyone with teary eyes. "Who said that? Who said I wanted to study?"
Gu Changping coughed and smiled, "Qinghe, I said it. Thanks to Director Liu from your procurement department, I found out. Everyone at your unit knows. We’re also to blame for not caring enough about you."
Everyone at the restaurant knows? Su Qinghe looked desperate. Why didn’t she know?
"I really don’t have any other thoughts. I don’t want to go to school. I can read by myself." She didn’t want to study at all. Back in college, she just handed out flyers and got weak legs. After finally learning to write novels, she was free. Now she has to work and study… exhausting!!!
Gu Ma held her hand. "Qingmiao’er, we’re a family. Don’t be so polite. Your dad already arranged everything. Just go to school. What major do you want? How about accounting? That’s pretty good."
Deputy County Magistrate Gu said, "Actually, learning a skill is good."
Su Qinghe whispered, "Can I not go? It’s troublesome."
"Don’t be silly. What’s troublesome about this?" Gu Ma said.
Su Qinghe: "..." She really found it troublesome. "...Mom, I don’t want to go to night school."
Gu Ma didn’t believe her. "Everyone already knows, and you're still keeping it a secret? If you don’t want to go, why are you reading all day? Good child, don’t worry. Everything is arranged."
Su Qinghe wanted to cry but had no tears. She couldn’t tell them she was pretending to read but was actually dozing off...
After they told Su Qinghe, the Gu family started eating. It was already mealtime, and they were just waiting for Su Qinghe to come back to ‘discuss important matters.’
Once the food was served, Gu Ma said to Su Qinghe, "Let your eldest brother and sister-in-law pick you up every day. We’re not at ease with you being out so late."
Then she said to Gu Ersao, "Second daughter-in-law, if your sister-in-law comes home late in the future, you do the cooking."
Hearing this, Gu Ersao’s mind turned a hundred and eighty times. Then she put down her chopsticks and said, "Mom, I think I should pick up Qinghe. We're only two years apart, so we have things to talk about."
Sister Gu didn’t like what she said and frowned. "We’re not just two years apart."
"It’s two years!" Gu Ersao exaggeratedly held up two fingers.
Sister Gu looked at her trying to fight for it and didn’t say anything. What are you competing with the second one for?
Gu Ersao was pleased and quickly said, "I'll pick up Qinghe from now on. Anyway, my unit gets off work early." It was great—no need to cook, and she could hang out every day. Besides, if the third daughter-in-law didn’t come home, Mom wouldn’t eat. When she came home, there’d be food. Plus, she could use the third daughter-in-law’s bike! Every day she’d ride her to school, then go to work, and ride back for lunch. So free and easy!
The more she thought, the happier she felt. Her face lit up. Gu Changping couldn’t bear to watch anymore and just lowered his head to eat. He felt like he might have to deal with his wife again. The task originally for the eldest brother and sister-in-law was snatched up by his idle wife...
Seeing how enthusiastic Gu Ersao was, Gu Ma didn’t say anything more and turned to Su Qinghe. "What do you think?"
Su Qinghe opened her mouth but didn’t know what to say. What could she say? She didn’t want to go at all, ooooo...
"...Then thank you, second sister-in-law," she said in a choked voice.
Gu Ersao smiled, "It’s no trouble, we’re family."
Gu Changping also smiled. "Yes, we’re family. If there’s anything in the future, just tell us."
Su Qinghe smiled. Thank you. Sincerely.
After dinner, Su Qinghe casually washed up and returned to her room.
She felt like she needed to calm down and heal her broken heart. Mom, what have you done to me...
Lying on the bed, she weakly said, "System, I don’t want to cook anymore. I’m going to school. School will be tiring, and I won’t be able to finish my tasks. Just retire with me."
"Friendly reminder: the system can open new tasks. Daily auxiliary skill tasks are now available. If the host chooses to study a related major, learning ability can be enhanced, skills will be gained faster, and rich rewards can be earned."
"What are auxiliary skills?"
"Skills other than the four basic ones of food, clothing, housing, and transportation are called auxiliary skills. These include medicine, self-defense, financial management, taste..."
Su Qinghe’s head spun. So much to learn!
"Friendly reminder: the host has no second choice. It is recommended to enable auxiliary skills now. Otherwise, the host’s learning will not count and will not receive any help or rewards from the system."
Su Qinghe felt like the system was tricking her—but she had to accept it. "Are there rewards?"
"Auxiliary skills are learning-based. The system will help the host remember what is learned, which is like having a photographic memory. Exam pass = 10 star coins. Excellent result = 50 star coins. Coins can only be used to buy items related to the studied subject."
"So the coins are useless? I can only buy study-related things..."
"You can use purchased items in daily life. For example, if you study medicine, you can buy medicine or medical skills… useful for everyday needs."
Su Qinghe started thinking. If she learned a skill, earned coins, and bought items to exchange for real use… that sounded pretty good.
"Are all the items from the Interstellar System?" Su Qinghe wondered if there was a medicine to change her body. She wanted to be a superwoman—just lie down and everything gets done on its own.
"Host, all items are available as long as you have enough coins."
Su Qinghe thought: I’ve been to university, I can pass exams, right?
"Of course. Let me check the prices first."
"Host, you haven’t unlocked any auxiliary skills. You have no permission to view."
"...!" Su Qinghe’s enthusiasm dropped. She sighed and asked, "Then how do I unlock it?"
"Upgrade all basic skills to level B."
Su Qinghe immediately checked her skill points. She remembered she was almost there—just one more!
Clothing (B): 0
Food (C): 0
Housing (A): 0
Transportation (B): 0
Looking at all the zeros, Su Qinghe nearly fainted. But then she checked her task reminder. She was only one task away from unlocking auxiliary skills.
Task: As a well-rounded person, you must manage your home. Perform regular cleaning. Passing sanitation will reward you with 1 cleaning skill point and a cleaning product.
Cleaning? Easy!
For a better future, let’s fight!
"Friendly reminder: the host will choose a subject tomorrow. Please prepare."
Su Qinghe rubbed her chin and thought, "Which skill can change physique?"
"Medicine."
Su Qinghe made her decision immediately. "Okay, I’ll study medicine… The night school offers nursing, right? That counts. I’ll study nursing!"
The next morning, Su Qinghe told Deputy County Magistrate Gu she wanted to study nursing.
"Dad, I think I should learn some real skills. I’ve always had a dream—to become a great doctor who saves lives. Now I finally have the chance, so I want to study nursing."
Deputy County Magistrate Gu and Gu Ma were moved by her words.
"Good child, what a noble goal. Very good! Dad supports you. There’s a nursing class run by the county hospital. Go study. Work hard, and Dad will wait for you to succeed," Gu Fuxian said emotionally.
Among all his sons and daughters-in-law, none were as ambitious and caring for the country as this little daughter-in-law.
Gu Ersao looked at Su Qinghe with admiration. She thought the third daughter-in-law was really putting in effort to please their parents...
…
In order to level up, Su Qinghe rushed home in the afternoon after finishing her work.
Gu Ma was preparing to clean the house. Seeing Su Qinghe return, she asked in surprise, "Why is Qingmiao back?"
"Mom, I’m going to school soon and won’t be able to help around the house. So I came back to help clean today." She rolled up her sleeves and grabbed a rag.
She started wiping the tables and chairs.
Gu Ma stared at her for a while before reacting. "Oh, how can I let you work? Go rest, you must be tired. I can do the housework. We have your two sisters-in-law too. You don’t have to be so hardworking."
Su Qinghe also felt that she was working too hard—but she had no choice. "Mom, let me do it. I feel at ease when I work."
In the future, once she gets a super body, she’ll fly to the sky!
Gu Ma looked at her in awe. What a good child—working sincerely, not like those who just talk and won’t lift a finger.
How lovely this little sprout was.
"Okay, Mom will listen to you. You work. Mom will keep you company."
"Mom, just rest. You can clean next time when I’m not home." Then she pulled Gu Ma to sit on the sofa and continued cleaning.
Gu Ma’s heart melted. Watching Su Qinghe work, her eyes softened—as if she were looking at her own daughter.
She decided: if Chang'an dares to treat Qingmiao badly in the future, she’ll break that brat’s legs!
At the Frontier Corps, Gu Changan was in the middle of an assessment with his company.
As an elite unit, they were tested monthly to see if they could stay in the lead company and be eligible for promotion.
The test included strength, physical fitness, firearm skills, and education level.