Chapter 273: From Now On It

The overseer's voice began to tremble; he spun around abruptly and slapped Lang San across the face, "You scoundrel! You almost killed the whole clan!"

Lang San was struck so hard he spun three times in place, then fell to the ground with a bewildered expression.

The overseer was already on one knee, his forehead nearly touching the ground: "Honorable king, please forgive our offense..."

Cheng Shuili raised an eyebrow, gave a light cough, and pretended to be profound: "Overseer, your nephew seems to love abusing his authority."

The overseer's tail twitched instantly: "It… it's my lax discipline. I'll send them to the mines for hard labor! Ten years! No, twenty years!"

Upon hearing that, Lang San rolled his eyes and fainted.

"Not them," Cheng Shuili waved a hand, "but you, your own nephew."

She looked at Shi Nian, "Also, can Boss Shi's shop paperwork be completed today?"

"Yes! Of course!" the overseer nodded vigorously, "I'll supervise personally! No, I'll have someone bring the license over right now!"

The matter was resolved surprisingly smoothly.

The overseer immediately summoned someone, and in front of Cheng Shuili completed the paperwork for Shi Nian.

"Time's about up," Cheng Shuili glanced at her watch, nodded at Shi Nian, "We'll visit another day."

Shi Nian's expression was grateful; she solemnly bowed, "You're always welcome."

Cheng Shuili gave a slight nod and left with Su Rui.

On the way they passed Bao Chi's bakery, and Cheng Shuili stopped to say hello.

But because time was tight, when Bao Chi timidly stuck his head out, Cheng Shuili and Su Rui had already gone far away.

Back on the vehicle, Cheng Shuili immediately contacted Qi Wan Yi; after waiting a while without a reply, she simply used a single‑challenge card.

The highway merged instantly.

Su Rui was inside the carriage; when she saw Cheng Shuili about to get off, she followed down.

The two, one after the other, stood before Qi Wan Yi's dining car and knocked on the door.

Cheng Shuili lowered her head and waited; the longer she waited, the tighter her brows knit—her chef wouldn't have burned out and fainted, would she?

People often get exactly what they fear most.

Su Rui violently forced the door open; the two went in and saw—wasn't she already fainted?!

Qi Wan Yi lay on the floor, her complexion pale, lips devoid of any color; the wound on her right arm seemed torn, the bandage soaked completely red.

Beside her was an opened carton of milk; it was unclear what she had been doing here before fainting.

Su Rui crouched beside her, lifted a hand to feel her forehead temperature, and as soon as she placed it she looked up and told Cheng Shuili: "She's feverish, very hot."

She seemed a bit close to death.

Whether it was infection or inflammation, Cheng Shuili wasn't a doctor and didn't need to look for the cause.

The medicine bottle in her hand could heal all of Qi Wan Yi's injuries.

Alright, revive her.

Cheng Shuili crouched, her fingertips gently brushed aside Qi Wan Yi's sweat‑damp bangs.

She took out a golden vial; its body emitted a soft glow that pulsed gently within the dim carriage, as if alive.

"Hope this thing is truly as miraculous as described..."

She whispered to herself, turning the cap with her thumb.

With a soft "pop," a wisp of golden mist drifted from the bottle's mouth, smelling of fresh grass after rain.

Cheng Shuili carefully tilted the vial; a drop of radiant gold slid slowly down the glass wall, then froze mid‑air at the mouth, resembling a liquid amber.

She moved the vial gently to Qi Wan Yi's lips, making sure the drop entered her mouth before she relaxed the tilt.

The liquid, upon touching her lips, transformed into a soft golden light that flowed inside her.

Qi Wan Yi's pale complexion regained color at a visibly rapid pace.

Her tightly knit brows gradually relaxed, and her previously rapid breathing became steady and long.

Most evident was the wound on her right arm; beneath the blood‑stained bandage the condition was unclear, yet the seeped blood seemed to flow backward, slowly fading away.

After a few seconds, Qi Wan Yi's eyelashes twitched lightly as she slowly opened her eyes.

Her pupils were clear and bright, showing no sign of the earlier critical condition.

She puzzledly touched her now‑intact arm, then looked down at the bandage on the ground, now clean.

"It doesn't hurt… am I… okay?"

Qi Wan Yi's voice was still a bit weak, but her vigor had returned.

"This reaction…" Cheng Shuili chuckled softly beside her, nodding in approval, "You're fine now."

Qi Wan Yi's eyes lit up; she didn't know what this Lao Da had done, but it surely had worried her.

She propped herself up, still a bit weak, her gaze landing on the golden vial in Cheng Shuili's hand. She blinked, seemingly finally realizing what had happened, and her eyes reddened slightly.

"Lao Da…" her voice trembled, her fingers unconsciously gripping the hem, "I…"

The words caught in her throat; she lowered her head, letting her hair cover her damp eyes.

Cheng Shuili was about to put the vial away when she felt her sleeve gently tugged.

Qi Wan Yi's fingers still trembled, yet stubbornly refused to let go.

"That… it's valuable, right?" Qi Wan Yi finally lifted her head, her eyes still rimmed with red, but a brilliant smile spreading, "My life, from now on, belongs to Lao Da."

Wasn't it already?

Qi Wan Yi said as she tried to stand, but Cheng Shuili pressed her shoulder down.

"Cut the act."

Cheng Shuili deliberately set a stern face, though the corners of her mouth twitched upward, "If you really want to thank me, get well quickly and keep cooking. Without you, everyone would have a miserable life."

Qi Wan Yi burst into laughter, tears finally spilling. She quickly wiped her face with the back of her hand, inhaled deeply: "Lao Da, don't worry, tonight we'll have braised pork!"

Her voice still carried a nasal tone, but her eyes shone especially bright.

So nice.

Cheng Shuili noticed her gently feeling her already healed right arm, fingertips lightly rubbing the spot where the wound had been, as if confirming whether this was a dream.

"How does it feel?" Cheng Shuili asked.

Qi Wan Yi moved her limbs: "Not only is the wound healed, I feel much more relaxed, as if I had a good night's sleep."

She touched her forehead, "Even the feverish headache is completely gone."

Su Rui observed carefully from beside, adding, "Your body temperature is now completely normal. And…"

She pointed at Qi Wan Yi's arm, "The scar that was just there has also vanished."

Cheng Shuili was also astonished by this effect; even old, years‑old scars can be cured, let alone hidden ailments. She satisfiedly put away the golden medicine bottle, and her mood lifted once she confirmed Qi Wan Yi was fine.

"By the way," Qi Wan Yi suddenly remembered something, pulling a tightly wrapped handkerchief from her pocket, "These are cookies I made; I intended to give you a taste right after they were ready… I didn't expect to faint."

Her voice gradually lowered, and she added sheepishly, "They might be a bit crushed now…"

So what's the problem?

Cheng Shuili took the handkerchief directly, lifted a corner and smelled a rich milky fragrance.

She raised an eyebrow; that box of milk was for making this.

She immediately took a piece and shoved it into her mouth.

"Mmm… not bad," Cheng Shuili said vaguely, and casually gave Su Rui a piece as well, "Delicious."

Su Rui pinched the cookie, her expression complex, and only after a while gently took a bite.

Alright, even if I can't taste it, chewing something will do.

Qi Wan Yi's eyes lit up instantly; she pursed her lips in a smile, two tiny dimples appearing on her cheeks, "Then I'll go make more!"

As she was about to run to the kitchen, Cheng Shuili grabbed her by the collar, "Just revived and already fussing? Rest properly first."

Qi Wan Yi tucked her neck in, obediently sat back down, "Alright, alright."

The few of them sat together, and Cheng Shuili summarized the events of this time.

Qi Wan Yi, still young, managed to obtain a Level‑One Chef certificate, naturally having apprenticed under a renowned orthodox sect; she thought her master's skills must not end with her, so she considered taking on a junior disciple.

That Wan Yue just turned adult this year, definitely a good candidate.

Cheng Shuili didn't understand at all, while Su Rui kept nodding beside her, like a chick pecking at rice.

But thinking about it, Su Rui also has a master, so she should understand well, right?

The three chatted for a while; after the duel card's expiration ended, the highway merge concluded.

After a day of rushing around, Cheng Shuili finally had some leisure.

She lay on her two‑meter‑wide bed, stretched comfortably, then ran to the manor again to double‑check the seed matters.

Unlike the "chicken‑fly" eggs in the chaos, the Fire Lizard was very quiet, staying honestly within the area Cheng Shuili had fenced off.

Over a dozen Fire Lizards piled together, eyes wide open, blinking yet staring motionlessly at passing silhouettes.

They're actually quite cute.

Not only Cheng Shuili thought so; Yu Bing, for the third time today, couldn't resist fiddling with these Fire Lizards, poking their bellies and tails.

Isn't this really harassing a colleague?

Cheng Shuili shook her head and went to find Zhou Zhuxing to ask about business.

Zhou Zhuxing was squatting by the field ridge recording data; seeing Cheng Shuili approach, she immediately closed her notebook and stood up, fresh soil still clinging to her pant leg, a withered yellow leaf wedged between her fingers.

"Lao Da, all our seeds have now been fully sown. The thing we lack most in this garden is not land, so each crop occupies its own plot."

While speaking, she led Cheng Shuili toward the field edge, counting on her fingers as she reported, "After planting, we can see the seed's growth countdown. I've roughly divided these plots into three sections."

Cheng Shuili lightly nodded, indicating for her to continue.

"Here is Area A, planted with fast‑growth type; after the countdown, sprouts appear in three days. This is Area B, with the improved seeds the orc gave me, claimed to yield 30% more, though germination takes seven days and harvest takes a long time thereafter. This is Area C…"