Chapter 2: A Poor Life? Just Getting By

Guidance: Intelligence

【Please further confirm the aspects requiring guidance】

【National Language, Math, Foreign Language, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, History, Geography】

——Math

Qingshan Li once again lost control, picking up the mathematics textbook he had received at the start of the new semester but had not yet opened.

The knowledge in the textbook, he had seen in his memories of his past life, and it all looked very familiar.

Two hours later, he put down the textbook.

Unlike physical training, he, having read books for many years, could easily distinguish between high and low study efficiency.

Too high.

The knowledge absorption rate was nearly one hundred percent.

It absolutely did not need two years; even while enjoying youth and studying at the same time, at most he only needed one year for Qingshan Li to master all the knowledge of three years of high school and possess the strength to freely choose a university.

'Intelligence' had been tried; next was 'Specialty'.

What about 'Beauty'? No need to try; do men still care about appearance? As long as the person sitting opposite can eat their meal, just getting by is enough.

'Specialty' refers to special skills, such as calligraphy ranks, tea ceremony levels, garbage disposal workers, and so on.

——Guidance: Specialty

【Please further confirm the aspects requiring guidance】

This time the panel provided no choices; was it because there were too many specialties that could be cultivated?

——Please give me money

No response.

"As expected, it's no good."

Love money? No, this is a real man's never-give-up spirit.

"What specialty should I train?" Qingshan Li fell into contemplation.

With a research spirit, Qingshan Li silently recited in his heart—piano.

【Please prepare a piano】

As expected, it's no good; it must be something his current conditions can meet the training requirements for.

——Cleaning

Qingshan Li got up to clean.

"Cleaning works?!"

"Can stains fused with the floor be wiped away?"

"This place is so dirty; it actually hides such dead corners. As expected, women are useless; from now on, the house's hygiene will be left to me."

"Mhm, the toilet must be scrubbed until it shines."

"Huh? What is this? Stop! A girl's cabinet for storing underwear absolutely won't have dust; it doesn't need cleaning aaa~"

Qingshan Li's waist ached from exhaustion.

In exchange, 【Specialty: None】 became 【Specialty: Home E】.

And, the house was completely renewed; it was no exaggeration to say it was like new.

As a result, when sister Ono Mika and sister Ono Mizuki returned home and stood at the entrance, they wore expressions of 'Did I walk into the wrong place?'.

"I cleaned it." Qingshan Li stood with his arms crossed inside the house and said calmly.

"You?" Mika said in disbelief.

"Big brother, are you still not feeling well?" Mizuki asked worriedly.

This was saying his brain was still sick.

"During this period, I thought a lot," mostly things from his past life, "life has too many accidents; my surviving this accident unscathed was purely a fluke. To avoid regrets, I've decided to study hard and live seriously from now on."

"Mhm, just stick with it for one month this time!" Sister Mika encouraged.

"Brother, you should sit down and rest." Little sister Mizuki always insisted that Qingshan Li's brain was still sick.

Qingshan Li was about to say something when his stomach went "Gurgle~~~".

He didn't take it to heart; today he had been hungry all day and didn't know how many times it had growled.

"Hurry up and eat." Even though she was only in senior year, Mika had some of a mother's personality.

The two sisters walked into the house, marveling at the degree of cleanliness while going to the bedroom to change clothes.

By the time the two changed clothes and returned, Qingshan Li had already heated the curry and placed it on the table.

His portion was double, including lunch as well.

Mika occasionally glanced at Qingshan Li.

Mizuki spoke directly: "Big Brother Qingshan, did you clean all the rooms just to touch our underwear?"

Caught!

"Bastard!" Qingshan Li flew into a rage, took a big bite of curry, "Even if we aren't real siblings, I wouldn't do such a thing!"

"Not necessarily." Mizuki muttered, "Boys in puberty are half-human, half-beast."

"That's right; you must be careful of the male classmates around you and not be deceived." Qingshan Li said.

"I won't be deceived by you either." Mizuki said.

"It's because the house was too dirty that I couldn't stand it, so I cleaned every place in the house! By the way, from now on you're not allowed to touch housework; that's a man's right!"

"Really?!" Mizuki laughed, "Big brother, even if you become a pervert, I forgive you!"

"I've said it, I didn't!"

"Mhm, no no, but forget about housework; although you can't work part-time now, still leave it to me."

"Fine." Qingshan Li nodded after thinking it over.

Compared to the dust at home, solving the problem of poverty was more important.

He had a dream: in the future he would only need to clean the house at home, and no longer need to worry about money.

"You agreed so easily? As I thought, it's all talk—men are the biggest liars!" Miyuki said.

"I won't stand on ceremony with you." Qingshan Li said.

Mika smiled as she watched the two chat.

Even though they were eating curry from three days ago, happiness filled the home.

The three were not related by blood; both families were single-parent households, and the two mothers met at a single-parent gathering and became close friends.

Because of this, Qingshan Li and the two Ono sisters had been good friends since kindergarten.

Later, in an accident, both mothers passed away at the same time.

Qingshan Li gave up the rented house, took the appliances and furniture his mother had bought while alive, and moved into the old Ono home.

The three were like family, and would not change because Qingshan Li remembered his past life or had a system.

After dinner, Qingshan Li refused Miyuki's request to wash the dishes and went to the kitchen himself to clean up.

Looking at the dishes in the sink, Qingshan Li wore the expression of a wizard waving a wand to cast 'Cleaning Renewal'.

—System, wash the dishes for me

【Guidance Begins】

Scrape off residue, soak greasy dishes in hot water above 60℃, prioritize washing lightly greasy dishes;

After washing, disinfect with boiling water, dry, and put away.

"Wastes water, wastes electricity, wastes detergent." Miyuki commented.

"A man's business, a woman shouldn't butt in." Qingshan Li actually agreed, but would never admit defeat with his mouth.

Back in the living room, the three sat idly chatting, and sister Mika was ironing the school uniform shirt Qingshan Li would wear tomorrow.

Anyone walking into this house would not think they were poor; the refrigerator, television, and other furniture were all complete.

The three joked and laughed, with not a shred of inferiority from being poor children.

"Li-kun," Mika said softly, "you've missed half a month of classes, so it's normal you can't keep up with your homework. Don't panic if you don't understand, and don't give up. I'll help you catch up slowly at home."

"I can't work part-time now; I can review at home alone." Qingshan Li smiled. "Mika, you go about your business."

"Really?" Mika looked at him.

"Wait and see at the end-of-month exam." Qingshan Li said.

"Okay." Mika smiled. "If you make it into the top fifty of the grade, I'll buy you a new pair of shoes."

"What if I make it into the top fifty?" Miyuki immediately said.

"If you make it into the top twenty, I'll buy you a pair too."

"Tch, unfair, but it's a deal, sis~" Miyuki leaned against Mika, like a cute little rabbit leaning against her big white rabbit sister.

Qingshan Li sat on the tatami with his arms propped behind him, watching the two sisters laugh.

Life in this lifetime was poor, but they could get by.

Anyway, while studying hard, find a way to earn money, so the two sisters can live like rich people.

The system's test is over; the excitement and mischief end here. Put away willfulness—it's time to do serious business: earn money and support the family.

What Qingshan Li wanted most now was money.

It wasn't that he loved money, but that money could bring his family a happy life—at least letting his senior-year sister stop working and focus on exam prep, and letting his first-year sister stop wearing hand-me-down skirts from classmates.

The days without part-time work made him very anxious.

Even though part-time work didn't earn much, at least there was income, and he felt somewhat secure in his heart; now the school had stopped his part-time job.

By the way, does writing novels count as a part-time job? Writing should count as a specialty, right?

Qingshan Li took out pen and paper from his bookbag.

—System, let me write novels!

(Chapter End)