"Mom and Dad, you're so free today that you're both just sitting here?"
Qiu Xi, having just entered the house and changed her shoes, turned around and saw her parents in the living room, a little surprised.
She had been back for many days, and at this time every day, both of them were in the study. Especially her mother, who always said that inspiration came readily at this hour.
"You're asking? We're worried about you, so we're sitting here waiting for you."
"Since you're back, we'll head upstairs now."
This girl had left early in the morning, and it was already dark, but she still hadn't returned. They were naturally worried, so they decided to wait downstairs.
They had just been watching the time and were about to call her when she returned.
"No! Mom and Dad, wait a moment. I have something to tell you both."
Qiu Dad and Qiu Mom, who had just lifted their bottoms, sat back down. "What else is there? Tell us."
"I went to see Grandpa Du today, and then I discovered..."
After a brief explanation of what happened, Qiu Xi began to ask for her parents' opinions. "So, I was thinking of holding a small apprenticeship ceremony. What do you think?"
"Of course, we can! Why not!"
After hearing her daughter's words, Mom Qiu excitedly patted Dad Qiu next to her several times.
Based on what her husband had said when he returned from the hospital, combined with her daughter's description just now, she now had immense admiration for the two old professors and was very interested in meeting them.
"From now on, the food arrangements will be up to you father and daughter. I'll handle everything else. It cannot be done carelessly."
"Honey, what do you think? Is it okay?"
"Yes, I'll listen to you."
"Then it's settled!"
Qiu Xi was stunned by her mother's decisive action.
However, she really liked the speed at which problems were solved.
"Mom, I have no problem with it, but what time do you think is suitable?"
"Hmm… we need to think carefully about this…"
Even though it was just their small family, they couldn't be careless.
After much thought, Mom Qiu couldn't come up with a good idea.
"Why don't Mom and Dad come back first? It's only a couple more days."
Just as she was struggling, Dad Qiu suddenly said this.
"Yes, how could I forget this!"
"Dad, are Grandpa and Grandma coming back?"
This was also something Qiu Xi hadn't expected. She had video-called her grandparents last night, and they hadn't mentioned returning.
"Yes, they called this afternoon and said they had traveled enough and would be back now. It's just right, before the Spring Festival travel rush begins."
Dad Qiu explained the phone call from his parents to his daughter.
"Is that so…"
Thinking about it, her grandparents, who had gone to see old friends out of boredom, had been away for almost a month. It was indeed time for them to return.
"Then let's wait for Mom and Dad to come back. Qiu Xi, you can inform your teachers."
"Okay."
"Alright, that's it for now. Let's go upstairs and get some rest after finishing our work."
And so, the discussion concluded with Mom Qiu suggesting they rest.
...
After going upstairs, Qiu Xi thought about sending a message to her teacher. She hesitated and decided against it.
It was too late to disturb them. It would be better to go in person tomorrow.
"Xiao Hua, show me today's rewards."
After finishing her tasks, Qiu Xi finally remembered the rewards she had received today.
"Okay, Qiu Xi."
"This generosity is truly immense!"
This notebook alone was probably a rare edition.
With its thickness, a quick flip through it revealed learning notes, experiences, and training methods from various masters in the field of interpretation and translation. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it priceless.
And then there was the medicinal cuisine cookbook, which was also a golden find.
She had checked, and there were cookbooks in the system store as well, but they were sold individually, and one had to use points to exchange for them.
In summary, there was only one word for it: Expensive!
"You know how generous the rewards are now, right!"
As she was marveling, she heard Xiao Hua say this.
"I always knew!"
"..."
"Then why aren't you working harder to accumulate more!"
"..."
"Do you think you're taking a bath!"
Accumulate more and more... If that were the case, she might as well stay in the water all the time.
"But you've been slacking off for more than half a month again..."
Seeing that his newly earned salary was about to decrease, what could this little system do?
Of course, it could only… pester her from time to time!
"Alright, your wish is about to come true."
Qiu Xi understood Xiao Hua's intentions.
Moreover, she had a feeling that after this apprenticeship, she would be busy again, and not just normally busy, but super busy!
Xiao Hua muttered upon hearing this, "It better be!"
...
"Qiu Xi, are you going to Grandpa Du's place later?"
"Yes."
"What's up?"
Qiu Xi, who was packing, paused and turned to ask her mother.
She had been quite busy these past two days. Her cheap master had subjected her to grueling training from the very first day.
He said she was studying too broadly and needed to specialize.
He also said that although her English was good, he himself cultivated several foreign languages simultaneously, and she, as his disciple, was too lackluster.
There was much more, too much to explain at once.
In short, the outcome was that she still needed to build a solid foundation and fully digest the current material before proceeding to the next stage of teaching.
Although the past two days had been exhausting, after her cheap master's critique, Qiu Xi had become much more stable and grounded, and she had also gained a clearer understanding of her future learning direction.
"It's nothing really, I just want you to mail these three outfits to your roommates."
It had been a long time since October, and now it was just before the Chinese New Year, so it was a good time to mail them.
"Mom, you've finished them!"
Although the design drafts had come out, Song Daiyao and the other two had immediately paid her without regard for her opinion, but they certainly hadn't rushed her.
She hadn't expected her mother to have finished them so quickly.
"Yes."
"You didn't even let me see the results, that's just not fair~"
"Go ask your girlfriends for photos of them being worn!"
Pouting to her like this was useless! She wasn't like that old Qiu.
"Alright then..."
"Then give me the items. I'll mail them when I go out later."
"Here, they're all here. Don't forget!"
"Don't worry! I'd forget myself before I forgot these..."
"That's good."
"When are you going?"
"After I finish packing and the soup is ready, I'll head out."
Ever since she obtained the medicinal cuisine cookbook, Qiu Xi had been experimenting with it from time to time.
For this, she had specifically learned about her master and his wife's circumstances, and occasionally generously added some system-produced elixirs.
It was a pity, though, that Grandpa and Grandma hadn't returned yet, otherwise she could have stewed them together.
"Then you get busy, and don't forget my package."
"Okay, I'll remember it very clearly."