Chapter 162: Birthday Gift
Actually, there were still a few days until Xuan Xia’s birthday, but the Program Group remembered her birthday and specially prepared this surprise. Xuan Xia really hadn’t expected it.
It indeed surprised her.
She was surprised, but Zhou Shiqing felt very unhappy.
This feeling was just like being backstabbed by the Program Group.
Not only that, the Program Group also issued a mission to Zhou Shiqing on the grounds of Xuan Xia’s birthday and the two moving into the new home.
“Teacher Zhou, on such an important day as Teacher Xuan’s birthday, shouldn’t Teacher Zhou show some gesture?” The staff watched Zhou Shiqing’s expression, not knowing why he was unhappy again. At this moment, they didn’t dare wait even a second longer, just wanting to finish work quickly.
As soon as the question was asked, they immediately answered themselves: “So how about Teacher Zhou personally cooks a meal for Teacher Xuan? Warm reminder, the refrigerator is stocked with plenty of ingredients.”
“Then, the rest of the time is handed over to Teacher Zhou.” As soon as the staff finished their lines, they immediately left without any reluctance.
Zhou Shiqing watched the staff flee-like figure, the words “Do I need you to arrange for me to do things” stuck in his throat, neither up nor down.
But glancing at Xuan Xia whose attention was still on the flowers and cake, Zhou Shiqing said nothing, turned around, and went to check what ingredients were in the refrigerator.
It seemed the Program Group really wanted to see Zhou Shiqing cook. The refrigerator was fully stocked with ingredients, everything one could need.
Not to mention simply making a meal, even preparing a full banquet table would be no problem.
While Zhou Shiqing was checking the ingredients, Hong PD, who was watching the live scene through the monitor, was already excitedly rubbing his hands.
He wondered what kind of meal Zhou Shiqing would make today!
Additionally, they would definitely accumulate a lot of material today. Forget editing two episodes, they could edit three episodes’ worth!
Thinking this way, Hong PD became even more excited, even thinking up the subtitles for the current scene.
But the excitement didn’t last long before he saw Zhou Shiqing pick only a few simple ingredients and then close the refrigerator door.
As the refrigerator door closed, Hong PD quickly switched to another scene. “What did he take?”
The staff nearby counted the ingredients and said, “Teacher Zhou seems to want to cook noodles.”
Hong PD: “…”
Fine, cooking noodles for a birthday, no problem with that, right.
But Hong PD still felt very disappointed. All his ideas had gone to waste!
He should have added more restrictions when setting this mission.
On the other side, Zhou Shiqing had selected the ingredients and begun preparations for cooking.
Cooking is something where the first time is unfamiliar, but the second is familiar.
Ever since cooking in the kitchen during the last recording, Zhou Shiqing no longer resisted being a cook in front of others.
When Xuan Xia’s attention shifted away from the flowers and cake, she saw Zhou Shiqing already engaged in kitchen work.
She quickly walked over. “Teacher Zhou, do you need help?”
Zhou Shiqing didn’t even look up. “No need.”
Catching sight of Xuan Xia still standing nearby with the corner of his eye, Zhou Shiqing casually asked as if making small talk: “Is your neck better?”
Xuan Xia said, “Much better. Teacher Zhou, are you cooking noodles? Is this our lunch?”
She had actually heard the Program Group assign him the mission, but she didn’t want to take it too much for granted, so she didn’t mention making her a meal.
Zhou Shiqing hesitated a bit. “Mm.”
Xuan Xia had nothing to do and was curious what kind of noodles Zhou Shiqing planned to make, so she watched him work while chatting idly with him, the topics revolving around the ingredients he was using.
Cooking noodles was just two simple words, but Zhou Shiqing used plenty of various ingredients, so the finished product took some time.
However, the taste was really very good.
The texture was really very good.
After tasting it, Xuan Xia praised it highly, exclaiming “Michelin chef’s skill.”
Zhou Shiqing couldn’t hide the proud look in his eyes and brows, but his mouth remained clear-headed: “No need to exaggerate like that. I know my own skill level.”
“Then Teacher Zhou is too modest.” Xuan Xia had a serious expression. “No kidding you, this noodles have been deified in my book.”
Zhou Shiqing pressed down the corner of his mouth, but couldn’t hold it down.
“Talking like you haven’t eaten longevity noodles on your birthday before.” Zhou Shiqing muttered.
Xuan Xia heard it and smiled indifferently. “Yeah, I really haven’t.”
There were naturally plenty of cakes and gifts, but indeed no one had ever specially cooked her longevity noodles.
Zhou Shiqing: “…” He stared at her fixedly, hesitating for a moment whether she was joking.
However, after Xuan Xia said that, she didn’t continue.
But precisely because of this, Zhou Shiqing suddenly made a judgment: she wasn’t joking.
He frowned, no longer able to act proud.
After a moment, he suddenly asked: “What about a birthday gift? What do you want?”
Xuan Xia blinked her eyes.
He wants to give a gift, that would be too embarrassing.
She lowered her gaze to the not-yet-finished noodles. “Isn’t this the birthday gift?”
“Doesn’t count.” Zhou Shiqing had his own insistence. “Forget it, I’ll make it up next time we meet.”
Xuan Xia really wanted to say, no need.
But seeing he had already decided, continuing to refuse would hurt his good intentions and make her seem ungrateful.
“Then thank you in advance, Teacher Zhou.”
After thanking him, Xuan Xia secretly planned in her heart: once back, check Zhou Shiqing’s birthday and see if she needed to prepare early.
…
As soon as the recording ended and Xuan Xia officially got off work, the first thing she did was secretly go online to check Zhou Shiqing’s birthday.
Upon checking, she found Zhou Shiqing’s birthday was in February.
Xuan Xia didn’t know whether to feel fortunate or regretful.
Fortunate that there was plenty of time to prepare, regretful that it was too far away.
Ji Ziyao also only realized Xuan Xia’s birthday was coming up after seeing the surprise prepared by the Program Group.
So after the recording ended and on the way back, Ji Ziyao specially asked her: “How do you plan to spend your birthday?”
How to spend it?
Xuan Xia really hadn’t planned it.
She almost never celebrated her birthday. No one celebrated it for her as a child, and since her birthday was during summer vacation, she was even lazier about it.
So she thought for a long time, but her mind was blank.
She could only say: “Sleep until I wake naturally, then eat and drink after waking, and wait for bedtime… just like that.”
“…”
Ji Ziyao was speechless for a while.
“Forget about eating and drinking, you’re only allowed to sleep until you wake naturally.”
Xuan Xia wasn’t surprised by his answer. Good thing she had only said it casually.
Her mobile phone suddenly rang with a notification. Xuan Xia glanced at it unconsciously and saw it was another resume received for the recruitment she posted.
Probably because she had passed too many people, the frequency of receiving resumes lately was very low. It had even been a week since the last one.
Rarely receiving a resume again, Xuan Xia clicked into it with curiosity.
When she opened the resume, Xuan Xia immediately sat up straight and exclaimed in surprise.
“What’s wrong?” Ji Ziyao turned his head to look.
Xuan Xia said “Nothing” with her mouth, but her line of sight was still fixed on the mobile phone, quickly scanning through the newly received resume.
After finishing the resume submitted by the applicant, Xuan Xia couldn’t help voicing her inner thoughts. “My goodness.”
This really wasn’t a joke on her, was it?
Ji Ziyao furrowed his brows and turned his head again. “What exactly is it?”
“Really nothing. No, it’s too interesting.”
Ji Ziyao saw her mysterious expression, his curiosity piqued. “What’s so interesting?”
Xuan Xia shared: “I received a resume, and it’s actually from someone I know. Isn’t that interesting?”
Ji Ziyao: “…” He really didn’t think so.
But hearing it was about a resume, Ji Ziyao immediately lost interest.
He knew she had posted recruitment information and that she still hadn’t found anyone. He didn’t know what kind of talent her Daoist Temple needed, it was so hard to recruit.
Ji Ziyao turned back again, this time not planning to pay Xuan Xia any more attention.
Xuan Xia didn’t mind. She was already looking at the resume again.
The more she looked, the more amused she became.
However, she didn’t reply to this application information immediately.
After the day turned, when Xuan Xia returned to Yanjing, as soon as she put down her luggage, she went to Qinghui Temple.
Qinghui Temple’s incense and offerings really made Xuan Xia envious. Even though it wasn’t early, pilgrims were still coming and going continuously.
Although Changsheng Temple had plenty of visitors from morning to night, compared to Qinghui Temple, there was still a big difference.
Xuan Xia had come specifically to find Yan Wentao this time.
After the events of the past few days, many Daoist Priests at Qinghui Temple recognized Xuan Xia. The Daoist Master who happened to receive her was one of those who had caught the culprit together last time. Hearing she was looking for Yan Wentao, he very enthusiastically led her to find him.
Yan Wentao was preaching scriptures to a few devotees. Xuan Xia didn’t go up to disturb and listened on the side for a while.
In Daoism, preaching scriptures is not only conveying the principles and main ideas from the ancestral masters’ classics to believers. It is also a form of self-cultivation.
Moreover, not just any Daoist Priest can preach scriptures. Without a high level of knowledge, it’s sometimes hard to explain them thoroughly.
But clearly, Yan Wentao cultivated very well in this aspect.
After the few devotees listened, their faces all showed realization, and their facial features looked even kinder.
Yan Wentao smiled faintly as he saw off the devotees and turned to see Xuan Xia.
“Layman Xuan.” Yan Wentao smiled and came to greet her.
“Daoist Master Yan, you preached really well. I feel like I gained a lot of insight.”
“Oh?” Yan Wentao looked interested and immediately wanted to discuss it with Xuan Xia.
Xuan Xia smiled brightly, but didn’t really discuss the classics with him. Instead, she asked: “Daoist Master Yan, are you not planning to work at Qinghui Temple anymore?”
Yan Wentao was stunned, first looking at her in surprise, but soon changed his expression and muttered to himself: “Did Master Chang tell you?”
“No.” Xuan Xia took out her mobile phone, opened the resume, and held it up in front of him. “I received your resume.”
Now, Yan Wentao returned to a shocked expression.
“This… how is it with you?”
Yan Wentao thought to himself, he had only applied to one place. How did his resume end up in her hands?
“You applied to me.” Xuan Xia said, “Daoist Master Yan, are you really not planning to work at Qinghui Temple anymore? If you’re serious, I’m seriously recruiting you.”
Almost as soon as she finished reading Yan Wentao’s resume, Xuan Xia made the decision: she wanted to recruit Yan Wentao.
She definitely wanted to recruit Yan Wentao!
…
Yan Wentao looked around and said to Xuan Xia: “Layman Xuan, let’s talk in the Tea Room.”
Xuan Xia followed him to the Tea Room.
Seeing his reluctance to talk outside, Xuan Xia couldn’t help suspecting: “Daoist Master Yan, did I come at a bad time? Are you secretly submitting resumes behind the Temple Master’s back?”
Yan Wentao hurriedly said: “You can’t say that randomly. How could I do such a thing!”
After saying that, Yan Wentao sighed, sat down opposite Xuan Xia, brewed tea for her while saying: “You might not believe it, but it’s not that I want to leave. It’s Master Chang who wants me to leave.”
“Ah?” Xuan Xia was extremely surprised.
Yan Wentao gave her a resentful glance.
Surprised, right? He was even more shocked when Master Chang notified him!
He had just assisted Xuan Xia in catching the culprit, and the city Police Station even said Qinghui Temple had made a meritorious contribution, but then Master Chang told him he should end his cultivation at Qinghui Temple and go somewhere else.
Yan Wentao didn’t want to leave, but Master Chang said if he didn’t leave by the end of the month at the latest, he would be swept out the door. He had no choice but to go online and submit resumes.
He hadn’t expected that this submission would land in her hands?
Yan Wentao asked Xuan Xia again: “I really submitted the resume to you?”
“Yes.” Xuan Xia didn’t explain much and generously showed him the recruitment information page.
Yan Wentao looked closely and sure enough, it was the one he applied to.
Her recruitment information didn’t specify the temple name, and he hadn’t thought much about it, just submitted the resume with a try-it attitude.
He hadn’t expected it to be for Changsheng Temple.
This really was… fate.
However, Xuan Xia was more curious now: “Why does the Temple Master want you to leave? Did you make a mistake?”
“No!” Yan Wentao widened his eyes, looking as if he had received an unfair accusation. “Even if I’m not diligently working every day, I am wholeheartedly devoted to seeking the Dao!”
“Okay, okay.” Although their interactions weren’t deep, Xuan Xia believed in Yan Wentao’s Dao Heart.
She thought for a moment and asked him again: “Then Daoist Master Yan, are you willing to come to my Daoist Temple?”
Yan Wentao hesitated.
Xuan Xia quickly said: “I can offer the same salary as Qinghui Temple. Oh no, I can even raise it a bit.”
Yan Wentao looked embarrassed. “No, no, I’m not concerned about the salary. I was just thinking, doesn’t your Daoist Temple have Daoist Master Qin in charge?”
“Yes.” Could it be that Yan Wentao didn’t want to work with Daoist Master Qin?
But fortunately, that wasn’t what Yan Wentao meant.
Yan Wentao instead wanted to know: “If I go to your Daoist Temple, can I learn from Daoist Master Qin? Can I take him as my teacher?”
Xuan Xia: “…”
“You want to be Daoist Master Qin’s disciple?”
Yan Wentao nodded, his face shyly hesitant: “I heard Daoist Master Qin doesn’t get close to people. There were once fellow disciples who wanted to learn from him, but they were all refused.”
“Oh, really?” Xuan Xia naturally didn’t know.
However… “If you really want to take him as your teacher, I can help you.”
“Oh, that would be great.” Yan Wentao got excited upon hearing it.
Xuan Xia seized the moment and immediately said: “Then does this count as our interview passed? Later you come to my temple, and Daoist Master Qin can have a face-to-face?”
Yan Wentao hardly thought about it and immediately nodded in agreement.
The two essentially settled it on the spot: in a couple of days, go to Changsheng Temple.
After coming out of the Tea Room, Xuan Xia turned and went to find Chang Zhendong.
She needed to understand Chang Zhendong’s thoughts and first figure out why Chang Zhendong wanted to “sweep Yan Wentao out the door.”
