The one-month celebration in C City was scheduled for a Saturday when most people were free.

Before the event, Qiao Wanqing went back to Dongyang Village.

Their small town had undergone two years of development and transformation, turning into a tourist town.

By Saturday, many visitors came to see the sights: worship at the Moon God temple, climb the steps known as “C City’s First Ladder,” enjoy the famous “Single Life Vegetarian Restaurant,” and stay in local guesthouses.

Especially in autumn and winter, the town attracted even more visitors.

In autumn, people could pick persimmons, and in winter, they could view plum blossoms.

During these seasons, the town was bustling with tourists, and each household sold their farm products to make a good profit.

As Qiao Wanqing’s car drove through the town, she saw how much it had changed.

The streets had been widened, ancient-style lantern-shaped street lights were installed, and houses had been renovated.

The rusty old security bars were replaced with more traditional, elegant ones, giving the town a poetic feel.

The most bustling place was Qiao Wanqing’s restaurant.

This summer, when there were fewer customers, they expanded the restaurant, making it much larger than before.

Previously, due to limited funds, the decoration wasn’t very high-end, but this time it was upgraded.

The restaurant now featured an ancient style, creating a tranquil and elegant atmosphere.

The spacious and bright interior made dining a pleasant experience.

When they returned home, Huang and Little Black (Cat) were at the door “welcoming” them, actually hoping for some treats as they sniffed around.

Koukou had liked the Huang and wanted to take him to C City, but since Grandma Qiao often stayed alone there and felt lonely, they decided to leave Huang behind to keep her company.

Grandma Qiao never quite adapted to city life.

Qiao Wanqing bought a house for her this year, but she still couldn’t get used to living there, so she returned to Dongyang Village.

Occasionally, she would stay in the city, and Qiao Wanqing and her family would often visit.

Fortunately, the transportation was convenient and the distance short.

Aunt Li knew they were back and brought over some freshly made dumplings from her home, along with a visit to see Zhenzhen.

Zhenzhen, who was rarely awake, was being held by Aunt Li, who played with her a bit.

The little one didn’t quite understand the teasing, just staring back with her big innocent eyes.

“She’s a bit heavier than Koukou was at this age,” Aunt Li remarked with a smile.

Koukou didn’t eat as much when he was a baby, so he didn’t have the same chubby cheeks as Zhenzhen, who seemed to be getting plumper by the day.

Qiao Wanqing said, “Koukou wasn’t as good at drinking milk as she is, and he wasn’t as quiet.”

Zhenzhen was much quieter, spending most of her time eating and sleeping, whereas Koukou could stay awake for several hours during the day.

“She looks a lot like you when you were little,” Aunt Li commented. “She’ll probably grow up to be a beauty just like you.”

While most children typically resemble their parents, in their family, Koukou looked a lot like Gu Yanqing, whereas Zhenzhen’s eyes and eyebrows resembled Qiao Wanqing more.

After chatting for a while, Aunt Li said, “I wanted to ask you something today. Do you think it’s profitable to do passion fruit wholesale?”

“Wholesale? Are you planning to get into that business?” Qiao Wanqing was a bit surprised.

Aunt Li had always been helping around their house, and Qiao Wanqing paid her well.

There didn’t seem to be a need for her to take such a risk.

“It’s not me, it’s my son. He had a stable job as a civil servant, but he decided to quit and go into business. He’s now involved in a passion fruit wholesale business. I’m so frustrated with him.”

In the village, the concept of a “secure job” is deeply ingrained.

Becoming a civil servant is seen as a major achievement, a source of family pride.

Many people are pressured by their families to pursue this path, and having a family member in a government position is considered a great honor.

Aunt Li’s son had become a civil servant in the county, working in a rural area for several years before being promoted and transferred back to the county seat.

He had endured the toughest part of being a newcomer and then suddenly decided to resign.

“He’s already been transferred to work in the county seat. Why would he suddenly want to do something else?”

“He said that being a civil servant means a lifetime of stability, but he doesn’t want his life to be so plain. He wants to make a mark and earn big money through entrepreneurship. I told him that if he stayed in his current job, there would still be opportunities for advancement. Starting a business isn’t easy; if it were, everyone would be rich. But he got angry with me. Can you believe it… sigh, he really frustrates me.”

From Aunt Li’s perspective, it’s understandable to be frustrated.

However, Qiao Wanqing remembered that her son was quite clever and not someone who would make impulsive decisions.

This choice must have been carefully considered.

Thinking about it, Qiao Wanqing said, “I don’t know much about wholesale either, but since he’s decided to go for it, he must have his reasons. Remember when I started the restaurant? People were skeptical then too.”

“I just feel it’s a waste. Being a civil servant is such a good job.”

In essence, Aunt Li couldn’t let go of the value she placed on the civil servant position.

Qiao Wanqing wasn’t sure how to comfort her, as people in this area placed a high regard on this job.

To them, no matter what other profession someone had, even if they were a big boss, it didn’t compare to being a small civil servant.

After comforting Aunt Li and seeing her off, Qiao Wanqing noticed Koukou trying to touch Little Black.

However, the weasel kept causing trouble, so Koukou tried to pull its tail.

“Koukou, don’t pull its tail. Little Black will be hurt.”

Koukou pulled his hand back and said, “Okay, Mommy.”

Qiao Wanqing placed Zhenzhen on the bed to sleep.

When she came out of the room, she saw Koukou quickly retracting his hand from pulling Huang’s tail and smiling at her, trying to act innocent.

“Why are you getting more disobedient?” Qiao Wanqing squatted down and pinched his little face. “Are you not being good, hmm?”

“Grandma says that Koukou is growing up,” Koukou argued confidently. “It’s normal to be a bit naughty.”

Qiao Wanqing: “…”

“It’s normal for Koukou to sleep on his own as he grows older. He won’t always sleep with mommy and daddy.”

“No!” Koukou immediately protested.

“Then, will you behave now?”

Koukou threw himself into her arms and said sweetly, “Yes~”

Qiao Wanqing picked him up and kissed him. “You’ve grown a lot lately. Mommy can hardly carry you anymore.”

Koukou wrapped his arms around her neck and said, “When I grow up, I’ll carry you, Mommy.”

Qiao Wanqing laughed. “Mommy will wait for you to grow up and carry her.”

“I drink milk every day!” Koukou said proudly.

Since he stopped drinking formula, Qiao Wanqing had him drink a glass of milk every morning.

Koukou didn’t particularly like the taste of milk, but Qiao Wanqing told him that drinking milk would help him grow big and tall like his daddy.

Reluctantly, Koukou drank it every day.

Though he didn’t enjoy it, every time he finished his milk, Koukou felt a sense of accomplishment as if he had completed a task.

Qiao Wanqing’s return wasn’t due to any major event.

She hadn’t been back in a while and wanted to check on her “kingdom.” It had been four months since her last visit.

Additionally, with Zhenzhen’s birth and her full moon celebration coming up, she needed to personally invite some close relatives to the full moon banquet to show sincerity.

Taking advantage of Zhenzhen’s nap, Qiao Wanqing decided to take Koukou to the vegetarian restaurant for a visit.

Coincidentally, the restaurant, run by her studio, was busy.

When Qiao Wanqing arrived, it was almost lunchtime, and the place was bustling with people.

Although their vegetarian restaurant had gained popularity last year thanks to the big-eater Yuzu milk tea trend, and both the beautiful boss Qiao Wanqing and the cute Koukou had received some attention, nearly a year had passed, and people had short memories.

They had become “outdated internet celebrities.” Even if they showed up prominently at the vegetarian restaurant, no one paid them any attention.

“Hey, has a lamb restaurant opened up ahead?” Qiao Wanqing asked the manager.

She had just seen a sign outside pointing to the mountain area, advertising a place called “A Lamb Restaurant,” which had a distinctive name.

“It’s the old ‘Happy Union Restaurant.’ They couldn’t make it, so they leased it out and turned it into a lamb restaurant.”

So it was theirs.

It seemed they hadn’t been doing very well over the past two years.

The food hadn’t been great, and after Qiao Wanqing’s vegetarian restaurant expanded and upgraded its dishes by hiring a chef, more people came to her place.

Additionally, Boss Cai, who held grudges, had been secretly slandering them.

They were clearly struggling.

“Who’s running the lamb restaurant now?”

“It’s someone from the town. The owner seems nice. They even gave us a big lamb leg when they opened.”

Qiao Wanqing nodded.

That was good.

Otherwise, if a competitor with underhanded tactics came along, it would be too exhausting.

Just then, a server hurriedly came in and said, “Manager, there’s a table of customers outside complaining that our spring rolls made their child vomit. They want an explanation.”

“Miss Qiao, I need to step out for a moment,” the manager told her.

“Can you keep an eye on Koukou for me? I’ll go check things out,” Qiao Wanqing replied.

This sounded like looking for something to do, as Qiao Wanqing followed the waitress outside.

There, she encountered a family of three.

The father frowned slightly upon seeing her. “Are you the manager?”

“Yes, I’m the owner of this restaurant. Is there something about our food that you’re dissatisfied with?” Qiao Wanqing asked politely.

“It’s about your spring rolls. Our child took one bite and spit it out, saying he didn’t like it. Our kid usually loves spring rolls. Is there something wrong with your food?”

Their tone was civil, not looking for trouble.

Qiao Wanqing glanced over and indeed saw a partially eaten spring roll spat out in front of the child.

She looked away and said, “I’ll have the kitchen replace it for you.”

“Make it sweet,” the child said.

Qiao Wanqing: “…”

The waitress beside her was about to say something, but Qiao Wanqing stopped her with a look and asked, “You’re not locals, are you?”

“No, we’re from City A, here on vacation,” the child’s mother replied.

No wonder, Qiao Wanqing thought.

She had heard of the sweet vs. salty debates over douhua and zongzi but hadn’t realized spring rolls could be contentious too.

The restaurant’s spring rolls were pre-made with savory skins.

Qiao Wanqing came up with an idea and instructed the chef to use water-based wrappers instead.

The filling was a mixture of crushed peanuts, sesame seeds, and water chestnuts, sprinkled with some cheese and sugar, then fried until crispy.

The result was a sweet, crunchy spring roll.

Koukou, who was still in his sweet tooth phase, was thrilled to hear about the sweet spring rolls.

He stayed by the kitchen, drooling as the chef fried them up.

When the spring rolls came out of the fryer, Koukou couldn’t wait.

Qiao Wanqing gave him one and placed it on a plate.

Since it was freshly fried and very hot, she told him not to eat too many.

“Wait for it to cool a bit before eating,” Qiao Wanqing reminded him, then took the plate from the chef and went out to serve the guests herself.

“Okay.”

Koukou responded vaguely.

After Qiao Wanqing left, he tested the temperature with his little hand but couldn’t hold it.

Instead, he just blew on it with his mouth, then took a bite.

“Monkey hot~” Koukou huffed and puffed from the heat, waving his little hands and jumping around, clearly feeling the burn.

Despite this, he still stubbornly ate the spring roll.

The chef, amused by Koukou’s reaction, asked, “Is it good?”

Koukou gave him a thumbs-up and said, “Great~”

The chef, knowing that Qiao Wanqing was also a good cook, teased him, “Who’s better, me or your mom?”

Koukou looked at the remaining spring rolls and said, “Give me one more, and I’ll say you’re better!”