There is strength in numbers. In just a few minutes, the children organized all the money. Most of it consisted of hundred-yuan notes, as barbecues typically involve dozens of skewers at a time.
“I have twelve one-hundred yuan bills.”
“I have twenty-three fifty-yuan bills.”
“I have fifteen twenty-yuan bills.”
…
…
An An, who had been quiet, finally piped up, “Here are fifty-six one-yuan coins.”
Jiang Chan quickly calculated the total amount of money. Altogether, it was 3,200 yuan. Since it was the first day and just a trial run, the orphanage hadn’t dared to prepare much.
“Although the total is 3,200 yuan, the cost of ingredients is about 1,400 yuan. After deducting the cost of seasonings, charcoal, and other expenses, making a profit of 1,400 yuan is already pretty good.”
Dean Fan jotted down the calculations. If they could consistently make 1,400 yuan a day, Jiang Chan’s tuition fees would be fully covered, and the orphanage would be able to support the other children as well.
Jiang Chan smiled slightly. “It’s okay. Today was just the first time. I’ve tried other barbecues before, and honestly, their flavors don’t quite match ours. Business will definitely improve in the future.”
This venture opened a new avenue of income for the orphanage. If they could find the right path, they wouldn’t need to rely on donations from kind-hearted individuals. Judging by the results, things were off to a good start.
Dean Fan beamed, “Xiao Chan, we’re just starting out. We don’t have much to thank Uncle Mo with for now, but as soon as we earn more, we must repay the advance he made for us.”
“I understand, Dean.”
The barbecue stall owed much to Uncle Mo and Aunt Mo. Without their help covering the stall’s one-year rent, Jiang Chan couldn’t have afforded even a month’s payment.
In the end, Uncle Mo and Aunt Mo helped cover the cost, saying that Jiang Chan could repay them once she started earning money. For this, Dean Fan felt endlessly grateful to the couple.
“Your Uncle Mo advanced 100,000 yuan for a year’s rent. Starting next month, we’ll pay him 10,000 yuan daily. Any objections?”
“No objections!” the children replied in unison.
Satisfied, Dean Fan nodded, “I’ll hold onto the money for now. During the summer, Xiao Chan and I will shop for groceries together. Once she starts high school, I’ll manage it alone.”
With everything settled, Jiang Chan yawned and retreated to her room. Despite being physically exhausted, she felt deeply content.
At this moment, Jiang Chan felt exceptionally clear-headed. She tapped the jade pendant on her neck, and Qingyuan emerged, floating in front of her.
“I feel like I’m at a disadvantage. You said I’d gain all sorts of knowledge by resolving others’ obsessions, but none of it helps with my immediate needs. I still have to work tirelessly just to get by.”
The light orb flickered. “I’m too weak right now to do much. Once you complete a few more tasks, things will improve.”
Jiang Chan sighed and waved her hand. Qingyuan said no more and retreated back into the jade pendant. Qingyuan knew Jiang Chan well enough to realize that when she was ready to take on more tasks, she would bring it up herself.
The Ci Xin Barbecue stand had firmly established itself in the night market. Though some were envious, once they learned that the stand was run by an orphanage, they abandoned their schemes. Seeing the elderly and the young, many of whom suffered from various ailments, even the most unscrupulous people refrained from cutting off their livelihood. After all, the world still had more good-hearted people than not.
Within a week, Jiang Chan had saved enough for her first year of high school tuition. With that burden lifted, the barbecue stall’s business continued to grow steadily, and Jiang Chan felt a weight lifted from her shoulders.
If things continued at this rate, the orphanage wouldn’t just cover everyone’s tuition but could even afford surgeries for Kang Kang and An An’s cleft lip.
With this in mind, Jiang Chan felt even more motivated to grill skewers. It wasn’t that she was particularly altruistic, the orphanage was her home, and she naturally wished for her family to be healthy and free of illness.
Jiang Chan’s routine became one of working as the barbecue stand’s head chef at night and studying in the courtyard during the day. Although she had excelled academically before, she spent fifty years in her first task. Even with a good memory, most of her previous knowledge had faded.
Determined not to fall behind in her placement tests when high school started, she dedicated her summer to intensive study.
She had her pride, and being at the bottom of the rankings when she got into the city high school was already something she wasn’t happy about.
Picking up her textbooks after so many years felt strange. However, after a week of reviewing, Jiang Chan began to recall her past knowledge and felt more reassured.
Seeing Jiang Chan so immersed in her studies, Qingyuan couldn’t help but feel left out. “Why don’t you go back to being a student? The next task involves a middle school student about your age.”
Jiang Chan paused mid-sentence. Sensing an opportunity, Qingyuan eagerly continued, “I’ve checked—the world’s setting and subjects are similar to this one. If you take on this task, you can balance work and study perfectly.”
Jiang Chan twirled her pen thoughtfully. “It sounds like you’re more excited about this than I am. You just want me to take on the task, don’t you?”
Despite her words, she seriously considered Qingyuan’s suggestion. The more she thought about it, the more feasible it seemed. Studying in the orphanage without a teacher was inefficient. If she could enter a world with a similar environment, she could balance learning with task completion.
Moreover, the flow of time in the task world is different from that in the real world. No matter how long she stays there, time in the real world would remain frozen.
This way, she would have more free time in the real world to handle other matters. Jiang Chan decided quickly. She put down her pen and nodded slightly. “Your suggestion is indeed not bad, but I have some doubts.”
“Is there really a world that’s similar to ours?”
“Of course. Your world is actually considered a relatively basic one. For worlds like this, there are at least eight hundred if not a thousand. The advantage of a basic world is that your safety is guaranteed. The downside is that what you can learn from it is ultimately limited.”
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