This humble Taoist priest wants to take the college entrance exam.

Chapter 227 Got caught?

The next day, Sunday.

Today is the day of the parent-teacher meeting, and it is also the beginning of winter in the twenty-four solar terms.

As the first solar term of winter, today marks the official arrival of winter.

Even on Sundays when the weather turns cold and most people prefer to stay in bed, Chen Shi'an still gets up at five o'clock in the morning.

However, this morning he didn't go cycling or parkour. Instead, he went to the market early and bought dozens of kilograms of high-quality pork belly that had just been put on the stall, intending to make some cured pork himself.

As a winter-limited delicacy, although cured meat can be enjoyed all year round in today's market-driven world, homemade cured meat has a more rustic and authentic feel compared to packaged products from supermarkets.

Especially the meat made by Chen Shi'an himself, which is firm and tender, with a savory and oily flavor that makes it unforgettable whether stir-fried, steamed with rice, or used in soup.

He wasn't bragging; even his most discerning master craved his cured meat the most.

Fat Cat was also greedy. When he saw that Chen Shi'an had bought so much meat from the market today, Fat Mo was so excited that it was like celebrating the New Year. It kept meowing and clinging to Chen Shi'an's legs.

"Hey, what are you doing? I'll hang it up to dry for you in a bit!"

"Meow?"

As the weather gets colder, the black cat has grown a thick, warm coat of fur, and looks even plumper than before.

In the past, Fei Mo would go out early in the morning, but now it stays at home and doesn't go out much, spending its days lying on the balcony sunbathing.

It's a pity that the houses in the city don't have wood-burning stoves, otherwise it would have burrowed into the ash heap to be warmer.

To make delicious cured pork, the timing is crucial. In Yunqi, November to January of the following year is the best time to make cured pork. The temperature is low and dry with little wind, which prevents the meat from spoiling and allows it to slowly absorb flavors and naturally dehydrate and mature.

Chen Shi'an must have checked the weather before choosing today to make cured meat. He observed the stars last night and figured the weather would be good for at least the next two weeks.

The ingredients are also important. He went to the market early in the morning and specially selected the best pork belly with skin. He bought it from different stalls to ensure that every piece of meat was the finest of the finest.

While it was still early, Chen Shi'an began washing the pork and drying it before marinating it.

First, prepare the marinade: salt, rock sugar, white wine, light soy sauce, dark soy sauce, Sichuan peppercorns, star anise, cinnamon...

A mixture of various seasonings and spices was simmered over low heat to bring out the aroma. Chen Shi'an dipped his finger in the mixture to taste it and nodded in satisfaction.

After the marinade cooled down, he picked up the pot and poured it into a large bucket with the pork already arranged on it.

Chen Shi'an squatted down and carefully rubbed the meat repeatedly with his hands to ensure that each piece of meat was fully coated with marinade. Finally, he sealed the two large buckets full of meat with plastic wrap. He would turn the meat over every day and marinate it for five or six days until the meat was fully flavored.

When it comes to food, Chen Shi'an is not particular about what others eat, but when he cooks for himself, he is very particular, showing a seriousness and meticulousness that is in no way inferior to that of cultivating Taoism and studying.

In Master's words, the most important thing in life is eating!
How can we be careless when it comes to matters of utmost importance!

Chen Shi'an plans to dry half of the meat he bought today and smoke the other half.

The city isn't as convenient as the mountains, but luckily there's a rooftop terrace, and Chen Shi'an has already ordered a large iron barrel online specifically for smoking meat.

Once the smoking barrel arrives in a few days, the meat will probably be almost cured. It's a good time to get some pine branches, orange peels, tea leaves, and other smoking materials. Just thinking about it makes Chen Shi'an's mouth water.

Chen Shi'an woke up at five o'clock to go to the market to buy meat, and it wasn't until seven o'clock in the morning that he finished processing all the meat, which filled two buckets and weighed several dozen kilograms.

The door opened, and Li Wanyin woke up.

The older sister, who had just woken up, was wearing soft pajamas. Smelling the lingering aroma of marinade in the air, she walked into the kitchen in her slippers and saw Chen Shi'an washing the kitchen utensils.

Her gaze was drawn to the two large buckets on the ground. Li Wanyin glanced at them, squatted down, and exclaimed in surprise:

"Shi'an, you...you killed a little pig?!"

"No, I bought the meat at the market this morning."

"So much meat! Are you making cured meat?"

"Yes, it's just been marinated. Let it marinate for a few days before drying it. Half of it will be air-dried, and the other half will be smoked. How about that?"

“Great! I love cured meat too. The piece of cured meat that the villager gave you that you brought back from the mountains last time still tastes delicious to me.”

Chen Shi'an smiled and said, "Then Sister Wanyin is in luck. What I make will only taste better."

"Really? But can we finish all this meat...?"

"Don't worry, there won't be enough to eat."

Chen Shi'an put the washed pot back on the stove, lit the fire to heat it up, and at the same time deftly broke up the cooked and cooled rice in the rice cooker, and took out a few eggs from the refrigerator.

"How about we have fried rice with eggs for breakfast this morning?"

"Uh-huh!"

Li Wanyin, who had just woken up, felt inexplicably happy. As soon as she opened the door, she smelled a delicious aroma. Then, the boys from the high school had gone to the market early to buy meat to make cured pork and cooked rice to make her fried rice with eggs...

How can life be the same no matter who you are?

"Wasn't Sister Wanyin not setting up her stall during the day today? Why didn't you sleep a little longer?"

As Chen Shi'an fried rice, he chatted with her. The rice grains in the pan were broken up and studded with golden egg bits, which crackled and danced in the heat of the stove.

"Isn't it because I'm going to your parent-teacher conference?"

"Huh? It's not that early. Didn't they say sign-in wouldn't start until nine o'clock?"

"It's okay, I'm used to waking up early anyway, so I'll just get up early and get ready."

"What else needs to be prepared?"

"...Wash your hair and change your clothes first!"

"Then Sister Wanyin, why don't you have breakfast first? The rice is ready."

"It smells amazing!"

Li Wanyin rushed over to help get the bowls and chopsticks.

When other people eat together, everyone uses standard bowls. But when the siblings eat alone, they use large bowls. Large bowls are convenient, especially for fried rice like this, which tastes better when eaten from a large bowl.

There were many small bowls in the house, but only these two large bowls. Chen Shi'an and Li Wanyin didn't distinguish whose bowl it was; they just used them together.

Chen Shi'an took the two large bowls handed to him by Li Wanyin, filled them with fried rice from the pot, one bowl with a little more and the other with a little less. There was still half a bowl left in the pot, so he took Fei Mo's cat bowl and filled it for the fat cat as well.

The two people and the cat then sat down at the table to eat breakfast.

"Shi'an, are you going to school later too?"

"Okay, I'll go to the parent-teacher meeting with the class monitor and the others to help out. There will also be student representatives giving speeches and stuff. I'll head over first then. Wanyin can come over later when she's ready. Our Class 5 is on the second floor of the senior high school building. Wanyin should be able to see us when she comes up."

"Yes, don't worry, I know!"

"Is Sister Wanyin ready to speak on stage?"

"Speak? What kind of speech..."

"I am an outstanding student, and Sister Wanyin is a representative of the parents of outstanding students, so naturally we have to go on stage and say a few words."

"……what?!"

Li Wanyin's eyes widened, and she forgot to chew the fried rice in her mouth.

Chen Shi'an watched with a smile. Li Wanyin's troubled expression at this moment was exactly the same as his own when he was about to go on stage to share his learning experience.

What learning experiences can Chen Shi'an share?
What kind of family education advice can that fake sister possibly share?
Seeing her younger brother's barely suppressed laughter, Li Wanyin realized: "Are you teasing your older sister?"

"No, really, our teacher Liang told me yesterday."

"...Then why didn't you tell me sooner? I wasn't prepared at all, and I didn't know what to share."

“Anxin Wanyin, I’ve already spoken to Teacher Liang. We think it’s better to let Uncle Lin go up and share.”

"You scared me to death..."

Li Wanyin breathed a sigh of relief, blushing as she lightly slapped him.

She dares to tease her older sister; she deserves a beating!

Chen Shi'an became serious and said, "However, if Sister Wanyin has anything to share or wants to say on stage, she can go on stage."

"No, no, no."

Li Wanyin quickly waved her hand in refusal, whispering, "I'm afraid I won't speak well and will embarrass you..."

"What are you saying? I'm honored that Sister Wanyin is willing to let me attend the parent-teacher meeting."

"It's my honor~"

"By the way, Sister Wanyin isn't setting up her stall during the day today, right?"

"Okay, I'll set up my stall after dinner tonight."

Chen Shi'an then invited, "Since Sister Wanyin is free during the day today, how about we go for a bike ride together after the parent-teacher meeting?"

"stroll?"

"Well, I rode to the south of the city last week, and this week I'm thinking of going to the north of the city to explore. There's an ancient town there, so I thought I'd check it out. Wanyin, do you want to come along?"

"Okay!"

Fearing he might change his mind, Li Wanyin quickly agreed.

Isn't this the meaning behind having one day off each week?

"Shall we ride our bikes to...? To the north of the city?"

"Okay, let's go by bike. I'll give Wanyin a ride."

"it is good!"

……

In front of Zhengyue Steamed Bun Shop.

Wen Zhixia straddled Chen Shi'an's bicycle, casually stuffing today's soy milk into his backpack.

Both of them were going to speak at the parent-teacher meeting later that day, so even though it was Sunday, they were both wearing the same school uniform.

The only difference is that I'm going to school at a different time than usual; it's already 8 a.m.

Once out of her aunt's sight in front of the steamed bun shop, the girl quickly stuffed both of her small hands into Chen Shi'an's pockets.

"Taoist priest."

"Ok?"

"My parents are here for the parent-teacher conference. Would you like to have lunch with us?"

"No, I just told Sister Wanyin this morning that I was going for a bike ride this afternoon."

"Oh! So where are you going to play?"

"Let's go explore the north side of the city. There's an old town there, let's check it out. Little Zhi, do you want to go?"

"I really want to go too!"

Wen Zhixia said, but then added regretfully, "But my parents are here today, and we're having lunch at my aunt's house with lots of other relatives, so I can't leave..."

"Alright, my bicycle can't fit that many people anyway."

"...You guys even went by bicycle?!"

Wen Zhixia puffed out her cheeks and secretly pinched him twice with her little hand in her pocket.

Thankfully, I didn't go with the Ice Cube Spirit.

Although Sister Wanyin is acting strangely too, it's still much more acceptable than the stinky Taoist priest going with the ice spirit...

"Have Uncle Wen and Aunt Lan arrived yet?"

"Yeah, I texted them when I left just now. My mom said they're almost there, but she doesn't know where they are. Never mind them, let's go to school first~"

As the two were riding, a car coming from behind honked its horn lightly.

Wen Zhixia turned her head and met her mother's eyes, who was sitting in the passenger seat.

Li Yilan was stunned.

I couldn't see it clearly from a distance, but now that I'm closer, I can see that my daughter is practically pressed against Chen Shi'an's back, and her little hands are even in his pockets!

What are you doing...!
Do you really travel by car like this when your elderly parents aren't around?

Li Yilan was so shocked that she couldn't speak for a moment.

It took Wen Zhixia a while to react. She quickly pulled her small hand out of Chen Shi'an's pocket, and with a demure gesture, she reached behind her and grabbed the bicycle frame.

"mom?"

"Auntie Lan."

Chen Shi'an was also slightly surprised, but naturally smiled and turned to greet him.

Wen Zhixue, in the driver's seat, wanted to turn his head to see what had happened, but Li Yilan scolded him:
"Don't look, just drive!"

Then he turned his head and looked over, a friendly smile on his face:

"Little Chen! What a coincidence!"

"Yes, I was just asking Xiaozhi when Aunt Lan and Uncle Wen were coming, but I didn't expect to run into them on the way."

"Really? Then Xiao Chen, please be careful while riding your bikes. We'll drive over first, and we'll talk again when we get to the school!"

"Okay, Aunt Lan, take care."

Chen Shi'an waved and continued riding, while the car beside him slowed down and continued forward.

The girl behind him, head bowed and face flushed, remained silent.

It's all over, it's all over!

Woohoo...

　"Reborn and Raising My Childhood Sweetheart" by Cao Manjun
　　I recommend a friend's sweet slice-of-life romance novel featuring two female protagonists. It's a classic tale of everyday life and character development. Xu Yuan, reborn back to eight years old, outwits his spendthrift stepmother while unexpectedly meeting two childhood sweethearts who collect bottles, together creating a fairytale of growing up together.
　　

(End of this chapter)