Starting as an infant, with parents who are blond-haired delinquents?

Chapter 42 Entering Adolescence, New Goals

Old Chen was seen holding a rooster that had been plucked of all its feathers, cleaning its internal organs, just like a screaming chicken in a game.

His pupils were wide open, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to describe them as wide-open and angry.

Zhang Chaoqiang belatedly realized that the first person to swear and curse in front of Tan Yue was actually Old Chen…

Old Chen realized he had talked too much in front of the child, but he was still angry and his breathing became increasingly rapid.

Zhang Huolong, who was startled, felt his sense of grievance subside for a moment.

"Old Chen, what are you doing now...?"

Zhang Huolong asked him in a hoarse voice.

The next moment, Old Chen's lips turned down, and he reminisced about his past.

"Back then, it should have been around Earth 960 years ago. At that time, I was just starting out and hadn't yet joined Tan Yue's family."

When I first entered the workforce, my first job was as a kitchen helper, which involved chopping and preparing vegetables, and helping the chef plate the dishes after they were cooked.

There were ten apprentices in total at the time, and I was considered one of the more diligent ones. I helped with tasks such as drawing eyebrows, serving tea and water, and washing clothes. Only after gaining the favor of the head chef was I given the opportunity to learn the cuisine.

Aside from work hours, whenever I had free time, I would buy ingredients at my own expense and learn to cook. After doing this for quite some time, I finally got my first chance to cook.

"I cherished it very much. I worked harder and harder every day until I finally became the second-in-command in the kitchen that year, and the head chef even formally accepted me as his apprentice."

I worked diligently until he retired, and he even introduced me to his martial arts friends, leading me to embark on the path of martial arts training.

"The current me is completely different from the other apprentices back then, in terms of status, wealth, and strength. Their attitude towards things means that they are still just ordinary waiters in a restaurant."

That's why, ever since I was able to take the lead in cooking, they've been slandering me, saying that all I do is flatter and fawn over the master chefs, otherwise why would they have taken me on as an apprentice? They say I'm all talk and no action and have absolutely no real skills.

Even after I finished my apprenticeship and later left the culinary industry, they were still spreading rumors. These people never take other people's efforts seriously…

"Fuck...the...fucking...mother!"

Old Chen's eyes were red-rimmed, his pupils filled with bloodshot veins, and he mustered all his strength to shout out that last sentence.

Zhang Chaoqiang deliberately slowed down his speech so that he would have enough time to cover Tan Yue's ears.

Unbeknownst to him, Old Chen was also filled with tears.

No, that's not right.

What, even I...

Zhang Chaoqiang felt his vision blur and tears welled up in his eyes, his heart inexplicably touched.

With heightened senses, emotions are amplified, making one seem more sentimental.

It is extremely difficult to bear the thought of not being recognized by others in life.

Furthermore, these people not only negate all their efforts, but also wantonly tarnish their reputation.

It's a particularly sad phenomenon that even if you don't mind, hearing these comments, having your efforts denied, and seeing everything you've achieved as if it were just picked up casually by others without any hard work... will still hurt you.

Zhang Chaoqiang could empathize with what Zhang Huolong had heard—those statements made without any real effort, yet filled with righteous indignation and cynicism.

This is probably what makes Zhang Huolong and Lao Chen feel most disappointed and aggrieved.

Unbeknownst to him, Zhang Chaoqiang could no longer control his emotions and immediately turned away, tears streaming down his face.

[Adolescence Activation Progress Bar 100%]

As his emotions are amplified today, the puberty activation progress bar is filled, signifying that he has officially entered puberty.

Zhang Huolong came to his senses and wondered why he had been so agitated and acted rudely just now.

However, after venting his frustrations and being comforted and hugged by his wife, he had composed himself and was looking for something to do. But the stubborn old man, Old Chen, still wouldn't give him a chance to enter the kitchen.

He wouldn't even allow it when it came to setting the table!

The placement of bowls and chopsticks follows very strict etiquette standards, not because he has obsessive-compulsive disorder, although he does have some.

But the main reason is that this is how it was passed down from the master's generation.

Zhang Huolong had nothing to do, so he wandered around for a while and then sat back down on the sofa.

Accompanying Tan Yue to watch cartoons, my mood is gradually improving under the healing influence of my family.

Zhang Chaoqiang turned and left. He sat alone on the windowsill of the balcony, propped himself up with his left foot, took off his shoes and stepped on the windowsill, and placed his left hand on his left knee.

A melancholy gaze, yet a desperate cry blares within:

calm down.

My emotions suddenly became uncontrollable.

I feel like crying, damn it.

Still immersed in the experience his father, Zhang Huolong, had just had.

A few seconds later, the progress bar finished loading, and the several pieces of information that popped up almost blinded Zhang Chaoqiang.

[Adolescence]: 3 years to go

[Debuff]: Emotions are amplified dramatically, consistent with typical adolescent behavior. Adolescence ends, growth value +2000.

[Goals during adolescence]:

Public opinion: Time limit of adolescence

Showing Off: As a teenager, you need to show off in front of others and gain their approval, provided you don't let your toes get stuck out of your seat while doing so. Total attempts: 0/10. Success grants +1 Spirit Point and +0.02 Body Points per success.

黑色幽默：说出让他人产生笑意就会坠入地狱（精神层面）的笑话或事实。总次数0/10，成功1次+1点灵力值、+0.02精神

Showing off: When the group is proud of you and others are amazed by you, making a special appearance at the right moment will make you the center of attention. Isn't it true that teenagers always want to get someone's attention? Total attempts: 0/10. Success: +1 Spirit Point, +0.02 Internal Organs.

Family-oriented: No time limit

Rebel: Defy your parents' wishes 30 times, without causing them sadness. Physical Limit +3, Growth Value +200, Control +10

Whistleblower: Discovered 20 of your parents' unspeakable secrets. Mental Limit +3, Growth Value +200, Monster Smell Sense +15

Modifier: Makes 30 behavioral or cognitive adjustments to the parents. Internal organ limit +3, growth value +200, spiritual power control +10.

"..."

Without realizing it, Zhang Chaoqiang lost control of his emotions and began to look worried and distressed.

Compared to his father Zhang Huolong's situation, his current teenage goals are what's giving him the biggest headache and making him feel overwhelmed.

If you don't even need to have puberty, what's the point of forcing yourself to have it?

Why force yourself to amplify your emotions?

Zhang Chaoqiang doesn't want to be a crybaby who's always angry!

And then there are these tasks, each more difficult and more embarrassing than the last. Take this "showing off" task, for example...

What's so cool about that? Just thinking about it makes me imagine all those teenage kids doing incredible things.

The childish behavior of showing off and trying to be cool is essentially the same as the self-righteousness of young men who think they are superior in terms of fashion sense.

Zhang Chaoqiang's face gradually contorted.

With a click, Shen Qiangwei captured the image of him shedding tears.

Chapter 43 made others swoon with his handsomeness.

"Wow, Super Strong is crying!"

Shen Qiangwei announced loudly into the living room, as if Columbus had discovered a new continent.

Amidst the surprised exclamations, Shen Qiangwei repeatedly pressed the shutter button to take photos and even recorded videos.

Zhang Chaoqiang, whose emotions were already extremely complicated, was even more shocked to see his mother making fun of him like this.

Feelings of grievance and shame arise spontaneously.

No matter how much he tried to stop himself, no matter how much he shouted "Damn it, stop it!" it was all in vain, and the distortion in his expression became more and more pronounced.

Although there was no crying, tears welled up and dripped onto her clothes as Shen Qiangwei exclaimed in shock.

"Oh dear, she's crying even harder. Honey, come quick!"

When they saw Zhang Chaoqiang crying, the couple's first reaction was neither to comfort him nor to feel sad.

Instead, he exclaimed in shock, "Awesome 6!"

Over the years, Zhang Huolong has rarely been seen to shed tears, and Zhang Chaoqiang has shed even fewer. Apart from his infancy, he has never cried since he was two years old.

Today, both my father and son are urinating like horses. What's going on?

Therefore, Shen Qiangwei's surprise was not without reason.

"What? Chaoqiang cried?" Zhang Huolong became interested and completely forgot about his troubles.

"Zhang Chaoqiang cried?"

Tan Yue was stunned, as if she had heard a huge joke. Ever since kindergarten, Zhang Chaoqiang had sat next to her, who was always crying, without ever touching her, as if the word "crying" was never in Zhang Chaoqiang's dictionary.

When Tan Yue and Zhang Huolong rushed to the balcony, Old Chen was already there, peeling carrots that would be used to make soup.

The four of them watched as Zhang Chaoqiang desperately wiped the tears from his cheeks with his sleeve, finally managing to suppress the emotions welling up inside him.

Many believe this image should be included in a "historic moment" photo album.

For the first time ever, Shen Qiangwei didn't comfort Zhang Chaoqiang, because she had seen a short video where a mother found her teenage child sitting on the windowsill crying, just like the legendary Jay Chou.

The more you try to comfort and care for them, the more they cry.

Zhang Huolong didn't offer any comfort, only saying lightly, "Crying is one way to release emotions, it's a good thing. Don't keep bad feelings inside."

"It's so fresh!"

Old Chen exclaimed in surprise, and everyone looked at the carrot in his hand. Old Chen quickly shook his head: "I wasn't talking about a carrot."

After quickly taking the photos, Zhang Huolong and Shen Qiangwei forcibly pulled Old Chen away and secretly asked Tan Yue for help.

"Tan Yue, can you help your aunt and uncle comfort Zhang Chaoqiang?" Shen Qiangwei said, squatting down to pat Tan Yue as she saved the photo of Zhang Chaoqiang crying as her wallpaper.

"I will handle it!"

Tan Yue skipped and hopped, moved a stool and sat on the balcony. At that moment, Zhang Chaoqiang was turning his head to look at the bustling traffic outside. How beautiful the night was.