Qiu Yingying is reborn and bound to a learning system.

Lunch was a quick bite at a noodle shop near the entrance of the residential complex. Her mother kept saying, "It's not as good as home-cooked food." Qiu Yingying smiled and agreed, "I'll have Dad show off his skills tonight. He'll definitely enjoy the new kitchen." Around 3 PM, with the sun shining brightly, Qiu Yingying led her parents to the supermarket near the complex entrance. As soon as they entered, pushing their shopping cart, her mother was amazed by the dazzling array of goods on the shelves: "So many things! It's much more comprehensive than the supermarket back home!"

The father headed straight for the fresh produce section, pinching the fresh ribs between his fingers and flipping through the crisp greens, muttering to himself, "These ribs look so tender, Yingying loves braised ones; your mother likes stir-fried bok choy, let's buy some tofu and make a soup." The mother stopped at the dried goods section, picked up a bag of red dates and carefully examined the ingredient list, then turned to Qiu Yingying and said, "It's good for you to eat more red dates, I'll make you red date tea later." Qiu Yingying pushed the cart behind them, watching her parents skillfully select ingredients, their eyes full of smiles—they seemed to have already begun to adapt to life here.

The shopping cart was quickly overflowing: ribs, fresh fish, seasonal vegetables, fruit, and grains that her mother had specially picked out, as well as bulk liquor that her father loved to drink. At checkout, her mother was still worried: "We bought too much; it'll spoil if we can't finish it." Qiu Yingying took the bag from the cashier: "Mom, we'll stay here permanently from now on. We'll eat slowly, and buy more if we need more."

Back in their new home, Qiu Yingying had barely carried her things into the kitchen when her father rolled up his sleeves and got to work. Opening the cupboard, a complete set of kitchen utensils was neatly arranged: a sharp cleaver, a lightweight slicing knife, various sizes of clay pots and soup pots, even the Zhangqiu iron pot he'd been talking about was quietly hanging on a hook on the wall. "Goodness, this pot looks authentic," her father said, picking up the iron pot and weighing it in his hand, his face full of satisfaction. "And this stove, the heat can be adjusted, much more convenient than the one back home."

The mother wasn't idle either, sitting on a dining chair in the restaurant picking vegetables, chatting with the father as she did so: "Wash the ribs a couple more times, make sure there's no blood or foam left." "I know, I know, don't worry," the father replied, his hands never stopping, washing, chopping, and blanching the vegetables—the whole process went smoothly. Qiu Yingying wanted to help, but her father pushed her out: "You go and rest, you've been driving for so long, you must be tired. Let me and your mother help. We need to try out the new kitchen."

The kitchen range hood was a quiet model, making only a soft hum that didn't interfere with conversation. Mother came in carrying freshly picked vegetables, watching Father busy at the stove.

Suddenly, he smiled and said, "Your dad loved to cook when he was young, but back then our family's resources were limited and our kitchen equipment was outdated, so cooking a meal was a real struggle." His father turned around and smiled, "Now it's much better. This kitchen is even better than a restaurant's." As he spoke, he poured some oil into the pan. Once the oil was hot, he added ginger slices and scallion segments to sauté until fragrant, and the aroma filled the air instantly.

The braised pork ribs simmered in the iron pot, the sauce slowly thickening and coating the ribs, making them look incredibly appetizing; the stir-fried lettuce was crisp and refreshing, and the tofu soup was milky white, fragrant with the aroma of scallions. Qiu Yingying sat on the sofa in the living room, smelling the aroma of the food wafting from the kitchen, watching her parents working together seamlessly in the kitchen, her heart filled with warmth—this was the life she had always longed for, a family reunion, full of the warmth and joy of everyday life.

"Dinner's ready!" Father carried the last plate of braised pork ribs out of the kitchen, followed by Mother who brought out tofu soup. The table was laden with three dishes and a soup, the warm light of the lamp casting a warm glow on the food, making it even more appetizing. Qiu Yingying picked up her chopsticks, took a piece of rib, and put it in her mouth. It was tender and flavorful, just like the taste from her childhood: "Dad, your ribs are so delicious! They're even better than the ones in restaurants!"

The father beamed and picked up a piece of fish for Qiu Yingying, saying, "Eat more fish, it'll make you smarter." He then served the mother a bowl of soup, saying, "You should have some too, it'll help you recover." The mother took a sip of the soup, her eyes crinkling with joy, "This soup is just right, not oily or greasy." The family of three sat around the dining table, eating and chatting. The father talked about the funny things that happened at the supermarket that afternoon, while the mother was thinking about going for a walk in the neighborhood the next day to see if there was a place to do square dancing.

As they chatted, the mother suddenly put down her chopsticks, looked at Qiu Yingying, and said, "Daughter, invite those good friends you made in Shanghai, like the girls who live in Ode to Joy, over for dinner another day."

The father immediately chimed in, "Yes, have your mother cook a few more hearty dishes, and I'll show off my skills too, to properly entertain them. You've been working hard in Shanghai all by yourself, and we're so grateful for the help you've received from your friends; we should thank them."

Qiu Yingying's eyes lit up and she nodded repeatedly: "Great! Sister Fan, Xiao Qu, Guan Guan, and Sister Andy, they'll be so happy to know you're here! Especially Andy, she loves home-cooked meals. I'll have my dad make her braised pork ribs, she'll definitely have a blast." She was filled with anticipation at the thought of her friends gathering together at her new home.

Halfway through the meal, Qiu Yingying suddenly remembered something and asked her father, "Dad, it won't be convenient for you and Mom to go out in Shanghai. How about I buy you both a car? What kind do you want? An SUV for comfort, or a sedan for easy parking, you can choose whichever you prefer."

The father put down his wine glass and waved his hand, "No need, no need, why waste money? There are buses and subways right at the entrance of the community, it's convenient to go anywhere." Qiu Yingying insisted, "That won't do, what if you want to go shopping further, or buy a lot of things, it will be too much trouble without a car." The father thought for a moment and said seriously, "If we really have to buy a car, we'll just buy a Wuling Hongguang van."

Qiu Yingying was taken aback: "Wuling Hongguang?" "Yes!" Her father's eyes lit up. "That car has a lot of space, is sturdy and durable, and is convenient for carrying people and goods. When your friends come over for a meal, there will be enough room for many people; when you want to go back to your hometown for holidays or go for a trip to the suburbs, it can carry a lot of things, it's very practical." Her mother nodded in agreement: "Your dad is right, we value practicality in our daily lives, there's no need to buy those expensive ones, the Wuling Hongguang is just fine." Qiu Yingying looked at her father's serious expression and couldn't help but smile: "Okay, I'll listen to you, we'll go take a look later."

As dinner was drawing to a close, the mother quietly got up and went into the bedroom. A short while later, she came out with a card, sat down next to Qiu Yingying, and shoved it into her hand: "Daughter, this is 300,000 yuan that your father and I have saved over the years. The password is your birthday. Take it. Buying and renovating the house must have cost a lot of money. It's not easy for you to earn money all by yourself, so don't deprive yourself."

Qiu Yingying clutched the card, a pang of sadness in her heart. She immediately pushed the envelope back, saying, "Mom, I can't take this money! I earned all the money for the house and renovations myself; it's enough. Keep your retirement money for yourselves. Don't hesitate to spend whatever you want to eat or buy in the future. I can earn money now and support you."

The mother grew anxious and shoved the card at him again: "Here, take this! We don't spend much money in Shanghai. The supermarket near our apartment complex is convenient, and the vegetables aren't expensive. Here's the money, in case you need it urgently."

The two women hesitated, and the father said, "Yingying, your mother meant well, just take it." Qiu Yingying shook her head, placed the envelope in her mother's hand, and then, in front of them, transferred 300,000 yuan to her mother's bank account: "Mom, look, I transferred 300,000 yuan to you. You and Dad can spend this money however you like, buy whatever you want. If it's not enough, I'll transfer more to you. Keep your money for yourselves, take good care of yourselves in your old age, that's better than anything else."

Looking at the transfer notification on her phone, the mother's eyes reddened. Holding Qiu Yingying's hand, she choked back tears and said, "We're so lucky, our daughter is so good, always so loving towards us." The father was also moved, patting Qiu Yingying's shoulder: "Okay, good daughter, then we'll accept it. If you ever have any difficulties in the future, please don't hide them from us."

After finishing her meal, Qiu Yingying wanted to clear the dishes, but her mother stopped her, saying, "You sit down, I'll clean up. We can also test how well the dishwasher works." Her mother carried the dishes into the kitchen.

Following Qiu Yingying's instructions, I put the dishes into the dishwasher, pressed the switch, and watched the machine run. I couldn't help but exclaim, "Modern technology is truly advanced; even washing dishes is so convenient." My father, meanwhile, sat in the living room, sipping his wine, looking at the ink painting of bamboo and rocks on the wall, humming an old song he used to love singing in his youth, looking completely content.

Qiu Yingying leaned back on the sofa, watching her parents' busy figures and relaxed smiles, and a weight was finally lifted from her heart. She knew that her parents had gradually accepted their new home and were beginning to integrate into the city.

The modern Chinese-style house is elegant and cozy, the aroma of cooking in the kitchen warms the heart, and the time spent together as a family of three is the most precious happiness. As night deepens, the neighborhood is quiet, except for the warm light in Qiu Yingying's home, which reflects this hard-won reunion and peace.