Chapter Nine: The System’s Untapped Potential

Qiao Luo accompanied Zhou Mengni to purchase some cold cream. When she led her to the home appliance counter, Zhou Mengni was struck dumb.

"You're here to buy a television?" she asked, stumbling over her words. "Did Commander Qin buy it for you?"

Qiao Luo felt a bit shy. "Yes, he gave me the money and the ration coupons. He said he was worried I’d be bored at home alone."

"That’s wonderful!" Zhou Mengni exclaimed, her face full of envy, though a sigh escaped her lips as she thought of her own husband.

She quickly composed herself and urged Qiao Luo to choose carefully, noting that a television cost several hundred yuan and was a significant investment. However, there were only a few sets available at the supply and marketing cooperative, leaving little room for choice.

In this era, black-and-white televisions were rare treasures. The small unit was even smaller than the laptops Qiao Luo remembered from her future life; she could easily carry it in her arms.

The two women bought a few other daily necessities and headed home. Once there, they immediately got to work, fiddling with the television’s antenna like a spinning top to tune into a channel. Zhou Mengni watched in wonder, while Qiao Luo felt somewhat underwhelmed. Compared to the massive screens of the future, this tiny television lacked any real comparison, but it was better than nothing and would serve as a way to pass the time.

After watching a few programs together, Zhou Mengni realized it was getting late and hurried home to cook dinner.

"Cooking?" Qiao Luo’s gaze fell on the vegetables Zhou Mengni had brought over. "Maybe... I should give it a try?"

She decided to act immediately. Although she hadn't cooked much before, she knew the general steps, and more importantly, she had a system in her head—couldn't she just ask it if she didn't know something?

The System: "???"

The system was practically stomping its feet in her mind. "Little host! Do you remember that I am a Child-Bearing System?"

Qiao Luo spoke nonsense with a straight face. "A Child-Bearing System exists to help the host have more children, right? After I have children, I’ll need to feed them and prepare supplemental food, won't I? What am I supposed to do if I have no cooking skills? As a Child-Bearing System, shouldn't you handle the after-sales service? If you don't, will you just ignore the children once they're born and let them starve? What would be the point of your existence then? So, is there a problem with you guiding me through cooking?"

The system was so dizzy from her circular logic that it answered, dazed, "No... no problem?"

Qiao Luo nodded in satisfaction. "Great, let's begin!"

Imagination was lush, but reality was sparse. As a medical student who had been busy as a dog every day, Qiao Luo had survived mostly on takeout. Forcing herself to cook a meal was truly a challenge.

After cutting her hand nearly a dozen times, Qiao Luo remained full of interest, but the system finally reached its breaking point.

"Little host, why don't we just give up!" the system cried, clutching its head. "You are torturing yourself physically and me mentally!"

Qiao Luo was displeased. "How am I torturing myself and you? Aren't I trying my best to learn?"

The system couldn't help but retort, "How long do you intend to keep this up? Look at your knife skills! Are those shredded radishes or radish chunks? Oh my god! I can't bear to look..."

Qiao Luo’s face darkened. "It’s your guidance that’s the problem! I am a dignified medical student, a future surgeon—how could I possibly be bad at holding a knife?"

Just as she was about to blame her clumsiness on the system, the system beat her to it. "What do you mean my guidance is the problem? It’s clearly because you’re too clumsy!" It spun around in her mind and sighed. "Forget it, I don't think I can teach you."

As Qiao Luo was about to roll her eyes, a notification chimed in her head.

"Life skill 'Beginner Cooking' has been issued."

Qiao Luo’s pupils contracted, and she gripped the kitchen knife tighter. To hide her emotions, she began to chop quickly. Sure enough, the radish shreds came out thin and uniform. She immediately praised the system with flowery, sincere-sounding words, though she was thinking something else entirely.

Previously, she had assumed this system was useless beyond encouraging her to get pregnant and giving her money—after all, the so-called 'starting equipment' was just a flashlight. She never expected the system to have skill-based rewards, and ones that could be used immediately upon acquisition.

Could the system also have specializations in medical arts? If so, could she heal Qin Yanzhou’s legs? Reflecting on her previous attitude, Qiao Luo fell into deep contemplation, deciding she should perhaps butter the system up more to continue mining it for benefits.

The system had been floating on air from her praise. Now that she had stopped, it felt unaccustomed and shifted. "Hmm? Why did you stop?"

Qiao Luo’s face darkened. This broken system was truly insufferable!

"Can't you see I'm chopping vegetables? What if I get distracted and cut my hand again?" she couldn't help but roll her eyes. "Didn't you say you need twelve hours of sleep a day? Hurry up and go, so you aren't fast asleep when I actually need you!"

She continued to scold it. "You were sleeping when Qin Yanzhou appeared, and you were sleeping when I was locked up for the night... what can you do besides sleep?"

The system wilted, clutching its small, helpless self. "O-okay, I’ll go sleep... wait, I mean, go into sleep mode."

As the system went dormant, the corner of Qiao Luo’s mouth twitched. Buttering it up? With its personality, gaslighting it was clearly the better strategy!

When Qin Yanzhou returned from the barracks, the sky was already dim, but from afar, he saw the warm orange glow of his home, standing out against the deepening night. His heart softened. After thanking the young soldier who had driven him back, he maneuvered his wheelchair into the courtyard.

Hearing the sound of the wheelchair, Qiao Luo poked her head out of the kitchen, her eyes filled with excitement. "Qin Yanzhou! You're back?" Her eyes reflected pinpricks of light, shining brilliantly in the night. "I've been waiting for you for so long!"

Despite her complaining, she walked out with a light step, moved behind his wheelchair, and pushed him toward the kitchen. "I made three dishes and a soup today! I think I’m truly amazing!"

"I also bought a television. Let's watch it while we eat later!"

"Oh, right, I’m not sure what your preferences are, so I made both spicy and mild dishes. You have to tell me what you like..."

As she spoke, they entered the kitchen, and the warm light enveloped them. Qin Yanzhou turned, took Qiao Luo’s hand, and softly answered her first question.

"Yes, I’m home."