Chapter 199: Major Check-In Reward
Ning Qingyuan looked at the sweater in Ji Yanming’s hand — it was the one his sister had personally picked out for him. He also wanted his sister to choose for him, so he set aside the black-and-white striped sweater he had initially chosen and, opening his eyes wide at Ning Xiyue, told a little lie:
“Sis, pick one for me too. I don’t know which one suits me.”
“Okay.” Ning Xiyue decisively picked up the sweater he had been eyeing. “You’ll wear this one — black-and-white stripes. It perfectly matches your sunny, cheerful big-boy look.”
“Ha! Really? Then this one it is. Anything my sister picks must look good.” Ning Qingyuan happily held the sweater up to himself, gesturing around proudly and even throwing a smug glance at Ji Yanming.
Ji Yanming didn’t respond, focusing on the sweater in his own hands.
Ning Xiyue took in her brother’s expression. She had already noticed he liked this sweater, touched it a few times, and only pretended he couldn’t choose to make her pick it for him. Clearly, it was a playful display of his competitive streak.
Since he was her second brother, she had to go along and give him praise.
She opened her shopping bag wide in front of the two of them: “Alright, it’s decided. Put them in here first, and I’ll clean the oil stains off the clothes before giving them to you.”
The two glanced at the sweaters in their hands and then put them in the bag.
They continued browsing the department store — they hadn’t even reached halfway through the building.
Ning Xiyue and Ning Qingyuan were determined to explore the entire floor before leaving, and Ji Yanming, being the one who came along to accompany their shopping, naturally followed closely behind.
After shopping for a while, they had bought quite a few items, but Ning Xiyue’s system hadn’t triggered even once, as if it were malfunctioning. Normally, in a county department store, the system would trigger constantly, but this time — nothing.
Unable to resist, Ning Xiyue asked the little turtle perched on her head: “System, is it broken?”
[Host, you may doubt my small size, but not my integrity. I have never been broken.]
“Alright then.”
So this meant there really were no other check-in locations here — only the main entrance of the department store. That was fine; that one location alone was worth many check-ins. She was satisfied.
They decided to leave the department store and check other places, confident the system would trigger elsewhere.
“Let’s go to the next place,” Ning Xiyue said, striding toward the exit. Behind her, the two brothers, carrying large bags, smiled indulgently.
Ning Qingyuan hurriedly followed, asking about their next destination: “Sis, where are we going next?”
“No set destination. We’ll just go wherever,” Ning Xiyue replied, flicking her long braid and walking casually.
Casual? Actually, she had no idea where to go in S City and had no particular destination. Going wherever seemed best — with Ji Yanming along, they wouldn’t get lost.
She also wanted to see if any unexpected surprises would happen along the way — after all, check-ins thrived on chance.
With Ning Qingyuan, a doting brother, and Ji Yanming, ready to carry his future wife home, there was no way they’d refuse to follow.
All three shared the same thought: as long as Ji Yanming was with them, they wouldn’t get lost.
Life was indeed full of surprises.
Wandering aimlessly, Ning Xiyue finally stumbled upon a good check-in location.
[Ding! Check-in location found: Housing Management Office. Host must pose like a sunflower to check in. Host, check in?]
Hearing that it was a check-in location, Ning Xiyue felt a quiet thrill. Just the name “Housing Management Office” gave her an idea of what the check-in reward might be.
She suppressed her excitement, controlled her smile, and began the check-in.
“Check in.”
“Where is this place — the Housing Management Office? We’ve walked quite far.”
Pretending curiosity, Ning Xiyue tilted her head toward the office. She put her hands to her face, as if warming her cheeks from the cold, then shaped her hands into a sunflower pose naturally while keeping them at her cheeks.
[Check-in successful. Congratulations, host! You have received a 1,000-square-meter farmhouse courtyard in the suburbs of Huangpu District, S City.]
A major check-in reward!
She loved it. The department store hadn’t triggered anything, but the real big prize was here.
“System Daddy, I declare — I am crazy for you, ready to crash headfirst into walls for you!”
With such an amazing system, one was never enough.
[Host, calm down. And, you have one System, which isn’t enough? You want more, hmm?]
“It’s you, always you,” Ning Xiyue said, playing up her loyalty. Losing this System was unthinkable — such a perfect system companion couldn’t be found often.
The deeds and property deeds in the system backpack were symbols of the system’s love for her.
What thrilled her most was that the deed’s address would later be part of the newly established Pudong New Area.
This meant that after 1993, when Pudong New Area was established, her farmhouse would skyrocket in value — from a remote rural home to a prime property in Pudong, one of the most prosperous areas.
She had basically hit the jackpot — the property’s value would increase dramatically.
She was so happy, she could laugh in her sleep.
Ning Qingyuan followed her gaze, looking at the sign outside the Housing Management Office:
“This is the Huangpu District office. We really did walk quite far.”
He glanced at his watch. “Sis, it’s getting late. Should we find somewhere to eat and bring lunch back to brother? Comrade Ji should know the way, right?”
Ji Yanming nodded, looking at Ning Xiyue, waiting for her decision.
“Alright, we’re all hungry anyway. Let’s go eat.”
Having received the best check-in reward, Ning Xiyue was fully satisfied and agreed to eat without hesitation. She said cheerfully:
“Brother, Comrade Ji, let’s go! Today I’m treating — the state-run Western restaurant!”
Walking along, Ning Xiyue spotted a Western restaurant. Today was full of good fortune, so of course she wanted to experience the local-style Western cuisine of the era — a taste that couldn’t be found in the future.
“Okay, let’s go eat,” Ning Qingyuan said, mentally calculating the money in his pocket. He planned carefully; the food here looked expensive. Whatever it took, it was worth spending to treat his sister.
Ji Yanming, knowing Ning Qingyuan’s intention, patted his shoulder lightly: “I’ll pay too.”
“No need, I’ve got it,” Ning Qingyuan said, glancing at him, refusing decisively, and briskly following Ning Xiyue.
Ji Yanming shook his head, smiled lightly, and jogged to catch up.
Ning Xiyue didn’t bluff about treating them — she had money and vouchers, and wanted to reward her brother for his care and sincerely thank Ji Yanming for his help.
She rushed ahead to the restaurant counter, bought tickets, and ordered food. She discovered the restaurant offered both Western and Chinese dishes — a mixed style. She called it the state-run restaurant branch Western dining hall.
But today they were here for Western cuisine. Ning Xiyue ordered the signature Western dishes: steak, fried pork cutlet, borscht, four sets each. To ensure the two men were full, she added fried rice, also four bowls — the extra portion for her brother.
After paying, she went to find a table just as the two men arrived, carrying their shopping.
“Sis, you’re so fast! Gone in the blink of an eye.”
“Ha! I’m light because I’m carrying nothing.” She had used all her internal Taiji strength — it was only natural to be fast.
“The dishes are ordered. Let’s find a place to sit.”
Ning Xiyue led them to a four-person table by the window.
Since she paid, Ning Qingyuan sat down without worry. In the countryside, it had always been just the two siblings relying on each other — his money was hers.
Ji Yanming sat down gracefully, not worrying about who paid. He could find another way to return the money to her.
The dishes arrived quickly.
Ning Xiyue looked at the bowls in front of them — a mixture of Western and local-style dishes — and felt intrigued and excited to taste them.
First-time Western cuisine taster Ning Qingyuan eyed the food curiously, ready to dig in with his chopsticks.
Ji Yanming held a spoon and fork, waiting for Ning Xiyue to speak.
“Brother, Comrade Ji, let’s eat!”
