Volume One: Gourmet Food and Cultivation

Chapter 1: Blessings and Misfortunes Go Hand in Hand

Early autumn, Jiangnan.

University town.

It was the start of a new school year.

At this time, upperclassmen would head to the airport, docks, and train stations to welcome the freshmen—both to actively respond to the student union’s call and to help the school solve practical problems.

After all, with enrollment expanding in recent years, the number of students increased year by year. As a well-known comprehensive university, the number of new students each year was never less than eight thousand, often over ten thousand.

Seventeen- or eighteen-year-old boys and girls, leaving their parents for the first time, traveling hundreds or even thousands of miles to pursue their studies, arriving in this unfamiliar city—sometimes without their parents accompanying them.

At this time, as their alma mater, the university naturally had the responsibility and obligation to ensure they arrived on campus safely and comfortably.

Relying on teachers alone would never be enough, so sophomores, juniors, and seniors became the main force. Under the leadership of the student union, they took on the task of welcoming the newcomers.

Henry Clark, however, stayed alone in his dorm, half-reclining on his bed, holding a certain brand of smartphone, happily watching something.

He was the only one in the dorm; the rest of his roommates had gone to help welcome the freshmen. It wasn’t that Henry Clark was unenthusiastic about student union activities—he simply hadn’t been able to sign up in time.

With the new semester just starting, classes hadn’t begun yet for the new students, so apart from surfing the internet, there wasn’t much to do each day.

After all, even for sophomores, a year was enough to visit all the attractions around the city.

Well, in theory, they could go farther, since transportation was so convenient these days. But there was a serious problem... no money!

Today’s college students might be better off than their predecessors, but most still relied on their parents’ support each month. A short trip nearby was fine, but anything farther was beyond their financial means.

Although there were more people glued to their phones these days, not that many actually spent all their time on their phones or computers. So the student union’s call for volunteers became very popular.

On one hand, they could gain experience in social activities; on the other, the upperclassmen had their own little schemes.

As the saying goes, “the pavilion closest to the water enjoys the moonlight first.” By going to pick someone up at the airport or train station, they might just get lucky and meet a gentle, cute girl...

Then, by helping her get familiar with the campus, they could ask for her chat app or phone number.

So, lots of people signed up.

Henry Clark checked the campus website yesterday and was amazed. Even though it was supposed to be social practice, it felt just like lining up to buy a new phone from a popular brand.

Rumor had it that some programmers from the Computer Science Department even made their own plug-ins to help them sign up.

The world is too crazy—I want to go back to Mars.

Ahem, Henry Clark didn’t get it and decided not to play along.

With none of his roommates around, Henry Clark didn’t even feel like going to the internet café to team up for treasure hunting, so he just stayed in the dorm reading e-books.

Compared to other forms of entertainment, reading web novels for a whole morning cost less than ten yuan—truly a bargain.

In the blink of an eye, it was lunchtime. He hadn’t eaten breakfast, so he was a bit hungry.

Henry Clark shifted his position, not wanting to move. What could he do? Laziness is contagious. Although Henry Clark wasn’t terminally lazy, he just didn’t feel like doing anything today.

Fortunately, compared to a decade ago, in today’s internet age, there was no need to beg anyone to bring him food. So Henry Clark skillfully swiped his phone, opened the food delivery app, and decided on rice with fish-flavored eggplant for today.

Henry Clark remembered that not far from the school, a new little eatery had opened. Though it was a hole-in-the-wall, the food was really good, and every day there was a long line of people waiting to eat.

If you wanted to order there, it would take at least half an hour.

But Henry Clark had discovered by chance that this super popular little shop was actually on his usual food delivery app. Ordering through the app meant he could just wait for the food to arrive, and it was even faster than waiting in line.

Gotta give himself a thumbs up for being so clever.

...

After placing his order, he started waiting—not just sitting idly, of course, but continuing to read his novel. The author, someone named Mou Yu, had just updated.

Hmm, these chapters were pretty good, and today there was even a rare burst of updates. Henry Clark happily flipped through them. In the comment section, there were big tips from supporters and playful readers joining in. Henry Clark thought for a moment and tipped one yuan. It was only one yuan, but he was just a poor student, after all. It’s the thought that counts.

“Dong dong, hello, your food delivery.”