Li Si hurried to the Digital City to pick up a Lenovo laptop. At that time, the configuration wasn't very high, and it wasn't light. If it wasn't for playing online games, just browsing the web and chatting would suffice.
Suddenly, she thought that Taobao had been running for a year now; she could easily buy certain things there—convenient and quick.
Li Si went to the business hall to handle the wireless network card service, returned home, and excitedly connected to the internet. Ever since she was reborn, except for that one visit to the internet cafe, she hadn't been online. For someone like her who was super used to googling for foreign affairs and asking Baidu for domestic affairs, she now felt fully recharged.
Lounging with Xiao Guai, listening to music, browsing the web, and shopping on Taobao, Li Si felt joyful. If her private kitchen were to open, the current variety of goods wouldn't be enough. Li Si found a few sellers to stock up on the missing varieties, but considering seasonal issues, some had to be planted first and couldn't be sold temporarily. As for those not available, she'd procure them from the market.
Li Si filled in her home address, estimating that the current courier speed would take over a week to arrive, perhaps just in time for the weekend.
After browsing Taobao, Li Si led Xiao Guai into the space. Today, she had an idea—since the space's river water could remove impurities, what if Xiao Guai drank the river water and then took a bath in it? What changes would happen?
Li Si was someone who acted on her thoughts. She let Xiao Guai soak by the river, cupping the water, making it drink a lot. After observing for a while, Xiao Guai showed no significant changes. Its eyes just grew brighter. At first, it was a bit reluctant to go into the river, but now it seemed to enjoy it.
After a while, Li Si, feeling bored, practiced the self-defense techniques she had learned before. She marveled at her body, which had been cleansed, so full of power that she could handle less formidable bad guys in the future.
Behind her came Xiao Guai's urgent cries, "Awoo..." She turned to see Xiao Guai frantically running towards the shore, fur all fluffed up like a cat ready to fight.
Li Si anxiously shouted, "Xiao Guai, what's wrong? Huh?"
Xiao Guai was anxious, spinning in circles on the ground, baring its teeth and clutching its belly with both hands. It took Li Si a moment to realize—it needed to relieve itself.
She hurriedly led it to the edge of the vegetable plot, and Xiao Guai had a massive release, the sour and refreshing smell hitting her nose sharply.
After three rounds of tossing around, it was done, and Li Si held her breath as she picked up a small shovel to bury its dark deposits.
Xiao Guai lay on the ground, exhausted, staring at the sunless sky. Li Si walked over and sat beside it, "Hey, Xiao Guai, are you okay now?"
Xiao Guai didn't move its body, just glanced sideways at her with an accusatory look, as if blaming her for deliberately feeding it problematic water!
Seeing Xiao Guai's semi-dry fur becoming glossy and its eyes even brighter, Li Si poked Xiao Guai on the nose, "You little rascal, you don't appreciate it, do you? This river water can purify impurities, you know? You just expelled all the bad stuff from your body! And you're not satisfied yet!"
"Aww..."
Xiao Guai continued its dissatisfied protest, but Li Si ignored its antics and commanded, "Stay in the space for a while longer. Drink the river water when you're thirsty and eat fruit when you're hungry! Understood?"
Li Si made up her mind to adjust Xiao Guai's health to the best state possible.
Before school started in North City, Li Si packed her things in advance and put them into the space, then rushed to the dormitory. When she arrived, the others weren't there. As Li Si was cleaning the desk, the three of them returned together from outside.
"Hey, Yao Dorm Leader, you see, didn't I say? Our Li Si is really capable. She immediately cleaned the dorm upon her return. We're counting on you for the dorm's cleanliness from now on, Li Si!"
Wang Shishi threw her backpack onto the bed and turned to speak to Li Si.
"Everyone should maintain their own hygiene properly. Whoever's turn it is to do chores should do them!"
Li Si replied without lifting her head.
"Tch, it's just because I didn't do my chores when it was my turn last time. Why are you so petty? I was feeling unwell because of my period that day!"
Wang Shishi remembered she had indeed skipped her chores several times before the holiday.
Yao Meiling nudged Wang Shishi and signaled her to stop talking, picking up the cloth Li Si had placed on the desk.
"It's my day for chores today, I forgot, sorry about that. We're living in the same dorm, let's not argue over trivial matters. I brought some beef jerky from home for everyone to try!"
She said, pulling out a big bag of beef jerky and placing it open on her desk.
Kong Dan, who had been quiet all along, chimed in, "I brought some of my mom's homemade North Korean pickles. Anyone who wants them during meal times, come help yourself!"
Wang Shishi glanced disdainfully at Kong Dan, then at Li Si, also taking a bag of snacks from her own bag and placing it on the desk.
"This is a specialty I specifically brought back from a trip to Beijing—Fu Ling cakes from Harvest Bloom, pickles from Six Flavors House, and some candied fruit. Feel free to try them. For those who haven't been to Beijing, at least taste the flavors!"
Li Si found it amusing—what was there to show off? She noticed Kong Dan awkwardly pinching the corner of her clothes. "Kong Dan, I haven't had dinner yet. Could you share some of your mom's pickles with me? They should go well with rice!"
"There's plenty, Li Si, help yourself!"
Kong Dan wiped her eyes, quickly and warmly placing the little bottle of pickles encased in a peach can in front of Li Si.
Opening the lid, Li Si immediately caught a whiff of the fragrant mix of sesame oil and chili oil. The pickles seemed to be made from small radishes, cut into neat, small pieces, gleaming red and oily, making her mouth water at the sight.
She scooped some into a small bowl, sealed the bottle, and handed it back to Kong Dan. "This is enough. Kong Dan, your mom is really skillful. Just looking at these pickles makes me drool. Thank you!"
Kong Dan smiled honestly and waved her hand, "No need to be polite. There's more if you need it! My mom doesn't excel at other things, but she's famous for her pickles among our neighbors!"
Wang Shishi sat on her bed, feeling somewhat sour while watching them. Though the aroma tempted her, she didn't have the nerve to try. Yao Meiling smirked but said nothing, tidying her own bed.
Li Si found a small bag to wrap the bowl in and went to the 403 dorm upstairs. She knocked on the door, and only a bespectacled girl was there—Bai Shasha hadn't returned to the dorm yet.
Just as she thought she'd have to search for food on her own, her phone rang. It was Bai Shasha calling—what a coincidence!
"Hey, where are you, Shasha? Haven't returned to the dorm yet?"
The background on the other end was somewhat noisy, "Sisi, I'm with Cao Yufan at the school's Old Friend's Kitchen just outside the gate. Have you eaten? If not, come join us?"
"Bingo, I'm on my way!"
Li Si cheerfully hung up the phone and hurriedly walked there.
Old Friend's Kitchen, with two stories, was quite busy. This place had always maintained affordable prices, and the flavors were great, making it very popular with students. It had a hall and private rooms. Li Si glanced around the first-floor hall but didn't see the two, so she headed to the second-floor private rooms.
As soon as she reached the second floor, she heard Bai Shasha's hearty laughter. Li Si smiled and shook her head—this girl didn't know how to restrain herself around guys. Hopeless indeed.