"System, what's all this?" Li Ziqing asked instinctively as she sat upright on the bed, her voice tinged with confusion.
[Ding... Host, I am unable to provide specific insights regarding the vision you experienced. However, I must inform you—this coupon is immensely powerful. If it promises an opportunity, it will undoubtedly become a life-changing one.]
Li Ziqing furrowed her brows, attempting to recall the hazy flashes that had just crossed her mind. A building—yes, distinctly official-looking. Then a signboard: City Planning Bureau. A tiled pavement. A tiffin.
She pondered in silence, piecing the fragments together. Suddenly, her eyes widened as the realization struck her. The clock on the government building had read exactly 1:00 PM.
Tiffin. Pavement. Lunchtime… Do they want me to sell lunchboxes to office workers?
It was an unusual thought, but oddly logical. With nothing else to go on, she decided to trust her intuition and act accordingly.
Curious, she opened the system's task interface. Only the main task remained visible now.
[Main Mission: Enter the Hospitality Industry – Build Your Own Hotel Chain]
Objective: Accumulate your first fortune—10 million yuan—from food and hospitality ventures.
Progress: ¥1,033,000 / ¥10,000,000
Li Ziqing blinked, taken aback. "One million and thirty-three thousand? Where did all that money come from?" she asked in disbelief.
[Ding… Host, all earnings derived from your food and hospitality activities are automatically calculated toward the main mission objective. Today, the host earned 3,000 yuan in profit from street sales, 30,000 yuan as a professional cooking fee, received a red envelope containing 100,000 yuan, and was gifted a property valued at 900,000 yuan.]
Her jaw dropped. She sprang off the bed and rushed to her desk drawer, where she had placed the red envelope earlier that evening. With trembling hands, she opened it.
Inside was a neatly folded cheque—one hundred thousand yuan.
Her breath hitched. That… was incredibly generous.
But more than the money itself, it was the implication that left her stunned. She had only taken the first step on this path, yet her progress was already substantial. If things continued at this pace, it wouldn't be long before she reached her first mission.
Clutching the envelope, a quiet smile tugged at her lips. The fatigue of the day slowly melted away, replaced by a sense of momentum and hope.
This might really work.
With that comforting thought, Li Ziqing slid back under the covers.
---
The next morning, only Li Jianfang and Li Jianping went out to set up the food stall. This time, Li Ziqing remained home, feeling entirely confident in her mother's abilities. After all, she had already transferred a significant portion of her own culinary skills to Li Jianfang using the system's Skill Echo Coupon.
Although only one-third of the full skillset had been passed on so far, it was already producing remarkable results—and Li Ziqing intended to complete the transfer gradually over time.
Earlier that morning, while preparing the dishes, even Li Jianfang had been taken aback by her own movements. Her hands moved with practiced elegance, slicing, seasoning, and plating as though guided by an invisible force. She could hardly believe the precision and grace she was exhibiting. The aroma, the presentation, even the layering of flavors—it was exactly the same as the food Li Ziqing had prepared the previous day.
It was as if the same pair of hands had created both meals.
Startled but thrilled, Li Jianfang quickly refocused on the task at hand. There was no time to dwell on the wonder of it.
Together, the siblings headed out, pushing the food cart to their regular spot in the northern district.
What followed was yet another morning of chaos—courtesy of the Li's breakfast stall.
Today, with more confidence and better rhythm, Li Jianfang had taken the liberty of preparing 150 portions of each dish. Yet, even before they could finish setting up the stall, a small line had already formed, buzzing with quiet anticipation.
Despite the prices remaining the same as the day before—steep by the standards of the low-income neighborhood—they didn't seem to deter anyone. People might struggle to pay rent or bills, but the lure of exceptional food had a power of its own. And when that food tasted like it was blessed by the gods?
Then all logic went out the window.
Customer after customer came in waves. The line never broke. By 9:00 AM, every single portion was gone—sold out even earlier than the day before.
Nearby, Xiulan and a few other vendors watched with gritted teeth, their resentment practically steaming in the morning air. They could only glare at the pair of siblings working seamlessly behind the counter, yet Li Jianfang and Li Jianping were too focused to even notice. Business was booming—and they had no time to spare for petty drama.
By the time they finally returned home, both were exhausted but beaming with satisfaction.
As they stepped through the front door, a familiar and mouthwatering aroma greeted them—an enticing fusion of soy, spice, and slow-simmered broth.
Li Jianping inhaled deeply and grinned.
"A Qing is cooking again."
Li Ziqing awoke at seven sharp and immediately set out for the Central District Market. She moved with quiet determination, swiftly gathering all the necessary ingredients for today. From the market's buzzing early stalls to the polished aisles of a downtown supermarket, she spared no effort. She even went the extra mile to purchase sustainable, biodegradable, high-quality single-use tiffin boxes and matching cups with secure lids—the kind typically used for trendy cold beverages like boba tea.
She had already decided: today, she would sell tiffin lunches outside the City Planning Bureau.
Although the vision she received through the opportunity coupon had been vague—a building with a clock showing 1 PM, and a signboard that read "City Planning Bureau"—her instincts told her this was a chance she couldn't ignore.
Li Ziqing estimated that the bureau employed roughly 200 staff members. To play it safe and avoid running out of stock, she prepared 250 complete meal boxes.
Each tiffin was generous: one meat dish, one vegetable entrée, a rice preparation, a flavorful soup, and a refreshing beverage. Today, instead of a traditional drink, she opted for something novel—a cold latte.
In 2006, coffee was still a niche luxury in China, consumed mostly by urban elites or those with refined palates. Tea remained the dominant cultural beverage. But Li Ziqing, with knowledge from her past life, remembered how iced coffee and boba tea would soon take China by storm. She decided to act early, crafting a smooth, aromatic cold latte—bold yet refreshing—destined to surprise palates and attract attention.
When Li Jianfang and Li Jianping walked in and saw her preparing food in such large quantities, their brows furrowed in confusion.
"A'Qing, why are you making so much? We already closed the food stall for today," Li Jianfang asked, puzzled.
"We made a profit of six thousand yuan today!" Li Jianping chimed in, his face glowing with delight. He had smiled the entire way home; such a profit was nothing short of astonishing.
Li Ziqing has already come up the the excuse calmly wiped her hands and replied, "Mom, I'm preparing lunch boxes for office workers. I want to test a new business model. We can't keep selling 15-yuan breakfasts in the Northern District forever. It's not sustainable in the long run."
At her words, both mother and uncle paused, realizing the truth behind them. The lowest monthly income in the Northern District hovered around 500 yuan, and even the highest barely reached 2,000. If people spent 10–15 yuan on breakfast every day, a large chunk of their monthly earnings would disappear on just one meal.
Understanding dawned in Li Jianfang's eyes. "Let me help you," she said softly, stepping forward.
Li Jianping, too, set aside his confusion. "Tell me what to do, A'Qing."
Li Ziqing thought for a moment before saying, "Uncle, we'll need a mobile storage cart—preferably one with a motorized tricycle. The City Planning Bureau is quite far. It's not practical to push a cart that distance."
Li Jianping nodded thoughtfully. "Old Han has one of those. He injured himself recently and temporarily shut down his business. I'll ask him!" Without another word, he dashed out of the house with uncharacteristic energy.
One had to admit: while others in the neighborhood labeled Li Jianping as idle or unmotivated, when it came to helping his family, he never hesitated. He simply hadn't yet discovered a passion of his own.
By 11:30 AM, everything was packed and ready. Li Jianping returned triumphantly with the tricycle cart, and helped seal the cold lattes in individual takeaway glasses. Once the food was neatly loaded, the three set off for the City Planning Bureau.
---
Today, the atmosphere inside the City Planning Bureau was anything but ordinary.
Since early morning, every department had been called into emergency meetings. Tension lingered in the air, thick and unspoken. The reason? A colossal urban development plan—valued in the billions—had suddenly gained traction.
This project, which had languished in paperwork and conflict for over a year, had involved numerous private investors, real estate giants, and provincial officials. But just this morning, out of nowhere, every stakeholder agreed to proceed. The plan was greenlit and sent directly to the City Planning Bureau.
No one could understand how the years-long deadlock had suddenly resolved.
"Weren't they all at each other's throats just last week?" one employee whispered during a short break.
"I heard the investors from Shanghai were completely against the provincial government's partnership with Hongtian Real Estate," another murmured.
"Yeah, but Hongtian's roots run deep in Wuhan. They're one of the largest real estate companies in Central China. In fact, they're one of the few Fortune 500 Chinese companies born right here. No surprise the local government would want to work with them on a project of this scale."
"I heard Feng Zhaotian hosted a private banquet last night," another added, voice low. "And after that, everything changed. Overnight, the proposal was finalized and rushed to us for review."
Inside his cubicle, He Qiang leaned back in his chair, shoulders slumping from exhaustion. He had been in nonstop meetings since 7 AM. First came the provincial delegation, then department heads, and now internal reviews. His colleagues looked just as worn, faces pale under fluorescent lighting.
He Qiang had only recently been promoted after three years of diligent work in a junior position at the City Planning Bureau. This billion-yuan development project was a golden opportunity—a career-defining moment that could potentially earn him further promotion. But the sheer scale of the project meant endless rounds of planning, analysis, and coordination. It was taking a toll on everyone.
As he leaned back in his chair, fatigued from nearly seven continuous hours of meetings, his stomach suddenly growled in protest. That's when he remembered—he hadn't brought lunch today. Glancing around, he noticed several of his colleagues forming small groups, likely heading out to eat. It seemed he wasn't the only one who had forgotten.
The Planning Bureau was located in the central district, surrounded by other government offices. Just around the main intersection was a small but well-known food street. While the stalls there weren't known for gourmet food, they provided a decent enough meal to fill an empty stomach—especially on a day like this.
He Qiang and a group of six or seven colleagues exited the building together, chatting idly as they headed toward the food street. But just as they passed through the main gate, a sight caught He Qiang's attention—a mobile food cart parked neatly on the sidewalk, with a handwritten sign that read in bold:
"Homemade Lunch Boxes – Fresh, Nutritious, Delicious!"
He Qiang paused, brows furrowing in curiosity. A lunch box cart? That was unusual. Typically, street vendors sold breakfast items, quick snacks, or single-dish meals like noodles or dumplings. But a full lunch box set?
Most of his colleagues and even passerby glanced at it briefly and dismissed it, continuing toward the familiar food stalls. But He Qiang suddenly froze in place, his eyes widening as he recognized the figures behind the cart.
"Sister Feng? Jianping?!" he called out, waving enthusiastically.
It had been nearly half an hour since the Li family had set up the cart, and so far, not a single sale had been made. Passersby had given them confused or dismissive looks, but Li Ziqing remained calm and composed. Somehow, both Li Jianfang and Li Jianping seemed unbothered as well, trusting Ziqing's instincts.
Then, out of the blue, they heard someone call out—and all three of them looked up in unison. A group of office workers was approaching, led by a familiar face now rushing toward them.
"Xiao Qiang?" Li Jianfang called out, her eyes lighting up with surprise.
Li Ziqing's brows lifted slightly as recognition set in. He Qiang had once been their neighbor. Their family courtyards had practically shared a wall before the Qiang family moved to the Eastern District after his father's small garment business found success. While they had lost touch, she still remembered how close their two families once were.
"What are you doing here?" Li Jianping grinned, clearly delighted. "It's been years!"
"I work here at the City Planning Bureau," He Qiang said, beaming. "It's been three years now. Let me introduce everyone—this is Sister Feng, my friend Jianping, and their niece, A Qing," he added, turning to his colleagues.
Polite greetings were exchanged all around.
"Xiao Qiang, I'm really happy for you," Li Jianfang said warmly, visibly proud of him. "A government job is a true iron rice bowl. You've done well."
"Thank you, sister Feng, you've done well yourself." He Qiang replied earnestly. Then, curious, He Qiang asked, "But what are you doing here? What's this about lunch boxes?"
Sensing an opportunity, Li Jianping quickly pulled out one of their prepared sets. The meal came in a sleek arrangement of three biodegradable containers, one soup bowl, and a sealed beverage cup—everything single-use, but of impressively high quality, the kind used in upscale takeaways.
As he opened the containers one by one, an enticing aroma wafted into the air. Instantly, everyone was drawn in.
The rice was fragrant and perfectly cooked, the stir-fried vegetables glistened with a light sheen of sesame oil, and the meat dish—braised pork ribs in sweet soy glaze—was rich and glossy. A hearty bowl of chicken and mushroom soup accompanied the meal, and the final touch was a smooth, chilled latte in a lidded cup.
Everyone stared, stunned. The visual appeal, the aroma, the generous portion sizes—it all far exceeded expectations. Their stomachs, already empty, now rumbled louder with anticipation. A few passersby, initially heading toward the food street, instinctively turned and began walking toward the cart, drawn by the scent and curiosity.
"It's a full-course lunch set," Li Jianping explained, standing tall with confidence. "One meat dish, one vegetable dish, a rice course, a warm soup, and a cold beverage—everything freshly made this morning. Just 35 yuan per set. A bit pricier than average, yes, but the quality speaks for itself. Just look at the portions, the ingredients, and even the packaging. It's the kind of meal you'd get from a five-star hotel takeaway."
The group was speechless.