Out of Control

January 30, early morning.

Outside the single-story house, the leafless Daguan Poplar Tree had dressed itself up with icicles so it would not look too impoverished. When the eastern sun shone upon it, it became magnificent.

As usual, Xue Chuchu got up early. She tied up her hair and made the bed...

The weather was bitterly cold, and the metal basin for washing vegetables froze her hands. Xue Chuchu took the tea kettle off the honeycomb coal stove, poured hot water into the basin, and began washing vegetables and cooking.

She cut potatoes and green peppers, preparing to make Green Pepper Shredded Potato.

She had stubbornly tried this dish over and over again, hoping to reach Tongtong's level of cooking. Yet no matter how many times she tried, something was always missing.

It was like the gap between her and Tongtong in their studies. That tiny difference was like an uncrossable chasm—no matter how hard she gave it everything, she could not bridge it.

The gap between geniuses was even greater than the gap between ordinary people and geniuses. It was enough to drive one to despair.

After cutting the green peppers, Xue Chuchu wiped the knife clean and began cutting carrots.

Twenty minutes later.

Jiang Ning and Tongtong arrived together, just as Chuchu was bringing food to the wooden dining table.

"Green Pepper Shredded Potato, carrot Egg Pancakes, Sweet Potato Rice Soup... Huh, there's even Braised Ribs with Bean Sprouts and Green Beans!" Xue Yuantong counted them one by one.

Xue Chuchu said, "The ribs were cooked last night. I deliberately saved a plate for breakfast today."

"Chuchu, you're so good to me." Before she even sat down, Xue Yuantong lifted the Sweet Potato Rice Soup and took a small sip. No sugar had been added, but the sweet