I Always Buy Way More Groceries Than I Need

"Oh, right, we were just talking about your sister…"

After they'd ironed out the details of the plan, Le Yu was about to leave when Yin Yinyin suddenly called out to him.

"You've only got three years left to live, what are you thinking?" Le Yu eyed Yin Yinyin warily. "You're perfectly capable of providing for yourself; three years will fly by."

"…You're the first person who makes me want to turn off the lights." Yin Yinyin twitched its lips and said coldly, "Although Stargazer is dead, its application to the organization has been approved."

"What does that have to do with my sister?"

"Stargazer's application was to ask White Night to use its connections to move your sister to a safe place so she could continue her studies." Yin Yinyin pulled up its hood. "The organization has made arrangements; your sister can continue her studies at Yan Jing Royal Academy, and someone there has already been assigned to look after her."

Le Yu's spirits lifted. "That's wonderful! When will someone come to pick her up?"

Yin Yinyin was silent for a long moment. "…Your attitude doesn't seem like you're protecting your sister; it's more like you're sending off a plague."

Le Yu pouted, not denying it.

After all, unless you're a masochist, who would want to come home every day and have a mid-lane standoff with their sister?

"Don't get your hopes up too high; no one will come to pick up your sister. What do you think White Night is? A charitable aid institution?" Yin Yinyin retorted. "White Night will only provide various conveniences for your sister; she still has to actively go to Yan Capital for her studies."

Le Yu asked, puzzled, "What do you mean? Not only can't they pick her up, but she has to mail herself there?"

It took Yin Yinyin a few seconds to understand Le Yu's meaning. "Yes, because your family has no connection to Yan Capital, any active interference could attract special attention—especially since you're a Statistics Department operative. Too much attention would actually harm your sister."

"The entrance exam for Yan Jing Royal Academy will be held in 20 days. As long as your sister takes the exam, White Night will help her avoid all trouble." Yin Yinyin paused. "I hear your sister is a good student, but… that's not a place you can get into just by being smart."

Yan Capital is the capital of the Radiant Court and the safest place in this world. Although the Skyline District has fallen, and other administrative districts are also on high alert, no one doubts that Yan Capital will suffer military disaster—Yan Capital has never fallen in two thousand years.

Although there have been political struggles, and even usurpations and changes in government, no army has ever been able to conquer Yan Capital. Even if countless people believe the Radiant Court is about to decline, they also believe Yan Capital will always stand firm on the land.

Yan Jing Royal Academy, known as the 'Guozijian' in ancient times, is the highest educational institution in Huiyao and a sacred place for all scholars. Its influence spans the entire Huiyao realm. Li Shijie came from Yan Jing Royal Academy. The fact that he, at such a young age, could brutally defeat Kui Zhao, the powerful and formidable Deputy Director, speaks volumes—Kui Zhao is at least a dozen years older than Li Shijie!

Time has a significant impact on an Awakened. Kui Zhao, in his thirties, is at his peak, with his Body Refinement, Mental, and Combat Arts realms all at their best. Li Shijie's Body Refinement and Mental abilities are undoubtedly weaker than Kui Zhao's, which can be seen from how Li Shijie mainly relied on evasive maneuvers during their fight.

Yet, despite such a disparity, Li Shijie, relying solely on his Combat Arts realm, utterly defeated Kui Zhao, demonstrating the high teaching standards of Yan Jing Royal Academy.

Therefore, the threshold for Yan Jing Royal Academy is naturally very high. The entrance exam is just one part of it, and perhaps the least important—this world is full of talented individuals with both connections and diligence.

"So I should persuade her to take the train to Yan Capital?" Le Yu said softly.

Huiyao's railway network is quite developed, with most administrative districts connected by rail. Trains are not just steam-powered locomotives—in fact, the internal combustion engine on trains is only auxiliary; the main driving energy comes from Radiant Stone solar power.

The railway system is still operational now, but it's hard to say about a few years from now. For example, the railway system in the Skyline District has become a 'local area network'—it's a pipe dream for external armies to quickly transport troops into the Skyline District via rail.

"You don't need to go out of your way to persuade her," Yin Yinyin said. "Star Engraving National Middle School will have a graduation assessment in two days. At that time, teachers will recommend good students to take the exam in Yan Capital. You just need to provide money and allow her to go to Yan Capital. Once she arrives, everything will go smoothly for her… unless your sister is so fond of you that she can't bear to leave Star Engraving Prefecture."

"That's certainly a possibility," Le Yu said, nodding earnestly.

"Anyway, that's how it is." Yin Yinyin couldn't be bothered with Le Yu's bad jokes. "Although I'm saying this, you might not be completely at ease, after all, Yan Capital is a strange place for you and your sister… but trust me, once your sister arrives in Yan Capital, White Night won't let her encounter any difficulties."

Le Yu always felt something was off.

After all, their White Night is a revolutionary organization whose main goal is to overthrow Huiyao, essentially professional rebels.

And Yan Jing Royal Academy is Huiyao's Guozijian; simply put, the students there are all imperial protégés.

However, not only is Li Shijie from Yan Jing Royal Academy a White Night Walker, but now the White Night Organization can even manipulate the admissions of Yan Jing Royal Academy, ensuring that Qian Yuya, who has no background, can comfortably enroll…

What kind of people are in your Yan Jing Royal Academy? Do they teach dragon-slaying techniques and thought reform in class? How did it become a large-scale mole training center?

With the discussion concluded, Le Yu prepared to return the way he came, but Yin Yinyin stopped him. "Go out through the top. From now on, just come directly here to find me; don't use that path—a retreat route shouldn't be used often, that's common sense."

"Is that okay?" Le Yu was quite surprised. "Aren't you afraid of someone discovering your unspeakable relationship with me?"

Yin Yinyin ignored him and went straight down the stairs to the first floor. Le Yu followed and found that it seemed to be a clinic—a reclining chair, a mirror, white lights, and an indescribable smell. Although it wasn't antiseptic, it was equally pungent and unpleasant.

Medicine in this world is very subtle, mainly using Mental Combat Arts as a treatment method, supplemented by herbal preparations to regulate the body, but also researching surgical procedures. It's a pragmatic technology blending witchcraft and science.

"So that's it… So, even if I leave from here, I'll just be considered your patient?" Le Yu suddenly understood. "I didn't expect you to be a quack doctor in Eighteen Streets."

Formal medical officers in this world are all in the Medical Officer Department. The Medical Officer Department is, simply put, a public hospital—however, ordinary people don't get discounts on medical care; it's simply state-funded. The income of formal medical officers in the Medical Officer Department varies, but they all share one characteristic: they're overworked to the point of hair loss.

After all, all the patients in the city can only go to the Medical Officer Department. Even if a large proportion don't go because they can't afford it, the remaining small portion is enough to keep the Medical Officer Department busy year-round.

And some medical officers who want higher pay and dislike busy work will open clinics elsewhere, becoming quack doctors. However, the skill levels of quack doctors vary, and they lack professional certification, making medical accidents easy to happen. Yin Yinyin is an excellent example: a primary spy, a secondary medical officer. Who knows if it will use house calls as an excuse to assassinate people everywhere?

"If you need it, you can also come to me for treatment," Yin Yinyin said indifferently.

"What do you mainly treat?"

"Toothaches and hemorrhoids. I also do general surgery."

Le Yu's expression froze. "Are there people in Eighteen Streets who get those two illnesses?"

"Many people can endure the pain of colds, fevers, broken limbs, and so on, but absolutely no one can endure a toothache," Yin Yinyin said calmly. "Hemorrhoids are very common here; nine out of ten men have hemorrhoids. The food sources in Eighteen Streets aren't very clean. For example, that Thunder Lord you just beat up, he's a regular here…"

"Stop, I don't want to hear about that bald brute's asshole!"

"Good riddance."

Le Yu strode out of the clinic and looked back to find himself on an unfamiliar street. Not far away was the Xiangle Casino, and a little further was the pleasure district. The clinic's pale light spilled out from the Glazed Window, illuminating a few words on the window:

"Teeth, Hemorrhoids, Traumatic Injuries"

What a simple and clear signboard… Le Yu found the Radiant Bell Tower shining in the distance, then headed towards it to leave Eighteen Streets, and then followed the main road home.

He carefully unlocked the door, pulled open the crossbar, and then opened the inner door.

The house was silent. Le Yu tiptoed back upstairs, and just as he was about to enter his own bedroom, the door to the room next door opened.

Only the two Qian siblings lived in this house, so the one who opened the door was naturally not the vengeful ghost Qian Yuliu, but the aloof Qian Yuya.

She picked up a lantern, illuminating the sneaky Le Yu, her eyes scanning him like an X-ray.

Le Yu preempted her: "Why are you still up so late?"

"Bathroom. Why were you out so late? What were you doing?"

"Kids shouldn't meddle in adult affairs." Le Yu adopted a brotherly air of authority. "Go take care of your metabolism and then go back to sleep!"

Qian Yuya was exasperated. After a moment of silence, she said, "The Needle-Hiding Grass on your clothes is a herb with a faint toxin. In Star Engraving Prefecture, it only grows in the Eighteen Streets area; all other regions have been cleared... What were you doing in Eighteen Streets?"

Damn, is this the observational skill of a medical officer trainee? Or does Qian Yuya have the potential to be a great detective?

"Kids shouldn't ask so many questions," Le Yu scolded.

However, Qian Yuya wasn't buying it. "If you don't tell me, I'll go find out myself! I'll go to Eighteen Streets after school and I won't come home until I find out what you were doing!"

Oh no, that won't do. If you don't come home, who's going to cook dinner!

Is this a woman's intuition? She inadvertently hit my weak spot!

Le Yu clicked his tongue, wondering what excuse to use.

Going to Eighteen Streets for a toothache? No, that would reveal Yin Yinyin's existence.

Going to the red-light district for entertainment? No, taking the blame for something I didn't actually do would be too much of a loss.

Clearly, Le Yu had only one option left: "I went gambling. Here, this is what I won tonight. Take it and buy groceries."

Le Yu pulled out the money pouch the linen-clad youth had given him. He hadn't expected the reward for doing a good deed to come in handy here—he really hadn't brought any money with him when he went out earlier.

Qian Yuya took the money pouch and looked at it. "You never used to gamble."

"Actually, someone was trying to curry favor with me and insisted on giving it to me," Le Yu lectured. "Gambling is harmful, so don't you ever touch it. I was just socializing, but the people in Eighteen Streets were too enthusiastic and insisted on giving me money."

"I would never touch it!" Qian Yuya said fiercely, handing the money pouch back. "I don't want your dirty money, take it back!"

Le Yu said earnestly, "Alright then, I'll take the money to buy groceries myself. As long as I'm wearing a Statistics Department officer's uniform, I'm sure I'll get super-sized portions when I buy groceries—"

"You... don't go causing trouble everywhere!" Hearing Le Yu's 'threat,' Qian Yuya reluctantly took the money back and slammed her door shut with a bang.

Le Yu blinked, thinking that this should pretty much guarantee Qian Yuya would dutifully go buy groceries and cook, and dinner might even have extra dishes. It was killing two birds with one stone.

However, a small question lingered in his mind.

Qian Yuya had just said she was going to the bathroom, hadn't she...?