Forced to Raise My Instant Noodles Prices

"Medals?"

"So many!"

The director's expression changed slightly, and his secretary swiftly picked up the medals.

"Director, I served in the military. These really are medals—Third-Class Merit medals."

"Oh, Third-Class Merit..."

The director nodded. Third-Class Merit was fairly common; with a little effort, one could earn it.

"But having so many Third-Class Merit medals is rather unusual."

"No, Director. There are five Third-Class Merit medals, and two Second-Class Merit medals."

Shock Value +100

Second-Class Merit?!

And two of them!

Those were awarded only for major contributions!

The director's expression changed again and again as he looked at Xu Yi with utmost seriousness.

"Student Xu Yi, where did these medals come from?"

Xu Yi lowered his head deeply against his chest. "My father mailed them to me. He was a soldier."

Thump~

Everyone present felt their hearts skip half a beat.

The director's breathing became rapid. "What did you say you were doing the day after tomorrow?"

"I'm going to pay respects to my father the day after tomorrow. It's the anniversary of his death."

Shock Value +200

Confusion Value +200

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh~

At that moment, everyone's gazes shot toward Li Yi like sharp arrows.

Li Yi felt itchy all over, fine cold sweat forming on his forehead as his heart pounded wildly.

This was bad. He might be finished!

"Then why did your father pass away?" the director asked cautiously, his heart lodged in his throat.

"I... I don't know either. I only know that he went to the border and never came back. Then the army mailed this back to me."

Xu Yi held up the largest, most dazzling medal with both hands. Under the lights, it shone brilliantly.

"F-First-Class Merit!!"

Shock Value +400

Shock Value +400

Anger Value +400

"Director, that's not right. There's another First-Class Merit medal here."

Two First-Class Merit medals??

Everyone froze and looked at Xu Yi with scrutinizing eyes.

"Kid, you didn't buy these medals, did you?" one school leader probed.

"Generally speaking, earning First-Class Merit even once is incredibly difficult."

Xu Yi lowered his head, his tone dejected. "My older brother mailed this one to me."

"Your older brother?"

"My older brother was a police officer. Then one day, he went to the Golden Triangle with his unit. Like my father, he never came back. But the police department mailed this medal to me."

Shock Value +400

Shock Value +400

Shock Value +400

Everyone present was breathing heavily. His father was a hero who guarded the border, and his older brother was a drug enforcement hero.

"What about your mother?" the director asked.

"She got sick a couple of years ago, so she went to provide support. Then she never came back either."

Angel Against the Current!

Thump, thump, thump~

Everyone involuntarily retreated several steps, drenched in cold sweat.

A family of Loyal Martyrs. Every single one of them.

Whether for public or private reasons, they deserved the highest respect.

The director's expression changed drastically, his pupils contracting.

He felt as if the sky were falling. The heart he had been holding up finally died.

Despite having spent years in officialdom and long since learning to remain calm in any situation—

he was now soaked through with cold sweat, unable even to straighten his back.

The defense battle had caused a huge uproar back then. The nation had highly commended every soldier involved, let alone the heroes who had died.

And now Xu Yi's father was a First-Class Merit hero. This was no small matter.

Then Xu Yi's voice rang out like thunder, reaching everyone's ears.

"I miss my father so much. If only he were still here. I want to tell him about all the grievances I've suffered. But the school encourages me to work and won't even let me pay respects to him."

Fear Value +200

Fear Value +200

Thud~

Li Yi could no longer hold on. His legs gave out, and he collapsed to the floor.

This was bad. He was really finished!

The next person to collapse was the principal.

Forcing a hero's child to work and refusing to let him honor his father—a First-Class Merit hero, no less.

If word of this got out, his time as principal would be over.

No, this was being livestreamed.

It was already over!

A gleam flashed through Xu Yi's eyes. Who could possibly make do with this little Emotion Points?

The next second, Xu Yi's eyes reddened as he cried out to Li Yi, "Instructor, please let me go see my father. I'm only asking for one day off. When I come back, I'm willing to scrub toilets for ten days."

"Or, like before, you can hit and scold me however you want."

Li Yi was on the verge of tears. Feeling the furious gazes around him, his entire body went ice-cold.

Stop messing around, brother. I don't want to eat Purple Egg!

With a background this terrifying, why didn't you say so sooner?

"You hit him before?" the director's icy voice came over.

"N-No. I really didn't! I admit that because he didn't fit in, I usually made things difficult for him.

But I never hit him or physically punished him.

Xu Yi, have I ever hit you?"

As if by reflex, Xu Yi crouched down with his hands over his head. "Ah, don't hit me! I'll never do it again."

Fear Value +100

"Xu Yi, you...!"

"Director, Instructor Li is a good person. He has never bullied me.

I've never given him gifts, yet he still wanted to help me apply for financial aid. I'm very grateful to him," Xu Yi hurriedly explained.

Anger Value +150

The director and the school leaders all looked as though they wanted to kill him, their eyes practically devouring him alive.

Abusing a hero's orphan—you really are criminal!!

The principal roared furiously, "Li Yi, you're fired."

The director sneered in anger. "Director Li, you really hold great power, don't you? You're something else..."

"Director, listen to my explanation. It's not what—"

"You don't need to explain to me. Explain it to the Garrison Officer. This matter is no longer mine to decide."

Li Yi's face turned deathly pale. "Fine, fine. Now I really am going to eat Purple Egg."

"Director, please accept my invitation to dinner. I definitely have enough money for two bowls of Longevity Noodles. Maybe we can even add an egg. I haven't eaten eggs in a long time." Xu Yi looked hopefully at Yu Shu.

Fear Value +100

Sympathy Value +50

The principal's legs, which had just straightened, buckled once more.

Still, he shouted at the top of his lungs, "Tell the kitchen to prepare a birthday banquet immediately—the highest standard possible!"

Yu Shu stared coldly at the principal. "You've done a fine job as principal, treating a hero's orphan like this."

The principal wore a miserable expression. "I... I didn't know either. This is all Li Yi's fault. He deceived those above and below him and abused his authority. It's utterly despicable."

The principal's smooth attempt to shift the blame left Li Yi stunned on the spot.

His mouth hung open for a long while, but he could not force out a single word.

"Prepare to accept an investigation by the Discipline Inspection Commission."

Fear Value +200

Although the principal was panicking inside, he was not panicking too badly. After shifting the blame, at worst he would be guilty of poor oversight. The worst possible outcome would simply be a demotion.

With that thought, the principal straightened his legs again and immediately made a phone call.

"Hurry up and process Xu Yi's Student Aid Subsidy application. Also, make up the subsidies from the previous three years."

The director ignored his hypocritical display and instead looked gently at Xu Yi.

"Xu Yi, I've had someone order a cake. We'll celebrate your birthday together later."

"Thank you, Director."

"Don't call me Director. Just call me Uncle Yu."

The director sighed inwardly. Damn that Li Yi.

If this matter was not handled properly, he really would become Uncle Li.

A hero's orphan had been abused at school, and it had even been livestreamed.

This matter had already exceeded the director's authority.

He had been planning to enter the ministry next year. Now, he would be lucky if he could stay on a steady path.

Thinking of this, the director looked at Li Yi with even greater resentment.

Unfortunately, murder was illegal in Great Xia.

By then, the livestream had long since exploded.

—Why didn't this guy reveal such an incredible background earlier?

—Li Yi kicked an iron plate this time. He'll probably spend the rest of his life in prison.

—I'm so furious I wish I could go there and slap every school leader across the face.

—But I'm jealous. Time to send my dad to the battlefield.

Before long, the fragrant food was ready.

Xu Yi devoured it hungrily.

The director placed the Longevity Noodles before Xu Yi, with a fried egg on top.

"Xiao Yi, the cake hasn't arrived yet. Have some Longevity Noodles first."

"Thank you, Uncle Yu."

Xu Yi had just taken a bite when he suddenly remembered something and immediately stood up.

"Sorry, Uncle Yu, I can't eat with you. It's time for work."

"Work?"

Xu Yi walked over to a window, set out pots, bowls, and utensils, and moved with heartbreaking proficiency.

A hero's son actually had to support himself by cooking Instant Noodles for others?!

The director swept his cold gaze across the school leaders. They all guiltily lowered their heads, their palms slick with cold sweat.

Li Yi, you really deserve to die!

Li Yi: Just destroy everything. I'm tired.

Sympathy Value +50

Anger Value +100

"Come get your Instant Noodles. Three fifty a pack..."

The students flocked over upon hearing the news, and before long, a long line formed at his window.

"Xu Yi's Instant Noodles are delicious. The noodles are springy, and the seasoning is just right."

"Three fifty is a real bargain. He even cooks them for you. The school store has raised theirs to ten a pack."

The director and the others did not take another bite. Instead, they patiently waited for Xu Yi to finish selling.

Suddenly, two men and two women arrived aggressively before Xu Yi's stall.

"We already told you to raise the price to ten, the same as our store. Why do you still dare sell them for three fifty?"