"Come and bring the food!"
The voice of Lu's mother, Liu Xiulan, came from the kitchen.
Lu Yao and Lu Dahai obediently went into the kitchen, and soon a table of steaming, fragrant dishes was served.
Liu Xiulan was the last to leave the kitchen, carrying a bowl of slightly bluish rice.
Place it on the dining table.
"The rice the neighborhood distributes every time is really good."
"After steaming, it smells wonderful. And you know what? I always felt like the rice was glistening, though I don't know if I was seeing things."
As Liu Xiulan served rice to the two of them, she turned on the TV.
Upon hearing this, Lu Dahai and Lu Yao exchanged a knowing glance but remained silent.
In recent years, the country has made great progress in the research and cultivation of Ganoderma lucidum.
Although the orthodox first-tier spirit fields still only cover a few acres, they produce no more than a hundred catties of first-tier spirit rice each year.
However, the experimental fields Auspicious Grain secondary Lingmi rice have been greatly expanded.
With a scale of several dozen acres, and through continuous grafting of superior and inferior varieties, the Auspicious Grain No. 2 has been successfully developed.
Auspicious Grain No. 2 has reached 30% of the level of first-tier spiritual rice in terms of spiritual energy.
It is mild and non-irritating, and has excellent nourishing properties for both Qi Refinement cultivators and ordinary people.
The reason why Lu's mother hasn't aged over the years, but instead has more radiant skin and seems to have become a few years younger, is entirely due to the effects of this spiritual rice.
Of course, Lu Dahai could sometimes receive a few pills or something.
After returning home, he would secretly grind it into powder, dissolve it in water, and give it to his wife to drink.
Only through such treatment did Lu's mother, who was clearly over fifty, look like she was only forty...
The family of three picked up their chopsticks and began their dinner.
As usual, the television was on the news channel, broadcasting events both big and small.
Domestic and international, various kinds of rotating broadcasts.
Lu Dahai resumed his usual carefree demeanor, occasionally offering a comment.
They expressed their opinions on the current international situation.
"Hey, the Footbath Chicken are having another tsunami."
"They said the other day that their mountain is about to awaken. You know what, if it really does awaken, that'll be quite a sight."
Lu Dahai rummaged through the secondary spirit rice in his bowl.
As he chewed, wisps of faint Spiritual Power surged into his body, invading his Dantian.
Lu Yao ignored her father's pronouncements.
He picked at the ribs, oblivious to his own thoughts, while calculating the latest experimental data from yesterday.
I'd like to see where there's room for improvement.
The television never stopped playing; after the international news finished, it was time for the domestic news.
"Recently, many parents seem to have differing opinions regarding the trial implementation documents on self-discipline and exercise issued internally by various universities."
"I'm not quite clear on the meaning or content of the document."
"Furthermore, the universities jointly declared that this document aims to cultivate the physical fitness of young people and create a better tomorrow and greater possibilities for our nation's youth."
"At the same time, if students from various universities encounter any abnormal situations while practicing according to the instructions in this document, they can call the following departmental hotlines at any time for assistance."
The Great Xia Self-Cultivation Affairs Administration aims to serve the health of its citizens. Service hotline: 9825888!
"..."
A clear and resonant announcer's voice came from the television set.
Lu Dahai and Lu Yao both paused simultaneously.
They are usually busy with their respective jobs and research, and don't know much about the current progress of publicizing spiritual practices in China.
Seeing those unusual words on TV at that moment, I was naturally taken aback.
Fortunately, Liu Xiulan didn't notice anything amiss, and continued picking up food while muttering to herself.
" The Self-Cultivation Affairs Administration? What kind of department is that?"
" Yaoyao, have you heard of this department in your company? It seems like a new department. I wonder if they're hiring?"
"My neighbor, Aunt Wang, was saying today that she wanted to find a reliable job for her son."
Hearing her mother's words, Lu Yao paused.
He responded somewhat awkwardly.
"I don't know either, I guess... it's some kind of new department."
"Mom, I'm full. I'm going back to my room."
Lu Yao seemed to be not very good at lying, and her cheeks flushed slightly.
Somewhat awkwardly, he put down his chopsticks and hurriedly returned to his room.
Lu Dahai, on the other hand, calmly and without batting an eye, diverted the other person's attention.
"Can't you see that? Didn't you hear? They're cultivating their body, which is... exercising!"
"I guess it's some kind of department that provides guidance to college students. Oh well, I'm full, I'm not going to say anything more."
I'm going down for a walk.
Lu Dahai put down his chopsticks, changed his coat, and walked out of the room.
Seeing this, Liu Xiulan finished the leftover rice in her bowl in two bites and began to clear the dishes.
They didn't turn off the TV, letting the news play in their ears.
As the highest-rated news channel in the Great Xia, at this time, many people in countless households are watching the news together.
Li Ming's parents run a business away from home year-round, earning a considerable amount of money and even buying a house in Jing City.
Even during the Lunar New Year, it's rare for families to reunite.
He spends most of the Chinese New Year alone every year.
He has been alone at home since the start of winter vacation.
However, unlike usual, his attention was completely elsewhere this year than on family reunions.
Right now, the news is still playing on the living room TV.
Li Ming sat cross-legged in the living room, his expression a mixture of surprise and fear.
He glanced at the TV, then looked incredulously at his lower abdomen.
I could only sense a kind of oppressive heat there, though I couldn't quite put my finger on it.
" Great Xia... Self-Cultivation Affairs Administration... 9825888..."
"Could it be that... all the documents issued by the school are genuine?"
"I think I really feel some kind of energy!"
Li Ming was somewhat dazed; just a while ago, the school had issued some kind of document on self-cultivation and exercise.
He noticed the strange file in the attachment and shared it in the class group chat.
I didn't think much of it after that, only occasionally taking it out to look at it when I got tired of playing on my phone.
I was so bored being home alone lately that I inexplicably dug out the documents and tried to practice Qi Introduction according to the instructions.
The result... just now!
As soon as Great Xia News moved to the domestic section, he suddenly sensed a strange aura.
"What is that... could it really be some kind of qigong?"
"Or is it some kind of Tai Chi mental technique?"
Li Ming was a little dumbfounded. He couldn't quite put his finger on how he felt, but he vaguely sensed that something was missing.
A hint of emptiness was faintly visible.
After hesitating for a long time, I recalled the phone number from the news.
He struggled to grab the phone, his fingers trembling as he dialed the number.
"Hello, this is the Great Xia Self-Cultivation Affairs Administration. How can I help you?"
The call connected, and a sweet, professional customer service voice came through.
Li Ming swallowed hard, his voice trembling.
"Hello, I had a question... what do I do after Qi Introduction?"