After discussing the revised menu and business model, Li Ziqing and her uncle Li Jianping headed out into the balmy evening air, making their way toward the local evening market. Now that her mother had finally agreed to shift the direction of the food stall, there was no time to waste. They needed fresh ingredients for the next day's menu— as they have decided to change the entire menu.
Li Ziqing had carefully selected four dishes: Silken Egg & Scallion Soy Porridge, Pan-Fried Chive & Shrimp Dumplings, Red-Braised Tofu with Mushrooms, and Garlic-Soy Chicken Wings.
While none of the recipes were extravagant or rare, they were uncommon in the local food scene—no stall around sold anything like them, giving her family a clear edge with virtually no competition.
Inside the market, Li Ziqing moved with practiced efficiency, guiding her uncle through different shops as they purchased :
A fresh bunch of Chinese chives, A pack of plump, deshelled shrimp, on ice at the seafood stall, Organic eggs, for the silken texture she needed in the porridge, Fragrant scallions, a bottle of aged soy sauce, Blocks of firm tofu, smooth and white as jade, A bag of shiitake mushrooms, dark and fragrant, and many other things.
Li Jianping followed her with growing curiosity. It was hard to believe this confident girl beside him was the same niece who had once been so timid and quiet. She had changed—and something about her made him feel this change was only the beginning.
---
Later that night, after setting the ingredients aside and ensuring everything was in place for the morning prep, Li Ziqing finally entered her room. She sat down on the edge of her bed, closed the door, and immediately asked the question that had been gnawing at her since she received her reward, "System, what exactly is this Skill Echo Coupon that I received as a reward?"
[Ding... Host, the Skill Echo Coupon, once applied to an individual, allows you to echo one of your own abilities into them. The replicated skill manifests as naturally and flawlessly as if it were their own—controlled entirely at your will.]
Li Ziqing's eyes widened in disbelief, "That means... I could transfer my culinary skills directly to my mother? No training, no learning curve—she would cook like me?"
[Ding... Correct. However, the system advises caution. Transferring your entire culinary knowledge all at once may raise suspicion. You may instead choose to transfer your skills gradually. Once applied, the coupon links your knowledge to her, and you can grant her skills over time.]
She paused for a moment, her thoughts racing. It wasn't that she didn't trust her mother—but exposing the truth about the system, her rebirth, and the enemies she had yet to face… it was too soon. Too dangerous.
She exhaled deeply and nodded in understanding, "You're right. Let's take it slow."
Without hesitation, she activated the Skill Echo Coupon and applied it to her mother. A soft golden light flickered in her consciousness for a moment she the coupon vanished from her system inventory.
Feeling an unexpected sense of relief, Li Ziqing pulled the blanket over herself and drifted off to sleep, the corners of her lips curled into a faint, peaceful smile.
Tomorrow marked the beginning of a new chapter.
---
The alarm hadn't rung yet, but Li Ziqing's eyes fluttered open at exactly 4:00 a.m. The world outside was still wrapped in a blanket of darkness, with only a faint indigo hue creeping in from the horizon.
She sat up, stretched lightly, and silently stepped off the bed. After a brisk shower and a quick change into a comfortable cotton blouse and apron, she padded softly toward the kitchen.
Her mother, Li Jianfang, was already there—dressed in her faded checkered apron, her hair tied up neatly, a small smile on her lips as she looked up from washing vegetables.
"Ziqing?" her mother asked warmly. "You're up this early, Are you alright, sweetheart?"
Li Ziqing returned her smile, her eyes gentle. "Of course I am, Mom. Today is the first day of our new life—I wouldn't miss it for the world."
Li Jianfang chuckled lightly. "You used to groan when I woke you up at six. Now look at you—beating me to the kitchen."
Ziqing walked closer, picked up a towel, and dried her hands. "Well, things are different now."
The preparation began. Li Ziqing moved with elegant precision—every motion graceful yet efficient, like a well-practiced dancer performing a sacred routine.
She started by placing the shiitake mushrooms into a bowl of warm water for soaking. "We'll need these to soften for at least 30 minutes," she explained. "The flavor becomes richer this way."
Meanwhile, she taught her mother how to prepare the Red-Braised Tofu: slicing the tofu into perfect cubes, then gently searing them in hot oil until golden-brown on each side. The sizzling echoed softly through the quiet kitchen.
On the side, Li Jianfang peeled and deveined the shrimp as her daughter thought her. Her fingers moving more smoothly than ever before. She paused for a moment, puzzled. "Strange… I've never done this so neatly."
Ziqing glanced up with a knowing smile but said nothing.
The chives were finely chopped, their fresh green color popping against the cutting board. Li Ziqing showed her mother how to mix them with minced shrimp and a touch of sesame oil for the dumpling filling. "Always stir in one direction," she instructed, her tone patient. "It binds the mixture better."
Li Jianfang began wrapping the dumplings with a confidence that surprised even her. "My hands… feel like they just know what to do," she murmured in awe, looking down at the pleated dough between her fingers. The folds were clean, uniform—something she had never achieved before.
Li Ziqing, who was now setting up the portable gas stove for frying later at the stall, paused and looked at her mother warmly. "Mom," she said softly, "sometimes talent is just waiting to wake up."
Li Jianfang turned, her eyes meeting her daughter's, flickering with quiet emotion. She didn't know what had changed, but something had—deeply, invisibly, and undeniably.
Ziqing continued moving through the kitchen, offering gentle corrections and encouraging words—but more often than not, her mother needed neither. The Skill Echo Coupon was already doing its work, blending seamlessly with her brain, hands and heart.
Certainly! Here's a refined, professionally written, and expanded version of the passage for your novel, complete with vivid descriptions and polished language to suit a publishing-quality standard:
---
As the first blush of dawn painted the horizon in shades of soft gold and pale rose, the wooden door creaked open, and Li Jianping stepped in, followed closely by a figure that made Li Jianfang pause in surprise— Li Zian.
She blinked. "Zian? You're awake this early?"
The boy gave a sheepish grin and scratched the back of his head. "I thought… maybe I could help today." His voice held a mix of pride and embarrassment. He hadn't plant on waking up early but the enticing aroma woke him up.
Li Jianfang raised a brow, then chuckled in disbelief. "That's a first."
Indeed, Li Jianping helped with the food stall almost every morning—it was part of their unspoken rhythm. But for Li Zian, who typically rose only after repeated calls and the clatter of breakfast bowls, this was nothing short of a miracle.
Li Jianping walked over and patted his nephew's back with a hearty laugh. "Help? Stop pretending. Your eyes may be open, but your mouth is drooling. You followed the smell like a hungry puppy."
Everyone burst into laughter. Even Li Zian couldn't hide his grin as he wiped his mouth dramatically. "Caught red-handed, huh?"
The atmosphere was warm. The dishes were nearly ready, packed carefully into insulated containers to keep them warm for the morning rush. The porridge simmered in a sealed pot, the dumplings nestled between layers of wax paper, the tofu glistened in a soy-red braising liquid, and the chicken wings were marinated to perfection.
By 6:30 a.m, the family arrived at their usual food stall spot.
The scene was familiar but never dull. Dozens of food stalls lined the roadside like dominoes, each with its own aroma, shouting vendors, and steam rising into the crisp morning air. The smell of fried dough sticks, steamed buns, hot soy milk, and pickled vegetables danced through the air. The cacophony of sizzling oil, vendors haggling, and early customers chatting animatedly added to the chaotic harmony.
This part of the city was mostly inhabited by factory workers, laborers, and blue-collar families, many of whom commuted to suburban industrial zones. Mornings here started early and with purpose. As such, breakfast wasn't a leisurely affair—it was survival fuel, quick and hearty.
The foot traffic was constant. Men in grease-stained uniforms, women with tired eyes and thermos bottles, schoolchildren with backpacks, and delivery boys on mopeds—all passed through this artery of the city like clockwork.
Li Ziqing's eyes scanned the familiar space.
Their stall, simple and humble, stood beneath a blue tarpaulin sheet. A hand-painted sign read Li's Homemade Breakfast, slightly faded from the sun and rain.
Just as Li Ziqing stepped toward the preparation area of the food stall, a sudden mechanical chime rang crisply in her mind, halting her mid-step.
[Ding… Host, a new day has begun. Time for your next mission.]
The familiar synthesized voice of the system echoed with calm clarity, but its words made Li Ziqing narrow her eyes slightly.
[Although Host has successfully awakened the long-buried ambition within Li Jianfang and convinced her to change the food stall's business model, there remains a lingering sense of uncertainty in her heart. The system has detected that, in the past, Li Jianfang's average daily earnings fluctuated between a few hundred yuan. While modest, such limited profits have been quietly disheartening—dampening her motivation and clouding her confidence in the future.]
[To address this emotional barrier, a new Daily Mission has now been triggered.]
She immediately willed the interface open with a flicker of thought, the translucent panel unfurling before her eyes like a sheet of light.
And what she saw left her momentarily stunned.
"What...?"
Her pupils contracted slightly, heart thumping just a little faster. The task wasn't just unexpected—it was bold.
[Main Mission: Enter the Hospitality Industry – Build Your Own Hotel Chain
Objective: Accumulate your first fortune—10 million yuan—through food and hospitality ventures.
DailyMission: Make the Profit of 10 thousand yuan
Reward: Locked until completion.]