Chapter 57: Liming's Sea Cucumber Fried Rice

Coming back to the matter, the moment Su Hao was being teleported, he was clutching tightly to that "Grand Compendium of Alchemy".

As a result of the teleportation, quite by coincidence, this book was brought along with him into the real world.

A wave of tension washed over Su Hao, and he mused to himself:

"This is incredible. I cannot just leave this book lying around outside like this. If anything goes wrong, it will be a disaster. I must quickly store it away in my spatial storage for it to be safe."

With that, he stood right there, looking utterly earnest, much like a little guard executing a monumental mission.

His eyes were locked onto the book, unblinking, as if by staring hard enough, he could stare the book right into his storage space.

His hands kept gesturing in the air, tracing circles one second and pointing the next.

Coupled with the low incantations murmuring from his lips, he looked as though he were casting some mysterious, unimaginably powerful spell.

Yet, try as he might for several attempts, the book remained as firmly rooted as ever, completely motionless, resting securely right in his hands.

Seeing this, Su Hao shook his head helplessly, his head swaying back and forth like a rattle-drum, while he thought to himself:

"It seems that during the next teleportation, I must keep this book firmly in mind and make sure I do not forget to hold onto it. Otherwise, this 'Grand Compendium of Alchemy' will be stuck in the real world forever, and goodness knows how much trouble that might stir up later. It would be an absolute headache."

Immediately afterward, Su Hao hurried towards his own room, his steps swift and urgent, as if something were hot on his heels.

The very moment he pushed the door open, a completely unfamiliar sensation washed over him like a tidal wave, catching him off guard and freezing him in his tracks, leaving him utterly dumbfounded.

After all, this was the very first time since his birth that he had truly stepped into a room of his own.

He instinctively widened his eyes, rounding them like copper bells, darting them around as he curiously surveyed his surroundings.

The room was bright, clean, and immaculate. Sunlight poured in through the window, bathing the floor in a warm, radiant glow.

On the writing desk sat a brand-new computer, its casing reflecting a faint luster in the sunlight, seemingly showcasing its pristine condition and exquisite design.

The bedding was neatly arranged; the quilt was folded into a precise, sharp-cornered rectangle, and the pillow was placed with absolute symmetry. Everything was fully prepared, instantly imparting a sense of soothing comfort.

Yet, what surprised Su Hao the most was none other than the bed itself.

Goodness gracious, that bed was a massive two by three meters wide, spanning out like a spacious rustic heated brick bed at a glance.

Su Hao was instantly struck speechless, his jaw dropping wide enough to fit an egg, and his eyes widening even further as tumultuous waves surged within his heart, prompting him to marvel in disbelief:

"This is far too extravagant! I have never seen a bed this large before in my life. Sleeping on this, I could probably roll around freely."

Still, he did not have much leisure time to marvel at the size of the bed, for his mind was still preoccupied with that "Grand Compendium of Alchemy."

He eagerly strode over to the bedside, sat down heavily, and carefully flipped open the book, handling it as though he were cradling a peerless treasure.

Once the book was open, he immediately immersed himself within its pages, studying them with a ravenous hunger. His focus was so intense that it seemed as though everything around him had vanished into thin air.

The entire universe narrowed down to just him and this book.

His eyes functioned like two precision scanners, locked onto every single character and illustration on the pages, rapidly capturing the core information contained within.

His gaze tracked line by line along the text, occasionally knitting his brows ever so slightly.

When those brows furrowed, they resembled two tiny mountain peaks.

It seemed he had encountered a particularly difficult passage and was racking his brains to puzzle it out, or perhaps he was carefully savoring and deeply pondering the marvelous doctrines recorded in the text.

Meanwhile, the living room presented a thoroughly bustling and lively scene.

Grandma, the younger aunt, and Iris were seated on the soft, comfortable sofa, engaged in a leisurely and pleasant chat.

Grandma's face beamed with a gentle, benevolent smile that radiated like the warm winter sun, cozy and intimate.

She held Iris's hand tightly, patting it softly as she expressed her profound gratitude with tears in her eyes:

"Oh, Teacher Iris, we owe all of this to you. If not for you, my precious eldest grandson would have suffered goodness knows how much hardship. You are truly our family's great benefactor."

Her words overflowed with sincerity, every single syllable imbued with a deep sense of thankfulness.

The younger aunt was not sitting idly by either, occasionally interjecting with a few remarks.

A spark of curiosity flashed within her eyes, shining like two bright little stars.

She appeared especially fascinated by the wondrous occurrences surrounding Iris, perpetually trying to unearth a bit more from her lips.

Over in the kitchen, Su Ming and Wang Fang were up to their elbows in work, bustling away in a flurry of activity.

Su Ming was wholly determined to whip up his signature dish—sea cucumber fried rice—for his son, a culinary masterpiece of his own creation.

Sporting an apron printed with a cute little bear pattern, he stood before the stove like a master artisan meticulously sculpting a work of art, keeping himself delightfully busy.

One moment he picked up the kitchen knife to deftly chop ingredients, producing a rhythmic, steady thumping sound; the next moment he grabbed a spatula to stir-fry the contents of the wok, which instantly erupted into a lively symphony of crackling sounds.

He even hummed an unfamiliar little tune under his breath, light and melodious, drifting through the air in tandem with his movements.

The overall aura suggested he was not merely crafting a simple plate of fried rice, but rather creating a magnificent masterpiece capable of stunning everyone.

Wang Fang stood reliably by his side, assisting him in an orderly fashion. From time to time, she handed him a seasoning jar and never forgot to toss in a few reminders:

"Oh, go easy on the salt; our son prefers a milder taste."

"Lower the heat, don't burn the pan."

The two of them cooperated with such tacit understanding, resembling a veteran duo that had worked side by side for years.

During the period when Su Hao was wholeheartedly engrossed in studying the "Grand Compendium of Alchemy," his clever little brain cells had not rested for even a fraction of a second, spinning faster than a windmill.

He rapidly flipped through the pages, racing across them like a gust of wind.

His eyes remained as sharp as scanners, swiftly capturing the critical details in the book without letting a single point slip past him.

And lo and behold, within this brief span of time, he had genuinely grasped the preliminary techniques of alchemy.

When his eyes fell upon the first alchemical formula recorded in the book—the Tier-1 Rejuvenation Pill—a brilliant light flashed across his gaze.

It was like a dazzling shooting star streaking across the night sky; he was instantly captivated by the very name.

Those large eyes flickered with a sudden burst of excitement, and his mind began to ponder:

"Oh? This name sounds quite extraordinary. Could this pill truly possess the miraculous power to restore one's youth? If that's genuinely possible, that would be astonishing."

As these thoughts drifted through his mind, a look of eager anticipation naturally bloomed across his face, making him look as though he had already envisioned himself radiating youthful vitality after consuming the pill.

However, once he leaned in closer and carefully read through the detailed description of the pill's effects, sudden realization dawned upon him.

It turned out to be meant for restoring health points, while also revitalizing vigor—commonly referred to by most as mana points.

Su Hao's eyes lit up once more, as if a bright lamp had been ignited within his mind, and he rejoiced inwardly:

"Ah, this is truly a wonderful thing! Isn't this precisely what I need the most right now? With this, I might just have a few more layers of security in the future."

Consequently, he hurriedly rallied his utmost concentration, firmly memorizing the formula before immediately plunging back into a full-throttle study of the alchemical techniques.

That earnest dedication made it seem as though he were trying to carve every single character and punctuation mark from the book directly into his own brain.

His brows twitched between furrowing and relaxing, while soft murmurs occasionally escaped his lips. The entirety of his being was completely immersed in this marvelous realm of alchemy, utterly unable to extricate himself.

Just as Su Hao was utterly lost and intoxicated within the wondrous world of alchemy, Wang Fang finished preparing the meal on her end.

She untied her apron, walked smilingly up to Su Hao's bedroom door, cleared her throat, raised her voice, and called out gently:

"Son, dinner is ready! We've got your favorites today."

Her voice drifted through the door and reached Su Hao's ears.

Only then did Su Hao snap back to reality as if awakened from a wonderful dream. He quickly chimed back:

"Coming right out, Mom!"

With that, he carefully placed the "Grand Compendium of Alchemy" on the bedside table, deliberately covering it with a corner of the quilt as if terrified that something might accidentally damage it.

Then, he stood up, straightened his clothes, and walked unhurriedly toward the living room.

When he arrived in the living room, everyone was already seated around the dining table laden with delicious dishes.

Iris was sitting next to Grandma, turned slightly sideways with a faint, gentle smile playing on her lips.

She was speaking in soft, hushed tones to Grandma about some interesting topic, the two of them occasionally emitting gentle bursts of laughter.

That laughter chimed like silver bells, echoing through the living room and filling the entire house with a cozy, heartwarming atmosphere.

The younger aunt sat on Grandma's other side, holding her smartphone with her eyes glued to the screen.

Her fingers swiped back and forth across the glass, oblivious to whether she was browsing amusing short videos or chatting with friends.

Regardless, her focused demeanor made it seem as though everything happening around her was entirely disconnected from her world.

The moment Su Hao walked over, he naturally took a seat right next to his mother. Barely had he settled in when Su Ming also walked over with a smile and seated himself on Su Hao's other side.

For a moment, the dining table was enveloped in warmth and harmony, punctuated by a continuous stream of laughter and chatter. The ambiance felt just like the Lunar New Year, bringing a cozy glow to everyone's chest.

Yet, who could have predicted that the instant Su Hao raised his gaze, his eyes would inadvertently land upon the plate of sea cucumber fried rice placed on the table?

In a flash, his complexion transformed as though undergoing a magic trick, turning instantly as pale as a sheet.

His stomach began to churn violently and painfully, a surge of intense nausea welling straight up his throat, almost causing him to vomit right on the spot.

He hastily reached out to cover his mouth tightly, his hand trembling slightly from the sheer force of his grip.

His brows locked into a tight knot, his face contorted with an expression of pure agony, while his heart wailed in despair:

"Oh, good heavens above! I used to adore Dad's sea cucumber fried rice; the mere thought of its flavor used to make my mouth water.

"Ever since that fellow Guyu ordered me that massive surplus of sea cucumber fried rice last time, I ate until I was stuffed to the gills, feeling as though my stomach was going to burst apart.

"Now, the mere sight of this sea cucumber fried rice—even just thinking about it—makes it feel as though a little rabbit is bouncing wildly inside my stomach, threatening to make me hurl. This is truly lethal, absolute torture!"