Chapter 13: Exchanging Military Merits

“Hic~ Little niece, your skills are really impressive. Uncle wants to discuss something with you.”

The man, full and content, smiled warmly at Qiao Xin sitting at the far end.

Qiao Xin blinked. “Uncle, go ahead.”

“Hehe, those ingredient dispensers and cooking machines you have—can you sell me a few?” Ignoring Xiao Linfeng’s angry glare, the man rubbed his hands like a buzzing fly, his smile bright and sly.

“Ah?” Qiao Xin was a bit stunned and glanced at her eldest uncle, Xiao Linfeng. He awkwardly explained, “I gave a set to one of my men, but he got caught and has been pestering me relentlessly…”

Xiao Linfeng hadn’t expected that in just one night, the three machines he provided would have their secrets leaked out.

Though he wasn’t trying to keep it under wraps, the leak was too quick, and that annoyed him quite a bit.

“Old Xiao, you’re in the wrong here! We’re both from the Alliance’s Seventh Army—same side!” The man quickly played the sentiment card.

“That’s it? Uncle, how many sets do you want?” Qiao Xin originally planned to sell them herself, but now that someone had come to her, how could she refuse?

The Alliance Army!

These were the soldiers fighting on the front lines against the star beasts!

To win their favor was a great honor for her!

“How many sets do you still have?” The man’s eyes lit up instantly at her words.

“Nine sets left.” Qiao Xin felt he was about to say, “I’ll take as many as you have.”

Sure enough, the next moment his smile bloomed wide.

“Can I buy them all?”

What he was buying wasn’t just the machines, but the recipe formulas she had programmed into them!

Xiao Linfeng’s face darkened because he had sent people to forcibly study those three machines; they ended up wrecking the devices without extracting any recipe information…

The two parties nearly came to blows. He hadn’t even had the chance to warm up the machines before word got back to the corps commander, who then ordered him to compensate…

“Compensation,” they called it politely, but it was essentially a purchase of the machines.

“Uncle, those recipes are all basic dishes, not very suitable for soldiers.” Qiao Xin had to clarify.

It wasn’t that she didn’t want to make advanced recipes; it was just that she couldn’t afford the ingredients.

Even intermediate ingredients were a luxury few could afford.

“No problem, just to satisfy cravings. When you can make advanced dishes, update the menu for us.” The man naturally understood but didn’t care much.

Interstellar food was mostly bland; heavy-flavored dishes tasted strange. To enjoy something good, one had to spend a fortune. Even among their Alliance troops, they couldn’t afford to have a chef who could make every dish tasty and nutritious.

This little girl was too young—otherwise, he would have wanted to poach her.

Hmm?

Not impossible!

He’d talk to the corps commander. With Xiao Linfeng as a connection, their Seventh Army shouldn’t let others get a better deal.

Thinking this, he smiled cunningly like a fox.

“All right then.” Qiao Xin transferred the extra machines and handed over the space token containing the nine sets directly to him. “Not worth much—consider it my donation to the Alliance Army.”

Nine sets, twenty-seven machines total, worth only 270 favor points. She had earned several hundred just last night and wondered where her eldest uncle had sent the machines.

No news today, yet something big happened instead.

“Exchange for military merit!” The man was about to protest, but Xiao Linfeng spoke up, and the man’s eyes sparkled again. “Yes, Uncle will exchange it for military merit! I can authorize a third-class merit!”

Qiao Xin was momentarily dumbfounded. “Um, I’m just a civilian…”

Can military merit be awarded to civilians?

“No problem, Uncle will arrange a reserve officer position for you. You just need to be registered with your uncle’s name.” The man, brimming with pride, immediately attached her to Xiao Linfeng’s name.

Xiao Linfeng breathed a sigh of relief.

“Hehe, well, I don’t want to be a burden!” Qiao Xin laughed awkwardly.

Xiao Lishuang and Qiao Zhenxing, her parents, were stunned.

Others might fight through countless battles and barely gain admission to the military academy, and even then might not be enlisted as reserve officers. Their daughter was in already?

Even if it was just a nominal position, it was still a reserve role!

And with a third-class military merit award—if the Qiao family found out, who knows if they’d be so angry they’d spit blood.

“Little niece, I’m counting on you. If anyone bullies you outside, just mention my name!” The man got what he wanted and didn’t want to impose further. He stood to leave but suddenly said, “Oh, my name is Qiu Shaohua. Everyone should know that.”

“Hah! Lady Qiu’s name is indeed well-known!” Xiao Linfeng sneered.

Qiu Shaohua’s face darkened but, seeing the Qiao family’s gazes, she chuckled sheepishly.

“I’m in a good mood today, won’t argue with you!” She winked at Qiao Xin and strode away.

Xiao Linfeng showed no sign of seeing the guest off, so Qiao Xin had to do the honors herself, lest it seem rude.

After sending her off, she looked at the space token Qiu Shaohua had given her and was stunned.

It was a flying car she had only seen in sci-fi films—bright red, no wheels, sleek and stylish, with an air of arrogant beauty.

“Eldest uncle, Uncle Qiu gave me a flying car!”

“He wrecked one of my machines; a car is nothing as compensation,” Xiao Linfeng still grumbled.

Thinking that she still had to take the nutritionist exam, he warned, “No rush to get the driver’s license. Flying cars require the driver to be an adult.”

“All right.” Qiao Xin was delighted; she could find time to try it out on the star network!

Xiao Ruyi had taught her the basics aboard the starship. Though she only had a rough understanding, she could take it slow.

“My dear, since you’re officially registered as a reserve officer, you need to start training in the next two years. Besides developing your abilities, a qualified soldier must also be physically fit.” Xiao Linfeng hadn’t intended to pressure her, but training without innate powers would be even tougher.

If she didn’t start soon, it would only get harder.

“Uncle will teach me?” Qiao Xin’s eyes shone brightly.

“I’m busy, but I’ve made a training plan for you. This month start with the basics and build a solid foundation.” Xiao Linfeng quickly shook his head.

She was just a young beginner; he didn’t need to personally train her.

“Oh.” Qiao Xin was a little disappointed.

Xiao Linfeng smiled, “If you don’t build a good foundation now, you’ll have a lot to cry about later!”

The Xiao family children had been training since they were young. He had wanted Xiao Lishuang to teach her, but the couple insisted on waiting for her talent assessment. That wasted time couldn’t be made up easily.

“I know…” Qiao Xin smiled awkwardly, feeling her eagerness too obvious.

Which young person doesn’t dream of military life?

A month of university military training left many with fond memories.

Now that she could receive formal training in the stars, how could she not be excited?

Without talent, she couldn’t get in; now that she had a backdoor entry, if her physical fitness wasn’t up to par, wouldn’t she still be mocked?

Lack of talent is not scary—what’s scary is giving up on oneself, then truly becoming useless!

“My dear, your star network store is also ready. Mom will take you to see it.” Xiao Lishuang quickly changed the subject after their conversation.

Mother and daughter happily entered the star network, and on a virtual food street, Qiao Xin spotted her very own star network shop.