Chapter 42: The Subtle Change in the Brothers' Feelings

  Designing military training uniforms is interesting, but I don't know what kind of clothes were worn for military training in the past, so I'll have to go back and ask my brother. On the way back, I thought about the second task of military training, and scenes from high school and college military training appeared in my mind...

  "Gao Ming, what are you thinking about? You're so absorbed in thought. Just now, Tian Mei and a little girl said goodbye to you, but you didn't even notice them. How can you be like this?" My brother saw that I was distracted all the way here, sometimes smiling foolishly, sometimes frowning, and he spoke with some concern and blame.

  "Ah! What's wrong? Who said goodbye to me? Where is he?" I woke up like a dream, looking around, somewhat disoriented.

  "Brother saw me in such a situation, and suddenly cried with laughter, saying: "Alas, how did I have such a brother? Others see you ignoring them, they've already left, you, you!"

  "How could this be? I really didn't hear anything!" I said hastily: "You won't get angry, will you?" Suddenly feeling wronged, but it was too late to argue.

  "Hey, you were just so calm when we said goodbye, what's gotten into you now? If you care about it, go chase after him! Why are you still standing there, go explain yourself!"

  "Hehe, never mind." I hesitated for a moment and fell silent again.

  "Really not going? They just left, can still catch up." The brother continued to persuade.

  Seeing my brother's persistence, I could only firmly say: "I'm really not going."

  Seeing his younger brother being so insistent, as an older brother it's not good to say anything more, but also had to do what he could, so he said: "Since that's the case, then you can have your way, just don't regret it later."

  I knew my brother was being kind and made sense, so I gave him a slight smile to put his mind at ease. But in my heart, I stubbornly thought: If they distance themselves from me because of this, then they're not true friends. If they can't tolerate such a small mistake, then I don't need friends like that!

  As I was about to enter the cafeteria, I took a deep breath, shook my head, and gathered my emotions and thoughts: "It's okay, let's go eat, what should we have?"

  When I asked my brother to buy me a brick, he asked back: "What do you like to eat? I'll go buy it?" After saying this, both brothers were slightly surprised. Before, he never called himself "brother" in front of his younger brother. It seemed that after crossing over, the feelings between the two brothers had undergone a subtle change. However, the surprise only lasted for a moment, and soon they felt at ease with each other. Hadn't they always been like this? The two brothers had never been so in sync before.

  A warmth in his heart, but he said, "Brother, you think I'm familiar with this place? You decide for yourself."

  "Haha, you little brat got a good deal and still act smart, looking for a beating? My brother first laughed and scolded me, seeing that I was still smiling and didn't care, then said: "Let's go, I'll take you to eat some specialty dishes." After finishing speaking, he rubbed his hands together, took big strides towards the second floor, really spirited and happy.

  My brother said with a look of enjoyment, under the influence of the atmosphere, I also felt happy and curiously asked: "Brother, what is the main ingredient of this specialty dish?"

  "You'll know when you get there." My brother was being deliberately mysterious.

  "Brother, stop teasing me, I'm so curious!" A 10-year-old brother coaxed a 13-year-old brother. If it were in the past, this little brother would never have done that. However, to be honest, neither of them was really interested in it anyway.

  Anyway, my brother revealed a little more: "In any case, I've never had it before."

  After hearing this, I couldn't help but feel a bit depressed. It seems that my brother is being a bit abnormal today. He said discontentedly: "This is equivalent to not saying anything, and it's as if you don't know either? Forget it, anyway I'll find out later, you're so petty."

  "The story goes that this special dish... Ah, since my brother has such an understanding, then just wait until he sees it for himself on the third floor." The older brother was feeling pleased with himself for having sold his trick so well, thinking that his younger brother would reveal everything in one go. But unexpectedly, because of this, he was labeled as a "miser" by his younger brother. As an older brother, he had to maintain an image of being great, heroic and knowledgeable in front of his younger brother, so he changed the subject halfway through.

  And I, thinking that my clever words would work, was self-satisfied: how come I'm so smart? But then my brother suddenly changed his tone and didn't fall for it, and instantly I realized my plan had failed!

  After the two brothers made a fuss, they arrived at their destination. The decoration style of the entire third floor has changed, unlike the simplicity of the first and second floors, with a more noble and elegant atmosphere. The spacious third floor is still relatively quiet, after all, this college is mostly ordinary people, and the high consumption of the third floor is not something that ordinary people can afford.

  The entire third floor had only one large window, with the three big words "Special Menu" written on it, followed by a dense list of dish names and prices. At a glance, I was shocked, it's too expensive! The lowest price is 1,000 yuan per serving, and the portion is only as small as a chicken leg, isn't this something that only those who can afford to splurge can consume?

  My brother obviously noticed my expression and smiled: "Do you think it's expensive? This is already considered cheap, the same kind of food on the market is ten or a hundred times more expensive than here."

  "Brother, let's go. I suddenly don't have an appetite anymore. We can come back and eat another time." Even though this stuff is already very affordable, for me right now it's still unaffordable. Remember the pocket money mom and dad gave me wasn't much, if we ate here, wouldn't that be a waste? So I made up a lame excuse.

  After hearing my words, brother is still smiling, this lovely younger brother, touched the younger brother's head and said: "Since brother brought you here, he won't let you down, don't worry, just order whatever you like."

  At this moment, his brother's smile was so confident and his words were so reassuring, but the frugal younger brother still couldn't help but say: "Where did you get so much money? Why don't we just order two dishes to try for now, and then come back and have a good meal when we have more money?" It seems that having money is always better no matter where you are.

  "Hey, do you remember that prize I got at the opening ceremony? It was a discount card for the cafeteria, and it's 10% off for all the cafeterias in our college, so it's not expensive."

  "Is there another card like this? I'll strive for one in the future too." As soon as I heard that the academy was giving out such a great prize, I immediately became interested and said directly.

  "Good luck with your efforts."

  "Uh-huh," I nodded and said.

  Now that I understand, there's no need to worry so much. Anyway, I don't know the taste of these specialty dishes, so I just picked a few with nice names. Then I chose a seat by the window and sat down, while my brother went to order food at the counter.

  Three minutes passed, and on the table where the brothers were sitting, eight plates of different colored dishes were placed, a rare big meal. Just smelling the aroma, even taking a glance makes one's appetite surge. However, looking at the ingredients of these dishes, they are all very common, the same vegetables like cabbage, radish, beans, etc., and meat dishes like pork, chicken, beef, mutton, fish, shrimp, etc., but how can they have such an effect?

  My brother saw me staring at the food in a daze, furrowing my brow with a thoughtful expression, and explained with a smile: "Hehe, these dishes all contain the flesh and blood of magical beasts. This kind of cuisine is beneficial for cultivators to cultivate, mostly having the effect of solidifying the foundation and cultivating the origin. It also has some effect on increasing the cultivator's qi and blood. The higher the level of the magical beast, the better the effect."

  "So that's how it is, no wonder." I exclaimed in surprise.

  "Come on and eat, what are you waiting for?" My brother picked up a drumstick-like food with his chopsticks and handed it to me, saying: "Try this chicken leg, how's the taste?"

  I didn't decline, took a bite, and my brother smiled at me as I ate. One mouthful down, it was incredibly delicious: the meat was tender and juicy, with an aftertaste that lingered, and I faintly felt a surge of energy flowing into my limbs. My eyes widened in surprise - this wasn't just any ordinary chicken leg! It must have been from a second or even third-tier bird-type magical beast! I felt grateful in my heart, but didn't say it out loud; no need to say that between brothers.

  All of this was seen by his brother, who indeed showed a satisfied expression and didn't say anything, as if he hadn't done anything.