How should I persuade them?

At noon, Er Tong came to the clinic to find Xu Ming Tang. "Uncle Xu, you have to help persuade Brother Bai. The Noodle King Competition committee called—our Qin's Noodle Shop made it into the top ten and they've invited us to the live contest. Brother Bai almost told them we wouldn't go. If I hadn't grabbed the phone, Qin's Noodle Shop would have forfeited right then."

"Why doesn't Bai Ke want to participate?" Xu Ming Tang asked.

Er Tong replied, "He only agrees to show his back in videos, and if anyone comes to the shop looking for him, he hides and refuses to meet them. Now they're asking him to go on live TV, to be seen by everyone—that's as good as asking for his life."

Xu Ming Tang laughed, "If he really doesn't want to, you can't tie him up and drag him there. What about Uncle Chen?"

Er Tong gave a wry smile. "Uncle Chen says he's terrified. The moment he sees a crowd staring at him, his legs shake and he feels like he needs to pee."

"Haha, getting Uncle Chen to step onto a stage is indeed a tough task. Liu Xin and Xiao Xie can only help with chores, and you—well, it's not a photography contest," Xu Ming Tang commented honestly.

"Exactly. Apart from Brother Bai, there's no one else at Qin's Noodle Shop who can go."

Xu Ming Tang thought for a moment, then asked, "How does the contest work? How many participants?"

Er Tong counted on his fingers as he explained. "There are three rounds. The first is the mandatory 'Ran Noodles'. The other two rounds are freestyle—each shop presents two kinds of noodles. There are five professional judges and twenty citizen judges on site. Each group’s scores count for half. Whether the noodles are good or bad, all must be critiqued live."

Xu Ming Tang had never paid attention to any competitions before. "Oh, sounds lively," he said.

Er Tong continued, "Isn’t it? No matter what place we get, participating is the best publicity. If Qin's Noodle Shop wants to open new branches, we have to enter this contest. Otherwise, young people or those living further away won't know who we are, right, Uncle Xu?"

"You're right," Xu Ming Tang nodded, then asked, "But since when is Qin's Noodle Shop planning to open branches?"

Er Tong, habitually glib, replied, "The date isn’t set, but I’m here to be the branch manager. We'll talk about that later. First, let's persuade Brother Bai to join the contest."

Xu Ming Tang pressed further, "Are the ingredients provided by the organizers?"

"No, each shop prepares their own. The committee pays, but the rule is to bring all raw materials. Everything must be made on-site—even the peanuts for Ran Noodles must be brought raw and roasted there. The Ran Noodles are made in the morning; the other two rounds are at noon and in the afternoon, since some noodle soups take time. If there are secret seasonings or methods, they’ll arrange special shielding on-site. Otherwise, some shops would rather quit than risk their secrets."

"It sounds like a good contest. Why is Bai Ke so unwilling?"

"He doesn't want to be in the spotlight, doesn't want people pointing at him, doesn't want his peaceful life disturbed. He knows his looks attract attention," Er Tong said, a little envious.

"Is there a rule about who can compete?"

"Each shop must send three or four participants. Aside from that, no special requirements."

"What about the contest date?"

"August third."

Xu Ming Tang was surprised. "The day after tomorrow?"

Er Tong shrugged helplessly. "Yes. I can't persuade Brother Bai. Uncle Xu, it’s up to you now."

"All right, I'll think about how to convince him. If Qin's Noodle Shop enters, and Uncle Chen can't go, that's another headache."

"I'll go talk to Uncle Chen."

Xu Ming Tang shook his head after a moment's silence. "No need. I have another suitable candidate in mind."

Er Tong asked curiously, "Who?"

"Leave it to me," Xu Ming Tang replied.

Er Tong breathed a sigh of relief. "Good, with you on the case, it's sure to work."

After only a short time back at work, Qin Bai Ke came to find Tang Yi Yi. "Today is Army Day, August First. Boss Fan has gathered some comrades for a reunion. I want you to come with me, and you can check on my mother's recovery, see when she can start the next round of treatment."

Tang Yi Yi glanced at Xu Ming Tang, who nodded. Only then did she say, "All right."

Xu Ming Tang called Qin Bai Ke to sit. "Bai Ke, be honest with Uncle Xu—why are you so adamant about not joining the Noodle King contest?"

Qin Bai Ke replied indifferently, "Uncle Xu, those contests usually go to whoever sponsors the most. They push that shop as Yicheng’s Ran Noodle brand, so that when the city is promoted for tourism, there’s a benchmark. I haven't spent a dime. If I go, I'll just be a runner-up—there’s no fairness in it."

Xu Ming Tang spoke earnestly. "Your thinking isn’t wrong, but life is unpredictable. Sometimes things don’t go as the organizers planned. I’ve seen it often. Look at you—out of nowhere, you made the top ten. Since you have the opportunity, even if you don’t win, you can still promote yourself. There’s no loss, right?"

"Uncle Xu, even if I wanted to, I can't do it alone. Uncle Chen absolutely won’t go—he says it would kill him."

"Then let Uncle Xu find you an assistant. Will you trust me?"

Qin Bai Ke paused, then said, "I trust you, but I..."

Xu Ming Tang raised his hand to stop him. "No more. I'll find you a good assistant. You must go—it’s settled. Go get the car ready; I need to speak to Yi Yi."

Qin Bai Ke opened his mouth, but in the end, he left resignedly.

"Yi Yi," Xu Ming Tang said, "This time, when you go with him, besides checking on Aunt Qin's recovery, you have a more important mission: persuade him to enter the contest. Understand?"

Tang Yi Yi said, "I understand, but how do I persuade him? Brother Bai isn’t a great student, but he’s very clever."

"You’re clever too—play it by ear."

"...Oh," Tang Yi Yi answered helplessly.

Qin Bai Ke drove up to the clinic entrance and told Tang Yi Yi he’d be drinking tonight and wouldn’t be able to drive after, so he wouldn’t return until morning. She should bring a change of clothes.

Tang Yi Yi ran upstairs, packed a small backpack, and hurried down.

On the road, Qin Bai Ke asked, "Did Uncle Xu ask you to persuade me to join the contest?"

Tang Yi Yi paused, then quickly shook her head. "No, Master knows I’m not eloquent—he wouldn’t have me do that."

Qin Bai Ke laughed, "Good, then you’re not allowed to persuade me—not a single word."

"...Oh." Tang Yi Yi propped her head on her right hand, thinking: Master, I’m sorry—it’s not that your disciple is stupid, it’s that the enemy is just too sly. I’ve failed before even starting.

The car quietly left the city. Qin Bai Ke, clear-headed, deliberately asked, "Silent—what are you thinking?"

"Uh...Brother Bai, when’s your birthday?"

"Why? Want to celebrate for me?"

"What date?"

"July twenty-second."

"Just a few days ago?" Tang Yi Yi exclaimed, "Brother Bai, you’re thirty-one now—you really ought to celebrate."

Qin Bai Ke was silent for a moment. "My mother never remembers my birthday. When I was a child, every year on my birthday, my father made me a bowl of noodles and told me it was my birthday. After I turned fifteen, no more birthday noodles. But when Uncle Xu bought birthday gifts for Xiao Bin, he’d also give me a pair of sneakers every year. After I left home for school at nineteen, I never celebrated again—I never remember my own birthday."

"Wait, July twenty-second," Tang Yi Yi checked Er Tong’s Weibo—it was the day after he posted Qin Bai Ke’s video. A crowd of customers came to see him, forcing him to hide upstairs all night. "Brother Bai, I ate noodles with you on your birthday. You made them yourself!"

Qin Bai Ke was stunned. "That day was July twenty-second?"

Tang Yi Yi was excited. "Yes, no mistake."

Qin Bai Ke laughed. "What a coincidence."

"Yes, I forgot to say 'happy birthday'—let me make up for it now."

"Thank you!"

"I want a birthday cake."

"Haha, I'll buy you one when we get back."

Tang Yi Yi smiled triumphantly, but suddenly remembered what Little Mom once said: My husband has always spoiled his daughter as if she were his lover.

She wondered, does Qin Bai Ke spoil her as a lover, or as a daughter? July twenty-second, Cancer—the family means everything, beneath a hard shell lies a soft heart.

When they arrived at the Green Plant Villa, Qin Bai Ke’s ten comrades were already in the activity room, drinking tea.

Four or five had come from other cities. It had been a long time since they last met, so they were all very affectionate with Qin Bai Ke. They joked that those who came from afar managed to arrive early, but the local guy was late—he deserved a penalty drink.

Qin Bai Ke asked Tang Yi Yi to check on his mother first. As soon as she left, the group interrogated him: "Is she your girlfriend?"

Qin Bai Ke quickly replied, "You can joke around with me, but when the little girl comes back, don’t say anything weird. Even if I wanted to pursue her, I wouldn’t dare."

The group asked why he wouldn’t dare.

He answered, "She was so enthusiastic watching me go on blind dates—do you think she really has feelings for me?"

A short, chubby man said, "Qin Bai Ke, so you finally know what it’s like. Back when girls came to the squad to visit, their eyes were glued to you. Now you’ve finally found a girl who isn’t interested. That’s good—she must be a great girl. We need to help her make you suffer a bit more."

Everyone agreed—yes, they should make it harder for him. Some accompanying wives giggled, "Why isn’t Bai Ke married yet? He’s not getting any younger."

Boss Fan said, "He’s thirty-one. How many have been introduced to him? None have worked out." He turned to Qin Bai Ke, "How about this, tonight I’ll help you out—let’s get you together, make a meal of it…" Two cushions flew at his head.

The room erupted into laughter. A roguishly handsome man stood behind Boss Fan, put his arm around his shoulders, and asked Qin Bai Ke, "What should we do with this depraved guy?"

As Tang Yi Yi approached, she saw the group of grown men joking and roughhousing, their laughter audible from afar.

When everyone saw her, they straightened up, each more proper than the last. They made space beside Qin Bai Ke for her, then chatted like brothers.

They talked about their recent lives—who’d been promoted, who’d made money, who’d retired early and gone traveling due to illness.

When the conversation turned to recent events in Yicheng, the Noodle King competition came up. Tang Yi Yi’s eyes lit up and she interjected, "Brother Bai’s Qin’s Noodle Shop made the top ten. The day after tomorrow they’ll compete live on TV."

Everyone got excited. "Bai Ke, you’re going to be on TV? Can we come to watch? Is there voting? We’ll all cheer for you!"

Qin Bai Ke forced a smile, biting his lip and flashing a grin at Tang Yi Yi, who blinked innocently at him, "Brother Bai, I’ll cheer for you too!"

"Mm, thanks. Your master really picked a good disciple."

"Brother Bai, everyone wants Qin’s Noodle Shop to shine. Do your best!" She waved her little fist.

Tang Yi Yi stood to tell everyone she’d help in the kitchen, then dashed off. As soon as she left, the men resumed their antics, teasing Qin Bai Ke.

At dinner, the men sat at one table, drinking freely. The women sat at another. Boss Fan’s wife offered Tang Yi Yi a bottle of beer. Tang Yi Yi quickly passed it to someone else. Boss Fan’s wife said, "Yi Yi, last time you could drink! Have some this time."

Tang Yi Yi replied, "Brother Bai won’t let me drink."

"Oh, so obedient. Bai Ke," Boss Fan’s wife called to Qin Bai Ke at the other table, "Yi Yi says you won’t let her drink—let her off the hook today."

Qin Bai Ke said, "Don’t let her drink. If I get drunk, she’ll have to take care of me, right, Yi Yi?"

Tang Yi Yi smiled at him, thinking: Whenever Qin Bai Ke talks to her like this, she knows to keep her distance.