Cycling: Racing into the Headwind

[Detected: Host is about to go to Europe to begin a new stage of his professional career. To mark his parting with family, a special reward is issued: Strengthening and Purifying Pill x1.]

[Strengthening and Purifying Pill: After taking this pill, the Host can eat normally during the pre-departure family reunion. The pill will automatically purify and filter all banned substances from food, help burn off excess calorie intake, and ensure the Host maintains his original golden weight. Duration: 7 days.]

...

The moment Huang Chong retrieved the local specialties for his family from his system space and stepped into his home laden with bags, the system, being quite considerate, rewarded him with a pill once again.

As a professional road cyclist, his daily diet management was undoubtedly extremely strict.

To control his body fat percentage, Huang Chong mostly ate high-quality, safety-tested proteins and large amounts of carbohydrates every day.

The risk of contamination for commercially available meats was very high, with clenbuterol being the most serious problem.

This was also why he usually didn’t dare to eat out at restaurants, forcing him to sacrifice the pleasures of the palate.

But with the system as his safety net, he could at least enjoy a few big meals at home with complete peace of mind.

After a busy year of rushing around the country for competitions, he was genuinely tired now that he could suddenly relax.

To finally be able to rest for a moment and enjoy the taste of his parents’ cooking was undoubtedly a tremendous source of happiness and comfort.

The tastes of one’s memories are always the most precious remedy for healing worldly exhaustion.

"Bro! You’re back!!"

I just got out of class. You guys haven’t had dinner yet, right?!!

"Mom, what delicious food are you making today?

Whoa! There’s salt and pepper mantis shrimp!!!

And abalone braised pork belly!!!

Mom, I’m gonna wolf down three bowls of rice tonight!!!"

Huang Chong had just stepped inside, not even having had the chance to put down the bags in his hands, when a familiar shout erupted from behind him.

Immediately, a tall, slender figure with her hair in two pigtails, one on each side, burst into the house like a whirlwind and threw her arms around him from behind in a fierce hug.

Huang Lingshan, her face beaming with excitement, said:

"Bro! How many days are you back for?

It’s not New Year’s or any holiday, how come you suddenly have time to come home?

Don’t you have training?"

Huang Chong really couldn’t stand Huang Lingshan’s restless nature. She was almost an adult, yet she was still so reckless and had no sense of personal space between men and women. It truly worried him.

He decisively pried her "paws" off him and said with a look of exasperation:

"Can you stop fooling around, Huang Lingshan? Let go already.

I literally just walked in the door, you know? I haven’t even had a chance to say hi to Mom and Dad, and you’re already here—

Did you skip class to camp out at my door and wait for me?"

"No way, I’m not letting go!! I haven’t seen you in almost a year, Bro! I missed you like crazy!!"

The bickering between the two siblings had long since alerted Liang Xiaomei in the kitchen.

When she came out and saw her son was home, a smile she couldn’t contain spread across her face.

To her and Huang Yuda, their son had truly brought great honor to the family this year.

He had not only won a silver medal at the Asian Championships but also a gold medal at the Asian Games.

Even the Party Secretary had personally visited their home to congratulate them, saying they had raised an outstanding son who was the pride of Xianyun County, and moreover, the pride of the entire nation.

Imagine that! For words like those to come from the Party Secretary himself—for ordinary folks like them, it was an unparalleled honor!

Now, all their relatives and neighbors were incredibly envious of the old couple.

Even more ridiculously, business at their small family-run convenience store had become several times better than before.

In short, if her son were to take a stroll down the main street of the county now, there would be practically no one among the locals of Xianyun County who didn’t recognize him.

"Son, you’re back. Are you tired from the journey? We’re about to eat. Your dad’s stir-frying your favorite fried rice cakes, it’ll be ready in a minute."

Liang Xiaomei walked over and straightened out the clothes that Huang Lingshan’s boisterous greeting had wrinkled, her heart filled with a sweet warmth.

Then, seeing the large pile of things Huang Chong had brought back and placed on the sofa, she added:

"Why did you buy so many things? You shouldn’t spend money so freely when you’re away. It’s not easy for you to earn money cycling, and your father and I don’t need anything."

After his mother finished straightening his clothes, Huang Chong went to the bathroom to wash his hands, replying with a smile:

"Mom, just let your son be a little filial. I’m earning a decent living now, after all.

Even though we’re not lacking for food or clothes at home, the things I bought you are Tibetan fritillary bulbs, cordyceps, and dendrobium stems.

You can’t get good stuff like this around here.

I specifically brought them all the way back from places like Nagqu, Qinghai, and Yunnan.

You and Dad should remember to buy an old hen from the countryside to stew with these. It’s very good for your health.

Oh, and don’t give any of these herbs away. They’re all wild-harvested and very expensive!"

The moment Liang Xiaomei heard the words "very expensive," she instinctively frowned. But knowing this was a sign of her son’s affection, she quickly put the items away, a smile she couldn’t suppress touching her lips as she said:

"You’re just starting your career, you shouldn’t be so extravagant in the future, you hear me? Your father and I are perfectly healthy. We have no need for such fancy things!"

Huang Chong knew his mother’s personality. Though her words scolded him for spending money recklessly, he knew she was happy deep down.

He nodded obediently and replied, "I know." ’But once I get to Europe,’ he thought, ’if I come across anything else good, I’ll definitely still buy it for them.’

’Besides, I rarely have a chance to spend money on myself. I earn so much—if I don’t spend it on my parents, who else would I spend it on?’