Lu Youtang nodded enthusiastically and pulled a reading device from her small backpack.
Madam Xu was about to stop her, but Lu Yang gently held her back.
“What are you doing?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.
Madam Xu frowned. “That’s something the ancestor gave her. What if Yuan’er asks for it and Youtang gives it away?”
Back in the capital, Youtang had many playmates, and whenever they liked something of hers, whether it was her hairpins, embroidered pouches, or even a gold locket, she’d give it to them without a second thought.
Those past gifts were one thing, but now, this reading device was not something to be casually handed out. It would be bad if the ancestor got upset.
Lu Yang chuckled. “You’re overthinking it. Youtang’s just excited to have a new playmate and wants to share her good things. Yuan’er seems like a sensible child. She doesn’t seem like the kind to ask for anything, so don’t worry.”
Madam Xu continued to watch her daughter closely, anxious that she might really give the device away.
Meanwhile, Lu Youtang demonstrated to Yuan’er how to use the reading device and even began teaching her how to read.
The electronic books that Gu Xingzhao had downloaded on the device were age-appropriate for Lu Youtang, filled with colorful illustrations and simple words. It was perfect for her.
Pulling Yuan’er closer, Lu Youtang begged, “Why don’t you read and learn with me? My grandfather says that girls should study so they can become wise and sensible.”
“Please, just keep me company. Sister Shunyu doesn’t talk much, and it’s so boring!”
Yuan’er was momentarily startled by the strange device, having never seen anything like it before—pictures and words that changed with just a tap. But she quickly lost interest. She gave a small nod, agreeing to study with Youtang, though she didn’t seem particularly eager.
Overjoyed, Lu Youtang handed her the device. “You can borrow this for now! If you see any words you don’t know, just ask me!”
Yuan’er flipped through a few pages indifferently before handing it back to Youtang. Clearly, she wasn’t interested.
Madam Xu sighed in relief, silently resolving to correct her daughter’s habit of giving things away too easily. She didn’t want her daughter to be so generous that one day she’d end up giving away her future husband!
After dropping off soup dumplings and clothes for the Lu family, Gu Xingzhao brought two more boxes of dumplings to Aunt Wang next door, who was busy preparing broth.
“Auntie, have you had breakfast yet? I brought some soup dumplings.”
Aunt Wang, feeling hungry, happily accepted the food and started eating immediately. “Old Li’s dumplings are so good. I was just thinking about buying some this morning, but he packed up his shop and closed it down.”
Gu Xingzhao laughed. “You can always go earlier tomorrow. If you’re busy, I can pick them up for you.”
Aunt Wang shook her head. “No need, you won’t be able to buy them tomorrow.”
Gu Xingzhao blinked in confusion. “What do you mean?”
Aunt Wang sighed regretfully. “I saw Old Li pack up his shop this morning. He even put up a ‘For Rent’ sign. Said he’s retiring for good.”
Old Li shutting down the breakfast shop was a big loss for the neighborhood. His food was beloved for its freshness and flavor.
If Aunt Wang said it, then it must be true. Old Li was probably already at home, enjoying his early retirement.
Gu Xingzhao stood there, silent for a moment. He said I could come back tomorrow, even promised to steam the dumplings for me… Liar.
At that very moment, Old Li, lying comfortably at home watching TV, sneezed several times in a row. He was already thinking about heading to the park the next morning to play chess with his old friends. He could almost imagine the look on that girl’s face when she found out he’d closed his shop.
It’s not my fault, he thought. If she had ordered less, I wouldn’t have needed to shut down!
These days, girls could eat too much. Just last week, he heard that Old Han’s daughter had become a food streamer, eating online for hours. These kids eat like they have bottomless stomachs.
Later that evening, Gu Xingzhao sent the food she had ordered to the Lu family in the past. As she passed by Old Li’s shop, she saw that the “For Rent” sign was indeed posted.
She sighed, wondering if she had scared him off by ordering too much food.
As she walked by, Lu Xingyuan overheard her sigh and stopped in his tracks. What’s troubling the ancestor tonight?
Lu Qing, standing nearby, stiffened. “Ancestor, is something bothering you?”
Thinking about how she would no longer be able to enjoy Old Li’s dumplings, Gu Xingzhao sighed again. “Not really a big problem. Did you eat the dumplings I sent earlier?”
Lu Qing nodded. “Yes, they were delicious.”
The dough was soft, the filling generous, and the broth inside was savory. It was the best dumpling he had ever tasted.
Seeing his reaction, Gu Xingzhao knew he enjoyed the dumplings as much as she did. She shook her head with regret. “Too bad we won’t be able to have them anymore.”
Lu Qing was confused. “Why not?”
Lu Xingyuan, who had been listening, grew curious and, despite his discomfort around the ancestor, sat down nearby.
Gu Xingzhao hesitated, not wanting to worry them. She didn’t want the old man to blame himself. “The person who made them has gone off to travel the world.”
Both Lu Qing and Lu Xingyuan sighed with regret.
Gu Xingzhao glanced across the way and saw that Yuan’er was now sitting with Lu Youtang. They were sharing a table, though while Youtang was seated properly, Yuan’er knelt on the ground.
“That little girl—she’s studying too?”
Lu Qing followed her gaze. “Youtang is very happy to have a companion. She’s been dragging Yuan’er to study with her, and I allowed it.”
For a girl, being able to read and write was always a good thing. Learning brought wisdom.
Gu Xingzhao nodded. “I’ll prepare something for her as well.”
She couldn’t let the girl kneel like that for long. Kneeling too much would damage her legs; it might even make her bowlegged.
Lu Qing thanked her. “Ancestor, thank you for your kindness. I would like to thank you on behalf of this little girl.”
Gu Xingzhao waved it off. “It’s nothing.”
Meanwhile, Lu Youtang was practicing her calligraphy, though she kept chatting with Yuan’er. Her mouth never stopped moving.
Liu Xiangbai’s eyes darkened as he walked over to her. “Lu Youtang, if your heart is not calm, how can you practice properly? Speak one more word, and I’ll have to call your grandfather.”
Lu Youtang stuck her tongue out at him, but finally fell silent and focused on her writing.
Liu Xiangbai sighed inwardly. Young girls were always so mischievous. Seeing Youtang reminded him of his own daughter, far away in the capital. He wondered how she was doing. Determined, he decided to wear his blindfold tonight.
Shunyu, observing the scene, couldn’t help but feel envious of Youtang. She could never be so carefree around Lord Lu, and she certainly didn’t dare act out in front of Liu Xiangbai.
As Shunyu watched, she noticed Yuan’er glancing at her. Their eyes met, but Yuan’er didn’t look away.
Shunyu gave her a small nod, a polite greeting, before returning to her own work.
Yuan’er, feeling self-conscious, tugged at her clothes. She glanced around, and when she saw that no one was paying attention, she tried to stand up and head over to Shunyu’s table.
But before she could leave, Lu Youtang grabbed her arm tightly.
“Studying is boring, but don’t leave! Mr. Liu is really strict!”
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