When Han Kuang entered, he saw the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law speaking with sullen expressions, an unattended broken teapot lay beside them.
He frowned, "Are you worrying about money again?" His tone was calm but carried a hint of impatience.
"No!" Liu Yuzhi jumped in fright, "Old master, how come you’re back at this time?"
"Exactly, Dad, didn’t you say you were going to hike with Uncle Chen?" Dong Fei hastily added.
Neither of them realized their tone was too urgent.
Han Kuang’s gaze swept over them indifferently, his suspicions hidden, he said expressionlessly, "If there’s nothing, clean this up."
"Yes, I’ll clean it up right now." Dong Fei, always somewhat fearful of her father-in-law, disregarded her chaotic thoughts and hurriedly began to clean.
Liu Yuzhi felt somewhat guilty, she helped Han Kuang to sit down on the side, brewed his favorite tea, then asked, "Did Old Chen have something come up today?"
"Um, his grandson fell ill, so I didn’t find it fun to go alone and came back," Han Kuang said, frowning slightly, lost in thought.
Liu Yuzhi didn’t know how to continue the conversation, but then heard Han Kuang ask, "Is Nuonuo coming over tomorrow?"
"Shouxin didn’t mention it, should I give him a call to ask?" Liu Yuzhi tentatively asked.
Han Kuang seemed about to nod, but then shook his head, "No need, is Cuicui still in the hospital?"
"Yes, you know how her health has been, ever since Nuonuo was born, it hasn’t been great. This month she’s been hospitalized for the second time," Liu Yuzhi said cautiously.
"As an elder, instead of idling at home, you might as well go and look after her," Han Kuang said softly.
Liu Yuzhi felt a surge of resistance, why should she be the one to take care of Zheng Cuicui? Who was the mother-in-law and who was the daughter-in-law here?
Yet she dared not voice these thoughts, the old master always disliked being contradicted, and he was especially indulgent and doting towards Han Shouxin and Han Shouzhen. Any slight objection from her would surely meet with stern looks.
While she felt indignant, she heard Han Kuang continue, "Also, send some things over to Shouzhen. She likes the scallion pancakes from Qiao’s, tell Dong Fei to buy some and send them over whenever she’s free."
Had Liu Yuzhi not just discovered that her past actions were about to be exposed, she would certainly have made a scene there and then. The old master’s favoritism was too much; he thought of everything for Han Shouxin and Han Shouzhen, almost wanting to take care of their meals and clothing, whereas for her Shouyi, it was always just "The boy needs to toughen up" and dismissed with that. Her heart didn’t even know where it had been biased to!
But Han Kuang didn’t care about Liu Yuzhi’s feelings; having said his piece, he simply left on his own.
When Lin Xiaoguai and Jiang Xiaomei finally met, it was half a month after Lin Xiaoguai’s arrival in the Capital. They met at a breakfast diner.
"Xiao Guai, I’m here!" As soon as Lin Xiaoguai entered the diner, Jiang Xiaomei called out.
Lin Xiaoguai, holding Little Niangao’s hand, sat across from her and ordered two portions of small wontons before turning to ask, "Xiao Mei, how long have you been here?"
"I just got here too; the noodles I ordered haven’t even been served yet." Jiang Xiaomei’s long hair had been cut short, matched with her plump cheeks and round eyes, she looked very cute. Lin Xiaoguai was puzzled as Jiang Xiaomei, despite being shapely, still had a somewhat "chubby" face, quite like a baozi from future generations, exuding an air of naivety.
The waitress brought over the noodles and small wontons they had ordered. The two finished quickly, having filled their stomachs, and they began to reminisce.
"Little Niangao managed to eat a bowl of small wontons all by himself, he has quite the appetite," praised Jiang Xiaomei.
"Aunt Xiao Mei, can we go to the amusement park today?" Little Niangao asked eagerly, "Mommy said we could go if Auntie agrees."
Lin Xiaoguai subtly shook her head at Jiang Xiaomei, who, though puzzled, nonetheless hesitantly said, "But Auntie was thinking of going somewhere else today."
"I see," Little Niangao looked saddened. Lin Xiaoguai’s upbringing showed, as Little Niangao had never been prone to making a fuss to get his way.
"Why wouldn’t you let him go to the amusement park?" Jiang Xiaomei asked quietly when she found the chance.
"It’s not that I won’t let him go, just not today," sighed Lin Xiaoguai. "He went crazy at the swimming pool the other day, came back with a slight fever, and it only subsided last night. The amusement park is too crowded, and the rides would make the kids too excited; I’m scared he might sweat, catch a chill, and his condition could relapse."
Concerning health, Jiang Xiaomei fell silent, then took Lin Xiaoguai’s hand, "Let’s go for a walk in the park then." She had initially planned to visit the Forbidden City and Great Wall or perhaps even see Tiananmen with Lin Xiaoguai, but thinking such places were also crowded, she dropped the idea.