And right at the doorstep no less?
Yang Xiaoxi and Shen Mianmian both stared at the old man with surprise on their faces. Although his clothes were patched all over and he seemed to be quite poor, they were very clean. His posture was also very straight. He was leaning on a wooden stick, but he seemed even more sturdy than the stick itself, and his face looked kind.
"Old grandpa, we haven’t cooked the rice yet, how about you have some watermelon first? This watermelon is very sweet," Yang Xiaoxi was a kind-hearted girl. Seeing the old man dressed in tattered clothes and looking pitiful, she immediately invited him in for watermelon.
The old man didn’t come in right away but looked at Shen Mianmian, as if he was afraid Shen Mianmian would not let him in.
Noticing his intention, Shen Mianmian smiled and said, "Old grandpa, please come in!"
"Alright, thank you. You both are such kind people."
The old man walked in slowly with the aid of his wooden stick, and Shen Mianmian helped him sit down on a stone bench. The old man took a bite of the watermelon and nodded continuously, "It’s really sweet."
There were still two pieces of watermelon left. He ate them all without leaving a bit, even nibbling the watermelon rinds clean.
Yang Xiaoxi thought the old man must have been really hungry, otherwise, he wouldn’t nearly eat the watermelon rinds as well.
"Old grandpa, we still have watermelon in the house. If you like it, I can go cut that one too," she said.
"No need, no need," the old man hurriedly waved his hand, "I’m too old, eating too much watermelon isn’t good for me. I haven’t eaten since last night, if you have any leftover food, please let me have some!"
Yang Xiaoxi looked troubled, "Old grandpa, it’s not that we’re unwilling, we really don’t have any, we finished all the breakfast."
"Is that so?" A flash of disappointment crossed the old man’s eyes, and he stood up, "Then I’ll go check other houses."
"Wait," Shen Mianmian called out to him hastily, "Old grandpa, it’s already noon, we’re about to cook, why don’t you sit for a while, and I’ll go cook right now."
In this era, there were many elderly people without children, who could no longer work physically, so they had to beg for food.
If this old man only asked for money, Shen Mianmian might think he was a professional beggar. But since he only asked for food, it seemed he really faced difficulties. Shen Mianmian wasn’t saintly, but she would not be stingy with a meal.
Moreover, the old man looked kind and benevolent, nothing like a bad old man. His clothes were clean and tidy, and there was no foul smell on him, suggesting he was a person of standards.
A person who had fallen on hard times but still kept themselves clean must not be someone lazy by nature.
"Very well, thank you! You young ladies," the old man seemed very moved, tears welling up in his eyes. This update ıs available on 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝⟡𝕗𝗂𝗋𝖾⟡𝕟𝕖𝕥
"Old grandpa, please sit down, no need to thank us, Mianmian has always been very kind," said Yang Xiaoxi as she quickly helped him sit down.
"Xiaoxi, you stay here and chat with the old grandpa. I’ll go cook," said Shen Mianmian without any further ado. After washing her hands at the well, she went to the kitchen.
"That young lady’s name is Mianmian?" the old man asked while pointing in the direction of the kitchen, striking up a conversation with Yang Xiaoxi.
"Yes," Xiaoxi nodded, "She’s not as talkative as I am, but her heart is just as kind. You see, as soon as she heard you hadn’t eaten, she immediately went to cook. Old grandpa, you don’t know, Mianmian’s cooking is really delicious. My cooking isn’t even as good as hers. You’re really fortunate to have come to our house."
He had fallen to the point of begging for food and she called it fortune?
The girl’s head must not be very bright.