"Grandpa, you must have been really hungry, huh? Wash your hands and take a seat, I’m going to get the food," Yang Xiaoxi cheerfully ran into the kitchen.
Shen Mianmian poured out the water from washing her hands, then tidied up the table.
Yang Xiaoxi brought out three bowls of hand-pulled noodles and also three plates of dishes, one with steamed minced meat, one with fried eggs, and one with scallions and tofu.
The old man nodded contentedly at the sight of the three dishes, his eyes growing even more pleased when they rested on Shen Mianmian. These dishes were clearly suitable for an elderly person.
The girl was quite thoughtful; the noodles were also cut very finely, such that even toothless elders would have no trouble eating them.
His stomach started to growl at the sight of the food, but he didn’t pick up his chopsticks. Instead, he looked troubled and said, "Young lady, this is my first time begging for food, so I don’t have any experience, and I didn’t bring my own bowl or chopsticks. I know young ladies these days love cleanliness, and you don’t mind me, even giving me food to eat. I’m already very satisfied. Maybe you could find a chipped bowl for me, and then I’ll just sit under the tree to eat."
Yang Xiaoxi instinctively looked towards Shen Mianmian. She didn’t mind at all; the old man looked very clean, not a vagabond, just out of food at home, with a grandson who didn’t take care of him.
But she needed to respect Mianmian, what if Mianmian did mind?
Shen Mianmian gently laughed and said, "Grandpa, just sit here and eat with us using this bowl and chopsticks, we’re also from the countryside and know what it’s like to be poor when we were kids. We’re not so particular."
A hint of appreciation flashed in the old man’s eyes, and his admiration for Shen Mianmian grew, "If that’s the case, then I won’t hold back."
"Don’t stand on ceremony, please eat!" Seeing that Shen Mianmian agreed, Yang Xiaoxi quickly invited the old man to eat.
The old man had a good appetite and managed to eat three large bowls of noodles and a fair amount of the dishes. Yang Xiaoxi became even more certain that the old man must have been hungry for a long time.
After eating, the old man felt he couldn’t just eat and drink for free and insisted on helping wash the dishes, but he was stopped by Shen Mianmian and Yang Xiaoxi.
Seeing that they wouldn’t let him wash the dishes and now full and content, the old man was ready to leave. Shen Mianmian called out to him, "Grandpa, wait a moment."
"Young lady, I don’t have any money to pay for the meal," the old man seemed to think Shen Mianmian was about to ask him for money, and his expression turned somewhat nervous.
Shen Mianmian smiled lightly, "Grandpa, don’t worry, I’m not asking you for money."
After saying this, she turned and went into the kitchen. In a short while, she came out with a small bag containing a small watermelon and two scallion pancakes.
"Grandpa, I just made these pancakes. You can keep them for dinner. I saw you like watermelon very much, but I was afraid you couldn’t carry a big one, so I gave you a smaller one, which should be easier to carry."
These watermelons were brought by Lu Siyuan yesterday. She used to like eating melon by scooping it out with a spoon when she was alone, and it seemed that Lu Siyuan had remembered, so he bought three small ones and three big ones. Tʜe sourcᴇ of thɪs content ɪs 𝖓𝖔𝖛𝖊𝖑~𝖋𝖎𝖗𝖾~𝖓𝖊𝖙
"Young lady, thank you. You are a kind-hearted and good girl! If only I had a granddaughter-in-law like you," the old man thanked her profusely, deeply moved.
Seeing that he was amiable and liked to chat, Shen Mianmian voiced her curiosity, "Grandpa, you seem to be in good health. Did you serve in the military when you were young?"
The old man’s eyes lit up, "Young lady, you have a sharp eye. I indeed served in the military when I was young."