Lifting Xiao Linshuang like she was picking up a little chick, Elder Zhen plucked her from Princess Anle’s lap and pointed at her forehead, scolding her without any spirit, "You useless thing! Truly useless, without merit! And here I thought of calling you a little wolf cub! Don’t you know how to fight back? They bully you like that, and you don’t know how to bite them? Huh? You used to bite me so fiercely before, but now, when it’s time to bite someone else, oh, you’re reluctant?"
Xiao Linshuang stiffened her neck and endured Old Mr. Zhen’s finger poking without any attempt to dodge, not because she didn’t dare to, but because she didn’t want to. After all, this old man was her master, and besides, about today’s incident, she indeed had been slow to react. If she had realized sooner that Meng Chunyan’s words had a hidden meaning, she wouldn’t have failed to catch up with the carriage, missing her chance for revenge.
"Stupid girl! Absolutely no use! Let me tell you something, ’The kind-hearted are bullied, the well-bred are ridden.’ As my disciple, you must never let go easily of those scheming evildoers, be they men or women! Have you remembered that?"
"Remembered, Master," Xiao Linshuang nodded vigorously, looking so earnest that it was hard not to laugh.
"Next time you meet her, don’t be lenient! Do you always carry the medicine I’ve prepared for you?"
"Good, that’s right! Later, Master will give you a more powerful prescription, and you will prepare the medicine yourself. I refuse to believe that a disciple of Old Lao Fan can still be bullied by others!"
Xiao Linshuang held back her laughter and stealthily turned to wink at Xia He and Qiu Ju.
Xia He and Qiu Ju exchanged glances, full of admiration for this sly-natured little girl. It’s no wonder that on the way back, Xiao Linshuang kept telling them to pick the most hurtful and nastiest words to say. Initially, they thought she wanted to win the sympathy of Princess Anle and Lin Yuan, but it turned out she was doing it for Old Mr. Zhen.
Although Lin Yuan was quietly discussing her grievances with Jin Lingling with Xia Zheng, she still caught Xiao Linshuang’s glance. Lin Yuan frowned but decided against reminding her. What Old Lao Fan said was true; indeed, the kind-hearted needed help. But for those with ill intentions, one must not always be too soft-hearted. No one can predict whether, after you save someone, they will turn good or bad, be grateful or repay kindness with enmity.
Old Lao Fan was experienced, and she believed he definitely wouldn’t lead Xiao Linshuang astray.
To avoid affecting everyone’s mood during the meal, Lin Yuan quickly changed the subject, and just in time, the waiters had finished serving all the dishes. Looking at the table full of diverse and enticing dishes, Princess Anle’s interest was immediately piqued.
"Oh, I haven’t seen these dishes before," Princess Anle curiously inspected the table full of dishes and looked up at Lin Yuan, "Yuanyuan, did you make all these?"
As Lin Yuan wiped Xiao Linshuang’s hands, she smiled and nodded, "Madam, please try my cooking. I assure you that these are dishes you haven’t tasted before."
"Good, good, I must try them properly," Princess Anle nodded, evidently very interested in the dishes.
Meanwhile, Old Lao Fan and Xiao Linshuang’s eyes were bulging, as they drooled while conducting a sweeping search of all the dishes on the table.
Old Lao Fan, swallowing his saliva, incredulously looked at Lin Yuan, "You brat, where have I ever seen these dishes before? You, you’ve been holding back on me!"
When she agreed to take care of him when he was treating her father’s leg, she was supposed to be in charge of the food. Yet, every other day, if it wasn’t tofu, it was some kind of noodle dish. Even though they were all tasty, eating them too often could become tiresome.