Chapter 96: The Old Man Was Having Quite a Good Time

In the car, Shen Chutang was in an excellent mood and reached out to pat Lu Beiqin on the shoulder. "Good lad. You’re a fast learner."

The corner of Lu Beiqin’s mouth lifted almost imperceptibly, but he said nothing.

Shen Chutang noticed the little pastries prepared on the seat and asked, "May I eat these?"

"They’re all for you."

Knowing that Shen Chutang would never have had the chance to eat properly at an occasion like that, Lu Beiqin had bought them well in advance.

Shen Chutang picked up a cookie and nibbled on it, then heard Lu Beiqin go on, "Tonight we’re going to Grandpa’s place. Little Bai is there too. We’ll all have dinner together."

Shen Chutang naturally agreed. After all, she had just spent the entire banquet verbally sparring with everyone there, and she was already starving.

When they arrived at Old Master Lu’s home, Lu Yuebai was already there.

The moment he saw Shen Chutang, he came right over. "Hello, Sister-in-law."

Shen Chutang took his pulse; his body had already fully recovered, and from here on, he only needed careful nourishment. After all, for a healthy twenty-year-old, his frame was still a little too slight.

The old man was delighted to see her. "Chutang’s here. Come, sit down. Grandpa prepared all your favorite dishes today."

Shen Chutang blinked in surprise. "How does Grandpa know what I like to eat?"

"Who else but Beiqin told me? He remembers everything you like, all on the sly."

Shen Chutang could not help glancing at Lu Beiqin, thinking that although he was taciturn, he was certainly attentive.

Sure enough, by evening, dishes of braised crab with vermicelli, spicy chopped pepper fish head, sweet-and-sour pork ribs, and salt-and-pepper mantis shrimp had been laid out before her, the table overflowing with food.

Shen Chutang lowered her voice and said to Lu Beiqin, "Tell Grandpa he doesn’t need to spend so much on me. I’m happy with anything."

Lu Beiqin smiled. "It’s fine. The money I earn isn’t so little that I can’t afford to let you have a proper meal."

The old man chuckled merrily. "Chutang, eat up. If it’s not enough, there’s more."

"Thank you, Grandpa."

Butler Zhang brought over a bowl of soup and placed it before Lu Beiqin.

He opened the lid and froze for a moment.

Old Master Lu said with a smile, "This was prepared especially for you. You’ve worked hard lately, and this is wonderfully nourishing—just right for restoring your strength. Then you can hurry up and give Chutang a big, healthy grandson."

Shen Chutang glanced over and froze too. From the ingredients, it was clearly a tonic of the grandest sort.

Lu Beiqin looked somewhat helpless. "Give it to Little Bai. He needs it more."

Lu Yuebai hurriedly shook his head. "Brother, I’m not in a state to handle strong tonics right now. You should drink it. The soup was started this afternoon and simmered for a full three hours. It works incredibly well!"

Lu Beiqin: "..."

Old Master Lu continued coaxing him. "It’s only a couple of mouthfuls’ worth, not much. Hurry and drink it."

Shen Chutang covered her mouth, stifling a laugh, and silently looked at Lu Beiqin, signaling that she was powerless to help.

Lu Beiqin drank the soup in one expressionless swallow, then lowered his head and went back to eating.

Lu Yuebai and Shen Chutang exchanged a look, both smiling, and quietly lowered their heads to eat as well.

After the meal, Shen Chutang patted her round little stomach. "I’m full."

Old Master Lu was naturally very fond of her. "Come, come, these cherries were grown at home. See if they’re good."

Shen Chutang looked down and could not help saying, "Grandpa, these are grown at home? They’re even bigger and sweeter than the cherries sold in the market!"

Those cherries had actually been freshly picked from an overseas estate and air-freighted back. In simple terms, saying they were grown at home was not far off.

"Is that so? This batch is the best."

"Grandpa, did you grow a lot?"

"Yes. When the time comes, we’ll sell them and earn a bit of money to help support the household."

Lu Beiqin, standing nearby, glanced at the old man expressionlessly. Back then, he had said he would not expose his identity and had deliberately claimed to be a taxi driver; now, however, he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying himself.

Hearing this, Shen Chutang immediately said she could help sell them.

The old man said with a smile, "Our Chutang is so sensible. If the cherries don’t sell well, I’ll definitely ask you for help. Oh, and Grandpa has also planted vegetables and fruit down in the countryside. Once everything is sold, we’ll even have enough for Little Bai’s wedding."

Lu Yuebai coughed lightly. The so-called vegetables and fruit grown in the countryside—did that refer to the entire orchard and vegetable garden Grandpa had contracted? Just one orchard alone stretched over ten mountains, and the vegetable garden extended beyond the eye could see.

Yet when the old man put it that way, it somehow carried a faint note of sadness.

Looking at him, Shen Chutang thought that at his age, having to care for two grown grandsons could not be easy.

An old man without any real income had relied on diligence to grow a little produce in the countryside and sell it for money, all so Lu Yuebai could get married.

Shen Chutang consoled him, saying, "Don’t worry, Grandpa. Little Bai will definitely get a wife."

Old Master Lu sighed. "I only hope Little Bai’s wife will be like you, Chutang—not minding that our family is as poor as church mice."

Lu Beiqin and Lu Yuebai: "..."

It seemed the old man was having a great deal of fun.