The jade Pixiu shrieked excitedly, "Ahhhhh! How could any fool want to offer money to their master willingly?"

Jade Abacus was also shocked: "Master, what's going on with this old lady? Why would she want to give you money?"

After a moment's hesitation, it said, "Master, could she be mentally unstable? Should we give her a restorative potion?"

Lan Yao: "...Let's see first. And..."

She warned the jade Pixiu: "Pipi, if you don't know how to respect people, I'll find a way to teach you."

Jade Abacus: "Let's lock it in our space. I felt the last time it worked really well."

Lan Yao: "That works too."

Jade Pixiu: ...

"...I didn't say anything...Why do you want to lock me in a dark room?"

As soon as it finished speaking, the space swallowed it whole.

With the jade Pixiu gone, it's finally quiet in my ears.

Lan Yaoren was pulled back home by her grandmother. As soon as she entered the door, she said bluntly, "You should know that I am not your grand-nephew, right?"

Grandma Yu paused for a moment, then slowly nodded.

"...If that's the case, why are you insisting on not letting me leave?"

Grandma Yu was silent for a while, then looked up at Lan Yao: "You look like my deceased eldest son."

Grandma Yu took a liking to Lan Yao the moment she saw her and wanted to keep her with her.

Grandma Yu admitted that she was very selfish.

Lan Yao: ...

I don't really want to talk.

Seeing her silence, Grandma Yu whispered again, "You're a good person. I know what I did was wrong. But I just want you to stay with me for a few days."

Lan Yao: "...What if I don't agree?"

Grandma Yu looked up at Lan Yao: "...You're a kind-hearted person, you'll agree."

Lan Yao chuckled twice: "You think I'm kind, so you're trying to morally blackmail me?"

Grandma Yu didn't understand what moral blackmail was, but she sensed that Lan Yao was angry, so she grabbed her hand.

"I didn't think that way. I just... I just..." She stammered for a long time but couldn't come up with anything.

Later, she slowly let go of Lan Yao, hesitated for a moment, as if she had made up her mind.

"You, you should leave. This is all my fault. I apologize to you."

Forget it, let's not force it.

Lan Yao: ...

What are you doing?

She said calmly, "A person should be trustworthy. Since I promised Li Hao I would stay here for a few days, then I will stay here for a few days and wait for him to come back."

Grandma Yu's eyes lit up instantly. Her eyes welled up with tears, and she lowered her head to wipe them, whispering, "Thank you."

She turned around and went back to the kitchen. Lan Yao took the opportunity to look around the yard and found that it was very clean and tidy, which was pleasing to the eye.

Jade Abacus: "Master, you've softened your heart."

Lan Yao sighed, "...That's right. We were kidnapped for no reason. If it were anyone else, they would definitely be angry."

Jade Abacus: "So, Master, you're kind."

Lan Yao waved her hand: "Alright, stop flattering me."

After standing in the yard for a while, Lan Yao went to the kitchen and asked Grandma Yu, who was busy there, "Do you need my help?"

Grandma Yu smiled gently, her eyes tender: "No need. Just wait to eat."

"How can that be? I still have to help out a bit." Lan Yao rolled up her sleeves and went inside. The kitchen was not small, but spacious. It was spotless and very clean.

Grandma Yu is indeed a very clean person; she takes good care of this courtyard.

Seeing that Lan Yao genuinely wanted to help, Grandma Yu's eyes softened even more. She took out a clove of garlic and handed it to Lan Yao, saying somewhat shyly, "Then, then you can peel this garlic for me. I'll need it later."

Lan Yao nodded, reached out and took the garlic from Grandma Yu's palm, and began to peel it carefully.

After peeling the garlic and setting it aside, Lan Yao volunteered to help wash the vegetables and tidy up.

Lan Yao is also a good cook. She likes to clean up while cooking, so that when the meal is done, the kitchen won't be a mess, and it will be easy to clean up afterwards.

Seeing this, Grandma Yu opened her mouth as if to say something, but in the end she didn't speak. Instead, her gaze softened, and her eyes involuntarily reddened.

How can there be such a kind person? They are truly likable from the bottom of one's heart.

After waiting for about two hours, as it gradually got dark, Grandma Yu's four dishes were finally ready.

Lan Yao helped carry the food to the dining table in the main room, and Grandma Yu lit the kerosene lamp with a match.

The kerosene lamp wasn't very bright, only illuminating a small area, so Grandma Yu lit two other candles in the room.

This at least managed to light up the room.

In fact, Lan Yao hadn't enjoyed such a bright night in a long time; comparatively, she was more used to the darkness of the night.

So, after setting out dinner, Lan Yao said, "It's just the two of us in this house, there's no need to make it so bright."

Grandma Yu smiled and said, "No one has come to our house in a long time, so it's better to make it brighter."

Actually, she also wanted to take a good look at Lan Yao's appearance.

Lan Yao stared intently at Grandma Yu for a while, noticing that she looked very happy with a smile on her face.

Lan Yao nodded and gestured for Grandma Yu to sit down.

After Grandma Yu sat down, she put a piece of braised pork on Lan Yao's plate and looked at her expectantly: "Try it, this is my braised pork, I guarantee it's better than the braised pork in the state-run restaurant."

"I've eaten braised pork at state-run restaurants before, why are you so confident?" Lan Yao teased.

"Of course. Of course I've studied it carefully." Grandma Yu nodded confidently, urging Lan Yao to try it quickly.

Since Grandma Yu had invited her so warmly, Lan Yao naturally didn't stand on ceremony and put the braised pork from the small bowl into her mouth.

Soft and chewy, salty and sweet, slightly spicy, the lean meat is not dry, and the fatty meat is not greasy. It melts in your mouth, but it's a bit too sweet.

Lan Yao doesn't really like overly sweet food, but this braised pork is definitely better than what you get at state-run restaurants.

Facing her grandmother's expectant gaze, Lan Yao praised generously, "This braised pork is fatty but not greasy, tender and soft, and has a delicious sweet and salty flavor. The addition of a little bit of spice is the perfect finishing touch."

Grandma Yu's eyes crinkled with delight at the praise, and she used a clean spoon to scoop out a spoonful of Mapo Tofu for her.

"Try this one too."

Lan Yao smiled and said, "Grandma Yu, how did you know I like spicy food? All the food you make is my favorite."

Grandma Yu smiled and shook her head: "I don't know. But I feel you would like spicy food."

Lan Yao felt a warmth in her heart and began to taste the Mapo Tofu made by Grandma Yu.