Chapter 55 Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime…

"Sister."

Upon hearing this, Miaowu's eyes immediately crinkled with laughter.

She rarely heard this title. Two or three years earlier, when Su'er was still a tiny, soft baby in swaddling clothes, she often came to visit her only younger brother.

But when he was just learning to speak, no matter how she teased and coaxed him, Su'er would only turn his head coldly, pretending not to hear her repeated calls of "Call me elder sister".

As Su'er grew a little older and became able to move around freely, he would speak sweet words to her, starting to act like a younger brother. However, his habit of not liking to call her "elder sister" still persisted. Similarly, he didn't particularly like calling her "father," but he could easily say "mother."

Miaowu once wondered: Could it be that Su'er is just naturally shy?

Only today did she realize what it meant to have money to make the devil turn the millstone. No matter how stubborn you are, there's no reason why you wouldn't soften when money is poured in.

Su Shi's eyes lit up at first, but then he suddenly remembered something and turned away unhappily.

If it had been any earlier, seeing the princess's wealth and her fondness for Dongjun, he would surely have arranged for some dried fish for his pet cat to improve its diet. However, firstly, he had received a generous reward from the Eighth Prince and couldn't afford to deprive Dongjun of food and drink for the time being. Secondly, Dongjun's actions just now had truly broken her heart!

Forget about dried fish for now!

But Miaowu couldn't understand the little boy's sensitive feelings. She squatted down and stroked Dongjun's fluffy head: "Good boy, Dongjun, we'll be back to see you in a little while and bring you something delicious."

Dongjun: "Meow meow meow!"

She seemed to understand Miaowu's words, and cried out with extreme reluctance. At least Fusu had never heard her clamp her like that before.

"Well……"

Fearing that Su Shi's resolve would be completely shattered, Fusu quickly grabbed one of his arms and dragged him out of the courtyard. Looking towards the alley entrance, he indeed saw several figures lingering. One of them was someone he knew well—the very same Chen, the imperial guard commander who had accompanied Su Shi during his first trip outside the palace.

He waved to the people.

Those people suddenly shrank back and hid themselves.

Fusu: "...?"

He pointed to his face: "Am I that scary?"

For some reason, his appearance simultaneously tickled the funny bone of both Su Shi and Miao Wu. The two exchanged a glance and couldn't help but laugh. Liang Huaiji also tried to explain to Fusu with a straight face: "It was Her Highness the Princess who ordered that she be dressed in white dragon robes today, and that the guards not be allowed to obstruct the view of the street."

"Oh," Fusu replied knowingly.

It's just that you can't let anyone appear in front of you.

"That's really a tough job."

Miaowu was somewhat displeased upon hearing this: "Those guards surrounded us in a circle, using their power to intimidate us. What if they frighten the people on the roadside?"

Fusu was taken aback.

Unexpectedly, Su Shi stepped forward at this moment.

"Yes, yes, what the princess says makes perfect sense. Young Master Zhao, you brought a bunch of guards and tried to forcibly buy my calligraphy and paintings, which really startled me."

You're clearly not afraid at all.

As soon as I got into my sedan chair, she started complaining that I looked like a sucker!

Fusu stretched out his little hand towards Su Shi: "Forced sale? I didn't know you didn't want to sell. How about this, I'll return the calligraphy and painting to you, and you return the money to me."

Su Shi: "..."

He looked left and right, refusing to glance at Fusu. All the money had been used to hire the little cat. He was afraid that if Fusu responded, Zhao Xiaolang would make him use Dongjun to pay off the debt. What could he do?

Miaowu couldn't stand it any longer and stepped in front of Su Shi: "Hmph, how much? Your sister will pay for it, how about that?"

Fusu was defeated this time.

A faint light shone in his dark eyes: "Alright, I know, elder sister, you care about the people of Bianjing."

Logically speaking, Miaowu was raised in the inner palace from a young age, and neither Emperor Renzong nor her female tutors would have lectured her on the principle of "the people are more important than the emperor." Moreover, because she was the emperor's only daughter, everyone in the palace doted on and respected her.

Despite being raised in such a manner, Miaowu was able to proactively consider the needs of the people.

Even though she was only five years old, Fusu couldn't help but admire her.

Miaowu's face turned red.

"Let's go. We've been talking for so long, why are we still at the alley entrance?"

"Okay, I'm off."

Fusu smiled, his eyes crinkling: "Now he's really leaving."

Their first stop on their day trip to Bianjing was the beverage shop they had passed by by chance on their last trip. Because the beverages were so delicious, Fusu had been looking forward to going back. This time, he could also bring Miaowu along.

"Is it really that delicious? Is it worth making a special trip for?" Miaowu asked with great curiosity.

Su Shi said slyly, "It's so delicious that some people will pawn their clothes and drink a cup even if they're disheveled."

Miaowu covered her mouth in surprise: "Huh?"

Walking down the street disheveled? Or perhaps you're just looking for a drink?

This was far beyond the knowledge of a princess of a nation.

Fusu: "..."

He glanced at Su Shi speechlessly. Honestly, spreading rumors while Li Qiu and Yan Jidao were away? And you were the one who came up with the idea!

It was early summer, and the sun was blazing overhead. By the time they reached the drink shop, their foreheads were covered in a thin layer of sweat, and their throats were incredibly parched. Su Shi spotted their destination in the distance and practically ran inside, with Fusu and Miaowu, the two little ones, close behind.

As soon as the siblings entered the shop, they heard the shop owner standing behind the counter, laughing as he said to Su Shi, "What are you doing here?"

The innkeeper clearly remembered the strange little guests from last time, recognizing Su Shi at a glance. He joked, "Little guest, you've brought enough money this time, so you don't need to pawn your belt?"

Just then, I overheard this insightful remark: "...?"

She looked even more astonished than before: "The disheveled person you were talking about was actually yourself?"

Fusu: "Pfft... Hahahahahahahaha!"

Su Shi glared angrily at the gloating Fusu: "No, no, no, it wasn't me, it really wasn't me!"

Miaowu was clearly skeptical: "How could the boss recognize you at a glance? And even recount your deeds, which perfectly match what you said yourself?"

Su Shi felt utterly speechless.

Should he explain that he wasn't a party involved, but rather the mastermind? That would only worsen the impression he left on the princess.

After a long pause, she finally managed to stammer out, "Zhao Xiaolang, say something!"

Fusu raised an eyebrow: You want me to say something? Sure.

He pretended not to hear and pushed Miaowu in front of the shopkeeper: "Boss, we brought enough money this time. She'll pay."

The shop owner clearly remembered that the last group of young customers were all wealthy and influential, and anticipating a big sale, he immediately began enthusiastically introducing the shop's products. Miaowu was astonished: "So many?"

She frowned slightly, looking a little conflicted: "But I have a few things I'd like to drink, what should I do?"

Upon hearing this, the shop owner became even more solicitous, saying, "Young customer, since this is your first time here, why not try them all? We don't have any bad drinks! You can simply pick your favorite from the ones you'd like to drink, how about that?"

Miaowu nodded: "That makes sense."

She pointed to the menu and ordered, displaying her extravagant style: "One of each of the following: perilla tea, cardamom tea, agarwood tea, Er Chen soup, mint drink, and osmanthus drink."

Then he turned back and asked the two adults and one child, "What would you like to drink?"

Liang Huaiji immediately said, "I'll drink what you leave behind."

Fusu grunted, "Let's drink together."

The name is quite strange. It's supposedly a mixture of sugarcane and radish juice, and it's said to have lung-moistening effects. He was curious about what it tasted like last time, but didn't dare order it to avoid a bad experience. He figured he might as well give it a try today.

Su Shi said, "I would also like some osmanthus-flavored drink. Thank you so much."

Miaowu said, "What's the big deal? After all, I promised to host you two today."

After a moment, she said with concern and earnestness, "Young Master Su, it's just a cup of drink. It's not worth you walking around in the street dressed like this."

I'm treating you today.

Please don't do that again.

Su Shi, who was gulping down his drink: "..."

What to do? The osmanthus drink that was supposed to be refreshing and cooling in my mouth suddenly doesn't taste sweet at all.

Su Shi turned his head to look at Fusu, who also turned his head away at that moment, clearly not intending to help. He had no choice but to grit his teeth and swallow the bitter pill: "Thank you for your teachings, Your Highness. I will not do it again."

Miaowu nodded and focused on tasting the drink.

Her table was piled high with food. Every time she raised a cup to her lips, she would purse her lips and her eyes would light up. When she drank the perilla water, she didn't even bother to comment and downed it in one gulp.

"It's so cool here," she said. "Shall we come here again when we return to the palace? I'd like to bring some for Father, Empress, and Consort."

“Of course, no problem,” Fusu said.

They sat in a corner of the beverage shop, some distance from the owner behind the counter. Since the shop was empty, they spoke without restraint, using any form of address they felt comfortable with. Suddenly, Liang Huaiji gestured, indicating that someone had arrived.

Who is it?

The group all looked over.

The newcomer was an old woman; her clothes were worn and clearly ill-fitting. The bundle on her back weighed her down. She sat down, panting and trembling, in a corner of the drink shop, wiping the sweat from her brow, without ordering. The owner sat calmly behind the counter, pretending not to see her.

It turns out he was just a passerby taking a break.

Fusu looked at the menu, intending to order a bowl of water for the old woman. Miaowu, however, had already brought two cups of drinks and approached her: "Grandma, I ordered too many drinks; I can't finish them. Could you please help me out?"

"This is a mint drink, and this is a traditional Chinese medicine soup. Which one do you prefer?"

The old woman seemed startled. She wanted to refuse, but the weather was so hot that she couldn't bring herself to say no. Her hands trembled as she accepted the mint drink, repeatedly thanking Miaowu, "Thank you so much, Miss, for your kindness..."

After saying that, he picked up the cool bamboo cup and gulped it down, clearly because he had been extremely thirsty.

"Please drink slowly, be careful not to choke."

After finishing her drink, the old woman wiped her mouth and thanked her profusely, making Miaowu feel embarrassed and as if she should do more. Her gaze then fell on the bundle on the old woman's back.

"Grandpa, what are you carrying on your back? Aren't you tired of carrying that for so long?"

The old woman paused, then took off the bundle from her body and hugged it tightly to her chest. Under Miaowu's curious gaze, she untied a corner to show her: "These are sawdust I got from the carpenter; I'm going to sell them to people in the neighborhood."

"...sawdust?"

This was clearly beyond the princess's knowledge. Miaowu had never even seen a whole piece of wood before, let alone understood the use of sawdust, let alone how it could be sold.

Fusu also chimed in: "Is it for starting a fire?"

He had seen survival shows where wood chips were used as fuel.

The old woman nodded repeatedly, revealing the few teeth she had left.

"Young man is right! It can also be used to fill cracks, compost, and even keep damp when piled up in places where animals stay. It has many uses."

Miao Wu was utterly amazed, as if a door to a new world had been opened for her: "Really? I didn't know it could be done like that!"

Her gaze fell on the old woman's back, which was bent over even after she had untied her weights.

"Grandpa, how about I buy these sawdust?"

Logically speaking, this should be a good deal. The old woman talked about so many benefits, but how many families would actually be willing to pay for them? It would be better to just sell the whole package to Miaowu. After all, she seemed to be willingly taking a loss.

But after hesitating for a long time, the old woman still shook her head.

Miaowu exclaimed, "Ah!" and asked, "Why are you unwilling?"

The old woman moved her lips, but couldn't bring herself to speak. That answer would make her seem ungrateful.

"Is it because it will lead to a loss of customers?" Fusu suddenly jumped out and said.

"Wood shavings aren't really anything special. There are as many woodworkers as there are wood shavings in Bianjing. But ordinary people think they're useless and might not be willing to buy them. If this old man doesn't go around hawking his wares to the neighbors for a day, those who were going to buy them will either change their minds or be lured away by other wood shaving vendors, and then he won't be able to sell them anymore. Is that right, old man?"

Miaowu was suddenly taken aback: "So that's how it is."

With a single note from Fusu, she grasped the key. Immediately, she was filled with endless admiration. From selling mere sawdust to the techniques behind it all, the ingenuity and helplessness involved were a thousand times richer than the drink she had just consumed.

"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. Is that true?"

Now it was Fusu's turn to be stunned.

This insightful statement not only reveals the essence of the old woman's unwillingness to sell sawdust, but also the essence of how her fate was altered.

Although she herself was completely unaware of it.

Yes, instead of thinking about how to deal with the hidden dangers of the Li family... why did he never think about teaching Miao Wu how to fish?

Even if the Li family is gone, there might still be the Wang or Zhang families in the future, unless Miaowu can decide her own marriage.

"Sister, come with me to a place in a little while."

Fusu said.