"Grandma, aunt, how do the pastries taste?" Wang Xinlan waited for Old Lady Xiao and Madam Xiao to taste the pastries, then she blinked and asked with her mouth open.

Madam Xiao twitched her lips, fluttered her eyelashes, and replied with a faint smile: "Xinlan's cooking must be as delicious as always. Aunt will never get tired of it even if she eats more."

She picked up her handkerchief and wiped the crumbs from the corners of her mouth, then looked up at Wang Xinlan and spoke in praise.

Mrs. Xiao only has one son, Xiao Yihe, and she has no daughter, so she has always regarded Wang Xinlan as her own daughter.

Their Xiao family is a century-old family.

When she was a child, Mrs. Xiao raised Wang Xinlan according to the standards of a daughter of a wealthy family.

The nanny who taught her etiquette and the teacher who taught her knowledge were all the best.

As an aunt, what she did went far beyond the duties of an aunt.

However, because Wang Xinlan had been without a mother since childhood, Mrs. Xiao also felt sorry for her and gave her motherly love to the best of her ability.

Wang Xinlan did not disappoint her aunt and grandmother's expectations and cultivation of her. She was smart and could learn everything taught by the nanny and the teacher after just two attempts.

They all praised her for her good understanding.

"Aunt, I'd be proud if you said that." Wang Xinlan blushed a little embarrassedly when she heard Madam Xiao's praise for her. "Grandma, didn't you say you wanted to eat lotus seed soup? Why didn't Lan'er eat much when she saw you? Is it because Lan'er didn't cook well or is it because Grandma doesn't have an appetite?"

Wang Xinlan bit her lip and saw that Old Madam Xiao had only taken two mouthfuls of lotus seed soup and did not move the spoon again. Seeing that the old lady looked like she was worried about something, she blinked, looked up at the old lady's eyes, and asked.

Madam Xiao raised her hand and waved, "No, Lan'er cooked very delicious food. Grandma is just old and has a small appetite. She feels tired after eating a few bites. I will take a break and stop eating."

The old lady also knew that Wang Xinlan had put a lot of effort into making these things. After all, she was the one who asked others to make them. She didn't even eat a few bites of them, and she didn't want to let her granddaughter down.

Madam Xiao said, "Xinlan, your grandmother just woke up, so it's normal for her to have no appetite. You, like your aunt, also have no appetite when you wake up in the morning. It's not that the food you cook is not delicious."

My mother has had a very poor appetite these past two days because she has been feeling unwell.

The reason why she mentioned to Xinlan that she wanted to eat lotus seed soup was just to find an excuse to send her out.

Although she didn't quite understand why her mother sent Xinlan away when talking to them.

But I couldn't tell her the truth.

They were always worried that someone in the mansion would gossip about them behind their backs, causing Wang Xinlan to think that she was living under someone else's roof.

So when she was very young, they set rules with all the servants in the mansion that no one was allowed to spread gossip in the mansion, and anyone who violated the rules would be expelled from the Xiao Mansion.

But they have no control over the sounds outside.

After all, many people outside use the past of Wang Xinlan and her parents as a topic of conversation after dinner.

They can control the people in the mansion, but they cannot control the mouths of people outside.

As the saying goes, good news doesn’t travel far, but bad news travels far and wide.

After all, the truth will come out.

It was impossible for them to lock Wang Xinlan in her room forever and not let her go out.

There are some things that she should face and know, and she also needs to digest them by herself.

"Yes, Lan'er, your aunt is right."

When Mrs. Xiao heard her daughter-in-law speaking for her, she nodded quickly.

She just blinked and did not look her granddaughter in the eyes when she spoke as she usually did.

The old lady still felt a little guilty.

She was afraid that Wang Xinlan would see through her guilty conscience.

Wang Xinlan blinked her eyes, glanced at Old Madam Xiao, opened her lips, and said, "Grandma, it's okay. If you can't eat it, we won't eat it."

She was afraid that the old lady would feel embarrassed, so she reached out and took the porcelain bowl in front of her to the side.

Wang Xinlan just realized that her grandmother is old and can’t eat too much sticky food like these.

It is difficult for elderly people to digest these things if they eat too much.

Besides, my grandmother hasn’t been feeling well these days.

Eating too much sweets can easily cause phlegm.

Wang Xinlan bit her lip, feeling a little annoyed.

She blamed herself for not considering this just now.

"Lan'er, don't take it away. Put it aside first. I'll eat it later when I want to. Grandma only took two bites and took it away like this. It's such a waste."

Although Madam Xiao seldom goes out, she knows that there are wars in many places outside right now, and the people are suffering. In some places, they can't even guarantee food and clothing.

Although they are in Yaodu and have not been affected by the war for the time being, they cannot be extravagant just because they have a good life and are not short of food and clothing.

"Mother, you can't eat any more. It's time for dinner soon. It's getting late now. If you eat too much of these cakes, your stomach will be uncomfortable when you go to bed at night. I'll ask Xiao Lingling to take these down first. I'll ask the cook to warm them over a low fire. If you want to eat some tomorrow during the day, Wan'er won't stop you. I know you don't want to waste anything. Don't worry, Wan'er will make arrangements."

Madam Xiao guessed what the old lady was thinking. She reached out and patted the back of Madam Xiao's hand, pursed her lips and looked at him, then opened her mouth and spoke.

Nowadays, things are not peaceful anywhere, and my mother’s idea of ​​being prepared for danger in times of peace is not wrong.

In this special period, although there is no food shortage in their house, they still need to prepare for the follow-up just in case.

After all, no one knows how long the war between the two armies will last. If the war spreads to Yandu one day, they will not be in a rush if they make preparations early.

"Okay, Wan'er has thought it through carefully." Old Madam Xiao nodded and spoke with confidence.

A good relationship between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law can be comparable to that between mother and daughter.

"Little Bell, take these to the kitchen."

Mrs. Xiao licked her lower lips and raised her hand to wave at Xiao Lingling.

Hearing this, Xiao Lingdangwen walked up to Madam Xiao and said, "Yes, Madam."

"Oh, it's almost time for dinner now. Take these to the kitchen and then go to the master's study to call the master and ask him to prepare to come to the hall for dinner. The old lady and I will be waiting for him in the hall. Don't send anyone to call him. Just ask him to pack up and come directly."