Inside the kitchen, An Moxue sat on a small stool with a small basket in front of her. She was picking through the scallions, ginger, and garlic in the basket while watching the fire burning in the stove.

Aunt Qing was sitting at the counter with her head down, carefully chopping vegetables. The knife in her hand moved so fast that it left afterimages. All that could be heard was the rapid chopping sound of 'clang clang clang, clang clang clang', and the occasional crackling sound of burning firewood. Apart from that, there was no other sound.

An Moxue was captivated by Aunt Qing's complete focus, even handling the firewood with utmost care when adding it. Aunt Qing didn't utter a single word until all the dishes were ready.

Who would have thought that this elegant and intellectual beauty could be so passionate when she speaks, and so engrossed in cooking, as if she only sees the ingredients in front of her in the whole world? It's a bit dreamlike and unreal, yet incredibly charming.

After finishing cooking, the kitchen was filled with the aroma of the food. An Moxue felt her appetite whetted by the smell and really wanted to eat.

Aunt Qing was delighted to see the sparkle in An Moxue's eyes. After all, for a chef, the happiest thing is when people like the food they make.

Aunt Qing glanced at her watch and said, "Here, whichever you want to eat, and pack the rest up."

An Moxue pointed to the two dishes she wanted to eat the most and said, "Aunt Qing, I want to eat this and that, and the rest can be packed up."

“Okay.” Aunt Qing took out a food box from the cabinet next to her and put the vegetables in it.

An Moxue took a look and exclaimed, "Good heavens!" Uncertainly, she asked, "Aunt Qing, is this made of sandalwood?"

"Hmm, not bad, you have good taste!" Aunt Qing said approvingly.

"Aunt Qing, just use a regular box. This is a bit wasteful."

"It's alright, just bring it back to me next time you come," Aunt Qing said casually.

"Alright! Aren't you afraid I'll keep this food box and not return it to you?" An Moxue joked.

"Oh dear! It's just a broken box. If you like it, you can have it. I have several more here!" He said, opening the cabinet next to him to show An Moxue.

Then he picked up a tray, put the dishes and bowls on it, and said to An Moxue, "Let's take the food box and go eat."

As she spoke, she left the kitchen, and An Moxue followed her into the room where they had eaten last time, carrying a food box.

After the food was set out, the two sat on opposite sides of the table. Aunt Qing said, "Mo Xue, try it and see how the fish head and fish ball soup are? Fish tastes best when eaten with rice."

Under Aunt Qing's watchful eye, An Moxue first picked up a piece of fish head with her chopsticks. It was crisp, smooth, and tender, with no fishy smell at all. Then she ladled out a spoonful of fish ball soup. The fish balls were bouncy and very chewy.

An Moxue swallowed the fish ball and said, "Aunt Qing, it's delicious."

Aunt Qing said, "Eat more if you like it. The head of this silver carp is the best part. If you like it, come back next time you get some fish, and I'll cook it for you again."

"Aunt Qing, you should eat too." He said, taking a soup spoon and ladling half a bowl of soup for Aunt Qing.

"Girls are still the most considerate. That brat Sicheng has eaten so much of my food since he was a child, but he's never been considerate enough to serve me a bowl of soup," Aunt Qing said with a sigh.

An Moxue smiled but didn't say anything, and just kept eating.

"It's good to be young. Seeing you eat makes me want to eat too." She said, picking up a spoon and scooping up a spoonful of soup to put in her mouth.

An Moxue ate with relish, which also whetted Aunt Qing's appetite, and the two of them finished a pleasant meal together.

After eating and drinking to their hearts' content, Mo Xue said, "Aunt Qing, you were so cool when you cooked. You swung the cleaver so fast it left afterimages."

“According to my dad, when I was only a few months old, he started holding me and picking and washing vegetables. Before I could even speak a complete sentence, I could already cut vegetables with a knife. I grew up in the kitchen.” Aunt Qing’s whole body shone as she spoke of this.

"By the way, how did you and Sicheng meet?"

"He was arresting criminals, and I was just passing by. That's how we met."

"Oh!? He's interested in you, isn't he?"

"Um."

"What does 'hmm' mean?"

"I knew about it, but I didn't agree."

"Okay, you must persevere."

This time it was An Moxue's turn to be surprised. This wasn't the way a normal elder would think! Their relationship was clearly very good!

Aunt Qing noticed An Moxue's surprise and said, "I suspect the person I'm looking for knows where he is, but he won't tell me. Why can't I have it, but he can? You tell me, right?"

"Yes, Aunt Qing. Don't worry, I'm hard to win over."

Aunt Qing laughed heartily when she heard her say that. "That's good. Come over whenever you have time. Aunt Qing will cook you something delicious. This brat is the only person I'm close to here. He's so busy that he's sometimes gone for a year or two."

"Aunt Qing, do you live here alone?"

"yes."

"Aunt Qing, how many years have you been here?"

"It's been almost three years. Chinese New Year is coming soon, how are you spending it?"

"Just live normally!"

"Want to come live with me?"

"Thank you, Aunt Qing, but no, I'm fine living alone."

"Sigh! Alright! Why didn't Xiuyu give birth to a girl back then? Instead, she gave birth to this brat, Sicheng. Honestly. If she had given birth to a girl, she would definitely be as beautiful and cute as you, and as considerate. Now I would have someone to keep me company."

"Aunt Qing, why don't you think about having one yourself? Why are you still relying on Wu Sicheng's mother?"

"I want to have a child, but I need someone to help me! After we got engaged, my fiancé disappeared, doing some kind of research project. He was gone for over ten years, and when he finally came back, he was sent to the countryside. I can't find him!"

"Are you sure you want to be sent down here?"

"It's pretty close to the truth!"

"What's your name? I'll ask someone for you."

"It's no use. I asked many friends for help, but I couldn't find it. You've only been here for six months. Never mind, I won't trouble you any further."

"It's nothing, just asking, it's no trouble at all."

"In his forties, his name is Qian Weiyong. A bookworm."

An Moxue expressed her doubts. With Qingyi's obsession with appearances, how could she be ugly?

"Aunt Qing, don't worry. As long as the person is still alive, we will definitely find them sooner or later."

“I’m so afraid he’ll be persecuted! He’s such a frail scholar. How could he suffer so much?” Aunt Qing said, her eyes welling up with tears.

"Aunt Qing, don't worry. Since you suspect that Wu Sicheng knows his whereabouts, he will protect him to some extent. He doesn't tell you because he doesn't want to implicate you."

"Hopefully! Look, you've heard this awful stuff."

"Aunt Qing isn't afraid I'll leak this information to her, which means she doesn't treat me like an outsider. We're family, there's no need for such formalities. If all else fails, I can sound out Wu Sicheng for you. Once you know he's alright, you'll feel more at ease."

"As soon as I asked, that brat changed the subject. I suspect that the bookworm instructed him to do it."

An Moxue glanced at her watch and said, "Aunt Qing, it's time, I have to go. Don't worry, everyone will be alright." With that, she put on her clothes, picked up the food box, and left the house.

Aunt Qing saw me off at the gate and said, "Come whenever you're free, Aunt Qing will cook you something delicious."

"Okay, Aunt Qing, I will. Goodbye!"