Even amidst such a crowded scene, Pei Ji still attracted a lot of attention whenever he walked by.

Among these scrutinizing gazes, some were well-intentioned compliments, while others were veiled covetousness.

Stone, who was following Pei Ji closely, naturally noticed the situation and immediately became more vigilant.

Unlike the naive Pei Ji, Shi Tou had spent several years wandering the capital alone and had firsthand experience of the evil in human nature. Therefore, he always kept a close eye on Pei Ji, not daring to overtake him, for fear of missing Pei Ji's movements.

Pei Han was multitasking, keeping an eye on Min Yueqing beside him while also keeping an eye on Pei Ji and Shi Tou in front of him.

Min Yueqing wore a veil, which saved her a lot of trouble and also shielded her from many prying eyes.

Occasionally, someone would try to take advantage of Min Yueqing while there were many people around, but Pei Han would quickly block them in advance, so she didn't have to do anything herself.

Time flies when you're at a temple fair, and before you know it, it's noon.

Pei Han asked Min Yueqing, "Madam, it's getting late. Shall we find a restaurant nearby for lunch?"

Min Yueqing readily agreed.

Not far away was Yiranju, the largest restaurant in the capital, and the group walked towards it.

Yi Ran Ju is the most famous restaurant in the capital, not only because of its large scale and luxurious interior, but also because the chefs it employs have impressive backgrounds, with several generations of their ancestors being imperial chefs.

Pei Han used to often gather here with his classmates or close colleagues. Several years have passed since then, but the shopkeeper still remembers him and greets him with a smile as soon as he sees him.

"Oh my, Scholar! I heard you were back a few days ago, but I couldn't believe it. I never expected to see you today. How have you been?"

Pei Han smiled and exchanged a few pleasantries with the shopkeeper.

The innkeeper was very perceptive. As soon as he saw that Pei Han was accompanied by a graceful woman who was also holding the hand of a young master, he stopped talking nonsense and asked, "Would the third-ranked scholar like to sit in his usual seat?"

The second and third floors of Yi Ran Ju are all private rooms, reserved specifically for high-ranking officials and dignitaries who frequent the establishment. Of course, the manager is also quite happy to entertain promising young men like Pei Han, who can single-handedly attract many noble ladies and women to the restaurant.

So no matter how good the restaurant's business is, these people are never afraid of not having a seat.

Seeing that Pei Han nodded, the shopkeeper personally led them upstairs to the second floor and instructed the waiter to treat them well.

Several years later, Pei Han, the once-charming scholar who captivated all the young women and noble ladies in the city, finally returned to the capital and even graced their Yi Ran Ju with his presence. The manager thought this was something to brag about for at least a month, and the price of the private room where Pei Han sat would rise accordingly.

The shopkeeper, stroking his beard, smiled smugly, anticipating the enthusiastic support he was about to receive.

Yi Ran Ju's three signature dishes are clear bird's nest soup, braised shark fin, and braised sea cucumber with scallions. They are all fresh, delicious, and unforgettable, truly living up to their reputation.

After eating one dish, Min Yueqing wanted to try another, and she tried every dish on the table.

She turned to Pei Han and said, "The chef here is indeed very skilled; the dishes are unique and authentic."

Seeing that Min Yueqing liked it, Pei Han said, "If Madam likes it, we can come again tonight. The dishes at Huiweilou Restaurant in the south of the city are also quite good. I've heard that several newly opened restaurants in the city have good reputations. We should try them all next time."

This seems to be a plan to eat my way through the entire city before leaving the capital.

It has to be said that this was exactly what Min Yueqing, the "foodie," wanted to hear, and she immediately agreed with a smile.

After lunch, the group wasn't in a hurry to return to their residence. Pei Han took them to a teahouse, where they drank tea and listened to storytellers.

Min Yueqing and Pei Han sipped their tea casually, while Pei Ji and Shi Tou each received a cup of plum juice.

The plum syrup was similar to the sour plum drink of later generations, with a sweet and sour taste. However, it was not advisable to drink too much in the cold weather, so Pei Ji and Shi Tou were only allowed to drink a small cup.

The storyteller was telling a love story of a talented scholar and a beautiful woman. Pei Ji listened with a vague understanding, while Shi Tou was not particularly interested in it either. He preferred to hear stories of heroes and great men.

Of the four, Min Yueqing listened with the most fascination, after all, gossip always has a unique appeal.

Actually, given Min Yueqing's knowledge of gossip, this story wasn't exactly original. It was still the old-fashioned framework of a poor scholar and a beautiful woman, with only minor changes to the details.

However, this storyteller was highly skilled, with a melodious voice, rich language, and meticulous performance, making his storytelling far from boring.

Dinner was also at Yi Ran Ju. In addition to a few must-order specialty dishes, Min Yueqing ordered some dishes that she hadn't ordered at lunch, trying to taste all the chef's dishes in one day.

After a day of fun and delicious food, the group finally returned home satisfied.

Although Pei Han was mostly just accompanying his wife and children, seeing them all smiles made him feel that the day was very fulfilling and enjoyable.

Little Wei spent most of the day alone in the empty room. Luckily, it liked to take naps when it had nothing to do, so it didn't get bored.

This was all thanks to Min Yueqing, who, while taking it into her space, personally went into the space to comfort it for a while; otherwise, it would have probably exhausted itself.

The next morning, the family returned to the Min residence.

From the moment she got up, Mother Min eagerly awaited her arrival. She would sit in the room for only a short while before going to the door to check. If she didn't see anyone, she would turn back and sit down again, repeating this cycle over and over.

Mr. Min was almost dizzy from being turned around by Mrs. Min. He said helplessly, "Why so early? My daughter has finally come back. She must have been busy yesterday. She must want to sleep in a little longer today."

Upon hearing this high-sounding statement, Madam Min immediately retorted, "Who was it that got up at the crack of dawn?"

Mr. Min was immediately speechless and shut his mouth in embarrassment.

Fortunately, Min Yueqing did not keep her mother waiting for long. They did not even have breakfast at the Earl's residence and came over as soon as they were ready.

When Min's mother saw that her daughter had arrived so early, she hurriedly asked, "Have you had breakfast?"

Min Yueqing shook her head, holding onto her mother's arm.

Mother Min immediately instructed, "Zilan, quickly take some people to the kitchen to bring breakfast. Be quick, bring some ready-made food first, and make the rest later."

A short while later, Zilan brought over a large plate of hot dumplings and various side dishes. Min Yueqing and Pei Han sat down at the table with Pei Ji to eat breakfast.

Min's mother also sat down next to Pei Ji, urging him to eat more, and directing Zi Lan to serve him his favorite dishes.

No matter how much Pei Ji ate, the food on his plate never seemed to decrease, which made Min Yueqing secretly chuckle.

Perhaps this is what the special bond between grandparents and grandchildren is like: grandparents worry that their grandchildren aren't eating enough or dressed warmly enough. Even though everyone knows these are unnecessary worries, few people can escape this common concern.