Chen Chong didn't answer. He wrapped the basket with the rope and was about to carry it away. Tian Yu got anxious. How could this person be like this? If he was going to help, he should have explained it clearly. He wasn't mute. She angrily pressed down on the bamboo basket to stop Chen Chong from carrying it away, and said sullenly, "What do you want to do? Rob me?"

"I'll help you." Chen Chong hadn't spoken to anyone in a long time, and his voice was somewhat stiff.

"Help me? Why? We don't know each other." Tian Yu finally spoke, but she was still not entirely at ease, thinking that they really weren't familiar with each other.

"I want to help you," Chen Chong didn't know how to express it. He had originally planned to go back after selling the pigs, but thinking of them here, he found them without realizing it. When he saw the two of them sitting on the roadside, exhausted, he came over without thinking. Now, if you ask him why, he doesn't know himself.

"It's because he felt guilty for almost getting us hit by a wild boar yesterday and wanted to make it up to us," Tian Yu said, staring into his eyes to see what he was thinking.

"Yeah, right?" Chen Chong answered without thinking, avoiding Tian Yu's gaze. He figured whatever she said was fine, as long as she didn't ask him why, because he didn't know either.

"Alright, I do need your help, then I'll trouble you." Tian Yu noticed his hesitation and thought he might be shy, so she didn't press him further. After helping him carry the bamboo basket, Chen Chong walked ahead, with Tian Yu holding Tangyuan's hand and following behind. They hurried along, barely managing to keep up with Chen Chong's pace. Passing the pork stall, Tian Yu wanted to buy some meat and called out breathlessly to those ahead:

"Hey, slow down, wait for us!"

After haggling with the butcher for a long time, I finally bought a piece of pork belly and three large bones for two hundred coins. I also got a piece of pig liver, because offal and bones are very cheap here, and usually no one eats them because they are troublesome.

Chen Chong saw Tian Yu wanting to buy pork bones and liver and tried to stop her, but seeing that the vendor was practically giving them away, he withdrew his hand. After buying the meat, Chen Chong took it and continued walking. If Tian Yu weren't from the same village, he was afraid she would snatch his things. He had originally planned to show Tangyuan around, but now he could only jog along to keep up. Tangyuan was so tired that she kept telling Chen Chong to slow down and wait for them. Whenever Chen Chong heard Tangyuan call, he would stop and wait, his pace noticeably slowing down. They chased and stopped like this for a while and soon arrived at the big tree at the city gate. Another carriage was already waiting under the tree. He hadn't seen the driver clearly when they arrived, but now he could see that he was a tall, thin middle-aged man in his forties or fifties, sitting under the tree eating the flatbread he had brought. When he saw them coming, he called out, "It's still early, wait a little longer, there are still two people who haven't arrived yet." Tian Yu glanced at Tang Yuan, who was sitting exhausted at the back of the cart, and then at Chen Chong, who had a blank expression. She helped him unload the bamboo basket, put the things back on the cart, and noticed the driver watching them with interest. Tian Yu felt uneasy and quickly nodded to Chen Chong to express her gratitude, adding, "Thank you, Brother Chen. We're so lucky to have met you, otherwise my daughter and I don't know how long we would have walked. Thank you, thank you."

"You're welcome," Chen Chong replied, at a loss for words after being thanked by Tian Yu. He could only stand there dumbfounded, scratching his head as he responded.

"Brother Chen, have you eaten yet?"

Chen Chong's answer to "I didn't eat" was still brief and stiff.

"Then, to express our gratitude, my daughter and I will treat you to lunch," Tian Yu said, pulling up Tangyuan.

"Okay," Chen Chong nodded in agreement.

Tian Yu and the driver agreed that Tian Yu would watch the things for a while and return after dinner. The driver told her not to forget the time.

Led by Chen Chong, they then headed south of the city. South Street was mostly lined with restaurants, shops, food stalls, and taverns. Tian Yu followed Chen Chong to a stall and ordered three bowls of noodles. After sitting down, before Tian Yu could speak, Tang Yuan started asking all sorts of questions, but not to Tian Yu; he was asking Chen Chong instead.

"Uncle Chen, do you come to the city often?"

"No, occasionally."

"It's so lively here! There are so many things I've never seen before. Uncle Chen, what's that tall building across the street? It's a shop!"

Yuelai Restaurant

"Wow, that's so tall! There aren't any houses this tall in our village."

Tian Yu felt awkward and could only smile silently. There were many customers at lunchtime, so two bowls of noodles were served first. Tian Yu gave Tangyuan a bowl, but Tangyuan refused and told her to eat first. After Tian Yu explained several times, Tangyuan finally took the noodles and eagerly began to eat. Tian Yu then politely said to Chen Chong:

"Thank you for your help, Brother Chen. This bowl of noodles is on me, Brother Chen, please eat first." He then pushed the noodles towards Chen Chong.

"No need, you eat first," Chen Chong said, pushing the noodles towards Tian Yu.

"Brother Chen, you should eat first. I'm not hungry yet, I'll wait a bit longer." Tian Yu tried to return the noodles, but Chen Chong stopped her. Looking at Chen Chong's determined eyes, Tian Yu had no choice but to take the noodles back and eat them herself.

"Then I'll eat first."

Fortunately, the other bowl was ready in no time, and the three of them ate their noodles quietly. Tangyuan praised the noodles, asking if they could come back for more next time. Tianyu readily agreed, saying she would bring him back for even better noodles next time. It was rare to see Chen Chong across from them smile. She felt he wasn't a bad person and had no ill intentions, so Tianyu thought they should chat a bit more; perhaps they could become friends and look out for each other. Besides, Tangyuan liked him quite a bit. After thinking for a moment, Tianyu looked at Chen Chong and asked with a smile, "Brother Chen, isn't it dangerous for you to live alone on the mountain?"

Chen Chong paused for a moment, unsure how to answer, then simply said, "It's not dangerous."

Seeing his expression, Tian Yu didn't know whether to laugh or get angry, and continued to ask, "Does Brother Chen have any other family members?"

"No, Father is gone, Mother is dead."

"Oh, I'm sorry, I was just asking casually."

"It's okay, I'm used to it."

Hearing him say that, Tian Yu felt more sympathy for Chen Chong. It's just a matter of habit; no one gets used to this, but they simply have no other choice.

"We haven't formally gotten to know each other yet. Let me introduce myself first. My name is Tian Yu, Tian as in 'field' and Yu as in 'language'. This is my son, Tangyuan. It's a pleasure to meet you." Tian Yu wanted to ease the atmosphere, so after introducing herself, she naturally extended her hand to shake hands with Chen Chong.

Chen Chong looked at the hand reaching out to him, unsure how to respond, and could only stare blankly at Tian Yu.

Seeing that Chen Chong didn't move, Tian Yu remembered that handshakes weren't common in ancient times, but feeling awkward, she continued, "Extend your left hand." As soon as Chen Chong extended his left hand, she immediately grasped it and shook it, then quickly withdrew her hand, adding, "In our hometown, if we shake hands, we're friends. Please take care of me in the future."

Chen Chong then understood, slowly withdrew his hand, and nodded frantically.

Upon hearing this, Tangyuan quickly extended his hand and imitated Tian Yu's self-introduction, then shook hands with Chen Chong. Tian Yu saw that he imitated him quite well and couldn't help but laugh, instantly easing the atmosphere.

Chen Chong looked at the woman across from him, whose face was always smiling. Her smile was so beautiful and radiant, bringing a ray of sunshine to his empty life. It was the first time since his father left that someone had talked to him so much and eaten with him.

After dinner, Tian Yu was supposed to treat everyone, but Chen Chong paid the bill first. Tian Yu had no choice but to say that she would invite him to her house sometime and she would cook for him herself.