"I don't need to ask you if you've ever had blisters on your hands."
Luo Jiujiang let go of You Su's wrist and led him out the door. Seeing You Su pursed his lips as if being scolded, he couldn't help but laugh. "It's not like you can't draw bubbles because you don't practice diligently. Even without telling me, I know that as soon as you put down your brush, someone comes with water to soak your muscles and bones, and maybe even applies ointment and massages you. Do you think they're training a gentleman? Besides being a 'gentleman', they don't give you any other path to follow. They're training a fool."
Perhaps no one had ever spoken to You Su in this way since he was born—firm yet gentle, like a brother and also like a friend, neither agreeing nor fully understanding. You Su was truly stunned for a moment like a little idiot, then asked blankly, "Brother Luo, where are we going?"
"Eat. You haven't established your foundation yet." Luo Jiujiang blew a long whistle. "Have you seen the snack street during the evening market? You're right, because I haven't seen it either."
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The snack street was bustling with people.
The aroma of hot food and the tang of fat mingled together, creating a fragrance that would whet the appetite of even the most hungry. Luo Jiujiang and You Su stood together at the street corner. One hand tugged at You Su's sleeve to prevent the child from getting lost, the other hand shading his forehead like a canopy as he stood on tiptoe to take in the view. "Wow, it's quite nice! That's what a big world has to offer."
Luo Jiujiang had never seen such a snack street before, but he guessed that Qinglong Academy had one.
Even in a small world like their Seven Islands, during festivals and holidays, there were always people in the bustling places, setting up a long line of stalls to sell fresh seafood, either grilled or sashimi. So, it stands to reason that an event as major as Qinglong Academy's enrollment couldn't be without some joyful atmosphere.
Wherever there are crowds, there are people, and where there are people, there is food. Even if they couldn't find the expected snack street, Luo Jiujiang would just take You Su to any wonton stall and tell him that this was the snack street, and this young man who would mistake a mallet for a needle would believe it.
Thinking of this, Luo Jiujiang turned his head and looked at You Su. You Su looked back in confusion, not knowing why Brother Luo's eyes were so loving at this moment.
In the crowded crowd, the two of them were as hidden as two drops of water in the ocean.
It was You Su's first time experiencing this feeling of not being at the center of the crowd, and it was so refreshing that his eyes widened even more than usual. He tentatively removed his cloak, which didn't attract much attention. The occasional "Hey, that guy looks like Mr. You" or "Mr. You wouldn't dress like that for a place like this" made You Su shrink his head.
The food on the stalls mostly featured local Qinglong flavors, and they all looked fresh to Luo Jiujiang. However, compared to You Su, his actions were calm and decisive. You Su, who had quickly reached for money, pressed back and handed the stall owner the scattered spirit beads, "Two servings, please."
Are you kidding? If You Su really took out that standard high-grade spirit stone, all the stall owners on the long street might not be able to find enough change even if they came together. If people didn't know, they would think they were here to ruin the show.
A moment later, Luo Jiujiang was holding three or four small paper packages, each containing six or seven skewers. Crystal purple taro cakes, fresh-cut red cloud fruit, chewy fried meatballs, a small cup of sweet soup, fish slices drizzled with rich sauce... As long as humans have the will, they can always create such a variety of delicious things.
You Su was hesitant at first and refused to eat while walking. However, when the jelly that the stall owner emphasized to eat quickly fell apart, his expression fell along with the jelly.
Luo Jiujiang stifled a smile as he accompanied him back to buy another portion. He then calmly urged You Su a few more times, finally getting him to break his "don't talk while eating, don't eat while walking" rule. But his habits were hard to break. While Luo Jiujiang usually carried a bunch of things, You Su only took one thing at a time, finishing it before looking for a new one at the nearby stall.
The snack street wasn't too long, and they reached the exit in less than two minutes. Not far away were three or five pavilions for people to rest in, and the two of them occupied one. Luo Jiujiang joked, "You're going to say you've never seen such a simple pavilion before."
You Su smiled sheepishly. Luo Jiujiang sat across from him, but he turned, unceremoniously, to gaze at the bustling street. The lanterns lit up in each stall were a different shade of light, creating a tranquility amidst the bustle, a harmonious interplay of lights.
"Some snacks are too strong. I see you're pouting." Luo Jiujiang said with a smile, "They're not the flavors you're used to, are they?"
"But I don't feel bad, they are all good." You Su reluctantly tore his gaze away from the short street. He touched his chest, feeling that it was filled with soft and sweet fragrance, which was playfully bulging in his heart, as if it could carry him flying.
"There's no slow cooking, no priceless ingredients, and no broth. This is just the ups and downs of life for us ordinary people." Luo Jiujiang held up his chin and smiled at You Su. "I heard that Master You is generous and gives money to the independent cultivators every month... You see, those spirit stones you gave them might be used for things like this. They usually save two meals, so that one nice night they can walk the same path you walked, eat the same food you just ate, and then go back to sleep warmly and happily, and continue studying and learning tomorrow."
You Su listened to every word almost greedily, then stared back blankly. Luo Jiujiang smiled back. After a moment, You Su lowered his head and reached out to wipe the table in the pavilion.
The pavilion where they rested was rarely cleaned, and a thin layer of dust had already accumulated on the table. You Su, a naturally tidy person, felt a revelation of the dust. Half-pullring his sleeves, he used the gentle moonlight streaming down from the horizon, his finger as a brush, the table as his desk, and meticulously sketched a simple picture on the dust.
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