Meng Zhao gently pinched the little girl's rosy cheeks; the feel was wonderful. However, she didn't dare to pinch them too much. After satisfying her urge, she let go and then affectionately took Song Wanyin's arm, walking upstairs to the private room. At the same time, she instructed Huang Cui to prepare some tea and snacks. When Song Wanyin heard that she had ordered all her favorite dishes, her heart warmed, and a gentle smile appeared on her lips.
Pushing open the carved wooden door of the private room, a delicate fragrance of plum blossoms wafted out. Song Wanyin looked around and saw that the room was elegantly and uniquely furnished. A sprig of plum blossoms was placed in a celadon vase, which complemented the snow plum blossom painting on the screen behind her, making her feel as if she were in a plum grove. She couldn't help but exclaim, "This private room is really ingeniously decorated. Even the incense is so exquisite. It must have taken you a lot of thought."
Meng Zhao poured her a cup of tea, its aroma filling the air, and said with a smile, "That's right. People in the capital are all worldly-wise. If I don't decorate it nicely, I'm afraid they'll look down on me."
After Song Wanyin took a sip of fragrant tea, Meng Zhao continued, "Speaking of which, I haven't thanked you yet. When the shop first opened, your aunt came to support it quite a bit and told me a lot about the furnishings that noble ladies in the capital like. Otherwise, my shop wouldn't be decorated like this."
"There's no need to thank me. My mother said in her letter that she always feels especially comfortable when she meets up with her old close friends at your place." A gentle smile appeared in her eyes. "On the contrary, she should thank you. She said that the skincare sets and VIP gold cards you gave her made her feel very prestigious in Beijing's high society circles."
Meng Zhao smiled and poured her more tea. "Auntie has introduced me to so many business opportunities, it's only right that I do this. Recently, Treasure Pavilion launched a new pearl beauty set. When Auntie has some free time, please ask her to try it. I think it will definitely suit her skin."
As soon as the two entered the room, Song Wanyin asked the nanny to put Manman down so she could move around a bit. While they were chatting, Manman had been wandering around the private room with wide eyes, full of curiosity. Now she was standing on tiptoe, reaching out her little hands to reach for the plum blossoms in the celadon vase on the shelf. The nanny was worried about the danger and quickly picked her up. The little girl immediately pouted, looking very unhappy.
Seeing this, Meng Zhao gently plucked a plum blossom from the vase, held it in her palm, and presented it to Manman. "Manman, do you like this plum blossom? Would you like to smell how fragrant it is?"
These plum blossoms were planted in a workshop on the outskirts of Beijing. This morning, the shop assistant from the villa brought them over when he delivered goods. They were still covered in morning dew and were very fresh.
The little girl's eyes lit up. She reached out her chubby little hand to take the plum blossom, and didn't forget to say to Meng Zhao, "Thank you, Auntie!"
Although she was only two years old, her pronunciation was exceptionally clear. Her soft, sweet voice always carried a hint of milky sweetness, which melted Meng Zhao's heart.
She first brought the plum blossom to her nose and smelled it, then suddenly her eyes darted around, and with lightning speed she stuffed the flower into her mouth.
"Oh no! You can't eat this!" Meng Zhao was so shocked he almost jumped up. He quickly reached out and gently pinched the little girl's chin, then used two fingers to pull out the plum blossom that she hadn't yet swallowed. The petals were still covered with glistening saliva.
Seeing this, Song Wanyin got up and walked over, looking Manman in the eye, and said seriously, "Wang Manren, how has your mother taught you? You can't just put everything in your mouth. Last time, I wasn't paying attention, and you lay on the ground and ate several blades of grass, which made your stomach hurt all day. Isn't that enough of a lesson for you?"
The scolded little girl pouted, her big, dark eyes instantly filling with tears. She stretched out her chubby little arms, pitifully wanting her mother to hold her. Song Wanyin remained calm, only saying gently, "If you know you've done something wrong, just say 'I'll never do it again,' and then your mother will hold you."
The little girl sobbed and stretched out her hand: "Mother... Manman was wrong... Manman won't eat... won't eat..." Her childish voice was thick with nasal tone, like a wronged kitten.
Song Wanyin smiled, hugged her daughter, and gently coaxed her. Then she picked up the plum blossom cake on the table and said, "The plum blossoms that Aunt Zhaozhao gave you earlier were for looking at. This plum blossom cake is for eating. Manman, have a taste?"
Sunlight streamed through the window, casting dappled shadows on the mother and daughter. The little girl stopped crying and smiled, taking small bites of pastries from her mother's hand.
In Meng Zhao's memory, although Song Wanyin was a lady from a prestigious family, she was never the kind of person who was rigid and obedient. Back in Qingshi County, she would eat skewers on the street and eat potato noodles in her shop, slurping and spitting out the spiciness but refusing to stop. When the two of them went out shopping, she was sometimes even more unrestrained than Meng Zhao. Now, seeing her with a dignified face, scolding the children in a serious manner, Meng Zhao found it very novel.
After coaxing Manman, Song Wanyin looked up and met Meng Zhao's probing gaze. Guessing what she was thinking, she said softly, "A woman will always change once she becomes a mother."
Although her eyes were gentle and her fingers were stroking her daughter's soft hair, Meng Zhao could keenly detect a trace of sadness in her soft tone. But since Song Wanyin didn't say anything, Meng Zhao didn't ask. Instead, he chatted with her about some interesting things that had happened in the capital recently.
Before they knew it, the sun had risen high in the sky, and Manman was tired from playing. Her little head was nodding. Before parting, Meng Zhao specially packed a basket of vegetables and mushrooms sent from Quyang and put it on the carriage. "These vegetables and mushrooms are all grown by myself. Although they are not as fresh as those in season, they can still add some novelty to the winter. Once you have finished eating, just send someone to tell me, and I will have someone send more over."
The sight of this emerald green in winter is inexplicably comforting. A genuine smile appeared in Song Wanyin's eyes: "Then I won't stand on ceremony with you. Once things are settled in the manor in a couple of days, I'll invite you over for a visit. We can chat more then."
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