Zi Xi quietly ate her simple breakfast: porridge, steamed buns, and a small dish of pickled vegetables.
She ignored Aunt Liu and showed no dissatisfaction or grievance.
He took every word of Aunt Liu's veiled insults to heart.
She understood that this was the consequence of her husband's neglect.
It was also Aunt Liu's way of putting her in a tough spot, trying to make her realize her place in the family.
It would be foolish to confront her head-on now, and crying and complaining would only make the Lu family look down on her.
Zi Xi sighed inwardly. Was this a case of leaving the wolf's den only to fall into the tiger's lair?
Lu Ran still didn't go home that day, and the next day Zi Xi got up earlier than usual.
She tiptoed into the kitchen, rummaged through the flour and sugar, found the last few eggs, and also some red bean paste.
Using the recipe for pastries written on the iron block, she began to knead dough, prepare fillings, and steam them.
When Aunt Liu followed the aroma into the kitchen, she saw several steaming baskets of freshly cooked pastries on the stove.
These small and exquisite red bean buns have thin skins and generous fillings, and are even shaped into delicate lace patterns.
"Aunt Liu, I tried making some local snacks from my hometown. Why don't you try them?"
When Zixi saw Aunt Liu, she gave her a humble and gentle smile, placed a small plate of snacks in front of Aunt Liu on a clean cloth.
As the saying goes, one cannot hit a smiling face. Looking at the plate of delicate pastries and listening to those soft, sweet words, Aunt Liu couldn't find any fault with them for a moment.
The muscles on her serious face twitched a few times, and she accepted the snacks with a disgruntled expression.
*
On the morning of her return visit, Zi Xi quietly got up.
In the kitchen, she quickly prepared water chestnut cake and soft, sweet red bean glutinous rice balls as gifts for her return visit to her parents' home.
Footsteps echoed down the stairs. Lu Zhenbang, dressed in a crisp Zhongshan suit, and Qin Xueyi, in an elegant cheongsam, descended the stairs one after the other.
Zi Xi then realized that the Lu couple had stayed here last night.
Good morning, Mom and Dad.
"I made some snacks, I don't know if they'll suit your tastes."
Zi Xi looked at them obediently.
Qin Xueyi walked over quickly to examine the pastries, a hint of surprise and complexity flashing in her eyes.
"You silly child, getting up so early to prepare for your homecoming. That rascal should have been the one to accompany you back, but he..."
She took Zixi's hand and patted it gently, then sighed.
"That good-for-nothing has run off somewhere again. He made such a mess of his wedding, and now he dares to skip such an important event as his return visit."
Lu Zhenbang sat down at the head of the table, his eyes flashing with satisfaction as he glanced at the pastries, but his brows furrowed again when he mentioned that good-for-nothing.
"Zhenbang..."
"Zixi, don't take it to heart."
“We’ve really spoiled that child. We’ll definitely give him a good talking to when he gets back.”
Qin Xueyi gently stopped her, turning to Zi Xi with a look of apology.
"Mom and Dad, it's alright. Brother Lu... he's busy with his career outside, I won't take it to heart."
Zi Xi's generous smile successfully pleased the Lu family couple.
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