114 Delicious Steamed Buns
Li Wei and her two siblings were always taken care of, with their diet and daily life being taken excellently, even more so than at home, so they didn't feel particularly happy going home for the weekend.
However, when Wu Feng and Zhou Xiaoyan's parents met and chatted with Cheng Min, they both said that their children came home like they were returning from a refugee camp, sweeping away everything edible in the house.
Cheng Min was overjoyed and boasted to her husband that evening: "Dad, look how farsighted I was! High school is already tiring enough for the kids. If they don't eat or sleep well, how can they be healthy? What are we working for? It's to make our children happier. Don't use your own hardship and suffering to judge them. Times have changed."
But that's a story for another time.
Luo Da drove Li Wei and her two siblings home, then, without even getting out of the car, drove to the old house to deliver gifts to Grandpa Cheng. His father had used his connections to get the best cigarettes, alcohol, candy, tea, and some fresh fruit, specifically asking Luo Da to come and show his respect to the old man.
Uncle Luo had spent half his life navigating the underworld, boasting of his past life of adventure. In his youth, he had heard countless tales of Yue Fei and the Seven Heroes and Five Gallants, dreaming of becoming a chivalrous hero, upholding justice. Unfortunately, despite his cleverness, he had never encountered any true masters, only a bunch of scoundrels who could at most throw bricks and brandish knives. Therefore, he fully supported his son's martial arts training with Master Cheng. Now that a master had taken his son as a disciple, Uncle Luo's passion finally had a purpose. He was deeply grateful to Master Cheng and didn't know how to best repay his kindness.
Over the years, Uncle Luo had given many gifts in his business dealings, and he had some experience with it. Seeing that Old Master Cheng was a rough man who didn't care much about etiquette, he simply bought some high-end cigarettes, alcohol, and daily necessities and asked Uncle Luo to deliver them. He also secretly remembered that he couldn't be absent from the etiquette during festivals.
He also reminded his son to remember to take good care of his grandfather when he grows up, because one should never forget one's roots.
When Luo Da arrived at the old house, he greeted the old lady. He then quickly moved all the things inside. The old lady tried to stop him, but he couldn't. Luo Da simply said, "My dad asked me to bring these," and then unloaded the things, said goodbye to the old lady, and left.
There were also two boxes of fresh grapes in the car, which Luo Da delivered directly to Li Wei's house. He had passed by a vineyard that afternoon and bought them because they looked good.
Today, all three scholars from the Li family have come home for the weekend. Cheng Min specially bought a lot of vegetables and prepared them early, just waiting for the children to come back so she could cook them.
When Luo Da came to deliver the vineyard, Cheng Min had already prepared the dishes. She was just about to send her husband to pick up her mother to eat together when Luo Da, being quick-witted, volunteered to go and fetch the old lady. Naturally, he ended up eating with her when he returned.
Now, Luo Da is practically an outsider in Old Li's family. Ever since he went to Shandong with the old man, the already good relationship between the two has deepened even further. They've even developed a bond like that of grandfather and grandson.
The old man's gaze towards Luo Dadi was so kind that Cheng Min was even jealous. She couldn't hold back any longer. While serving food to her sons, daughters, and mother, she complained to her father, "Dad, if I had known it would turn out like this, you should have brought Xiao Hui along. He could have had some pointers and improved his health."
Cheng Min had heard from her father that although Luo Da had suffered a lot this time, it was also a blessing in disguise. Despite his young age, he was no match for ten or eight strong young men. Now that Li Lianhui was gone, she wondered if he would be bullied outside. Having some martial arts skills would be good for self-defense.
The old man glared at his daughter: "You wish! Can Xiaohui endure that kind of hardship? He hasn't practiced his skills much. Going there would be a waste of time! And then you'd cry and complain to me. What do you know? It's not easy for Jianhua to have endured this for over a month. He almost lost half his life. Don't even mention Xiaohui, try it on any adult!"
Grandpa Cheng was quite annoyed by his daughter's womanly views. However, Li Lianhui was, after all, his grandson. Seeing his son-in-law Li Zhaoxing's hesitant expression, he took a sip of wine and said, "But if you're also interested, let Xiaohui learn a few moves from Jianhua's sixth senior brother. He can go to his martial arts school when it opens in a few days. It'll be good for him to strengthen his arms and legs. Boys need to be strong."
Li Lin was intrigued and quickly chimed in, "Grandpa, I want to go too!" She'd heard from Luo Jianhua's junior high classmate, who'd also gotten into the same high school. Luo Jianhua was really something; he'd once saved a girl from thugs. Li Lin admired Luo Jianhua's chivalrous spirit, thinking that even if she couldn't be a heroine, she'd at least avoid being that unfortunate girl.
Besides, look how majestic and dashing the female knights on TV are!
Cheng Min looked at her daughter. Such a delicate girl was indeed a cause for concern, so she agreed, "Yes, yes, Xiaolin, you should go and learn a few moves with Xiaohui so you won't get bullied by the boys. Xiaoming, you should come along too, get some exercise. You won't be as fast as Xiaolin when it really matters, that won't do!"
Li Wei swallowed the food in her mouth: "What do you mean by 'critical moment'? At worst, I won't go out when I'm alone. It's fine to stay at home anyway." She didn't want to come back covered in bruises like Luo Da; she didn't know how much pain that would cause. Besides, she already had a weapon for self-defense, and she was just worried about running into some pervert or something to test her skills on.
Li Zhaoxing was quite satisfied with his eldest daughter in every way, except for her laziness, which he couldn't stand. After hearing Li Wei's words, he couldn't help but criticize her: "You should move around more and socialize with your classmates. If you always stay at home like this, how will you get along with people in the future? Interpersonal relationships are a skill, and a very important one. They will be very useful when you start working. Don't be so lazy."
Li Wei understood this principle, of course, but the key issue was that it was difficult to find common ground with her classmates. The things she liked seemed to be of little interest or common sense to those girls, such as money, jobs, and houses—things she considered very practical and realistic. In her opinion, the things those girls liked were also childish, and some of them indulged in unrealistic and fantastical dreams. She really didn't want to engage in idle chatter with them.
Li Wei felt that since starting junior high school, she had tried her best to adapt to real life, but the gap did exist sometimes. Over time, she decided to let things take their course and not force herself to do things she didn't like.
As for interpersonal relationships, let it be.
So I didn't say anything about my dad's discipline, because saying anything would only make him angry.
Seeing her daughter eating silently without saying a word, Cheng Min quickly smoothed things over: "Alright, her dad, the child has finally come home for the weekend, so just say less. Don't be ungrateful, so many people have praised my Xiaoming to me, saying that the child is already quite sensible. Come on, eat your food. As for Luo Jianhua, help yourself to what you want to eat, treat him like you're at home."
Luo Jianhua didn't need anyone to be modest with him. He was starving, so he ate like crazy, finishing five bowls of rice and three steamed buns. Li Wei and her two siblings were dumbfounded, thinking he was a reincarnated glutton.
Cheng Min was overjoyed. "Look at this!" she exclaimed. "The children used to complain that my cooking wasn't as good as their grandma's, but now it seems they were just picky eaters. Luo Da has finally cleared their name! Look how much they're enjoying their food; they're so adorable!"
Grandpa Cheng knew that Luo Da could eat a lot. Seeing that Luo Da was starting to put down his chopsticks, he was worried that the child was too shy to eat enough, so he asked, "Is that enough? Would you like two more steamed buns? Don't pretend, just treat yourself like you're at home, your stomach is your own." After saying that, he gestured for Li Wei to hand the steamed buns from the large plate in front of her to Luo Da.
Li Wei glanced at him, thinking to herself that this guy didn't look fat. But his belly could hold a lot; could it be the legendary "Earthly Qi of Heaven and Earth" belly? She didn't think Luo Da would be embarrassed, but she still took a steamed bun and put it in the bowl in front of him.
Luo Da was actually full, and felt that the back-and-forth politeness was too noisy, so he picked up the steamed bun and ate it.
Then, without Grandpa saying anything, Li Wei picked up a steamed bun and threw it over. Luo Da ate it, then picked up another one...
Luo Da devoured all four steamed buns on the plate. Everyone was dumbfounded.
The old man glared at Luo Da: "Kid, are you full?"
Luo Da remained silent and simply nodded.
Li Wei couldn't take it anymore and hurriedly threw down her chopsticks: "Um... everyone, take your time eating, I'm done." After saying that, she rushed upstairs, laughing so hard she could hardly breathe.
After laughing, she thought, "Luo Da may not be much, but he's still a life. I shouldn't let him get hurt." She went to her small kitchen and poured some hawthorn slices from the jar. She held them in her hand. Just as she stepped out of the kitchen, Luo Da came upstairs. His expression was a little unnatural.
Li Wei suppressed a laugh: "I still have some snacks here, would you like some more? I think you're only half full."
Luo Da's face became even more unnatural, turning slightly red. He forced himself to remain calm and said, "Um, how about we go for a drive?"
Li Wei sized up Luo Da, who seemed to still have ulterior motives. It seemed that her sixth senior brother was no match for her master's methods. Luo Da even had the leisure to seduce her. Did he really want to force her to use another trick?
Thinking of this, Li Wei quickly shook her head: "I'm not going out, I need to rest. Oh, here, take this hawthorn slice. It'll help with digestion. If you overeat, all the effort my grandpa put into you will be wasted... Um, just wondering, couldn't you just say you're full and don't want any more, thank you?" Did her trip to Shandong mess up her brain? Or did it get waterlogged?
Luo Da took the hawthorn slices, tossed them aside, and said, "Then I'm leaving," before going downstairs.
The little one was still unhappy, so Li Wei called out to her back, "Don't force yourself if you really can't eat it. Hawthorn slices have volume too."
Luo Dajin took two steps, turned the corner of the stairs, and disappeared.
Li Wei deliberately exclaimed, "What an adorable child!"
A gurgling sound came from the stairs.
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