Yuan Doudou did not agree with An Rong's suggestion. On the surface, Lu Xi's return seemed to be due to a momentary impulse, but thinking about it more deeply, Lu Xi must have accumulated a lot of resentment at Zuixianlou, and when this fuse was triggered, it all exploded at once.
Unless Lu Xi wants to go back himself, no one can force him to go back, and it will be of no use in the end.
"Fine, let him have his way." Lu Xi is practically an adult and has the right to decide his own life. It was his suggestion to learn the craft in the first place, and it is also his decision to give it up now. It has always been his personal will.
They were just brothers and sisters in name only; they weren't Lu Xi's masters and couldn't dictate the path he should take.
An Rong didn't have many thoughts about Lu Xi; he just went along with Yuan Dou Dou, doing whatever Dou Dou wanted to do, and refraining from doing what she said was wrong.
"Okay, I'll do as you say." An Rong carefully dried Dou Dou's feet, helped her lie down, and went out to pour out the foot bath water.
I slept well all night.
When Yuan Doudou woke up, An Rong was no longer there. She could hear the wind outside, and the temperature was still dropping. She instinctively wrapped herself tightly in the blanket, while Anji slept soundly inside.
She's about to give birth, so I need to prepare some things for her and the baby before she goes into labor.
My neighbor, Sister Juan, is very kind. A few days ago, she brought over a large stack of diapers, an old patchwork quilt, and some clothes that her child wore when he was little, such as a tiger-head hat and tiger-head shoes.
Feeling embarrassed to take Juan's things for free, she asked An Rong to deliver three or four jars of good wine. Juan's husband, Chen Chuang, loved to drink, and when he saw the large jars of wine, he was overjoyed.
She also needed some things during her postpartum period, which Sister Juan couldn't provide, but she told her about them all, and she had already asked An Rong to buy some.
Wearing a headscarf is essential, as new mothers are susceptible to drafts, and since she gave birth in winter, extra care is needed.
Yuan Doudou's head started to itch at the thought of not being able to wash her hair for more than a month; it was too torturous.
An Rong prepared breakfast in the kitchen and asked Lu Xi to call them to eat.
"DouDou, dinner's ready," Lu Xi called softly from the doorway.
"Okay, coming right away." Yuan Doudou was already dressed and was helping Anji, who had just woken up, put on his cotton-padded jacket.
Lu Xi stood outside waiting for them. The temperature was extremely low in the morning, and her hands were red from the cold.
Yuan Doudou opened the door and saw Lu Xi rubbing her palms together and breathing on them.
"Why are you standing outside? Go to the front hall." The charcoal stove is burning in the lobby; isn't it warmer than outside?
Lu Xi wanted to say that he was waiting for them, but he was too embarrassed to say it.
"I'm not cold." After holding it in for a long time, that was all I could say.
Yuan Doudou noticed his restraint. This child was too introverted. He was shy even when speaking at home. Wouldn't he have to pretend to be mute when he was outside?
She didn't want to lecture Lu Xi before eating, as it would affect her appetite and digestion.
At breakfast, everyone was eating quietly. An Rong cooked sweet potato porridge and steamed a pot of buns.
Yuan Doudou took a mushroom and vegetable bun, which was her favorite filling.
This year's sweet potatoes taste especially sweet, which may be related to the lack of rainfall.
"Anrong's steamed buns are so delicious. If we didn't run a tavern, we would run a steamed bun shop and the business would be very good." Huang Rong ate one vegetable bun and still wanted more, so she took another one.
"If you like it, eat more." Yuan Doudou handed her another one.
Huang Rongren may not look very old, but she has a big appetite. For breakfast, she eats at least two bowls of porridge and three steamed buns. For lunch, she always eats a big bowl of rice, along with side dishes and two bowls of vegetable soup.
She wasn't picky about food and enjoyed everything she ate. Compared to her previous life of eating and sleeping outdoors, the food at the tavern seemed like a delicacy to her, and she found everything delicious.
In his opinion, Lu Xi didn't need to go out to learn a trade. She could learn a lot by following Brother An Rong and could open a tavern, restaurant, or breakfast stall in the future.
In her mind, An Rong's cooking skills were top-notch; even the chef at Zui Xian Lou might not be able to make such delicious buns.
"Thank you, Sister Dou Dou." Huang Rong took the steamed bun and ate it with great satisfaction.
Seeing how much she liked steamed buns, Lu Xi decided to learn how to make them from Brother Anrong so she could make them for her more often.
Although Huang Rong was three years older than him, he didn't see her as an older sister, but rather as a friend, a confidante.
There are some things he doesn't know how to say to Dou Dou and the others, but he's willing to say them to Huang Rong, not afraid that she'll laugh at him.
After breakfast, only the two of them were in the kitchen when An Rong went to the market to buy groceries.
"Lu Xi, you were too impulsive yesterday. I could tell that Sister Dou Dou was very unhappy," Huang Rong said while peeling peanuts.
Lu Xi held a bowl in one hand and a dishcloth in the other, washing them very carefully, cleaning each bowl inside and out until it was very clean.
Huang Rong's words struck a chord with Lu Xi. Last night, when Sister Dou Dou asked him about it, he also sensed her displeasure. She was unhappy that he didn't want to go back to Zuixianlou.
"Is something not going well over there?" Huang Rong asked softly when he didn't speak.
Lu Xi was stunned. She had to admit that Huang Rong was meticulous and clever; she had guessed that she was not doing well.
"I thought I could endure it, but I overestimated myself." He used to think he was very hardworking, but when he arrived at Zuixianlou, he realized that he was constrained in every way in a disharmonious small group, and his will was being worn down every moment.
Over time, his passion for learning to cook gradually faded, and in the end, all he wanted to do was escape.
"It's fine if you don't want to go. You can still learn something by following Brother Anrong. You can even open your own snack shop when you're capable," Huang Rong kindly reminded her.
Boys need to have their own plans. They've all sold themselves here, so they can't just leave whenever they want, but they can't rely on Sister Dou Dou and the others forever either. Sooner or later, they'll all leave.
Of course, this was something that Sister Dou Dou had told her beforehand, and she was especially touched by it.
Lu Xi's eyes lit up; their thoughts coincided.
"Huang Rong, thank you." Lu Xi finished washing the dishes, took a stool, and sat down opposite Huang Rong.
Huang Rong was puzzled: "Thank me for what?"
Lu Xi didn't know how to answer. He felt better knowing that Huang Rong was there to listen to him and give him advice.
Looking at his face, Huang Rong understood and knew that he couldn't explain the situation, so she stopped asking.
In the evening, there weren't many customers in the tavern. Yuan Doudou was in the backyard with Anji, while Huang Rong was in charge of collecting money and keeping accounts in the front.
When she first arrived, she only recognized a few characters and didn't know how to keep accounts or use an abacus. It was Sister Dou Dou who taught her step by step, and she slowly learned how.
She was deeply moved that Sister Doudou entrusted her with such an important task. After all, it involved money, and Sister Doudou would only entrust her with such a task if she completely trusted her.
Lu Xi wandered between the kitchen and the main hall. There weren't many people, so Huang Rong didn't need to help her.
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