Chapter 52: The Favor I Never Received
Lu Zhiran arrived at Zhichun Garden on time.
Lu Guanxuan stayed here last night. When Lu Zhiran arrived, the servants were setting up breakfast and they were preparing to eat.
There was a floor heating in the house, and warmth hit you as you entered, which was completely different from the cold and damp Yaoguang Pavilion.
Fang greeted her with a smile, "Sister Ran, you've come just in time. Come, sit down and eat together."
His eyes swept over Lu Zhiran calmly, his gaze deepening.
Just for a moment, she felt as if she saw the young Luo.
Lu Guanxuan was also slightly stunned.
Lu Zhiran walked forward calmly and saluted, his whole body exuding a sense of relaxation and contentment from the inside out, without any sign of dejection.
"My daughter is so lucky."
Mrs. Fang's attitude was very kind. She took the serving chopsticks and picked up a crystal clear shrimp dumpling for her.
"Sister Ran, try these shrimp dumplings. They're made with the freshest live shrimp, so they're so tender and delicious. Your father knows Xi'er loves them, so he ordered the kitchen to make them every day. Xi'er has been back at her maternal grandparents' house lately, so the kitchen is always prepared, just in case she suddenly comes back one day and wants to eat them."
Fang's eyes were full of smiles, and she looked at Lu Guanxuan with helplessness.
A hint of darkness flashed in Lu Zhiran's eyes.
The distant memories rushed towards her like a flood.
Once upon a time, she loved to eat a dessert called double skin milk.
Later, his mother died, Fang came into the family, and soon became pregnant with Lu Yingxi.
When paying her respects to Fang, she retched repeatedly when she smelled the milk on her body. Her father then frowned and scolded her for indulging in her appetite and completely ignoring the fact that her stepmother was pregnant.
From then on, the kitchen stopped making this dessert.
She also loves tofu, especially stinky tofu.
Once, Lu Yingxi encountered this and frowned in disgust. The next day, her father scolded her for not having the demeanor of a lady from a noble family and for eating such disgusting food that was not worthy of being served.
Since then, she has never eaten it again.
Favoritism is truly the most unreasonable thing in the world.
This kind of fearless preference was something she had never received since she was a child, and she once longed for it so much.
Fang saw through everything and used this method to hit her most vulnerable part with the softest words, and she was always defeated.
Now, she just found it ridiculous.
Laughing at Fang's self-righteousness, after so many years, she still looked at him with the old eyes, and even her methods of dealing with him were so clumsy.
Fang looked at her with a smile, waiting for her reaction.
The smile on Lu Zhiran's face did not diminish at all, "Then I really benefited from my sister."
She picked up the chopsticks, picked up the shrimp dumpling and took a bite.
The dumpling skin is very thin. When you bite it, the rich soup flows into your mouth, which is very fresh and sweet. The shrimp meat inside is chewy and tastes great.
She praised generously, "It's delicious."
After eating two in a row, she sighed softly, "I suddenly remembered the West Lake vinegar fish I ate when I was young. It was made by my mother herself. It tasted sour and sweet, with a unique flavor. But later, no one could replicate the taste I remembered."
She turned to look at Lu Guanxuan, her eyes full of pleading, "Father, I want to hire a chef from Suzhou and Hangzhou so that I can eat this dish whenever I want in the future. Is that okay?"
Lu Guanxuan also recalled the past, and a soft light appeared in his eyes.
"Just ask your mother to find one."
Lu Zhiran's face immediately lit up with joy. "Thank you, father. You are so kind to your daughter."
Then he turned to look at Fang and said, "Thank you very much, mother. I am sorry for the trouble you took."
Fang secretly clenched her hands holding the chopsticks, her knuckles turning white, but she could only force a smile and agree to this matter.
Lu Zhiran lowered her eyes, hiding the faint light in them.
West Lake is where her mother met Lu Guanxuan, and the first dish they ate together was West Lake vinegar fish.
Lu Zhiran didn't like eating this dish, but it became her mother's obsession.
Before she died, she was still thinking about it.
When Lu Zhiran brought it up at this time, it awakened Lu Guanxuan's long-lost memories and sparse tenderness.
She didn't care about his cheap friendship, but it was enough to make Fang feel uncomfortable.
While eating, Lu Zhiran suddenly turned sideways and sneezed a few times.
"Mother, I have something else to ask. It's getting cold, and I need to ask you for some charcoal. The house is too damp and cold, and I can't sleep well."
Lu Guanxuan immediately frowned and looked at Fang, "How did you arrange it? You didn't even think about this little thing carefully."
Fang's face was slightly solemn.
He turned and shouted at his confidants, "Didn't I order the charcoal to be prepared for the young lady? How can you do that? The young lady's return home is a matter of great importance. How dare you neglect it? Are you really that bold?"
The confidant immediately knelt down and apologized.
Lu Zhiran quickly said, "Mother, please don't be angry. My daughter's return home was unexpected, and it's understandable that the servants were busy and missed something. Just make up for it. Don't punish them just for my daughter."
Lu Zhiran gave way, and Fang scolded her a few more times before the matter was put behind her.
"Oh, by the way, mother, my manager suggested that we stock up on more charcoal this year. The drought will inevitably be followed by a cold year, and I'm afraid it will be cold for a long time this year. The price of charcoal will probably skyrocket."
Lu Zhiran looked sincere, but Fang didn't take it seriously.
"The Marquis's Mansion always has charcoal in stock every year, and Mother has already made all the arrangements for these matters."
There's no need for this little girl to give orders blindly.
Lu Zhiran insisted, "According to the previous quota, it may not be enough. We need to prepare more. Otherwise, I'm afraid we won't be able to buy it even if we have money."
Fang raised her handkerchief to hide the sneer on her lips.
"Sister Ran, you are young after all. Some managers will deliberately exaggerate the facts and make up some purchase items to make money. Don't be fooled easily. In previous years, no matter how cold the winter was, the mansion always had enough charcoal and there was no need to buy more. If you buy too much at once, it will get damp and can't be burned next year."
"Mom, this year is really different..."
Lu Guanxuan interrupted her, "Okay, no need to say more, just listen to your mother. Your mother has more experience in this area than you do."
Lu Zhiran finally shut up.
Fang lowered her eyes slightly, and the depression in her heart finally eased a little.
This little girl thought she had been managing the household in the Marquis' Mansion for several years, and she wanted to interfere in the Lu family's affairs because she boasted of her experience. She really didn't know her own worth.
Lu Zhiran lowered his head, hiding the sneer in his eyes.
It was because she had guessed Fang's reaction that she took the initiative to bring up the matter.
When the price of charcoal soars in the future and there is no demand for it, that will be the day when Fang will be slapped in the face.
After breakfast, Lu Guanxuan prepared to go to court. Before leaving, he turned around and reminded her, "Sister Ran, if the Xing family takes the initiative to look for you, you should treat them with courtesy and just socialize with them normally. Don't mention the affairs of the court too much."
Lord Xing has a strange personality. The more others try to repay him with favors, the more he refuses to accept it.
We have finally established a relationship with the Xing family this time, but we cannot let our efforts go to waste due to impatience.
Lu Zhiran nodded obediently.
"Everything is subject to my father's arrangements."
Lu Guanxuan nodded with satisfaction.
After watching Lu Guanxuan leave, Fang smiled and said, "Mother and Madam Xing do have some friendship. When the two families start to visit each other, Mother can take you two sisters to see the world together. Sister Ran, you are still young and have a long time to live in the future. You must take good care of each other. This time, Mother will definitely choose a good one for you and won't let you suffer any more grievances."
Lu Zhiran said sincerely, "I won't consider these things for now. Mother, please look after my sister. Don't let her make the same mistake as me."
Fang: ...
After saying this, Lu Zhiran took his leave and walked away leisurely.
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