Learning the truth made Lihua feel quite downcast.
“Good Human Chen has to use such a tiny bowl?”
“Someone gave it to me.”
Lihua focused her gaze on the shiny silver bowl and said, “But it’s just the right size for Lihua.”
Seeing her so persistent, Chen Changsheng couldn’t help but smile and ask, “You want it, don’t you?”
Lihua nodded. She thought it was very pretty, really nice-looking.
Chen Changsheng said, “Someone gave this to me. I can’t just pass it along to Lihua.”
“It’s truly beautiful.”
Lihua blinked. “Can Lihua touch it?”
“Don’t break it.”
“Alright~”
Lihua agreed, then carefully held the shiny silver Jian Tea Bowl with her paws, cradling it against her chest.
“Ohh…”
She let out a sound of awe, not even blinking.
Lihua had never seen such a beautiful thing before.
She desperately wanted this bowl.
She felt a bit unwilling to let go.
Lihua looked at Chen Changsheng. Her gaze held longing and seemed rather pitiful too.
Chen Changsheng only said plainly, “No.”
Hearing this, Lihua lowered her head. She gave a soft humph and said, “Give it back to you.”
Chen Changsheng looked at her. Then he heard Lihua say, “Lihua doesn’t like it anymore. In a couple of days, Lihua will go find an even prettier bowl.”
“This is called a Jian Tea Bowl. Not cheap at all.”
Lihua asked, “Compared to Lihua’s old bowl?”
“This one could probably buy thousands of those.”
“Hmm…”
Lihua didn’t really understand money, but words like ‘thousands’ made her feel like it was a huge amount.
She couldn’t afford it. Lihua had no silver.
Lihua sighed. She glanced longingly at the shiny silver bowl in Chen Changsheng’s arms, then firmly turned her head away. She wouldn’t look at it anymore.
Seeing this, Chen Changsheng also put the bowl away, out of Lihua’s sight.
“If you truly like it, I can try to get one for you next time. But it probably won’t be like this one.”
Hearing this, Lihua turned her head back in surprise. “Really?”
“Naturally.”
Lihua said, “Promise! Dead horse hard to chase!”
“It’s ‘hard for four horses to catch up’.”
“Oh oh, four horses hard to chase.”
“It means the same thing, but not the number ‘four’.”
“Ah? Which si is it then?”
Lihua blinked. “But Good Human Chen, how did you know which si Lihua was saying?”
“Does Lihua know another si?”
“……”
Lihua paused, then looked at him. “Are you scolding me?”
“I am not.”
“You are.”
………
Ruyi came home very late.
The Embroidery Workshop had secured an order with a neighboring market, requiring overtime work. Because it was urgent, she had stayed at the workshop the entire day.
When she finally got home, she was utterly exhausted and felt like she couldn’t move.
“Huff…”
Ruyi sat down on a low stool in the yard and let out a long sigh.
She rubbed her belly, feeling terribly hungry.
But it was so late now, where could she find any food?
Ruyi looked sideways towards the courtyard wall. She wondered if Uncle Chen on the other side had gone to bed. By now, he was probably asleep.
She shook her head. Better to just bear it.
Unexpectedly, a few noises sounded from the top of the wall.
Ruyi turned her head and saw the Tabby Cat standing on the wall, illuminated by the moonlight.
Lihua looked at Ruyi and said, “Ruyi, why are you only back now?”
Seeing it was Lihua, Ruyi clapped her hands. “Lihua, come here quickly.”
Lihua jumped down from the wall into Ruyi’s lap.
Ruyi stroked her fur, but avoided her head – Lihua never let anyone touch her head.
Lihua said, “You still haven’t said.”
Ruyi replied, “I was busy working. Just finished.”
Lihua gave a sound of acknowledgment, then asked, “Did you eat then? Good Human Chen saved some dinner for you.”
“Ah?”
Ruyi was startled.
Lihua leapt down from her lap. “Come to the door. Lihua will open it for you.”
As she spoke, she bounded swiftly along the top of the wall and jumped back into her own courtyard.
Ruyi got up and went outside. Using the moonlight to see her way, she arrived at Uncle Chen’s gate.
After a moment, a clattering sound came – Lihua had lifted the door bolt.
Ruyi immediately stepped inside the gate. Seeing the yard empty, she couldn’t help but ask, “Where’s Uncle Chen?”
Lihua said, “Inside the house. Seems like he’s asleep.”
“But doesn’t Uncle Chen usually sleep in the chair in the yard?”
“Good Human Chen said it might rain tonight.”
“I see…”
Ruyi murmured, then added, “Just coming in like this… is it a bit inappropriate?”
Lihua blinked and asked, “Good or bad what?”
It didn’t understand these things at all.
Ruyi stroked its fur and explained, “Taking without permission is stealing.”
Lihua replied, “But Good Human Chen specifically left that food for you.”
Ruyi paused mid-motion. Just then, her stomach growled quite embarrassingly.
As she hesitated right there…
A voice suddenly reached them both.
“What are you two chatting about?”
Ruyi looked up. Uncle Chen had gotten up at some point and was already standing in the doorway of the house.
“Uncle Chen.”
“Good Human Chen, you’re awake.”
Chen Changsheng said, “Lihua’s voice is so loud. It would be strange if I didn’t wake up.”
Lihua’s whiskers twitched as it looked at Ruyi. “Was Good Human Chen saying bad things about me?”
Ruyi snorted a laugh. “No.”
“Oh…”
Lihua gave both of them a suspicious look. Something felt odd.
Chen Changsheng gave a big yawn. “The food is in the kitchen. Did Lihua tell you?”
“It did.”
Ruyi said, “But Uncle Chen was sleeping… I felt awkward just going to eat it.”
Hearing this, Chen Changsheng replied, “Why feel awkward in your own home? Have something to fill your stomach. Rest early. It’s going to rain tonight, be careful not to catch a chill.”
“I shall return to sleep now.”
“Ah… Alright…”
Ruyi watched silently as Chen Changsheng went back inside.
She stood still, frozen to the spot, her expression strangely blank. Only after a long while did she slowly return to herself.
“My own home…”
She murmured the words, then suddenly gave a small laugh.
Beside her, Lihua blinked. “Why is Ruyi laughing?”
“I’m not laughing at anything.”
“Hmph…”
Lihua shook its head. “So strange.”
With that, Ruyi entered the kitchen. The night was dark, and inside the kitchen it was pitch black, impossible to see anything. Only faint moonlight filtered through the window. She finally found where the food was placed with Lihua leading the way.
“In the pot,” Lihua announced.
Ruyi’s hand grasped the wooden pot lid. It was still warm.
She paused, then saw it. Inside the pot were several dishes and a bowl of rice, resting on a layer of water keeping the whole meal gently warmed.
“It’s still warm…” Ruyi whispered, seeming caught off guard.
She carefully took the dishes out, picked up a pair of chopsticks, and began eating.
Lihua perched on the stove ledge, watching Ruyi practically wolf the food down.
It clicked its tongue. “Good Human Chen says eating too fast can get you choked.”
“It’s fine…” Ruyi managed a weak smile back.
Lihua looked up, its gaze stopping short.
It saw it clearly – a glimmer of tears at the corner of Ruyi’s eyes. Not many, but definitely there.
“Why is Ruyi crying?”
“I’m not crying.”
“Really?”
Lihua felt even more puzzled than before.
It didn’t understand. Not one bit.
