Chapter 513: Chapter 265: Gift_1
The next day, bright and early, the family steamed a large basket of buns and packed several food boxes. As dawn broke, Lian Manman together with Wu Lang and Xiao Qi hurried to town on a small ox cart, bringing the food boxes with them.
Shen Liu had stayed overnight in town, residing at Imperial Doctor Shi’s residence.
Just as the ox cart stopped at the entrance of the residence, and while Lian Manman was about to get off and speak with the guard on duty, the main gate opened on its own. Steward Zhong came out, all smiles.
"Last night, as soon as Ninth Master arrived home, he instructed us, saying that you would come this morning," Steward Zhong said with a smile, "so here I have been, waiting for a while."
"You’ve gone to great trouble, Steward Zhong," Lian Manman hastily said.
"Not at all, not at all," Steward Zhong replied repeatedly.
"...These buns are from our family, my parents specifically instructed me to have you try them, Steward Zhong," Wu Lang then said as he lifted the largest of the food boxes down from the cart.
They had brought three food boxes of buns, two of the smaller ones were for Shen Liu and Shen Qian. The larger food box was for their attendants to eat. Because there was a business relationship through selling grape wine, Lian Shouxin specifically instructed to give this to Steward Zhong.
"That’s very kind of you," Steward Zhong quickly said, and summoned a servant to come over and take the food box in his hands. "Come with me. At this Chinese hour, Ninth Master ought to be up."
Leading the way, Steward Zhong entered first with Lian Manman carrying a food box, followed by Wu Lang and Xiao Qi. Lian Manman had been to Imperial Doctor Shi’s residence once before, and saw many attendants and servants each busy with their tasks, yet all were as quiet as sparrows. They all merely nodded when they saw Steward Zhong. They continued into a garden reminiscent of rural vegetable gardens, where they saw two figures, one large and one small, practicing swordplay outside the flower hall.
It was none other than Shen Liu and Shen Qian.
Seeing Lian Manman, Shen Qian immediately squinted his eyes with a smile, ready to put down his sword and run over. But after glancing at Shen Liu, he hesitated for a moment, then abandoned that plan and continued to practice with the sword, imitating Shen Liu. Shen Liu seemed not to notice the newcomers, completing a set of sword movements before slowly coming to a halt.
An attendant stepped forward to take the swords from Shen Liu and Shen Qian’s hands, and also handed them clean handkerchiefs.
"Manman, why did you just get here? I’ve been up for half the day!" Shen Qian grabbed the handkerchief, wiped hastily, and started to run towards Lian Manman.
"Xiao Jiu, if you practice swordplay in such a perfunctory manner, you’ll always be called Fatty," Shen Liu said slowly as he wiped his hands, his tone cool.
Shen Qian immediately stood still as if rooted to the spot, hanging his head as if he had taken a great blow.
Standing there, Lian Manman blinked her eyes in surprise. Could it be that Shen Liu knew she had called Shen Qian Fatty? She had been so careful, and those several attendants of Shen Qian shouldn’t have heard. Surely Shen Qian himself didn’t tell Shen Liu. Besides, was Shen Liu admonishing Shen Qian, or was he deliberately saying it for her to hear?
Shen Liu paid no further attention to Shen Qian and turned to sit down in the flower hall, where he was served ginseng tea. After taking a sip from the tea cup, he finally gestured for Steward Zhong to bring Lian Manman and the others inside.
Fatty Shen, true to his name, recovered from his setback in no time. He ran up to Lian Manman, and together they entered the flower hall while he chattered non-stop.
"...You just saw it, right? How was my swordplay? You’ve never seen it before, have you? It’s cool, isn’t it..." Shen Qian kept asking Lian Manman, his display of vanity unaffected by Shen Liu’s earlier words.
"It’s quite nice... I guess," Lian Manman reluctantly agreed. Fatty Shen’s mimicry of Shen Liu’s swordplay was a mere imitation, and his rotund figure barely showcased any form, let alone any ounce of coolness. But since Shen Liu had already criticized Shen Qian, Lian Manman, being a kind-hearted child, couldn’t kick him when he was down. She ought to give Fatty some encouragement, shouldn’t she!
Pleased with her response, Shen Qian was quite satisfied.
"We brought the buns made at home for Sixth Master and Ninth Master to try," Lian Manman said as she handed over the food box upon entering the flower hall.
"...They’re the same ones sold at Manman’s Family shop, for sure they’re delicious," Shen Qian said.
"Serve them up," Shen Liu nodded.
An attendant took the food box and placed it on the table in front of Shen Liu and Shen Qian. The servant opened the food box, revealing buns that were still steaming. Besides the buns, the box also contained a plate of small cucumbers marinated in soybean paste. These were tiny, tender cucumbers picked when the cucumber vines were in season, marinated for a long time in a jar of paste, no bigger than a little finger, turning soy-sauce-colored and full of savory flavor, very appetizing and perfect with a meal.
