Chapter 14: Perhaps Take a Look in the Mirror

Chapter 14: Perhaps Take a Look in the Mirror

"Leizi, scoop a bowl of pickles from the jar," Yunniang instructed busily but calmly.

"Chao Chao, I don’t know if you’ll be accustomed to the food here."

Both Yunniang and Lu Chunsheng looked somewhat embarrassed and nervous.

Just because they hadn’t eaten pork, did that mean they hadn’t seen pigs run?

Even rural gentry and landowners enjoyed a wide variety of dishes, each prepared with great care. How much more so for a marquis’s household?

"I can handle it, I can handle it," Lu Mingchao’s throat tightened and her nose grew sour.

She didn’t know when her mother had slaughtered the old hen from the chicken coop.

Thinking of the wide array of meats in her spatial store, she worried about not finding a proper opportunity to bring them out openly.

Yunniang breathed a sigh of relief and quickly ladled some chicken soup for Lu Mingchao, adding a large chicken leg to her bowl.

Sitting next to Lu Mingchao, Lu Xin, with his empty belly, blinked his round eyes and stared at the fragrant chicken soup, softly muttering, "Meat."

"My belly isn’t hungry, and I don’t like meat."

As he spoke, he couldn’t help swallowing, but he couldn’t bring himself to look away.

Lu Mingchao couldn’t help but laugh.

She had a rough idea of the Lu family’s conditions.

It was hard enough for a farming family to support a scholar; they barely had enough to eat, so it was natural that they couldn’t often afford to eat meat.

"Xiao Xin, go ahead and eat," Lu Mingchao said, placing the chicken leg in Lu Xin’s bowl.

Lu Xin’s eyes lit up, like a little mouse that had secretly gotten some oil. He was enveloped in a huge surprise.

This big sister is so kind, she even shared the chicken leg with him.

"Xiao Xin doesn’t like to eat meat," Lu Xin said, swallowing, as he pushed the bowl back.

His polite and thoughtful behavior made her heart melt.

"What your sister gave you, you have to eat."

"Sister will find a way to make sure our Xiao Xin gets to eat meat every day," Lu Mingchao said softly, ruffling Lu Xin’s little head, fully embracing her role as an older sister.

Seeing this, Yunniang sighed softly, not wanting to say much more, and prepared to serve the other chicken leg to Lu Mingchao.

Lu Mingchao quickly lowered her head and drank a large spoonful of chicken soup, letting out a satisfied sigh, "Mother, I love chicken soup."

"I don’t want the chicken leg anymore," Lu Mingchao said, spreading her hand over her bowl protectively.

Yunniang’s chopsticks hovered in the air, her thoughts drifting, feeling somewhat dazed.

Chao Chao’s concern for the family was clear to everyone.

In the past, she often wondered whether Miaomiao’s inherently dark nature was due to her and Chunsheng’s failure in teaching, which led to Miaomiao’s selfishness and coldness.

If only the child hadn’t been switched at birth, everything would have been so much better.

If that were the case, Xiao Xin wouldn't be mentally impaired, Lu Chunsheng wouldn't have wasted three years with his right hand crippled, and Lu Lei's marriage wouldn't have been delayed and eventually fallen through.

"I'll keep it, and tomorrow I'll continue to make soup for you, dear." Yunniang's slightly hoarse voice carried deep emotions, her gaze at Lu Mingchao becoming increasingly loving and gentle.

Lu Mingchao nodded heavily. "You're the best, mom."

At the dinner table, warmth and affection flowed smoothly, with occasional bursts of light-hearted or cheerful laughter, along with Xiao Xin's childish and amusing remarks.

Grandma Lu's wrinkled face lit up with a warm smile, her eyes filled with contentment and peace.

Even if she were to close her eyes and leave this world now, she would do so with peace of mind.

……

As the night deepened, the howling of the cold wind outside grew clearer.

Yunniang held Lu Mingchao's hand, as if she couldn't get enough of looking at her, filled with infinite longing.

It was as if she feared that upon waking from sleep, the present happiness would turn out to be nothing more than a fleeting illusion, like a reflection in a mirror or the moon on water.

After repeated persuasion from Lu Chunsheng and Lu Yao, Yunniang reluctantly let go of Lu Mingchao's hand.

"Let's go, little sister."

Lu Yao's face was tinged with a light flush, his eyes slightly curved, perhaps due to his heart's contentment, adding a touch of dashing charm to his appearance.

Lu Mingchao followed Lu Yao out of the doorway, one after the other. He pointed to a room with a good orientation, "Little sister, this is your room."

"The bedding and quilts have been specially taken apart and washed by mom, they're not dirty."

"Just wait a bit longer, second brother will get new ones for you."

"Grandma, parents, and dad are very happy, and big brother and Xiao Xin really like you."

That's enough.

This reason was enough for him to strive to grow into a strong tree, providing shelter for Chaochao (his sister).

The room wasn't very large, but it was clean and tidy. In the center of the room stood an old painted screen, in front of which was a set of simple and delicate tables and chairs, and behind it was a yellow wooden bed bearing the marks of time.

"Second brother, wait a moment."

With only a door between them, Lu Mingchao pretended to rummage through her package, but in reality, she was searching for a scar removal cream in the chain pharmacy of the space supermarket.

A flawless gem, pure and unblemished.

She finally found the best scar removal cream in the pharmacy. Just as she picked it up, an even bigger surprise awaited her.

The spot where she took the scar removal cream was immediately replenished with the same item.

This meant an endless supply for generations to come!

In a roundabout way, she was now incredibly powerful.

Lu Mingchao's eyes sparkled brightly, like a cunning little fox. She held the scar removal cream in her palm and pushed open the door, "Second brother, here."

Lu Yao furrowed his brow, silently questioning, and didn't accept it immediately.

Lu Mingchao scratched his head, guessing the reason for Lu Yao's hesitation, and added in a low voice, "Second brother, this is scar removal ointment, it's mine."

"This ointment wasn’t bought with the Marquis Mansion’s funds and wasn’t taken from there either. It has no relation to the Marquis Mansion at all. You can use it without feeling indebted to Lu Minghui. In the future, if you need to retaliate, do so without any scruples or gratitude, and without any psychological burden."

"Trust me, Second brother."

"Although this scar removal ointment cannot completely eliminate the scar on your finger, it will gradually fade over time."

Without giving Lu Yao a chance to refuse, Lu Mingchao stuffed the ointment into his hand. "Keep it. I want to experience the joy of being the younger sister of a top scholar."

"When you ride through the streets in triumph, wearing red, I can proudly say, 'Check it out—my second brother, the youngest and most handsome top scholar!'"

Lu Yao felt a strange, sour emotion welling up that made him want to cry.

He had no idea how to handle these unfamiliar emotions and could only try to stay calm. "Why not the top imperial scholar (first-place winner)?"

Lu Mingchao grinned. "Second brother looks more like a top scholar."

In the imperial examination two years later, if Lu Yao entered the top ranks, who else could be the top scholar but him?

"Then a top scholar it is," Lu Yao's voice held no arrogance, as if success was already within his grasp.

"Chaochao, tell me honestly, are you crushing on Xie Yan’s looks?"

He didn’t miss the way her eyes lit up when she saw Xie Yan.

Lu Mingchao smiled without saying a word. There was always a plan.

"You!" Lu Yao lightly patted Lu Mingchao's shoulder. "If that’s the case, maybe you should check yourself out in the mirror."

"In our Lu family, we’ve always been the best-looking."

"Get some rest, and don’t forget to change your medicine," Lu Yao pointed at Lu Mingchao's forehead and instructed.