Chapter 32: Steaming Buns

Chapter 32 Steaming Buns

Early the next morning, as soon as Old Mr. Li rose, he found a woman bustling in the kitchen. Lu Zhaodi had prepared steamed buns and congee, both of which were the old man’s favorites.

He and his grandson, Li Yucai, lived together, and neither was skilled in the kitchen. He had once urged his grandson to marry soon, hoping that he, a man past fifty, might finally enjoy the filial devotion of a granddaughter-in-law—but certainly not like this.

He was so startled he thought he had entered the wrong house.

"Who are you?" Old Mr. Li asked.

Lu Zhaodi smiled sweetly and replied, "Grandpa, I’m Zhaodi."

Old Mr. Li paused, bewildered. Of course, he knew Lu Zhaodi, but how had his grandson brought her home? Could it be…? A disquieting feeling stirred within him. Though advanced in years and worldly-wise, he was old-fashioned and disapproved of premarital cohabitation.

His grandson, a journalist, often kept irregular hours but had never brought anyone home before. As a man of letters, Old Mr. Li maintained his composure and asked, "What exactly is going on with you two?"

Old Mr. Li was deeply displeased. Even if they were dating, moving in together so brazenly was unacceptable.

At the very least, they should have been discreet.

Just as Lu Zhaodi was about to speak, quick footsteps echoed. Li Yucai descended the stairs, seeing both Lu Zhaodi and his grandfather. His sleepiness vanished instantly, replaced by irritation. This woman had no sense of propriety. Last night, seeing her as a lone woman with nowhere to go—the police station being closed—he had kindly offered her a temporary stay.

They had agreed she would leave early to avoid his grandfather’s notice and any misunderstandings. She had agreed. Yet now, she stood boldly in his kitchen.

When angry, Li Yucai’s face was devoid of expression. "It’s morning. You should hurry to the police station so your family won’t worry about you," he said. Then, he quickly explained to his grandfather, "She knocked on the door last night, claiming she’d run away from home after a fight. She was crying so pitifully that I let her stay downstairs for the night."

Li Yucai immediately clarified the situation, anxious to prevent his grandfather from misunderstanding.

Lu Zhaodi seemed utterly oblivious to the awkward and displeased atmosphere between the grandfather and grandson. Acting like the lady of the house, she greeted them, "I made porridge this morning and pork buns." Her cooking skills were decent, though a bit rusty from disuse.

She had intended to win over the grandfather and grandson. Last night, Li Yucai had gone to bed around 2 a.m. Early this morning, she had risen to prepare and proof the dough and make the meat filling. She wanted to surprise them. She hadn’t ground the meat but had painstakingly chopped it by hand. Preparing this meal had taken almost the entire night, leaving her sleepless.

While a warm breakfast at home was pleasant, this was not the way. A strange woman had entered their home, taken over the kitchen, and used their refrigerator items without any decorum. Moreover, she acted as if she were the mistress of the house—it was utterly presumptuous.

Even when visiting relatives, let alone a stranger’s home, one should not brazenly rummage through their belongings.

Lu Zhaodi had aimed to display her virtue and thoughtfulness, but she only succeeded in giving the Li family grandfather and grandson the chills.

Li Yucai was too incensed to eat. He was so angry he felt full. He grabbed Lu Zhaodi’s hand and dragged her to the police station.

Lu Zhaodi couldn’t fathom why her gentle and caring husband from her previous life had become like this. She whined flirtatiously, "What are you doing, Yucai? You’re hurting me."

Li Yucai wished he could gag her. What was she saying? Anyone who didn’t know better would think they had been intimate. Ignoring everything else, he pulled her to the police station, claiming he had rescued a missing woman.

As a newspaper reporter, Li Yucai frequently visited the police station and knew many people there. After handing her over, he left without a backward glance, showing no trace of affection.

Back home, facing the steaming hot buns, the grandfather and grandson exchanged glances, both feeling a profound sense of discomfort.

Old Mr. Li, being older and more experienced, handled it better. But Li Yucai was encountering such a person for the first time. "Is she out of her mind?" he muttered. Early in the morning, she had rummaged through the fridge and kitchen, acted like the hostess by inviting them to eat, and even those saccharine words—they sent shivers down his spine.

Old Mr. Li said, "It’s a bit uncanny." Unlike his impulsive grandson, Old Mr. Li thought more deeply. He had never revealed his address in the county town during his several interactions with the Lu family, so how had she found this place?

He couldn’t shake the feeling that Lu Zhaodi seemed strangely familiar with everything here.

Li Yucai said, "Forget it. Let’s just eat out. We wouldn’t dare eat buns made by such an erratic woman."

When someone from Dayu Village came to file a report, Lu Xiang was at the police station.

The village head saw her standing there, safe and sound, and couldn’t help scolding her, "You’re such an irresponsible girl. The whole village went to so much trouble searching for you. Even if you want to go out, you should at least tell your parents."

Because of Lu Zhaodi’s actions, the entire village had been in an uproar.

Lu Zhaodi obediently admitted her mistake and was then taken back by the village head. When she returned to the village, everyone was relieved to hear she was safe.

Upon learning she had run away after a fight with her family, they didn’t dare scold her too harshly and said, "It’s good that you’re back."

"Silly child, if you have something bothering you, you can talk to Auntie. Don’t run away next time, okay?"

Surrounded by everyone, Lu Zhaodi said contritely, "Auntie, I know I was wrong."

Seeing this, no one had the heart to say more. When she returned home, even her usually harsh grandmother didn’t say anything to her. She was exhausted from staying up all night and went to her room to fall fast asleep.

After sleeping on a soft bed in the city, returning to the hard mattress at the Lu house felt very uncomfortable. She yearned to marry into the Li family as soon as possible so she could sleep on a soft bed every day.

…

Lu Xiang was at home helping Xiao Cailian with chores. Xiao Cailian was now very pleased with Lu Xiang. Yesterday, when Lu Zhaodi hadn’t returned, she felt it was inappropriate to rub salt in the wound. Now that Lu Zhaodi was back, she couldn’t help saying, "Lu Zhaodi is too headstrong."

Thank goodness they hadn’t married her into the family. Otherwise, if they said one wrong thing, she might run away again—it would be terrifying.

She had initially felt indifferent toward Lu Xiang, but now she liked her more and more. She added, "The important thing is for you to hurry up and give me a healthy grandson."

Lu Xiang was taken aback. She and Fu Qinhui were still just roommates.

Xiao Cailian noticed her hesitation and thought she was just shy. "Don’t be afraid. After you have the child, you won’t have to raise it. I raised all my grandchildren myself."

Lu Xiang knew she had misunderstood, but she couldn’t explain it too clearly. She vaguely said, "Whether we have a child or not isn’t just up to me."

Xiao Cailian became curious. Fu Qinhui had been studying until recently and might not fully understand relationships. She decided to find an opportunity to ask her son indirectly about it later.