Chapter 97

A few weeks later, Chu Xun’s aunt’s health improved, and the two doctors living with them were sent home. Tao Sheng decided it was time to visit the Chu family and brought some gifts with her.

Mrs. Chu was very happy to see Tao Sheng and welcomed her warmly. “I wanted to invite you for tea earlier, but I heard from your mother that you were busy. I didn’t want to disturb you. I heard you went with the emperor to Chengde to escape the summer heat. Time flies by quickly; it feels like summer was just yesterday.”

Tao Sheng nodded, replying, “Yes, the past few years have passed so quickly because I’ve been so busy.”

Mrs. Chu smiled and said, “Look at me, so happy to see you that I’ve forgotten everything. Let’s go inside, it’s too cold to talk out here.”

After saying this, he pulled Tao Sheng into the house and asked the maid to make some tea for her.

Tao Sheng held up the teacup and praised Madam Chu, “This tea takes a lot of effort. Only a few people in Beijing can make such delicious tea. Madam, you are very lucky.”

Madam Chu smiled and waved her hands, saying, “What’s the big deal? If you like it, just come and eat. If you’re too busy, let me know, and I can send it to you.”

“Then I will have to come to your house to bother you in the future,” Tao Sheng smiled. “By the way, I heard your aunt has not been well, so I brought not only the housewarming gifts but also some medicinal herbs and supplements. My mother specifically asked me to bring them. I hope your aunt recovers soon. Please convey my message to her.”

After hearing this, Mrs. Chu’s eyes showed a bit of panic. “Actually, Xun’er’s aunt doesn’t like to trouble others. She has her own farm in the suburbs of Beijing. She has said many times that she doesn’t want to trouble the family and wants to move out. But she has been weak since childhood, and it hasn’t improved. We are worried about her living alone, so we brought her to our house recently, and let Xun’er help her.”

Mrs. Chu was worried that Tao Sheng would think Chu Xun felt burdened by his aunt, so she hurried to explain.

Tao Sheng laughed and said, “It’s no trouble. I think it’s great.”

This was exactly what impressed her most about the Chu family.

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Since learning about the Chu family’s situation, Tao Sheng’s favorability toward Chu Xun increased a lot. During this period, Chu Xun had come to their home once to return a gift, listened to a few of Tao Sheng’s new songs, and gave her two sets of boxing manuals that were said to help strengthen the body. After a few interactions, they became more familiar.

That day, Tao Sheng was driving home after leaving the government office. After a while, the car suddenly stopped.

Tao Sheng opened the curtain, and before she could ask, the driver quickly explained, “There’s a Mr. Chu in front who says he knows you.”

Tao Sheng looked up and saw that it was indeed Chu Xun, standing in the middle of the road and smiling at her.

Tao Sheng jumped out of the car, and Chu Xun walked up to her and said with a smile, “Last time when I visited your house, I noticed you were riding in a car like this. Today, I dared to stop, and it turned out to be you.”

Tao Sheng remembered that Madam Chu had said before that Chu Xun had a bad memory and wasn’t good at studying or taking imperial exams. Now it seemed that this wasn’t the case. Madam Chu had been too modest.

Since Chu Xun met Tao Sheng here by chance and called her, he naturally couldn’t let her go back so easily.

“I know a shop nearby that’s been open for years. They have delicious stir-fried dishes and steamed mutton buns. The lambs they use are from outside the Great Wall, said to be the fattest and most tender. The whole mutton soup is also a specialty. It’s the perfect time to eat mutton around the beginning of winter. Why don’t we go there together?”

The people around Chu Xun rolled their eyes. What on earth was he doing? He wanted to treat the girl to a meal, but he didn’t suggest a fancy restaurant. Instead, he wanted to go to a place that served steamed mutton buns.

Tao Sheng’s father in her previous life always said eating mutton was good for the body. Around this time of year, he liked to set up a pot at home and make mutton hotpot. Tao Sheng had kept this habit since she traveled back in time.

Tao Sheng agreed with Chu Xun’s proposal. “I was thinking about this when I was at the government office. It’s just right to have some mutton soup now. Since the second young master invited me, I’d better obey your order.”

Chu Xun was a generous eater, and eating with such a person made the food taste even better. Tao Sheng had a very satisfying meal.

After the meal, the two went out together and suddenly felt a little warmer.

Chu Xun extended a second invitation to Tao Sheng: “When we were in Qin County, Aunt Su always asked us to go out for a walk after dinner to help digestion. But the county town was too small at that time, and it only took a few steps to get to the end, so there was nothing to see. It’s still early today, do you want to go for a walk in the capital?”

Tao Sheng felt a bit sleepy and wanted to go home to rest, but when she thought about Chu Xun treating her to a meal, she couldn’t refuse. “Well, let’s go shopping.”

As they were walking, Chu Xun suddenly stopped and pointed to a shop nearby and asked, “Do you want to go over and take a look?”

Tao Sheng didn’t understand at first. “What?”

Chu Xun said, “I saw you look over there several times when we came by earlier.”

Did she? Tao Sheng was stunned. She hadn’t even realized it herself.

Xuefangzhai is one of the most famous dim sum shops in the capital, known for its good taste, variety, and reasonable prices. However, at this time, many dim sum were sold out. Tao Sheng took a look and found that the ones she wanted were still available, so she patiently picked out what she wanted and asked the store to pack them.

Chu Xun noted it down in his mind. “So you like to eat these kinds of snacks.”

“Actually, I’m fine,” Tao Sheng replied, distracted. She almost blurted out, “My cousin used to like these snacks the most when he was at home.”

Judging by how familiar Tao Sheng was with picking out the dim sum, it was clear she often bought them.

Chu Xun sensed Tao Sheng’s mood and jokingly said, “Seems like you’ve gotten more skilled in these years.”

Tao Sheng became more confused. “What?”

Chu Xun said, “Before, when you asked me to do something, you’d just call me ‘Second Brother’ in a dry voice, but now you’ve learned to send me snacks.”

Tao Sheng didn’t expect him to say that and laughed. “That’s different.”

Chu Xun was only a few years younger, but she was already mentally mature. She did this mainly to please him.

As for Ji Yanming… Tao Sheng now had very complicated feelings toward him.

He really cared about her and helped her a lot. Even if she was his own sister, it wouldn’t be more than this. Tao Sheng sometimes didn’t know how to thank him. She could only take care of him as best she could, like buying him some snacks to show her appreciation.

This wasn’t the first time Tao Sheng had mentioned Ji Yanming to him.

Tao Sheng’s unconscious “recollection” made Chu Xun feel something was off.

After a moment of silence, Chu Xun said, “I heard Lord Ji went to inspect an area and won’t be back for some time.”

“Yes,” Tao Sheng nodded seriously, “If everything goes well, he might return soon.”