Chapter 35: Cat Ears

Li Feng returned to the shop in the evening. Through the window, he saw the busy figures inside, and suddenly felt that he no longer belonged here.

Xiao Chuan: “Li Ge, what are you standing outside for?”

Li Feng snapped out of his daze and asked, “What’s going on?”

Xiao Chuan: “Everything’s done.”

Cao Xi closed the ledger, her voice soft as the evening grew darker. “Oh no, it’s getting late. I should head home now.”

Li Feng offered, “Let me walk you back.”

Cao Xi hurriedly stopped him. “Li Ge, I can go back on my own. You should rest, you must be tired. I’m feeling a bit off.”

Li Feng glanced outside; the light was dim, and he didn’t want to send her alone, but he didn’t press the matter and decided to handle something else.

After washing up that evening, Li Feng looked at his reflection in the water. His eyes were heavy with dark circles. The recent disruptions to his schedule had left him looking haggard. But when he saw the person in the reflection, he couldn’t help but smile at himself.

By the time Cao Xi arrived, Qin Zhao had already prepared the meal.

Cao Xi was pushed to the washbasin. “Hurry and wash your hands, I’ll bring the food.”

Cao Xi couldn’t help but ask, “What did you make for dinner?”

Qin Zhao: “Stir-fried eggs with green onions, braised chicken, and a cold dish.”

Cao Xi smiled slightly at the spread—it was quite a feast.

Sitting at the dining table, she picked up a piece of chicken with her chopsticks and praised, “It’s delicious! Your cooking skills are getting better and better.”

Qin Zhao placed the food in front of her and served himself a bowl of rice before starting his meal.

“How was the academy today?” Cao Xi asked, taking a bite of the cold dish.

Qin Zhao: “The teacher changed. Now it’s Director Xu who’s teaching me, and the class has been adjusted.”

Cao Xi: “Having Director Xu personally guide you must be quite a rare opportunity.”

Cao Xi: “Tomorrow, I’ll make some food and bring it to Director Xu. The rest can be shared with the class.”

Qin Zhao: “No need, they won’t appreciate it. It’s me they’re kind to, not you.”

Qin Zhao had become the top scholar, and the way others treated him had drastically changed.

Cao Xi: “I’ll make some cat ears and dried fish; they’re cheap and delicious.”

Qin Zhao: “Sure, let’s make cat ears, they’re simple.”

That evening, the two of them worked together in the kitchen to make cat ears. Cao Xi didn’t do much, instead sitting aside to help Qin Zhao tend to the fire.

The warmth of the kitchen, lit by the fire, felt especially cozy.

Cao Xi quietly added firewood, her entire presence calm and gentle.

Qin Zhao seemed lost in thought, until Cao Xi asked what he was thinking. Only then did he snap out of it.

Qin Zhao, caught off guard, quickly lowered his head to hide his embarrassment. “Nothing… just thinking about the cat ears.”

He scooped the cat ears out of the pot and placed them aside to drain the oil.

Cao Xi couldn’t resist the golden, crispy cat ears and ate a piece. It was crispy and sweet, making it hard to stop.

Cao Xi pouted and said to Qin Zhao, “Qin Zhao, I’m not giving any of these away. You made them with your own hands. I can’t part with them.” She said this, munching happily.

Qin Zhao, acting protective over his food, smiled and said, “Fine, keep them all. I’ll leave the rest for myself.”

Cao Xi grumbled, “But this was for giving to people who helped us…” She left the cat ears where they were, not looking at them anymore.

Qin Zhao made two baskets of cat ears. He packed some into a bag for Cao Xi to take to the shop as a snack and packed the rest into a food bag for himself to bring to the academy.

…

The next day, as Qin Zhao entered, Qi Qige noticed him carrying a bundle.

“What’s in that package you’re carrying?”

When Li Feng returned to the shop, it was already evening. Through the window, he saw the busy figures inside and suddenly felt like he couldn’t integrate into this place anymore.

Xiao Chuan: “Li Ge, why are you standing outside?”

Li Feng snapped out of his daze. “What else is there to do?”

Xiao Chuan: “I’m done here.”

Cao Xi closed the ledger and noticed the sky had grown dark. “Oh, it’s getting late, I should head back.”

Li Feng: “Let me walk you.”

Cao Xi hurriedly stopped him. “Li Ge, I’ll be fine. You should rest. I’m not feeling too well.”

Li Feng looked out at the darkening sky. The lights were dim, and he didn’t want to walk her back alone, so he decided against offering again.

After washing up in the evening, Li Feng saw his reflection in the water. His eyes were dark with fatigue. The days and nights had become disordered, leaving him looking worn out. He smiled bitterly at his reflection.

By the time Cao Xi arrived, Qin Zhao had already prepared dinner.

Cao Xi was led to the washbasin by Qin Zhao. “Hurry and wash up. I’ll bring the food.”

Cao Xi couldn’t help but ask, “What did you make?”

Qin Zhao: “Scrambled eggs with green onions, braised chicken pieces, and a cold dish.”

Cao Xi couldn’t help but smile at the spread. It looked quite abundant.

Sitting at the dining table, Cao Xi picked up a piece of chicken and tasted it. “It’s delicious! Your cooking skills are getting better and better.”

Qin Zhao served a bowl of rice to Cao Xi and then began eating after serving herself.

“How was the academy today?” Cao Xi asked, taking a bite of the cold dish.

Qin Zhao: “The teacher changed. Now, it’s Director Xu teaching me. The environment is different now.”

Cao Xi: “Director Xu is personally teaching you? That’s a rare opportunity.”

Cao Xi: “Tomorrow, I’ll make some food, and we’ll take it to Director Xu. Whatever’s left over, we’ll share among the others.”

Qin Zhao: “No need. Even without sending food, they already treat me quite well.”

Qin Zhao had become the top scholar among the students, and the attitude of those around her had drastically changed.

Cao Xi: “Let’s make some cat ears with dried fish. The ingredients aren’t expensive, but they taste great.”

Qin Zhao smiled: “Let’s make cat ears. It’s simple.”

That evening, the two worked together in the kitchen to make cat ears. Cao Xi didn’t have to actively participate like before, and instead, sat by helping Qin Zhao with the fire.

The kitchen glowed warmly under the light of the fire.

Cao Xi quietly added firewood, looking serene and gentle.

Qin Zhao, lost in thought, didn’t react until Cao Xi asked what was wrong.

Caught off guard, Qin Zhao quickly looked down, trying to hide her embarrassment. “It’s nothing. The cat ears are done.”

Qin Zhao scooped the cat ears out of the pot and set them aside to drain.

Cao Xi, staring at the golden cat ears, couldn’t resist trying one. It was crispy and sweet, leaving her wanting more.

Feeling a bit aggrieved, Cao Xi pouted and said, “Qin Zhao, I’m not going to give these to anyone. You made them yourself. I can’t bear to part with them.” She then bit into another one.

Qin Zhao chuckled as she looked at her protective attitude. “You’re not giving them away? Fine, I’ll leave them for you.”

Cao Xi: “But why not? These are for building connections, right?” she said, pretending to be indifferent, as she turned away, hiding the cat ears from view.

Qin Zhao made two large batches of cat ears and packed one for Cao Xi to take to the shop as snacks. The remaining portion was packed for the academy.

…

The next day, Qi Qige was surprised to see Qin Zhao walk in with a food bag.

“What’s this? Are you selling food?” Qi Qige asked, eyeing the bag curiously.

Qin Zhao: “Cat ears. Fifteen coins per bowl. Do you want one?”

Qi Qige exaggeratedly covered her mouth in disbelief. “One bowl of cat ears? And you want me to pay?”

“Never mind, once the others arrive, they’ll buy them before you get a chance,” Qin Zhao said as she tied the food bag.

Qi Qige quickly stopped her, pulling out thirty coins and placing them on Qin Zhao’s table. “Give me two bowls.”

Qin Zhao unwrapped the food bag and served her two bowls.

Qi Qige tasted one, savoring the crispness. “This tastes different from last time. This is even better!”

The scent of the cat ears filled the room.

Qin Zhao: “It’s a creamy flavor. The last batch didn’t have this flavor.”

Qi Qige smiled. “This is much better!”

When Li Chenqi entered the room, he saw Qin Zhao’s table full of food and Qi Qige happily eating.

He curiously asked, “What’s this? It smells so good.”

“Cat ears. Fifteen coins per bowl,” Qi Qige eagerly promoted, even before Qin Zhao could answer.

The room was filled with the mouth-watering aroma, and Li Chenqi swallowed. “Give me one, too,” he said, digging into his pocket for fifteen coins and handing them to Qin Zhao.

Soon, one by one, every student entering the room bought a bowl of cat ears. When Director Xu arrived, he saw his students either reading or eating. The pile of copper coins on Qin Zhao’s table told him everything he needed to know.

Director Xu was furious, his face darkening. “Qin Zhao, you’re selling food at the academy?”

Qin Zhao: “I wasn’t selling them. I was planning to give them as a gift for everyone to try, but they insisted on paying.”

The students around them stopped eating, looking at Qin Zhao in disbelief. Was this really the explanation?

Director Xu, who understood the situation, was not surprised. These two had been selling books or writing stories to make extra money.

Sniffing the delicious aroma, Director Xu sighed. “No more selling strongly scented foods in the future.”

That day’s lessons felt unusually long for Director Xu, with the irresistible fragrance and the constant sounds of crunching coming from the students. The aroma was overwhelming, and it was hard to concentrate.

As soon as the class ended, Director Xu ordered the students to leave and sternly warned them not to eat snacks in the academy again. Those who broke the rule would be punished.

…

“Director.” Qin Zhao intercepted Director Xu on the way out and silently handed him a bag of food.

Director Xu raised an eyebrow, eyeing the bag as he took it from her.

Qin Zhao: “This is a special gift for you.”

Director Xu narrowed his eyes at her, his expression full of suspicion. “Are you selling this to me?”

Qin Zhao: “No, it’s a token of gratitude for the opportunity you gave me.” His sincerity was clear.

Director Xu, surprised by the sincerity in Qin Zhao’s eyes, paused for a moment before pulling out a few silver coins and handing them to her.

“Take it,” he said, slightly annoyed by Qin Zhao’s hesitation.

Qin Zhao: “I don’t want money.” He shook his head, handing over the food bag instead.

Director Xu frowned but took the food bag, silently inspecting it before asking, “Did you make this?”

Qin Zhao nodded in response.

Director Xu said, “Go back.”

He turned around and continued walking away. Qin Zhao, after a day of dealing with the students and making the cat ears, was feeling exhausted. Maintaining her usual composure while preparing for the upcoming scholar examination was becoming increasingly difficult.

As Director Xu entered the house, his wife, who was tending to the plants in the garden, noticed him carrying a cloth package.

“What’s this?” she asked, seeing him holding the food bag.

Director Xu replied, “A gift from someone.”

He handed the package to his wife.

“Isn’t this unusual? Aren’t you someone who doesn’t accept gifts?” Mrs. Xu said as she opened the bag. A delightful fragrance wafted from inside, immediately filling her nose. “It smells so good! What is this? I’ve never seen this kind of food before.”

Mrs. Xu, a food enthusiast, rarely encountered food she hadn’t tried.

Director Xu smiled and said, “It’s called cat ears.” He then picked one up and took a bite. The crispy, fragrant taste was irresistible, and he nodded in approval. “It’s really good.”