Niudan ended up staying, and Dong Xiulan and her daughter returned after a while.

They were both quite helpless. They never expected Gu Yushu to be so persuasive. He said that if they didn’t come to eat, they would ruin his sister’s good mood. He also said that if Niudan didn’t complete his mission to bring someone back, he shouldn’t bother coming back to eat.

With Shao Qingyuan’s persuasion on the side, Dong Xiulan didn’t want to make a scene anymore.

Besides, although they were next door earlier, the aroma wafting from the kitchen was really irresistible.

The mother and daughter felt embarrassed, especially since Gu Yundong had her brother bring over the dishes for them to eat. The dishes looked even better than those in the restaurants in town, and they had never tasted anything like it before.

Niudan was also very happy. He had been praised by the teacher and now he could enjoy such delicious food. It was simply happiness overload.

After dinner, Dong Xiulan rushed to clean up the dishes, and Gu Yundong let her.

When it was completely dark outside, Shao Qingyuan came over with the washed dishes.

Gu Yundong was in the kitchen pouring water to wash her face when he came in. Since she was alone, when he entered, they locked eyes.

Seeing him, Gu Yundong immediately thought of the question from earlier. Although she felt a bit uncomfortable, she still asked, “Did you suggest to Auntie Zeng to go to the village chief’s house and ask for us to stay there?”

Shao Qingyuan always believed that doing good deeds should leave a mark, otherwise he wouldn’t have done it so conspicuously.

So he nodded. “Yes.”

Gu Yundong narrowed her eyes slightly and looked at him intently. “You also helped me catch those four thieves before, and even bundled them up and brought them to the yard. Shao Qingyuan, why are you helping me so much?”

At this moment, Shao Qingyuan was surprisingly sensitive. He could even infer what treatment he would receive after he answered from her subtle expression.

Therefore, the original answer lingered on the tip of his tongue but was swallowed back. He said without any expression on his face, “The egg fried rice was delicious.”

“…What does that mean?”

Shao Qingyuan added, “Catching those four people was for the meal. Letting you stay at Auntie Zeng’s house was for… the convenience of meals.”

Gu Yundong widened her eyes. Was it all for food?

Shao Qingyuan indicated that the conversation was over, nodded at her, and walked away steadily.

As soon as he left, Dong Xiulan happened to come over. She looked at his back curiously and asked, “What did Qingyuan say to you?” She had heard voices coming from the kitchen.

“He said thank you for bringing over the food, it was delicious.”

Dong Xiulan sighed softly at the words. “Actually, Qingyuan is a pitiful child. He has never had anything delicious since he was young. He was never treated like family by the people in the Li family. Later, when he moved out with Old Li, life was still tough.”

“Now he can earn money, right?”

“He can earn money, but Qingyuan… can’t cook. Last time, he tried to cook porridge and almost burned down the kitchen. After that, his kitchen at home was abandoned. I asked him to come over to eat at my place, but he wouldn’t come. Even if he did, he would only come once in a while, and my cooking is not even half as good as yours. Now, he goes to town every two or three days to buy a big bag of steamed buns and pancakes. He can eat them for three to five days, then he goes to buy more.”

Gu Yundong was stunned, thinking of the last time she saw him nibbling on a dry steamed bun, her expression became particularly complex.

He really… is a poor guy.