Senior sister, stop working and go home for dinner.

Chapter 421

Wei Yiran took a deep breath and stepped inside.

The air inside the Fairy Cuisine Shop was steaming hot, the aroma of porridge mixed with the sweetness of steamed buns, and a meaty fragrance she had never smelled before, filling the entire room.

There were more than a dozen square tables in the room, with chopstick holders and vinegar bottles on them.

It was lunchtime, and all the tables outside were full of people. Laughter could be heard even from the private rooms inside.

There were craftsmen in short clothes, women wearing aprons, farmers carrying hoes who had just gone to the fields, and children chasing and playing.

They ate their meals, chatted and laughed, no one looked up at anyone, and no one bowed to give way.

Xiao Ling'er pulled Wei Yiran inside, greeting people she knew as they walked.

"Hello, Aunt Wang!"

"Little Ling'er's here? We have braised pork today, hurry up and line up!"

"Hello, Uncle Li!"

"Hey, who's this girl? She's a new face."

"My new friend!"

Wei Yiran was pulled by her through a series of tables, feeling the gazes falling on her. Those gazes were different from Qingyang Valley's.

There was no disdain, no scrutiny, no sense of alienation like "Who are you? What are you doing here?" He simply glanced at me, smiled, and continued eating.

Just like looking at an ordinary person.

Wei Yiran lowered her eyelashes, shutting out those gazes.

Xiao Ling'er pulled her to sit down by the window and called out towards the kitchen, "Junior Sister Sun Wei! I brought a friend!"

A voice responded from the kitchen: "Got it! Coming right away!"

A moment later, a young woman wearing an apron came out carrying a tray. On the tray were two bowls of steaming porridge, a plate of snow-white steamed buns, and a small bowl of braised pork. The pork was stewed until it was glistening with oil, and the dark brown broth swayed gently in the bowl.

"I knew you'd come." The woman placed the tray on the table, and when she saw Wei Yiran, her pupils contracted sharply, her heart filled with shock. But she was quick-witted; although she hadn't gone to Qingyang Valley, she wasn't stupid. After recovering, she asked, "And this gentleman is?"

"Wei Yiran is...my...new friend." After introducing her, Xiao Ling'er pointed to the woman and said, "This is Sun Wei, my new junior sister."

Sun Wei took a deep breath, then smiled and nodded at Wei Yiran: "Eat slowly, and you can have more if you're not full."

After saying that, she went back to the kitchen.

Wei Yiran stared at the bowl of porridge in front of her.

The porridge was thick, the rice grains cooked until they burst open, and a few bright green scallions were sprinkled on top. She picked up the bowl and took a small sip. The porridge was very hot, so hot that it made her tongue tingle, but the warmth slid down her throat and warmed her stomach.

She hadn't had such hot porridge in a long time.

Xiao Ling'er had already buried her head in her food, her chopsticks moving incredibly fast, her cheeks puffed out like a little hamster. Between bites, she mumbled, "Isn't it delicious? Junior Sister Sun Wei's cooking is amazing. Junior Brother Fatty's cooking was even better before he went into seclusion. He said he'd cook us a huge feast when he comes out."

Wei Yiran didn't say anything, but just sipped her porridge slowly.

She didn't touch the braised pork. Little Ling'er picked up a piece and put it in her bowl, saying, "Try it, it's delicious."

Wei Yiran stared at the piece of meat.

The meat was stewed until very tender, falling apart at the touch of chopsticks. She picked up a small piece and put it in her mouth. The aroma of the meat exploded on her tongue, a blend of salty and sweet, rich yet not greasy. She chewed slowly, for a long time, before swallowing.

"It's delicious," she said.

Xiao Ling smiled and put another piece on her plate.

A voice came from outside the window.

Wei Yiran subconsciously raised her head and looked out the window.

Several men stood at the entrance of Xian Shan Fang, all looking travel-worn.

The eldest of the group, who was in his early forties, had an old scar on his face that ran diagonally from his brow bone to his jaw, and he was missing half of his left ear.

They stood at the doorway, not going in, but just peering inside, as if looking for someone.

Wei Yiran's hand trembled violently.

A few drops of porridge spilled from the bowl and landed on the table.

Little Ling'er looked up at her, puzzled. "Sister Wei?"

Wei Yiran did not answer.

She just stared at the person outside the window, at the familiar old wound, at the missing left ear.

Uncle Zhou.

………………

Zhou Da stood at the entrance of Xian Shan Fang, peering inside.

The young scout behind them leaned closer and whispered, "Zhou, are we really going in? This... isn't this where the Immortal Master eats?"

Zhou Datou didn't even turn around: "This is a place for everyone to eat."

The young scout shrank back, not daring to speak again.

Zhou Da's gaze swept across the room, over the ordinary people engrossed in their meals, over the chatting and laughing children, and over the two little girls eating by the window—

His gaze froze.

The girl dressed in the robes of an inner disciple of Qingyang Valley was looking at him.

Eyes facing each other.

Zhou Da's Adam's apple bobbed.

He recalled a year ago, driving that blue-curtained carriage to take his wife to the gate of Qingyanggu Mountain. At that time, she stood there, gazing at the silent mountain gate, without turning back to look at him even once.

He recalled that half a month ago, Commander Wei stood by the study window and said, "Send someone to Yunyin Mountain."

He recalled yesterday, standing beneath that chasm that stretched across the sky, gazing at the overwhelming demonic soldiers, with only one thought in his mind.

Will something happen to Madam in Qingyang Valley?

She is right in front of him now.

Separated by that transparent glass window, by the people chatting and laughing in the Xian Shan Fang restaurant, by a whole year.

Zhou strode into Xian Shan Fang.

He didn't look at anyone, but walked straight to the seat by the window. When he got closer, he stopped three steps away from the girl and knelt down on one knee.

"This old servant, Zhou Da," his voice was a little dry, "pays his respects to Madam."

Wei Yiran looked at the person kneeling in front of her.

A year had passed, and Uncle Zhou looked older than before. A few more strands of white hair had appeared at his temples, and the wrinkles on his face had deepened. But the old wound was still there, the missing half of his left ear was still there, and those eyes that always held a silent concern when they looked at her were still there.

"Uncle Zhou," she said, "get up."

Zhou Da stood up.

He looked at Wei Yiran, his gaze sliding across her face and landing on her wrist peeking out from her sleeve. Her wrist was thinner than before, her knuckles thicker, and her palms were calloused.

Zhou Da's eyes felt a little sore.

"Madam," he said, "Commander Wei sent this old servant... to fetch you."

Wei Yiran remained silent.

She simply gazed out the window, watching the ordinary people working in the sunlight, watching the children chasing and playing, and watching the distant mountain shrouded in mist.

Xiao Ling'er stood beside her, holding her hand, looking up at her. She was afraid that Xiao Ling'er would agree and then leave the next second.

Wei Yiran remained silent for a long time before finally speaking.

"Uncle Zhou, tell Grandfather that I... will be back later."

Zhou Da was stunned for a moment.

Wei Yiran looked at Xiao Ling'er.

"I promised someone," she said, "I have to wait."