The two unloaded the tiles at the shop, neatly stacking them against the wall as dusk fell.
Behind the inn was a narrow alley, and at this hour, the scent of cooking wafted from nearby homes. Shurui spread the day’s cut weeds to dry, felt his stomach rumble, and called Lu Ling back to the inn.
Too tired to cook, he went to the back kitchen for hot water. The inn’s matron was there—a plump woman with thick, painted lips that drew attention.
Before Shurui entered, he overheard a woman scolding someone harshly, her words full of threat and insult. Inside, she was reprimanding Sun Qing, who had been helping with cooking earlier. Sun Qing, eyes red, couldn’t respond, just raised his sleeve to wipe tears.
Another woman in the kitchen seemed indifferent, stirring a pot.
Shurui stepped forward, only partially understanding, and said, “Seems lively back here. Are you preparing the evening meal?”
Sun Qing whispered, “I didn’t take the food. A guest borrowed some earlier, you can ask him.”
Shurui pieced it together and said calmly, “Maybe there’s a misunderstanding. I can explain for him.”
The plump matron eyed Shurui coldly. “No misunderstanding. The boy is clumsy, I’m just scolding him.”
Shurui noticed she wasn’t open to explanation, only discipline. “Mistakes should be acknowledged. If it’s a misunderstanding, explaining avoids hurting feelings.”
The matron squinted, sarcastic. “Are you here to mediate or just to borrow the kitchen again?”
Shurui’s brow twitched. He explained that using one’s own ingredients, she shouldn’t suspect him of freeloading.
The matron’s face hardened. Shurui, seeing her tough demeanor, continued firmly: “I asked before staying if I could use the kitchen. The clerk with fair eyes at the counter approved. Now, I just need a clear answer—can I use it or not?”
Seeing Shurui, young and lean, stand his ground, she hesitated, unwilling to back down but unable to argue further.
Wang, the woman cooking, stepped in. “Let him use it if he wants. The matron never said no. The clerk oversees the inn—he checks on things.”
Shurui ignored Wang, staring at the matron. “I need a clear answer.”
The matron, realizing he wasn’t yielding, seethed inwardly—he was persistent despite being young.
Just then, a man entered, holding a long sword, cold eyes scanning her neck as he sharpened his blade on the grindstone. She shivered, sensing an icy chill.
“I’m easy to talk to. Let him use the kitchen,” he said, picking up a cloth to wipe the blade, then left the kitchen with a smirk, leaving Wang and Sun Qing flustered.
Shurui smiled wryly: a good blade is better than a silver tongue.
Turning back to Sun Qing, he wiped away his tears with a cloth. “Sorry you had to be scolded. You okay?”
Wang, finishing with the soup, carried it to the upstairs guests and exited the back kitchen.
Qing shook his head: “It’s not your concern. If she wants to scold me, she’ll find a reason, and it’s not all about a bowl of soup. Thank you for speaking up for me.”
He let it go, putting on a smile again: “You’re really something, Shao. Usually, she’s so fierce and the staff all fear her, yet you aren’t afraid and even dare to argue with her.”
“You fear her, and she’ll bully you even more.”
Shu Rui said, “Even though you’re her employee, taking her wages, you didn’t earn it idly, nor are you one of the servants she bought for the shop. You’re still of good standing, equal in status to her.
If we do our part properly, there’s no need to fear her. Anyone who’s unreasonable is simply in the wrong.”
Qing sniffed lightly. “Thank you for saying this to me.”
Shu Rui smiled, knowing that Qing’s temperament wouldn’t change easily—one’s nature isn’t altered in a day, nor with a few words. He offered some comforting words, steering the conversation away from topics that would make anyone unhappy, and asked about what meal Qing had planned for the evening.
Qing listed a few dishes, and Shu Rui picked some inexpensive mixed fish dumpling soup, ordering two bowls.
“After hauling all those tiles today, you and my brother can each take a bucket of hot water up to your rooms, and I’ll add it to the tab.”
Qing readily agreed, then leaned in to whisper to Shu Rui: “After she leaves, I’ll bring another bucket for you so you can have a proper bath.”
Shu Rui chuckled and thanked him.
When they went out into the main hall, they saw Lu Ling already seated at the spot where he’d eaten lunch, waiting.
Seeing Shu Rui, he relaxed his expression: “What did you order to eat?”
Shu Rui said: “Dumpling soup. I’ve also arranged some hot water from the kitchen, which I’ll help bring to your room.”
“You’re hopeless.”
“You’ve been busy all day, covered in dust and sweat. If you don’t wash, tomorrow will be unpleasant.”
Shu Rui looked at Lu Ling’s handsome, stern face: “No matter how good a man looks, if he doesn’t care about cleanliness, it’s all for nothing.”
Lu Ling glanced at Shu Rui: “I said I can use cold water. I don’t dislike washing.”
Shu Rui was about to smile when a waiter arrived with two steaming bowls of dumpling soup.
The two looked at the hot food hungrily, silently deciding not to discuss the kitchen earlier. They each took a ladle and began to eat.
Shu Rui tried a spoonful, and his brow twitched immediately. He couldn’t tell how they had made the soup, but it smelled strongly of fish, and the dumplings were falling apart. He guessed the fish wasn’t fresh—the inn probably bought cheap dead fish. Knowing the landlady’s temper, it was entirely possible she had done this on purpose.
He endured half a bowl, then put the bowl aside and took out his handkerchief.
“Not eating?”
Lu Ling lifted his head and saw Shu Rui wiping his mouth, the bowl barely touched.
“The taste is off, can’t eat it. A small meal tonight won’t hurt.”
Lu Ling didn’t reply. He too found the taste unpleasant, vastly different from what Shu Rui had prepared for lunch. Yet, instead of abandoning the meal, he poured the remaining dumpling soup into his own bowl.
Shu Rui’s eyes widened. Before he could protest, Lu Ling devoured it in one go.
“You… you’re eating what’s left from me! Isn’t it shameful?”
Shu Rui realized he’d spoken too loudly. He glanced around furtively; no one was watching. The warmth in his ears subsided. “If it’s not enough, I’ll order another bowl for you!”
“No.”
Lu Ling furrowed his brow: “It’s not good.”
“Not good, yet you eat mine!”
“It would be a waste. I’m fine finishing this.”
Shu Rui, surprised by this, scratched his nose with a hint of amusement. Living frugally outside, he was still picky about food—he could be a little spoiled.
“…Next time, I’ll try to finish it all. You don’t need to eat mine.”
Lu Ling looked at him: “Then what about what’s left this time?”
Shu Rui said: “Take it out and feed the dogs. I see some stray dogs outside; they’re starving.”
Lu Ling frowned, thinking quickly: “You won’t even give it to me if you feed the dogs?”
“?”
Seeing Shu Rui silent, Lu Ling grabbed his bowl with a grim expression, turned, and went to eat at the table behind them.
Shu Rui: “……”
He watched him, bent over the table like a big raccoon servant, still scooping dumplings into his mouth. Shu Rui touched his nose, his face flushed, and retreated inside to wash up.