Did you sleep well with him?

  Zhang didn't respond to him, her gaze passing over the young man to look at the luxurious carriage parked behind him, her expression becoming somewhat uneasy. She had seen these two carriages almost every day at this time for several days now.

  She led the little donkey into her own courtyard, tied up the little donkey, and unloaded the soybeans and ingredients for cooking dinner from the donkey cart. She turned back to look at the door of Song's house, which was tightly closed.

  "Grandpa, are you up?" She walked to the door of the house and knocked gently. After a while, a coughing sound full of phlegm came from inside the room.

  These days, Old Song has been going out late and returning early, even the tofu stall is rarely visited. He returns to sleep for a while after dawn, gets up at dusk, waits for Mrs. Zhang to finish cooking, hastily eats a few mouthfuls, and then leaves, getting into that luxurious horse-drawn carriage at the entrance.

  Old Song hasn't bothered her for days, although he still doesn't have a good expression on his face. Compared to the past when he would take out his frustrations on her after losing money, this is already quite unexpected. She asks about his well-being every day, fearing that she might not be serving him properly, and letting the rare peaceful days slip away.

  Mr. Song slowly got out of bed, opened the door, and Mrs. Zhang had already prepared hot water for him to take a bath and laid out clean clothes.

  "Grandpa, are you eating at home today?"

  "You're back so late, I've already eaten! I'm not eating anymore."

  Song old man replied in a bad mood, casually took a bath, and turned around to go out.

  Mrs. Zhang saw the situation, hurriedly ran back to her own room, took out a brand new cotton-padded jacket, chased after Old Man Song, and put the jacket on his shoulders, saying: "Old man, it's cool in the evening, wear more clothes, don't catch a chill."

  Old Song casually adjusted his collar, without even a glance at Zhang's wife, and walked out of the courtyard gate. He headed towards the luxurious carriage by the entrance, where a middle-aged man had just alighted. As soon as he saw him, Old Song's face broke into an obsequious smile, and he hurried over to greet him with a bow, fawning all over him.

  Zhang stood at the gate of the courtyard, seeing off Old Song as he got into the horse-drawn carriage and sped away. Only then did she turn back into the courtyard, pick up a few pieces of firewood, rinse some white rice, and prepare to make dinner.

  A head poked out from the gate of the courtyard, curiously looking around, and it was that handsome young man.

  Zhang quickly discovered him, stopped what he was doing, turned around, and saw the young man grinning: "Sister Zhang, I haven't had dinner yet either."

  His tone and demeanor at this time were as if he had already become intimate with Zhang's family to the point where it was natural for him to ask Zhang for food.

  Whether it was because she knew he was the one who had rescued her from the Pei Manor with Zhen Ming Xiu, or because Yang Zuo had a handsome face with clear eyebrows and bright eyes, when she heard his words that completely disregarded their unfamiliarity, Zhang Shi couldn't help but laugh.

  Yang Cong saw this and took advantage of the situation to walk into the courtyard, snatching the basin used for washing vegetables from Zhang's hands.

  "Sister Zhang, I'm here to help you!"

  Watching him busily and hastily pouring water, getting himself all wet, spilling rice all over the floor, one pour was enough for Zhang's family to eat for ten days. Just by looking at it, you can tell he is a young master who doesn't know the difference between the five grains and has idle limbs. Zhang didn't stop him, just stood aside watching him messing around.

  When the young man had finished rinsing the rice and presented a full bowl of it to her, she smiled and asked, "Do you know how to cook?"

  "Really? You're learning from me?" Yang Tuo's face was slightly flushed. He had watched her cook rice and stir-fry many times over the years.

  Zhang didn't ask him when he learned it, but just said: "How can you eat so much rice? The rice you milled is enough for four people to eat."

  As he spoke, he took the wooden basin from his hand, walked to the stove, lit a fire, and poured two portions of rice into the pot.

  "Zhang sister, I'll help you wash the vegetables." Yang Dou said, rolling up his sleeves and preparing to assist.

  It was really unbearable to discourage his enthusiasm, so Zhang let him go to the well at the end of the alley to fetch some water. Yang Dang didn't say a word and carried two buckets out the door.

  As soon as he came out, several slaves hiding in the distance saw him carrying a bucket and rushed out to block his way, saying with great alarm: "My young master, you mustn't do such rough work. If something goes wrong, we slaves won't have enough heads to roll... Quick, quick, throw these things away..."

  "Who told you to follow me? Get lost quickly, I finally came out to see Sister Zhang. If you scare her, I'll beat your butt, hurry up and roll!"

  "Good for nothing..."

  "Get out!"

  ……

  Half an hour has passed.

  Zhang had already cooked the dishes and even fetched two eggs from the chicken coop in the yard, making a bowl of scallion and egg drop soup, which she usually wouldn't eat herself but saved for Old Man Song to nourish his body.

  The rice has been cooked and the dishes have been served on the table, but that young man still hasn't come back.

  Out of the door and walked to the end of the alley to the well, that young man was staring at the well in distress, two buckets were still empty.

  Zhang smiled and said, "This well has a lot of red carp, I was so fascinated that I forgot about the time. Let me draw some water for you."

  Zhang didn't expose him and said: "Let me do it instead. You're just a young master, how can you do such rough work?"

  The young man said discontentedly, "I'm not that kind of young master who opens his mouth for food and stretches out his hand for clothes. I lost my parents when I was a child and lived with my sister until I was eight years old. After my sister got married, I lived alone by myself, washing, eating, sleeping, all by myself, never asking anyone for help."

  He looked quite proud of himself, although he was already a head taller than her, but the words he spoke were like those of an immature little kid, Zhang managed to hold back her laughter.

  After fetching water, they carried it back to the yard together, a short distance, but splashing both of them wet.

  ……

  On the table were three simple dishes, a dish of green vegetables, a dish of cured bacon, and a bowl of scallion and egg soup. Yang seemed like he hadn't eaten for days, and including the bowl that Zhang had just served him, this was already his third bowl of rice.

  Zhang ate a small bowl and put down his chopsticks, watching him eat.

  This young man was dressed meticulously, and the embroidery on his clothes were all made by Changsun Clothing Store, the most famous in Luoyang City. Moreover, they were of the kind that even with money, one might not necessarily be able to buy, the exclusive VIP style.

  "Are you used to eating these things?"

  The boy muttered with something in his mouth: "I'm used to eating, as long as it's Sister Zhang's cooking, I like to eat."

  "Eat quickly and go back, your family must be worried." Zhang urged, letting him eat at her home had already exceeded her bottom line, if it wasn't for the fact that he had saved her before, she would never have let a strange man eat at her home.

  The young man's expression turned gloomy upon hearing this, and he said dejectedly: "My parents died early, my sister married into the Turkic tribe and went away, I'm the only one left at home."

  Zhang fell silent for a moment.

  The boy looked up: "Sister Zhang, I'm not going back tonight. Can I sleep here with you? Anyway, when I go home, I'll be alone, cold and quiet. I have a lot to talk to you about."