klisemfg Chapter 525 Hot Soup Noodles
Chapter 525 Hot Soup Noodles
A-Yue led them to a clean eatery near the pier. They ate a simple meal, just some hot soup noodles without any meat, but it warmed their bodies, which had become stiff from the sea breeze.
The sun was still warm, but the wind was too strong.
Sanchuan and Sihai ate without even lifting their heads.
The soup was made from fish bones and was very flavorful.
Xu Yiyi specifically asked the owner for a bowl without any seasoning.
After drinking some hot soup, Wu Yuan felt a bit better and began to look around curiously with his bright black eyes.
Only Lao Lu was full of criticism.
As it turned out, he was the one who ate the cleanest bowl.
"I must say, this boss is really good at making soup." Fatty Wang gulped down the last mouthful of hot soup and let out a long sigh of relief.
He didn't put down the seasonings he brought from Ping'an Town while eating, for fear of losing them or damaging them.
After resting for a while, the group headed toward Old Lu's mansion in the city.
The house is located deep in a quiet alley in the southeast of the city, with blue bricks and gray tiles, a peaceful oasis amidst the hustle and bustle.
Upon getting closer, both Sihai and Sanchuan were shocked.
As Sanchuan spoke, he circled the entrance, asking, "Grandpa Lu, is this your house?"
"Grandpa Lu, are you a pirate? How do you have money to buy a big house?" Si Hai's little mind was completely blank.
In his view, only by becoming a pirate could one quickly amass a fortune to buy a house.
"Pah! Can't you think of something nice?"
Old Lu chuckled and cursed, but still didn't explain where the house came from.
Kids don't keep their mouths shut. If they accidentally let something slip, they'll bring up all the things they did before.
I'm afraid they won't have a peaceful life even when they get old.
"This is your eldest sister's house now."
The old man spoke softly, looking at the house with a touch of melancholy.
After this thorough renovation, the house is now completely transformed, showing no signs of its former dilapidated and desolate state.
The black paint on the lintel was freshly applied, smooth and serene.
The courtyard walls are neat, and the roof tiles are straight.
He looked around for a while before pushing open the gate and going inside. He walked past the smooth blue brick screen wall and found himself in a well-organized courtyard.
When I first brought Xu Yiyi here, the square pond in the courtyard was dry and full of fallen leaves and weeds. Now, fresh water has been introduced, the water is clear and shallow, and several red koi carp are swaying their tails leisurely. The water reflects the sky and clouds.
Several clumps of seasonal flowers and plants dot the edge of the pond. Although they are not rare or expensive, they are well-trimmed and full of vitality.
The windows and doors of the house were repaired and reinforced, and covered with wooden boards.
Noticing Lao Lu's gaze, A Yue quickly explained, "The budget is limited, and money needs to be spent wisely. The craftsmen who came to repair the house even advised me to use paper, but I was thinking that there are often hurricanes here. If we use paper, it will be torn by a hurricane, and then we'll have to repair it, which would be a waste of money..."
Fabric is expensive; covering all the windows of the house with it would be a huge expense. As for making windows from seashells like some restaurants on the island, there aren't any craftsmen here with that skill.
After leaving Wanghai Island, she had never seen this kind of craft anywhere else.
The windows, made of seashells, provide shelter from wind and rain while letting in light.
It's really good.
Old Lu nodded absentmindedly; it was obvious he wasn't paying attention.
He stepped inside, but the furnishings were not as luxurious as he remembered.
There is not much decoration. The tables, chairs and desks are all made of sturdy and durable elm or cedar wood, with a warm lacquer finish.
A landscape painting with a profound artistic conception hangs on the wall, and several simple and elegant porcelain pieces are displayed on the antique shelf in the corner.
Old Lu walked over and took a few glances; they were all cheap goods, not worth much money.
He walked to the window and opened all the windows.
A brand-new indigo cotton cushion was laid on a low couch under the window. The soft sunlight shone in, making the room bright and warm, and it looked very simple.
It's spacious, yet it has a warm, homey feel to it.
While Lao Lu reminisced and sighed, San Chuan and Si Hai couldn't contain themselves any longer and ran around in the clean courtyard and under the newly paved corridor.
Her little mouth was still pouting, and she let out a series of exclamations.
Even the chubby baby in Xu Yiyi's arms grinned, his toothless mouth babbling as he reached out towards the bright room.
Fatty Wang was the one with the least leisure time. As soon as he entered, he couldn't wait to put away the seasonings he had brought.
As he came out of the house, Lao Lu strolled slowly in the courtyard with his hands behind his back.
His gaze swept from the newly renovated rooftop to the clear pool water, then across the bright and clean houses. His face showed no particular expression, but a fleeting, elusive warmth flickered in his usually somewhat lazy eyes.
He walked to the corridor and reached out to touch a newly replaced pillar; the wood was dry and sturdy.
"How was it? Not bad, right? The chef I hired is the best in the entire prefecture."
"It's alright."
When Lao Lu returned from his tour, he uttered only two words in a lukewarm manner, making it impossible to tell whether he was satisfied or critical.
Ah Yue scoffed.
But he also knew that with Lao Lu's fastidious nature, if he were truly dissatisfied, he would have already found a whole host of faults by now.
Xu Yiyi carried Wu Yuan into the house.
This house now truly resembles a home and is habitable.
Not long after Wu Yuan fell asleep, Xu Yiyi took Wang Pangzi and A Yue to the mansion that Lin Ke had just bought.
To start a family, one naturally cannot live in the Zhechong Mansion as before.
But the house he originally bought was too small, and he was afraid it would make things difficult for his future wife.
So Lin Ke quickly bought another large house.
This new residence is located in the more prestigious western part of the city, covering a large area with vermilion gates and high walls, exuding an extraordinary grandeur.
Even before getting close, one could already sense an unusual atmosphere of busyness and celebration.
Outside the mansion gate, craftsmen were climbing ladders to hang the last few large red silk lanterns on the lintel, and even the two stone lions at the entrance were adorned with brand-new red silk flowers.
The air was faintly filled with the smell of new paint and colorful silk.
Once you cross the high threshold, the inside is bustling with activity, like a boiling pot of water.
As far as the eye can see, everything is a sea of red.
The corridor was adorned with strings of red lanterns and exquisite paper-cut window decorations; red brocade was wrapped around the beams and pillars; brand-new red felt was laid in the courtyard; even the servants and maids who came and went mostly wore red belts or red ornaments.
Everyone was hurrying along, but their faces were tense with a kind of joy as they moved things, wiped down decorations, hung up colorful ornaments, and checked lists...
Busy.
"That's really grand!"
Xu Yiyi sighed, saying that this was the first time she had ever seen an ancient wedding since she had been here for so long.
If I had to describe it in one word, it would be "joyful".
"Let me tell you, the adults are not people who care about pomp and circumstance. They are always casual about these formalities. At first, they thought they could have a meal with the brothers in the camp to make it lively and then be done with it. But later, the old lady scolded them harshly."
After all, the woman he was to marry was the eldest daughter of the Duke of Wei's family, who had been pampered and spoiled since childhood. The wedding ceremony and the decoration of the mansion could not be taken lightly in the slightest. They had to follow all the proper etiquette and be extremely thorough in order to appear solemn and not disgrace the families of both sides.
Xu Yiyi stood by the passageway, avoiding the busy crowds. Looking at the scene of bright red, she couldn't help but feel a sense of solemnity.
"Let's go! Let's go to the kitchen first."
After calming down, A-Yue led Xu Yi-Yi and Fatty Wang towards the kitchen.
After all, the two of them had a heavy burden on their shoulders regarding whether the banquet would go smoothly tomorrow.