Packing up, she left the police station.
She drove towards the Gu family. Earlier, she called ho and learned that Grandfather found the Fritillaria loquat syrup she made quite effective, but these days she’d been too busy to visit.
After a turn, she bought ten roast ducks, planning to leave one each for the kids and Grandfather, the rest for Lu Yichen and the others as a late-night al addition.
When she arrived at the Gu family’s ho, Auntie Tang was pickling vegetables. Seeing Luo Qiao, she washed her hands with a smile and ca out: "Qiaoqiao, what brings you here today?"
Luo Qiao said with a smile, "I went to the bureau at noon to deliver Yichen’s lunch, so I took a detour to visit Grandfather."
While speaking, she handed over the roast ducks: "An extra dish for Grandfather tonight."
Auntie Tang, looking at the bag handed over, said: "The old master’s in for a treat tonight."
Luo Qiao did not see Gu Qianru: "Auntie Tang, where’s my aunt?"
With a secretive smile, Auntie Tang replied, "She’s gone out with your dad."
Luo Qiao with a knowing look: "I’ll go check on Grandfather."
Auntie Tang nodded: "The old master is in the study."
Gently knocking on the door, she heard from within: "Please co in."
Luo Qiao pushed the door open: "Grandfather, I ca to see you."
The old master looked up and peered behind her: "Why didn’t you bring the kids?"
Walking in with a smile, Luo Qiao replied, "I went to the bureau at noon to deliver Yichen’s lunch. It wasn’t convenient to bring them along for fear of disturbing others’ work."
The old master gestured for her to sit.
Luo Qiao placed the dried fruits she had prepared in advance from her space onto the table: "Grandfather, eat so of these when you’re free, they’re good for your health."
The old master nodded with a smile and casually poured Luo Qiao a cup of tea, placing it on the table.
After tidying up the books on the desk and returning them to the shelves, he seed to rember sothing and asked: "What do you think about your dad and your aunt’s situation?"
Luo Qiao did not expect the old master to ask this.
Taking a sip of tea, she said: "That depends on their wishes. If they are willing, of course, I’d be happy to see it happen. They are both good people and deserve happiness."
The old master felt reassured by Luo Qiao’s words: "You are an understanding child. With your words, I am at ease."
After chatting for a while longer, Luo Qiao stood up, ready to head back. She had to deliver dinner to Lu Yichen in the evening, so she needed to go back and help Rong Daniang early.
Just as she left the Gu ho, she received a call from Ji Lin. Ji Lin had wanted to have dinner together that night, but Luo Qiao said she had no ti, so they agreed to et the next noon, as Ji Lin said she had important matters to discuss.
After teasing Ji Lin a bit on the phone, Luo Qiao hung up.
Back at ho, Rong Daniang had already begun the preparations, and Qi Ling was just coming back from teaching Yanyan and Yueyue.
Yanyan ran over: "Mom, the teacher said there’s a piano competition in Capital City next month, asking us if we’re going to participate."
Touching her daughter’s hair, Luo Qiao asked, "What do you girls think?"
Yanyan glanced back at her sister. Yueyue stepped forward: "Teacher says with our current level, we can aim for a good ranking."
Luo Qiao laughed aloud: "Such clever girls, you’ve already decided, yet still ask ."
Everyone burst into laughter.
Luo Qiao pulled Yueyue into her embrace as well: "If you want to participate, go for it. Dad and mom support you. Don’t feel pressured, just enjoy the music festival."
The two sisters exchanged glances and nodded to their mother, Yanyan said, "Then you’ll call the teacher later to help us register."
Luo Qiao patted her daughters’ shoulders: "Alright, I’ll call now, go and play."
She phoned the teacher imdiately to arrange the competition details, and only after that did she join Rong Daniang in the kitchen to help with cooking.
For dinner, they stead rice, made braised pork, sour cabbage and vermicelli stew, sautéed mustard greens. Once the al was ready and she had contacted Lu Yichen, she learned they hadn’t returned to the station and I feared they won’t be back anyti soon.
Upon hearing they were still out – about twenty miles away from Capital City – apparently needing to work overnight, he told Luo Qiao not to bother about them as the canteen at the station would save dinner for their return.
Luo Qiao was familiar with that place, devoid of villages before and back, just wasteland. There used to be a factory that closed down and remained idle; it was impossible to find even a bite to eat.
Initially, she thought of sending Qi Ling, but then decided to deliver the food herself. Rong Daniang cooked two large pots of millet porridge, and she borrowed a large thermal container from Hu Lifang, the eatery owner in the alley, and only then packed the als into the car.
Qi Ling looked at Luo Qiao concernedly: "Sister-in-law, it’s so late, let go."
Luo Qiao laughed: "It’s ok, I’ll go. I know the place."
The main reason was that she planned to stow the als and porridge in her space shortly after leaving; otherwise, by the ti she arrived, the food would be all but scattered, making it barely edible.
The roast ducks were still in the space, and if she took them out now, they would be cold and inedible by the ti she arrived. It was better for her to make the trip herself. She’d find a spot to store the food in the space once she was out.
Qi Ling was a bit worried, but Luo Qiao quickly sparred with him a few rounds in the yard, which surprised him greatly.
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