"Really?" Old Master Song was startled. Madam Song had been healthy for so many years, managing the household meticulously. She was his confidante, and he had hoped they would grow old together. Hearing her words, however, he realized she was gravely ill.
"Really," Madam Song nodded affirmatively. After a moment's thought, she continued, "It seems my illness is something ordinary doctors cannot diagnose."
"Don't worry, I will definitely find a good doctor to cure your illness," Old Master Song looked at her intently. Seeing the sincerity in his eyes, Madam Song was deeply touched.
After their intimate moment, she suddenly remembered something and hesitated, "There is something I don't know if I should say."
"Between us, what is there that we shouldn't say? Just speak your mind."
"Haven't our people been searching for our eldest young master? Today, someone saw him."
"Where?" Old Master Song asked, his voice filled with excitement. Although he didn't particularly favor his eldest son, he was still his flesh and blood. He had been missing for so long, and he thought he would never see him again. To hear news of him now was unexpected.
"He is staying at an inn in the southern part of the city. However, there is a woman by his side. I heard him repeatedly call her 'Mother.' This..."
She understood clearly. That rascal would eventually return to the Song family. Rather than them actively seeking him out, it was better for her to inform the master herself. This would show how diligently she had searched for him and also prevent them from causing further discord.
Upon hearing this, Old Master Song's initial excitement subsided. If his wife was telling the truth, who was the woman beside him? He had personally witnessed his wife's death years ago. That woman was definitely not his son's biological mother. He wanted to see who dared to be so audacious as to bewitch the legitimate eldest son of the Song family to call her "Mother."
Arriving at a familiar place, Song Ziyao felt both anticipation and trepidation. The very next morning, he impatiently took Wu Caiwei to stroll through the streets he knew well.
"Mother, the wontons at this shop are exceptionally delicious. The rice noodles at that shop are incredibly fragrant, and that steamed bun shop has been open for twenty years and is doing very well..."
Song Ziyao chattered on, introducing everything he knew. Wu Caiwei watched him happily and couldn't help but smile, following his steps as they slowly walked forward.
"Young Master Hu, it's not that I don't want to help you, but I'm running a small business. If this continues, I won't be able to sustain it. Please forgive me." The owner of the small eatery nearby looked at the man in front of him with a troubled expression.
"Just help me one last time. After some time, I will repay all the money I owe you." The man's back was to Wu Caiwei, so she couldn't see his expression, but she could sense a great deal of confidence in his words. Wu Caiwei couldn't help but be curious about who he was.
"How many times have you said such things? I sympathize with you, but with your family's endless troubles, when will it end?" The owner stopped helping but couldn't resist wrapping a few freshly baked buns from his shop and stuffing them into the man's arms.
The man turned around without a word. Upon seeing Wu Caiwei, he showed a look of shock. Wu Caiwei also smiled faintly. She hadn't expected that after searching high and low, the very person she was looking for had appeared effortlessly.
Intrigued, she stepped forward and looked at the owner of the small eatery. With an air of generosity, she declared, "Owner, how much money does he owe you? Calculate it. I've taken a liking to him and am willing to be this 'fool' and settle all his debts."
The owner of the small eatery immediately eyed her with caution. He stepped forward, positioning himself in front of Hu Lianyu, and said with a fawning smile, "Madam, although Young Master Hu is currently impoverished, his family is one of scholars and officials. Some of his relatives hold positions in the capital. I implore you to reconsider."
Wu Caiwei paused, then realized the owner had misunderstood. She couldn't help but burst into laughter. Hu Lianyu's mouth twitched. He knew the owner was trying to protect him, but something felt off.
"We are old acquaintances. She was just joking with you. How much do I owe? Hurry up and calculate it."
The owner of the small eatery originally expected his words to anger the lady. To his surprise, she suddenly laughed. He awkwardly scratched his head and looked at Young Master Hu with a puzzled expression.
Hearing his words, she realized the problem. Knowing she had misunderstood, her face suddenly flushed red, and she stammered, "I... I don't know how much the Young Master owes. I haven't kept any accounts all these years. My family was able to settle down in this city thanks to Young Master Hu's father. I am truly grateful to him from the bottom of my heart and never thought of asking for the money."
Wu Caiwei looked at the owner's clear eyes and, recalling their previous conversation, knew he was telling the truth. She immediately took out a hundred taels of silver notes and handed them to him.
The owner of the small eatery didn't even look and quickly pushed them back, "His father helped us without asking for money back then, how can we take his money?"
"I, this Madam, have plenty of money. Take it. Consider it a reward for your gratitude." At some point, a woman had appeared behind him. Seeing the intimacy between them, he knew she was the owner's wife. Wu Caiwei directly handed the silver notes to the woman.
Initially, the woman wasn't particularly attentive. But upon opening it and seeing it was a hundred taels, she was shocked and quickly handed it back to her, "How can we accept so much money?"
"Take it. For so many years, my family, old and young, have eaten and drunk here, and even some people have taken advantage. It must have been difficult for you. Your life was already hard, and this is what you deserve." Hu Lianyu took the money and directly stuffed it into the hands of the owner of the small eatery. Without regard for his reaction, he walked out first. Wu Caiwei followed closely behind, her brows furrowing as she watched.
"Why does your body grow weaker each time?" Earlier, in the small eatery, the firelight had illuminated his face, making it appear flushed and very healthy. But after he left the eatery, his steps were shaky and weak, his complexion frighteningly pale. If she wasn't mistaken, this was a congenital weakness from birth.
Hu Lianyu's expression stiffened for a moment before he chuckled as if nothing had happened, "I don't know. It seems I'll have to rely on you in the future."
"That won't do. Even when you were weak before, you protected me. You said you wanted me to be your little princess forever. I've taken you seriously, and I can't go back on my word," Wu Caiwei pouted, her tone a little threatening.
Hu Lianyu looked at her adorable demeanor and couldn't help but rub her head. He immediately heard a protest. He didn't know how many times he had laughed today. When he first arrived in this world, he had taken his own pulse and understood his condition. His anxiety was hard to conceal. He didn't know how long he could stay with her, but as long as she was by his side, everything felt so wonderful.