Preparation (3)

He handed the food tied with straw to Jiang Ru. "This is the food Mother didn't finish selling today. I brought some over for you guys. I heard Ah Xiao got into another fight and ended up in the police station recently. You should talk to him. Mother is getting old; he shouldn't always be so thoughtless and make her worry."

Jiang Ru looked at the man, unable to help but applaud him in her heart.

If not for the warning from the criminal detective before, she really would have thought this man was a good person.

He Wen Hua glanced into the yard and asked, "Where is Ah Xiao?"

Jiang Ru: "He went out."

A look of helplessness appeared on the man's face. "Never mind, then. I'll head out first, otherwise he'll just get angry when he sees me."

He even sighed, then smiled gently at Jiang Ru.

Anyone who didn't know better would think he was a good elder brother who was tolerant and loving toward his younger brother.

But Jiang Ru, after all, came from a later generation and had read plenty of novels and watched many TV dramas. With a little thought, she understood this man's intentions. He was quite like the male version of a "Green Tea" in modern web literature.

What did he mean by "food that didn't finish selling, so I brought some over"? What did he mean by "got into another fight and ended up in the police station, Mother is getting old"? And "he'll just get angry when he sees me"?

He was putting Li Xiao down at every turn while showing off his own sensible nature.

Speaking of which, it was no wonder Li Xiao's mother was so easily manipulated by him.

After Jiang Ru watched him walk away, she looked down to check the food he had brought, only to find wilted bok choy and amaranth. Just as she finished looking and raised her head, she saw Li Xiao return. In his hands, he also carried food: two racks of ribs, two pig trotters, and several spices.

His gaze darkened as he stared at the departing figure, then he turned to Jiang Ru. "What did he come here for?"

His voice was very cold, as if he thoroughly disliked him.

Jiang Ru showed him the food in her hand, then repeated everything He Wen Hua had said.

Having graduated from the police academy, her memory had been intentionally trained, so she recalled almost word for word.

Upon hearing this, the man let out a cold sneer, his expression filled with disdain, as if he didn't care about such petty tricks at all.

He looked at Jiang Ru calmly and warned, "Stay away from him in the future."

"Okay."

Jiang Ru didn't object.

After dinner that evening, Li Xiao packed his things at home. The baby clothes Jiang Ru had cut out for the child now only needed to be sewn together.

While she sewed, Li Xiao packed the necessary items into a snakeskin bag.

Jiang Ru watched him for a while and finally couldn't help but ask, "When are you leaving?"

"The day after tomorrow."

Hearing this, Jiang Ru hesitantly pursed her lips. "My younger brother definitely went back to complain two days ago. I'm afraid my mother will come over."

The man's movements paused, and he turned to look at her. Fearing he might misunderstand, Jiang Ru quickly stroked her belly and explained, "I'm just afraid she'll scare the baby."

It wasn't that she was reluctant to let him go.

Following her hand, the man looked at her belly. He originally wanted to sneer, but his gaze softened slightly in the end. "She won't dare to come here."

Then he turned back and continued packing.

"Oh."

Jiang Ru rubbed her nose, not knowing what else to say.

Early the next morning, the man left and only returned in the afternoon, riding an old bicycle loaded with goods. He unloaded everything into the main room, then went back out to return the bicycle.

Jiang Ru opened the packages and found rice, flour, potatoes, oil, meat, and various fabrics. She had no idea where he had gotten the money to buy so many things.

Li Xiao returned quickly and put the items into the kitchen cupboard. Upon coming back, he said to her, "Your mother won't come. I'm leaving tomorrow morning. If anything happens, go find Auntie Wang next door."

He paused, then added, "I'll call you when I arrive. I'll be back before you give birth. Take care of yourself at home."

"Alright."

During dinner, Jiang Ru thought for a moment and still couldn't help but warn him, "Um, be careful out there. I heard there are many scammers outside. If anything feels off, just run away immediately."

Jiang Ru knew she was being a bit unfair, knowing full well he was heading straight into a bandits' den on this trip yet not stopping him.

Because of this, she felt a bit guilty. After dinner, she used some of the flour he bought to make noodles. She also used the meat and oil he bought, along with the chili peppers at home, to make two jars of chili paste.

Her mother was from X Province, and was best at making noodles and chili paste.

While Jiang Ru made these, the man sat quietly in front of the stove, tending to the fire.

The bright firelight illuminated his handsome and refined face, making his entire being appear a few degrees softer.

The kitchen remained very quiet, but somehow, a touch of warmth had settled in.