This child—oh, how Dong Yue longed to scoop her up in a fierce hug. For some reason, she simply found the student before her utterly endearing. True, her first impression of Liang Sheng hadn’t been great; after all, the girl had dozed off during Dong Yue’s very first lesson.
But later on, Liang Sheng had won her over time and again. Dong Yue had discovered just how much this adorable girl loved learning—diligent, inquisitive, upbeat, clever, bold, and radiant with positivity. (Yeah, right—you must be blind.)
—
When it came to mealtime etiquette, Liang Sheng reckoned she did pretty well, at least compared to kids her age.
She didn’t smack her lips, didn’t poke around randomly with her chopsticks, slurped no soup, made no noise while eating, covered her mouth with a napkin and turned away if she coughed, and kept her chatter to herself. She sat up straight and ate properly.
Of course, that was only in front of Teacher Dong Yue and her family. Back home, or with her closest buddies, she’d toss all that out the window. But not now. Dong Yue hailed from a scholarly lineage—her family side, anyway—and they were bound to be sticklers for propriety. No way was Liang Sheng going to lose face there. After all, a person had to save face, just like a tree needed its bark. (As if you’d ever cared before.)
Liang Sheng prided herself on eating the hard-to-swallow greens with impeccable politeness and grace.
Old Madam Dong nodded in approval, and Liang Sheng couldn’t suppress a secret thrill. She didn’t even know what she was so happy about, really—she just beamed whenever someone liked or praised her.
Still, the food left Liang Sheng sorely disappointed. She should’ve joined that little loli Zhen Zhu for tasty snacks earlier. Look at this spread: almost all vegetarian dishes. If Old Madam Dong had a string of prayer beads in hand, Liang Sheng might’ve pegged the whole family as devout Buddhists.
The table held… stir-fried cabbage, shredded potatoes, cold soy tofu, and a humble stew of beans and potatoes—no pork ribs to liven it up. It was all so far from what Liang Sheng had imagined. She’d figured wealthy folks dined on lavish seafood banquets and endless roasts.
By chance, Liang Sheng’s helpless gaze met Zhen Zhu’s look of utter despair. That was when she understood why the girl had scarfed down snacks like a madwoman earlier. For a die-hard carnivore like her, this meal was torture.
Staring at her full bowl of white rice, Liang Sheng swallowed hard, her throat aching from the dry gulp. Then her eyes fell on the pallid, oily greens, and her stomach churned. She felt full just looking at them—nearly retched, in fact.
“Liang Sheng, why aren’t you eating?” Dong Yue picked a stalk of cabbage into her bowl, then solicitously added a potato chunk so massive it dwarfed her mouth.
Liang Sheng mustered a sheepish grin. “Uh, these dishes…”
“These dishes? What’s wrong with them?”
Gulp. Liang Sheng swallowed again, mumbling guiltily, “I-I finally get what they mean by ‘a feast for the eyes.’ Teacher, look at that monster potato you just gave me. These veggies… they just…”
“Ah, ah.” Dong Yue smiled faintly, taking her words at face value rather than as the ironic dodge they were.
Liang Sheng’s “feast for the eyes” meant they looked so unappetizing, you felt stuffed already. How could anyone stomach a tableful of pale whites and slick greens?
“Since our Shengsheng loves them so much, have some more.” Dong Yue added a few beans to her bowl.
Liang Sheng nearly burped right there—her face felt positively verdant. For real weight loss, just plop a plate of boiled cabbage in front of you, and you’d be full in seconds. Huh, weird diet trick… er, scratch that—mind blown by random knowledge. (One word, and out comes the seasoned driver.)
Hang on. Liang Sheng blinked. Teacher Dong Yue had switched to calling her Shengsheng! So intimate—hee hee hee. Did that mean… Teacher Dong Yue saw her as family now? The thought improved her appetite a tad; she forced down a few greens.
But she still couldn’t do it. Your concubine just can’t manage it, Your Majesty—cast me into the cold palace with some meat!! Liang Sheng’s face crumpled.
She glanced at Teacher Dong Yue, who was eating… with such relish?
Liang Sheng recoiled in horror. Dong Yue shoveled the food with a grimace, like she was gnawing rocks—or chowing down with reckless abandon.
“Little Yue, look at you gobbling it up. It’s been ages since you had home cooking, hasn’t it? I keep telling you, nothing beats a home-cooked meal.” Old Madam Dong gazed fondly at her granddaughter.
Huh? That didn’t match the novels. Weren’t Dong Yue and her family always at odds? Didn’t she avoid coming home, crashing elsewhere for weeks?
Liang Sheng’s eyes flicked back to Dong Yue, and enlightenment dawned. No wonder—with that tear-streaked beauty of a face twisted into something ghastly by the revolting fare. To preserve her looks, who’d eat like this at home? One meal could etch crow’s feet and forehead lines.
Good kids didn’t waste food. At last, Liang Sheng summoned her courage, tears in her eyes, and polished off the last grain of rice. In that moment, she truly grasped the poem: Who knows the labor in each morsel on the plate? Every bite had taken Herculean effort.
Old Madam Dong nodded, pleased. Fine child—not a scrap wasted.
Liang Sheng: Heh, glad you’re happy. Now excuse me while I dash to the bathroom and hurl—feels like I swallowed a boulder pile.
Dinner wrapped up amid grimaces and groans. Now came the family chit-chat.
Liang Sheng had zero interest in butting into their private gathering. Yet leaving Teacher Dong Yue alone in this dread house felt wrong. So she turned her gaze to Little Loli Zhen Zhu once more.
“W-What?” Zhen Zhu edged away instinctively, as if Liang Sheng were some creepy auntie ready to pounce. “You weirdo—staring at me with those sleazy, disgusting eyes again.”
Liang Sheng clutched her chest, mortally wounded. She’d only flashed the warm, elder-to-kid smile of maternal affection. How did it always twist into something perverted in the girl’s mind? Did she really look that shady?
