“Grandmother is still resting, so I didn’t disturb her. Pray tell, how did my younger cousin find this restaurant?” Tang Jin steadied her mind and asked at a leisurely pace.
The young man was sharp-minded. He immediately grasped that she suspected his identity and so cupped his hands toward Tang Jin, saying earnestly, “My name is Tang Nianen. Cousin Sister, feel free to call me Nianen. I…”
“Who’s my grandson, huh?”
Tang Nianen’s words were cut short by Old Madam Tang, who had hurried over.
At the same time, a system notification rang in Tang Jin’s mind.
【Ding, reward: one plate of Egg Yolk Braised Pumpkin】
So the system’s reward had indeed come from that word “cousin sister.”
Which meant Tang Nianen was not her cousin after all.
Spotting the old madam, Tang Nianen dropped to his knees at once and kowtowed respectfully. “Your unfilial grandson Nianen pays respects to Grandmother.”
Old Madam Tang deftly sidestepped. Her gaze fell on the young man’s face, and she couldn’t help frowning. “Don’t spout nonsense. This old lady has no grandson as grown as you.”
Doubt flickered in her eyes.
Tang Nianen bore no resemblance to the Tang family. Though her eldest son had been away for over a decade, she still remembered his looks—especially with herself and Tang Jin right there for comparison.
The old madam might be getting on in years, but her eyes were sharp as ever. One glance had been enough to size him up.
Both her sons took after her: delicate, refined features. Tang Jin, for instance, resembled her second son—and her—fair-skinned and strikingly clear-featured.
You could tell they were kin just from their eyebrows and eyes.
But not Tang Nianen. His skin was dark, his features overly sharp. There wasn’t a trace of her eldest son in him.
Old Madam Tang even recalled her late husband, who had passed young and also had a fair face. So was this boy truly her eldest’s son?
She didn’t think so.
Still kneeling, Tang Nianen explained warmly to the old madam, “Grandmother, I truly am your grandson. My father is named Tang Huaihu, of Tang Village in Ping’an County. He was born on…”
He spoke clearly and methodically: from Eldest Uncle Tang’s birth date to Tang Jin’s own birth, then Eldest Uncle’s departure from home, his marriage elsewhere, and how he had specially drawn this portrait, sending Tang Nianen to fetch the old madam and her second son’s family to live in comfort in the prefecture city.
Since these words were directed at the old madam, Tang Jin had no system to verify their truth. But judging from the old madam’s expression, all those old events Tang Nianen recounted were real enough.
Old Madam Tang kept a taut face throughout. When he finished, she showed no inclination to acknowledge him. In a heavy tone, she said, “This old lady has but one son, and only the one granddaughter Tang Jin. Be off with you—wherever you came from, go back. Tell that beast he best stay out of my sight for the rest of his life.”
Tears welled instantly in Tang Nianen’s eyes. “Grandmother, Father said it was all a misunderstanding back then. He hasn’t returned to pay his respects these years because he had no choice, unavoidable hardships…”
“Shut your mouth.” The old madam cut him off and turned toward the door. “None of that inauspicious talk here. Get up now—don’t keep us from opening for business.”
Customers had arrived.
Not just one group, either. Scholar Chu and his daughter were chatting and laughing with County Magistrate Gu and his wife just outside the door.
Seeing this, Tang Nianen could only rise awkwardly and stand hesitantly to the side.
Chu Shaoyang, quite familiar with the place by now, glanced at the menu upon entering and called to Chu Lingyue, “Big Sis, be a dear and bring out everything on there.”
She ordered all six dishes on the menu in one go. With their party of four, that was still modest by restaurant standards—one dish per person maximum, but six total wasn’t much.
Chu Lingyue smiled faintly and nodded. She exchanged a glance with Tang Jin before heading to the back courtyard.
“Did you learn anything?” Once outside the kitchen—far enough that the hall couldn’t overhear—Chu Lingyue asked Tang Jin.
Tang Jin shook her head. “Only confirmed he’s not my cousin. What about Grandmother?”
That “cousin sister” had been fake; that much she could verify.
And the old madam arriving so quickly in the hall suggested she hadn’t gotten anything out of her either.
Sure enough, Chu Lingyue shook her head too. “Grandmother wouldn’t say.”
Earlier, she’d asked why Eldest Uncle had left home all those years ago and never returned. The old madam had only fumed that she had no such son—nothing more.
Tang Jin frowned slightly. The original host had been young when Eldest Uncle left; her memories held nothing useful.
With a soft sigh, she pushed open the kitchen door. “Wait just a moment, dear. Let’s serve these first— we’ll talk later.”
The two carried out the dishes to the hall. No sooner had they set down the plates than Lord Miao entered with his daughter.
Lord Miao took one look at Scholar Chu’s table—six dishes already served—and tugged at his beard in dismay. Good grief, he’d missed out today.
Tang Jin apologized. “Sorry, sir, you arrived too late. Everything’s sold out.”
Lord Miao sighed in regret but didn’t turn to leave. With helpless resignation, he said, “Two plates of garlic shrimp tails, then.”
As a regular, he’d figured out the pattern: signature dish on odd days was garlic honey glazed chicken wings, even days abalone chicken wing stew—three portions max each day. Plus three new dishes and unlimited garlic shrimp tails.
Too bad he was a step late; no new dishes today. Just shrimp tails to tide him over.
Tang Jin glanced at Tang Nianen, who stood there like a wooden post. After a moment’s thought, she hung a “sold out for today” sign on the door and shut it.
With private matters to settle, they could skip a few more customers. Everything was sold anyway; latecomers could only get shrimp tails.
Scholar Chu was relieved to see the door close. Good thing they’d come early, or he’d have had to reschedule hosting County Magistrate Gu and his wife.
He’d already savored the little restaurant’s fare. Delicious—in a word.
It was County Magistrate Gu and his wife’s first time. They eyed the full table with novel curiosity and eager anticipation.
“Wife, you love vermicelli. Try this ants climbing a tree.” County Magistrate Gu solicitously picked some for his wife.
Madam Gu took a small bite, and her eyes lit up. The vermicelli wasn’t just glossy; it melted tenderly in the mouth, fragrant with savory minced meat. It lived up to the hype.
Seeing her pleased, County Magistrate Gu eagerly served more, his mouth curved in a grin, joy plain on his face.
At the next table, Lord Miao watched the scene, yanked hard at his beard, then turned to his daughter with gentle warmth. “Liu’er, what are you doing tomorrow afternoon?”
Miao Liu blinked in confusion. “Learning embroidery.”
“Nothing pressing, then. Tomorrow, come by here early, grab a seat the moment the restaurant opens, and order two dishes to hold for your mother and me.” Lord Miao slurped a shrimp tail, already scheming to arrive first thing.
Miao Liu: “…”
What kind of ears did her father have? She’d clearly said embroidery.
But eyeing the other table’s abundance against her lone shrimp tails, Miao Liu nodded vigorously.
Skipping an afternoon of embroidery was fine. The little restaurant’s food was a must.
Once they finished, paid, and left, Tang Laidi—now Tang Mian—rushed back in high spirits. Bursting through the door, she crowed, “I’ve changed my name! From now on, I’m Tang Mian—like Tang Jin, with the wood radical. Sounds just like sisters!”
Tang Jin’s mouth twitched. Tang Mian…
Not exactly imposing.
Old Madam Tang simply took a seat at the table, ignoring Tang Nianen entirely. “Laidi’s back. This old lady’s starving—let’s eat.”
Tang Mian sat quietly and murmured a correction. “Grandmother Tang, I’m Tang Mian now. Mian, as in cotton.”
Only then did she notice Tang Nianen standing there. “Who’re you?”
Tang Nianen quickly mustered a smile. “Hello, sister. I’m Tang Nianen.”
Tang Mian glanced at the old madam, then at Tang Jin and Chu Lingyue, confusion in her eyes. Who was Tang Nianen?
She’d never heard of him.
Tang Jin summed it up. “He claims to be my cousin. I have no cousin.”
In short, the old madam rejected this grandson, so Tang Jin wouldn’t foolishly accept a bargain brother.
Hearing that, scrutiny flashed in Tang Mian’s eyes. She too chose to ignore Tang Nianen, rubbing her belly. “I’m starving. Let’s eat.”
“Grandmother…” Tang Jin was about to ask the old madam’s intentions. They couldn’t just leave him hanging forever.
“A-Jin, food first.” Chu Lingyue shook her head slightly at Tang Jin, motioning her to fetch the dishes.
Tang Jin glanced at the old madam, brows knitted tight, and went to bring out a pot of double abalone chicken wings casserole.
No matter. The old madam wasn’t one to recognize kin lightly.
Chu Lingyue followed suit, setting out bowls and chopsticks for just four.
Watching the four of them tuck in without a glance his way, Tang Nianen eyed the inscrutable old madam, the cool-faced Chu Lingyue, the scarfing Tang Mian, and finally the relatively mild Tang Jin.
“Cousin Sister, I’m hungry too.”
【Ding, reward: one plate of Butter Bamboo Shoot Chicken】
Tang Jin chuckled inwardly and said flatly, “Keep starving.”
A fake cousin didn’t deserve a five-tael dish from the little restaurant. What was he dreaming of?
Choked, Tang Nianen fell silent. He inhaled the aromas filling the air, swallowed hard, and grew uneasy. His eyes darted to the restaurant door.
His bargain father hadn’t said the grandmother was soft-hearted? That this cousin sister was naive, easy to fool? Why did these four seem anything but approachable?
Dad, hurry—if you don’t come soon, your son’ll either starve or die of hunger pangs.
Just then, Old Madam Tang set down her chopsticks. In an indifferent tone, she said, “What are you still doing here, planted like a stump? Scram—or are you waiting for this old lady to throw you out?”
Tang Nianen’s eyes brimmed with tears again at her words. “Grandmother, I really am your grandson.”
He’d laid it all out, even shown the portrait. Why wouldn’t this old lady recognize him?
The Tangs had no male heirs—here was a fine strapping grandson delivered to the door. Why wasn’t she playing by the rules? This wasn’t how he’d pictured it.
The old madam wiped her mouth and shot him a sidelong glare. “Can’t understand plain speech? If you don’t leave now, this old lady’ll lay hands on you. Boy, when the forest’s big, all sorts of birds turn up. Lived my decades, and it’s the first time I’ve seen one rushing headlong to become someone’s grandson. Shameless, no skin no face…”
Her lips moved again, though no words came out. But Tang Nianen sensed she had more insults queued up—filthy ones, from the look in her eyes.
His goal unfinished, he couldn’t slink away empty-handed.
