Chapter 20: The Young Lady's Unrefined Way of Eating

Page (1/3)
Hong Xiaoduo was unaware that someone nearby was curiously watching her. The meat buns were simply too tempting, and they were large as well. Compared to the buns she had eaten before, those seemed too small and petty—too little to swallow in one bite, and two bites wouldn’t satisfy her craving.
The wontons were delicious too; the broth was genuinely fresh and flavorful—no wonder Xiao Kaiyang was so fond of them.
There weren’t many complicated ingredients in the soup, just bright green scallion bits, and a few spots of savory pork oil floating on the surface.
“Hey, Brother Zitao, look at how that young lady eats—still not as proper as those seven little bald heads,” Master Dong remarked, finding it somewhat hard to describe.
No sooner had he spoken than the man across the table stood up, tossed a piece of broken silver onto the tea table, and headed out.
“Brother Zitao, where are you going? The tea was just brewed!” Master Dong was puzzled and quickly got up to follow.
This gentleman had come by to catch up, and for three days he had been stopping here to enjoy tea and chat. Each time he sat down, he stayed the entire afternoon, mainly because there wasn’t much to see in Mopan Town.
There were many shops in town, but who ever saw a man enjoy wandering into shops just for leisure?
If a man went shopping, it was always with a specific purpose or to pick up something needed.
“I’ve been drinking too much tea these past couple of days—need to clear the grease,” Mu Zitao replied as he walked.
What did that mean? Master Dong didn’t quite catch on. This fellow always spoke in riddles, forcing others to guess his meaning. Conversing with him was a mental challenge!
“So?” Master Dong watched as his brother entered the bun shop.
Mu Zitao glanced at him and said, “So, I get hungry easily. I came over to eat a few buns.”
Master Dong gritted his teeth, sat back down, still mumbling in confusion, “But you always say you have no appetite.”
“Why so much nonsense? If you don’t want to treat me, just say so. I’ll pay for the meat buns,” Mu Zitao said, spotting the shop assistant already approaching.
“Ten buns first, and two bowls of wontons,” Mu Zitao looked at the neighboring table’s dishes and told the assistant.
The assistant nodded smartly, “Alright, ten buns and two bowls of wontons for the two young gentlemen.”
“Ten? Ten buns?” Master Dong gasped, startled.
They had just eaten lunch not long ago, it wasn’t morning on an empty stomach, nor was it tea time. Even for a grown man, eating five buns plus wontons would be too much.

Page (2/3)
If he couldn’t finish, he could leave some behind but still pay in full. At a full table of fine guests, it was common to nibble a little and then leave; it wasn’t about being stingy or unwilling to waste a few buns.
Master Dong knew Mu Zitao’s appetite better than anyone—saying he ate sparingly every meal was no exaggeration.
Yet, despite eating little, Mu Zitao remained clever, grew strong, practiced martial arts, and had boundless energy to lead thousands of troops into battle.
Sometimes, Master Dong suspected this man secretly ate some kind of celestial elixir.
The buns arrived quickly, and the wonton stall beside them served the soup as well. Sitting next to Hong Xiaoduo’s table, Mu Zitao had a perfect view of her profile. Watching her pick up what seemed to be her fourth bun, he also took one, biting into it in sync—ah, it was delicious.
New customers arrived at the neighboring table, and Hong Xiaoduo noticed but paid no mind; after all, the bun stall was open all day, so customers would naturally come and go.
The seven little bald heads were engrossed in their meat buns, not paying attention to anything else.
The bun shop owner, meanwhile, was busy preparing another steamer basket of buns but paused with his assistant to watch the guests outside, somewhat lost in thought.
This afternoon’s visitors were a bit special.
There was a sword-bearing young lady, some handsome bald boys and girls, and two finely dressed young gentlemen—both strikingly handsome.
The owner glanced at the calendar hanging on the wall, wondering if today was some kind of special day.
Having run the bun shop for over ten years, he knew well how delicious his buns were, but the way these ten guests ate today made him feel strangely… how to put it? Delightfully pleasing to the eye!
For the first time ever, the bun shop owner felt regret—how he wished there was a skilled painter present to capture this scene.
On the small town street, steam rose from the bamboo steamers, a few small square tables, these ten charming diners enjoying his buns with elegance—a truly heartwarming scene.
Of course, the young lady didn’t eat very elegantly, but that was surely because the buns were just too delicious. She hadn’t tasted anything like them elsewhere, so she ate a bit faster than usual.
“Hey, young lady, may I be so bold as to ask why those kids all have shaved heads?” Master Dong couldn’t contain his curiosity any longer. Without a proper answer, he feared he wouldn’t sleep well.
If someone called him stupid, he would refuse to accept that. Nobody could guess the answer to this question, right?
“What are you looking at? Don’t think I don’t know you’re curious too.” Waiting for a response, he gave his brother a sidelong glance.
Hong Xiaoduo had just finished eating, took out a handkerchief gifted by the tailor master, and wiped her mouth. Hearing the question from the neighboring table, she glanced over.

Page (3/3)
To strangers, most people, upon first sight, if the expression and tone didn’t arouse resistance, would consider them not bad people.
Of course, there was no expectation of deep acquaintance or necessity to figure out exactly what kind of person the other was.
The meat buns had been eaten, and she was full—still managing to teach a scoundrel a lesson by not spending her own silver.
Her mood was quite good now, and naturally, she treated those she found somewhat pleasant to look at with better manners.
Hong Xiaoduo smiled, looked at the circle of seven little bald heads beside her, then at the questioner, and said, “Do you believe it’s because it’s cooler this way?”
Pfft—cough, cough—Master Dong was momentarily stunned by her reply, and the man beside him, who was sipping wonton soup, nearly choked.
Pulling out a handkerchief to wipe his mouth, he glanced at his companion and grumbled, “Blame you for making me ask.”
Watching the handsome young gentleman wiping the corner of his mouth, Hong Xiaoduo instinctively compared it to her own earlier action with the handkerchief—hers was definitely not as graceful.
Noticing the young lady looking at him, Mu Zitao’s lips curled slightly. He was very familiar with this scene.
That was why he usually avoided going out for a stroll. When possible, he would make excuses to stay away from such occasions.
Master Dong was considered one of the top handsome men in the capital, but whenever he went out with others, he would complain that the young ladies and women only paid attention to himself and ignored him.
Needless to say, on the way back, Master Dong would surely grumble at length once again.
Hong Xiaoduo watched as he raised a hand and pointed to the left side of her chin. Mu Zitao was puzzled—what did that mean? Was it a hint of some sort?
In the past, young ladies and women in such situations usually shyly covered half their face with a handkerchief or blushed while clutching their chest.
The former indicated bashfulness and embarrassment, the latter excitement and a fluttering heart.
But this young lady’s gesture—touching her chin—was not a typical subtle move. What could it signify?
Regardless of its meaning, Mu Zitao disliked it. Just moments ago, he thought she was a rather special young lady, but suddenly he felt a wave of aversion and unconsciously furrowed his brows...