A Ce looked at Xia Chujian and said, "benefactor, aren't you going to eat some? Xiao Mo makes the best noodle soup around here. Won't you have a taste?"
Xiao Mo said embarrassedly, "A Ce, benefactor was full after eating just one dough lump. I'm worried it wasn't good."
A Ce picked up a dough lump with his chopsticks and put it into his mouth. In an instant, an expression of bliss appeared on his face.
He genuinely thought the dough lump was delicious.
But he controlled his facial expressions well. That involuntary look of bliss vanished in a flash.
If Xia Chujian had not been watching him closely the whole time, she would never have noticed it.
Xiao Mo asked, "A Ce, is it good?"
A Ce nodded repeatedly. "Good! It's delicious!"
As he ate, he said, "These dough lumps are made from whole wheat flour. Even without salt or oil, I could eat three huge bowls!"
"Xiao Mo, your cooking keeps getting better and better!"
Xiao Mo smiled until her eyes narrowed into crescents.
Sitting beside them, Xia Chujian let her gaze wander around the mud wall house.
It looked as if it had only recently been built.
A single bean-sized lamp made the yellow mud walls appear even duskier.
On the altar table beneath the wall of the main room sat an incense burner, flanked by two rather thick red candles.
The room still retained a festive, joyous atmosphere.
Xia Chujian pointed at the two red candles.
Xiao Mo saw them and gave a bitter smile. "Please forgive us for making you laugh, benefactor. Today was supposed to be the happy day when A Ce and I got married."
"But we ran into a few beasts..."
Xia Chujian patted her hand in consolation.
While A Ce ate