"You don't need to go out of your way to ask him about his studies."
"It'll put pressure on him."
The woodcutter didn't want their good intentions to backfire.
"I know."
The woman nodded. "Do I seem that unreliable?"
"Don't worry."
"I'll make him lots of delicious food."
"I won't do anything else unnecessary."
The next day, the woman brought the Young Scholar an enormous quantity of steamed buns and many kinds of pastries.
The Young Scholar was a little surprised.
Then he smiled. "That's a lot."
"Thank you, sister-in-law."
The woman smiled. "Go ahead and eat as much as you like."
The woman walked away with a spring in her step.
The Young Scholar closed the door.
He turned and went back to his desk.
He set down all the food he could carry in both hands.
Looking at the food that took up almost half his desk, he smiled with a hint of worry.
So much...
If Little Auspicious Omen didn't come...
He'd have a bit of a problem.
There was no way he could finish all this food by himself.
If too much was left over...
He'd feel bad that his sister-in-law had gone to all that trouble for nothing.
The Young Scholar looked around.
Had Little Auspicious Omen come?
Speaking of which...
After searching for a while, he couldn't find Little Auspicious Omen anywhere.
The Young Scholar smiled wryly.
Why had he assumed Little Auspicious Omen would definitely show up?
He should have...
prepared for the possibility that Little Auspicious Omen wouldn't come.
The Young Scholar lowered his head.
He decided to eat some himself first—
Hmm!?
The Young Scholar's eyes widened.
A small black figure was happily eating, one paw holding a steamed bun and