A Smart Child

Liu Chang'an finally finished the dress today. It was completely different from the first design. He took pictures of the whole dress and some exquisite details and sent them to Wang Jiangzi, a bit of showing off his skills, since this woman had always been interested in his work.

Despite it being early in the morning, Wang Jiangzi quickly replied to the message. She was having breakfast with her mother, Weng Simei, who also glanced at the message and excitedly expressed her desire to meet Liu Chang'an.

Liu Chang'an refused.

Liu Chang'an came downstairs. Today, there was fog, which shrouded the entire city and obscured the modern prosperity. All that could be seen was the pitted and dilapidated ground. The paving stones that once represented the high quality of life in the government compound were now broken or dug up and used as fences.

Only the thick trunk of the sycamore tree remained in front of him, and several large and small stones seemed to form a path. Children would jump and tiptoe on it. Liu Chang'an picked up the watering can to water his flowers and plants, and saw that Shangguan Dandan had already gotten up and was sitting by the door wearing a moon-white long coat.

She was still clutching her beloved thermos, her legs swaying back and forth. Next to the bench was a small stove, the coal burning brightly, with pale blue flames licking out from the side. The thermos was hissing and steaming, indicating that the water was about to boil.

Shangguan Dandan doesn't drink water that's been left overnight; the first or second thing she does every morning is boil a kettle of water.

"Would you like me to make you some tea?" Shangguan Dandan touched the handle of the kettle; it was a little hot. She quickly puffed out her cheeks and blew a few breaths onto her fingertips.

"No need." Liu Chang'an didn't have the habit of drinking a pot of hot water or hot tea as soon as he woke up in the morning.

"I've plugged in the mouse cable for you," Shangguan Dandan reminded Liu Chang'an.

"Thank you." It was indeed her. Liu Chang'an expressed his gratitude directly, asking no further questions.

Shangguan Dandan nodded in satisfaction. Seeing that the water had boiled, she opened the thermos and poured out the remaining water. She held it up high to look at it, and a few drops of water still spilled out and landed on her face. Shangguan Dandan quickly wiped her face and began to pour water back into the thermos.

"I do a lot of housework every day, and I've gradually adapted to modern life, becoming as hardworking and frugal as ordinary people." Shangguan Dandan sighed softly. "Don't you feel that I've become exactly like you, living the same life?"

"Yes," Liu Chang'an agreed.

What's the point of questioning her behavior? What's the use of opposing her views?

"I heard from Dongdong's mom last time that she saved money for Dongdong so he can use it for Dongdong wedding. I'm Dongdong's godmother, so I should do my part," Shangguan Dandan said solemnly after thinking for a moment.

This is a big deal.

"When did you become Zhou Dongdong's godmother?" Even though Liu Chang'an had just summarized the philosophy and skills of dealing with people like Shangguan Dandan, he still couldn't help but ask back.

"Just now," Shangguan Dandan said casually, she was just making up an excuse, "How about I give Dongdong my thermos after Dongdong gets married? So she can use it to properly educate her children."

I'm going to buy groceries.

After Liu Chang'an finished speaking, he walked out of the residential area.

Shangguan Dandan quickly twisted the vent cap on the small stove, took a few steps, ran back to get the thermos, and jogged to catch up with Liu Chang'an.

Shangguan Dandan reached out and, finding his hands in his pockets, handed the thermos to Liu Chang'an, saying, "Hold this for me."

Liu Chang'an didn't know what she was going to do. He took the thermos out of his hand, but Shangguan Dandan took it back and placed her hand in his free palm.

Liu Chang'an glanced at Shangguan Dandan, Shangguan Dandan turned to look at him as well.

"It's a bit cold today." Liu Chang'an exhaled, the breath forming a circle in front of him that slowly dissipated. "Aren't you cold?"

"I'm wearing thermal underwear underneath, and it has some really pretty prints on it." Shangguan Dandan tugged at her collar, revealing some swallow prints to Liu Chang'an.

"It looks good." Liu Chang'an nodded.

When they arrived at the market, Shangguan Dandan wanted to buy loaches to raise at home, but Liu Chang'an refused. She and Zhou Dongdong had come to the market to buy loaches before, but neither of them had much money, so they only bought a few.

Those loaches had been kept in the puddles in front of the sycamore tree, and their fate was currently unknown. However, Zhou Dongdong still threw some food into the puddles every day. As for the fact that the water had become so murky and black that it was no longer possible to keep the loaches alive, that was beyond Zhou Dongdong's ability to consider.

"Shall we buy a camel and roast it?" Shangguan Dandan said, pointing to a thin camel not far from the market.

The camel was so thin it had no hump left, but it wasn't being taken to the market to be slaughtered. Someone was leading it, and if you wanted to take a picture with the camel or ride it, you had to pay.

That kind of business is rare these days.

"Why did you even think of eating roasted camel?" Liu Chang'an hadn't considered that possibility.

"Back then, when the people from the Protectorate of the Western Regions returned to Chang'an, there were long camels one after another. The palace had cooks who could roast camels, but the dishes made back then generally weren't as good as they are now." Shangguan Dandan looked at the thin camel. "This one is too thin, not enough for us. I saw photos of you going to the zoo on Dongdong's mom's phone, and there were camels in those photos."

"What do you mean, sir?"

"Go to the zoo and bring out a camel. We can roast it in the neighborhood and invite everyone to eat it, just like we did with the wild boar last time," Shangguan Dandan suggested.

Liu Chang'an simply watched her quietly.

"Is... is there a problem?" Shangguan Dandan asked uncertainly. Isn't this a simple matter? Just bring back the camel this time, just like you brought back the wild boar last time.

"There are all sorts of animals in the zoo. I'll make a list for you. Whenever you want to eat something, just place your order and I'll go get it for you, okay?" Liu Chang'an asked gently.

"Good."

"Do you think that zoo is some kind of royal hunting ground?" Liu Chang'an bought a chicken. He made his own breakfast this morning because Zhou Shuling usually made all sorts of noodle soups and meat buns, which got tiring after a while.

"Oh. So when can you take me to the zoo?" Shangguan Dandan asked after thinking for a moment.

"That's fine if you have time, but don't bring back any animals from the zoo." Liu Chang'an looked at her with some suspicion.

"What if an animal from the zoo escapes and then follows me back?" Shangguan Dandan met his expectant gaze.

"What do you think?" Do you think you're Simba?!

"No problem."

"No way!" Liu Chang'an said firmly. He loved animals and loved eating them, but he didn't want to cause trouble for the sake of food.

Shangguan Dandan was very disappointed. He seemed to have realized that if the animals in the zoo ran away and followed her back, it was probably because of her.

What a clever child; he managed to notice that.

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This month I'm going to update with an unprecedented number of chapters. You may not believe it, but I must believe in myself.

Requesting monthly votes.