Early the next morning, barely at first light, rustling sounds rose from the Lin Family courtyard.
When Lin Chen pushed open his door, he saw three people standing in the courtyard.
Zhu Zhuqing and Su Su stood on either side of Li Su, talking to her. Su Su tilted her little face up and tugged at Li Su's clothes, chattering nonstop.
Lin Tianyu, who usually went to Spirit Hall, had stayed home for once. He stood in a corner of the courtyard, being run in circles by Li Su's instructions, moving one thing and then another in a fluster.
Lin Chen walked over and saw a pile of things already laid out on the ground.
There were rations wrapped in oiled paper, dried meat, and several thick changes of clothes. As Li Su stuffed things into the bundles, she kept murmuring:
"When you're away from home, food and clothing matter most. Take these and eat them along the way. Pack a few changes of clothes, too. It's cold over in Heaven Dou City. Don't let yourselves freeze."
Unable to get a word in, Lin Tianyu could only keep his head down and pack. Every time he put something in, Li Su scolded him: "Put that underneath! Don't squash the food!" He answered her, then hurriedly rearranged everything.
The sight warmed Lin Chen's heart, but brought an ache with it.
Breakfast was simple—a bowl of hot porridge, a few steamed buns, and several small dishes—but they ate unusually slowly. Li Su kept adding food to Lin Chen's and Zhu Zhuqing's bowls, barely touching her own.
Su Su sat on a stool, her little legs dangling and swinging. She looked from Lin Chen to Zhu Zhuqing, her eyes quietly reddening, though she held back her tears.
After breakfast, Lin Chen and Zhu