"Yes." Xie Yuan took the little stool by the shop entrance and sat across from the old woman. "Good tea."
The old woman smiled. "You haven't even tasted it. How do you know it's good? Are you just trying to cheer an old woman up?"
Xie Yuan lifted the teacup. "You can tell whether tea is good by its color and aroma."
He took a small sip. "Fresh and smooth on the tongue, without any astringency, and waves of sweetness linger after you swallow."
The old woman waved a hand. "It hardly counts as good tea. Just something I tinkered with when I was bored."
"You don't seem much like a young person."
"Young people these days prefer drinks like soda and milk tea."
Xie Yuan took another sip. "My elders used to enjoy tea. I picked up a little from being around them."
"Soda and milk tea have their own appeal. They're a different experience from tea."
Seeing that Xie Yuan's cup was empty, the old woman poured her another.
The old woman nodded. "It's rare to find a young person these days who understands that."
"I'm used to drinking tea, but even an old woman like me occasionally wants to try soda and milk tea."
The two chatted and laughed without the slightest distance between them, looking more like old friends who had known each other for years.
In the livestream chat.
[I never thought Young Master Xie had this side to him. I thought all he could do was insult people.]
[This proves Young Master Xie can actually be very gentle.]
[Is tea really that good? All the tea I remember was bitter and astringent, with a leafy taste.]
[Good tea really does taste good. But some people just don't like tea.]
[How should I put it? You might not be used to the first sip, but after a few more, you can taste the differences. Sometimes it's pretty addictive.]
[Forget it. The people who can actually afford good tea are all rich. Think about it. What ordinary person would spend hundreds or thousands on a few ounces of tea?]
Only after two cups of tea did the old woman bring up the show. "What made you decide to join a dating show? Someone like you hardly seems short of admirers."
"There might be admirers, but that doesn't mean any of them are right for me." Xie Yuan spoke pointedly. "Besides, I only joined the dating show to make someone's life difficult."
"Hahaha, you're an interesting lad." The old woman chuckled. "Then you must really dislike that person."
Xie Yuan thought for a moment. "I wouldn't call it dislike. I simply don't want to see them doing well."
The old woman asked nosily, "What, an unrequited love?"
Xie Yuan looked as uncomfortable as if he had swallowed a fly. "Please don't disgust me like that."
"My taste isn't that bad."
The old woman glanced into Old Yuan's shop. "That young man who came with you is quite good. Clear eyes. He's a good one."
Xie Yuan nodded. "I think he's quite good too."
After looking over a few of the shops, he changed the subject. "This place is so out of the way. Why open a shop somewhere like this?"
Nostalgia appeared on the old woman's face. "It was quite lively here at first."
"But gradually, the areas outside developed quickly, and fewer people came."
Xie Yuan was a little curious. "This is my first encounter with this line of work. How's business usually?"
The old woman didn't hide anything. "In the funeral business, having no business is a good thing, isn't it?"
Xie Yuan paused briefly. "You have a clear view of things. But things don't always go as we wish."
The old woman shook her head. "In life, eight or nine things out of ten don't go our way."
"Let's not talk about that. Let me tell you about Old Yuan."
"That man is just stubborn."
"He couldn't bear to see the traditions in this alley disappear. When he heard the production team was looking for professions, he signed up."
"I never thought he'd actually be chosen."
The old woman's voice suddenly softened a little. "Could I ask you a favor?"
Xie Yuan nodded. "Go ahead. For the sake of this tea, I'll at least consider it."
The old woman chuckled. "Looks like my tea wasn't wasted."
"Old Yuan never married. Now, in his final years, he wants to find a successor to carry on his craft. If you can over these next few days, spend some time with him."
"As for making paper offerings, learn it if you want."
"All right. I'll go talk to Old Yuan." Xie Yuan stood and returned to the shop.
Seeing him return, Mu Ze looked up and said, "You're back."
"Mm." After answering Mu Ze, Xie Yuan headed for the back courtyard.
The front of the funeral shop was the storefront. Farther back were a courtyard and several living rooms.
In the back courtyard, Old Yuan was making paper offerings. Noticing someone enter, he merely glanced up before continuing.
Xie Yuan took a little stool and sat beside Old Yuan, his gaze falling on several paper figures in different styles.
Every one of the paper figures was male, and their clothes were quite fashionable: suits, formalwear, and uniforms.
The camera following him also captured the paper figures.
[Wow, these paper figures are so fashionable.]
[Paper figures can look like this? The ones in my memory still have those big red patches of blush on their faces.]
[I'm a little curious who ordered these paper figures.]
[They look like works of art, completely different from the paper figures you usually see.]
[They're beautiful. Now I suddenly want to have a few made for Grandma and each of my ancestors.]
[Can you commission a few beauties? That hopeless childhood friend of mine died without even losing his virginity. I want to send a few down to him.]
[The commenter above is definitely a true friend.]
In the courtyard.
After looking over the paper figures, Xie Yuan gave Old Yuan a thumbs-up. "Old Yuan, I never expected you to be so fashionable."
Old Yuan didn't look up. "A young woman ordered these paper figures. She'll come by today to see the finished pieces."
After that exchange, neither spoke again.
Xie Yuan watched for ten-odd minutes, then suddenly stood. "I'll go find you someone who's good with his hands."
Returning to the shop, Xie Yuan pulled a bewildered Mu Ze toward the back courtyard.
"Old Yuan, he's good with his hands. Let him learn from you."
Mu Ze flexed his hand, which still held the warmth of Xie Yuan's touch.
Old Yuan looked up, his gaze lingering on Mu Ze for a moment. "Watch. Whether you can learn will depend on your aptitude."
Mu Ze looked at Xie Yuan, who patted his shoulder. "You can do it. I have faith in you."
Mu Ze said helplessly, "I'll try. I might not be able to learn it."
Hearing this, Old Yuan gave a slight shake of his head.
Old Yuan concentrated on making paper offerings while Mu Ze watched. Beside them, Xie Yuan idly scrolled through muted videos to pass the time.
After an unknown length of time, a voice came from the storefront.
"Is anyone here?"
Xie Yuan put away his phone and pressed a hand onto Mu Ze's shoulder as he started to rise. "Keep learning. I'll go."
Once Xie Yuan had gone to the storefront, Old Yuan suddenly said, "This is a matchmaking show. You like him."
His tone was certain.
A smile touched Mu Ze's lips. "Yes, I do."
"I could tell." Old Yuan's hands never stopped moving. "Treat him well."
Mu Ze didn't understand why Old Yuan had said that, but nodded. "I will."
When Xie Yuan reached the storefront, someone in long sleeves, a hat, and a mask was standing at the counter, with only a pair of eyes showing.
"What would you like to buy?"
The girl didn't look up. "I arranged with the owner to come see the finished paper figures today."
"All right, follow me." Xie Yuan led the girl toward the back courtyard.
When the two entered, Mu Ze and Old Yuan glanced over.
Old Yuan said, "You're here. These were made according to your requests. Take a look and see if there's anything you're unhappy with."
The girl finally raised her head, her gaze settling on the paper figures.
After a long while, her voice grew a little hoarse. "They're beautiful. Even better than I imagined."
Without saying anything else, the girl turned and returned to the storefront.
Xie Yuan followed her out and saw her scan the code to pay.
"Payment received: ten thousand yuan."
Before you continue