Journey to the End of the Night Chapter 1670 - 1004: Sugar-Coated Hawthorn and Grandma

百里安 slightly raised his gaze and looked at Chen Xiaolan: "What is it? Is there something inconvenient?"

Chen Xiaolan noticed the simultaneous gaze from Ying Ji and Baili An, and suddenly felt she had lost her composure, forcing a smile on her face.

"There... there are indeed many inconveniences. This time, Master was injured while suppressing demons, quite severely, and was deeply frustrated."

"If he meets old acquaintances, he might inevitably feel more sorrowful. It would be better to leave him be, to quietly reflect alone."

It was a clumsy excuse.

But Baili An did not expose her. Seeing Chen Xiaolan like this, he guessed something must have happened between her and Meng Zifei.

Seeing her so troubled, Baili An didn’t ask much, nor did he insist.

"Very well, if you encounter any trouble, you can seek me out at Qingtang Lane on Yonglin Street."

Chen Xiaolan nodded and agreed, "Thank you, Si Chen, and thank you for the candied hawthorns."

Bidding farewell to Chen Xiaolan, the morning sky was fully bright.

Under the vast expanse, all was the sound of the Sword Control’s gentle melody, shadows fluttered everywhere, all heading towards Wanggui Building.

The Golden Immortal Auction had already begun.

...

...

Chen Xiaolan returned to the temporary residence, boiled medicine in the courtyard, prepared breakfast, and then pushed the door to enter the sleeping quarters.

Shifang City is as precious as gold, a prosperous place in the Mortal World. Even for such a secluded little stone house, the rent is quite expensive.

She had been living here with Meng Zifei for over half a month, and their silver coins and spirit stones were nearly exhausted.

Meng Zifei’s curse should have expired past the due date, but unfortunately, things went wrong when the curse erupted, and he suffered injuries from a wolf attack.

Even though bones and flesh were mended together, the injuries of broken bones and torn flesh remained.

He had been recuperating for over half a month yet not healed.

The money on Meng Zifei was not enough even to pay the entry fee to the city, forcing him to smuggle in.

Then renting such a shabby, leaky house further depleted their spirit stones.

With no alternative, Chen Xiaolan resorted to stealing medicine, a disgraceful and unethical method to procure medicine for him.

Luckily, they encountered Baili An today; otherwise, if the Guard Army had struck her with a rod, the wounds she had arduously healed might have reopened.

Spring is chilly and unpredictable, as the early spring morning breeze blows against one’s body, bones still feel a vague cold pain.

Meng Zifei, half-laying and half-sitting amidst the sickbed, had a pale complexion.

The sword hung on the wall beside the bed; he sniffed the scent of medicine and food wafting through the air, his gaze weakly flickered, his brow furrowed.

"Back so early today? And this breakfast... seems better than usual, have you gotten some money?"

Since Meng Zifei had fallen seriously ill, the expenses around the rented house were managed by Chen Xiaolan.

Although he wasn’t aware that their spirit stones had long run out, judging by the recent simple meals, he could somewhat guess that their current days were quite frugal.

But neither he nor Chen Xiaolan were people who enjoyed comfort and leisure, and Chen Xiaolan never once initially complained to him about the hardships, so he didn’t pay much attention.

Only today, seeing the breakfast as century egg and lean pork congee, with fried dough sticks and buns, vastly different from their usual meals, he couldn’t help but feel suspicious.

Chen Xiaolan’s expression remained unchanged as she placed the breakfast and medicine on the small table beside the bed.

"Weren’t these recent days spent helping with grinding powders at the Talisman Building? Today was payday, so we could afford something good. Master has suffered lately."

Chen Xiaolan is an upright and trustworthy person. Regarding the disgraceful past of Meng Zifei and the hidden secrets that must be kept well, she would never gossip recklessly.

But today’s encounter with Baili An on the street, she didn’t mention much to Meng Zifei; after all, what happened that night left her cautious.

Since Si Chen chose to present himself under a façade today, clearly not wanting outsiders to know his identity.

Despite Meng Zifei’s candid words to her, claiming he has not committed great treacherous or evil deeds, nor would he harm Baili An.

But unnecessary trouble should be avoided.

Meng Zifei acknowledged, took the bowl of medicine, drank the concoction in one gulp, then began to enjoy the breakfast.

While bowing his head to drink the congee, Meng Zifei, sharp-eyed, noticed the candied hawthorn dangling from Chen Xiaolan’s waist.

His gaze flickered softly, with a gentle smile at the corner of his eyes: "What’s this? Do you like eating such childish foods?"

Something flowed in Chen Xiaolan’s eyes for an instant, then she softly said: "When I was young, my family was poor, and I couldn’t afford these city treats. Once, I went to the market with my aunt and saw this bright red candy fruit, and never forgot it."

I went home, crying and clamoring for candied hawthorns. In that poor and remote mountain village, young women were always frivolously regarded.

My aunt always pampered my cousin. The family lived in straitened circumstances; as long as one wasn’t hungry, having food was good enough. How could there be spare money for candied hawthorn for me?

But it was remembered by my grandmother due to my crying.

"Master, do you know why I’ve never celebrated a birthday all these years I’ve been with you?"

She raised her gaze, handing the freshly served congee to Meng Zifei, smiled faintly: "That’s because, on my birthday, my grandmother had longed to let me eat the candied hawthorn I wished for."

"That day, she discreetly rose early before anyone in the family, went out to walk the mountain path, traveling for two whole hours until she reached the market and bought me a candied hawthorn."

"My grandmother and I both stayed at my aunt’s house, she was old and dared not trouble anyone."

"My aunt went to market with a cow cart transporting her, but she went alone, dragging her aged body, braving the wind and snow for that long way through the mountains."

Merely a casual question led to such a prolonged, rambling response.

Meng Zifei, having roamed the Mortal World for two hundred years, had long been accustomed to the difficulty and hardships of the aged poor.