Chapter 6: Kindness

An afternoon passed quickly.

The sky grew darker, and pedestrians on the road suddenly thinned.

The shops on both sides had already begun preparing to close.

The street vendors also packed up their goods, trying to get home before it got completely dark.

"Jiang Cheng, see you tomorrow."

Lu Zicheng waved, pushing his little cart, and walked away.

"See you tomorrow."

Jiang Cheng nodded at him, also pushing his tricycle, and headed toward the alley.

It was still early, many households kept their doors open, and people occasionally passed through the lane.

Jiang Cheng took a deep breath; although being stopped on the road was commonplace for his former self, he hadn't experienced it much, so his heart was inevitably nervous.

Fortunately, there were many people around.

Those thugs also feared being recognized; a few glanced at him, but none took the next step.

It was a close call, and finally they arrived.

Jiang Cheng felt relieved, and vaguely saw a figure about twenty to thirty meters away, looking toward him.

"It's Grandma!"

He recognized her at a glance and quickened his pace.

"Grandma, I'm back."

Jiang Cheng pushed his tricycle and walked up to the Old Man.

The Old Man smiled broadly.

"Nothing happened on the road, right?"

"No."

Jiang Cheng laughed, "I was afraid something would happen, so when it just got dark I packed up and came back."

"That's how it should be."

The Old Man nodded repeatedly.

"Xiao Cheng?"

From the next door, Chen Sao pushed the door open and stepped out, remembering to close it behind her, and smiled at Jiang Cheng, "Xiao Cheng, haven't eaten yet? I made some dishes; come over to eat together, and Jiang Nainai can join too."

"Huh?"

Jiang Cheng was startled, then quickly declined, "No, no, Chen Sao, I'll just eat at home."

"Yes, Chen family sister-in-law, my meal is ready, no trouble," the Old Man added hastily.

"Why are you being so polite to me?"

Chen Sao stepped forward and grabbed Jiang Cheng's arm.

With her other hand she held the Old Man and whispered, "I made some good dishes, come."

The Old Man, hearing that, understood, looked at Jiang Cheng and said, "Xiao Cheng, go with Chen Sao; Grandma can eat at home, and keep an eye on the door to prevent thieves."

"This..."

Jiang Cheng scratched his head, feeling a bit at a loss.

He recalled that the two families got along well and would indeed share meals during festivals.

But now—

"That works too."

Chen Sao smiled in agreement, then pulled Jiang Cheng inside.

Jiang Cheng half‑reluctantly went along.

As soon as they entered, a wave of meat aroma hit their noses.

"Come sit quickly, it's time to eat."

Chen Sao closed the door and latched the bolt.

Only she and her daughter were inside, so this clearly showed great trust toward Jiang Cheng.

Jiang Cheng subconsciously surveyed the room.

The furnishings were similar to his own home.

The east side was the kitchen with a clay stove, the middle held the dining table with some clutter, and the west side, likely a bedroom, was separated by curtains.

Jiang Cheng glanced once, then quickly turned his gaze back to the dining table.

The scent was coming from here.

On the table lay several plates of dishes.

There was stewed cabbage with tofu, braised chicken leg, steamed egg, and a large bowl of chicken soup containing a whole chicken.

Three dishes and a soup held little appeal for Jiang Cheng before his transmigration; they barely stirred his appetite.

But here, in this Poor District, it was an unmistakable feast—few people would have such a meal except on New Year.

From the perspective of Lin Yue, who sat at the table swallowing saliva, such a lavish spread was rare even at Chen Sao's home.

"Chen Sao..."

Jiang Cheng felt a warmth lingering in his heart.

He could not fail to see that Chen Sao bought these dishes for him, waiting for his return before starting the meal.

By sight, that chicken leg weighed about two jin, costing at least fifty yuan; a whole chicken was even pricier, not cheap at seventy or eighty.

The steamed egg wasn't cheap either; after all, Grandma said she couldn't bear to eat eggs, keeping the few she had for herself. Chen Sao smiled and shook her head, "Come sit, I'll serve you a bowl of rice."

"Alright."

Jiang Cheng swallowed the words that reached his lips.

A verbal thank you is meaningless.

In the future, he will definitely repay properly.

"There will definitely be a day like this."

Jiang Cheng thought to himself.

He sat at the table.

"Brother Jiang Cheng."

Lin Yue called out timidly.

Jiang Cheng smiled at her and said, "Xiao Yue, why are you still staring? Move your chopsticks."

Lin Yue, a little frightened, glanced at her mother's silhouette and shook her head.

Jiang Cheng was at a loss, neither laughing nor crying.

Soon Chen Sao came over carrying rice, and without waiting for a word, she picked two or three chicken legs and placed them into Jiang Cheng's bowl.

"That's enough, that's enough, Chen Sao."

Jiang Cheng blocked with his right hand and quickly said.

"You're just catching a cold, you need to replenish nutrition; how can you refuse? Moreover, being here is like being at your own home, so please don't be overly courteous."

While saying that, Chen Sao also scooped a few spoonfuls of egg custard for Jiang Cheng.

"Mm, I know, thank you, Sister‑in‑law."

Jiang Cheng thanked repeatedly.

"It's fine; during the two days you were sick, Sister‑in‑law was extremely worried, but it's good you're fine now."

Chen Sao smiled, then looked at her daughter and said, "Eat."

Lin Yue moved gently, picked up a chicken leg, placed it in her own bowl, and nibbled small bites.

"Xiao Cheng, have a chicken wing."

Chen Sao tore a chicken wing with chopsticks and added it to Jiang Cheng's bowl.

"Sister‑in‑law, that's really enough; I can't eat any more."

Jiang Cheng forced a wry smile.

If an uninformed person saw this, they'd think he was Chen Sao's biological son and that Lin Yue was adopted.

After half an hour of eating, Jiang Cheng's belly swelled round, and he couldn't eat any more, so Chen Sao finally let him leave.

Before leaving, he caught a glimpse of a faint melancholy in Lin Yue's eyes.

Indeed, swapping him for Lin Yue, he didn't say it aloud, but felt a bit displeased inside.

"Grandma, I'm back."

The voice faded, Jiang Cheng pushed the door, which was unlocked.

He walked in.

"Are you full?"

In the candlelight, the Old Man sat on a stool, mending a piece of clothing; hearing the movement, he lifted his head and asked with a smile.

"Hmm, Chen Sao bought a whole chicken and many chicken legs. I originally only wanted a little bite, but Chen Sao kept serving me dishes, and in the end I ate almost half by myself."

Jiang Cheng was helpless.

"Remember, when the chance comes, repay them properly."

The Old Man said with a smile.

"Mm."

Jiang Cheng nodded heavily.

"It's getting late; go to bed early."

The Old Man reminded him once, then lowered his head again to continue mending the garment.

"Wait a bit longer, Grandma, I'm not sleepy yet."

Jiang Cheng smiled.

The wall clock ticked away; it was just past seven o'clock.

He thought for a moment, and the Proficiency Panel appeared before his eyes.

【Roasted Sweet Potato: Mastery (235/800)】

He sold Roasted Sweet Potatoes all afternoon, total income 120 yuan; adding Grandma's morning earnings, 156 yuan.

At the same time, the original body's Roasted Sweet Potato memory was fully absorbed, and his Roasted Sweet Potato skill reached Mastery Level.

Unfortunately, Roasted Sweet Potato proficiency is not easy to grind.

First, the sweet potatoes need to be baked for fifty to sixty minutes to be done.

Second, if you bake too many and can't sell them, it's pure waste and loses money.

"Let it be natural."

Jiang Cheng closed the Panel; now he should think about what to choose as a self‑defense technique.

(End of Chapter)