Chapter 375: Miao's Kitchen Chapter 376: Longing

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Protagonist:

Song Miao

The key was inserted back into the keyhole; Song Miao exerted only a little force, and with a light "click," the lock sprang open.

Opening it to look, inside was unexpectedly another box.

This box was of unknown material, like white silver, but brighter than white silver, its texture extremely hard.

Shen Xingniang turned it over and examined it thoroughly, saying in surprise: "How strange, how does this open — when I packed things before, I don't think I ever saw this one."

Song Miao looked at it and said: "If we go by what my grandmother said, it should be pressed open from the middle."

As she spoke, she reached out her hand, and sure enough, with a slight push, the box lid popped open.

Inside the box was another layer of tanned leather, wrapped very carefully; opening that leather revealed the things inside.

It was a stack of books, and a copper box.

A big box nesting a small box; the innermost box was only palm-sized, and this time there was no lock — lifting the lid, in the center sat a tiny golden lotus.

The golden lotus was crafted lifelike, an unopened flower bud; the veins on the petals, the textures on the leaves were clearly visible, as if made of red gold; at a glance, the colors and luster presented at different angles were all different.

It was completely dazzling, glittering brilliantly.

Shen Xingniang lifted the box, brought it close to examine, and involuntarily let out a "wow."

And Song Miao, looking at this golden lotus, only felt her heart would no longer beat, her nose soured, her eye rims grew hot.

She slowly asked: "Xingniang... do you know where this golden lotus came from?"

Shen Xingniang thought for a moment, shook her head and said: "I've never heard of it, never seen it; perhaps Master collected it somewhere in her lifetime, and I don't know where it was dug up this time — I'll send a letter back to ask, but that house has been vacant for a long time, no one usually goes in, the old people from before are long gone."

Finishing speaking, she handed the box holding the golden lotus to Song Miao, and turned to look at those few books.

The books were not any precious rare editions or unique copies, nor did they have special content; flipping one, the cover read "Children's Character Riddles," flipping another, it read "Lantern Riddles Gleanings" — just common riddle books found in bookshops.

Shen Xingniang had no interest in lantern riddles or character riddles, casually put them back, turned to speak, but saw Song Miao not looking at the golden lotus, only staring at the few books in the box, actually appearing dazed.

She couldn't help asking: "These books, and this golden lotus, do they have some connection with your family?"

Shen Xingniang finished asking, not waiting for Song Miao to reply, but pushed the whole big box toward Song Miao's direction, saying: "This stuff is no use keeping, might as well give it to you, Young Lady; if not for your help, I couldn't even open it."

Song Miao only then returned to her senses, calmed her breath for a few moments, pointed at the golden lotus and said: "I really shouldn't accept — this is red gold, the material is one thing, but the craftsman is extremely rare."

"Look."

As she spoke, she picked up the golden lotus, turned it over, pressed a spot on the back, and with a "hua" sound, the bud suddenly bloomed, revealing the lotus receptacle and stamens within; on one stamen, there even perched a tiny bee, the ring patterns on the bee's body faintly visible, even the tail stinger rendered to the finest detail.

And there were petals layer upon layer — so it was a double-petaled lotus, as if emitting a soft purple light, simply too beautiful to take in.

Shen Xingniang was stunned again looking at it.

But after looking, she quickly put the golden lotus back in the box, saying: "I've seen it! But I still want to give it to you; Young Lady has told me several times, she doesn't like hearing me speak of life-saving grace, so I won't mention it again — you just accept it, otherwise it's not giving me face!"

She was originally squatting on the ground; speaking to this point, she suddenly pursed her lips, half-raised her head, and said: "But even without the grace, I usually want to hang out with Young Lady; last time I asked Cheng Erniangzi, she only said there's a garden in City West that opened very beautiful chrysanthemums, wanted to invite you to go, just afraid you're busy, have no time..."

Song Miao was stunned for a moment.

So it turned out last time Cheng Erniang suddenly mentioned the chrysanthemums in the City West garden, and said Song Miao could go together with Shen Xingniang, it was actually for this reason.

She thought for a moment, carefully asked Shen Xingniang's birth year and birthday.

The other party answered.

Song Miao saw that in two more months it would be Shen Xingniang's birthday, and said: "This box indeed has deep ties with my family; I'll thicken my face and accept Young Lady's kindness, and in the future return a good one — does Xingniang have any favorite flowers?"

Shen Xingniang seeing her willing to accept, actually looked like she let out a breath of relief, even her originally slightly hunched shoulders relaxed down, smiling and saying: "Every time wanting to give Young Lady a gift, it takes a battle of wits and courage, harder than doing work and earning money!"

Song Miao also laughed, the slight bitterness originally born in her heart instantly washed clean by the words of the person before her.

She said softly: "Because every gift Xingniang gives me is so good, so precious, and so thoughtful, accepting them I only feel uneasy, inevitably apprehensive."

And said: "My return gifts in the future, Xingniang won't refuse, right?"

Shen Xingniang "puchi" laughed, eyes half-narrowed, like a cat that stole fish from its master's bowl.

She said: "I'm not like Young Lady with such thin skin — even if you send a shop, a carriage, whatever, I'd dare accept without hesitation!"

But finishing these words, seeing Song Miao looking thoughtful, she was startled, hurriedly adding: "Won't really give a shop, a carriage, right! I was just boasting; if really given, I wouldn't dare accept!"

Song Miao couldn't help laughing.

Shen Xingniang pointed at the golden lotus, curiously asking: "Is this an ornament for display?"

Song Miao shook her head: "Not an ornament, it's the rain chain's golden base."

She explained the rain chain's function to the other party, and pointed at the eaves, saying: "If there's a window, hang it outside the facing window; push open the window to look out, even when it's not raining, these petals are very thin, a blow of wind will make them ding-dang resonate, a different kind of charm."

Shen Xingniang shook her head: "I originally said even if it's an ornament, it's really not good to place; let alone putting red gold on the outside table or cabinet, even silver, or ordinary copper coins, I wouldn't dare — otherwise if thieves come, and it's stolen what then?"

"Now it actually has to hang under the eaves..."

She looked rather disapproving, lowered her head to look at the golden lotus again, but quickly discovered something strange, pointing at the lotus receptacle and asking: "This... are there characters on this?"

Naturally there are.

Song Miao only hesitated a moment, then frankly said: "Perhaps... it's my name."

And said: "Before my family was also wealthy for a period; grandmother early on settled the grandchildren's names, at the time entrusted two close friends, one surnamed Shen, the other surnamed Yang; the Yang one was a weaver, skilled in kesi — helped make the rain chain golden base, originally for when the younger generation turned eighteen, as a birthday gift — if this truly is my birthday gift, who knows, inside these golden lotus petals, besides 'Miao', there might also be hidden an 'eighteen'."

Hearing Song Miao's words, Shen Xingniang immediately went to touch the golden lotus petals, and indeed quickly raised her head, lifted the golden lotus to show Song Miao a spot, saying: "Hidden so well — there really is an 'eighteen'!"

As she spoke, her tone actually became somewhat emotional, saying: "Then... your family and my Master definitely have a great friendship, great connection — don't we also have a destined connection?"

"This golden lotus was originally yours; because you saved me, it was delivered to you — doesn't that count as extremely fated?"

"Of course."

Song Miao lowered her head, looked at that "Lantern Riddles Gleanings" placed beside the box, and glanced at that golden lotus.

Truly good.

There was still something left for her to cherish.

It's the end of the month, Food Friends—if you have any spare monthly tickets and haven't yet found another beloved work, could you cast one for our Xiao Miao? Thank you thank you thank you~

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Today's update is a bit short too, Food Friends, please make do with it┭┮﹏┭┮