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Soon, the iron bucket was lit and a fire was started. Chen Dong called Liu Yumo to take it to the main room and also brought some firewood over.

"The noodles are ready, Dong-ge, call them over."

The noodles were cooked in no time, and Ye Wanwan started to knead them.

Chen Dong extinguished the firewood, went to the kitchen door and shouted towards the main room. Liu Yumo and the others then came running over eagerly.

"Wow, it smells so good."

As soon as Liu Yumo entered the kitchen, he couldn't help but swallow hard.

The simple clear broth noodles, topped with a fried egg and sprinkled with scallions, along with a few vegetable leaves, were no less delicious than delicacies to Liu Yumo and his companions, who were practically vomiting up all their bile.

Han Ning'er and the others also found the aroma irresistible and couldn't help but swallow.

I've been on the road since early morning, and my stomach has been growling non-stop. I could wolf down even plain noodles, let alone clear soup with fried eggs and vegetables.

"Dong-ge, you guys go eat in the main room first."

After selecting several bowls of noodles, Ye Wanwan invited Chen Dong and the others to the main room, while she stayed behind to add water, as if preparing to boil some.

But Chen Dong just squinted and saw that there was an uncovered bowl on the stove with fried eggs and noodles, and he knew what was going on.

He didn't say anything, and reached out to pick up the bowl of noodles.

"Brother Dong, this is the bowl," Ye Wanwan quickly stopped him.

"Aren't they all the same? I'll just eat this bowl," Chen Dong said with a smile.

Ye Wanwan tugged at his sleeve, lowered her head like a child who had done something wrong, and said shyly, "This, this bowl doesn't have a fried egg."

"You're incredibly stupid. Didn't I just tell you to each get a fried egg? Why didn't you prepare one for yourself?"

Chen Dong frowned and scolded him, then pretended to be nonchalant and said, "Never mind, I haven't had much of an appetite since I got on the bus, so I'll just have this bowl."

"No, Dong-ge, you...you are guests..."

Ye Wanwan provided fried eggs for Chen Dong and the others, but she herself didn't mind, she was fine with just a bite, but Chen Dong was not willing to accept that.

"So you only see us as guests, not friends?" Chen Dong said, feigning anger.

"No, no." Ye Wanwan was a little flustered.

"That's settled then. If you're friends, then it's too formal to be so formal in the living room. If you insist on being formal, then you don't consider us friends. We'll leave now."

As he spoke, Chen Dong was about to put down his chopsticks.

"No, Dong-ge, I, I'll eat this bowl," Ye Wanwan said quickly.

"That's right, I'll eat from this bowl. And if you ever do this kind of discrimination again, I won't eat anymore, you might as well let me starve to death."

Chen Dong gently patted Ye Wanwan's head as a warning.

"Okay," Ye Wanwan replied obediently.

Just then, Grandma came into the kitchen and saw Chen Dong and Ye Wanwan being quite intimate. She was slightly taken aback at first, but then her kind smile deepened.

"Grandma, what brings you here? I prepared something for you and was just about to bring it over," Ye Wanwan said somewhat awkwardly when she saw a blush creep across her grandmother's face.

"I've already eaten lunch. You all have your fill. I'll come over and boil some water," Grandma said with a smile.

"I can do this work, Grandma, you go to the main room." Ye Wanwan pushed her grandmother towards the main room, and Chen Dong echoed her, eating and chatting at the same time.

The noodles smelled delicious, and everyone finished their bowls completely, even drinking the soup.

"Same as always, Mozi, you guys go wash the dishes."

After the meal, the task of washing the dishes was handed over to Liu Yumo and his team. They didn't hesitate at all; the person who cooked the meal didn't participate in washing the dishes, as that was the job of the person who ate.

"How can we let the guests wash the dishes? I'll clean up. You young people can play." Grandma stood up and took over the work.

"Grandma, sit down and rest. We always do it this way. The person who cooks doesn't have to wash the dishes. We have a clear division of labor. We can't support lazy people," Chen Dong said with a smile.

"Grandma, I'll go wash up."

Ye Wanwan wouldn't let her grandmother get up and followed her to the kitchen, leaving only her grandmother and Chen Dong in the main room.

Chen Dong was about to follow her to the kitchen when his grandmother suddenly spoke up, "Xiao Yezi is a bit timid and has low self-esteem, but she's also very stubborn."

"Grandma, don't worry. Xiao Yezi has changed. She's not as timid and self-conscious as before. She's a bit stubborn, but stubbornness can also be a sign of perseverance. It's because of these qualities that she has such outstanding achievements." Chen Dong sat back down on the stool to chat with his grandma.

Grandma gently shook her head; how could she possibly be at ease?

She knew Xiao Yezi's personality very well, which was why she was worried. She looked at Chen Dong, her kind eyes slightly narrowed.

"Her stubbornness is both a good and a bad thing. Like the thorns of a rose, it can easily prick people. This is the first time in so many years that she has brought a friend home."

Chen Dong paused slightly, realizing what his grandmother meant.

Grandma was worried that Xiao Yezi was too stubborn and might make a mistake outside, and she was worried that they would come over to demand an explanation.

This is the concern of the elders, and also their worry. For the grandmother, it might also be a sense of helplessness, a feeling of being willing but unable to help.

Chen Dong stepped forward and squatted down in front of his grandmother, holding her hand and smiling sincerely, "Grandma, Xiao Yezi is doing very well at school. Before, she lived alone in a drafty shed, but she still grew up tenaciously and was always first in her class and in the top five of her grade."

"She's living with Ning'er now, the one in the white down jacket. A few of us even formed a study group, and we eat and study together."

"She is very good and excellent."

Chen Dong gently described Ye Wanwan's situation at school, including the formation of a study group, where she lived, and what her living environment was like.

Grandma was relieved to hear this, but also a little worried. "She lives with her classmate? Is she staying at her classmate's house? Won't she disturb her classmate's family? This child..."

Chen Dong gently patted his grandmother's hand and said with a tender smile, "No, Ning'er rented the house herself, and Xiao Yezi is basically sharing the house with her."

It's fine to share an apartment.

Grandma breathed a slight sigh of relief. She was afraid that the girl would go to other people's homes and disturb their lives, but another worry came at any moment.

Chen Dong knew what his grandmother was worried about, and said with a smile, "Xiao Yezi is very diligent. She makes breakfast every day, and she always volunteers to do chores. She is very good at taking care of people. Ning'er felt very bad about it and wanted to do something, so she took on most of the rent and living expenses."

"How can that be..." Grandma immediately shook her head upon hearing this.

Grandma is a simple and honest person. In her mind, diligence is a virtue, but one should not take advantage of others just because one is diligent. Since it is a shared apartment, the rent and living expenses should not be borne mostly by others.

Even if you live frugally, you shouldn't try to take advantage of someone else's rent.

"Grandma, we're all friends. Xiao Yezi has done so much, even tutoring everyone. She's the one who helped me improve my grades. If we really look into it, we owe her even more."

Chen Dong's gentle explanation dispelled the sense of asymmetry in his grandmother's heart.

Grandma fell silent, but her gaze toward Chen Dong softened, her smile kind and filled with gratitude.