CHAPTER 257: CHAPTER 257: WHY IS IT YOU? (PART 1)

"Did you add sugar to the green beans?" Shen Qinglan asked Mrs. Yang.

Mrs. Yang nodded, "I already added rock sugar."

Upon hearing this, Shen Qinglan quickly went back indoors, washed a few bowls and small spoons, and brought them out, lining them up to ladle the iced green bean soup into each.

"Auntie Yang, these two servings are for you and Uncle Shao. If it’s not enough, come back for more later."

"Oh!" Mrs. Yang waved her hand, "No need, you and the madam eat first, we can eat later!"

"It’s hot out, quench your thirst early!"

Mrs. Yang couldn’t refuse her, so she sighed lightly and accepted.

Shen Qinglan moved the remaining ice blocks back to the yard, then ran back to bring over the iced green bean soup.

Dong Yao helplessly said, "This child, you’re moving this basin of ice back and forth, it’ll all melt."

"It’s alright, if it melts, it melts!"

Shen Qinglan handed a bowl of iced green bean soup to her, "Mom, have the iced green bean soup."

Dong Yao accepted and said, "Though it’s hot, it’s still better to eat less cold stuff, it’s not good for the body!"

"Got it!"

Even though she said so, once eating starts, who cares about that?

Just as the two finished eating, they saw Mrs. Yang carrying a large pot coming in.

"Ah Juan, what is this?" Dong Yao asked curiously.

Mrs. Yang said, "I heard it’s silver ear ice pear soup, it was given by the family at the end of the alley. They said to just return the pot after finishing."

"Silver ear ice pear soup?" Shen Qinglan raised an eyebrow, "Were they given to every household?"

"They said they were given to everyone nearby!" Mrs. Yang opened the pot lid, the silver ear inside was crystal clear with a faint herbal smell.

"Let me try it."

Shen Qinglan scooped some into a bowl with a spoon, then took a sip of the soup.

"Hmm!" she nodded, "It tastes good, Mom, Auntie Yang, you should try some too."

Dong Yao shook her head, "I’m full, Ah Juan, you should take it to Shao Yi."

Mrs. Yang shook her head, "We just finished eating green bean soup, we really can’t eat any more."

"What to do then?" Dong Yao hesitated, "It’s someone else’s kind gesture, we can’t just throw it away, right?"

"We won’t!" Shen Qinglan said, "I can eat it!"

Upon hearing this, Dong Yao suddenly chuckled, she looked at Mrs. Yang and said, "I forgot, we have someone here who can eat."

"Being able to eat is good!" Mrs. Yang laughed, "I’d love to eat, but I’m too full. Though the third girl can eat a lot, she never seems to put on weight, who knows where it all goes."

Dong Yao shook her head helplessly, she looked at Mrs. Yang and said, "Since they sent us something to eat, we shouldn’t return an empty pot. What would be a good return gift?"

"Madam, don’t worry," Mrs. Yang said, "I see they don’t lack anything, so it’s better not to send anything back."

"Auntie Yang is right!" Shen Qinglan said, "Whatever we have, they have too. They sent this out of goodwill to foster better neighborly relations. If you send something back, it would make them feel you’re being too polite."

Dong Yao suddenly understood, "I see!"

Shen Qinglan quickly finished the big pot of silver ear ice pear soup.

Mrs. Yang collected the empty bowl and pot, and took them to the kitchen to wash.

Seeing her return, Shen Qinglan quickly stood up and said, "Auntie Yang, let me deliver it. It’s so hot, and going back and forth, you might get heatstroke."

Mrs. Yang wanted to refuse, but Dong Yao softly said, "Let her, you sit down and rest for a while too."

"This..." Mrs. Yang was still hesitant.

Shen Qinglan took the pot and said quietly, "Then I’m off. You all sit here, I’ll be back soon."