With the year ending and more people in the clinic, Xiao Feng used all his skills to prepare twelve dishes. While he cooked, Jiang Chan made two pastries.
One was red bean and Chinese yam cake, the other walnut cake, Rendong’s favorite. Sure enough, the children’s eyes lit up at the sight.
Jiang Chan filled a plate and beckoned Rendong. “Share these with your fellow disciples. Save some room. We’re having a feast soon.”
“Yes, Master,” she answered brightly.
Watching them enjoy the pastries, Jiang Chan leaned against a kitchen cabinet and helped herself to a walnut cake. Suddenly, she sniffed. “Are you roasting sweet potatoes in the embers? They smell so sweet.”
Xiao Feng was plating food. He smiled. “We have so many sweet potatoes, Master, we thought we’d roast some. They’re especially sweet and delicious this way.”
“I need to save room. Rendong and I will share one. Divide the rest among yourselves. I don’t want to miss Xiao Feng’s dishes. They smell wonderful.”
She rubbed her stomach. After pastries and tea, she was not very hungry. Another sweet potato might leave little room for supper.
How could she allow that?
The kitchen was lively, its aromas drifting far away. In the guest rooms, the Feng party could no longer sit still. Their noses caught one enticing scent after another.
Old Feng was first to give in. Like a mischievous child, he followed his nose into the kitchen. Seeing Jiang Chan there, he smiled until his face wrinkled.
“Little Xianyue, what are you making? Why does it smell so good? I tried to nap, but all I could smell was this. You’ve made an old man terribly hungry…”
She smiled and handed him half a sweet potato. “Have this to tide you over. Xiao Feng’s dishes are nearly ready. We’ll eat together soon.”
He beamed, delighted with his half. Hadn’t he said she was kind? Not only had she taken them in, she was feeding them too.
Feng Feishuang followed with a smile. Suddenly, someone tugged his sleeve. Looking down, he found Rendong offering a sweet potato. “Please have a sweet potato.”
Smiling, he touched her little hair buns. “Thank you, Rendong.”
Turning to Feng Feiyang, he adopted a different manner. “Take half. We can’t finish this much.”
Feng Feiyang looked subdued and dared say nothing. Watching him behave like a little chick, Jiang Chan raised an eyebrow. His eldest brother clearly carried considerable authority.
The kitchen grew quiet. Xiao Feng quickly finished plating. “Master, supper is ready. We can eat.”
Jiang Chan turned, picked up two dishes, and headed out. Feng Feishuang rubbed his nose and followed, carrying a dish with his uninjured left hand. Working together, they soon covered the table with food.
There were nine clinic residents and three Feng guests, twelve people sitting around the round table. Seeing Feng Feishuang unable to hold chopsticks in his right hand, Jiang Chan whispered to Dongqing.
The boy beside her quickly hurried away, brought Feng Feishuang a spoon, then returned to sit properly at her side.
Raising her teacup, Jiang Chan said, “Our whole clinic is children, so drinking isn’t suitable. I’ll toast with tea today. Welcome to our guests. May everyone enjoy prosperity and smooth sailing in the new year.”
Old Feng laughed. “Yes, yes! Prosperity for everyone!”
“Cheers!”
Rendong’s sudden exclamation startled everyone, then made them laugh. Jiang Chan waved. “Eat, eat. Help yourselves. This is our home now. No need to be reserved at home.”
She was speaking to the children. They had arrived only weeks ago and were still cautious and timid. Watching them troubled her.
She could not help everyone in the world. She could only do her best for these few children.
“Oh, the clinic closes for the holiday tomorrow. You can go shopping or play if you want. New Year only comes once a year,” she said after taking a bite.
Xiao Feng raised his hand. “How could going out be as comfortable as staying here? Master, there are things I don’t understand. Could you explain them tomorrow?”
The others nodded. After seeing so many people bring her gifts, they regarded Jiang Chan as the most capable person in the world. They wanted to become capable too.
“Alright. On days off, we’ll have lessons. When we’re busy, we’ll study in the evenings. Ask me whatever you want to learn.”
She did not hoard her knowledge. She preferred passing it on. Even changing only the lives of those around her felt meaningful.
“Yes, Master!” they answered together before giggling again. She did not stop them. New Year should be happy.
While eating, Feng Feishuang discreetly observed her. He had no other intentions. He simply found her contradictory and difficult to understand at a glance.
Young as she was, she handled matters with remarkable maturity. Still a child herself, she had gathered so many other children.
She cared for them well and was generous even toward relative strangers like his party. Her exceptional medical skill at such an age made him even more curious.
She was thoughtful too. Knowing his right hand was unusable, she had specifically asked her disciple to bring a spoon. For a young girl to be so considerate seemed extraordinary.
Everyone enjoyed the meal. The children ate until their mouths shone with oil. They no longer devoured food like starving ghosts. Having learned table manners, they unconsciously imitated Jiang Chan.
That made them look well brought up and polite. Old Feng was the opposite, a mischievous old child who disregarded appearances while eating.
“Delicious! Young lady, this little fellow has such skill. What will I do when I return to the clan and can’t eat food like this?”
“I must eat my fill while I can!” Although he swept through the food, his movements still had a certain refinement.
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