Jiang Chan slept exceptionally well that night. The quilt was warm, and the room was clean and tidy. It was evident that despite Lin Wan having been away for many years, the Lin family had maintained her room in excellent condition, showing that they hadn’t entirely neglected her.
However, both Lin Wan and Lin Yuanshan were far too stubborn. Their conflict was a battle of wills, and if either one of them had yielded just a little, Lin Wan wouldn’t have met such an untimely death at such a young age.
At five in the morning, Jiang Chan woke up on time. In fact, this was already considered late for her. Back in the orphanage, she used to wake up around three every morning to rush to the farmers’ market, all in the hope of securing the freshest ingredients.
Why was Ci Xin Barbecue so popular? It was all about the quality of the ingredients. With a good reputation, the sales naturally followed.
Jiang Chan quickly freshened up and planned to go for a jog. Her current body felt somewhat weak, which was quite unsettling for someone like her who had always been robust and healthy.
As she descended the stairs, Jiang Chan was startled by the sight of the old man sitting on the sofa. His eyes were shadowed with fatigue, and he looked utterly worn out. Hearing footsteps, Lin Yuanshan raised his head and glanced at Jiang Chan faintly.
“Up so early? Why not sleep a bit more?” Despite his exhaustion, the old man showed concern for Jiang Chan.
Jiang Chan sat across from Lin Yuanshan. “I slept well. I’m used to waking up at this time. Grandpa, did you stay up all night?”
Seeing how he seemed to have aged several years overnight, Jiang Chan felt a pang of guilt. It was hard not to feel sorry for making an elderly man worry so much.
Lin Yuanshan forced a smile. “When you’re old, you sleep less. It’s nothing serious.”
Jiang Chan nodded and decided against her original plan to jog outside. “Let me make breakfast for you. You barely ate anything last night.”
Lin Yuanshan was skeptical. “You know how to cook?”
His doubt was understandable. After seeing Jiang Chan’s black nail polish the night before, he couldn’t help but wonder if her cooking might poison him.
Jiang Chan held up her clean and fair hands. “Don’t underestimate me. When Mom was sick, she could barely eat anything. But she could still manage to eat the food I made.”
She wasn’t lying. Depression was a tormenting illness, often accompanied by loss of appetite and severe aversions to food.
To help Lin Wan eat something, even as a young child, the original Jiang Chan had learned to cook. No matter how poorly she cooked, Lin Wan would force herself to eat a little.
If it hadn’t been for her care, Lin Wan might not have lasted those extra few years. Now that Jiang Chan was here, this particular skill of the original’s can be showcased once again, not to mention that Jiang Chan’s cooking skills are already quite good.
Since she had come here to make up for the regrets of the original owner, she was determined to honor the original’s unfulfilled wishes and care for the grandparents who had shown her kindness. This way, when the original owner returned, she could live harmoniously with Lin Yuanshan and Lin Qiao.
Lin Yuanshan chuckled. “Well, then I’ll have to taste your cooking.”
“Just wait and see,” Jiang Chan replied.
Seeing that the old man was no longer as despondent, Jiang Chan felt relieved. By nature, she was a positive person who couldn’t bear to see others sad, especially elderly people.
As Jiang Chan entered the kitchen, Lin Yuanshan decided to follow her. Watching her deftly wash rice and soak dried lily bulbs, he felt a sense of warmth.
Though Lin Wan had passed away too soon, she had left behind a sensible child like Jiang Chan. It gave him a small measure of comfort. Especially when chatting with Jiang Chan, the old man felt that Jiang Chan was far more mature than her peers.
This made Lin Yuanshan feel even more heartbroken. If it weren’t for the upheaval in the family, no one would become so mature and sensible at such a young age.
Slowly, a delicate and sweet aroma filled the kitchen. Jiang Chan swiftly made a few more egg pancakes—simple yet full of the warmth of everyday life. The old man couldn’t help but swallow involuntarily.
With his hands behind his back, he asked, “Girl, how much longer until it’s ready?”
Jiang Chan handed him an egg pancake wrapped with bean sprouts and cucumber strips. “Here, have this to tide you over. The lily porridge will be ready soon.”
Drawn by the enticing smell, Lin Qiao and Lin Jin Yu walked into the kitchen and exchanged incredulous glances at the sight of Lin Yuanshan eating the pancake with such satisfaction. Was this really their father, the man who usually upheld strict dining etiquette? Now he was standing in the kitchen, eating a pancake with his hands?
Lin Qiao rubbed his face. “Xiao Chan, can you make one for me and your brother too?”
He was curious to see what made this pancake so irresistible.
Jiang Chan turned and saw the two men dressed in casual homewear. Without hesitation, she rolled up two more pancakes and handed them over.
Even in home clothes, Lin Jin Yu exuded an imposing aura. Yet when facing Jiang Chan, he instinctively softened his expression.
“Grandpa, Uncle, and Brother, why don’t you all sit at the dining table? Breakfast will be ready soon.”
After a delicious breakfast, Lin Yuanshan went back to his room to rest. Lin Qiao and Lin Jin Yu left for work, while Jiang Chan, with nothing to do, decided to pull out the original owner’s schoolbooks. The original had wished to become a good student, and Jiang Chan herself wanted to relearn everything in this world. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have accepted this task.
But when she opened the school bag, Jiang Chan couldn’t help but twitch her lips. The bag contained only a pencil case—no books. How was she supposed to study?
It made sense, though. The original owner had been hanging out with a group of delinquent students for the past few months. It was easy to go astray but much harder to get back on track.
In the original owner’s memory, she was already somewhat of a school tyrant. Perhaps due to her generosity, she often had ten or so followers.
At school, she did everything—smoking, drinking, skipping classes, fighting, and partying. Students avoided her, and teachers shook their heads in dismay whenever they saw her.
Jiang Chan pinched the bridge of her nose. Becoming a school tyrant had never been her intention. With such a poor reputation among teachers and students, becoming a good student would be an uphill battle.
Realizing it was almost lunchtime, Jiang Chan decided to avoid sitting idle. She entered the kitchen and found the cook, Aunt Zhang, preparing a meal. “Need any help?”
Aunt Zhang, a woman in her fifties, smiled warmly at Jiang Chan. “Xiao Chan, you’re here? I’m just cooking. Your mother used to love my cooking.”
Jiang Chan raised an eyebrow. “Then let me help you, Aunt Zhang. It’s too boring outside, and I’d rather chat with you.”
Aunt Zhang chuckled. “I won’t hold back, then. By the way, the lily porridge you made this morning was quite good.”
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