It Doesn’t Matter Whether You Please Others or Yourself

Shi Yan came out of the bamboo garden and saw a green bamboo forest. In the bamboo forest, there was a paved stone road that was capable of allowing a car to pass through. On both sides of the paved stone road were green bamboos, meandering for about 200 meters before reaching the end.

The weather in Sea City at the end of summer was very good. The afternoon sun shone through the rustling green bamboo trees, making it warm and not scorching. The wind blew, and a few dry bamboo leaves fell with the wind. Occasionally, one could hear the chirping of cicadas and birds coming from the bamboo forest.

With one chirping after another, it was very cheerful.

Shi Yan held her cell phone in one hand and a food box in the other. She walked on the paved stone road lined with bamboo leaves on both sides, her footsteps lighter than usual.

When she walked out of the bamboo forest, her field of vision gradually widened. Not far away was the lotus pond, which had a strong sense of presence in the Jiang family's mansion. The reason for this was that it occupied a large area and had one of the best sceneries in the Jiang family's old mansion.

Shi Yan walked along the path beside the lotus pond for a while, going straight to the main building.

She was just in time for dinner, so she was called by Grandma Jiang to go to the second floor for dinner. 

Shi Yan did not refuse.

Xiao Zhao had applied for leave, so it was not appropriate for her to trouble others to send her lunch. Moreover, since she was already here, there was no need to trouble the kitchen to make another serving.

As for her cooking, if there was no need for it, she rarely cooked by herself.

As soon as she sat down, the old lady asked her with a smile, "Xiao Yan, I heard from Xiao Li in the kitchen that you borrowed the kitchen just now?"

Jiang Rui had accompanied Kong Xiangxiang to the tea party, while Jiang Sheng went to the company. In fact, Grandma Jiang was the only one eating lunch. 

However, when the old lady ate alone, Auntie Wan would always accompany her. Since Shi Yan was here today, Auntie Wan did not sit down with her.

Therefore, there were only Shi Yan and Grandma Jiang at the dining table.

Shi Yan did not hide anything and replied with a faint smile, "Yes, I cooked something."

"You cooked something? I met you downstairs just now and I asked you if you had lunch, but you said you didn't eat. I guess the food you cooked was not for you, right?"

The old lady smiled, and the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes almost shrank together.

There was a bit of interest in her kind eyes.

Shi Yan ignored her slightly teasing gaze and said with a faint smile, "Yes, it was not for myself. I had to trouble Fifth Master Jiang with something. It's a thank you gift in advance."

"Ah, it was for Fifth Brother."

Shi Yan smiled elegantly.

She allowed the old lady to size her up.

The old lady could not help but be stunned. Suddenly, she could not figure out what she was thinking.

She was only nineteen years old. If she really had the heart of a young girl and was seen by others, especially by the other party's elders, she should not be acting like this.

She was too calm.

However, the old lady did not pursue the matter. Instead, she smiled and said, "Lao Wu usually stays in his courtyard and has nothing to do. If you need help with anything and he happens to be able to help you, just look for him. It would be even better if you can get him to leave the courtyard more often."

"Grandma Jiang, don't worry. I will do my best to do what I promised you."

Her words seemed to be telling Grandma Jiang that she had personally cooked for Jiang Che because she had promised the old lady to help.

Grandma Jiang was even more uncertain about her intentions.

After staring at Shi Yan for a few seconds, she finally stopped the doubt in her heart and smiled, "Grandma Jiang is very assured about you. However, if you feel that it's difficult, you don't have to force yourself. Everything is based on your wishes.

"I heard from Xiao Li that you made soup and medicinal cuisine. Do you know how to make medicinal cuisine?"

"I lived with my grandmother in the early years. My grandmother was good at medicine, but I didn't have the talent to study it. Instead, I learned some common medicinal herbs and learned how to make a few types of medicinal cuisine."

Hearing her words, Grandma Jiang came to a realization. 

"That's right. When I was recuperating at your home, I heard from the neighbors that your grandmother was good at medicine. If anyone in the village had a minor illness or pain, they would go to her for help."

However, Grandma Jiang had thought that Shi Yan's deceased grandmother was an ordinary barefooted doctor who knew a little about medicine but was not proficient in it.

"You still remember what happened so long ago."

Shi Yan had a smile on her face. She did not say much about her deceased grandmother's medical skills.

"How long did it take? It was only three years."

As she spoke, the old lady seemed to recall what happened three years ago. She said with a tinge of emotion, "Speaking of which, three years ago, I appeared near your house. I went to look for a doctor for Fifth Brother."

Shi Yan's hand, which was holding chopsticks, paused slightly.

Grandma Jiang had mentioned this to her before, but now that she heard it, her feelings were actually very different.

Looking for a doctor for Jiang Che… 

She heard that Jiang Che's car accident back then was very serious, and his life had been hanging by a thread.

As she thought of this, the smile on Shi Yan's face faded a little.

Grandma Jiang was immersed in her memories and didn't notice the change in Shi Yan's expression. 

She continued, "Back then, I heard from an old friend that there was a godly doctor who appeared in your hometown. However, I did not know the name of the godly doctor, whether they were male or female, or their age. Still, I went there to try my luck. I did not expect that I would not be able to find the godly doctor in the end, and almost put my old bones at risk.

"It's all thanks to Old Fifth's life that he managed to survive on his own. Otherwise..."

The old lady did not continue.

Shi Yan looked at her, then slightly lowered her eyelashes to hide the emotions in her eyes. After a moment, she raised her eyes again and comforted her as usual, "In the end, everything is fine now. Fifth Master Jiang is fine and your body is healthy. You should be relieved."

"Yes, everything is fine now," Grandma Jiang sighed and smiled.

"Alright, alright. Let's not talk about these heavy topics. Let's eat. This dish is not bad. Xiao Yan, try it."

As she spoke, she used chopsticks to pick up the food for her.

Shi Yan quickly picked up the bowl in front of her and caught it. 

"Thank you, Grandma Jiang."

After eating for a while, the old lady suddenly asked, "Oh, right. Xiao Yan, school is about to start soon, right?"

Shi Yan was about to pick up the food when she heard those words. She put her chopsticks back and did not touch it again. 

She smiled and replied, "Yes, there are only five days left before I have to report to school."

"There are only five days left. How time flies…" Grandma Jiang looked at her with a reproachful look, "I told you to come to Sea City earlier. Look, you don't even have a few more days to play before school starts."

"I've been playing for a long time. Rui'er has brought me to almost all the fun places in Sea City," Shi Yan said with a laugh.

"I just feel that you haven't stayed at home for a few days. We've agreed that you have to come back to the old house with Rui'er on the weekend. You can't find excuses to move out then."

"I won't."

Shi Yan smiled sweetly and picked up the chopsticks to serve Grandma Jiang some food.

The old lady happily took the food when suddenly her gaze fell on Shi Yan, looking at her simple white t-shirt.

"Speaking of school, Xiao Yan, I saw that you didn't bring much luggage when you came. I didn't know your current size before, so I only prepared two sets of sportswear for you. 

"Since school is about to start, you can't just bring so few sets of clothes. Moreover, it's September, and the weather will gradually turn cold. You need to prepare some autumn clothes.

"How about this, Grandma Jiang will have someone come to the old residence and custom-make a few sets for you?

"You have to dress up when you're as young as a flower. You can't waste your good time for nothing. Moreover, girls still need to dress up appropriately. You're so beautiful, so dressing up appropriately will add a lot of points. Forget about pleasing others, looking at yourself will also be more pleasing to the eye, right?"

Shi Yan did not know which of the old lady's words touched her, but she, who had never paid much attention to her clothes, suddenly paused.

Then, she said, "You're right. The weather will turn cold in September. I only brought summer clothes over, so I need to prepare some autumn clothes. But it's not necessary to get someone to especially come to the old house to customize it. I'll ask Rui'er to accompany me to buy some clothes tomorrow. We can also go shopping on the way to school. It's convenient, and we can get the clothes immediately. If it's custom-made, we'll have to wait for some time before we can put on your new clothes."

No matter what, her willingness to buy clothes was good in the old lady's eyes. As for whether it was custom-made or bought, it didn't matter.

Grandma Jiang had always felt that with Shi Yan's appearance and temperament, it would be a waste if she didn't dress up properly. It was just that she hadn't found the opportunity to properly talk to her.