Chapter Fifty-Two: Here for a Free Meal

Lin Miaomiao pouted and looked at Li Zheng with disdain. “You really know how to show up at the right time—today happens to be my birthday. Since you’re here, you might as well join us for the meal!”

But Lin Miaomiao wasn’t a stingy person. Now that her factory was making money hand over fist, the little courtyard she had bought earlier was more than spacious enough for so many people. Back when Li Yanhe had helped her find the place, they’d chosen a three-section courtyard. At first, when Lin Miaomiao and the two children were cleaning, the yard had seemed quite large.

She thought, if she lived here by herself in the future, she’d have to keep a few small animals; otherwise, the place would feel a bit too empty. But now, it seemed the size was just right, perfectly suited to her needs. After finishing her birthday cake, Lin Miaomiao saw that Cui Liu had already finished chopping the vegetables.

She stepped into the kitchen and started frying eggs. The dishes were all home-style, but by the time she finished, her back and waist were aching with fatigue.

Suddenly, Lin Miaomiao found herself craving a hamburger—a longing perhaps born from not having eaten fast food in so long. She eyed the chicken soaking in the water basin.

Soon, as Li Zheng and Li Yanhe sat in the courtyard drinking tea, a tantalizing aroma began to drift from the kitchen. They couldn’t quite place what it was, but something delicious was clearly in the works.

Indeed, at that very moment, Lin Miaomiao was making fried chicken. Beside her, Cui Liu was prepping tomatoes. Before long, the fried chicken was done.

After heating oil in the pan, Lin Miaomiao began making tomato sauce. Once it was finished, Cui Liu ladled it out, and Lin Miaomiao started slicing potatoes.

She was making French fries. Following Lin Miaomiao’s instructions, Cui Liu minced some chicken breast meat. With the extra chicken breast, Lin Miaomiao started making chicken nuggets. By the time she was done, her whole body felt sore. Cui Liu, ever quick and efficient, carried the dishes out to the table.

The two children, Lin Langluan and Lin Langze, were delighted at the sight of the food and clamored around Lin Miaomiao, begging for a taste. Smiling, she dipped a bit of tomato sauce for each of them.

After each had a chicken nugget, Lin Langluan said to Lin Miaomiao, “Sister, it’s delicious! I want more.”

Lin Miaomiao patted his head and replied, “No more for now! Just have one to whet your appetite—once everyone’s here, we’ll all eat together.”

The two boys stared longingly at the chicken nuggets but obediently sat beside her, waiting as she’d told them.

Li Zheng watched Lin Miaomiao sipping the juice she’d made and asked curiously, “Are these two the wolf children? How did you tame them?”

Lin Miaomiao frowned instantly at his words. Lin Langluan and Lin Langze also looked displeased.

She addressed Li Zheng sternly. “First, they’re people, not animals. You can’t use the word ‘tame’—that’s absolutely the wrong word. Second, wolves are mammals. The reason wolves sometimes raise human children as their own is a stroke of luck for those children. Very few are fortunate enough to be nurtured by wolves; it only happens when the wolves are still nursing their own pups at the same time the human child needs milk. That’s not an exaggeration—it’s a rare blessing and a favor from nature itself. If humans approach animals with reverence, animals will reciprocate that respect.”

Li Zheng listened to Lin Miaomiao’s serious explanation, and the two children, fascinated, moved to sit closer to her.

“Sister, are we really lucky? Back in the village, the people all disliked us. They thought we brought bad luck.”

Lin Miaomiao stroked their heads and smiled. “Do you know, not every child gets to be raised by wolves. Only the luckiest are taken in and cared for like that. So you are lucky. People disliked you because they were ignorant and superstitious; they had no reverence for nature or animals. You must understand—you’re not unfortunate at all. You are children favored by both heaven and nature.”

As she spoke, Li Yanhe watched her with a gentle smile in his eyes, though perhaps even he hadn’t noticed it himself.

Li Zheng, after listening, looked up and asked, “Why do we need to revere nature? Why show respect to animals?”

Lin Miaomiao thought for a while before answering, “Sometimes animals are far kinder than people. Take wolves and tigers—they can be fierce and dangerous to humans, but certain qualities they possess are worth learning from.”

She continued, “I once read a story about a girl who, by chance, saved a wolf. Because of human hunters, the wolf’s mother had died, so the girl raised the wolf herself. In order not to strip the wolf of its wild instincts, she taught it how to hunt. Over time, the wolf grew up and could no longer stay by her side, so she decided to let it return to its natural home. Afterward, the girl was heartbroken. She had nightmares, fearing her little wolf would one day be killed by hunters, just like its mother. The girl and her fiancé searched for a long time but never found her wolf among the pack. Day after day passed, until one day, she met her wolf again—but now it was the leader of the pack. The wolf, as she had hoped, had developed a reverence for humans. When the girl approached, it simply stood quietly by, waiting. Finally, the wolf turned away, and the girl, tears in her eyes, watched it disappear into the wild, then left as well. Many years later, she still lived there, and people wondered why she stayed in such a harsh place, so sparsely populated. One day, a group of lost travelers came upon her, and she smiled and told them, ‘I’m waiting for my wolf to return.’”

Li Zheng, amazed by the story, exclaimed, “There are truly people with such loyalty in this world?”

Lin Langluan and Lin Langze, delighted by the tale, chirped, “Sister, sister, did the wolf ever come back?”

Lin Miaomiao shook her head with a smile and told them, “In the end, the girl never saw her wolf king return, but year after year, animals would appear near her home as if brought by the wolf.” The two boys didn’t fully understand the story’s meaning then, but years later, they would come to grasp why Lin Miaomiao had taught them to revere nature and animals. They were clever children, honed by years of surviving in the forest, and had keen instincts.

Once Lin Miaomiao finished her story, Lin Qi and Lin Jiwang seemed to have wrapped up their work and returned. As everyone gathered for the meal, Li Zheng looked at the lively group around the table. Lin Miaomiao, a modern woman at heart, didn’t stand on ceremony. Li Yanhe also paid little heed to such matters. Lin Miaomiao disliked the idea of eating alone while those serving her went hungry, so they usually ate at separate tables.

She spent quite a while searching for candles but found only thick ones unsuitable for a cake, so she had to give up. Lin Miaomiao made a symbolic birthday wish, then led the children in singing, “Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you…”

Li Yanhe and Li Zheng had never heard the song before and found it novel. Lin Langluan and Lin Langze especially loved the fried chicken and nuggets.

Li Zheng tasted the fried chicken and found the flavor refreshingly different. He was used to roast chicken, but the fried version was a delicious change of pace.

Everyone ate heartily. In the afternoon, Li Yanhe returned to the military camp, as the coming of winter brought him many responsibilities.

After he left, Li Zheng and Lin Miaomiao took a carriage to her factory. Li Zheng glanced at her and said, “I heard you took Old Third’s order?”

Lin Miaomiao was a bit surprised—how could he know when it had only just happened?

Li Zheng was no ordinary man and could easily read Lin Miaomiao’s thoughts.

He gave an awkward smile and said, “You know the second prince is also a royal. There’s no such thing as family feelings in the imperial clan. If you had to pick a side…”

Before he could finish, Lin Miaomiao sighed and looked at him earnestly. “Why should I pick a side? If someone wants to place an order, I’ll take it! Whether it’s the third prince’s shop or another prince’s, I’ll accept any order as long as it’s business! I’m not picking sides. My business in Da’an Port is good, and I don’t get involved in the capital’s power struggles—it doesn’t really touch me.”

Li Zheng looked at her seriously for a moment before asking, “Are you really only seven years old?”

Lin Miaomiao rolled her eyes. “Why do you keep bringing up my age? Are you trying to hurt my feelings?”

Before Li Zheng could respond, she continued, “Honestly, uncle, you’re so much older than me. If you keep asking about my age, aren’t you just admitting you’re old?”

She finished her sentence with a look of disdain. Li Zheng pointed at himself and replied, “Old, me?”