“Don’t go. I’m going to be your friend. Shouldn’t we have a meal together? Don’t worry, I’ll treat you to a meal.”

“Also, manager, if this dish is really as good as tofu, I will definitely pay you a hundred silver.”

Manager Zhou was overjoyed.

it was a hundred silver. Wouldn’t he earn back half of the money he spent on the menu?

Zhao Zhan couldn’t be stopped by him, neither could he advance nor retreat.

This was especially so for Fang Tianlu. Whether he was happy or disgusted, his emotions were clearly written on his face. Although his words were asking for a beating, seeing his serious expression, Zhao Zhan really couldn’t bear to do it.

“I’m busy, so I don’t have time to eat with you.” Zhao Zhan was still thinking about Yue Jiaojiao, so he spoke very quickly. “Isn’t it good that you’re eating by yourself and no one’s snatching it from you?”

“True. Then when are you going to have dinner with me? If you don’t eat with me, I won’t let you go!”

This person was pestering Zhao Zhan endlessly.

“Next time, I’ll have a meal with you next time!”

After Zhao Zhan finished speaking, he took advantage of Fang Tianliu’s distracted state to run past him and out the door. Then, he heaved a sigh of relief and headed toward West Street.

Huai County’s flatbread was baked with charcoal on the stove. A little lard was put on the thin dough skin and kneaded together, and then the surface was added with chopped green onions. The baked one was not the kind that was crunchy, but it was wrapped with a layer of the shop’s special sauce, which smelled very fragrant.

Zhao Zhan bought a set of all the types of flatbread he saw on the street. On his way back, he found a stall selling candied haws and took out a copper coin to buy a string of them.

That was because he was worried that he would be pestered by Fang Tianliu again when he passed the lobby. Zhao Zhan walked through the corner door of the inn. The workers were familiar with his face, and upon seeing this, they readily opened the door and did not stop him.

“You’re back?”

Yue Jiaojiao was lying on the soft couch and reading a storybook out of boredom. When she saw Zhao Zhan return, she immediately walked up.

Seeing that she was only wearing a thin layer of socks, Zhao Zhan strode over to the table and put down the things. Then, he rushed over and picked Yue Jiaojiao up with one hand. “The floor is cold.”

He hadn’t washed his hands when he came back, so he didn’t touch her at all when he hugged her. He only pulled her into his arms. “Sit on the chair first. I’ll get your shoes.”

Yue Jiaojiao, who had been placed on the chair, stopped moving and looked at the bags on the table one by one.

Zhao Zhan washed his hands and went to take her shoes. He squatted on the ground and carefully put them on for her. “There are many shops selling flatbread on the street. Break off a bite of each type and try it. If you don’t like it, leave it there first. I’ll eat the rest later.”

After he finished speaking, he went to wash his hands again and came back. He broke off a corner of the flatbread. “Try this. Be careful not to get oil on your hands.”

As he spoke, he picked up a hot handkerchief, poured a cup of warm water, and placed it on the table. He then sat down beside Yue Jiaojiao and said, “When you’re tired of it, have a stick of candied haws. I’m cooking a pot of millet and red date porridge in the small kitchen. I’ll go get a bowl for you later.”

Modern technology was so advanced, and Yue Jiaojiao’s life was so pampered. She didn’t expect that someone would come and prepare everything beforehand.

“Zhao Zhan, you’ve prepared everything so well. If you’re not at home in the future, what would I do? I don’t even know where you keep the things in the house.”

The flatbread was very fragrant, and Yue Jiaojiao happily munched on them.

“You only need to keep the silver.” Zhao Zhan picked up a hot handkerchief and wiped the oil from the corner of her mouth. He naturally picked up the remaining part of her meal. “I’ll help you prepare the rest.”