On the other side, Su Muqing and Madam Zhou were walking. They were completely unaware that in the hall, her presence had once again stirred up a topic.
Madam Zhou pretended to chide her, "Miss Muqing, didn't we agree you'd come over for lunch at our place? Look, you've already finished eating. Are you afraid my cooking isn't good?"
"No, of course not! It's just that the village gave us meat this morning. The weather is so hot now, and if we don't eat it at noon, it'll likely spoil. We can't waste food these days. So I just had a little something to tide me over. This way, I'll eat less of your food. Isn't that right, Aunt Zhou?" Su Muqing said with a playful smile. She knew Madam Zhou wasn't truly upset.
"Yes, yes! You are indeed the most thoughtful!" Madam Zhou was genuinely just teasing her.
They lived in the same building, just in different directions. So, it didn't take long for the two of them to arrive.
Xu Fu was already waiting at the entrance. Upon seeing Su Muqing approach, he immediately bowed and welcomed her in, "Miss Qing, please."
"You don't have to do this," Su Muqing didn't know whether to call him uncle or grandfather, so she resorted to a respectful term.
"It is my duty. Miss Qing, please." Xu Fu remained bowed and refused to straighten up.
It seemed if she didn't enter, he would remain in this posture indefinitely. As a person from modern times, Su Muqing truly couldn't get used to the excessive politeness of feudal society! So, she stopped trying to persuade him and simply entered the house.
"Miss Qing, please be seated." Xu Fu stepped forward and pulled out a stool for her.
It was a rather worn-out long bench, with a large chunk missing from one corner. Yet, he handled it with such ceremony, as if they were about to partake in a Western meal. His demeanor was impeccably set!
Having witnessed their exceptional politeness, Su Muqing said no more and directly sat down. Once she was seated, Madam Zhou went to fetch the dishes.
However, she waited for a long time but did not see Xu Fu take his seat. He stood a step behind her, and his posture, no matter how she looked at it, resembled that of a powerful eunuch in a palace drama.
Su Muqing gave him several signals with her eyes, but Xu Fu's face remained smiling, and he showed no sign of stepping forward to sit. It seemed her efforts were in vain.
Madam Zhou entered at this moment, carrying a large bowl, followed by Lao San and the others, each holding a plate. After placing them on the table, Su Muqing discovered there was meat other than beef!
Except for Xu Fu and Madam Zhou, the others served the dishes and then left.
"Miss Muqing, this is what Lao San and the others hunted in the back mountains just now. We were quite lucky today; we encountered a pheasant not long after.
"Is that so? Then they are truly formidable. Heh heh." Su Muqing forced a smile. She saw them all standing there, the dishes served but no one at the table. Were they not planning to eat?
"This old servant will serve Miss Qing her meal!" Xu Fu stepped forward, picked up the serving chopsticks, and prepared to serve Su Muqing.
"Uncle Xu... Aunt Zhou, please sit down too! Eat with us." Su Muqing couldn't hold back any longer. She stood up and pulled Madam Zhou, insisting they sit and eat together.
"Miss Qing, you must not..."
Xu Fu still wanted to say something. Su Muqing's face fell. She felt it was exhausting to talk to people with such a personality! "Please, all of you, come and sit. Otherwise, I'll leave. If you continue to be this polite, I won't come again."
"This..."
"If that is the case, Elder Xu, then let us also sit. We mustn't displease Miss Muqing over such a small matter." Madam Zhou saw that Su Muqing was truly uncomfortable. She assumed that having grown up in the countryside, she wouldn't be accustomed to their ways, and thus persuaded Xu Fu.
"Then this old servant respectfully accepts your invitation." Xu Fu cupped his hands in a bow, then lifted his robes and sat down opposite Su Muqing. Madam Zhou also took a seat beside her.
The group began eating politely. Su Muqing had already eaten a little before coming, so she only picked at her food.
"Miss Muqing, is it perhaps not to your taste?" Xu Fu, unaware that she had eaten, quickly asked upon seeing her eat so little.
Su Muqing replied, "No, no, it's just that my appetite isn't great in this hot weather. Please, you all eat more."
Seeing that Su Muqing had no appetite, Madam Zhou and Xu Fu also ate a few bites before having Lao San and the others clear away the plates. A lot of the food was left, which they could take down to eat later.
"Oh, is Shao Zhu feeling any better? Why isn't he here to eat with us?" Su Muqing felt it would be impolite to leave immediately after eating, so she thought to make some small talk.
"Our young master's body is currently unable to get out of bed. However, he has improved considerably. This is all thanks to Miss Qing. We will continue to rely on your miraculous medicine in the future." Xu Fu's mood relaxed considerably as he thought about how Huo Qiyuan's deadly poison could be cured.
"That's right, thanks to you, young lady. The first time I met you, I felt we had a special connection. I never imagined you would truly be the destined person Master Zhikong spoke of." Madam Zhou wiped a tear from the corner of her eye, greatly relieved that she had insisted on approaching Su Muqing back then.