As soon as Xia Zhi knew that Tian Kuo had come to find her, she wouldn't just be looking at her and her workshop. Tian Kuo said he needed her help, which sounded like a polite thing to say.

  "What's on your mind, Tian Gongzi? Just tell me." Xia Zhi said with a smile.

  Tian Kuai's expression changed slightly, and a rare hint of embarrassment appeared on his face. However, this expression only flashed for a moment, and he immediately restored his usual smile. This smile was what Xia Zhi privately called "a peach blossom in the face".

  No mistake, Tian Kuang not only has a pair of peach blossom eyes, but also has a peach blossom face. Especially when he smiles, it's really peach blossoms everywhere. The two female workers who just went out were both wives in their thirties, but when they saw Tian Kuang coming over, they all blushed and seemed to be unable to control their own eyes looking at Tian Kuang's face.

  Now Tian Kuo is still dressed as a book boy, if he dresses up as a noble son... the picture is too beautiful and Xia Zhi dare not think about it. So, for Tian Kuo's low-key and politeness, Xia Zhi is quite grateful in her heart. If his eyes didn't wander around, Xia Zhi would be even more grateful to him.

  "Sixteen, the zongzi sold at your house is very delicious. I want to ask you to help me pack some zongzi, and I want you to pack them personally." Tian Kuo no longer spoke in a roundabout way, although his face still had its usual smile, and his tone was still the same as usual, but Xia Zhi could hear a few notes of seriousness.

  Tian Kuai asked her to personally wrap some zongzi, not the large ones she was selling now, but the delicate small zongzi that Li Shanchang liked.

  "I don't want any salty meat, just sweet red bean paste zongzi. And not too many, just enough to fill a small basket." Tian Kuang instructed carefully.

  These requirements are not difficult.

  Summer solstice survey fields boundaries.

  Tian Kuai's face wore a smile, allowing Xia Zhi to scrutinize him. But after a while, even with his thick skin, he couldn't help but feel a little uneasy under the gaze of those girls. The gazes of the big and small girls were all filled with adoration, but Xia Zhi's gaze was one of scrutiny, not letting people feel disgusted, yet equally unbearable. Xia Zhi's gaze seemed to be able to see right through him.

  "Sixteen, you're making me embarrassed just by looking at me, haha." Tian Kuai laughed.

  Xia Zhi didn't get angry with him either, instead she laughed: "Tian Gongzi, are you giving this zongzi to someone?"

  Tian Kuai understood and knew that Xia Zhi must have guessed something. He didn't deny it either. "Yes, Sixteen, will you help with this?"

  "Help." Xia Zhi said with a smile, then she got up to get glutinous rice, red bean paste and zong leaves, wrapped a zongzi in front of Tian Kuo and said, "The zongzi I sell are all tied with cotton thread. For you, I'll use something special, like orchid grass."

  Then she asked Tian Kuo: "Do you know about Horseweed? It's the leaves of that horse flower you bought last time in Linshui Town."

  The leaves of the mallows are dried, and when needed, they are soaked in water to become a very tough string. The dumplings wrapped with this method not only look more elegant but also smell fresher.

  Tian Kuai took a look at the zongzi in Xia Zhi's hand, and his heart was filled with joy. He thought that the zongzi wrapped by Xia Zhi was much more beautiful than those he had given to Li Shanchang.

  "At sixteen, you're indeed considerate of others, no wonder Fenghuang likes you so much." Tian Kuai was delighted and even mentioned Li Xia.

  Xia Zhi faintly asked Tian Kuang a sentence: "...... Is this address told by Li Xia?"

  "Why ask Li Xia?" Tian Kuai replied with a smile.

  It was clear that it wasn't Li Xia who said it. If it were Li Xia, he would have definitely informed me first.

  Tian Kuai asked Xia Zhi again: "Can these zongzi be made well by tomorrow?"

  "It's okay." Xia Zhi replied readily, "I'll go to Wenshan Academy tomorrow morning and deliver it to Tian Gongzi then."

  "Alright, alright." Tian Kuai said repeatedly with a satisfied look, "Sixteen, you take this zongzi over there, I'll have the young servant go get it."

  Xia Zhi guessed that Tian Kuo's zongzi was intended for a certain girl. She was curious, who could it be? If it were Li Xia in front of her, she would have asked. But after all, she wasn't that familiar with Tian Kuo yet.

  Tian Kuai, this guy, actually has a crush on a certain girl.

  Xia Zhi nodded, promising to deliver the zongzi tomorrow morning. Tian Kuai then took out a small piece of silver from his sleeve and gave it to Xia Zhi, saying it was money to buy the zongzi.

  "Not many zongzi, consider them a gift from me to Tian Gongzi." Xia Zhi said.

  "No way, no way. If Fenghuai finds out, she'll definitely be mad at me." Tian Kuo just smiled.

  "Then don't let him know." Xia Zhi also smiled.

  Tian Kuang's eyebrows flew up and he was visibly delighted. "Alright, Sixteen, let's make a deal, don't tell Feng Huang about it."

  The phrase "summer solstice" was originally a polite expression, but after Tian Kuai's embellishment, it seemed to have taken on a somewhat ambiguous meaning. Xia Zhi suddenly became flustered, didn't think twice, and raised his hand to take the small piece of silver.

  Tian Kuai burst out laughing and thought Xia Zhi was very interesting.

  Xia Zhi glared at Tian Kuo with a knife in her hand, but Tian Kuo found it even more amusing and couldn't stop laughing. Xia Zhi was also at a loss for what to do with him. Suddenly, she thought of something and started smiling slyly at Tian Kuo.

  "Is Tian Gongzi and Bing'er doing well?"

  Tian Kuang's laughter came to an abrupt halt. He looked at Xia Zhi with a mixture of surprise and uncertainty, but after a while, he still couldn't read anything from Xia Zhi's face.

  "Sixteen, what are you talking about, Bing'er?" Tian Kuo asked Xia Zhi cautiously.

  "Huh," Xia Zhi's face showed a surprised expression, "So Tian Gongzi has more than one Iceberg younger sister?"

  Tian Kuang's mouth was agape, his tongue tied in knots as he looked at Xia Zhi with a mixture of emotions. There were things he wanted to ask, but couldn't bring himself to. How much did Xia Zhi actually know, and how had she found out?

  Xia Zhi waited for a moment, looking at Tian Kuo's awkward expression was enough, she couldn't help but burst out laughing: "Tian Kuo, don't you dare make fun of me again!"

  The tangled and awkward expression on his face suddenly turned into a smile. On the one hand, he let out a sigh of relief, and on the other hand, he felt apologetic for his previous guesses and misunderstandings about Xia Zhi.

  Xia Zhi and the women around him were different. She was straightforward and would never have those petty calculations and tricks that those women had. No wonder Li Xia liked to be with Xia Zhi so much. But Xia Zhi seemed less affectionate towards him than towards Li Xia. Although he was more popular among girls than Li Xia, why did it not work on Xia Zhi?

  Unwilling to give up, unwilling to give up.

  Thinking so, Tian Kuai's smile towards Xia Zhi became even more radiant. He rushed to Xia Zhi and bowed his fist repeatedly, saying "Sixteen, I'm already lucky if you don't mock me, how would I dare to mock you?"

  "You know that's all. You know I have someone backing me up, right? My uncle and Da Qing, you can't afford to offend them." Xia Zhi said intentionally.

  At this time, coincidentally, little black fish led big green over.

  Tian Kuai nodded repeatedly and exaggeratedly said he was very afraid of Xiao Hei Yu Er and Da Qing.

  Little Black Fish saw Tian Kuai and took Da Qing to talk to him. He also asked Tian Kuai why Li Xia didn't come. In Little Black Fish's eyes, Li Xia was their friend, and Tian Kuai was Li Xia's relative. The reason Tian Kuai came here was naturally because of Li Xia. The distinction between intimacy and distance was already very clear.

  Tian Kuai said that Li Xia had something to attend to and couldn't come with him, then took out two sheets of paper from his sleeve. "My family also needs some zongzi for the festival..."

  Tian Kuai gave Xia Zhi two orders, one for zongzi and the other a silver note, which was the deposit for buying zongzi. Tian Kuai's family was also a wealthy household, and although this order was not as large as Li Xia's, it was still quite impressive.

  He didn't mention Li Xia, but Xia Zhi immediately thought of it, this must be the reason why Li Xia had found him. The order was sent to his doorstep, and Xia Zhi would not push it away. She and Tian Kuo discussed some details and happily accepted the order and deposit.

  Tian Kuai felt that Xia Zhi was getting more and more clever and capable, and it was very comfortable to be with him. He suddenly had an idea: "Sixteen, I think you're working too hard in this workshop, but you don't earn much silver. Why don't you come home with me?"

  A few hundred taels of silver were just a small amount in Tian Kuai's eyes. Xia Zhi understood what he meant, but following him to his home was something else entirely.

  Tian Kuai saw Xia Zhi smile but not smile, and hurriedly explained: "Sixteen, I'm not being presumptuous with you. I think you're clever and capable, so if you come to my house, of course, you'll be treated as a relative. If you're willing, you can help my mother with some chores. As for food, clothing, and daily expenses, my family will naturally take care of them. Moreover, my mother can also give you a monthly allowance."

  Xia Zhi thought about Tian Kuo's suggestion carefully. If she really had some kind of relationship with the Tian family, no matter how distant, and if she was truly desperate outside, then Tian Kuo's suggestion might not be a bad way out.

  But for now, she doesn't want to and doesn't have to take this path.

  "Thank you for your kindness, Tian Gongzi," Xia Zhi said with a smile.

  Tian Kuai looked at Xia Zhi and saw that she was not angry, so he finally put his mind at ease. "Xia Zhi, you come live with me, my mother will definitely like you." It's easy for his family to raise a little girl like Xia Zhi. He said he wanted Xia Zhi to help take care of things because he considered her personality. Xia Zhi is not someone who can easily accept charity from others.

  Tian Kuai's temperament is different from Li Xia's, but when it comes to cleverness, he is not much worse.

  Xia Zhi didn't respond to Tian Kou's words, fearing he would say something unpleasant again. Can't be too nice to Tian Kou, nor can't be too mean to him. This degree is quite difficult to grasp. Tian Kou's temperament is also incurable.

  They saw Tian Kuo off and Xia Zhi and Xiao Hei Yu Er were both very happy.

  "This time we can make a lot of money." Little Black Fish was delighted. Tian Kuo's order is not small either.

  Xia Zhi smiled, beneath Tian Kuang's elegant and refined appearance, he was actually a kind-hearted and considerate young man. This discovery was somewhat unexpected, but it brought her equal delight.

  Li Xia Nai and Tian Kuo's relationship is so good, it shouldn't just be because of their blood ties. As the saying goes, "birds of a feather flock together", the words left behind by our ancestors are indeed reasonable.

  ……

  The next day, Xia Zhi got up early and had her champion rice dumpling stall set up outside the Wenshan Academy by breakfast time. Today's stall was different from yesterday's, not only were the flags changed to new ones, but the stall was also expanded.

  Xia Zhi brought two wives over to sell zongzi and also added a stove to the stall, so that customers can buy hot zongzi whenever they come.

  With yesterday's warm-up, more and more people came to buy zongzi today. The masters and students of Wenshan Academy had one more option for breakfast.

  Tian Kuo's little book arrived quickly. Xia Zhi gave the well-packaged zongzi to Xiao Song in a delicate willow-woven basket. She even had the basket prepared for Tian Kuo. On Xishi Street, many artisans set up stalls, and this willow-woven basket was originally a flower basket, but its unique style caught Xia Zhi's eye.

  When entrusted by others, be faithful to the end. Alternatively, the customer is God. Xia Zhi guessed Tian Kuo's intention and was very considerate of him.

  Komatetsu walked away with a happy face, and soon after, Li Xia came again.

  Xia Zhi then took out a basket of zongzi and handed it to Li Xia, telling him: "I made them myself." They were also wrapped in papyrus leaves, with white, sweet, and salty zongzi, distinguished by different knots.

  Xia Zhi spent the whole night making zongzi for Tian Kuai, and also didn't forget Li Xia.

  Li Xia smiled and accepted the zongzi. Seeing that there were two more wives on the stall, he asked Xia Zhi: "Sixteen, will you and Lao Shu stay here forever?"

  "No." Xia Zhi shook her head and told Li Xia. She and Xiao Hei Yu came over just to tell the customers that yesterday's champion zongzi and today's champion zongzi were from the same family. Since they had already hired people to sell zongzi, she and Xiao Hei Yu wouldn't stay here for long. "There are still many things in the workshop."

  Moreover, she also had to take care of setting up stalls on Xishi Street and Dongshi Street.

  Xia Zhi also told Li Xia about the order and deposit. Li Xia's face showed a surprised expression: "He won't miss out on good things, this is after tasting the champion zongzi."

  It seems that Tiantuo sending the order has nothing to do with him.

  Xia Zhi smiled and didn't expose Li Xia.

  However, I heard that Tian Kuo went to find Xia Zhi himself, without even bringing a servant. Li Xia also reminded Xia Zhi of two things: "Sweet melon is sometimes...that...boring. Sixteen, when he says something serious you should listen. If he talks nonsense don't pay attention to him, just let Big Green bite him. If he gets bitten badly, I'll take care of it."

  In short, he instructed Xia Zhi not to be polite to Tian Kuai.

  Summer solstice couldn't help but laugh, nodding repeatedly.

  Li Xia was not very reassured. After all, Xia Zhi was still too young, and although clever, he was likely to be confused about many things. So, following the principle of "it's better to err on the side of caution", he instructed Xia Zhi: "No matter what he says, if you don't understand it or feel uncomfortable after listening, just bite him with your big green teeth."

  Dà qīng heard Lǐ Xià say his name, and he walked over with his tongue hanging out, circling around Lǐ Xià's legs. Lǐ Xià squatted down and hugged Dà qīng's head, talking to him. Nowadays, Dà qīng and Lǐ Xià are already familiar, and he is very affectionate towards Lǐ Xià.

  Not far away, Li Shan stood at the entrance of Wenshan Academy with his hands behind his back, looking towards the Zhuanzi stall. He narrowed his eyes and his gaze slowly fell from the banner of Zhuanzi to Li Xia who was holding a big green melon, then he turned around and walked back slowly.

  Li Xia returned to the academy and was immediately summoned by Li Shan Chang to his own quarters.

  "Feng Huang Er," Li Shan wrote slowly, without lifting his head to look at Li Xia, "are you going to produce a real champion? Otherwise, that signboard will be a misnomer."

  (。)