Cao Xiugo looked strangely at this girl who was not quite family but seemed more like it.

"In Japan, I entrusted her to Jiang Chen's care. She's been there for a while, and although she hasn't picked up much else, her talking skills have certainly improved."

Cao Jinse said.

Cao Xiugo suddenly understood.

Previously, Youmao was quite lively too, but she couldn't speak with such confidence.

"It's been hard taking care of your lady outside, come on, eat more."

Cao Xiugo moved a big chunk of pork leg into Youmao's bowl.

Youmao didn't mind, she smiled sweetly, "Thank you, young master."

"Brother, she really should eat less, look how much weight she's put on, her face is rounder..."

"Girls look cuter when they're a bit round."

No wonder he's the most popular teacher.

He's indeed well-deserved of his reputation.

Cao Jinse, feeling helpless, watched her older brother smiling at Youmao, and could only pick up her chopsticks.

"When is Jiang Chen coming back?"

Cao Xiugo picked up a piece of lettuce.

Indeed, people's pursuits are quite different.

Some pursue wealth and status.

Yet others only want three meals a day,

"Not sure, it's not like you don't have his number."

Cao Xiugo smiled, "National heroes truly are different, the tone is quite brash."

"Brother, can you not make fun of me, I was in jail for so long, how can I be called a hero?"

"The process doesn't matter, what's important is the result. After so many years, at least you had a chance to be proud."

"I just know I'm merely a tool."

Cao Xiugo suddenly fell silent.

Cao Jinse looked up, placing a wrapped piece of roast duck into her brother's bowl, "What's wrong?"

"Are you worried about something?"

"No."

Cao Jinse immediately denied.

"If something's up, tell me, let your brother guide you. Even if I can't help, there are always the psychology teachers at Kyoto University, I can contact them for you."

Cao Jinse couldn't help laughing, "Brother, can you stop teasing me, do I really seem like I have issues?"

Cao Xiugo scrutinized her, "There's something a bit different about you from the Cao Jinse I know."

"What's different? Am I fatter or thinner? Lighter or darker?"

"My sister used to be always ambitious, full of spirit, her eyes always sparkling."

Cao Jinse was slightly stunned, then smiled, "Really?"

"Why don't you ask Youmao."

Cao Jinse tilted her head.

"Yes, the young master's right."

Youmao nodded repeatedly, her mouth greasy, one hand holding a pork foot, the other holding chopsticks picking her favorite carrot slices, she probably didn't hear what Cao Xiugo even said.

"I just suddenly feel that there's no need to fight so hard."

Cao Jinse stirred the rice grains in her bowl.

"Why?"

Cao Xiugo listened intently.

"Before, I thought this world couldn't do without me, so in everything, I wanted to do my best, to the extreme, but now I realize, there are many, many others also striving."

"So you think, the burden is shared, and there's no need to be so tired anymore?"

Cao Xiugo helped summarize.

Cao Jinse said nothing.

"Looks like your gains in Japan are indeed substantial."

Cao Jinse looked at him, "Brother, so have you always thought like this?"

Cao the teacher, quietly teaching away from the limelight, put down his chopsticks, leaning against the evening glow.

"This world isn't as good as imagined, nor as bad. If you've ever interacted with those students, you'll find many of them harbor similar dreams."

"No matter how unique or different your ideals may be, you need to know, someone will always share the same dreams."

"Like names?"

Cao Xiugo nodded with a smile, "Yes, like names."

Cao Jinse picked up a clump of rice and put it in her mouth, "Since brother said so, I can't be called lazy in the future."

"When did I ever say that about you."

Cao Xiugo laughed, "Even if you get married now, I wouldn't say a word."

"Married? To whom? Who would marry me?"

Cao Xiugo was indeed an unusual brother, he replied, "There are quite a few people who'd want to marry you. You've got wealth if you want, looks if you want, plus a scholarly family background and an excellent character, in today's young people's words, you're a 'rich flower of the human world'..."

Cao Jinse almost spat out the rice she was chewing.

"A rich flower of the human world, brother, where did you learn those words? How come you're becoming more and more like Jiang Chen..."

"More and more fashionable, right."

Cao Jinse smiled warmly, putting down her chopsticks, "I can't take it anymore, I need to rest for a bit."

"Seems like I came at just the right time."

A bright, cheerful voice suddenly came through.

Cao Xiugo, who was chatting and joking with his sister, quickly stood up.

"Uncle Sui."

Cao Jinse turned her head and then followed suit, "Uncle Sui."

As she stood up, she secretly kicked Youmao's chair with her foot, but Youmao was still devouring the food.

"Why are you all standing up? Sit down, well, Peking duck from Kyoto, not bad at all. No wonder that girl Cao had to sneak back."

"Uncle Sui, have you eaten?"

Sui Huimin smiled brightly, "Not yet."

"Uncle Sui, you can take my seat, I'll go get a bowl and chopsticks."

Alright.

One more pair of chopsticks.

Luckily, Cao Jinse bought some groceries, otherwise, with just the few vegetarian dishes Cao Xiugo cooked, it wouldn't have been enough.

"Xiugo, it's been a while since we had a meal together, how about a drink?"

Sui Huimin was in good spirits and without airs, sitting around the courtyard of the Cao Residence with the siblings.

"I'll go get the wine."

"No need, I brought some."

As he spoke, Sui Huimin gestured, and the soldier waiting in the distance quickly retrieved a bottle of tribute wine from the car.

"Uncle Sui, you came specifically to freeload a meal, didn't you?"

Cao Jinse couldn't help but say.

"Who said that? I heard the girl Cao was suddenly missing midway, so I came to see what's up. Even though you did a great job this time, you can't just do whatever you want."

"Uncle Sui, since I got back, I haven't stopped, one meeting after another, one social event after another. Today is the first meal I'm actually having with my brother."

"Look at that, it's all to celebrate you and recognize your achievements, and yet you're complaining."

"No, just can these activities be a bit less frequent in the future?"

Cao Jinse asked coquettishly.

"That's something your Uncle Sui can't agree to because I have no say in that."

Without having the soldier do it, Cao Xiugo opened the wine and poured some into everyone's cups.

Sui Huimin picked up his wine glass, looked at the ancient courtyard, and without saying a word, turned the glass upside down, and slowly poured the first cup of wine onto the ground beneath his feet.

The invaluable wine soaked into the earth.

"I'll do it myself."

Sui Huimin refilled his empty glass, "Cao girl, do you want some as well?"

Cao Jinse shook her head immediately.

Sui Huimin smiled, not forcing it, and clinked glasses with Cao Xiugo.

"These dishes are Xiugo's handiwork, aren't they?"

Sui Huimin's gaze fell on the plates of vegetarian dishes.

"I'll go fry some peanuts."

Peanuts pair well with alcohol.

Yeah.

He knows how to host guests.

"That's enough, these dishes are quite good."

Sui Huimin picked up a snow pea, chewed it slowly, and then praised, "As good as any old chef's dish."

"Uncle Sui, you're exaggerating. My brother learned to cook from me, after all."

"Cao girl, stop bragging. Your brother is older than you, by far."

"But he's not as good as me at cooking. There's no hierarchy in learning; the one who excels becomes the teacher."

Sui Huimin was momentarily speechless, pointing and laughing at Cao Jinse, but said nothing.

The meal went on until the sun completely set.

Winter was settling in.

The temperature in Kyoto was quite cold.

The dishes had gone cold as well, but there wasn't much left.

A bottle of special tribute wine was also finished by the two men of different generations.

Sui Huimin seemed unsatisfied, having not discussed any official business from start to finish, and draped in the coat brought over by the soldier, he only mentioned in passing as he was leaving.

"No need to see me out. Let's drink again next time. Get that boy Jiang Chen on board too."

Several figures walked out of the courtyard into the night.

"Miss, why do you all keep mentioning Jiang Chen?"

Having done the most to clear the food, Youmao asked, puzzled.

"Did I?"

"Miss, you mentioned him the most."

Youmao answered earnestly.

Cao Xiugo smiled broadly while tidying up.

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