Stepping out of the main room and strolling slowly along the corridor, Yi Roujing felt as if she had leapt into a painting, with a faint floral scent filling her nostrils, lifting her spirits.

The sunlight was just right, half of the pavilion was in the sun, and the carvings on the stone table and stone stool were also of lotus flowers. It seemed that Mrs. Tong was a person who loved lotuses.

The pavilion was situated atop a rockery, and sitting inside, one could take in the full view of the lotus pond. It turned out there were fish swimming freely in the pond, and fish food was placed on the long stone bench along the pavilion’s inner wall.

"Have a seat. The tea is just right now, you’ve come at a good time," Elder Tong fanned his hand and smelled the tea aroma from the lid of the cup. As he tilted the lid slightly, fragrant tea water seeped through the fine seam, and after pouring a cup, Elder Tong handed it to Yi Roujing first.

"Thank you." Yi Roujing took the cup with both hands and only lowered her head to taste the tea after Elder Tong poured himself a cup. She was no stranger to good tea, "Liu’an Guapian?"

A gentle light flashed in Elder Tong’s eyes, "Hmm, in this regard, you’re a bit better than that boy Ancheng. Although he drinks tea, he doesn’t actually taste it; he just knows if it’s good or not, whether it’s astringent, but he can’t distinguish the type of tea leaf. You, however, can. Have you had it before?"

"Could there be such good tea in the countryside?" Elder Tong asked somewhat doubtfully.

"How could there be?" Yi Roujing replied with a smile, "It’s just that I like to eat, and after tasting something once, I remember it. I drank this tea once at a friend’s place."

"But this, when tasted, is more fragrant and mellow here at your place, Elder Tong," Yi Roujing complimented.

"Good taste." Elder Tong smiled, "Wait, let me get you some snacks to go with the tea for you to try."

Having said that, Elder Tong got up and walked toward the room on the far left, and when he returned, he was carrying a tray.

Yi Roujing quickly got up to help.

"I don’t need you; am I already so old that I need help?" Elder Tong waved his hand, insisting on carrying it himself.

Once the dishes on the tray were set out, Yi Roujing looked at the exquisite pastries with surprise in her eyes, "So beautiful."

One was a beautiful lotus pastry, with gradient pink hues like a lotus, exquisitely made; the other was similar to modern cream piping.

"This is butter snail," Elder Tong said, "Haven’t seen it, have you? In ancient times, only nobles could eat this. Try it; this kind of sweet dessert with fragrant tea has a unique flavor."

Butter snail! Yi Roujing was somewhat taken aback. She had heard of it but was seeing the real thing for the first time, unexpectedly like this. Using a small spoon, she scooped one up, finding the taste delicious and melting in the mouth, similar to cheese.

The lotus pastry had a crispy crust, with a fragrant and sweet jujube paste filling that was neither too sweet nor greasy, making it very palatable. Yi Roujing couldn’t resist, and almost all the pastries ended up in her stomach.

After finishing, she looked up to meet Elder Tong’s smiling eyes, but it was only for a moment before Elder Tong’s gaze turned disdainful, "Indeed from the countryside, never seen good things. If you come again, I’ll still entertain you to try more."

Yi Roujing heard this and smiled, "Then I’ll have to trouble you often in the future."

"Oh, let’s just say I’m doing a good deed. By the way, there’s some left in the kitchen, and I’ll pack some for you to bring back for the Baozi to taste, and the rest you can eat," Elder Tong said, getting up and heading towards the kitchen once more.

As he walked away, his figure seemed to carry a lightness, truly like an old child, Yi Roujing thought.

What Elder Tong brought out was, true to his unique style, a wooden food box, not an aluminum lunchbox, "Here, take it home. Three days later, on the 25th of June, I’ll visit Beiluo Lane."

"Is there anything Elder Tong particularly likes to eat?" Yi Roujing asked with a smile.

"I’m a bit picky, don’t eat pig offal, the rest is fine," Elder Tong replied.

"Then I’ll head back today."

"Go on, go on." Elder Tong sent Yi Roujing to the door, and before she could say goodbye again, he closed the door directly.

Yi Roujing looked at the closed door and laughed out loud.

Inside, Elder Tong, having certainly heard the laughter, also curled his lips slightly, muttering to himself, "Not too bad, no wonder that boy Ancheng got married."

Yi Roujing, carrying the food box, went straight to Beiluo Lane, where she had been eating with Xu Ancheng these past few days.

"You’re back, Aunt!" Mantou greeted enthusiastically as Yi Roujing walked in, "What’s that box in your hand, Aunt?"

"It’s pastries. Call your brother and sister, let’s eat in the yard," Yi Roujing said, and Mantou dashed excitedly to call for everyone.

"Mom, an old gentleman is coming this Sunday for dinner," Yi Roujing informed Li Hongying about Elder Tong.

"I understand, don’t worry. I’ve noted it down," Li Hongying assured her.

The kids were waiting at the square table in the yard. Yi Roujing placed the food box down and opened it. The interior was structured like a steamer, with three compartments. The top level held eight lotus pastries, the second had ten butter snails, and the bottom wasn’t food but a long box. Curiously, Yi Roujing picked it up and opened it, discovering a jade green hairpin with a lotus design.

This was too precious. Carefully, Yi Roujing closed it back, distributed the pastries to the kids, then went to her room to put the box away.

When Xu Ancheng returned, Yi Roujing took him to their room and showed him the hairpin, "Elder Tong put it in the food box."

Xu Ancheng looked a bit exasperated, "That old man is just like that. If he gives it, just take it."

Curious, Yi Roujing asked, "Who is that old gentleman? Today I saw his residence, and it’s not something the average person could arrange. And the pastries he provided aren’t something ordinary people could make, not to mention such a precious piece of jewelry."

"Elder Tong is Manchurian, a descendant of the Qing Dynasty imperial family," Xu Ancheng said, "The old man was born into nobility, but didn’t enjoy many years of wealth before the Great Qing ended. He was well-taught from childhood, believing that body, hair, and skin are gifts from parents. He didn’t cut his hair and always kept a queue; it was fine before, but in special times, it became conspicuous."

"The old gentleman also has a stubborn temperament; he’s soft-hearted but not hard-hearted. Back then, he was forcibly shaved and since then always wore a hat."

"I met the old man during a time of trouble. I was attending university in Jing City and happened to help him when he was in need, paying for his hospital stay during a critical illness and caring for him until discharge. Afterward, we kept in touch through letters."

"The house’s current state was also renovated in recent years, with workers I found. The old man never married and has no relatives left. Stubborn, he doesn’t like socializing, although he has kept plenty of good things hidden. Back then, he couldn’t show them, so I helped him connect with people to make jewelry. The elder has skillful hands, and in this field, there’s no one in the vast Jing City that can match him," Xu Ancheng said with a smile.