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By the time she had prepared the fish and vegetables, the inviting aroma of fish soup was wafting from the pot. Lin Yuan washed a few sprigs of cilantro and chopped them finely, ready to sprinkle them over the top as soon as the fish soup was off the stove.
Just as the lid was lifted, fragrance mixed with steam rushed to their faces, and the three sisters gathered around the stove couldn't help but salivate. Lin Yuan, spoon in hand, was about to ladle out some soup when suddenly an irritating voice rang out from the courtyard.
"Wow, so fragrant, so fragrant! Just by the smell, you know I, the old fellow, have come to the right place! Hey, little girl, come on out! Little girl!"
Lin Yuan's hand trembled with the spoon, annoyed by the persistent old man. The timing couldn't have been worse, not too early nor too late, but precisely when she was about to serve the soup!
Humph, no matter what, this soup was for her mother's nourishment, and she wouldn't let anyone else have it!