Gu Xinzhou returned downstairs.
She walked to the car, but discovered there was no one inside.
After dialing Cassie's number, she asked, "Where are you and McDull?"
"Are you done talking with Grandma?" Cassie hadn't expected Gu Xinzhou to be so quick, her voice tinged with anxiety, "McDull woke up just now and didn't want to eat the hamburgers packed from the hotel.
I was afraid he'd get too hungry, so I took him for a walk nearby and found a Shaxian snacks place. We're eating steamed dumplings and wontons."
Shaxian snacks?
Gu Xinzhou, having lived in Italy for a long time, suddenly swallowed hard.
"Send me your location."
"Okay."
Nobody here recognized Gu Xinzhou, nor did they recognize Cassie and McDull.
The town was recently promoting tourism with "agritainment" as its theme, so it was common for out-of-towners to visit, and their presence didn't seem too unusual.
Under the warm sunlight, ordinary small shops had set up little stalls outside.
A sign hung at the entrance of one shop, listing: Wontons 6 yuan, Steamed Dumplings 8 yuan, Spare Rib Noodle Soup 15...
Cassie and McDull were seated in front of a simple table, perched on low little stools.
Seeing Gu Xinzhou approach, Cassie's eyes lit up, her lips curving into a sweet smile.
But her expression tensed upon noticing the slight redness around Gu Xinzhou's eyes.
"Mommy!" McDull waved his little hands joyfully, wearing Cassie's oversized coat, his handsome little face drawing attention, "This is so delicious! Better than anything I've ever eaten!"
A serene smile spread across Gu Xinzhou's face.
She walked over joyfully and took a seat at their table, "Boss, one bowl of black chicken noodle soup! And another steamer of dumplings, please!"
She gazed at McDull with affection.
She saw McDull's chubby little hands gripping a spoon, cautiously scooping up half a steamed dumpling to his mouth.
"Is it tasty?" her voice was very gentle, "Mommy ate this when she was very small, with Grandpa and Grandma."
Later on, her grandpa passed away, and life at home became difficult.
After that, she was taken to City B, becoming a lady of a wealthy family, never again having the chance to eat such simple local snacks.
McDull nodded vigorously, "Extremely delicious! I want to eat it every day! So Mommy ate such delicious food when you were little? You were truly so lucky!"
Gu Xinzhou's smile grew sweeter, "Yes, Mommy was very happy when she was little."
Cassie silently looked after them, and once they had finished eating, Gu Xinzhou even packed up a pancake and some fried rice noodles from the neighboring snack shop, saying she wanted to take them with her.
Cassie smiled indulgently, "If you like it, I can learn to make it!"
He took McDull by the hand, his crystal-clear eyes filled with earnest promises, his gaze on her intense and serious.
As if all she had to do was nod, and he'd be ready to stay and learn the craft on the spot.
Gu Xinzhou knew that Cassie had always been a warmhearted man.
Such a wonderful man as Cassie deserved a better girl.
She explained with a smile, "Occasionally eating it makes it taste like Fairy delicacies.
But eating it every day, even the tastiest food would become dull.
It's better to let things happen naturally, to keep a bit of longing for it."
After their meal, the trio got into the car.
This time, Gu Xinzhou accompanied McDull in the back seat.
After Cassie buckled the seat belt, he hesitated, "Should we go and pay our respects at your aunt's grave? I saw there was a flower shop in town."
A pang hit Gu Xinzhou's heart, "My mother doesn't have a grave."
"What?" Cassie was startled!
Gazing out the window, Gu Xinzhou's eyes revealed a mix of resilience and regret, "My mother's will was to have her ashes scattered in a beautiful place after cremation.
So my mother doesn't have a grave, and I've never seen her, either."