"Hello, I'm Li Linlin. Are you Su Xiaotian? May I call you Xiaotian?"
"Of course, Sister Linlin. We didn't eat well on the train, and we're all hungry."
Su Xiaotian could tell that Li Linlin was introverted, so she took the initiative to start a conversation.
Hearing Su Xiaotian say she was hungry, Li Linlin busied herself with seating everyone.
In the small living room, there was a wooden table laden with various dishes. Although they were all home-style dishes, they were undoubtedly excellent in color, aroma, and taste.
"Please sit down quickly. There's still a soup in the kitchen, and the meal will be complete once it's served," Linlin said, her face flushed, gesturing for everyone to sit.
Su Shouwen looked at the young girl's flushed face and felt a strange warmth.
His gaze followed Li Linlin's retreating figure.
Su Xiaotian noticed something, a faint smile playing on her lips.
Li Linlin soon returned with a pot of soup and placed it on the table.
"Everyone, please eat quickly. You must not have eaten well these past few days on the train," Li Linlin said with a bright smile.
"Sister Linlin, you sit down too." Su Xiaotian saw that her elder brother's gaze was completely fixed on Li Linlin, so she stood up and pulled Li Linlin to sit down.
It was unclear whether Su Xiaotian did this intentionally or not.
In any case, she arranged for Li Linlin to sit next to her elder brother.
At this, Su Xiaotian could visibly see Su Shouwen blush.
This elder brother, who hadn't dated anyone even in college, was apparently waiting for this moment.
It was just that Linlin was from Rongcheng, and she might not be willing to follow her elder brother to the capital, which was a troublesome matter.
However, it didn't matter. As long as the two had feelings for each other, what was distance?
Su Xiaotian pondered this, and began to probe with her words.
"Sister Linlin, your health doesn't seem very good."
Upon hearing Su Xiaotian's question, a fleeting sadness crossed Li Linlin's face.
"I had an illness when I was young, and it wasn't treated in time. I never fully recovered, and I would get sick at the slightest change in weather. I've been recuperating better recently," Li Mumu said.
When he spoke of his sister's illness, he became quite melancholic, but what could he do?
It was a chronic condition. The doctor said it couldn't be cured quickly and required long-term care.
Their previous living conditions were too poor, which led to the worsening of her condition. If their conditions had been better back then, perhaps it wouldn't have turned out this way.
Ultimately, it was his inadequacy, failing his sister, and also failing their father and mother who had left them too early.
"I have some knowledge of medicine. How about I take a look at Sister Linlin after dinner?" Su Xiaotian, unusually proactive, offered.
Su Xiaotian's brothers and Chi Yiyuan found it very strange.
Su Xiaotian was not someone who would proactively take on tasks. Why was she offering to see Li Linlin this time?
Could it be that Li Linlin was truly destined to be with Xiaotian?
Chi Yiyuan looked at Su Xiaotian, then at Li Linlin, but couldn't discern anything.
Su Xiaotian smiled gently at Li Linlin.
Li Linlin didn't actually believe Su Xiaotian could treat illnesses. After all, for such a young girl to claim to know medicine, most people wouldn't believe her.
But for some reason, looking at Su Xiaotian's smile, Li Linlin, as if possessed, nodded in agreement.
"Alright, you can take a look at me later. Perhaps there's a way!"
Li Mumu wanted to object. He truly didn't believe Su Xiaotian knew medicine, but since his sister had agreed, he could only go along with her wishes.
Su Xiaotian said with a smile, "Sister Linlin, don't worry, my medical skills are actually quite good. I've seen several people before!"
Hearing Su Xiaotian say this, Li Mumu suddenly regretted agreeing. A young girl who had only seen a few patients claimed her medical skills were good; how could he possibly believe that?
However, Li Mumu knew their current situation and that he couldn't offend the Su family.
He knew how much the Su family doted on their sister, Su Xiaotian.
At most, after Su Xiaotian prescribed medicine, he would just not give it to his sister.
Li Mumu made up his mind and stopped objecting.
"Sister Linlin, your cooking is really excellent, you could be a master chef!" With the matter settled, Su Xiaotian's mind was at ease, and she began to eat.
After taking just one bite of a dish, she immediately praised it.
She had eaten Li Linlin's steamed buns before, but she hadn't expected Li Linlin's cooking to be so delicious.
The others, hearing Su Xiaotian's astonished tone, also became interested, and for a moment, they forgot about Su Xiaotian's intention to see Li Linlin.
Su Shouwen and the others picked up their chopsticks and began to eat.
Indeed, even though they were accustomed to Grandma Su's cooking, they didn't find Li Linlin's skills lacking in any way.
"Sister Linlin, did you learn to cook?" Su Xiaotian asked again.
Li Linlin nodded, "There was a kind auntie next door who was a great cook, and I learned from her for a few years. But then the auntie left."
When she said this, Li Linlin was still regretful.
She was very attached to the auntie, not only considering her a neighbor but also treating her like a mother.
Unfortunately, the auntie had said she was leaving for a while but never returned. She didn't know if she was still alive.
Su Xiaotian saw the sadness in Li Linlin's eyes.
"Sister Linlin, that's how fate works. If you are truly destined, you will meet again someday. If you are not destined... then let everything remain in your heart!"
Having lived through those times, Su Xiaotian was truly unsure if the auntie Li Linlin spoke of was still alive. Perhaps she was no longer with them.
However, Su Xiaotian couldn't bring herself to say such things.
She could feel the affection Li Linlin had for the auntie.
She didn't want this kind girl to lose the last glimmer of hope in her heart.
"You're right, I can actually accept it." Li Linlin forced a smile.
Some people and some things are destined to be lost.
"Linlin, you can come to the capital with us and learn cooking from my grandmother."
Su Xiaotian began to try her best to entice Li Linlin.
If she could successfully lure Li Linlin to the capital, her elder brother's lifelong happiness might be resolved.
Li Linlin smiled and shook her head, "I'm from Rongcheng, how could I go to the capital?"
Rongcheng had her brother, her only remaining family in this world. How could she leave?
Although she had anticipated this outcome, Su Xiaotian still felt a bit disappointed.
"That's truly a shame. My grandmother was looking for an apprentice to pass on her skills," Su Xiaotian said. "My grandmother's cooking is truly excellent, and your talent is also good. If you could receive my grandmother's tutelage, you would surely achieve great things!"
Su Xiaotian's eloquent words made Li Linlin somewhat tempted.
She did indeed enjoy delving into cooking.