A Young Woman's Heart

"Ali, take a picture of this one, it's beautiful, there are flower buds!"

"Here you go, all smiles, but don't grin so wide, smile a little tighter, hey, hey, hey, hey—"

The father's entire posture was contorted in an odd way, just to find the right angle to capture this moment.

"How about it?"

“No problem, you’re more beautiful than spring.” The father immediately gave a thumbs up. “We’ll see when you wash them.”

"What, are you drinking honey today?"

"What do you mean? I've been smearing honey on my lips every day."

Mo Xueyao drooped her eyelids as she watched the middle-aged 'couple' flirting with each other like young people, completely ignoring their two children as if they were superfluous ornaments.

……

(two)

A stone slab bridge spans the lake, where many pedestrians sit. Mo Xueyao's light footsteps make the bridge surface clatter.

This is the sound that can only be made when wearing these thick-soled leather shoes.

"Mom and Dad, can you hurry up? You're both so slow!"

"What's wrong with you? When you're out for a stroll, you should take your time, understand?"

"Then Wanyan and I are going to see the Fish Viewing at Flower Harbor!"

"Impatient little brat, alright, here are your tickets. Wait for us over there, we'll be there in a bit."

"Oh! Mom, where are the sweet potato chips? I want to eat them! And the pork floss bread too!"

"Take it, take it too, and take this chocolate-filled bread as well."

"I don't like eating this."

"Yan Yan likes to eat."

"Huh? It's so sweet."

Li Wanyan placed her hands together in front of her lower abdomen, turned her face away, and coughed softly.

Having received the snacks, Mo Xueyao waved to Li Wanyan and shouted excitedly, "Let's go, Wanyan!"

The so-called "fish-watching" is actually a large pond surrounded by a railing, which is either made of stone or cement and is decorated with various fish and lotus patterns.

A number of tourists had already gathered around, and several large, fat cats were also watching from the sidelines.

Carp are not all pure red; some are pure white, like a little dragon swimming freely in the water.

But more often, there are carp with a red base color and white spots, which look like their color has faded.

“That red and white one looks a lot like the clothes Yaoyao wore today.” Li Wanyan stood close to the railing with her and pointed to a round carp.

It was a red and white carp, but the color patches were evenly distributed, making it stand out among a large group of carp.

"Oh, the red and white ones are quite pretty too." Mo Xueyao really wanted to reach out and touch them, but unfortunately, it was too high up here, and she obviously couldn't reach them.

The pond wasn't actually that small, but a large group of carp gathered in one spot.

—That is, places where tourists feed the animals.

The crumbs of cookies and bread are the food they fight over, and if a larger piece falls, it will surely create a series of splashes and ripples.

Seating is provided next to the railings for visitors to enjoy the view.

Mo Xueyao and Li Wanyan found a quiet corner and patted the dirty-looking stone bench.

There was actually no dust on my hands; they just felt dirty because the stone looked rough.

Of course, it would be better to use newspaper as a mat if you have it.

Since she was wearing new clothes, Li Wanyan seemed a little hesitant. By the time she took out a napkin from her pocket and placed it on the stool, Mo Xueyao had already plopped down on it.

She was opening a bag of pork floss bread, but because she had just cut her nails, she couldn't peel off the tape.

"Ah, Wanyan, please help!"

Li Wanyan naturally took the packaging bag handed to her, gently pried open the single-sided tape with her thumbnail, and then handed the bread back.

This is a discounted bread I bought at the supermarket before the New Year.

The meat floss filling is generous, and with each bite, you can taste the rich, fragrant cream—or rather, not cream, but a creamy condiment.

Mo Xueyao wasn't sure what it was, but it would definitely make the bread taste better.

Theoretically speaking, this bread should have just passed its expiration date, but because it was sealed and kept in the refrigerator, it was only one day past its expiration date, so there was no problem at all.

As long as it doesn't taste sour, it's fine.

In this day and age, people aren't so sensitive or particular about things like expiration dates.

When it comes to food, it's always best to avoid wasting it if possible.

"You're very ladylike today." Li Wanyan glanced at Mo Xueyao, who was catching bread crumbs with her hands, and gently rubbed the corners of her mouth with her side teeth.

"what?"

"Ok?"

"Oh, well, I just wanted to catch the scraps and then throw them in to feed the fish."

Li Wanyan covered her mouth with the back of her hand, her eyes crinkling with a smile: "Just as I thought."

……

(three)

"Carp, carp, come here~! Ah, that one's coming over here!" Mo Xueyao pointed excitedly at the fish that Li Wanyan had said looked a lot like her.

Besides red and white, there are also red and black.

Of course, there are also pure black ones, but they look no different from ordinary fish that are killed and eaten.

Mo Xueyao scattered the bread crumbs little by little with her small hands, which caused a scramble to grab them.

These carp look like they've been fed very well; each one looks like a balloon, or a carp streamer billowing in the wind.

"Why does Yaoyao like carp so much?"

"Like? Uh... I wouldn't say I particularly like them. I used to keep goldfish when I was little because my family didn't allow pets, so goldfish were the best choice. All you need is a fish tank, and they don't take up much space. Back then, I would always buy a few. The shopkeepers would fill plastic bags with water and then put the fish in. But how should I put it?" Mo Xueyao tilted her head, and the red bow on her head swayed. "Anyway, I never kept any of them for more than half a month. I stopped keeping them later, but I still think the brightly colored fish are quite interesting."

So I guess I still like it.

"Ah, no, no, it's not that I like it, it's just... I'm interested in it? If I had to watch it for an hour, or watch it every day, I would definitely get tired of it by now."

"It's been a long time since I've been here. There's an entrance fee here, so of course I have to see them. And then—it's the New Year, and carp represent good luck, right? You can make a wish when you feed them."

"Do you have any wishes?"

"There are too many, so I'm too lazy to make any more." Mo Xueyao lazily squinted her eyes, clapped her hands vigorously to get the last crumbs into the water, then turned around, opened the bag of pistachios and started eating.

When she goes out to play, Mo Xueyao can't help but eat something.

As long as there's food in your mouth, even the most ordinary scenery around you becomes delicious... no, wonderful.

However, if scenery is said to be picturesque, then why can't scenery be as delicious as food?

Therefore, it is logical for Mo Xueyao to feel that the food is delicious.

……

(four)

"Mom and Dad, you're so slow."

"I'm too old to compare with you young people who walk so fast."

"Tch, you can't think you're old already," Mo Xueyao said jokingly. "Who knows, you might even give me a little sister someday?"

"Hahaha, two daughters are enough, any more and I'll be exhausted!" The father laughed loudly, rubbing Mo Xueyao's head vigorously, turning her once beautiful long hair into a messy bird's nest.

"Mom—" Mo Xueyao immediately called out to her mother in dissatisfaction, "Dad messed up my hair again, he's so annoying!"

"Hahaha—" Not only did the father fail to recognize his 'mistake,' he couldn't help but laugh loudly while snapping several photos, making one worry he might laugh himself to death. "Like, like bristling quills... Haha, a hedgehog, hahaha—"

"Let me help Yaoyao comb her hair." Li Wanyan took out a folding mirror from her pocket. In the mirror was a small comb, which looked like the kind of comb children use to play house.

"Fine." Mo Xueyao swung her legs and glared at her father. "Dad, stay away from me. It was fine when I had short hair, but now that my hair is so long, do you know how much trouble it is to manage?"

"Hahahaha—" The father laughed even louder, his back bending backward as he laughed, then he hissed and clutched his lower back, "Ouch... my back... I've hurt my back..."

"Tch, serves you right for laughing." Mo Xueyao looked on with a smug expression as he watched his father, supporting his back, limp to a chair and sit down. His mother, suppressing her laughter, massaged his back a few times, causing him to scream in pain, which startled the carp near the shore, causing them to scatter again.

"Ah, Dad has driven away all the good luck."

"What do you mean by that?"

"We'll go to Shangtianzhu later." The mother ignored the man who was clutching his waist and looking dejected, and turned to Mo Xueyao and Li Wanyan.

"Why would you go to India?"

"Since we're already here, we might as well stop by; it's not far."

"Tsk, this is so troublesome."

"Go and offer incense, and ask Buddha to bless you with good fortune."

"Buddha is really busy." Mo Xueyao's maternal grandmother's family is Buddhist, and her mother is also somewhat Buddhist, but it doesn't usually show.

—I guess he only looks like a Buddhist believer when he needs something from it.

"It's better to go to church."

"Why go to church? It's not our native religion."

"If we trace it back to its origins, it's not Buddhism either, but churches are much more fun than temples, and they have snacks and toys... Ah, I'm not saying I want them, I'm just saying they're definitely more interesting than temples, which are so boring..."

"Yaoyao hasn't grown up yet."

"Ah—I knew you were going to say that!"

……

Chapter 166 Buddha Statues and Vegetarian Meals