The world of film and television begins with Hikaru no Go

Chapter 57 Sesame Cakes

Zhang Rui didn't sleep all night; he simply couldn't fall asleep.

My mind keeps replaying those spoilers.

I thought talking about it would make me feel better, but instead, I felt even heavier inside.

The King of Yue's rebellion, Liu Jin of the earthen kiln, the princess's self-directed drama, Hu Jinghui being a viper... one incident after another, like stones, once one was mentioned, another would fall on top of it.

The light outside the window gradually brightened, changing from gray-blue to pale white.

Di Renjie lay on his side, facing the wall, his back motionless, his breathing steady, as if he were in a deep sleep.

The first rooster crowed in the street, followed by the sound of doors being removed, splashing water, and drawn-out hawking cries—

"Hot soy milk!"

The capital city awoke, and so did Di Renjie.

He sat up, rubbed the back of his neck, and stretched his shoulders.

After traveling for so many days, my whole body is stiff.

I glanced out the window, greeted Zhang Rui with a good morning, and then got dressed and washed up as usual.

He splashed water from the well to wash his face, dried it with a coarse cloth, and straightened his collar.

He looked perfectly normal, as if nothing had happened last night.

Zhang Rui looked at him and wondered: Did he really not care, or had he already figured out what to do next?

After washing up, Di Renjie poured himself a glass of cold water, drank it while standing, and then went out.

Zhang Rui followed.

"Sir, where are you going?"

"Eat breakfast."

Outside the inn is a narrow street. Walk forward to the alley entrance, turn onto the main street, and suddenly the area becomes lively and bustling.

The breakfast vendors carried their wares on shoulder poles along the street, their steamers stacked high, billowing out puffs of white steam.

The fried dough sticks sizzled and turned in the boiling oil, turning golden brown.

The aroma of soy milk wafted on the wind, mingling with the scent of firewood smoke and dew.

Di Renjie stopped in front of a noodle stall.

The stall wasn't big, with two long tables and a few benches.

The stall owner was a woman in her fifties, wearing a blue apron, stirring the soup in the pot with long bamboo chopsticks.

The broth was bubbling away, with glistening oil floating on top, and the aroma of scallions wafted out in waves.

"A bowl of noodles."

"Okay!"

The woman moved nimbly, grabbing a handful of cut noodles from the cutting board, shaking them, and tossing them into the pot.

Then take a rough porcelain bowl, put a few drops of soy sauce, a pinch of salt, and half a spoonful of lard at the bottom, scoop a spoonful of boiling soup over it, and the aroma immediately rises.

Once the noodles are cooked, use long bamboo chopsticks to scoop them up and fold them into the bowl, so the noodles lie neatly in the soup.

Finally, sprinkle some chopped green onions on top and serve.

Di Renjie sat on the bench, took a pair of chopsticks from the chopstick holder, and began to eat.

After taking a couple of bites, he suddenly looked up and glanced in the direction where Zhang Rui was standing.

"You don't need to watch me eat."

"...I wasn't watching."

Zhang Rui took half a step to the side and turned his gaze to the street.

The firewood seller walked by with his load on his shoulder pole. A child tugged at his mother's clothes, begging for sweet cakes. Two dogs scurried in and out under the stall, wagging their tails rapidly.

After watching for a while, I couldn't help but turn my gaze back.

The bowl of noodles was steaming hot, the broth was clear with a few specks of oil floating on top, the scallions were bright green, the garlic was finely minced, and the aroma wafted into my nose.

Di Gong ate slowly, picking up a piece of noodles with his chopsticks, blowing on it, and putting it in his mouth.

The noodles are thin and long, soft but not mushy, and tremble slightly on the chopsticks.

Zhang Rui swallowed. He didn't know why he was swallowing, even though he didn't need to eat anything.

"……grown ups."

Di Renjie looked up.

"I want to eat it too."

Di Renjie stopped eating and glanced at him.

A fleeting look of surprise crossed his eyes, followed by a faint smile.

"The dough will clump together if I take it back." He put down his chopsticks, gestured with his chin towards the pancake shop across the street, and said, "After I finish eating, I'll buy a few flatbreads and two pounds of steamed buns to take back and eat with Yuanfang."

After saying that, he picked up his chopsticks again, lowered his head, and continued eating his noodles.

Zhang Rui stood to the side without saying anything more.

After Di Gong finished the last bite of noodles, he picked up the bowl and drank the soup as well.

He took out two coins from his sleeve, placed them at the bottom of the bowl, and stood up.

As I approached the bakery, the owner was taking cakes out of the oven. The cakes were fresh out of the oven, the crust was golden brown, and the sesame seeds trembled slightly in the heat. The aroma wafted over me.

The steamed buns were stacked on the bamboo tray, plump and white, still steaming hot.

"Four flatbreads and two catties of steamed buns."

"Okay, please wait a moment—"

The shopkeeper responded, took a dried lotus leaf, spread it out, and arranged the flatbreads on it one by one. He then wrapped the steamed buns in another lotus leaf.

The fragrance of lotus leaves mingled with the aroma of flour, wrapped tightly and tied with a straw rope before being handed over.

Di Gong paid the money and walked back with the lotus leaf bag in his hand.

Zhang Rui followed behind, his gaze fixed on the two lotus leaf bags.

Heat seeped from the edges of the lotus leaves, turning into fine white mist in the cool morning air.

Di Renjie did not turn around, but simply said, "Go back and have Yuanfang boil some water. Even if we can't be embarrassed, there will always be hot tea."

"……Um."

The morning sun climbed over the rooftops, shining on the two lotus leaf pouches in Di Renjie's hands, on the street, and on the shadows of the two people standing one in front of the other.

Back at the inn, Di Renjie went upstairs and stopped in front of Li Yuanfang's room, knocking twice.

"it's me."

The door opened.

Li Yuanfang was already dressed neatly, his back ramrod straight.

There was a knife lying beside me, its blade gleaming brightly after being wiped clean.

She stepped aside to let Di Renjie in, glanced down the corridor, and then closed the door.

"grown ups."

"Awake?" Di Renjie placed the lotus leaf bundle on the table and untied the straw rope. "Why didn't you sleep a little longer?"

"I've had enough sleep." Li Yuanfang glanced out the window. "There are more people on the streets now."

He didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning was clear—with so many people around, it would be inconvenient for him to go out.

Di Renjie nodded, took out two flatbreads and several steamed buns from the lotus leaf bag, wrapped them in dried lotus leaves, and pushed them in front of Li Yuanfang.

"Eat it while it's hot."

Li Yuanfang took it and took a bite of the flatbread.

The crust was crispy, and sesame seeds fell down in a flurry.

He ate slowly, but he ate one bite after another, very heartily.

Di Renjie rewrapped the remaining cakes and tied them with straw rope.

"You stay at the inn today, I'm going out for a stroll."

Li Yuanfang raised his head, a hint of wariness in his eyes: "My lord, the capital is not like other places. You are alone—"

"No need to worry," Di Renjie interrupted him, his tone calm. "I know what I'm doing."

Li Yuanfang opened his mouth, then closed it again.

Having followed Judge Di for these past few days, I've come to know this man's temperament—and when I say I know something, I really do.

He looked down at the few pancakes on the table.

"Sir, this cake..."