Ten Thousand Soul Banner: Deceased, do you have any unfulfilled wishes?-Chapter 976 - 972: Traveling Companions

"I still don’t know how to address you?" Taozi took the opportunity to ask.

Since getting in the car, Shen Siyuan hadn’t said much, leaving the conversation to Taozi. After all, it’s easier for women to connect with each other and let their guard down.

"My name is Liu Yuqin."

Only now did everyone learn the name of this single mother.

"Let’s find a place to eat first. Everyone’s hungry, we can chat while eating."

Ruan Hongzhuang, who was driving, glanced at everyone through the rearview mirror and broke the brief silence.

She had already started the car, slowly driving away from the roadside. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"Yeah, Sister Liu, you’re a local, can you recommend a place? We want to try some authentic local cuisine."

Taozi smiled as she asked, intentionally using a more affectionate term to try and bridge the distance between them.

Liu Yuqin heard this and showed some hesitation on her face, her eyes flickering a bit. After a while, she softly said, "The places I know are just small eateries with not-so-great environments. I’m afraid you won’t be used to it."

Her words were gentle, but she knew very well that with her living conditions, the places she could go were just roadside food stalls or small, less noticeable eateries. She had never been to any decent restaurant.

She was afraid the places she recommended would seem too shabby, causing these kind people to look down on them.

Taozi noticed her concern and quickly smiled, saying, "It doesn’t matter. We actually love those little hidden eateries, as those places have the most authentic local flavors. Those lavishly decorated restaurants are too commercialized, and the taste changes—we don’t like going there."

"Then... can I recommend one?"

Seeing that she was being sincere, Liu Yuqin hesitated less in her gaze and thoughtfully said, "There’s a Little Peach Garden Home-cooked Dishes on Lizhi Road. I’ve been there once before, and the food is good and reasonably priced. Locals often go there."

Upon hearing this, Ruan Hongzhuang directly searched for "Little Peach Garden Home-cooked Dishes on Lizhi Road" on the navigation and found that it wasn’t far, just two or three kilometers away, so she turned the car around and headed straight for the destination.

The car drove steadily through the rainy night streets, and the neon lights outside blurred in the rain, forming colored bands of light. Han Zhong’s night view appeared particularly gentle and enchanting.

In the car, Taozi continued chatting with Liu Yuqin, trying to learn more about her situation.

"Sister Liu, if I may ask, is your arm... like this since birth?"

Taozi chose her words carefully, trying to make her tone sound gentle and respectful.

"Yes, it’s congenital. I’ve been without arms since I was a child."

Liu Yuqin nodded, speaking lightly, as if talking about someone else’s matter. Her face didn’t show much emotional fluctuation, as if she had gotten used to herself over the years and become accustomed to other people’s peculiar stares.

"Then these years must have been really challenging for you." Taozi remarked with some emotion.

It’s hard to imagine how a woman without arms handles daily activities, takes care of household chores, and raises a child alone.

Just weaving those finely stitched socks with her feet is already unbelievable.

"Once you get used to it, you don’t feel it anymore."

Liu Yuqin smiled a little, as if she had completely accepted herself, showing no sadness or complaint about life’s unfairness.

At this moment, Mao Sanmei came over with a tray, carrying two cups of hot water, one with a straw, along with a small plate of biscuits and candies.

She gently placed the cups in front of Liu Yuqin and Shan Wenbo, then nudged the biscuits and candies towards Shan Wenbo, smiling and gesturing with her hands, signaling them to eat as they please.

"Thank you." Mao Sanmei’s considerate behavior made Liu Yuqin feel warm inside.

Seeing his mother didn’t refuse, Shan Wenbo cautiously reached out his small hand, took a biscuit, and began to eat it slowly, eyes full of satisfaction.

"Sister Mao doesn’t speak; she was born that way too." Taozi softly explained on the side, fearing that Liu Yuqin might misunderstand Mao Sanmei’s actions.

Upon hearing this, Liu Yuqin’s face showed a look of sudden understanding, and when she looked at Mao Sanmei again, her eyes carried a more sympathetic warmth.

Shen Siyuan, who had been silent the whole time, glanced at the mother and son’s feet.

He then said to Mao Sanmei, "Go get two pairs of disposable slippers for them to change into."

It wasn’t because he was worried they’d dirty the car, but because both of them—one with thoroughly soaked shoes and the other only wearing flip-flops.

The one in flip-flops was naturally Liu Yuqin, as it was convenient for her to use her feet for whatever tasks she could accomplish.

Probably because she had been trained since childhood, her feet were remarkably agile.

Unfortunately, there were no clothes suitable for Shan Wenbo in the car. Fortunately, he had been holding an umbrella, so he wasn’t too drenched.

When Mao Sanmei brought the shoes to them, they naturally thanked her warmly again.

Shen Siyuan sat beside them, observing the scene without speaking.

Perhaps his words before were a bit harsh, but he sincerely hoped that Liu Yuqin would understand that sometimes it’s not a bad thing to "show weakness" appropriately. Accepting help from others is not shameful. For her child’s sake, she should also let herself and her child live better lives.

The car quickly arrived at Lizhi Road, and Little Peach Garden Home-cooked Dishes was right by the roadside—a small inconspicuous eatery with red lanterns hanging out front. Inside, quite a few customers were already seated, lively and bustling, and the aroma of food could be smelled even through the car window.

Ruan Hongzhuang parked the car in a spot on the roadside and turned to say to everyone, "We’re here, let’s go in and eat."

Liu Yuqin looked at the lively scene at the restaurant door, then glanced at her own feet, feeling a bit uneasy: "Maybe... Wenbo and I should just wait outside for you. Our hands and feet aren’t very convenient, and going in would affect your meal."

The reason she said this was that she used her feet to hold the chopsticks while eating, and the posture was quite ungraceful. At home or by herself, it was okay, but eating at the same table with others was very awkward.

So she rarely ate out and rarely shared a meal with others.

"Don’t say that. Since we invited you, we won’t mind such things." Taozi said as she had already opened the car door.

"Hurry, it’s warmer inside, and Wenbo must be hungry too."

"Let’s go in; we’re already at the door. There’s no reason to have you wait outside. Don’t worry, no one will say anything." said Shen Siyuan.

Liu Yuqin saw their sincere eyes, then looked at Shan Wenbo beside her, whose face was full of anticipation. Eventually, she nodded and followed everyone out of the car.

The rain was still falling, and Taozi opened an umbrella to shield Liu Yuqin and Shan Wenbo.

Ruan Hongzhuang and Mao Sanmei took the children, and the group headed towards the small restaurant.

Walking into the restaurant, a warm vibe greeted them, and the aroma of the food whetted their appetites even more.

The owner, a person with a keen eye, directly led them to a private room on the second floor. Inside, it was clean and tidy, not luxurious, but very cozy.

After everyone sat down, Taozi asked Liu Yuqin to order, and Liu Yuqin couldn’t refuse, so she ordered a few home-style dishes she thought were tasty and affordable, like classic sweet and sour shredded potatoes and fish-flavored shredded pork.

Taozi glanced at the menu, added several more dishes, and then placed the order.

While waiting for the food to arrive, they resumed talking about Liu Yuqin’s situation.