Chapter 256 : A Visit
Chapter 256: A Visit
The villa owned by Miss Yuan was not as dazzlingly luxurious as Lin Mo had imagined; rather, it was quite understated. But upon closer inspection, one would notice that every detail in the courtyard had been carefully designed. The greenery covered a sizable area, and the garden pond was perfectly complemented by the surrounding layout. Every part of the architecture was arranged harmoniously, giving a pleasant sense of balance and calm to the eye.
Inside the Yuan family’s villa, Lin Mo was already sitting in the living room, having met Old Comrade Yuan.
“Hello, Uncle, sorry for disturbing you.”
“Hahaha, Xiao Lin is here! Come, have a seat. I even skipped my fishing trip today because I heard you were coming,” Old Comrade Yuan greeted him warmly.
While they were chatting, Miss Yuan came huffing and puffing, carrying a few things in her hands, and complained, “Mom~ You didn’t even wait for me! These are heavy, you know~”
“Wait for you for what? Carrying a few things won’t kill you. Just take it as exercise. You never miss a meal, yet the moment there’s work to do, you start whining.” Mrs. Jiang gave her daughter a sharp look and scolded irritably.
Perhaps it was because she had seen her daughter every day, or maybe because Miss Yuan could be quite exasperating, Mrs. Jiang had long since run out of patience.
In contrast, the moment she looked at Lin Mo—fair-skinned, bright-eyed, well-mannered, and neat—she couldn’t help but find him pleasing to the eye. The more she compared him to her own children, the more she felt that way.
Look at this young man—polite, decent-looking, and earning money before even graduating. He was truly the full package: good looks and real ability.
And then there were her two children. One was already an adult but still couldn’t manage a branch company properly, always mooning over that girl from the Liu family like a lovesick fool.
The other, though clever and lively, was equally infuriating—no manners, no sense of propriety, running around all day having fun, never taking relationships or work seriously. People said wealth seldom lasted beyond three generations, and Mrs. Jiang was beginning to think the saying might soon apply to her family.
They were all young, yet Lin Mo was a few years younger than her children and already earning money and building assets. Meanwhile, her own kids were still asking for allowance money and wasting it away.
Actually, come to think of it, they were still asking the housekeeper for money. The thought only made Mrs. Jiang feel worse.
Lin Mo, after using the Yunnan Mountain Toothpaste he bought online, did indeed have noticeably whiter teeth. Combined with the honey and the herbal tonics prescribed by his teacher, Professor Li, his complexion had improved significantly. “Lips red and teeth white” wasn’t an exaggeration—but Lin Mo himself had never really noticed.
These changes had come gradually over time. Since he wasn’t the type to admire himself in the mirror, he had no idea how much his appearance had improved.
Lin Mo, unaware of Mrs. Jiang’s inner thoughts, quickly got up to take the things Miss Yuan was carrying.
“Auntie, it’s my first time visiting, so I wasn’t sure what to bring. I bought some fruit and brought a few local specialties from my hometown for you and Uncle to try—they’re all wild mushrooms from the mountains.” Lin Mo handed the bags over politely.
Given Miss Yuan’s family background, no one expected lavish gifts from a university student. What mattered was sincerity, and the fact that Lin Mo had thought to bring something from home showed his thoughtfulness.
“You silly boy, bringing gifts when you come to Auntie’s house—next time just come directly, okay?”
Though Mrs. Jiang and her husband said that, their smiles betrayed how pleased they were. Clearly, they appreciated his thoughtfulness.
Lin Mo couldn’t help but admire his parents’ wisdom—bringing hometown specialties really was the right choice.
“That’s only proper, Auntie. Oh, and this too—you and Uncle can add a handful of it to your footbath every night. It helps dispel dampness and cold, promotes circulation, and aids sleep.
The materials were hard to find, so I only have a small amount. Please don’t mind!” Lin Mo handed over another plain black plastic bag.
Admittedly, the three gifts he brought had no fancy packaging—just simple plastic bags. Anyone unaware might think he had come straight from the vegetable market.
But neither Mrs. Jiang nor Old Comrade Yuan looked down on him for it. Especially after hearing about the foot soak’s effects—they found it practical.
More importantly, after the facial cleanser, Angong Niuhuang Pills, Longquan Ink Paste, and Tongyan Hui Ink Beads, they had already developed a subconscious trust in anything Lin Mo offered.
After all, those previous items—though expensive—had never prompted Lin Mo to say, “the materials were hard to find.” That alone suggested this new thing wasn’t ordinary.
And given its simple, uncommercial packaging, it clearly wasn’t something bought in stores. It was likely another secret formula.
Since Lin Mo was Professor Li’s student—and not just any student—it was entirely reasonable for him to have access to rare medicines.
“Xiao Lin, you’re so thoughtful. How could Auntie ever dislike that?”
“Exactly! You even helped Yuanyuan’s Grandpa with his massage treatments—they worked wonders. We haven’t even properly thanked you yet. Don’t be so formal in the future; come visit us more often.”
The couple exchanged a subtle glance. It was clear they were both very interested in that foot soak.
Even if it didn’t work miracles, it was still a heartfelt gift.
After setting the things aside, Mrs. Jiang pulled Lin Mo down to chat while the housekeeper served fruit. Old Comrade Yuan, knowing Lin Mo knew his tea, brought out his prized tea leaves to show off his brewing skills.
Although he knew Lin Mo could make tea, he didn’t let him touch the teapot this time. Lin Mo was a guest today, after all—it wouldn’t be proper to have him serve tea.
The last time, at the racecourse, was different—Professor Li had been there as Lin Mo’s elder, so the occasion allowed it. In business and manners alike, Old Comrade Yuan knew the rules well.
“Xiao Lin, how’s this tea?” Old Comrade Yuan asked with a grin.
Lin Mo gave a thumbs-up. “Top-grade Huangshan Maofeng! And with Uncle Yuan’s technique, it’s perfect—rich aroma, mellow taste. I’m lucky to try it today. You must’ve learned from a real expert; your brewing precision and water control are spot on. Impressive, Uncle Yuan!”
“Hahaha! I knew you had a good eye. Not bad, not bad—since you like it, I’ll pack some for you to take home.”
Sure enough, Old Comrade Yuan burst out laughing. There was nothing more satisfying than being recognized by a fellow enthusiast—especially a knowledgeable one.
Though his technique was a bit clumsy and lacking in finesse, Lin Mo could tell he had learned from someone. The best move here was to flatter him generously—it was, after all, good tea.
“Listen to you puffing him up! Xiao Lin’s just being polite. He only learned for half a day, yet he’s acting like a tea master. Xiao Lin, don’t mind him. He’s shown off this ‘skill’ of his several times already—if you keep praising him, his tail will wag right up to the ceiling,” Mrs. Jiang teased.
Hearing that, Old Comrade Yuan hurried to defend himself. “What nonsense! Xiao Lin and I are kindred spirits in tea. This is called friendship through tea—you wouldn’t understand.”
Lin Mo stayed quiet and sipped. Though the brewing technique was imperfect, the tea itself was excellent.
“Mom, Dad, when are we eating? I’m starving!”
At that moment, Miss Yuan appeared from nowhere, holding a bowl of sweet rice wine dumplings, savoring each bite with obvious delight.
Seeing this, Mrs. Jiang nearly fainted. She didn’t even need to ask—clearly, her daughter had snuck into the kitchen again.
And if she had to sneak food, fine—but to come out and eat in front of their guest? Really?
Thankfully, their guest was Lin Mo, a friend of her daughter’s. If it had been anyone else, this behavior would’ve been downright impolite.
“Yuan Meng!! Have I not disciplined you enough lately? Eating all by yourself, not even offering Xiao Lin a bowl!” Mrs. Jiang glared fiercely and scolded.
Lin Mo quickly waved his hands. “It’s okay, Auntie. Sister Yuan must just be hungry.”
At that, Mrs. Jiang turned to him with a smile. “Xiao Lin, are you hungry? I asked the housekeeper to make a few of our best dishes—you must try them today.”
“Uh? But it’s only a little past two…” Lin Mo froze.
He had deliberately chosen this hour to visit precisely to avoid disturbing them—perfectly skipping meal time.
But Mrs. Jiang smiled brightly. “Oh, what a coincidence! We only eat two meals a day here, and it’s just about mealtime now.”
“Yeah, yeah! Mom changed it to two meals today just because she heard you were coming—what an honor you have!
Mom, when have I ever gotten this treatment? I’m your own daughter! You didn’t even tell me about this sudden two-meal schedule. If Auntie Wang hadn’t taken pity on me, I’d have starved to death already!” Miss Yuan grumbled, scooping another spoonful of dumplings as if to ease her pain.
She usually slept late, often skipping breakfast, and today she had missed it entirely. Now she was starving—and on top of that, her mom had betrayed her for a guest! How tragic!
“Hungry? More like greedy!” Mrs. Jiang shot her a glare.
Lin Mo: …