Chapter 26: Even in Death, I’ll Still Love That Giant Pork Knuckle

Unless it was something truly hilarious, she rarely laughed.

Really!

Lu Wu turned her head away, and only after giving herself a stern mental pep talk did she manage to suppress her smile. She had already learned the sequence of events from Yaya. Seeing these children climbing walls and crashing through doors just for a bite to eat, she couldn’t help but find it amusing. Their behavior was certainly wrong, but the process was undeniably comical.

"Ahem, get up now."

There was no need for such grand gestures. Lu Wu continued to press down the corners of her lips. Behind her, Yaya poked her head out, looking at the chubby little boy with confusion.

"Fatty Brother, why are you lying on the ground? There’s no good food down there."

In Yaya’s mind, delicious food always came first; Fatty Brother only ranked second. Fortunately, the bond of their childhood friendship remained, and she trotted over to help him up.

"Fatty Brother, let me tell you, Big Sister and Grandpa are so nice! They weren't angry; they even saved me and gave me something yummy." Yaya couldn't help but lick her lips. She had only eaten a small piece earlier—not because she didn't love it, but because she wanted to bring it back to share with her family. The kindhearted Big Sister had agreed and even packed two large pork knuckles for her. Yaya felt absolutely delighted.

"Huh?"

The chubby boy stood up, listening to Yaya’s account, but his eyes automatically drifted toward the source of the aroma, staring fixedly at the bowl in Lu Wu’s hands.

*Gurgle, gurgle, gurgle!*

His stomach growled, prompting him to press his hands against it.

"Do you want some too?" Lu Wu asked, deliberately pulling a stern face. "But naughty children don't get anything delicious."

Startled by Lu Wu’s serious expression, the boy’s lips trembled as if he were about to cry, but Lu Wu was not one to indulge him. "If you cry again, you won't even get any soup."

That single sentence successfully made the boy cover his mouth and hiccup. *So angry!*

"If you promise me that you’ll be good from now on and never climb walls again, I’ll give you some food. How about that?" Lu Wu mischievously lowered the bowl, letting him see the pork knuckle inside. Its tender, gelatinous skin was plump and elastic, looking remarkably like the boy’s own big, round belly.

No one had ever taught the boy to be obedient. He looked up, his white, chubby face staring at Lu Wu’s feigned ferocity. He wanted to refuse, but that pork knuckle looked too delicious—better than any meat his mother had ever made. As his stomach roared even louder, the boy, who had yet to grasp the concept of pride, shamefully gave in to the temptation of the food.

"Okay, I promise you." He whispered, sneaking a glance at Lu Wu.

"You must keep your word, or else you'll get a spanking." Lu Wu stopped teasing him and handed one of the bowls over.

"This one is for you, and this one is for Yaya. Both of you, go home and eat." She patted the two little ones on the head and signaled for them to head back.

Seeing how easily he had obtained such a treat, the boy blushed. He lowered his head, twisting his clothes nervously for a long moment before saying, "I’m sorry, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have let people climb over the wall into your house."

After throwing those words out, he ran off with the bowl, forgetting even his beloved Yaya. Fortunately, Yaya didn't mind, as she was already running away with her own bowl. Watching the two backs retreating, neither paying any mind to the other, Lu Wu suddenly felt a sense of guilt. Had she accidentally broken up a childhood romance?

"I'll be heading back then, too."

After dealing with the little ones, Grandpa Li, carrying a large food box, bid Lu Wu a leisurely farewell. As he walked out, he dispelled the formation.

"Oh, by the way, Little Boss Lu, what is the name of this pork knuckle?" Grandpa Li asked. He remembered that Little Boss Lu had a penchant for giving things quirky names. The name "Pure-Hearted Meat Bun" was still being talked about within the sect.

Facing this question, Lu Wu fell silent. She understood Grandpa Li’s teasing, but she really wanted to say that these weren't names she had chosen. It was the System! The one with the weird taste was the System!

*[...]*

"Ahem, it’s called 'Love Even Unto Death Pork Knuckle'."

Lu Wu struggled to get the words out, met by Grandpa Li’s "I knew it" look. Lu Wu felt a wave of heat rise to her face.

"Take care, Grandpa Li." Lu Wu closed the door, shutting out his judgmental gaze.

The sky had fully brightened by now. The sunlight was just right. Lu Wu placed the remaining cooked knuckles into a storage bag to keep them fresh. These knuckles took a long time to cook and couldn't be made on the spot; they had to be prepared in advance. Having eaten her fill of pork knuckles, Lu Wu lay in the courtyard, soaking up the sun.

Next door, Grandpa Li opened his food box. Little Boss Lu was generous, and before he left, she had let him pack five large knuckles to enjoy at his leisure. But Grandpa Li was certainly not the type to eat alone. Besides, this was a benefit he had secured for the disciples of the Bun Sect.

"Anyone want some pork knuckle?" Grandpa Li sent a tentative message to the sect.

At this hour, there weren't many people logged into the sect's network, but a few were still around. For instance, Lou Xiaotian, who constantly monitored Grandpa Li’s activity, knew there was more to the story. Grandpa Li, who lived right next to Boss Lu—this message definitely carried weight.

However, others didn't think so.

"Pork knuckle? Why would we eat pork knuckle?"

"We are the Bun Sect! What we love most is Boss Lu’s buns. No other food is allowed in the sect; it’s a blasphemy against Boss Lu!"

"That's right! The internal sect must remain pure!"

These were the fanatics. They treated everything regarding Lu Wu's buns as gospel, living by the principle that "Buns come first." After this post, many other disciples followed suit with similar comments.

Grandpa Li didn't scold them; instead, he smiled craftily. He had given them a chance; it was their own fault for refusing. Seeing that he would now be able to enjoy all five knuckles by himself, Grandpa Li noticed two people messaging him privately. The first was Lou Xiaotian.

"Grand Elder, I want some pork knuckle."

Seeing the message, Grandpa Li curled his lip in annoyance. He knew this kid had realized something; there was no fooling him.

"Grand Elder, I’ll ask this quietly—was this pork knuckle made by Boss Lu herself?"

"Yes." Grandpa Li confirmed it flatly. It couldn't be hidden anyway.

"I knew it!"

Lou Xiaotian, who had been in bed, jumped up, dancing with joy. His frantic movements were captured by Lou Batian’s spiritual sense. He had intended to scold him, but after realizing what was happening, his eyes lit up. Just as he was about to sneak over to surprise his son, his ear was grabbed.

"Where do you think you're going?" It was his wife, Li Wan.

Though Li Wan looked gentle and charming, her personality was actually domineering and fierce. Lou Batian dared not lie and had to share his guess.

"You mean to say, Xiaotian got his hands on some good food again?" Li Wan’s interest was piqued; she remembered the taste of those buns vividly. If she hadn't been afraid of ruining their marriage, she would have robbed Lou Batian back then.

"Let's go, together!"

While the pork knuckles were still on their way, Lou Xiaotian had no idea what kind of painful lesson he was about to receive.

At the inn in Little River Town, Qin Zhan, lurking in the Bun Sect under an alias, couldn't help but laugh out loud. Because he hadn't managed to get any buns earlier, he had been living in misery for the past few days, spending his nights cultivating instead of sleeping. Just as he was about to rest, he saw the Grand Elder's message. In that moment, he understood. Truly, those who stay up late get surprises.

"Hehehe!"