"Luo Ou, let's go. Don't disturb the conversation between Dad and Sister." The mother on the side seemed to have discussed it long ago and pulled her youngest son away.
"Um."
The child looked at his sister and father with a little curiosity, then walked away with his mother in small steps.
The room returned to silence, and Bumansha sat upright at the table, waiting for her father to speak.
Looking at his daughter like this, the father seemed a little distressed.
"Actually, you can be a little... well, a little willful."
To ease the atmosphere, the man picked up a rolled cigarette and placed it next to the candlelight, slowly lighting it. A small spark immediately appeared on the tobacco, which then burned quietly.
After taking a puff of his cigarette, the man looked at Bumansha and continued.
"As for me, although I worked on the Baron's garden for a while and have a small reputation in town, this is really insignificant compared to other places in the outside world."
"You've been very obedient since you were little, and you've never given me any worries. You even help your mother with some things. I've seen all of this."
"Having a daughter who can study at Emenas and graduate normally is the most honorable and proud thing in my life."
"Ever since you went to Emenas, every time I go to the tavern to drink, there's always a bunch of people fawning over me and paying for me. It's really something that makes me happy."
"I have always been proud of you."
"But, Bumansha, I heard some bad rumors recently."
"Some people say that I am keeping my daughter at home, not letting her shine, and just using her as a tool to work and make money. This makes me very angry," the father said, tapping off the ash from his cigarette.
Bumansha looked at her father, her face swaying in the light of the candle, but she remained calm and quiet.
"So, I decided to send you away." The father unbuttoned his collar and took out a folded envelope.
"When I was young, I knew a friend who currently works in Wanglonggang. I heard he works at a famous dim sum restaurant. It just so happens that they are short of staff right now because many young men have joined the army."
"Take this letter to him and he'll help you find a job at a pastry shop. You've always loved making pastries, so I'm sure this will be easy for you to do."
"Also, Wanglong Port is the most prosperous city in the Landsworth family's fiefdom. Many nobles and wealthy people gather there. If you go there to buy snacks on weekdays, you'll probably run into quite a few."
"If you find the right person, marry him. That way I can put my mind at ease."
"Don't refuse me or anything. My daughter is so beautiful and smart, I believe no one would dislike her. It's just that you don't dress up very often."
"Speaking of which, when you make money, you can buy yourself some nice clothes. You've grown up now, and we can't support you forever. I still have to save some money for your brother's schooling."
Bumansha listened quietly. When her father finished speaking, she slowly lowered her head and said, "I understand, father."
"Well, that's it. Go to bed early."
Then Bumansa stood up and slowly left the room.
The candlelight was still flickering, and the man was smoking silently, letting the floating tobacco gradually envelop him.
With a creak, the door opened again and a woman came in. It was Bumansa's mother. She had a similar face and hair color to Bumansa, but with some wrinkles at the corners of her eyes.
"Have you made an agreement with Bumansha?" The woman took the cigarette from the man's mouth and put it aside to extinguish it.
Glancing at his unfinished cigarette, the man replied, "Yeah, that's it."
"How did she answer?"
"She said she understood, which means she agreed. You know this child's character, she has always been very obedient."
"Well, actually when I was a child I was very happy to have such an obedient child. It made me worry-free, but now I am a little worried." The mother clenched her hands, placed them between her knees, stretched her body, and then continued.
"When she first graduated, not only the Baron, but also several earls from nearby territories sent her invitations, hoping she could work there. The job was simple: accompanying the earl's children in their studies. She could earn several gold coins every month, and the salary would continue to increase."
"But she didn't really want to go, so we didn't force her and let her continue working from home."
"It's just that if this goes on for a long time, it won't be good."
"As the Eastern proverb goes, a dragon cannot live under a simple and narrow shed."
"It's a pity that she has such a special talent, but it's wasted in this dull little town."
"And we can't persuade her directly. After all, the child is older and has her own ideas and thoughts. We have no choice but to use this method to force her to leave."
"I hope that after visiting the bustling Wanglong Port, she'll see many new things and develop greater ambitions."
"I am proud to have such a daughter, but I also hope that she can break away from our limitations and step onto a broader stage."
In the room, the two talked about Bumansha's life from childhood to adulthood, some of which were heartwarming and some were cute, making the father and mother sigh at the passing of time and feel a little sad for a moment.
The lights in the house were still burning, and some orange and dim light leaked through the curtains, illuminating the grass and courtyard outside.
With a pair of legs gently leaning against the wall beside the window, the girl with chestnut-gold hair leaned against the wall with her hands behind her back, quietly listening to the subtle words, then slowly raised her head and looked at the starry night sky.
A broader stage?
Some expectations for the unknown slowly awaken in my mind.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com