"Uncle Lu, those pig bristles and horsehair haven't been washed yet... we'll just put them on and try them out first..."
The bearded elder in front of him put the freshly made toothbrush in his mouth to try it out. Upon hearing Huo Xiaolong's words, he quickly spat twice.
Why didn't you say so sooner, child?
Who knew you'd try it on yourself? The little dumpling was even rubbing the toothbrush on her hand.
"Anyway, pig bristles and horsehair are the best! I'll go get some more and make more."
Watching Huo Xiaolong's retreating figure, Lu Feigong picked up his teacup and rinsed his mouth. Although he had been tricked into coming here to work by his junior brother, life at the brothel wasn't bad.
"Long'er, that little girl from the dilapidated temple is looking for you!" Ping'er called from the backyard.
Huo Panli's sword was much cleaner than when they last met, the girl noticed. Huo Xiaolong was a bit of a germaphobe, so he made a point of washing up before meeting her.
"What's wrong? Did something happen at the dilapidated temple?" Huo Xiaolong asked.
The little girl shook her head and looked at her as she spoke.
"My brother has discovered a gang of kidnappers. Could you help me take them to the authorities? We'll share the reward with you, one-tenth of it."
"Where did you find that? You guys get away from here right now, they're just having trouble finding kids!"
Although the little girl's clothes were somewhat worn today, the red hawthorn on her head stood out exceptionally. She said with a hint of pride...
"Don't worry, we've been searching every street and alley in Pingyang County for so long, they can't catch us. When are you going to report us to the authorities?"
"Now!"
Huo Xiaolong pulled the little girl into the house, got her a small stool to sit on in the back kitchen of Fengyue Tower, and handed her a roasted sweet potato.
"You keep eating, I'll go tell the adults at home."
Li Jian nodded, then tucked the sweet potato into his pocket, intending to take it back for his younger siblings to share. Er Ya watched this scene and felt a little uneasy.
Before she came to the brothel, she was the eldest child in her family, just like this little girl. She always thought of her younger siblings when there was something good to eat, and she wondered how they were doing.
The round-faced girl stuffed a few more sweet potatoes into the stove and said to her...
"You eat, there's more. Take all of these back with you when you go home later."
Although I can't afford to treat her to a fancy meal, I can still bring a roasted sweet potato for each child.
Huo Xiaolong looked around but couldn't find his mother and godmother. Today, He Xiaoniangzi took them to check the accounts of Huaxuetang. It's a new year, new accounts, and they need to settle any outstanding debts.
The little dumpling had no other choice but to go home and find Huo Shuwen. Just then, the kidnapper's creditor was also there.
"Have you found those kidnappers?" Scarface asked.
"Yeah, those kids from the dilapidated temple found it."
Scarface stood up and walked out, looking aggressive and reckless.
"Where are you going?" Huo Shuwen asked from behind.
"Brother Wen, my woman and mother were bullied by a bunch of out-of-town kidnappers. I have to get revenge."
"How do we find them? Should we drag a bunch of your buddies along and fight them?"
Scarface didn't speak, he just stood there with his head down, motionless.
"How long should the fight go? How long should it last to settle the score?" Huo Shuwen walked up to him and continued.
"What if a few more get hurt in the fight? If any of your brothers die, will you be the one to observe mourning for them?"
"Yes, Uncle, it's not safe," Huo Xiaolong chimed in from the side.
"Then what do you suggest? Brother Wen, I can't swallow this."
"Arrest him, report him to the authorities, and I'll go to the yamen for you and get him a good sentence."
The man looked up at Huo Shuwen and suddenly realized something, a flash of inspiration striking him.
"Okay! Bro! I'll go get people to arrest them right now!"
Arresting people is different from causing trouble. When arresting people, the most important thing is to capture them without having to fight them.
Scarface cheered and gathered a group of brothers at the entrance of the red-light district, where Huo Shuwen, Huo Xiaolong, and Huo Panlijian were waiting.
"Let's go, bro."
The eagle didn't want to bring his daughter, but she was too gullible and kept pestering him, so he had no choice but to agree.
Huo Panli led his group through a maze of turns until they arrived at a thatched hut in the slums.
"They're right here," the little girl said, clinging to the wall.
"Their living conditions are so shabby!" Huo Xiaolong looked up at her and exclaimed.
"The slums in other areas are where the most children are sold, because the families are poor, so it's much less risky than them abducting people on the streets."
"Then they've miscalculated; we don't have that."
That's for sure.
"Why don't you find someone to pretend to sell me, Uncle Scarface, and then I can run away and they can chase after me?" Huo Xiaolong said to Scarface, not noticing his father's dark face upon hearing this.
The man kept winking at Huo Xiaolong, "Silly niece, still selling yourself? Haven't you been sold once enough? Your father is right next to you, and you still dare to sell yourself?"
Huo Shuwen grabbed his daughter by the collar, lifted her up, and placed her on his arm, saying coldly...
"no"
The little dumpling finally saw her father's displeasure, pouted twice reluctantly, and said...
"If it doesn't work out, then forget it."
"Great idea! Uncle, sell me!"
Huo Panli gripped Scarface's thigh with his sword, glanced at Huo Shuwen, and seeing that his elder brother hadn't given him any hints, he looked back at his underlings.
"Monkey, here you go. This little girl is yours now. When you come out later, make sure to watch your back for her. If there are too many people in the house, then you can back out and not sell her. Got it?"
Monkey was the most agile and energetic among the group of thugs. Scarface was thinking that if they couldn't escape, his underlings would take the girl to the roof and run away.
"You're going by yourself, Sharp Sword?"
Huo Xiaolong was a little worried. No one knew how many people were inside. What if there were too many?
"Uncle Monkey, why don't you go check how many people are inside, and see how it goes?"
Even with Huo Shuwen and Scarface together, their brains aren't as sharp as a new one's. Eagle is the type who's too lazy to think straight, but he'll always step in if there's danger. Scarface is slow to react; he'll probably only catch on after things are over.
"That's why she's my brother Wen's daughter; her mind works so fast. Monkey, you go!"
Huo Panlijian looked at the little girl nestled in her father's arms. She was quite clever and not as silly as she looked.
Yes, in the eyes of outsiders, Huo Xiaolong is the kind of kid who is a bit silly.
But Little Dumpling is different. She doesn't want to play mind games or use her brain because she finds it tiring. Besides, in this era without firearms, as long as you are strong enough, you can take action directly no matter what happens.
Huo Xiaolong has a protective circle in her heart, and everyone who enters that circle is very important to her. So, Xiaotuanzi is determined to make sure they live well with her, no matter what.
To outsiders, all those magical springs and elixirs might seem like supernatural powers, a blessing from heaven.
Only she herself knows the truth.
If it weren't for the people around her now
Even if she were offered the chance to ascend to immortality on the spot, she would not agree.
Living alone is really tough, not the kind of suffering that comes from material deprivation.
Everyone else is laughing, but I am all alone, with no one behind me and no end in sight.
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