"Giggle giggle"
"Woof! Woof!"
The roosters in the alley began to crow; it was early morning, and the sun was shining brightly. The day after the snow had stopped, the weather was always fine and not too cold. The neighbors were already preparing breakfast, and the girls in the building had probably just gone to bed a little while ago.
The only people awake in the entire building were the supervisor on duty and a four-year-old child.
Huo Xiaolong was woken up by the rooster from the neighboring house. She looked to her right and saw Cen's mother sleeping soundly next to her.
Being a madam has it tough. She has to go to bed at the same time the girls go to sleep, especially since Madam Cen is also the owner of a brothel. She has to handle everything from accounting and reconciliation to managing the staff. It's a very demanding job.
Huo Xiaolong quietly got out of bed, got dressed, and didn't make a sound, afraid of disturbing Cen's mother's sleep.
She was thinking about the chickens and pigs from last night, so she hurried to the backyard to check on them. She found them fast asleep, so she ignored them, dusted herself off, and ran to the front hall to find food.
"Uncle Zhao!"
"Hey! Ya Dan'er's up?"
Zhao Kai was a Jinshi (successful candidate in the highest imperial examination) during the ninth year of the Honghe era. He was also a Tanhua (third-ranked scholar) who had ridden through the streets on horseback. He and Madam Cen were old acquaintances. Fengyue Tower opened in the fifteenth year of the Honghe era. Zhao Kai had been there since the opening day. Apart from Madam Cen, no one in the tower knew why a Jinshi gentleman had come to a brothel in the border town to work as an accountant and manager.
"What do you want to eat for breakfast? Flatbread with mutton soup? Or noodles and steamed buns?"
"Let's go eat some sesame seed cakes!"
Aunt Wang's sesame seed cake stall is not far from the Fengyue Tower. It doesn't have any filling, but it smells delicious! She's very generous with the oil and pastry. My daughter eats at least half of her breakfasts there every month.
"Okay!"
Zhao Kai has a strong scholarly air, an elegant demeanor, and eyes like willow leaves, with sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes.
In his spare time, he was responsible for teaching the girls to read and write poetry. Some of the girls didn't have a talent for singing, and they were a bit too old to learn to dance.
To keep guests entertained, you need to have some literary talent. You don't have to be illiterate or unable to write. But when guests are talking about romantic things, you must be able to join in with a few lines.
Men are very susceptible to this. If the girl is illiterate, they will roll up their sleeves, pick up their inkstones, and show off their limited knowledge to her.
Zhao Kai went behind the counter to find the little girl's scarf and put it on her. He then picked up Huo Xiaolong, who was wrapped up like a little bear, and the little girl sat steadily on his arm.
"Aren't you cold, little one?"
The little dumpling sniffled, the snot that had come out in the cold wind, and said...
Not cold
The two arrived at the pancake stall, sat down, and said...
"Auntie, I'd like three sesame seed cakes and two bowls of mutton soup."
The two of them ate heartily. In the border town, there weren't many rules. There was no such thing as not talking while eating or sleeping, or having to eat elegantly.
Zhao Kai, a usually reserved and scholarly man, suddenly found his appetite greatly stimulated by the young girl.
"Madam, four sesame seed cakes and a bowl of mutton soup."
The voice sounded familiar, and Huo Xiaolong turned around to look.
Hey, isn't this her biological father?
Huo Shuwen also saw them at this moment, and bowed to Zhao Kai. They had met yesterday.
"Long'er"
The man felt a little embarrassed. His daughter was now cured, but she had forgotten everything from before. Even though they were strangers, he wanted to hug her, pinch her cheek, and ask her, "How are you? Did you sleep well last night? Did you like the pancakes?"
Huo Xiaolong nodded; she wasn't quite sure how to face this father either.
"Thank you for your hard work, Manager Zhao."
Huo Shuwen sat down next to the little girl and spoke to Zhao Kai.
"It's not hard work at all. I only get to take care of her for a while in the mornings. Usually, she's kept under tight control by Aunt Cen and the other girls."
The atmosphere suddenly became awkward, and no one spoke. The little girl's eyes darted around, looking at this and that.
The little hand took out of the cupboard and grasped the man's hand. His hand was cold, and he wasn't wearing many clothes, but he seemed quite resistant to the cold, as he didn't even have a runny nose.
"You should wear more clothes."
Huo Shuwen was a little embarrassed, so he patted her head and said...
"Okay, Dad will wear more clothes from now on."
The little girl had finished eating, and the man pulled her into his arms, saying...
"Your mother will probably come to see you again later. Talk to her and tell her how you've spent the past year. Do you remember?"
He's about to head into the mountains, so he needs to let the little girl talk to Ayi more so she can get closer to them.
"I remember! What about you?"
"Dad's going hunting in the mountains later. If he catches anything, he'll buy you some snacks."
"Very dangerous"
The little girl is so young that she talks like she's squeezing toothpaste; she really can't control herself. It's already a result of her efforts to be able to speak fluently and coherently so that the other person understands what she's trying to say. Besides, children drool when they talk; they have absolutely no self-control!
"Don't worry, Long'er, your father will definitely come back safely."
Huo Xiaolong nodded. She couldn't interfere with what others wanted to do. This man seemed reliable, so he must have his own plans.
"Should we go home with Dad and take a look?"
Huo Shuwen racked his brains, using every last one of his brain cells, to lure his daughter home.
"I'll go when you get back!"
The girl thought to herself, "I really don't know you well. Won't it be awkward if we meet? Let's talk about it when you get back! Who knows what might happen by then?"
"Alright! Dad's going back now."
The man stood up, bowed to Zhao Kai, and took his leave.
"Your dad's manners are impeccable, little one," Zhao Kai said to the little girl.
"What's wrong?"
"Look at him yesterday and today, he hasn't missed a single courtesy, just like the customs of wealthy families in the capital."
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