"Mom, when will Dad come back?"
"Your dad's only been gone a few days, and you already miss him?"
"Yeah, without him, there's no one to chop wood for me."
"..."
He Yi, who was mixing ointment with a bamboo spatula, sighed as she listened to her daughter's words. Who in the family doesn't want to? She wondered if the three men could take good care of themselves while they were away.
"I'm going to make something for Dad, Mom," Huo Xiaolong said, sliding off the bed.
Ancient cold weapons had their advantages; at least as long as the defense was high enough, you wouldn't die. Little Tuanzi has been researching chainmail armor these past few days. How come those things in TV shows and books are so easy to make?
"You have to twist the gold and iron wires together first before you can braid it."
"Why do we need to put gold thread in it, Uncle Lu?"
"Gold thread is softer and fits better in motion, while iron wire is so stiff."
"The whole thing has to be covered in gold thread?"
"yes"
Huo Xiaolong looked at the few silver notes in his purse. Well, they were gone again. He had to do it, even if it was expensive. He could only feel at ease if he wore it.
"What's your rush? Your father won't be back until next month, will he?" Lu Feigong looked at Huo Xiaolong counting silver notes in front of him, a little envious. He really had a lot of money. This little guy could earn more than him.
"Once it's done, I can take it to my dad and see him!"
"Hey? Why don't you do it for me, Uncle Lu!"
Lu Feigong dodged, showing her the room full of wood, and then said...
"I haven't finished decorating your sisters' rooms yet. There are still three rooms that haven't been renovated. Your mother-in-law, Cen, also asked me to modify the hidden mechanisms in her rooms. She complains that you guys always go in to play, and those little maids clean them too thoroughly for her, not to mention your chariots."
Huo Xiaolong curled his lip, then said
"What about Brother Wangji?"
"She's busy; she has to read with your sister Mando tonight."
"What about during the day?"
"During the day, I'll have Sister Mando modify the darkroom."
"..."
"It's not finished yet?"
"Yeah, I see."
"Uncle Lu, why don't you call some more men over? We need to hurry up with the chariots!"
Just as Lu Feigong was about to ask if they thought all his Mohist disciples were carpenters, he saw Huo Xiaolong holding up a stack of silver notes.
The man swallowed hard and said
"Well... it's not entirely impossible."
"Yeah, you must be exhausted doing it all by yourself. My family provides such good food, and you've already lost weight."
The body armor was completed in three days thanks to the girl's financial resources. Looking at the three breastplates laid out on the bed, He Yi patted her daughter's head and said...
"Why do we have to go now? Can't we wait for your dad to come back and get it?"
"Mother, please, I miss Father and Brother."
Since her daughter came home, He Yi hadn't made any substantial requests of her, except perhaps for things like not wanting to go to school or what she wanted to eat for dinner. Seeing her daughter's tears welling up, He Yi nodded.
"Okay, I'll take you to see them tomorrow."
"Mother is the best!"
Huo Xiaolong ran to the brothel and told Cen's mother the news.
"Mom can't get away these few days, how about Master Miao goes with you?"
The little girl nodded.
"good"
Miao Cuifang was mainly responsible for the safety of the group. Cen Ang originally wanted to go along, but it wouldn't be appropriate for her to be a third wheel when the couple was having a get-together.
This job suits Miao Cuifang best. The boy isn't very bright, but he just perches up in a tree. Give him a storybook and some melon seeds, and he won't come down unless you call him.
Spring Cherry Blossoms
"mom"
"Tomorrow, Long'er is going to visit those people from the Huo family with her mother. Do you want to come along?"
Mother Cen called Chunying to her side and asked...
The girl lowered her head and thought for a moment. She hadn't been working much lately, and besides, she had just returned from playing in Beining, so it wasn't good for her to leave the building.
I'm not going.
Cen Ang seemed to sense her concerns and smiled as he spoke.
"Go if you want. You've been in my brothel for so long, haven't you made me any less money? To put it bluntly, I'm not a good person. I already dragged you into this filthy place. Whatever you want to do, I, as your mother, will try not to restrict you."
"mom……"
Chunying knelt down on the ground with a thud.
"If it weren't for you, I don't know where the sisters in this building would be now..."
Cen's mother raised her hand to interrupt the girl, and continued...
"Mom can't teach you anything, but there's one thing: life is only about a hundred years long. To have someone you love is already a blessing. Beyond sleeping, eating, growing up, and growing old, every day you spend together is one less day you have left. My sons, don't wait until you're in your coffin to regret it."
The girl understood Cen Ang's meaning. She placed her hands on her forehead and solemnly bowed deeply to the woman before her.
"Thank you for your guidance, Mom. I understand."
Life goes on, but once this life is over, there will be no next life.
Riding the sunrise of the next day, Chunying still went with the Huo family, along with Erya. Neither she nor Erhei had any relatives, although such matters were not important in the brothel and the Huo family.
But as her junior sister, she had to at least check on how her senior brother was doing in the military camp. A few days ago, when they came back, her big, silly senior brother had slept for a whole day.
The road at the foot of the mountain in early spring is quiet and mysterious. In the morning, a thin mist swirls around the mountain like a veil, and the little dumpling closes her eyes to feel the slightly cool breeze.
The air is so fresh, so much better than in my previous life.
The road ahead appeared even brighter under the sunlight. Sunlight filtered through the sparse clouds, illuminating the path ahead.
"Mom! Look! It looks like Grandpa Gu's carriage up ahead!"
A flag with ancient characters was stuck on the carriage; it was a medical banner, and a medical bell was tied to the bottom of the flag.
"Grandpa Gu~"
Huo Xiaolong stuck his head out of the window and shouted, causing Doctor Gu, who was brewing tea in the carriage, to flinch.
It must be an auditory hallucination, otherwise how could I hear the voice of that spendthrift doctor? He should really take better care of his health as he gets older.
"Grandpa Gu~"
"Master, it's the Huo family's carriage," the boy said through the door.
The old man took a deep breath. Every time he saw Huo Xiaolong, he felt the same way—a mixture of love and hate.
I love the medicinal herbs she casually tosses me, but I hate that she doesn't take them seriously. The main problem is that this child is still so tactless; she's a year older but seems to have barely grown, always picking on people's sore spots.
"Grandpa Gu, where are you going?"
Doctor Gu lifted the curtain on the carriage and said
"I'm going to the military camp. I heard you've been going to school recently. What brings you out to play today?"
"Uncle Zhao has been in seclusion writing articles these past few days. I finished writing all my large characters a few days ago. I'm going to the military camp too, Grandpa Gu."
"What are you going to the military camp for? That's not a place for kids to go wandering around. What if the blood and gore scare you?"
Gu Shilin still dotes on Huo Xiaolong, if the boy doesn't say anything offensive.
"It's alright, Grandpa Gu, I'm brave! It's just that... I miss my dad."
As the little girl spoke, she pouted, her words implying a hint of resentment towards Huo Shuwen.
The old man stroked his beard a couple of times. No wonder Huo Shuwen entrusted all the family's medicinal herbs to this little girl. Who could resist her pitiful appearance?
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