A ragged cub at the beginning

When she returned to the shop, the customer was already waiting. She apologized to them. This time, the customers were a young couple. There was enough space between them for another person, but from the look in the girl's eyes, she could tell that they were a couple. However, the man didn't look happy, but the girl looked very excited.

"Please take a seat." Tang Xu led them behind the screen. "Do you have any requirements for the painting?"

The girl blushed, glanced at the man, and said shyly, "I, I want a painting of us worshiping heaven and earth." Her voice was soft and her tone was gentle, which sounded very comfortable.

The man was different. He had a haughty look on his face since he came in. He said impatiently, "How shameless! We haven't even gotten married yet. If people knew that I accompanied you to paint such a picture, how could I put my face aside?"

???

Tang Xu took a look at the man, who was wearing a green robe and had an ordinary appearance. He looked like a human being, but what nonsense was he saying?

The redness on the woman's face faded, and she glanced at Tang Xu, feeling embarrassed and awkward, with red eyes. But she still whispered softly: "But, but it will take you a long time to go to the county school, I, I just want to..."

"The man is unmarried and the woman is unmarried," the man interrupted her, "Why do you put such a portrait at home? If someone sees it, they will think you have no shame." As if realizing that his words were too harsh, he slowed down his voice when he saw the girl's face turn pale, "I am doing this for your own good, you should be more sensible."

Tang Xu thought that even if the girl didn't turn around and leave, she would at least scold him. But she nodded and said, "I know, you are doing this for my own good. I just want to see you when you are not around. I won't show you to others. I will keep it well. We are already engaged, and it has been winter..." She glanced at Tang Xu, and her voice became much softer and unclear.

But Tang Xu could guess that the wedding was probably in winter, but the man had to go to the county school. She didn't understand, after getting married, he couldn't go to school? Was there a conflict?

The man didn't consider that someone nearby was giving her some face, but instead raised his voice, "Then I'm going to the county school, right? You can just wait for me at home. When I pass the exam, I will definitely come back to marry you. Why are you rushing me? Can't I get married?"

Tang Xu clenched his fists when he heard this. The girl was even more embarrassed, but she tried hard to hold back her tears. She stammered, "Then, just draw a random picture."

No way? Girl, do you need cement? You can tolerate this? Did he save your life?

"Well, that's good. When I pass the exam, I will definitely come back to marry you." The man seemed very satisfied with the girl's understanding. He said to Tang Xu arrogantly: "Can you draw well as a girl? My temperament and appearance are not something that ordinary people can draw."

Tang Xu tried to hold back, but couldn't help it, "Why don't you go home and look in the mirror? Without a mirror, can you pee?"

The man was startled, then stood up and swung his sleeves, saying, "How vulgar! Look at the good painter you found!" Perhaps realizing that Tang Xu was a tough guy, he turned around and got angry at the girl, "I've said I won't come anymore. What kind of skills can a woman have? I don't think she can paint! She speaks so vulgarly, what can she paint!"

This time the girl finally shed tears and cried, "Don't be angry, don't be angry, I won't draw anymore."

"I'm going to have a drink!" The man walked to the door and stretched out his hand.

The girl quickly took off her purse and handed it over, sobbing and shouting at him not to be angry, until the man shouted in a fierce voice, "Don't follow me," she stopped.

Tang Xu crossed her arms and watched. The girl turned around and she thought she would be scolded. Unexpectedly, the girl cried and apologized to her softly. This softened Tang Xu's heart. She couldn't help but said, "Girl, why don't you go and see your eyes? Why keep a man like this?"

The girl was stunned for a moment, but then burst into laughter. "Actually, it's not that bad. He is a scholar."

Tang Xu didn't know why she suddenly laughed, and said speechlessly: "What's wrong with a scholar? Can a scholar be used to make a living? If I treat you like this now, do you think you can have a good life after getting married? I can see through your second half of life at a glance." She thought of the scholar she met at the stall, who had no skills, painted poorly, and had average calligraphy. After reading a few books, she felt that she was superior.

The girl lowered her head in thought, then raised her head after a while and said, "He used to be very good to me. I'm sorry for causing you trouble. I won't paint him anymore."

"I'll return your money." Tang Xu said.

"No thanks." The girl said, and turned away.

This period of time was free, and Tang Xu had nothing to do, so he took out the medicated oil and rubbed his wrists.

An old man with a serious expression walked in from outside. She asked him, "Old man, do you want a portrait?"

"Yes." The old man walked slowly to the counter with his hands behind his back, "I want to draw a portrait."

Huh? Tang Xu opened his mouth wide, "Portrait? Whose?"

"Mine, can you draw it?" the old man looked at her and asked.

"Sure." Tang Xu came to his senses and it didn't seem that hard to understand. Nowadays, young people in their 20s all take posthumous photos. This guy looked to be in his s or s, so it wasn't strange.

Just then, the time slot that the girl had reserved was free. She raised her hand and led the old man behind the screen, "Sit here. Black portrait is 15 wen per person, and colored portrait is 200 wen. Which one do you want?" The price was not because of Tang Xu's black color, but because the pigment was too expensive.

"Let's make it colorful." The old man lifted his robe and sat down, and there was a sense of elegance in his movements.

"Okay." Tang Xu dragged over the small shelf with paints next to him. The old man had regular features and a serious face. When he sat, his hands were placed on his knees and his back was straight. He looked like a person who was not easy to talk to. Therefore, Tang Xu did not touch up anything and just painted the old man's current appearance as it was.

The painting process was very quiet, and neither of them spoke. Because it took longer to color, the next customer had arrived, and Tang Xu asked him to wait for a while.

The old man was a very still person, and he didn't even move, even without being urged. His back was straight, his eyes fixed on the easel.

After Tang Xu finished painting, he checked it again twice before asking the old man to come over and take a look.

The old man looked at it for a while, put a piece of silver on the counter, and left silently.

Tang Xu picked it up and knew she had given too much. She was too lazy to weigh it with a small scale and just threw it into the drawer. She looked at the waiting guest and saw that he was a yamen runner. She couldn't help but feel a little nervous.

"Don't be afraid, young lady. I'm off duty now." The bailiff looked kind and explained, "I painted the portrait for my daughter, who is almost three years old. I'm busy on weekdays, so when I go home she's asleep, and when I get up she's not awake. I only get to see her once a month on my day off, and she always forgets about me. I heard that your portrait is great, so I want to paint one and hang it at home so she can see me often."

Tang Xu thought about it and said, "Then I have a suggestion."

"You say." said the bailiff.

"Why don't you bring your family to paint together, and then hang it at home. She will know that you are the father and a member of the family. Isn't it inappropriate to hang only yourself?" Tang Xu asked tentatively.

The bailiff suddenly realized, "That's right! Thank you for reminding me."

Tang Xu said: "Let's make it clear first, but if you draw one more person, you will have to charge one more cent, but my proposal is not to make more money."

The bailiff smiled and said he didn't care. "Nothing, I also felt something was wrong before. Thanks for reminding me."

"Then let me change the time for you? When will you take a day off?" Tang Xu asked.

"What a coincidence, it's tomorrow." said the bailiff happily.

Tang Xu frowned. Tomorrow was the first day for Sister Wan to set up the stall. She did not take any orders and was going to help. But the big brother's rest time could not be changed. After thinking about it, she agreed and asked about the specific time. She was relieved to know that it was in the morning. Of course, they would not sell the braised food early in the morning. They decided to make it in the morning, set up the stall at noon, and close the stall after dinner.

Considering the four girls in Xiaoping Lane, they decided to work there.

The next morning, Dong Wanwan and Fang Yuanqin pushed the cart to Xiaoping Lane. They would first go to get the meat. They were testing the waters on the first day, so they didn't buy much. Eight pig trotters, a pig head, thirty kilograms of pork belly, and some peanuts.

Fang Yuanqin first went to the blacksmith shop to get a custom-made large pot to ensure that all of these could be put in it.

Tang Xu told Fang Zijun not to run around, and then went to the shop to wait for the yamen runner. I thought it would only be a family of three, but I didn't expect grandpa and grandma to come too.

The yamen runner even generously asked for a color painting, and Tang Xu was immediately happy that it didn't delay her rest time.

Fang Zijun and his friends were getting bored playing in the yard every day, so they suggested playing inside. Apart from the living room and the small classroom, they had not been to any other rooms.

Zhao Yunniang disagreed, saying that she couldn't enter Aunt Xu's room because she was a girl. Fang Zijun and the others were all boys, and her mother said that a girl's room couldn't be allowed to boys.

Fang Zijun nodded and said, "Let's go to another room and take a look."

Qiyue thought for a moment and said, "There is another room in our house where my aunt lives. She is also a girl, so we can't go there."

"Aunt? Is there another person at home? Why haven't I seen her?" Fang Zijun was extremely surprised.

Qiyue hummed and said, "Mom said she doesn't like to go out, so I can't disturb her."

Du Jiarui was a little curious and asked, "What is an aunt?"

Qiyue had forgotten a little bit, and frowned and thought for a long time, but couldn't remember what it was, "Aunt is aunt."

"Stupid, aunt is July's sister." Zhao Yunniang said.

"Oh! Is your aunt beautiful? Is she as beautiful as Aunt Xu?" Du Jiarui asked.

Zhao Yunniang's curiosity was also aroused. Aunt Xu was already the most beautiful woman she had ever seen. Would her sister be even more beautiful?

The children's curiosity was strange and persistent, and finally they all decided to go see Aunt July.

"But if we need help looking for her, Aunt Xu said we can't disturb her," said Zhao Yunniang.

Du Jiarui nodded and said with a bitter face: "Then we can't go."

Fang Zijun scratched his head and looked at the teapot on the small table. This was the water Tang Xu had specially prepared for them. They could drink it when they were thirsty. His eyes lit up and he said, "Let's give Auntie some water. She hasn't been out for a long time, so she must be thirsty!"

"Wow, Dandan brother, you are so smart." Qiyue said. He was actually curious. He had only seen her once before, and was blocked by his mother. He had even forgotten what his aunt looked like.

"Hehe..." Fang Zijun smiled and picked up the teapot, "Let's go and give some water to Auntie."

Little did they know that their aunt had heard the whole thing and didn't feel anything towards these kids. She continued to wipe the crossbow in her hand and was ready to ignore them.

Fang Zijun knocked on the door first, but there was no response. He put his ear to the crack of the door and listened, but there was no sound. He leaned over to look, but the door was closed tightly and he could not see anything. "No one?"

"Hey, July, has your aunt gone out?" Zhao Yunniang asked.

"No, I haven't seen her come out. But I saw mother bringing food to me in the morning, so she was there." July said.

"Maybe he fell asleep?" Zhao Yunniang asked.

Du Jiarui pouted, "Then she doesn't want to drink water."

"Um..." Fang Zijun responded in a drawn-out voice. Several children were about to leave dejectedly when suddenly a light click came from inside the door.

However, July's ears caught the sound, and he said excitedly: "Aunt is not asleep, I heard the sound!"

Zhao Yunniang frowned and asked, "Then why didn't she open the door?"

"Maybe you didn't hear me!" Fang Zijun knocked on the door again, "Aunt, drink some water!"

Tang Ling curled up his fingers, a little surprised. Most people would not be able to hear this sound, and it was through the door.

"July, did you hear it wrong?" Zhao Yunniang asked.

"No! Just a click." July was sure.

"I didn't hear it." Du Jiarui said.

"I didn't hear it either." said Zhao Yunniang.

"Me neither." Fang Zijun also didn't hear it.

July was stunned for a moment, "But I really heard it."

Zhao Yunniang tugged at Fang Zijun's sleeve and said, "Forget it, let's go. Maybe Auntie doesn't want to drink water."

Fang Zijun nodded, "Okay, maybe she thinks we are too noisy. My mother always says that I am very noisy and it gives her a headache." After saying that, he was about to leave, but someone stepped on his heel, and he stumbled, and the teapot in his hand fell to the ground.

Several children cried out in surprise and looked at each other in bewilderment at the fragments.

"It's broken, let me clean it up." Qiyue remembered that her mother said this the last time he broke the bowl. As he said this, he reached out to pick up the broken pieces. He didn't know how to use his strength, and his delicate fingers hit the corner of the broken porcelain, and blood flowed out instantly.

Zhao Yunniang wanted to find a broom, so Qiyue squatted down and ended up touching a piece of porcelain, breaking her hand. She immediately screamed, "Ah! It's bleeding!"

"Ouch, it hurts..." July raised his hands and pouted.

Fang Zijun was extremely anxious, not knowing whether it hurt or not and what to do next.

Qiyue's fingers didn't hurt much at first, but after asking more questions, they seemed to hurt more and more, and he couldn't help crying.

"It must be very painful!" Zhao Yunniang took a handkerchief and tried to wipe his wound, but the more she wiped, the more blood came out. She was so scared that she started crying, "What should I do? There is so much blood. Is Qiyue going to die?"

Du Jiarui pinched his chubby face anxiously and said, "Let's go see a doctor."

"We can't go out! And we don't have money to see a doctor!" Fang Zijun scratched his head and suddenly remembered that his mother said that stove ash can stop bleeding. He hurriedly ran to the kitchen and grabbed a handful and brought it back to apply on July.

Zhao Yunniang stopped him, "My mother said that only the dirt scraped from under the eaves can stop the bleeding. What you are doing is wrong!"

"Let's go see a doctor. Everything you talk about is so dirty!" Du Jiarui said.

Tang Ling, who thought that they would be quiet after they left, sighed. Several children outside were arguing, and no one could convince anyone else. In the end, they all burst into tears. While crying, they insisted that their own way was right.