A ragged cub at the beginning

Tang Xu climbed onto the bed in pain, buried his face in Qiyue's neck and sobbed. Qiyue giggled and twisted like a caterpillar, "Itchy~ Hahahaha... Itchy~"

"Hey, aren't you ticklish?" Tang Xu raised his head and tickled July's belly and waist with his hands. His face had turned red from laughing before, but now he didn't react at all. He just grinned at her.

She tried to scratch his neck again, and he immediately shrank his neck and dodged with a smile.

Weird, is there anyone who is only ticklish on the neck? Tang Xu was a little curious, but he didn't want to bother Qiyue at night, in case he was too excited to sleep.

She lay down, held the baby in her arms, and began today's story. She only remembered the general plot of many stories, and made up all the details. Qiyue still listened with gusto and fell asleep soon.

Tang Xu looked at his peaceful sleeping face and suddenly realized that he had been raised by him to be like a normal child. He was not fat, but he had baby fat, and his face was plump. His arms became round and full of soft flesh.

She thought of Du Jiarui and his uncle again. The corners of her mouth couldn't help but curl up, and her heart felt like someone had poured a spoonful of honey on it. So this is what it feels like to be in love? So sweet! Oh~ She covered her face to hide the corners of her mouth that were curling up crazily, and rolled around on the bed. She didn't expect that the first person she liked liked her, and also hit her aesthetic points in various ways. What kind of good luck is this?

Was it the pain of her family members leaving her one after another in her previous life? Did her parents feel sorry for her and ask for the opportunity to travel through time? Where did the original owner go? Was she living in the present or had she already passed away? Did Tang Ling know that she had changed her heart?

With her head full of distracting thoughts, Tang Xu had a dream all night. First, she dreamed that she was being chased by Tang Ling, and then she turned and ran into an alley, but was pulled into someone's arms. It was an embrace with a familiar sandalwood scent, and a warm breath sprayed on her face. She widened her eyes and held her breath. What? Is it coming? Are we going to kiss?

Maybe she was too nervous or something, but she woke up just like that. Qiyue rolled over at some point, her face facing hers, her breath spraying on her face...

Tang Xu beat her chest in her heart, just a little bit more! She quickly closed her eyes, hoping to continue the dream.

As a result, the second half of the night was another dream. She dreamed that she woke up in the ward in modern times. Doctors and nurses surrounded her. She was so scared that she pulled down the infusion stand, making a loud bang.

"Ouch, be careful!" It was Qi Qing's voice.

Tang Xu woke up, and could still vaguely hear Qi Qing's voice outside the door. She yawned weakly, ah, her knees hurt more, and her arms were not feeling well either. Slowly moving outside, Tang Qing was wearing a new set of clothes, and her eyes were red.

Qi Qing looked at him to see if his clothes fit him well.

"What's wrong? Where did the clothes come from?" Tang Xu said and yawned again.

"Did I wake you up? Sister Xiao Tao told me yesterday to make an outer garment for Tang Qing first. It's not a good thing for her to be without clothes all the time. She will make an inner garment for her and bring it over later." Qi Qing said with a smile, "There is some extra fabric from the previous purchase."

"That's a good thing," Tang Xu said, looking into Tang Qing's eyes and teasingly said, "Why do you look like you're crying? Are you so moved?"

"Who is touched! No, no," Tang Qing wanted to say, "It's just a piece of clothing," but he couldn't say anything disdainful. It was more than just a piece of clothing. No one had ever made clothes for him personally. He pursed his lips and whispered, "Thank you, sister."

Qi Qing smiled gently and patted his shoulder.

Tang Xu wanted to tease him but couldn't. The child looked so pitiful. "Does the clothes fit you? Oh, I'm hungry. I'll go cook."

"Let me do it! I've already cooked the porridge. Can you tell me what dishes you want to eat?" Qi Qing said hurriedly.

Tang Xu paused, "You don't have to do these things, you just need to work in the shop."

"I want to eat too." Qi Qing didn't care. She lived a very easy life here, so easy that she felt uneasy and always wanted to do something.

"Okay then. My hands are a bit strained." Tang Xu went to the kitchen to wash up tremblingly. Tang Qing rolled her eyes at her from behind and thought: Are these the two beauties from Xinchen?

Two days later, Wang Hong and the other three girls moved to Zhao's house, and Qi Qing took the initiative to move in. Tang Qing didn't know why she didn't leave, but moved into Qi Qing's original room.

On the day the braised meat shop opened, the whole alley was filled with the aroma of braised meat. Before the meat was even delivered to the shop, it was already bought by neighbors on both sides.

The Fang family kitchen and the Zhao family kitchen, now it can’t be called the Zhao family kitchen, it’s called the staff dormitory, the two kitchens braise the meat together and then send it to the shop after braising.

While the meat was being stewed in the kitchen, Tang Qing was watching the children hitting the wooden man in the yard, yawning in boredom. Tang Xu was being beaten up and down by Tang Ling with a stick in the Tang family yard, but it was not without some effect. Some of the movements in her memory could finally be put into practice. Tang Xu found this and became enthusiastic, and she stopped yelling about the pain.

Her portrait shop was also ready for business. During the few days of rest, her wrist no longer hurt from time to time, but other parts of her body hurt all over, Tang Ling was spasming.

She had received reservations and went to every store to reschedule. Most people were easy to talk to. After all, it was not her fault. Who would have thought that someone would smash the door and wall of the store?

It was hard to talk to him, so Tang Xu just drew it for free.

On the day the shop reopened, the prince who was thought to have left walked in with two guards. Qi Qing had never seen such a great man, who looked so noble, and she turned around and called Tang Xu.

Tang Xu was still drawing for the guest. He was stunned for a moment before he stood up. Just as he was about to bow, he was stopped by his eyes. "I heard that you are very good at painting, so I came here today to see you."

Heard? I'm afraid he's been watching me all day.

"It's just average. Thank you for the compliment, Master Miao." Guessing that he might not want to reveal his identity, Tang Xu changed his address and said in a neither humble nor arrogant manner, "If you want a portrait, please wait a moment."

"How dare you! How dare you let the young master..." The guard glared at him, but was interrupted by King Jin, "Let's wait."

"Qi Qing, pour tea for the guests, I'll be ready soon." Tang Xu said no more and continued to paint behind the easel. He thought to himself that this day was not good. If he had known earlier, he would have asked Sister Wan to check the almanac. He had just been assassinated and was free to wander around. I wonder if this prince is too idle or is really not afraid of death.

The King of Jin sat on a chair with his back against the screen, looked around, and saw the paintings on the opposite wall. The paintings were of people, in the toddler stage, in the ignorant and curious youth stage, in the vigorous youth stage, in the mature and stable middle-aged stage, and in the old age stage.

She drew a man and a woman from each period, with the right expressions and movements, and one could tell their ages at a glance. He couldn't help but secretly praise her, no wonder she was able to open a shop with this skill, he really underestimated her.

When it was Prince Jin's turn, he sat upright and said, "Miss Tang is quite skilled."

"It's just to support the family, not worth mentioning." Tang Xu put away the brushes, "What kind of painting do you want, Your Highness? Black, color, all are fine."

"I heard that you can draw how old people look. Just now I saw portraits of people at different ages on the wall. Please draw my life." King Jin said, and the guard behind him handed him a gold ingot. "If you draw well, this is your reward. If you don't draw well..." He didn't finish.

Tang Xu's heart skipped a beat. Why did he keep looking for trouble? What if I can't draw well? I'm just a lousy painter! Will I go to jail if I can't draw well? She complained madly in her heart, and showed hesitation on her face. She said, "The appearance deduced by bone structure is actually not accurate. In addition to bone structure, temperament, mood, and fatness and thinness will also have some impact on appearance. I'm afraid I will disappoint His Highness."

He was quite clever, and was not moved by the gold. King Jin chuckled and said, "Forget it, just paint."

Tang Xu didn't dare to think about the gold ingot, and looked carefully at his facial features and body proportions for a while. This prince was actually not easy to draw. His pampered life made him naturally majestic and his temperament was different from that of ordinary people. She observed carefully for a long time before she started to draw.

King Jin couldn't see her face, he could only see the vertical easel and a bit of her head. He propped his chin up with his hand and glanced at the corner of the wall, where the damaged wall had been repaired without a single trace.

There are five age stages in a person's life, and the King of Jin is in his youth. Among them, childhood and old age are more difficult to paint, and Tang Xu needs imagination, so he paints very slowly. Fortunately, there are no more customers, and it is almost lunch time, so Qi Qing comes over and reminds him quietly.

"Go back and eat first, then rest for a while and come back." Tang Xu said without raising his head.

"Did I bring you the food?" Qi Qing asked.

"No need."

The guard of King Jin reacted and lowered his head to ask if they wanted to have lunch now.

The King of Jin sat for a long time, but his patience ran out. He stood up and said, "Why don't we have lunch first and then paint?"

Tang Xu was delighted and stood up respectfully, saying, "Your Highness, you may go and use it first. I have already drawn the draft here. It doesn't matter if you are not here. You can have someone come and get the drawings later." Let's go, let's go quickly.

"Miss Tang doesn't seem to like me very much?" Prince Jin said, but he did not look angry.

Tang Xu was shocked. How could he be seen? She raised her eyes and secretly glanced at him. Seeing that he was not angry, she said, "I dare not, but the prince has an extraordinary temperament. I am a little nervous and scared."

"Oh?" King Jin laughed, but his voice became cold, "Let's go."

Finally gone! Tang Xu exhaled, looked at the draft, and continued to work. Without anyone watching, she relaxed and painted faster.

Qi Qing ate a few bites and rushed over. He was relieved to find that the young man had left. "Girl, go back and eat. Sister Xiaotao saved some for you."

"Okay, then you take care of the shop." Tang Xu stretched and moved his neck and wrists. He urgently needed to go back and take a few bites of the cub to replenish his energy.

Tang Xu hummed a song as he walked towards home. When he reached the entrance of the alley, he saw a carriage parked in front of the Du family's door. Du Yun got off the carriage first, then lifted the curtain and helped an old man get off. The old man was Mr. Qi whom he had met at the post station before. After Mr. Qi got off the carriage, there was another old man behind him who was about the same age as Mr. Qi and looked familiar.

Du Yun helped the teacher and the headmaster out of the car and was about to invite them in. Suddenly, he turned around with a sense of something, and his calm face relaxed in the sunlight. "Teacher, headmaster, please go in first, I will follow."

How can someone's smile be more beautiful than the sun? Is this reasonable? Tang Xu couldn't see the happy smile on his face, which was also as bright as the morning sun.

"Let's go back and have dinner?" Du Yun walked over briskly, stretched out his right hand and then restrainedly retracted it.

"Yes, are you coming back for dinner at this time?" Tang Xu glanced at him and lowered his head in embarrassment. How about getting married? Who can stand this?

"Yes, we invited the teacher and the headmaster together." Du Yun explained, rubbing his sleeves with the fingertips of his right hand. Miss Tang's face was so red, he wondered if it would burn his hands.

"Well, then you go quickly. I'm hungry. I'm going to go back and eat." Tang Xu couldn't stand the burning gaze and turned and slipped away.

Du Yun watched her back, feeling lost. Just as he was about to leave, he saw the person who was walking away suddenly turned back, and seemed to be stunned for a moment when he saw him, and then waved at him. He walked back with his head down, and the teacher and the headmaster had not yet entered, with a meaningful smile on their faces.

"If you are so reluctant to let her go, why don't you marry her back home quickly?" Qi Yunchang teased.

"This girl looks familiar." Ji Ming frowned and thought.

"The headmaster might have seen him. He used to set up a stall in Shuxiang Street to paint portraits. Later, because a scholar who was expelled spread rumors, the academy added two classes for him." Du Yun explained.

"Oh, that girl. She's really good at it. I have a painting of hers at home." Ji Ming remembered it, but this girl was out in the limelight and interacted with a lot of people every day. She didn't seem to be a good match. He glanced at Mr. Qi and saw that he didn't seem to care. Du Yun himself had no objection, and his teacher had no objection either, so why should I say anything?

Tang Xu got home, hugged Qiyue who came to meet him and took two deep breaths. The child smelled really good, not milk. After all, there was no milk to drink. Should I give the children some milk to supplement calcium?

After taking a nap and eating, Tang Xu recharged herself and returned to the shop to finish the painting in one go. As soon as she put down her pen, she heard Du Yun's voice. She thought she was hallucinating.

"Miss Tang." Du Yun brought the teacher in. The headmaster had something to do, so he left after dinner.

"Du Yun, Mr. Qi." Tang Xu came out and invited everyone to sit down, and Qi Qing came over to pour tea.

"Good, the lines are completed in one go, the expressions are vivid, and the colors are even. It shows that he has some skills." Qi Yunchang took one look at the painting on the opposite wall and stroked his beard while praising it.

"Hehe, it's okay, I can make a living." Tang Xu said with a silly smile.

Qi Yunchang frowned slightly, this sentence was a bit utilitarian. But thinking about her being a girl, supporting herself and a child without any relatives, it seemed understandable. It was just to survive, if her skills could bring smiles to her family, then what's wrong with that? He was a frank child, he chuckled: "I have seen many students who have worked hard for their studies, but they have never thought about supporting themselves. Miss Tang is better than many people."

"No, no, I wouldn't. I hope Mr. Qi doesn't think I'm only interested in money." Tang Xu hung his hands, feeling nervous as if he was meeting a parent.