A ragged cub at the beginning

"Mom, why are you holding the bowl?" July opened her eyes wide and looked at her stiff upper body. She didn't even dare to lower her head to eat. It was so strange.

“Uh,” Tang Xu glanced at Tang Ling and said with a dry laugh: “Practice, it’s more powerful to practice like this!”

"You will hold the bowl on your shoulders all day tomorrow. If it falls or you take it down, you will have to hold two more bowls and add another day." After Tang Ling found out that she had used her brother-in-law to trick Tang Yao last night, she gave her this punishment.

She had to go to the kindergarten today to watch over it, holding the bowl on her head, it was so funny. But she didn't dare to take it down, because there was something smeared on the bowl, and it would leave marks if she touched it, so she didn't dare to move it at all.

Tang Xu looked at Tang Ling pitifully, and the other party responded with an expressionless and cold face.

Hey ~

"Xiao Xu, are you going out?" Mrs. Wang happened to be going out, and greeted her warmly when she saw her. Then she asked with a strange look on her face: "Did you know that there is a bowl on your head?"

Tang Xu forced a fake smile, "I know, I'm practicing martial arts, which can improve my balance and..." Forget it, she couldn't make it up anymore, so she said goodbye directly, "I have something else to do, so I'll leave first. Let's talk next time."

"Okay, okay, be careful not to drop the bowl and break it." A white porcelain bowl costs a lot of money, Wang's wife muttered quietly, she is about to marry the mayor, why should she care about a white porcelain bowl? Why should I worry about it.

Tang Xu went to the shop first, and Qi Qing looked at the door idly. "Miss Xu!"

"No business?" Tang Xu asked.

"Yes, let's think of a way, otherwise this shop will have to close." Qi Qingchou said.

"Well, go and collect a batch of fans, both folding fans and round fans, and the fan surfaces should be left empty." Tang Xu didn't have much time to stay in the shop and paint portraits for people now, so he had to find another way.

"Go now?" Qi Qing asked.

Tang Xu thought for a moment and said, "Well, the shop is closed now. I guess it will take a while for this female demon to gain fame. I have to take care of the kindergarten. Go buy some first, buy 20 or 30 of each. If they don't have any, place an order and then come find me at the kindergarten."

"Okay." Qi Qing nodded, "On your head..."

"There is a bowl, I know." Tang Xu gave her the silver and went to the kindergarten.

Tang Yao was sitting on a recliner in the yard. When he saw her, he stood up and was about to call her to task. After all, it had been a night, and his mind had come back to normal. But when he saw the bowl on her head, he immediately laughed with gloating pleasure.

Tang Xu was still counting on him to take charge of security, so he didn't dare to offend him. "Stop laughing, open the door for me."

The kindergarten's main gate was a pair of very large doors with wheels underneath, otherwise they couldn't be pushed. There was also a small door in the yard where Tang Yao lived, which was open during the day and could be locked from the inside by Xingzi and the others at night.

Originally, it would be better to build this small courtyard inside, but Tang Yao is a man, and there are only children and women in the kindergarten, so he was afraid of gossip. Although it was quite far away, this door could not stop Tang Yao at all.

But Tang Xu also considered another point. Building a house at the gate alone was called a gatehouse in ancient times, which was always not very nice. Tang Yao was not an ordinary gatehouse, he was the security captain!

Tang Xu was also afraid that Tang Yao would think too much, so she reserved a separate place and built a small courtyard outside the gate. Not only is there a main house with guest rooms, but there is also a living room, kitchen, toilet, and even a well. It is definitely more than enough for one person to live there. Even if Tang Qing misses his brother one day, it is no problem for him to stay for two days.

"Are you coming over today, A Ling?" Tang Yao opened the gate to the yard and simply left it wide open to avoid the trouble of opening and closing it.

"I'll be here later. If someone comes looking for me, just tell the kids in the yard to call me." Tang Xu pointed at Tang Lele and the others.

"Okay, how much silver do I get a month as a gatekeeper?" Tang Yao asked on a whim.

"How about I not charge you that amount and just give you 10%?" This was also what Tang Xu had thought of. Tang Ling and Tang Yao were really being wasted here, and they actually didn't lack money at all.

"What about A Ling?" Tang Yao asked.

Tang Xu had also thought about this question. "My sister is the deputy director of the garden. She also paid for the construction. She will definitely get a direct share. I will discuss it with her when the time comes."

Tang Yao nodded and turned his gaze to the bowl above her head.

Tang Xu immediately raised her hands to protect them, "Don't do anything bad! If you don't let me have an easy life, I won't let you have an easy life either!" After saying that, she walked away in small steps.

"Tsk", I'm just lazy, not afraid of Tang Ling finding out.

Tang Yao yawned and fell back on the recliner. This wobbly chair was surprisingly comfortable and he began to feel sleepy.

"Mom!" Tang Lele can now call her mom easily.

"Hey," Tang Xu caught Tang Ji who had bumped into him, "Have you had breakfast?"

"I ate! Porridge, pancakes, scrambled eggs, and radishes." Tang Lele directly ordered breakfast.

"Are you all full?" Tang Xu looked at the other children, who nodded and said they were full. They finally believed Tang Xu, and realized that they could be like other children, well fed and well clothed, and only play every day.

Tang Xu was about to nod, but then she thought of the bowl. She patted her chest and said, "Okay, you guys help me keep an eye on the door. If anyone comes looking for me, call me."

"Nia, wow?" Tang Ji chewed his fingers and looked at the top of her head.

"Hey, mom, why do you have a bowl on your head?" Tang Lele asked curiously.

"Why is there a bowl on your head? Did you put it there yourself?" Zhou Yang asked.

"If she puts it down herself, it will definitely fall off. But it doesn't fall off when she walks!" said another child.

“It’s just a long bowl!”

"How can it grow into a bowl? It's not a monster!"

Tang Xu listened to them arguing, and walked to the principal's office without being bothered.

It will be fine tomorrow and I can take it off at night, she consoled herself.

When Qi Qing came over, Tang Xu sat upright. There was nothing he could do, otherwise the bowl would fall.

Qi Qing gritted his teeth and held back his smile. He took out all the fans in the basket, both folding and round fans, but not many, just ten each. "I've got the fans."

"Okay, I'll paint the fan and then put it in the shop to see if I can sell it." Tang Xu touched the material of the fan and wondered what to paint.

Folding fans are painted with flowers such as golden toad winning laurels, carp leaping over the dragon gate, plum, orchid, bamboo and chrysanthemum, which are suitable for men. Round fans are mostly used by women, and are painted with peony, crabapple, rose and other flowers.

Because he couldn't lower his head, Tang Xu could only paint with his hands raised, and instruct Qi Qing to help grind the ink and mix the paint.

She first painted a carp leaping through the dragon gate, with the red carp leaping high, half of its body having passed through the dragon gate. She then used some gold powder to outline the fish, applying a thin layer of powder on the edges of the scales, so that the scales looked as if they were golden.

Just after finishing the painting, Tang Lele ran in and said, "Someone is here to see you. It's a very beautiful lady."

"Oh, this child is so sweet." Madam Wang smiled and followed her in, "Miss Tang, sorry to bother you."

"No, no, just sit anywhere. Qi Qing, help me make some tea." Tang Xu stood up with his neck stiff.

"I..." Mrs. Wang was about to speak when she suddenly saw the bowl on her head. "What about your head?"

"Hey, it's martial arts practice. Even when I walk or talk, my drawings won't fall off." Tang Xu said as he walked over, and the bowl on his head really didn't move at all.

"Really amazing." This hobby is quite unique, and Mrs. Wang reluctantly praised her. When she heard her talking about painting, she subconsciously glanced at the table. Huh? What's that shiny gold? She couldn't help but take two steps closer. "Is this a fan? Carp Leaping Over the Dragon Gate? Oh, this fish looks like it's about to swim out."

"I just drew this, so just take a look at it." Tang Xu said modestly.

"The meaning is good. Did you just draw this?" Seeing that the ink had not yet dried, Mrs. Wang blushed and said, "I wonder if you can give it up? I really like this fan." Mrs. Wang had an older son. She fell in love with the golden and red carp at first sight and thought it was suitable for her son.

"Ah?" Tang Xu didn't expect someone would want the painting right after he finished it. "Then I'll give it to you."

"How can I do this? I'll pay for it." Mrs. Wang held the fan and glanced at the maid behind her. She immediately took out a bulging purse and put it on the table with a dull sound.

"Not so much." Tang Xu was still a little confused.

"A thousand gold coins cannot buy the love of one's heart," Mrs. Wang held up a fan, "I hope my son will have a smooth test this autumn and make it to the Dragon Gate. By the way, I have a little daughter at home, she's five years old, and I came here today just to see you, when will school start here?"

Tang Xu calculated the date and said, "Half a month later, May 1st."

"Okay, you still have so many unpainted fans here? Can you paint another one for me?" Mrs. Wang looked at the blank ones with envy. When she saw the round fan among them, her eyes lit up. "Can this silk fan be painted?"

"Sure, what kind of flowers do you like? Or something else?" Tang Xu glanced at the purse. It was enough to buy a box of fans.

"Flowers, peonies!" Mrs. Wang stroked her temples and sat aside, waiting, complimenting, "Miss Tang is really talented. She is so good at painting that she can even open a school. I wonder if this school will teach painting. If my daughter can learn even 10% or 20% of it, it will be enough."

"I can teach, but it depends on talent." Tang Xu replied.

Mrs. Wang finally looked away from the fan and looked at the bowl again. "Will it really not fall off?" "Does one have to practice this before learning painting?" "Let Wang Rouer try it when she gets home."

"Mom, someone is looking for you." Tang Lele came in with someone else.

The husband's family name of the person who came was Wu. She and Madam Wang had always been at odds with each other. Whenever they met, they would be at loggerheads. "Isn't this Madam Wang? You came so early. Yesterday you said this place was too shabby, but you're the first one to come? You didn't send your concubine's daughter here, did you?"

Mrs. Wang ignored her. She had just gotten something good and was happy for a short time. She didn't want to spoil her mood. She raised her hand, carefully examined the nail polish on her hand, and pretended not to hear.

Seeing that she didn't respond, Mrs. Wu shook her handkerchief. Turning around, she saw Tang Xu holding a fan and painting, with a bowl on his head and his back stiff. This was weird and didn't look reliable. She frowned, but thought that the Wang family had already sent it, so she couldn't let her daughter take advantage of it.