A ragged cub at the beginning

As soon as the sunlight shone through the window, Tang Xu opened his eyes. Another beautiful day began!

She yawned and looked at July who was sleeping soundly. She didn't know if it was an illusion, but July seemed to have gained a little weight. Not really fat, but her face had a little flesh.

Tang Xu stretched out his index finger and touched her face. The first feeling was that it was soft and not firm, unlike Du Jiarui's, which was soft, elastic and firm. But after applying facial cream for a few days, her skin became smooth.

Just as I was thinking about it, I met a pair of clear, dark eyes with a hint of uneasiness.

"Good morning, July baby." Tang Xu smiled, touched his hair, and kissed him on the forehead.

July covered her forehead and shrank back shyly.

"It's time to get up." Tang Xu lifted the quilt and was about to get out of bed, but she felt her sleeves being pulled. She turned around and asked, "Why? Do you want to sleep a little longer?"

"Will you leave?" Qiyue looked at her steadily, and fear seemed to return to her eyes. "Will she come back?"

Tang Xu understood this incoherent sentence. She had been wondering why Qiyue was not afraid of her, when it was this body that abused him before. It turned out that he had already noticed the difference. Tang Xu was shocked by his sharpness, but she thought it was normal. The cubs almost lived by their innate intuition. She acted and talked differently from the original owner, and even her eyes were very different. How could Qiyue, who lived with her day and night, not notice it?

Thinking of this, she gently embraced July in her arms and said softly, "I won't leave, and she won't come back."

"Then can I still call mom?" July asked in a low voice.

"Of course! You are my son!" Tang Xu ruffled his hair. It was dry, frizzy and not very comfortable to touch. By the way, is there any conditioner?

July leaned on her shoulder and nodded heavily. Suddenly, her mouth pursed and she burst into tears.

This was the first time that July cried. He would cry every night, but his tears would flow silently with his mouth open. Every time people saw it, they felt suffocated and heartbroken.

Tang Xu has been a person with strong empathy since she was a child. In the past, when she watched TV dramas, even if the acting was terrible, she couldn't help choking up when she saw others crying. She wiped her tears while cursing and vowed never to watch rubbish TV dramas again. She couldn't read any texts that were slightly abusive, and she would cry when she saw touching ones. Sometimes she was annoyed with herself for doing this, but she couldn't control it.

Tang Xu stopped smiling, his voice was soothing and bewitching, "No one will beat you anymore, and I won't let you go hungry. Let's live a good life together. I'll teach you to read and write, and teach you to draw. We'll fly kites in the spring, go fishing in the summer, have picnics in the fall, and build snowmen in the winter. I'll accompany you to grow up, and you'll grow into a handsome guy, with little girls following you every day, okay?"

Qiyue listened to her words. There were many words he didn't understand, but he thought they must be very interesting. He couldn't help laughing softly, and a snot bubble came out of his nose. He blew it with his mouth in surprise, and the bubble burst. He tried to blow another bubble with his nose.

"Okay, blow your nose on my clothes!" Tang Xu pretended to be fierce and lifted July in front of him, tickling his armpits with both hands.

July was startled at first, and then he felt a scratching sensation in his armpits. He tilted his head and looked at his mother, as if asking what game this was?

"You're not ticklish?" Tang Xu scratched his belly desperately. Qiyue was still looking at him curiously, but his belly made a gurgling sound.

"Are you hungry? Get up, get up!" While waiting for the two to get up, the sun had already risen high.

Fang Zijun took advantage of his mother washing clothes and lay on the wall to watch for a long time. Finally, when people came out, he looked at the sun and felt that he had caught Aunt Xu's pigtails. He said happily: "Aunt Xu! You just got up? You little lazy pig! Hehehe..."

Hey! Tang Xu was happy, and said with his hands on his waist: "Brat! Come here! Recite ten sentences for me today!"

Fang Zijun immediately became cowardly and clasped his hands together begging for mercy, "I was wrong! I was wrong! Forgive me!"

"Come down quickly!" I can't cure you yet! Tang Xu smiled complacently and opened the door to let Fang Zijun in. She took a bucket to fetch water and boiled water to prepare for washing, and she washed herself casually with cold water.

"Aunt Xu!" Fang Zijun completely forgot what had just happened and kept circling around Tang Xu.

"Go buy me four," she said, glancing at Fang Zijun, guessing that he should have had breakfast, but as a child, he could still eat a few more bites even if he was full. She changed her words and said, "Six buns back."

"No problem!" Fang Zijun took the money and ran out like a rabbit.

The three of them had two buns each for breakfast. Tang Xu was watching over the stove, boiling the medicine while testing the two on what they had learned yesterday.

"Wow, brother July is so great! He drank such a bad-smelling medicine in one go." Fang Zijun looked at the empty bowl in surprise. He felt like vomiting when he smelled the medicine.

"Of course July is great! July is the best baby in the world! Eat a piece of cake to press him down." Tang Xu stuffed a piece of osmanthus cake into his mouth and gave another piece to Fang Zijun.

"Is this osmanthus cake? It smells so good!" Du Jiarui, who had come in at some point, looked at it eagerly, his mouth watering.

Tang Xu gave him a piece with a smile, "You have one too."

The little fat boy was holding a pile of white paper from somewhere, and when he saw the food, he let go. The white paper fell to the ground and scattered all over the floor, and three brushes rolled out of it. "Ah!" He looked at the cakes, then at the paper and brush, feeling a little embarrassed, and looked at Tang Xu, "Aunt Tang, this is for you from your uncle."

"For me?" Tang Xu picked them up one by one. The paper seemed better than her 150-cent paper, and the three brushes were new. Probably the scholar was thanking her for teaching the child to read. I didn't expect him to be so generous. Yesterday, I heard Sister Wan call him Master. Is he the Master of the Academy? Or the Master of her own school? He should be from the Academy, as he is busy with classes on weekdays. If he opened his own school, there would be no need for the child to bring things here.

This paper was better than hers, but it was also worse than the 500-wen-a-piece paper I saw last time. If she had time every day to teach her to accept it, she would have accepted it, but now that she had to go out to set up a stall, this gift was a bit heavy. She looked at Du Jiarui and said, "I can't accept this. I'll keep a few pieces of paper and a pen, and you can take the rest back, okay?"

Du Jiarui shook his head, and the flesh on his face trembled like little jelly, "No, my uncle won't let me take it back."

Tang Xu didn't make things difficult for him, thinking that he could return it the next time they met.

It's just that it's so formal now, but the children don't even have a desk to write on. I have to go to the carpenter's shop later to order three sets of tables and chairs so that they don't have to squat on the ground to write with small wooden sticks.

She had thought about having the children at the dinner table, but they were not tall enough to put their elbows on the table.

Half an hour passed in a flash, and Tang Xu asked Fang Zijun to take Du Jiarui out to play. He locked the door, took Qiyue by the hand, and went out with the easel on his back.

She went to the carpenter's shop first and told the boss about the size requirements. It was the first time for the boss to meet someone who made a table specifically for children, so he took note of her requirements carefully.

Tang Xu paid the deposit and walked to the door, where a few square stools came into view. She suddenly remembered that she couldn't paint while standing, and Xiao Qiyue couldn't stand by and wait.

But the solid wood stools were heavy and large. She couldn't carry three by herself. The boss listened to her concerns and said there were bamboo woven ones, which were lighter. There was also one that could be disassembled and was convenient to carry.

She decisively asked for something that could be disassembled and assembled, as she had less money in her pocket.

The owner of the carpenter shop helped her dismantle the three stools and tied them up with ropes so she could carry them.

Then we came to the east Shuxiang Street, which is close to Qinghe Academy. It was not called this name originally. It was renamed because there are many bookstores and readers nearby.

This was what Dong Wanwan told her. Her husband was a peddler who went from street to street. He knew a lot and would tell Dong Wanwan about any strange and new things he encountered on a daily basis.

This place is managed by the government, so it is very safe and reliable. But the rent is very expensive, and Dong Wanwan is not sure how expensive it is, so she asked her to come and ask.

Tang Xu came to ask today, 20 wen a day, 500 wen a month, 2 liang and 9 qian for half a year, 5 liang for a year. This price is very expensive for a small vendor with low profit, but it is still good for her.

She thought about it and paid for one day first. The clerk gave her a sign and pointed out a location. The sign said North 23, so she guessed it was North 23.

Because the rent is expensive, there are not many stalls here. She walked and looked at calligraphy and paintings, pottery and porcelain, sculptures, etc. There are not many food stalls, and she has never seen steamed buns and cakes. Maybe the profit is not enough.

There is a stall selling mutton and mutton offal soup, served with crispy and fragrant sesame cakes, which smells very appetizing.

Let’s have lunch here!

I found my stall, drew a square on the ground, and wrote North 23 on it.

She assembled the easel and stool, wrote 'Sketch Portrait, 15 People' on a piece of paper and hung it on the back of the easel.

"Xiao Qiyue, mother is going to start working now. You have to be good and call me if you have anything. Don't leave by yourself, okay?" Tang Xu warned seriously.

July opened her little mouth and agreed softly, "Okay."

Tang Xu sat behind the easel and used Qiyue as a model for his painting. Little Qiyue sat obediently on the small stool, holding her chin, looking very cute.

People passing by couldn't help but look at this strange woman, but no one came forward to ask.

The man selling porcelain next door looked at her again and again, and couldn't help asking curiously: "Girl, what kind of business are you doing?"

"A portrait," Tang Xu replied with a smile, and turned the July painting he had just drawn to the elder brother, "Look, it's like this."

"Wow!" Jiang Quan recognized the child in the painting at a glance. He looked at it again and again and exclaimed, "It's exactly the same! So similar!"

Jiang Quan's voice was already loud, and it became even louder because of shock. It even attracted two passers-by to stop and ask, "What does it look like?"

"Paintings, they are exactly the same!" Jiang Quan was surprised himself, and when he heard someone asking, he also wanted to shock others. "Come and see, come and see."

"It's a great painting, both in form and spirit!" The passerby was wearing a long robe, thin, and looked to be in his fifties. He turned around and asked Tang Xu, "Miss, did you draw this?"

Tang Xu nodded and took the opportunity to sell, "Yes, fifteen cents per person, would you like one?"

The man hesitated for a while, but looked at Tang Xu with a look of distrust. In his opinion, at this age, as a girl, it is impossible for her to have such skills. In order to prove his idea, he didn't mind wasting a little time, but if it took too long, it wouldn't work. So he asked, "How long does it take to paint a picture like this?"

"Less than two quarters of an hour." Tang Xu replied.

"Okay." The man paid and sat on the bench. It was obvious that he was well-educated, and even when he sat on the small bench, his back never bent.

"Just sit wherever you want, as long as you don't leave suddenly." Tang Xu said as he carefully observed the other person's facial features, and after a while he began to write.

Listening to the sound of the girl's pen quickly scratching the paper, Wen Songxin couldn't help but smile, thinking that he was really old and idle. Thinking of this, he stood up and prepared to leave, and the money was just given to the girl.

"?" Tang Xu looked up again and found that the man was about to leave, so he quickly called him: "Uncle, it will be done soon, please don't move."

"It will be ready soon?" Wen Songxin stopped and said, "Let me take a look."

"Yes, just a little bit." Tang Xu looked at the person again and added the details.

"Great! You really painted it?" Wen Songxin frowned. The brushstrokes were no different from before. As expected, one cannot judge a person by appearance. He smiled and shook his head, bowed to Tang Xu, and left with the painting.

There was only one guest in the morning. At noon, the sun above made her feel dizzy, and beads of sweat dripped from the ends of her hair. She wiped her sweat and wished she could cut her clothes into short sleeves on the spot. Her mouth was dry, so thirsty, I need some water! Tang Xu was a little annoyed. Zhuan Tou found that July's mouth was dry and white, and sweat kept dripping on her face. He felt very distressed.

"Let's go eat mutton soup!" Tang Xu pulled July and left. The stall was not far away and anyone who came over could see it.

I ordered a bowl of mutton soup, which was as big as July's head. One bowl cost 25 cents, and sesame cakes cost 2 cents each, so I ordered three. The money I earned in the morning was not enough for lunch.

The soup is ready and served quickly. The sesame cakes are freshly baked and take a little longer.

When the boss saw that she was bringing a child, he gave her a small bowl.

She thanked him gratefully. The soup was expensive, but very filling. There were five pieces of mutton in the big bowl, all of which were not small. There were also some mutton offal, which smelled of pepper.

"Eat, or drink some soup first? Are you thirsty?" Tang Xu filled a small bowl for Qiyue. Seeing that his lips were peeling, she felt very distressed. Otherwise, it would be better to leave it at home and give it some silver, and ask Sister Wan to help take care of it. It would be better than going out with her in the wind and sun. Thinking of this, she touched Qiyue's little face and said, "Qiyue, how about you go to Brother Dandan's house to play next time? Mom can go out alone."

Ye Qiyue was stunned at first, then looked incredulous and aggrieved, her soft mouth turned down, her eyes were red, and tears were about to burst out.

"Why are you crying? Don't cry, don't cry!" Tang Xu was at a loss, "Why are you crying? Don't you want to go to Brother Dandan's house?"

"I'll be good...take me, I'll be good." July said stutteringly and nodded vigorously, as if to prove that he was really a good boy.

"It's not that you're not being good, it's just that the sun is too strong. Since you want to follow, let's go buy an umbrella tomorrow?" After saying this, Tang Xu realized that he had missed a lot of things. It would be great if he had a small cart. Like the modern mobile food carts, it can hold a lot of things. Food, water, pens and paper, benches and easels can all be loaded. He can even let Qiyue sit in the cart, so he doesn't have to use his short legs to walk so far.

She was wondering whether she should go back today, but she hadn't earned back the money for the booth and lunch.

Qiyue didn't know what she was thinking. He licked his slightly itchy mouth, looked at the mutton soup in front of him and asked, "Can I eat it?"

Tang Xu collected his thoughts and touched the small bowl. It was no longer hot. "Eat it!"

"The sesame cakes are here." The boss put down the plate with the cakes, "Eat slowly, be careful of the heat."

Qiyue took a sip from the bowl, it was a little spicy but very fragrant. But the sesame cake was even more fragrant. He looked at his mother and slowly stretched out his hand.

"It will be hot." Tang Xu gently reminded, picking up two pieces of mutton for Qiyue. "Drink some soup first, then eat the meat."

July tilted her head back, smiled, and ate the meat in small bites with a spoon.

This soup is really good, without the smell of mutton, full of freshness and the aroma of pepper, and warm in the stomach. Tang Xu reacted for a moment, thinking that drinking mutton soup in the dry autumn weather would be a bit irritating, but it was very fragrant.

The sesame cake felt warm enough, so she took one and took a bite. It was crispy and full of sesame fragrance. "July, the cake is not hot anymore, we can eat it now."

After dinner, Tang Xu walked around and found a sweet soup stall. The price was not cheap, so she spent three cents to order two bamboo tubes of mung bean soup before returning to her stall. Although the mutton soup was heaty, the mung bean soup was heaty, which offset it!