Tian Hua stared blankly; he had never seen such a beautiful face before!
This face reminded him of Irlan, but it was different. Irlan's face was always pure and lovely, while the one he saw now was charming and captivating.
Tian Hua, at this moment, was gazing in a daze at the first dance performer of the restaurant - Murong Feiyan! The wine glass in his hand had been placed down, and he could no longer hear the beautiful music in his ears.
As the song concluded, Murong Feiyan stepped down.
Tian Hua felt a sense of unfulfillment, but the person had already left. He could only regretfully pick up the wine glass and take a deep sip.
Seemingly, he wasn't the only one who felt unfulfilled. Everyone in the restaurant seemed to share the sentiment. Some suggested having another song, and the crowd immediately agreed.
The restaurant became lively!
Hu Jinhua, seeing everyone's enthusiasm, stepped onto the stage, gesturing for everyone to quiet down. As the crowd hushed, they looked at Hu Jinhua, waiting for her words.
"Since everyone is so enthusiastic, let Feiyan perform another song!" Hu Jinhua said.
Upon hearing this, the crowd immediately applauded in welcome!
Tian Hua, at this moment, felt a surge of joy. Excitedly, he raised his wine glass and took a sip.
Tian Hua enjoyed Feiyan's wonderful singing and dancing, forgetting about time and troubles.
Tian Hua drank his bottle of wine slowly. When he finished, he realized it was already sunset. Suddenly, he remembered that he might have delayed too much time. Hastily, he left the restaurant.
Back at the inn, Han, the owner, was busy in the room alone. Tian Hua hurriedly went in to help. Seeing Tian Hua return, Han happily said, "Tian Hua, you're back!"
"Uncle Han, I'm sorry. I lost track of time outside!" Tian Hua apologized.
As Tian Hua approached, Han, catching a whiff of alcohol on Tian Hua, felt a bit puzzled. Nevertheless, he said, "No problem!"
Tian Hua immediately helped Han with the work!
At night, Tian Hua and Han sat at the table drinking. Little Ling was nearby, and when she saw them, she said, "Drinking again! Soon, Tian Hua brother will become a little wine barrel like Dad!"
Tian Hua laughed at this, and Han also chuckled!
"Tian Hua brother, you drank tonight. Can you still take me kite flying tomorrow?" Little Ling asked.
"Don't worry! Brother will definitely take you kite flying tomorrow!" Tian Hua said.
Little Ling joyfully exclaimed and then went to bed!
Han, seeing Little Ling asleep, came to the courtyard. The old man had also gone to bed, leaving Tian Hua alone.
"Tian Hua, if you have something on your mind, you can talk to Uncle Han," Han said, sitting down with concern.
Tian Hua looked at Han in confusion, not understanding why Han suddenly said that.
"You didn't come back for lunch today, and when you returned in the evening, you smelled of alcohol. So, I guessed there might be something on your mind," Han said.
Tian Hua, hearing this, thought about the situation of drinking and watching the performance at the Tian Xiang Lou earlier that day. For some reason, he didn't want to talk about it.
Seeing Tian Hua hesitate, Han said, "If you don't want to talk about it, I won't force you."
Tian Hua looked gratefully at Han, feeling a bit relieved.
Han raised his glass and clinked it with Tian Hua, taking a sip of wine. Suddenly, he excitedly said, "Tian Hua, I heard there's a big restaurant in the town called Tian Xiang Lou. They say the wine and food there are excellent, and there are also song and dance performances..."
Tian Hua was surprised at this moment. He saw Han talking there and couldn't help but think of Murong Feiyan, recalling the enchanting music and her graceful figure.
"Tian Hua, Tian Hua..."
Seeing Tian Hua lost in thought, Han called him a few times. Tian Hua came back to his senses, looking at Han and saying, "What's wrong, Uncle Han?"
"Nothing, you seemed so absorbed in your thoughts, I couldn't help but say a few words!" Han laughed. "What were you thinking about?"
"I've been away for so long; I suddenly miss home!" Tian Hua smiled bitterly.
"Yeah! It's normal to miss home when you're away!" Han sighed.
Tian Hua looked at the moon in the sky at this moment, and Han quietly watched him!
"Tian Hua, did you hear what I said about Tian Xiang Lou just now?" Han asked.
"Yeah!" Tian Hua responded.
"I think if you have nothing to do tomorrow, you should go take a look!" Han suggested.
"Go take a look?" Tian Hua suddenly asked in confusion.
"Yes, I heard not only the food and drinks are good, but the performances and the women there are extraordinary!" Han said.
"But..." Tian Hua hesitated.
"But what? You young guys like you should go there to have some fun! Maybe it can help you forget a lot of troubles!" Han said.
After hearing this, Tian Hua remained silent, taking a sip of wine.
Silence, a long silence!
"Uncle Han, I'm going to sleep." Tian Hua said.
Han responded, and Tian Hua walked towards his small room.
As Tian Hua was about to enter the door, he heard Han's voice behind him: Tian Hua, you really should go take a look at that Tian Xiang Lou!
Hearing this, Tian Hua paused, turned back to look at Han, smiled, and then went into the room.
Tian Hua lay on the bed, already closing his eyes. Involuntarily, he thought of Murong Feiyan, and his mind was filled with her beautiful figure. As he thought, he suddenly sat up, looking at the moonlight streaming through the window. At this moment, Tian Hua thought of Irlan. Tonight, he truly understood the taste of loneliness. Tonight, he seriously pondered what Irlan felt when she read his letter.
Because of his departure, Irlan must be sad, and she must be feeling lonely!
The moonlight was gentle, shining on Tian Hua's bed.
Will Irlan think of me when she sees the moon?
Spring is a joyful season, but unfortunately, he had left the village!
Tian Hua sat there, his mind wandering aimlessly. He wished he could fall asleep, but at this moment, he was unusually awake, without a trace of drowsiness.
Tian Hua lay down again, staring at the ceiling with open eyes. He didn't know how long passed before he slowly closed his eyes, dozing off in a daze.
As dawn broke, Little Ling got up. The first thing she did in the courtyard was to check Tian Hua's door. When she saw the door
, she was disappointed: Tian Hua brother hadn't gotten up yet!
Han got up, came to the courtyard, and saw Little Ling sitting there, staring at Tian Hua's door. He chuckled and said, "Today, Tian Hua brother might be late again!"
Little Ling turned her head to look at Han, then complained a bit, "It's all your fault!"
"Guai wo, why do you care if my brother Tian Hua woke up late?" asked Manager Han curiously.
"Every time after drinking with Tian Hua, he tends to wake up late!" said Little Bell.
"But it's not like I force him to drink that much!" Manager Han laughed.
"He drinks because he wants to accompany you!" replied Little Bell.
"Then why can I wake up early after drinking?" Manager Han asked with a smile.
"Because..." Little Bell didn't know how to answer. After thinking for a while, she suddenly said loudly, "Hmph! Anyway, it's your fault."
Seeing her say this, Manager Han walked up with a smile and said, "Alright! It's all Dad's fault. Dad will wash your face first. If Tian Hua hasn't gotten up after your face is washed, I'll go wake him up, okay?"
Little Bell blinked her watery eyes a few times, then thought for a moment and said, "Okay!"
Seeing her like that, Manager Han smiled.
After combing Little Bell's hair, Manager Han eagerly looked towards Tian Hua's room. The quiet door showed no signs of movement.
"Dad, Tian Hua brother hasn't woken up yet," said Little Bell.
"Dad will go call him," Manager Han said with a smile.
After saying that, Manager Han walked to Tian Hua's door, gently knocked, and shouted, "Tian Hua, Tian Hua..."
Little Bell, seeing Manager Han calling for Tian Hua to wake up, anxiously shouted, "Dad, knock louder! The way you knock, Tian Hua brother won't hear!"
Manager Han, upon hearing this, felt amused.
Inside the room, Tian Hua vaguely heard someone calling him. When he clearly heard it was Manager Han calling, he hurriedly responded, "Uncle Han, wait a moment, I'll get up!"
Manager Han stopped knocking upon hearing this and turned to look at Little Bell, saying, "Alright, your Tian Hua brother is getting up. You just sit here and wait!"
Little Bell, after hearing this, really sat on the chair in the middle of the courtyard, waiting for Tian Hua to get up.
After a while, Tian Hua got up. Little Bell hurriedly greeted him, saying, "Tian Hua brother, you're up!"
Tian Hua responded and went to wash his face.
During breakfast, Manager Han said, "Tian Hua, today you should go to Tian Xiang Lou and take a look."
Tian Hua was about to say something when Little Bell, who was beside him, quickly said, "Tian Hua brother, you promised to take me kite flying today!"
Tian Hua looked at Little Bell, then looked at Manager Han and said, "Yeah, yesterday I promised Little Bell to take her kite flying today."
Little Bell nodded happily and said, "Exactly, exactly!"
"Little Bell, you stay at home today. Let Tian Hua go out and have some fun. I'll take you kite flying tomorrow, okay?" Manager Han asked.
"I don't want to! I want to go kite flying today!" Little Bell shook her head.
Manager Han was about to say something when Tian Hua said, "Uncle Han, let's talk about going to Tian Xiang Lou another day. Today, I'll take Little Bell kite flying."
"Alright, if that's what Tian Hua wants." Manager Han agreed.
After breakfast, Little Bell took her kite, and Tian Hua carried her as they walked towards the outskirts of town.
Arriving at the outskirts, as usual, Little Bell flew the kite alone, while Tian Hua sat under a tree watching her.
Tian Hua looked at Little Bell, then picked a blade of grass from the ground, put it in his mouth, leaned against the tree trunk, and watched Little Bell happily running around.
In his heart, Tian Hua started to enjoy bringing Little Bell to fly kites. It was quiet here, with no one else but Little Bell and himself. Besides laughter, there was only laughter.
Time passed slowly. It was time for lunch, and Tian Hua had to go back. However, Little Bell, as usual, wanted to play a little longer.
"Little Bell, I promised to take you kite flying today, and I did. If you don't obediently come back with me for lunch now, I won't promise to bring you out to play again in the future!" Tian Hua said.
Little Bell, upon hearing this, hurriedly said, "Okay, okay, I'll go back with Tian Hua brother."
Tian Hua looked at her, smiled, and carried her on his back as they walked towards the town.
"Tian Hua brother, can you bring me kite flying every day from now on?" Little Bell asked.
"I can't promise you that every day, but as long as I have time, I'll definitely bring you to fly kites, okay?" Tian Hua said.
"Okay. Tian Hua brother is the best." Little Bell said.
Back at the restaurant, after finishing lunch, Manager Han again brought up the idea of Tian Hua going to Tian Xiang Lou. Tian Hua, however, said he didn't want to go today and maybe some other day.
Since Tian Hua visited Tian Xiang Lou yesterday, he didn't dare to go again. After returning from Tian Xiang Lou yesterday, Tian Hua would occasionally think of Murong Feiyan. Her face and dance would appear in his mind from time to time. Therefore, he was afraid of meeting her again. He was afraid that after meeting her again, he wouldn't be able to let go in his heart. So Tian Hua decided not to go, wanting to completely forget her.
The main thing was that whenever he thought of Murong Feiyan, he couldn't help but think of Irlan. Thinking of Irlan, the scene of Irlan reading his letter with a sad expression would appear in Tian Hua's mind. Thinking about this, Tian Hua's heart couldn't help but ache.
Tian Hua felt that to forget something, he had to make an effort to remember something else. So, he became more focused on his work in the restaurant, hoping that by doing so, he could avoid thinking about other things.
Time passed slowly. Since Tian Hua returned from the East Gate and fought with Kong Xu, half a month had unknowingly passed.
In these days, Tian Hua did almost the same thing every day: occasionally taking Little Bell out to fly kites in the morning, and then staying in the restaurant in the afternoon. The most joyful thing for Tian Hua was that in this half month, he learned to cook many dishes from his master. He even learned to make the hangover soup. After tasting Tian Hua's cooking, Manager Han exclaimed, "Looks like your master's position can be passed on!"
At the beginning, Manager Han kept urging Tian Hua to go to Tian Xiang Lou, but Tian Hua was unwilling. Seeing Tian Hua happily learning cooking with the old man and playing with Little Bell, Manager Han stopped mentioning Tian Xiang Lou.
Originally, he suggested Tian Hua go to Tian Xiang Lou because he was afraid Tian Hua would feel upset after the incident with Kong Xu. So, hearing that a new restaurant had
opened in town, he wanted Tian Hua to go there, hoping that he would feel better and forget about those things. Now, seeing Tian Hua in a good mood, he didn't insist on him going anymore.
Since Tian Hua spent time every day learning culinary arts with his master, whenever he felt upset, he would run to the kitchen to cook. Watching the dishes simmering in the pot, his mood would improve. Also, during these times, when the old man was resting, Tian Hua was the one who prepared most of the dishes.
That day, like every other day, Tian Hua took Little Bell to fly kites in the morning.
Arriving at the outskirts of the town, Tian Hua noticed an empty expanse of land with an additional carriage compared to usual. A coachman sat atop the carriage, while two women were flying kites nearby.
Due to the distance, Tian Hua couldn't discern their features.
"Tian Hua gege, there are people flying kites over there," Little Bell also spotted the two women.
Tian Hua acknowledged with a nod and asked Little Bell to go fly kites.
He sat under a tree, holding a blade of grass in his mouth, observing Little Bell and the butterflies fluttering in the air. Laughter from a distance occasionally reached his ears.
Tian Hua would glance in that direction from time to time. The butterflies in the wind floated steadily, and any movement in the kites on the ground prompted exclamations from the two, followed by laughter.
Who were those two women? Why hadn't he seen them when he came here to fly kites before? Lost in thought, Tian Hua suddenly muttered to himself, "Why should I be concerned about these matters?"
He lay down, hands behind his head, gazing up at the sky.
In the distance, five individuals slowly approached the two women.
Upon reaching the carriage, the five stood there watching the women fly kites. The coachman, thinking they were mere onlookers, paid no attention.
One of the five signaled to the person behind the coachman, who nodded. Suddenly, that person made a move, swinging his hand toward the back of the coachman's head. The coachman turned, caught a glimpse of the person, and before a sound could escape him, he fell unconscious.
The five approached the fallen coachman, laughing, and then walked toward the two women. As they got closer, they surrounded them.
The women felt something amiss when they saw the five approaching cheerfully. Now, with the five encircling them, they nervously watched.
"What do you want?" one of the women asked.
The five didn't answer but scrutinized them. One of them chuckled, saying, "Originally, we came here today to rob, never expected to encounter such beautiful ladies!"
"Yeah! Take them up the mountain, let the brothers enjoy!" the others chimed in.
Upon hearing this, fear crept into the hearts of the women. Their hands slackened, and the kite swiftly descended from the wind.
"Better come with us obediently! Don't make us use force!" one of the men said.
"Robbing innocent girls in broad daylight! Aren't you afraid of the law?" one of the women rebuked angrily.
"Haha! The law! Let me tell you, I am the law! I know every official, big and small, in this town!" one man laughed.
Seeing the kite falling and the two women being surrounded, Tian Hua furrowed his brows and looked in that direction.
The five forcibly brought the two women to the carriage. One of them pushed the unconscious coachman down, then forcefully placed the women on the carriage. One person drove the carriage while the other four entered.
The carriage sped away...
After a while, the carriage suddenly stopped. The occupants inside, unprepared, tumbled within. One person cursed loudly, "What the hell is going on?"
Outside, shouts of anger could be heard, "Are you looking to die?"
The four individuals inside hastily got up and exited the carriage. Seeing a person standing in front of the carriage, they asked the driver, "Who is this kid?"
"How would I know? I was driving just fine, and suddenly this kid appeared out of nowhere and blocked the way," the driver said.
This person was Tian Hua. He had observed the situation and, sensing something amiss when the carriage rushed away, had followed it.
"Kid, get lost! Otherwise, it won't end well for you!" one person shouted.
Tian Hua seemed not to hear and continued to stand there watching them.
Seeing Tian Hua's indifferent stance, one of them, looking annoyed, stepped out of the carriage, approached Tian Hua, and attempted to grab him. Tian Hua didn't evade. As soon as the person's hand touched Tian Hua's clothes, he was sent flying and fell to the ground without a sound, lying motionless.
The remaining four exchanged glances, then looked at Tian Hua. One of them said, "Young man, it seems we have no grudges. Do you have any intention behind stopping our carriage?"
"Release the two women inside, then take your companion and leave!" Tian Hua pointed to the person lying on the ground, calmly stating.
Upon hearing Tian Hua's words, the women inside the carriage slightly opened the curtain to peer outside.
"Young man, this doesn't conform to the rules of our circle! Offending us might not be wise; if we meet again in the future, things won't look good for you!" one person warned.
"I don't understand the rules of your 'circle,' and I have no intention of meeting you again in the future for anything good!" Tian Hua replied.
The four looked at each other, and one signaled the driver. Understanding, the driver suddenly whipped the horse. In pain, the horse reared, hooves raised, but they never came down. The horse still neighed and shook its head, but its hooves remained suspended in the air.
Seeing this, the four grew fearful. They hastily jumped off the carriage and fled.
Tian Hua, seeing the four fleeing, turned and left. At this moment, the raised hooves of the horse finally fell.
Walking away, Tian Hua suddenly heard a voice behind him: "Hey!"
Tian Hua turned around and saw a woman walking toward him. As she approached, she said, "I'm Xiaoyu. My mistress thanks the young sir for saving us and hopes the young sir can board the carriage. My mistress wishes to express her gratitude in person!"
"No need for that! I have other matters to attend to!" Tian Hua declined.
Having said that, Tian Hua turned and walked away. Before taking two steps, Xiaoyu ran up and blocked Tian Hua's path, insisting that he board the carriage and meet her mistress in person. Tian Hua shook his head, gesturing for her to go back. However, at this moment, Xiaoyu suddenly grabbed Tian Hua's hand, insisting that he agree to meet her mistress in exchange for letting him go.
Tian Hua, looking at her, reluctantly nodded and said, "Fine, I promise you!"
Tian Hua boarded the carriage and, upon entering, was stunned. A beautifully smiling face was quietly looking at him. Unable to contain himself, Tian Hua uttered, "You..."
"What's wrong? Why are you so surprised when you see me? Is there something strange about me?" the woman asked curiously.
Tian Hua remained silent and turned to look out of the carriage window.
In the distance, Little Bell was still happily running around...
Tian Hua stared blankly; he had never seen such a beautiful face before!
This face reminded him of Irlan, but it was different. Irlan's face was always pure and lovely, while the one he saw now was charming and captivating.
Tian Hua, at this moment, was gazing in a daze at the first dance performer of the restaurant - Murong Feiyan! The wine glass in his hand had been placed down, and he could no longer hear the beautiful music in his ears.
As the song concluded, Murong Feiyan stepped down.
Tian Hua felt a sense of unfulfillment, but the person had already left. He could only regretfully pick up the wine glass and take a deep sip.
Seemingly, he wasn't the only one who felt unfulfilled. Everyone in the restaurant seemed to share the sentiment. Some suggested having another song, and the crowd immediately agreed.
The restaurant became lively!
Hu Jinhua, seeing everyone's enthusiasm, stepped onto the stage, gesturing for everyone to quiet down. As the crowd hushed, they looked at Hu Jinhua, waiting for her words.
"Since everyone is so enthusiastic, let Feiyan perform another song!" Hu Jinhua said.
Upon hearing this, the crowd immediately applauded in welcome!
Tian Hua, at this moment, felt a surge of joy. Excitedly, he raised his wine glass and took a sip.
Tian Hua enjoyed Feiyan's wonderful singing and dancing, forgetting about time and troubles.
Tian Hua drank his bottle of wine slowly. When he finished, he realized it was already sunset. Suddenly, he remembered that he might have delayed too much time. Hastily, he left the restaurant.
Back at the inn, Han, the owner, was busy in the room alone. Tian Hua hurriedly went in to help. Seeing Tian Hua return, Han happily said, "Tian Hua, you're back!"
"Uncle Han, I'm sorry. I lost track of time outside!" Tian Hua apologized.
As Tian Hua approached, Han, catching a whiff of alcohol on Tian Hua, felt a bit puzzled. Nevertheless, he said, "No problem!"
Tian Hua immediately helped Han with the work!
At night, Tian Hua and Han sat at the table drinking. Little Ling was nearby, and when she saw them, she said, "Drinking again! Soon, Tian Hua brother will become a little wine barrel like Dad!"
Tian Hua laughed at this, and Han also chuckled!
"Tian Hua brother, you drank tonight. Can you still take me kite flying tomorrow?" Little Ling asked.
"Don't worry! Brother will definitely take you kite flying tomorrow!" Tian Hua said.
Little Ling joyfully exclaimed and then went to bed!
Han, seeing Little Ling asleep, came to the courtyard. The old man had also gone to bed, leaving Tian Hua alone.
"Tian Hua, if you have something on your mind, you can talk to Uncle Han," Han said, sitting down with concern.
Tian Hua looked at Han in confusion, not understanding why Han suddenly said that.
"You didn't come back for lunch today, and when you returned in the evening, you smelled of alcohol. So, I guessed there might be something on your mind," Han said.
Tian Hua, hearing this, thought about the situation of drinking and watching the performance at the Tian Xiang Lou earlier that day. For some reason, he didn't want to talk about it.
Seeing Tian Hua hesitate, Han said, "If you don't want to talk about it, I won't force you."
Tian Hua looked gratefully at Han, feeling a bit relieved.
Han raised his glass and clinked it with Tian Hua, taking a sip of wine. Suddenly, he excitedly said, "Tian Hua, I heard there's a big restaurant in the town called Tian Xiang Lou. They say the wine and food there are excellent, and there are also song and dance performances..."
Tian Hua was surprised at this moment. He saw Han talking there and couldn't help but think of Murong Feiyan, recalling the enchanting music and her graceful figure.
"Tian Hua, Tian Hua..."
Seeing Tian Hua lost in thought, Han called him a few times. Tian Hua came back to his senses, looking at Han and saying, "What's wrong, Uncle Han?"
"Nothing, you seemed so absorbed in your thoughts, I couldn't help but say a few words!" Han laughed. "What were you thinking about?"
"I've been away for so long; I suddenly miss home!" Tian Hua smiled bitterly.
"Yeah! It's normal to miss home when you're away!" Han sighed.
Tian Hua looked at the moon in the sky at this moment, and Han quietly watched him!
"Tian Hua, did you hear what I said about Tian Xiang Lou just now?" Han asked.
"Yeah!" Tian Hua responded.
"I think if you have nothing to do tomorrow, you should go take a look!" Han suggested.
"Go take a look?" Tian Hua suddenly asked in confusion.
"Yes, I heard not only the food and drinks are good, but the performances and the women there are extraordinary!" Han said.
"But..." Tian Hua hesitated.
"But what? You young guys like you should go there to have some fun! Maybe it can help you forget a lot of troubles!" Han said.
After hearing this, Tian Hua remained silent, taking a sip of wine.
Silence, a long silence!
"Uncle Han, I'm going to sleep." Tian Hua said.
Han responded, and Tian Hua walked towards his small room.
As Tian Hua was about to enter the door, he heard Han's voice behind him: Tian Hua, you really should go take a look at that Tian Xiang Lou!
Hearing this, Tian Hua paused, turned back to look at Han, smiled, and then went into the room.
Tian Hua lay on the bed, already closing his eyes. Involuntarily, he thought of Murong Feiyan, and his mind was filled with her beautiful figure. As he thought, he suddenly sat up, looking at the moonlight streaming through the window. At this moment, Tian Hua thought of Irlan. Tonight, he truly understood the taste of loneliness. Tonight, he seriously pondered what Irlan felt when she read his letter.
Because of his departure, Irlan must be sad, and she must be feeling lonely!
The moonlight was gentle, shining on Tian Hua's bed.
Will Irlan think of me when she sees the moon?
Spring is a joyful season, but unfortunately, he had left the village!
Tian Hua sat there, his mind wandering aimlessly. He wished he could fall asleep, but at this moment, he was unusually awake, without a trace of drowsiness.
Tian Hua lay down again, staring at the ceiling with open eyes. He didn't know how long passed before he slowly closed his eyes, dozing off in a daze.
As dawn broke, Little Ling got up. The first thing she did in the courtyard was to check Tian Hua's door. When she saw the door
, she was disappointed: Tian Hua brother hadn't gotten up yet!
Han got up, came to the courtyard, and saw Little Ling sitting there, staring at Tian Hua's door. He chuckled and said, "Today, Tian Hua brother might be late again!"
Little Ling turned her head to look at Han, then complained a bit, "It's all your fault!"
"Guai wo, why do you care if my brother Tian Hua woke up late?" asked Manager Han curiously.
"Every time after drinking with Tian Hua, he tends to wake up late!" said Little Bell.
"But it's not like I force him to drink that much!" Manager Han laughed.
"He drinks because he wants to accompany you!" replied Little Bell.
"Then why can I wake up early after drinking?" Manager Han asked with a smile.
"Because..." Little Bell didn't know how to answer. After thinking for a while, she suddenly said loudly, "Hmph! Anyway, it's your fault."
Seeing her say this, Manager Han walked up with a smile and said, "Alright! It's all Dad's fault. Dad will wash your face first. If Tian Hua hasn't gotten up after your face is washed, I'll go wake him up, okay?"
Little Bell blinked her watery eyes a few times, then thought for a moment and said, "Okay!"
Seeing her like that, Manager Han smiled.
After combing Little Bell's hair, Manager Han eagerly looked towards Tian Hua's room. The quiet door showed no signs of movement.
"Dad, Tian Hua brother hasn't woken up yet," said Little Bell.
"Dad will go call him," Manager Han said with a smile.
After saying that, Manager Han walked to Tian Hua's door, gently knocked, and shouted, "Tian Hua, Tian Hua..."
Little Bell, seeing Manager Han calling for Tian Hua to wake up, anxiously shouted, "Dad, knock louder! The way you knock, Tian Hua brother won't hear!"
Manager Han, upon hearing this, felt amused.
Inside the room, Tian Hua vaguely heard someone calling him. When he clearly heard it was Manager Han calling, he hurriedly responded, "Uncle Han, wait a moment, I'll get up!"
Manager Han stopped knocking upon hearing this and turned to look at Little Bell, saying, "Alright, your Tian Hua brother is getting up. You just sit here and wait!"
Little Bell, after hearing this, really sat on the chair in the middle of the courtyard, waiting for Tian Hua to get up.
After a while, Tian Hua got up. Little Bell hurriedly greeted him, saying, "Tian Hua brother, you're up!"
Tian Hua responded and went to wash his face.
During breakfast, Manager Han said, "Tian Hua, today you should go to Tian Xiang Lou and take a look."
Tian Hua was about to say something when Little Bell, who was beside him, quickly said, "Tian Hua brother, you promised to take me kite flying today!"
Tian Hua looked at Little Bell, then looked at Manager Han and said, "Yeah, yesterday I promised Little Bell to take her kite flying today."
Little Bell nodded happily and said, "Exactly, exactly!"
"Little Bell, you stay at home today. Let Tian Hua go out and have some fun. I'll take you kite flying tomorrow, okay?" Manager Han asked.
"I don't want to! I want to go kite flying today!" Little Bell shook her head.
Manager Han was about to say something when Tian Hua said, "Uncle Han, let's talk about going to Tian Xiang Lou another day. Today, I'll take Little Bell kite flying."
"Alright, if that's what Tian Hua wants." Manager Han agreed.
After breakfast, Little Bell took her kite, and Tian Hua carried her as they walked towards the outskirts of town.
Arriving at the outskirts, as usual, Little Bell flew the kite alone, while Tian Hua sat under a tree watching her.
Tian Hua looked at Little Bell, then picked a blade of grass from the ground, put it in his mouth, leaned against the tree trunk, and watched Little Bell happily running around.
In his heart, Tian Hua started to enjoy bringing Little Bell to fly kites. It was quiet here, with no one else but Little Bell and himself. Besides laughter, there was only laughter.
Time passed slowly. It was time for lunch, and Tian Hua had to go back. However, Little Bell, as usual, wanted to play a little longer.
"Little Bell, I promised to take you kite flying today, and I did. If you don't obediently come back with me for lunch now, I won't promise to bring you out to play again in the future!" Tian Hua said.
Little Bell, upon hearing this, hurriedly said, "Okay, okay, I'll go back with Tian Hua brother."
Tian Hua looked at her, smiled, and carried her on his back as they walked towards the town.
"Tian Hua brother, can you bring me kite flying every day from now on?" Little Bell asked.
"I can't promise you that every day, but as long as I have time, I'll definitely bring you to fly kites, okay?" Tian Hua said.
"Okay. Tian Hua brother is the best." Little Bell said.
Back at the restaurant, after finishing lunch, Manager Han again brought up the idea of Tian Hua going to Tian Xiang Lou. Tian Hua, however, said he didn't want to go today and maybe some other day.
Since Tian Hua visited Tian Xiang Lou yesterday, he didn't dare to go again. After returning from Tian Xiang Lou yesterday, Tian Hua would occasionally think of Murong Feiyan. Her face and dance would appear in his mind from time to time. Therefore, he was afraid of meeting her again. He was afraid that after meeting her again, he wouldn't be able to let go in his heart. So Tian Hua decided not to go, wanting to completely forget her.
The main thing was that whenever he thought of Murong Feiyan, he couldn't help but think of Irlan. Thinking of Irlan, the scene of Irlan reading his letter with a sad expression would appear in Tian Hua's mind. Thinking about this, Tian Hua's heart couldn't help but ache.
Tian Hua felt that to forget something, he had to make an effort to remember something else. So, he became more focused on his work in the restaurant, hoping that by doing so, he could avoid thinking about other things.
Time passed slowly. Since Tian Hua returned from the East Gate and fought with Kong Xu, half a month had unknowingly passed.
In these days, Tian Hua did almost the same thing every day: occasionally taking Little Bell out to fly kites in the morning, and then staying in the restaurant in the afternoon. The most joyful thing for Tian Hua was that in this half month, he learned to cook many dishes from his master. He even learned to make the hangover soup. After tasting Tian Hua's cooking, Manager Han exclaimed, "Looks like your master's position can be passed on!"
At the beginning, Manager Han kept urging Tian Hua to go to Tian Xiang Lou, but Tian Hua was unwilling. Seeing Tian Hua happily learning cooking with the old man and playing with Little Bell, Manager Han stopped mentioning Tian Xiang Lou.
Originally, he suggested Tian Hua go to Tian Xiang Lou because he was afraid Tian Hua would feel upset after the incident with Kong Xu. So, hearing that a new restaurant had
opened in town, he wanted Tian Hua to go there, hoping that he would feel better and forget about those things. Now, seeing Tian Hua in a good mood, he didn't insist on him going anymore.
Since Tian Hua spent time every day learning culinary arts with his master, whenever he felt upset, he would run to the kitchen to cook. Watching the dishes simmering in the pot, his mood would improve. Also, during these times, when the old man was resting, Tian Hua was the one who prepared most of the dishes.
That day, like every other day, Tian Hua took Little Bell to fly kites in the morning.
Arriving at the outskirts of the town, Tian Hua noticed an empty expanse of land with an additional carriage compared to usual. A coachman sat atop the carriage, while two women were flying kites nearby.
Due to the distance, Tian Hua couldn't discern their features.
"Tian Hua gege, there are people flying kites over there," Little Bell also spotted the two women.
Tian Hua acknowledged with a nod and asked Little Bell to go fly kites.
He sat under a tree, holding a blade of grass in his mouth, observing Little Bell and the butterflies fluttering in the air. Laughter from a distance occasionally reached his ears.
Tian Hua would glance in that direction from time to time. The butterflies in the wind floated steadily, and any movement in the kites on the ground prompted exclamations from the two, followed by laughter.
Who were those two women? Why hadn't he seen them when he came here to fly kites before? Lost in thought, Tian Hua suddenly muttered to himself, "Why should I be concerned about these matters?"
He lay down, hands behind his head, gazing up at the sky.
In the distance, five individuals slowly approached the two women.
Upon reaching the carriage, the five stood there watching the women fly kites. The coachman, thinking they were mere onlookers, paid no attention.
One of the five signaled to the person behind the coachman, who nodded. Suddenly, that person made a move, swinging his hand toward the back of the coachman's head. The coachman turned, caught a glimpse of the person, and before a sound could escape him, he fell unconscious.
The five approached the fallen coachman, laughing, and then walked toward the two women. As they got closer, they surrounded them.
The women felt something amiss when they saw the five approaching cheerfully. Now, with the five encircling them, they nervously watched.
"What do you want?" one of the women asked.
The five didn't answer but scrutinized them. One of them chuckled, saying, "Originally, we came here today to rob, never expected to encounter such beautiful ladies!"
"Yeah! Take them up the mountain, let the brothers enjoy!" the others chimed in.
Upon hearing this, fear crept into the hearts of the women. Their hands slackened, and the kite swiftly descended from the wind.
"Better come with us obediently! Don't make us use force!" one of the men said.
"Robbing innocent girls in broad daylight! Aren't you afraid of the law?" one of the women rebuked angrily.
"Haha! The law! Let me tell you, I am the law! I know every official, big and small, in this town!" one man laughed.
Seeing the kite falling and the two women being surrounded, Tian Hua furrowed his brows and looked in that direction.
The five forcibly brought the two women to the carriage. One of them pushed the unconscious coachman down, then forcefully placed the women on the carriage. One person drove the carriage while the other four entered.
The carriage sped away...
After a while, the carriage suddenly stopped. The occupants inside, unprepared, tumbled within. One person cursed loudly, "What the hell is going on?"
Outside, shouts of anger could be heard, "Are you looking to die?"
The four individuals inside hastily got up and exited the carriage. Seeing a person standing in front of the carriage, they asked the driver, "Who is this kid?"
"How would I know? I was driving just fine, and suddenly this kid appeared out of nowhere and blocked the way," the driver said.
This person was Tian Hua. He had observed the situation and, sensing something amiss when the carriage rushed away, had followed it.
"Kid, get lost! Otherwise, it won't end well for you!" one person shouted.
Tian Hua seemed not to hear and continued to stand there watching them.
Seeing Tian Hua's indifferent stance, one of them, looking annoyed, stepped out of the carriage, approached Tian Hua, and attempted to grab him. Tian Hua didn't evade. As soon as the person's hand touched Tian Hua's clothes, he was sent flying and fell to the ground without a sound, lying motionless.
The remaining four exchanged glances, then looked at Tian Hua. One of them said, "Young man, it seems we have no grudges. Do you have any intention behind stopping our carriage?"
"Release the two women inside, then take your companion and leave!" Tian Hua pointed to the person lying on the ground, calmly stating.
Upon hearing Tian Hua's words, the women inside the carriage slightly opened the curtain to peer outside.
"Young man, this doesn't conform to the rules of our circle! Offending us might not be wise; if we meet again in the future, things won't look good for you!" one person warned.
"I don't understand the rules of your 'circle,' and I have no intention of meeting you again in the future for anything good!" Tian Hua replied.
The four looked at each other, and one signaled the driver. Understanding, the driver suddenly whipped the horse. In pain, the horse reared, hooves raised, but they never came down. The horse still neighed and shook its head, but its hooves remained suspended in the air.
Seeing this, the four grew fearful. They hastily jumped off the carriage and fled.
Tian Hua, seeing the four fleeing, turned and left. At this moment, the raised hooves of the horse finally fell.
Walking away, Tian Hua suddenly heard a voice behind him: "Hey!"
Tian Hua turned around and saw a woman walking toward him. As she approached, she said, "I'm Xiaoyu. My mistress thanks the young sir for saving us and hopes the young sir can board the carriage. My mistress wishes to express her gratitude in person!"
"No need for that! I have other matters to attend to!" Tian Hua declined.
Having said that, Tian Hua turned and walked away. Before taking two steps, Xiaoyu ran up and blocked Tian Hua's path, insisting that he board the carriage and meet her mistress in person. Tian Hua shook his head, gesturing for her to go back. However, at this moment, Xiaoyu suddenly grabbed Tian Hua's hand, insisting that he agree to meet her mistress in exchange for letting him go.
Tian Hua, looking at her, reluctantly nodded and said, "Fine, I promise you!"
Tian Hua boarded the carriage and, upon entering, was stunned. A beautifully smiling face was quietly looking at him. Unable to contain himself, Tian Hua uttered, "You..."
"What's wrong? Why are you so surprised when you see me? Is there something strange about me?" the woman asked curiously.
Tian Hua remained silent and turned to look out of the carriage window.
In the distance, Little Bell was still happily running around...
