Chen You walked to the shore, shaking off the water on his body. He didn’t like the child’s contemptuous eyes. Who hasn’t lost face in their entire life ah? I was just unlucky to have run into you.
It’ll happen to you too, just you wait.
The child walked in front while Chen You walked behind. Two shadows, large and small, stretched from the river to the hillside.
The wind was fantastic and the sun beautiful. It was a very wonderful weather.
Chen You’s clothes were still wet, not suitable for lying down and basking in the wind and sun. He didn’t say anything and merely walked to the child in front.
The child raised his head and issued a sound similar to a snarl, apparently questioning Chen You for obstructing him.
Chen You looked back and understood. Well, he wasn’t paying attention earlier so it was only now that he realized a small courtyard could be seen from a distance exactly from this angle of the hillside.
Second Pup was missing his mother.
Chen You sighed. Really, I don’t know what to say to you. Sometimes you’re a little pitiful kid, and sometimes, you’re a pain in the ass.
He put his palm over the top of the child’s head and blurted out a specially gripping sentence, “If you want to take revenge, grow up quickly, I’ll wait for you.”
The child clenched his fists, his eyes emitting a gloominess and coldness not belonging to his age.
No matter which dynasty, time was a mysterious existence. Capricious, gentle, and cruel, making people love and hate it, but they could not break away from it.
Days passed by and it was the end of August. Qing Feng Lou’s business couldn’t be compared to what it was five months ago. Chen You’s big box was now filled with a lot of things.
The child’s body had also become sturdy. The scars on his face had disappeared, and his appearance, although it couldn’t match those of Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter, was much better than before.
Chen You was always concerned about whether he had enough to eat and whether he was dressed well. There was no other way, he needed his mission to succeed.
But fvck it, Second Pup only accepted Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter’s goodwill, and rejected his.
When Chen You gave something, it would be directly thrown away in his face, coupled with an icy glare at him. But as long as it was through the hands of Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter, Second Pup would receive it, which was really too infuriating.
He had no choice but to make Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter put in a good word for himself.
Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter did their best, trying different approaches of telling Second Pup how good and capable their master was.
Summer Pear took the lead. This order was arranged by Chen You, intentionally letting the stupidest one go first. “It’s true, Master is a great person, much better than mother.”
Second Pup picked up a firewood and split it.
Just how old is he ah, and to already have that much hand strength. Hiding in the back was the eavesdropping Chen You who shrank his neck. Truly worthy of being the son of a lumberjack.
“I’m a little worried,” he said to the system mentally.
System, “Hmm?”
Chen You swallowed. “Once Second Pup grows up, will I also be split like that firewood?”
The system replied, “You can finish the mission before he grows up.”
Chen You was no longer the same Chen You of the past, he was now wise beyond words.
“I’ll pass on such a beautiful dream.”
System, “You’ve grown up.”
Chen returned three words, “Heh heh heh.”
In the courtyard, Summer Pear have ran his mouth dry so he wanted to eat pears. As soon as he thought so, he couldn’t control himself and ran to find pears.
Chen You took a deep breath. Having that mouth for eating was already good enough, as for other functions, let’s just forget about it.
After a short while, Winter Date was up.
This person could go to a teahouse and do storytelling if he suddenly quit this job. Once he opened his mouth, stories would pour out, making people unable to pick out the truth from the lies. To put it bluntly, there was simply no truth in his mouth.
“Do you know…”
Hearing this opening, Chen You’s forehead twitched. He felt that at this very moment, Second Pup’s heart surely looked like the black man with question marks1a gif: 
.
“Qing Feng Lou was originally going to close down, but Master neglected sleeping and eating while racking his brain to come up with a brilliant plan to bring the business back from the dead. Did you notice? His hair has fallen off a lot.” Winter Date softly sighed. “Ai, Master is knife-mouthed but has a tofu heart. Don’t judge him for disciplining us at every move, like if we make a mistake, we are punished to not eat. In fact, he just wants us to change for the better so that we can become the most popular headliners in the whole of Jiang City.”
Chen You touched his head. Motherfvker, it’s all lies, which hair has fallen off ah, isn’t this still lush like a small forest?
Also, you think too much, I punished you to not eat purely to let you develop some memory.
But you obviously haven’t.
Second Pup continued to chop wood as Winter Date continued to talk, wiping a few tears midway.
After Winter Date, was Autumn Orange. He was a soft and delicate person when it came to talking and doing things, but absolutely not in bed. Unrestrained and overwhelming, it certainly was a watery piece of the sea2It said 一片大海, and I have no other choice (pls have mercy on me) but to interpret this as 一片大海兩個家, meaning one great sea, two homes. It’s a children’s story. Anyway, if we connect it to Autumn Orange being a female but also a male, it makes sense. Watery here could also mean bright and flexible..
This was something Chen You determined after accidently witnessing it.
Autumn Orange was a little more reliable at first, but it didn’t take long for him to indulge in his fantasies. “I wonder what kind of person Master likes, is it a man or a woman?”
“Ai, Master is powerful and mighty, who can enter his eyes, who is worthy of him…”
Second Pup chopped the wood with a ‘kaka’, like chopping a dog’s head off.
Chen You felt his head shaken by the sound.
The last one to go on stage was Spring Peach, who had initially said something wrong to Second Pup and even said it in front of him, causing Second Pup to go on a hunger strike to get back at him.
But then, he showed all kinds of goodwill, and eventually became the closest one to Second Pup among the four.
Chen You was very jealous of Spring Peach. Why was he not rewarded for his efforts and even ignored? Really upsetting.
“Don’t chop anymore. There’s enough of these to burn for a few days.”
With the tone of a big brother, Spring Peach took out a handkerchief from his sleeve and wiped the fine sweat on the child’s forehead.
Chen You gritted his teeth. Damn, if that was me, a touch would become a fight.
Spring Peach held the child’s hand and frowned in distress as he said, “Look at you, your hand is worn out to this point.”
Saying that, he took out a box of medicine.
Chen You stared with wide eyes. I bought that and it cost me two silver.
After applying it, Spring Peach took out another vial and poured out some powdered stuff on the child’s palms in several places that were bleeding.
I bought that too! Chen You was heartbroken.
He spent money and did others a favor but still didn’t get a good position.
The most bitter blow of it all was that he rushed to pass the favor onto Spring Peach’s arms.
The child still had that icy cold face without a smile, but he did not reject Spring Peach. There was no resistance when the hand touched his head.
Chen You hanged and beat the original owner who threw the pot at him 10,000 times.
Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter have gone onto the stage one by one. Chen You, whose legs were numb from hiding, supported himself with the wall and slowly moved out. So shameful, so fake, so want to whip people ah.
Damn it, I told you all to say something good about me but none of you were mindful, it’s too fake, okay? Only an idiot will believe you!
There was a cook in the back kitchen, an older woman who had a loud voice, was cordial, and probably left her hometown against her will. Recalling the children in her home, she was particularly good to Second Pup, giving him eggs almost every day .
Chen You didn’t just open one eye and close the other, he closed both eyes.
“What shall I do with you, my Second Pup…”
As soon as it got dark, the major brothels began doing business, and Qing Feng Lou was no exception.
The first floor was filled with the fragrance of wine and food, and on the platform was a beautiful teenager, dancing lightly and gracefully.
Beauties of various appearance and charm were shuttled among the customers as the hubbub of voices continuously rose and fell.
Chen You used a room in the rear court as a dining room. When it was time for a meal, he wouldn’t show up front, and Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter also wouldn’t appear.
Whilst they enjoyed the comforts of a meal, Chen You unexpectedly saw a small figure sitting by the table, occupying a seat. How novel.
This was the first time the child has gone downstairs to eat since his injury healed.
Spring Peach gave Chen You a wink, taking credit for it.
Chen You gave back an eye roll.
Now that they have the money, the food consisted of eight dishes and two soups, three plates of steamed buns, and a plate of boiled eggs, which was very sumptuous.
If Chen You didn’t speak, Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter wouldn’t move their chopsticks. This was the usual state of affairs.
But this meal was bound to be an exception.
Because Second Pup has already taken an egg, cracked it on the table, and peeled it.
When it came to challenging Chen You’s prestige as brothel-keeper, Second Pup was definitely number one—forever number one.
Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter raised their eyes with a swoosh and looked at their Master in unison. Not only was he not angry, but he also looked at the child with a gaze full of fatherly love.
They silently lowered their eyelids, puzzled.
Chen You picked up his chopsticks. “Let’s eat.”
Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter responded and each took their chopsticks to eat.
Chen You was a dedicated brothel-keeper and the attention he paid to the four top cards was of equal proportion. Thus, he noticed that as they sat around the table, Summer Pear, who kept pushing food into his mouth, would bite his chopsticks and slightly rub his buttocks back and forth, looking very uncomfortable.
“Summer Pear, what’s wrong?”
Summer Pear’s face twisted. “Master, this Servant is not feeling well.”
Chen You asked with great concern, “Have you consulted a physician?”
Summer Pear shook his head.
Chen You frowned immediately and was about to order the servants to call a physician to come over to see.
But then, Summer Pear suddenly got up and said Master, this Servant has something to say to you alone.
Spring, Autumn, Winter and Second Pup ate on their own, not the least bit curious.
Chen You swallowed the food in his mouth and took the other to the next room.
“What is it, say it.”
Summer Pear told him that a guest last night stuffed a handful of silver into his mouth. A few haven’t been picked out yet and are blocking the inside.
Chen You, “…” So, this whole day, you didn’t take care of it? I didn’t hear that wrong, right, friend?
He looked at the palm-size faced teenager in front of him—not knowing whether to laugh or cry—with admiration. You are really calm, just based on your capability, there’s no need to say anything more. You’ll be my brother from now on, Big Bro.
“Hurry up and call the physician or it will bleed later.”
Summer Pear said, “It’s okay, Master, I’ll pull them out just fine.”
He pursed his lips. “I just don’t have the urge to pull it out at the moment, maybe after a while.”
Chen You unconsciously visualized the image, yi… well, no need to eat dinner anymore.
Fortunately, he had eaten two chopsticks of vegetables and a few bites of steamed buns earlier.
Chen You told Summer Pear to eat more pears. “It’s easier to defecate after eating.”
Summer Pear trotted off to get pears to eat.
Chen You was dumbfounded. Holy sh!t, to be in that situation but still be able to run like that. What’s even more bizarre is that the silver doesn’t fall off when he runs.
It’s really amazing.
Chen You returned to the dining room. It felt like a burst of cold air was brought in, and the atmosphere changed as soon as it came.
He sat upright, not moving his chopsticks and only drinking, trying to savor the fruits3To repay kindness with kindness and enmity with revenge. of being a hero of the Jianghu4Jianghu literally means rivers and lakes, it’s like the world of Wuxia..
But his savoring was cut short, as there was only a befuddled life to be lived in a brothel.
Without Summer Pear, who has a big appetite, there were still a lot of dishes and vegetable soup on the table. Spring, Autumn and Winter took turns giving to Second Pup.
What a picture of brotherhood and friendship.
Nobody cared about Chen You, he was an extra there, sigh.
The days were getting hotter and hotter. It was nearing the hottest time of the year, plus in ancient times, there was no air conditioning or electric fans.
To be honest, Chen You felt almost paralyzed by the heat everyday. He really couldn’t take it.
It seemed that only he was feeling hot, and the others didn’t feel a thing as they were accustomed to it.
Autumn Orange softly asked, “Master, aren’t you going to eat?”
Master was scared by your little comrade. Chen You replied that it was too hot so he had no appetite.
Autumn Orange was taken aback. “Hot? It’s okay.”
Chen You did not want to say anything more.
Autumn Orange thought about it and suggested, “Master, why don’t I have someone put a watermelon in the well to chill it?”
Chen You’s eyes lit up. “Okay, go ahead.” Why didn’t I think of that? It’s not comparable to a refrigerator, but it’s also refreshing.
Hearing that, Autumn Orange promptly went to do it.
Once he left, there was no more to take shelter from, causing the Winter Date and Spring Peach pair to feel awkward.
Chen You wasn’t concerned with them and only took a look at the child at the corner of his eyes, this world’s mission objective.
Truly a little kid who couldn’t love.
The scars on his ears, fingers, and neck were still there.
Second Pup was really Second Pup, the person stood true to his name.
The child always ate with his head down, his eyes not raised, and his chopsticks not indiscriminately picking up food, merely touching the plate in front of him. He ate very slowly like every grain of rice has to be chewed carefully.
Chen You was an impetuous person, and eating was simply a casual matter. However, seeing the child like this, he couldn’t help but want to eat for him.
Noticing that the child was not eating meat, Chen You’s eyes hinted at Spring Peach to give him meat.
Spring Peach knowingly brought the braised pork to the child’s side and placed several large pieces of it into his bowl.
The child pursed his oily lips and smothered his meat as he ate.
The meat was huge, greasy, and sweet. Chen You, a carnivore, was not even half as good as the child.
It wasn’t known if it was because his family was poor so they couldn’t afford to eat meat, but at the speed and amount of meat the child was eating, one can only say that he would be a person who could do great things and make impressive accomplishments.
In the past six months, Chen You didn’t get into a conflict with the kid, everything was given to Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter to take care of.
He believed that when the child grew up and could finally think comprehensively, he would know who’s best for him.
Chen You took a sip of wine. He smacked his mouth and took another sip. Hmm, it’s good, not drunk yet.
Not a few moments later, the child put down his bowl and chopsticks and wanted to go out.
Spring Peach let out a sound of surprise, saying Second Pup seemed to have grown in size.
Autumn and Winter surrounded the child, gesturing as they compared heights. The faces of the two colleagues were full of joy, the unhappiness and awkwardness now completely gone. “You’ve really grown taller!”
Chen You shot the child a glance, and then another. He’s really grown taller by a lot.
Unable to sit still, he quickly went up to the third floor and into his room to pour himself a cup of tea. He couldn’t come to terms with how he should drink it so he simply held the cup with two hands.
Second Pup has grown taller, but why is my heart so panicked?
