flamboyant - Chapter 44
Feng Ning turned around and saw Bao'er hugging her knees, her face flushed with shyness, speaking up for her. Feng Ning went over and kissed her, then turned back and continued, "This humble woman has no other special skills, but I know some martial arts. I'll perform a few sets of fist, sword, and staff techniques for everyone. If you enjoy them, those who have money can support me with a donation..."
“Money market…” Bao’er tried to continue from behind.
"Those who don't have money, please show your support."
“People’s field…” Bao’er’s baby voice was drawn out, which made the surrounding crowd laugh.
Feng Ning was also amused. She turned around and smiled at Bao'er, then clasped her hands in a fist salute and began to dance. She had almost finished her set of punches when she saw Bao'er jump off the small chair, wobbling towards the crowd, her two small, tender hands outstretched, as if asking the crowd for money.
Feng Ning was worried that she would get lost, so she looked at her with a distraction. She saw that Bao'er noticed that no one was giving her a copper coin, so she pointed to the one hanging on her body and gestured to others, "This one."
The onlookers were amused by the little girl's maturity and cuteness beyond her years. Someone actually took out their purse, and Bao'er carefully held the coin, smiling shyly.
After Feng Ning finished her fist dance, Bao'er had already spun around for a while. She ran to Feng Ning's side with a dozen or so copper coins in her little hands: "Your Highness, money."
Feng Ning took the baby and hugged it tightly: "Bao'er is so good, Bao'er is even better than her mother."
A bystander walked over and handed over a small piece of silver: "Buy some treats and toys for the child." Bao'er stared at the piece of silver, frowned, and said timidly to the man, "I want this." She pointed to the copper coin hanging on her body.
The man smiled and patted Bao'er's head: "What a good child." Bao'er turned and hid behind Feng Ning, whispering in Feng Ning's ear to complain: "He didn't give me money, and he even patted my head."
Feng Ning laughed heartily and hugged Bao'er, showering her with kisses. From that day on, the mother and daughter began their life as a performing duo.
Not long after, one day when Bao'er was collecting money from someone while carrying her little basket, she looked up and saw a handsome man smiling gently. Bao'er whispered, "Uncle, money."
The author has something to say: The 8 o'clock drama is here, I finally finished it, I almost couldn't stay up, I'm so tired, I'm going to rest.
33
33. Master Long, who refused to leave...
The man squatted down, but instead of taking out any money, he glanced at Feng Ning, who was calling out to collect money on the other side, then turned back to look at Bao'er, sighed, and reached out to pat Bao'er's head.
Bao'er was shocked and quickly backed away. How did she run into another bad uncle who wouldn't give her money and would touch her head? But this bad uncle was obviously better looking than the previous one.
Entrusted by Feng Ning, Zeng Jie'er was to keep an eye on Bao'er in her spare time. When she saw the situation, she quickly pulled Feng Ning: "Feng Feng, look, there's a very gentle hero talking to Bao'er over there. She should be alright, right?"
A gentle hero? The title seemed incongruous, but Feng Ning's heart skipped a beat. She only knew one man who appeared mild-mannered, but whose true nature was unmistakable to others. She quickly turned her head and, sure enough, saw Long San squatting in front of Bao'er. But she couldn't see the gentleness Zeng Jie'er had described; she saw the sadness in his eyes as he gazed at Bao'er.
Bao'er didn't have so many feelings. She simply wanted to help her mother earn more money. Although she was so scared that she took several steps back, she still asked again, "Can you give me money?" She spoke softly and timidly, her baby voice revealing an indescribable pitifulness and cuteness.
Long San couldn't help but smile, but his eyes were brimming with tears. Bao'er finally decided to give up on this strange uncle. She turned and threw herself into Feng Ning's arms as she ran over, earnestly complaining, "Your Highness, that uncle didn't give me any money, and he even touched Bao'er's head."
Feng Ning hugged Bao'er, comforted her for a few moments, then turned to pack up her performance supplies and head down, ready to leave. Long San came over, snatched her sword, staff, stool, and bundle, and said, "I'll help you carry these."
In front of everyone, Feng Ning didn't dare to argue with him, so she remained silent, picked up Bao'er, and walked ahead. Zeng Jie'er hurriedly came up to ask, but Feng Ning preemptively said to her, "We're going back first." Zeng Jie'er was taken aback, then nodded. Long San smiled at Zeng Jie'er from the side and nodded as a greeting.
Feng Ning watched from the side, her heart burning with anger. She laughed and laughed, thinking, "He always smiles at women all the time. How annoying!"
The two walked together in silence for a while, and Feng Ning began to feel uneasy. What was this man doing here? A chance encounter? It didn't seem like it. Was he looking for her on purpose? Impossible. She slept with the letter of divorce he wrote every day, it was still warm from his touch.
Bao'er, her little head resting on Feng Ning's shoulder, secretly glanced at Long San. Long San smiled helplessly at her, and Bao'er shyly buried her face behind Feng Ning's shoulder. Feng Ning seized the opportunity and turned around to shout at Long San, "What are you doing, harassing my daughter?"
Long San was taken aback, then sighed, "Feng'er, you're talking nonsense again."
"What nonsense are you talking about?" Feng Ning pulled Bao'er out to testify: "Bao'er, wasn't it this uncle who touched your head just now?"
Bao'er nodded and whispered, "He still hasn't given me the money."
Feng Ning asked again, "Was it this uncle who smiled at you?"
Bao'er nodded again, then added after thinking for a moment, "He still won't give me any money." She was worried about how hard her mother worked, and that this uncle wouldn't give her any money.
Feng Ning raised her head, about to gloat at Long San, but then realized her daughter's words were inappropriate, so she quickly turned to her and lectured, "Bao'er, you are a girl. Even if a man gives you money, you can't let him laugh at you or touch you indiscriminately."
Bao'er was confused. She frowned and said, "But some of them touch Bao'er's head when they give her money."
Feng Ning was speechless for a moment, and just as she was thinking about how to answer, Bao'er added, "Everyone is laughing." Feng Ning was speechless again. Long San sighed from the side, "Bao'er, your mother is just joking with you."
Bao'er turned to look at Long San, who smiled back. Bao'er then shyly hid her face in Feng Ning's shoulder. Feng Ning vented all her resentment on Long San: "See, it's all your fault."
Long San blinked innocently, and Feng Ning snorted and continued walking. The two walked quietly for a while longer, then Bao'er yawned and fell asleep on Feng Ning's shoulder.
Feeling sorry for Bao'er, Feng Ning stopped beating around the bush and led Long San back to their rented courtyard. Long San followed her into the house as usual, put down the odds and ends he used for his performances, and watched as Feng Ning put Bao'er on the bed and coaxed her to sleep.
Without Bao'er to cover for her, Feng Ning could only wander around the room, pouring water, tidying the table, and collecting clothes. After running around for a while, the burning gaze behind her finally made her turn around and ask, "What exactly do you want?"
"What if I don't want to go back to the Feng family? Of course I'll take care of you." After all the running around and anxiety, Long San finally felt at ease after receiving her news. All his previous struggles and hesitations couldn't compare to his concern and worry for her. He said to Feng Ning, "I can't watch you suffer."
His gentle yet deadly tactic always worked on Feng Ning. She immediately lost her bravado and muttered, "Who said I'm suffering? I'm perfectly fine. Look, without you all, I'm free. I've even made friends, have my own place to live, and I can even earn money..."
As she was speaking, Long San walked over and took her hand. He didn't say anything, but just held her hand and looked at it carefully, then gently stroked the thin calluses on her palm.
Feng Ning trembled slightly, feeling a tingling sensation from his touch. She stammered, "I, I, I already had these calluses before. It's not because of my recent lifestyle."
"Hmm." Long San didn't refute, but instead agreed, and then he asked naturally, "Why are you leaving?"
Feng Ning pouted: "My mother and father secretly discussed giving Bao'er away. I... I can't abandon this child anymore... I understand that feeling of being helpless and alone."
"I knew it, something must have happened, otherwise someone who longs for a home wouldn't run away like this," Long San said softly, his words striking a chord with Feng Ning. She lowered her head, concealing her sorrow. He understood her best, treated her the best, yet she had hurt him the most.
“Bao’er is a good child. They think she doesn’t understand, but she’s actually very smart. She just doesn’t express herself well. She knows who treats her well. Those maids only take care of her basic needs; they won’t love her like her own parents would. They’ll even gossip about her. My parents do visit her, but she’s never seen her own parents before, and she’s afraid of them. This time, my mother said she was bringing her to live with her parents, but she went back without getting anything. The child has asked me about it several times in secret; she’s very worried. I can’t bear to think about her being given away after we go back. I can’t let my daughter live in fear. I absolutely cannot abandon her again.” Feng Ning gritted her teeth and spoke her mind.
"Mmm," Long San responded, indicating that he had heard, but he held her hand tightly and wouldn't let go.
Feng Ning continued, "I heard what you said to Second Uncle. This child can't be yours, I have no face to see you again. So, so..."
"So you stole my money to compensate me?"
"That was borrowed, it was borrowed." Feng Ning blushed. "I will definitely pay it back later."
"Just like last time you escaped, will you pay me back with my silver?" Long San teased her. At this rate, how long would it take for her to live a good life and pay off her debts?
Feng Ning's face flushed. She remembered her last escape, during which she stole silver and valuables along the way. She felt terrible. Later, Long San accompanied her as they secretly returned the stolen goods, house by house. How happy she had been then! But this time…
"I will pay it back," Feng Ning said stubbornly.
"Do you know your parents have been looking for you?" Long San suddenly changed the subject.
“I know, I’ve avoided it, and I’ve even deliberately stayed in this small town.”
“I told them to leave the matter of finding you to me.” Long San always had a way of convincing people.
Feng Ning was surprised: "How could they agree?"
"Of course your mother would love to." What Long San said was indeed true.
Feng Ning pouted, feeling very uncomfortable. She spoke bluntly, "She called me shameless, but she's the same way. I feel so ashamed of her causing trouble for you. Long San, just ignore her. My running away from home has nothing to do with your Long family. She has no reason to cause trouble at your house anymore. As for me, I'm doing just fine with Bao'er. I can take care of myself, and I will never go back."
“I ignored her, of course it wasn’t for her. I also had no intention of sending you back. They made you unhappy and forced you to run away from home, why would I send you back?”
Feng Ning looked up: "Then what did you come to see me for?"
“I didn’t come here on behalf of your family. My second brother found out you stole the silver, and I knew you had something planned. I caught up with your parents and found out you had run away, so I told them to leave the task of finding you to me.”
Feng Ning blinked, pondering the meaning behind those words. Long San continued, "In that case, they'll go straight back to Huzhou. No one will bother you, and you can live a more peaceful life."
"You mean, no one will force me to go back to the Feng family?"
"Yes, I've taken care of everything. I'll send them a message in a while, and no one should bother you for the time being. I'm also keeping an eye on those men in black who were trying to kill you, but there haven't been any moves yet, so you don't need to worry."
Feng Ning opened her mouth wide and thought for a long time before saying, "Then, I don't need to go back to the Feng family. Is there anything else you want to talk to me about?"
Long San shut his mouth and stared at Feng Ning. He had clearly stated his purpose just now, so was she pretending to be stupid or something? Feng Ning felt uneasy under his gaze, and finally had no choice but to feign fierceness and say, "If there's nothing else, then you can leave."
"What if we don't leave?"
Feng Ning was dumbfounded. Was Third Master Long being a scoundrel? She clenched her fist and waved it in front of him: "Don't think that we are easy to bully just because we are an orphan and a widow. I have Bao'er now. If anyone dares to bully us, I will beat them to death."
“Very good, that’s the right idea,” Long San agreed with her.
Feng Ning was truly annoyed now: "Don't tease me, I'm angry."
Long San remained calm and said, "You stole my family's silver, how dare you be so arrogant? You think you can kick me out? You're not going to succeed."
"Then what do you want?"
Long San looked around, pulled over the only chair in the room, and sat down: "I'm afraid you won't pay back the debt, so I have to stay here. When you have the money to pay back, we can talk about my future."
Feng Ning stared at him blankly. Had this Third Master Long Fei really turned into a scoundrel?