OFTLHFRO C44

Chapter 44: A Man with His Own Halo

Thankfully, Master Ming didn’t catch what she meant. Smiling awkwardly, Luo Mingchen stepped over, patted little Huo Xinyue’s head—afraid she’d blurt out something else—and asked, “Master Ming, here to see the orchid?”

Master Ming smiled. “To buy some tofu, and to stop by for a look.”

Truth be told, after a lifetime of rare delicacies, it was unusual to pine for a bowl of tofu.

But this tofu was truly silky—almost like soft tofu pudding.

Made the way Luo Mingchen suggested, it was something one never tired of.

Assuming Master Ming was being polite, Luo said, “Please have a seat. I’ll fetch the flower.”

“Very well.”

Master Ming entered and noticed the little girl watching him with those big, blinking eyes. Amused, he asked, “Where’s your other daddy?”

Xinyue pointed inside. “Mopping.”

He nodded and took in the surroundings.

The shop was tidy and fairly spacious, though the heavy counter across the doorway blocked the view, making it seem smaller from outside.

Sitting, he saw Xinyue still peeking at him and chuckled. “What’s your name?”

“Yueyue.”

He paused, then asked, “How old?”

She cocked her head, thinking. “Two… and a half?”

The uncertain little lilt made him laugh. “Which month were you born?”

Xinyue scrunched her brow and thought and thought—then shook her head. “Don’t remember.”

“Pff…”

Looking at her brought to mind his own granddaughter; his smile faded, gaze turning a little sad. He lifted the jade pendant at his waist to tease her. “Yueyue, want this?”

She gazed at the pretty jade, tempted—but steadfastly shook her head. “Yueyue doesn’t want.”

Hearing footsteps, she saw Luo coming out with the orchid and bounced over, “Daddy!”

The sight startled both Master Ming and the steward waiting outside.

But Luo didn’t even sway—he stood steady. “Be good. Daddy will show the flower to Grandpa first, then hold Yueyue.”

“Okay~”

She agreed sweetly and trailed behind him like a little tail, one hand clutching his pant leg.

Luo set the Ink Orchid on the table. “Two more days and it will be fully restored.”

Seeing the nearly resurrected orchid—now even sprouting fresh shoots—Master Ming was stunned. The improvement was dramatic.

“You have real skill, young man. If I hadn’t watched this orchid every single day, I might not have recognized it.”

Luo thought, that’s exactly why it wasn’t cured in one go—so it wouldn’t look suspicious.

“When it’s completely well, I’ll deliver it to your residence.”

“My thanks.”

He glanced again at Xinyue, clearly fond of her, and offered the pendant. “Yueyue is adorable. I didn’t bring a proper gift today—take this jade pendant for her.”

“That… wouldn’t be right.”

Even the wealthy didn’t casually give away something so precious.

Luo didn’t know jade, but it was clearly finely carved and lovely; the price would not be small.

Seeing him hesitate, the old man was a little surprised. “To be frank, I once had a little granddaughter—Yuanjing’s elder sister—also named Yueyue. At about this age, she was harmed by villains. Speaking with this Yueyue just now, I felt she was very like the child we lost. I’m truly fond of her.”

That only made Luo more unwilling to accept it. “She’s so young. Something that valuable could easily get lost.”

When Luo still refused, Master Ming let it go, bought tofu, and took his leave.

With few customers after that, Luo remembered the village head’s talk about buying seeds. Smiling at Huo Yan—who had just finished cleaning two storage rooms—he said, “Ge, can you watch the shop a bit?”

He’d gotten Huo Yan to work the same way last time—with that single “Ge”—and the man hadn’t minded at all. Wrapping an arm around Luo’s waist, Huo said, “Say it again.”

Laughing, Luo called him “Ge” once more, and only then did Huo let him slip into the space.

With the seeds prepared, Luo harvested the space-grown vegetables as well.

Afterward he sat on a field ridge to rest and murmured without thinking, “If only I could pull Huo Yan in here to help.”

He froze.

How did he end up thinking like that?

In the past, when someone else wanted in, he’d balk immediately.

Reflecting, Luo figured it was because Huo Yan seemed so reliable—and never refused when asked to handle things. In Luo’s heart, Huo had become someone to lean on; when tired, of course he’d think of him.

As for that other person—best left unmentioned. When Luo hunted beasts, he’d asked that man only to keep watch, and even that had been met with excuses.

Back to the point—Luo honestly didn’t know if a living person could be brought inside. When he first awakened the space, he’d accidentally dragged in a zombie trying to kill him—and that had been the first zombie he ever killed…

Try it next time?

But then again—what if Huo had no interest originally, and seeing this place made him want it?

After much back-and-forth, Luo decided to wait until the crops here ripened in a few days.

He thought the village head would come quickly for the seeds, but two or three days passed—long enough for Luo to return the orchid to Master Ming—and still, no one came.

He planned to ask on the way through Xishui Village today if the head didn’t appear again.

However, at the village entrance, he spotted a crowd at the headman’s gate.

The sight startled Huo Xiang. “Little Daddy, are they here to beat us up?”

At that, little Yueyue clapped both hands over her head and hid in Luo’s arms.

“How could they?” Luo said, amused.

They approached, and Huo Yan halted the ox cart. Yu Hu stepped forward.

“Huo Dalang, Mingchen—I’ve gathered everyone in the village who wants to buy seeds. How soon can you sell?”

Luo grinned. “Uncle Yu, the seeds have been ready for days—I thought perhaps you’d changed your mind. They’re at our house. Why not send a few people to carry them? Keep the money with you first, Uncle Yu. If anyone’s short, they can take a portion now and pay back after they harvest.”

Having tested the seeds himself, Luo had full confidence. As long as people weren’t bone-lazy and put in the effort, there would be a harvest.

Others heard this as well, surprised he was so easy to work with.

There were many rumors about him—especially the tale of killing a boar with one punch, well known in the village. They’d expected someone fierce.

Yu Hu was delighted and thanked him repeatedly. “Then I’ll thank you on everyone’s behalf.”

Having chosen to do a good deed, Luo wasn’t going to be stingy with words. “Don’t mention it. I want Xishui Village to prosper—and for everyone to earn together.”

As soon as he finished, Luo noticed a crowd of eyes looking at him, moved—making him feel like he was shining with holy light.