OFTLHFRO C157
by NininiaChapter 157: Any Objections?
At these words, Luo Mingchen’s tense nerves snapped.
Huo Xiang and Huo Xinyue hugged Luo Mingchen tightly.
What Luo Mingchen thought was not so scary suddenly felt frightening, and he let out a startled cry, “Mommy!”
Xiao Bai, who had just finished licking her fur and was about to sleep, quietly opened her eyes and watched the three tangled together.
Huo Yan saw Huo Yuhui outside the window looking a bit helpless and said resignedly, “It’s Xiao Hui.”
Luo Mingchen then forced himself to calm down, glanced over, and breathed a sigh of relief, “So it’s Xiao Hui…”
Huo Yuhui looked innocent and said, “Little Daddy, I called you.”
“Sorry, we were too engrossed with your dad telling stories to hear you. What’s up?”
“I just thought I heard Xiao Xiang calling, found he’s not in the room, Xinyue isn’t either, so I came to check. Are you… telling ghost stories?”
Huo Yuhui was unsure; he had read that book and found it not scary, so was puzzled how it frightened Little Dad.
“It’s the ghost story book Xinyue brought… Do you want to listen with us? Dad tells stories well.”
Huo Yan: “…”
Huo Yuhui blinked, wanting to enter through the main door, but Luo Mingchen said, “No need for trouble, just climb over here.”
The window was so big even Huo Xiang could climb through; Luo Mingchen didn’t believe Huo Yuhui couldn’t.
“…Okay.”
Climbing through the window, Huo Yuhui saw the people sitting on the bed and a big white cat, his gaze complicated.
Huo Xiang even patted a spot beside him, “Brother, come here.”
“Mm.”
After Huo Yuhui joined the bed, the listeners increased by one.
Huo Yan continued reading the human skin lantern story.
At the end, the scholar was skinned by a strange old man and made into a lantern. Only at death did he realize the black cat was warning him not to enter the house to meet his fate…
Because an extra listener was present, he retold the story of the fox ghost.
Luo Mingchen listened attentively.
Though scared, listening to ghost stories was enjoyable; even Huo Xiang grew addicted.
However, after the tale finished, trouble began.
Huo Xiang timidly tugged Luo Mingchen’s sleeve and whispered, “Little Daddy, can I sleep with you and Daddy tonight?”
Luo Mingchen laughed, “Didn’t you say you weren’t scared?”
“I seem not, but Daddy’s story is scary…”
Huo Xiang wondered why, perhaps because Daddy told it so well?
“Alright, we’ll sleep together tonight.”
The bed was big, but the children had grown. Lying across it was cramped but doable.
After accompanying Huo Xiang to the back portable toilet, Luo Mingchen carried Xiao Bai to the outhouse, leaving Huo Yan and Huo Xinyue exchanging glances.
After washing, they went to bed, lying neatly.
Huo Yan went to blow out the oil lamp, hearing Huo Xiang say, “Daddy! How about leaving the light on tonight? I’m scared to get up and can’t see.”
Outside the moonlight was bright, so the excuse was false; he just wanted a reason to keep the lamp on.
Luo Mingchen agreed, “Leave it. The child is scared.”
Huo Yan smiled slightly, glancing at him, “Okay.”
When Huo Yan came over, Luo Mingchen quickly rolled into his embrace.
Because of the ghost story about a bed ghost in the book, Luo Mingchen let Huo Yan sleep nearest the bed, the safest barrier better than a small oil lamp.
Huo Yuhui was a bit spooked but, feeling responsible for his siblings, slept at the bed’s foot, gently placing Xiao Bai beside him.
Huo Yan embraced Luo Mingchen with a smile and whispered, “If a ghost comes, it eats me first, right?”
Luo Mingchen blushed and glared, lowering his voice to ask, “Any objections?”
“No.”
Huo Yan patted his back lightly, “Sleep now.”
After the room calmed, Luo Mingchen, who thought he’d have trouble sleeping, soon fell asleep.
Waking up, Huo Yuhui dressed, Huo Xiang rubbed his sleepy eyes, ready to train, while Huo Xinyue kept sleeping.
Luo Mingchen, Huo Yan, and the boy went out to practice martial arts.
The style was taught by Huo Yan.
But upon fighting, Luo Mingchen forgot the moves.
It was inevitable. Anyone who had crawled through hordes of zombies for years would have reflex actions.
So the forms and swordplay were just for protecting his abdomen.
At noon, under the scorching sun, Luo Mingchen took his small notebook to check progress at the garment factory.
He only explained ideas roughly, but Hua Niang implemented them quickly.
Two days ago, she was worried. Today, the weaving and spinning areas were already operational.
Seeing Luo Mingchen arrive, Hua Niang left her teaching and approached.
They talked in the corridor.
Luo Mingchen joked, “Sister-in-law, you’re handling this well, aren’t you?”
Hua Niang was bashful. “Mingchen, don’t joke. How many kinds of cotton fabric do you want?”
“What do you mean many kinds?”
Hua Niang was surprised. “There are many weaving methods and patterns.”
Luo Mingchen understood.
“Sister-in-law, these fabrics are for army soldiers’ clothes. We sell cotton, so pick one or two simple patterns, not too complicated. Make sizes for tall smalls and short larges. I asked; those two don’t fit well.”
Luo Mingchen opened his notebook. “Every outfit needs a badge. Army clothes must differ from General Hu’s camp clothes.”
Hearing this, Hua Niang asked, “How about weaving secret patterns?”
Luo Mingchen paused, “Is that troublesome?”
“Not much; it protects from wear, placed inside collars. Both single and padded clothes have double collars. But the patterns? What should they be?”
“We’ll weave ‘auspicious clouds’ and embroider ‘peace.’ I’ll check with General Hu.”
Afterwards, Luo Mingchen discussed other ideas with Hua Niang, marking down useful ones, crossing out others to bring to Hu Zhongyi.
Watching Luo Mingchen leave, Hua Niang smiled and reflected.
She once feared Huo Yan’s rise would change things, but she was overthinking.
Luo Mingchen felt no inferiority; he could decide many things directly.
On the streets, soldiers respected Luo Mingchen not just because he was Huo Yan’s partner, but from genuine admiration.
This equality felt good. Many who become rich abandon partners for new loves, just differences in status.
Thinking this, Hua Niang finally understood what Luo Mingchen meant by being happier having one’s own career.