OFTLHFRO C20

Chapter 20: Just to Poke?

The evening breeze was cool as Luo Mingchen quietly sat observing his space.

To others, it looked like he was intently staring at the pressed tofu.

After checking the items in his space, Luo Mingchen thought he should find time to harvest the vegetables and rice to avoid having too little stored food.

For Luo Mingchen, having grain in hand meant peace of mind.

When he came back to himself and glanced beside him, Huo Yan had already leaned against the wall and fallen asleep.

Looking at Huo Yan’s peaceful face, Luo Mingchen smiled slightly.

He had said Huo Yan would probably sleep until the middle of the night, oblivious even if he were pressed into tofu dregs.

Propping his chin with one hand, Luo Mingchen tilted his head and stared at Huo Yan.

That face was truly engraved in his heart, though his words could sometimes be sharp.

But sleeping so quietly made him resemble a sleeping beauty from childhood storybooks.

Luo Mingchen imagined Huo Yan dressed as a princess and couldn’t help but laugh out loud, quickly shutting his mouth lest he wake him.

After watching a while longer, Luo Mingchen’s hands itched to touch that face.

After some thought, he tried leaning closer. Seeing Huo Yan didn’t react, he cautiously touched his face with a fingertip.

But as soon as he touched it, Huo Yan grabbed his wrist.

Luo Mingchen then saw that the supposedly sleeping man was watching him clearly, his eyes nowhere near sleepy, “You… aren’t asleep?”

Huo Yan said calmly, “You stared at me so long just to poke?”

Luo Mingchen: “…”

He probably had been awake long ago, waiting for him to make a move.

Looking closely into those enchanting eyes, Luo Mingchen awkwardly looked away, “If you’re awake, why don’t you open your eyes earlier?”

This was a case of the guilty party complaining first; but if he didn’t say it, Huo Yan might say something worse, so he might as well shift the blame.

“Hmm, my fault.”

Before Luo Mingchen could breathe a sigh of relief, Huo Yan added, “I want to poke too.”

Luo Mingchen’s mouth twitched, “Aren’t you childish?”

Huo Yan said matter-of-factly, “Childish.”

Seeing he was serious, Luo Mingchen had no choice but to close his eyes, “Quick then.”

No sooner had he said that than he was kissed.

Unlike before’s fleeting sensation, this time Huo Yan lingered a long time.

Luo Mingchen snapped his eyes open, instinctively pushed him away, staring in shock, holding back before managing to say, “Didn’t you say just to poke?”

Huo Yan blinked, “Why don’t you kiss me back?”

Luo Mingchen: “…”

He had never met a more roguish person.

Seeing Luo Mingchen staring at him, Huo Yan said, “You still owe me thirty-five pokes.”

“Then why not kiss me all at once?”

Originally Luo Mingchen was joking, but seeing Huo Yan fixated on his lips, he hurriedly backed off, “The tofu’s done; go sleep.”

Huo Yan didn’t press him, “Okay.”

Before sleeping that night, Luo Mingchen silently warned himself not to kick Huo Yan again and to keep away from him.

But when he woke up, for some reason, Luo Mingchen had rolled into Huo Yan’s embrace and was told he had kicked him twenty times, which was better than before.

“Maybe I should just buy a bed myself?”

Luo Mingchen was quite exhausted.

Seeing Huo Yan quietly watching him, Luo Mingchen felt a little uneasy and nervously laughed, “Better not then?”

“Hmm.”

While cooking porridge, Huo Yan taught the two kids kung fu.

After eating, the two with three kids went to Taohua Town. Nearing town, they placed five blocks of tofu on the cart.

One block sold for one wen, so thirty-six blocks were a plate, and five plates could be sold for 180 wen—a substantial income. Besides, the soybeans were homegrown, gypsum didn’t need to be bought, and wrapping materials could be lotus leaves, which also grew in the space and could be washed.

Actually, they arrived at town quite late, among the last batches.

After sending the kids to the academy, the two rented a stall for ten wen a day.

The streets bustled with people coming and going. Luo Mingchen held Huo Xinyue and skillfully called out, “Selling tofu—soft and silky water tofu, delicious and cheap—”

His clear voice, though somewhat soft, soon attracted a middle-aged woman.

Seeing the water tofu, the woman’s eyes sparkled, “This tofu is really tender, give me two pieces.”

“Alright, ma’am.”

Luo Mingchen smiled, wrapped two pieces in clean lotus leaves, and handed them over, “Ma’am, here’s your tofu.”

“Thanks.”

The woman put two wen into the empty plate and took the tofu away.

Receiving the two wen, Luo Mingchen proudly smiled at Huo Yan and the daughter.

Huo Xinyue thought Luo Mingchen was smiling at her and grinned.

Huo Yan said, “How about you hold the child and I sell the tofu?”

“Can you shout? Or should I do it myself?”

Huo Xinyue, already reaching out to Luo Mingchen, saw her little daddy didn’t intend to hold her, pouted, and obediently withdrew her hand, continuing to cling to Huo Yan’s neck.

The water tofu business was better than Luo Mingchen expected. In less than an hour, all five plates sold out.

Mainly because Luo Mingchen was young and shouted loudly, and the tofu looked softer than others’ with a competitive price. Selling well was reasonable.

Luo Mingchen originally thought locals disliked soft water tofu, but now it seemed not to be so.

Closing early, Luo Mingchen felt that paying ten wen a day just to sell tofu was a bit of a waste.

If five more plates sold quickly tomorrow, they might try other snacks—like bowl cakes.

When collecting supplies before, Luo Mingchen had also gathered many herbs from the Chinese medicine shop, including natron, which could be used to make ice.

Who could resist a bowl of icy bowl cakes in summer?

However, selling bowl cakes required bamboo skewers, some bamboo or oil paper wrappers, so those who wanted takeout would have something to pack with.

Planning ahead was better than just selling water tofu today. After breakfast, Huo Yan reminded him to use lotus leaves to wrap.

Before going home, Luo Mingchen happily bought a duck and a chicken, planning to make spicy diced chicken and duck rice noodles.

In the summer heat, heavy oily foods were hard to finish.

The siblings had rarely eaten good food before, so whatever Luo Mingchen cooked was accepted without complaint.

But Luo Mingchen was starting to feel a bit tired of eating.

When using lotus leaves, he suddenly remembered the lotus roots standing in a water jar.

The once nearly-bare lotus leaves had grown back into a huge cluster by noon, blooming with pale pink lotus flowers.

“Yueyue, you help daddy count the money and see how much he earned today. If you don’t know, ask your daddy.”

Luo Mingchen said, pointing at Huo Yan.

Huo Xinyue obediently nodded, “Okay.”

“So good.”

Luo Mingchen kissed her on the cheek and went to the kitchen to make lunch.

Huo Yan wanted to light the fire, but Luo Mingchen told him to watch the daughter and teach her to count. He sat beside Huo Xinyue and watched her count money.

Huo Yan noticed the little girl could only count to ten but counted out ten copper coins, put them aside, and continued.

After sorting, Huo Xinyue looked confused at the less-than-ten remaining coins. Seeing the many piles exceeded ten, she looked to Huo Yan for help, “Little daddy!”

Huo Yan replied, “…I’m your daddy.”

Huo Xinyue pointed confusedly at the kitchen, “Daddy!”

Hearing this, Luo Mingchen stood cluelessly at the door, “What’s the matter, Yueyue?”

Looking at Huo Yan again, Huo Xinyue’s expression clearly said: You’re the little daddy.

Huo Yan: “…”