OFTLHFRO C39

Thinking the day would pass just like that, Luo Mingchen sat down and began sketching flowers and trees on scrap paper, writing their names in round, soft characters with a ballpoint pen while teaching little Huo Xinyue to read.

Huo Yan sat silently beside them, watching. The chubby strokes were just like their owner—cute.

“This,” said Luo Mingchen, pointing, “is ‘flower.’”

He repeated the word over and over as he taught.

Xinyue happily followed along, then picked up a green crayon to color in the petals. “Green flower.”

“So our Yueyue likes green flowers, I see.”

Amused, Luo Mingchen drew another outline of a flower. “Then what color should this one be?”

The little girl tilted her head in thought, then carefully chose blue.

Honestly, Luo Mingchen didn’t want to raise a child to be stiff, only knowing to paint flowers pink or red.

Watching her color in her own way, he realized children had their own opinions too. The best he could do was let her imagination run free.

He didn’t know if this was the “right” way to raise a child—having never raised one before, he could only learn as he went.

As he turned to glance at the child’s other parent, he found the man watching him.

“What are you looking at me for? Teach her yourself, don’t just loaf around.”

Propping his chin in one hand, Huo Yan pulled his daughter onto his lap and lazily said, “Yueyue, do you like money?”

The little girl nodded with complete honesty. “Like.”

“Then come here, Daddy will teach you how to keep accounts.”

He pulled out an abacus.

Dumbfounded, Luo Mingchen groaned, “She’s only two years old—two and a half at most. How is she supposed to learn that?”

Huo Yan said seriously, “Precisely because she doesn’t know, that’s why she has to learn.”

“….” Luo Mingchen had no comeback. Somehow, the logic even made sense.

—

At noon, after their busy work, Luo Mingchen noticed Huo Yuhui lingering after his meal instead of heading off. “What is it?”

The boy hesitated. “Little Daddy…”

Realization struck. “How much money do you need?”

Startled, Yuhui blinked. “…Hm?”

“Weren’t you asking for money?”

That uncertain, ashamed expression—just like when he himself used to borrow from his mother.

“…No.”

With his awkwardness broken by that interjection, Yuhui managed to speak more calmly. “Little Daddy, do you still remember Ming Yuanjing—the plump one who speaks slowly?”

“I remember. What about him?”

“He said his grandfather keeps a favorite Orchid, an Ink Orchid, but it’s rotting from overwatering. They’ve offered a heavy reward for a cure. If anyone saves it, one hundred taels of gold.”

At that, Yuhui immediately thought of his Little Daddy. After all, their vegetables had thrived with little attention, proof he had a gift with plants. He might truly be able to save it.

That way, they could both earn the gold and please his friend’s grandfather.

Still cautious, Yuhui hadn’t told Yuanjing yet—he wanted to ask first.

Luo Mingchen’s eyes lit up. “Really one hundred taels of gold?”

The boy nodded. “Yes.”

“Where’s their house? Can we go now?”

As long as the roots weren’t dead, keeping the orchid in his space would guarantee recovery.

To him, this was basically easy money.

Gold! One tael of gold equaled ten taels of silver—that was one thousand taels of silver!

How much tofu and pudding would they have to sell to make that much?

Seeing his eagerness, Yuhui couldn’t help but chuckle. “Is it really alright, Little Daddy?”

“It’s fine—as long as he hands it to me, I guarantee it’ll live.”

Excited, little Huo Xiang piped up, “Then Little Daddy’s going to get rich!”

Yuhui handed over a slip of paper with an address carefully written. “Here’s the Ming household.”

“Good. Leave this to me. You two just head back to the academy.”

Once the boys left, Luo Mingchen looked at the address and turned to Huo Yan. “Let’s go quickly, before anyone else gets there.”

Seeing him so excited, Huo Yan nodded. “Alright.”

Putting away the board, Luo Mingchen suddenly found himself holding a soft bundle—Huo Yan had stuffed their daughter into his arms so he could lock up the tofu shop.

Taohua Town wasn’t exactly large, but it wasn’t exactly small either. The Ming residence was at the far end, beyond the academy.

At first Luo Mingchen didn’t mind, but after some walking he muttered, “Shouldn’t we have brought the ox cart?”

Huo Yan curved his lips and said, “Want me to carry you?”

Luo Mingchen glanced at his broad back. “Honestly… a little tempted.”

Imagining Huo Yan carrying a child in front and him on his back, the mental picture was ridiculous.

But when Huo Yan crouched down and said, “Get on,” he balked, embarrassed by the attention of passersby. He tapped his arm instead. “I was joking.”

“Oh.”

A few steps later, Huo Yan added, “I wasn’t. If you’re tired, lean on me. Don’t push yourself.”

Though not tired in the least, the words left Luo Mingchen startled.

Beaten down by survival and the apocalypse, he had long learned never to rely on others. Hearing someone so casually say he could… it left him more surprised than touched.

Surprised at how easily Huo Yan said it, and doubtful of how long the promise could last.

Still, he laughed it off. “Come on, let’s hurry up. If someone else gets that orchid first, I’ll be heartbroken.”

One hundred gold taels!

They picked up the pace. Huo Yan’s rocking steps lulled sleepy little Xinyue into her usual nap.

When they reached the Ming mansion, Luo Mingchen was about to knock when he noticed a line of people by the side gate.

Walking over, he asked, “Are you all here to cure the Orchid?”

The men turned, eyes immediately sliding to Huo Yan holding the girl. Their expressions carried thinly-veiled disdain.

The nearest man sneered, “You? Understand Orchids? Better not embarrass yourself.”

Unbothered, Luo Mingchen turned to Huo Yan. “Looks like we’re in the right place. Let’s line up.”

“….” The man stared blankly.

Was this guy an idiot? Did he not hear the insult?

But Luo Mingchen didn’t care. After all, this was just some stranger’s mockery. Even if Master Ming himself said that to his face, he’d respond with a smile—though perhaps with an extra explanation.

And judging from Ming Yuanjing’s own behavior, his grandfather surely wouldn’t say anything so rude.

Footnotes:

• Ink Orchid (墨蘭, mòlán) – A type of Cymbidium orchid, prized for its elegant fragrance and longevity, often cultivated by scholars and nobles. 
• One tael of gold = ten taels of silver – In many Chinese dynasties, this was the approximate exchange rate. A hundred taels of gold equaled about one thousand taels of silver, an immense fortune.