OFTLHFRO C73

Chapter 73 On the Minor Matter of Chipping a Tooth While Eating Pastries

The five large chests of treasures were dragged out of the room by Luo Mingchen and Huo Yan.

Seeing them, Xiao Lin was stunned. “You dug everything up?”

“We’d already gone, so better to take it all to keep the bandits from carrying off your loot,” said Luo Mingchen.

“No… I mean how did you bring so much back?”

“By carriage,” Luo Mingchen blurted out without thinking.

But after he said it, everyone looked at him.

Thinking about their carriage—two or three chests might fit, but five of this size certainly wouldn’t.

“Ahem… anyway, they’re back. See for yourself.”

When Xiao Lin still looked like he wanted to say more, Huo Yan said, “If you’re going to fuss after we dug it up for you, better not take it.”

Mouth twitching, Xiao Lin said, “Thank you.”

No matter how they’d brought them back, not a single chest was missing.

Opening them, he found not only a lot of gold, silver, and jewels, but also ancient paintings, blades, and assorted odds and ends.

Watching, Luo Mingchen felt a twinge of envy.

But considering Xiao Lin’s age—nearly thirty—by that time he and Huo Yan ought to have put aside a decent sum as well.

With that thought, the envy faded.

“Here, let me pick two things for you,” said Xiao Lin.

He handed a gem-studded dagger to Luo Mingchen and a gleaming, soft, golden-embroidered case to Huo Yan.

Who knew what fabric it was, but the gold and silver thread stood up more than ordinary cloth.

Then Xiao Lin asked, “What do the three little ones like?”

Looking at the bundle in hand, Huo Yan said, “Won’t any owners come asking about these things?”

“Of course not,” Xiao Lin said, pained. “Do you take me for a robber rampaging through homes?”

Truth be told, Luo Mingchen had wondered the same, but kept quiet.

In the end, Huo Yan selected three gifts and had Xiao Lin present them to the children himself—at least improve his image a bit in their eyes.

No need to mention Huo Xinyue, who had stayed at home these past two days. She’d once called him “bad uncle,” but after Hua Niang corrected her a few times—helplessly, upon recalling Xiao Lin’s good deeds—she switched to “Uncle Xiao.”

That evening, when the brothers returned from school and saw the gifts, even the gloomy Huo Xiang brightened suddenly.

“Thank you, Uncle Xiao!”

Holding a jade cicada, Huo Yuhui also offered thanks.

“It’s nothing,” Xiao Lin said with a smile, then turned back to Huo Yan as a thought struck him. “Shouldn’t they be calling me ‘Uncle on father’s side’ (older than you)?”

He was a bit older than Huo Yan, after all.

The three children: “…”

On second thought, it should be that.

“You don’t act like any kind of elder,” Huo Yan said. “Uncle is fine.”

Miffed, Xiao Lin said, “Brother, if you want to be the elder, just say so.”

Expressionless, Huo Yan clapped his hands. “Congratulations on not being too stupid.”

“…”

Holding back laughter, Luo Mingchen said, “You two keep squabbling. I’ll go make dinner.”

Not long after he entered the kitchen, a knock came at the door.

“Hm?”

Seeing it was Huo Yuhui, Luo Mingchen smiled. “Xiaohui, what is it?”

“Little Daddy…”

Huo Yuhui thought for a moment, then swallowed his words. “I’ll help you tend the fire.”

“Have your father come over later.”

Sensing something was off, Luo Mingchen added, “If something’s on your mind, say it. We’ll solve it together.”

Pressing his lips, as if making up his mind, Huo Yuhui smiled. “Really, it’s nothing.”

“Alright then.”

Chopping the roast goose they’d brought back, Luo Mingchen said, “This is one of Yuanzhou’s specialties. Supposed to be very good.”

Huo Yuhui nodded with anticipation.

“We also bought lots of nuts and some pastries unique to Yuanzhou. Just not sure if Yueyue’s little milk teeth can handle them.”

Smiling, Huo Yuhui said, “I think Xiaoxiang’s tooth might chip.”

Assuming he meant Huo Xiang’s gluttony, Luo Mingchen chuckled. “That could happen.”

That evening, snacking on nuts and pastries, Huo Xiang glanced at his brother, who was practicing calligraphy. “Brother, didn’t you tell Little Daddy about that?”

Hand pausing briefly, then resuming, Huo Yuhui said, “I’m only eleven now—twelve next year. There’s no rush.”

“But the teacher said some people get so nervous in the exam hall they can’t write. Better to take it twice. Didn’t Little Daddy say we have money? One more try won’t matter, right?”

Looking at carefree Huo Xiang, Huo Yuhui sighed. “Money isn’t for that.”

If he could pass the tongsheng exam in one go, then it’d be fine for Huo Xiang to take it a few times.

And he’d only been in school a little over two months—no need to hurry.

Next year would be steadier.

Huo Xiang wanted to argue, but he’d bitten down carelessly with a loose tooth. A sudden sour pain shot through him. “Ah!”

“What’s wrong?”

Dropping his brush, Huo Yuhui rushed over.

Hand clapped over his mouth, a little tooth in his palm, eyes brimming, Huo Xiang said, “Brother, my tooth fell out.”

Though he looked pitiful, Huo Yuhui couldn’t help laughing. “Ahem… I’ll get you some water to rinse.”

From the bed, Huo Xinyue stretched her neck to blow gently at him, seeing he was on the verge of tears. “Good brother, it won’t hurt.”

After rinsing, Huo Xiang spat, then poked at the gap. Seeing blood on his hand, he panicked. “Brother! It’s still bleeding!”

“I forgot,” said Huo Yuhui, pouring another cup. “Hold the water in your mouth. Don’t spit and don’t swallow.”

Sharing the same courtyard, Huo Yan and Luo Mingchen had good hearing. They came over and stood at the window.

“You two alright?”

At Luo Mingchen’s question, Huo Xiang pouted miserably, but afraid of making the bleeding worse, he could only gaze at them with his cheeks full of water.

Setting down the cup, Huo Yuhui picked up the tooth from the table. “He lost a tooth on a pastry.”

“So fragile?” said Luo Mingchen, startled.

“Probably a baby tooth,” Huo Yan explained.

“Oh, right—kids shed teeth,” said Luo Mingchen. “Hold the water a bit longer.”

Also hearing the commotion was Xiao Lin, just lying down. “What happened? I thought I heard someone call out.”

“…”

So his voice was that loud?

“It’s nothing,” said Luo Mingchen. “Xiaoxiang chipped a tooth.”

“Oh…”

With a chuckle, Xiao Lin asked, “Upper or lower?”

Mouth full, Huo Xiang couldn’t answer.

“Likely a lower tooth,” said Huo Yuhui after thinking it over. “The one below was looser.”

Huo Xiang nodded, confirming his brother was right.

“Then you have to throw it onto the roof,” said Xiao Lin.

At that, everyone turned to him.

Seeing all eyes on him, Xiao Lin scratched his head. “What? Did I say something wrong?”

“I think that’s a saying,” Huo Yan said after a moment.

“Exactly,” Xiao Lin replied. “Upper teeth get buried, lower teeth get tossed on the roof. I didn’t misremember.”

First time hearing such a custom, Luo Mingchen: “…”

In the end, Huo Yan tossed the lower tooth onto the roof.

Note –

• Tongsheng (童生, lit. “child student”), an examinee who had passed the county/prefecture examination of the entry-level examinations.