amaotonovel Chapter 168 She's so funny!
Chapter 168 She's so funny!
As dawn approached, a thick layer of charred charcoal covered the campfire that had burned all night.
Tang Huaiyi held a tree branch and poked at the still-burning firewood a few times, adding a few more pieces of firewood. After making sure the heat of the campfire wouldn't wane, he turned to look at the sleeping beauty.
The people around the campfire didn't sleep soundly, occasionally muttering indistinct names, which sounded like they were calling out to a certain older sister.
He woke the person up at night, gave him medicine and food, and after talking for a while, the person fell asleep again, exhausted.
The sun had not yet risen, and he couldn't bear to wake the other person so early. He wondered if he should postpone the time for brewing the medicine a little longer.
Hearing the noise, the old man, who was already awake, opened his eyes, followed his gaze, and snorted coldly.
"I don't know when the rules of Tangjiabao have changed over the generations."
Tang Huaiyi was taken aback, instantly understanding the deeper meaning behind the old man's words. He shook his head, a bitter smile appearing on his gentle face.
"Rules are rigid, but people are flexible. If the mountain won't come to me, I can take a detour. It's just a pity that Huaiyi's path wasn't rugged and winding, but rather that there was no way to go from the very beginning."
"...I didn't realize that you were different from your father; you are such a devoted lover."
The cold words, spoken in a tone that suggested something unpleasant, were accompanied by an indifferent expression from the old man, revealing nothing of his true thoughts.
Tang Huaiyi smiled slightly after hearing this, and did not argue with the old man. He set up a small pot and started cooking breakfast.
Seeing that they were ignoring him, the old man stood up and walked around the two of them. He glanced at the little girl sleeping on the ground for a while, and then stared at Tang Huaiyi, who was cooking breakfast by the campfire.
After observing for a while, the old man stared at the brat before him, who remained as steady as a mountain and unfazed no matter how he scrutinized him, and couldn't help but ask:
"This girl is ambitious and has a fiery temper, and her looks are not exactly stunning. I have heard of your name. As the heir of Tang Family Fort, you are quite handsome, though not quite as good-looking as I was in my youth."
The old man spoke with unwavering conviction, his white beard and dirty face showing no trace of embarrassment. In the firelight, their eyes met, and a faint golden glint seemed to flash within them.
The old man blinked, wondering if he was hallucinating. Then, as he tried to look closer, he remembered he hadn't finished speaking.
"Someone like you can have any woman you want, why bother trying to please a little girl like this?"
After finishing his sentence, the old man stared intently at the other person, trying to discern something from their expression.
“It’s not about trying to please him.” Tang Huaiyi put down his homemade wooden spoon, a slight smile playing on his lips, and retorted to the old man.
His face was as gentle as a spring breeze, but his eyes were more serious than ever before.
“Xiao Xi is Huai Yi’s friend, a confidant who has shared joys and sorrows, and moreover…” The corners of his mouth curved upwards, revealing a rare, mischievous smile that would surprise his close friends and family.
“Grandpa, don’t you think she’s fun? If life is a game, whether you follow the rules or break them, there’s a sense of being confined within a framework. Wouldn’t it be too boring to always follow the best path that others deem best? Since I feel happy when I’m with her, why shouldn’t I? Just like she said, you can’t buy your own happiness.”
Damn! A bunch of divine metal!
Four large, shimmering black characters appeared in the old man's mind: "Birds of a feather flock together."
Is he getting old, or is there a generation gap between him and these young people?
They're all so naive and terrifying!
He should have been scolding them for being arrogant and ignorant, saying that life is never as carefree as they imagine.
However, for some reason, the old man felt no disgust whatsoever.
"Grandpa, breakfast is ready. I'll be right back." Tang Huaiyi was preoccupied with something Fei Xi had been talking about, and said goodbye to the old man politely.
The old man waved his hand dismissively, and waited until the person had left the cave and disappeared from sight. He turned to look at the ground, where the girl covered with a cloak had her eyes closed, her face serene, a picture of tranquility.
"Alright, they're gone now, stop pretending to be asleep!"
"Grandpa." Fei Xi showed no embarrassment at being exposed and greeted the old man with a simple smile.
Without the old man's permission, she picked up the wooden bowl that had been left for her on the stone, scooped some noodle soup from the pot, blew on it impatiently, and drank several mouthfuls while turning the bowl around, not caring that it was hot.
She wasn't allowed to eat much when she woke up in the middle of the night, and she was hungry right now.
"Tsk, at least be a little more reserved. Nobody's going to steal you from me. I really don't know what that brat sees in you."
The old man grumbled and cursed, but seeing how hungry the man was, he quickly handed him half a crispy, golden-brown flatbread.
Fei Xi took the cake, put the bowl and cake aside, rested her chin on her hands, tilted her head cutely, and replied with a grin:
"Of course, it's because I'm beautiful inside and out, and I deserve to be loved."
"I didn't realize she was beautiful, but she's definitely ruthless and shameless."
"Grandpa, you have too deep a prejudice against me, like an underwater cliff, unfathomable, making it impossible to touch my sincere heart." Fei Xi sighed dramatically, and without waiting for the old man's reply, she grabbed the noodle soup and flatbread next to her, eating with great relish, taking a bite of the soup and a bite of the flatbread.
The slight pang of guilt that had just arisen in the old man was instantly shattered. He ground his back teeth.
"Did you know that Tangjiabao has a long history of intermarriage with the Nanpu people?"
Fei Xi looked up from the food, her lips curving into an uncontrollable smile. After a brief eye contact, she turned her face away, her shoulders trembling and her body shaking.
The old man never expected Fei Xi's response to be like this.
Did he tell any funny jokes?
Annoyed by the laughter, the old man, his face darkening, gritted his teeth and roared:
"Don't be ungrateful! This brat looks respectable now, but you can't just take a man's words at face value. In the thousands of years of Tang Family Fortress, which fortress lord hasn't encountered true love a few times? But when it comes to actual interests, love has to take a backseat. If you don't like this brat, that's fine, but don't think he's good enough one day and end up getting tricked."
"Ahem, Grandpa, that's not what I meant. You're acting like an elder from my sect." Fei Xi suppressed a laugh and coughed lightly twice.
"The elders of the sect have all told Fei Xi about the Tang Family Fortress, so I was very touched when you mentioned it, Grandpa."
The child blinked and looked at the old man with eyes full of affection. The old man, being stared at with such sincere eyes, looked embarrassed and somewhat ashamed.
"It's good that you know what's going on in Tangjiabao." The old man muttered, then frowned as if remembering something.
"That brat may say that, but the look in his eyes clearly shows he's still up to no good. If you're not interested in him, be careful. Don't be fooled by his sweet talk; most men are driven by self-interest. You'd better keep your eyes open when you look for a man in the future."
"It's not what you think about Yi-gege. Besides, even if I were to find a man, if he's after something else, that's fine. But if he's after my feelings, I won't touch him."