May 7th
The Antique Coffee Shop had been closed for three days.
It wasn’t because they didn’t want to open, but because they couldn’t. The moment you stepped inside, there was a strong stench of stinky tofu.
In this kind of environment, who could even think of running a coffee shop.
After tasting the stinky tofu, Dong Xiang and the others had been using it as their daily meals. Especially in the mornings, they wouldn't feel right without eating a few pieces of stinky tofu.
It was 7:30 in the morning.
Dong Xiang, who woke up late, didn't have time to brush her teeth. She simply splashed some water on her face and wiped it with a towel. Then, she quickly put on her clothes, grabbed the leftover stinky tofu from the previous night, and rushed downstairs.
As she pushed open the door of the coffee shop, there were already several people lined up.
“Shopkeeper, should we buy a few more microwaves?”
“Buy what? If you keep reheating stinky tofu, this shop will go bankrupt.”
Fang Cun Gong Shan looked helpless. Although they didn't mind the cold stinky tofu, everyone clearly preferred it hot.
“Dong Xiang, make me an iced Americano. Let me tell you, iced Americano and hot tofu, a perfect match.”
Ru Jian Xuan picked up her reheated tofu, took a deep whiff, and a look of pure enjoyment spread across her face.
She smelled it for several seconds before carefully taking a bite. The heated stinky tofu had expanded several times, and its soft texture was no less satisfying than the crispy one.
“Wow~ Still so delicious!”
One sip of coffee, one bite of stinky tofu. Her eyes were half-closed in contentment.
Dong Xiang made coffee for everyone.
She took a cup to the shopkeeper and hesitated before asking, “Shopkeeper, how much money do we have left?”
“Hmm?”
“Let’s have it out with the boss today. We'll buy all his stinky tofu, to save ourselves the daily worry that he won’t come…”
Fang Cun Gong Shan fell silent. Last night, they had sent Si Fang to follow him, but he was knocked unconscious by a bolt of lightning.
It was an accident the first time, but twice couldn't be a coincidence. Someone who could control lightning was not someone they could afford to mess with.
The boss’s style should also be one of being unyielding but not obstinate.
“Let’s have a frank discussion today. If the conditions aren’t too unreasonable…”
Fang Cun Gong Shan felt uneasy. They didn't have any real bargaining chips. The other party might not even care about their SSS-level combat power.
Ru Jian Xuan pondered for a moment and said timidly, “What if… what if there’s a possibility that the mysterious boss has taken a liking to Mrs. Dikekou? Based on the voice, the boss should be a young man, and young people like mature older women…”
？？？
Inside the coffee shop!
Dead silence.
Dikekou Ryoko was stunned.
“Impossible, the boss has a child.”
“No, the little girl calls the boss ‘brother’. She’s at most twenty years old.” Ru Jian Xuan said calmly.
Another silence, this time, no one knew what to say.
Finally, Fang Cun, the shopkeeper, said, “No need to guess, we’ll ask him directly tonight!”
#@#
Meanwhile,
In the middle of the small wooden house, on the big bed,
Little Bei Chang Tan was waving her small arms in the air, grabbing at something.
She was dreaming again. But this time, it was a good dream.
She dreamt of a big green frog. The frog was spitting out bags and bags of rice.
She was overjoyed. Then, the rice mountain turned into big steamed buns, circling around her.
She sat on the big steamed buns and flew into the sky. There were Poka-shus flying all over. Some held oil sticks, some held tofu, and some held thin pork porridge.
Countless delicacies she had eaten and hadn’t eaten were placed on the blanket. The blanket with Poka-shus on it.
Little Bei Chang Tan excitedly landed on the blanket. Suddenly, several figures appeared. There was her brother, Jing Jie Jie, Xue Nai Jie Jie… all the people who were kind to her. Everyone gathered around the pile of food, happily eating.
This was Little Bei Chang Tan’s dream. A sweet smile was on her face. In her dream, Little Bei Chang Tan had Poka-shus, endless rice steamed buns, noodles, soy milk, oil sticks, and her most, most, most favorite brother.
In her sleep, she unconsciously moved closer to Xia Tian’s direction. Her hands were clutching the blanket embroidered with Poka-shus.
A happy smile was on her face.
She had a good night’s sleep. Little Bei Chang Tan didn’t ask for much. Having food to eat and someone to accompany her was her greatest wish.
Soon, the sound of dew drops falling became her alarm clock. Little Bei Chang Tan was awakened.
The little girl, with her sleepy eyes and chubby hands, instinctively reached out to the side.
Brother was gone again?
The little girl suddenly opened her eyes wide.
When she heard the clattering sounds coming from the kitchen, the little girl finally sighed in relief.
Why was brother up so early again?
Although she was confused, Little Bei Chang Tan still got up happily. Unlike usual, she didn't rush to the kitchen to find her brother. Instead, she first said to herself:
“Wish Little Tan a happy birthday.”
She clapped her hands twice simply, and Little Bei Chang Tan smiled. Although there were no presents, she wasn’t alone this year.
Having her brother with her was her best gift.
（Grandma, Little Tan has grown another year, healthy and happy.）
After speaking to her grandma in her heart, Little Bei Chang Tan ran to the kitchen to help with the work, her face beaming with laughter.
Breakfast was noodles today. The little girl had eaten them a few days ago, but the noodles today were long, only one per bowl.
She asked her brother what kind of noodles they were, but he just smiled without answering.
After breakfast, her brother, Little You, and Little Qian Jie Jie started working hard.
Brother said today they would sell 400 servings of stinky tofu and 200 servings of steamed buns.
They needed to prepare early in the morning. Brother’s stuff was expensive, but he earned it with hard work.
Little Tan had to work hard too. Today, her steamed bun wrapping skills were getting even better.
Everything was ready.
Brother left to set up his stall an hour earlier than before.
He was still at the coffee shop’s location.
The kind grandpa bought all the stinky tofu. Brother said there was no sense of accomplishment in doing business with them and he wouldn’t sell to them anymore.
Before leaving, brother gave them several bags of seeds. The little girl recognized them as soybeans, rice, and various vegetable seeds.
Brother said it was better to teach someone how to fish than to give them a fish. He also said that whether they could live a normal life depended on their own fate.
The little girl didn’t understand, but she knew brother was doing good deeds. The few sisters were grateful to him and gave him a carload of coffee beans. Dong Xiang Jie Jie even wanted to move everything in her shop to brother.
Coffee, the little girl had tasted it. Dikekou Jie Jie gave it to her. It was bitter. Little Tan didn’t like it. But Dikekou Jie Jie also gave her a frog-head water cup, which she loved.
Leaving an hour earlier, but frying 400 servings of stinky tofu took another two hours.
They came home later today than yesterday.
The little girl couldn’t help but get sleepy again on the way home.
She knew her brother was holding her in his arms. Brother’s arms were not soft, but they were warm, just like grandma’s.
In her hazy state, she felt herself being placed on brother’s big bed. But the pillow under her head felt different. Brother gently woke her up.
“Little Tan, wake up.”
“Happy birthday!”
Little Bei Chang Tan suddenly opened her eyes wide. She sat up from the bed in shock.
Next, Little Bei Chang Tan opened her mouth wide in astonishment. The little blanket in her hands fell to the floor.
She saw a rice bag.
A ‘rice bag’ tied with a ribbon, a little pillow shaped exactly like a rice bag.
“Ah~~ So cute~~”
Little Bei Chang Tan didn’t even care about her little blanket. She immediately hugged the rice bag pillow and burst into a bell-like laugh.
Soft and warm.
There were other things on the bed. Little Bei Chang Tan turned her head and saw a giant plush toy.
Little Bei Chang Tan was shocked again.
It was a Poka-shu.
A Poka-shu taller than her, with a big smiling face… and various Poka-shu accessories: socks, T-shirts, and even underwear.
“Ah~~ Poka-shu~~”
Little Bei Chang Tan put down her rice bag pillow and bounced towards the Poka-shu.
“Poka-shu~~ Heehee~”
The little girl was even more excited. She hugged the big Poka-shu, rubbing her face against it. She held on tightly, unwilling to let go.
When the little girl looked around, she realized that the entire bed was filled with gifts: from Jing Jie Jie, from brother, and also from Wu Ba Mei Jia Xian Sheng.
Then, she saw the greeting card next to it.
It read,
Happy birthday to Tan Tan, Jing Jie Jie.
Happy birthday to Tan Tan, Wu Ba Mei Jia.
Happy birthday to Tan Tan, Brother.
The little girl pinched herself hard. It wasn’t a dream.
“Brother~” The little girl cried with joy.
“Happy birthday, Little Bei Chang Tan. Come out, everyone’s waiting outside.”