Ming Dynasty: I risked my life to teach the prince, the emperor begged me not to die

Chapter 370 The Little Girl Who Loves to Lie

The second day of the fourteenth year of Hongzhi.

The snow in Peking has become less severe, and more and more people have come to Chen Ce's courtyard to pay New Year's greetings in the past few days. Zhu Houzhao was the first to arrive.

"Little brother, when did you and Madam Wu have a child?"

puff!
Chen Ce spat out a mouthful of tea, rolled his eyes at Zhu Houzhao, and said, "Is your child this big when he was born?"

Zhu Houzhao chuckled and said, "Great! Little brother, you didn't refute it. It turns out that you and Miss Wu are really in love."

Chen Ce: “…”

This guy is getting smarter and smarter. He has even learned how to use tricks.

As for Xiaohua's origins, Chen Ce briefly explained it. Zhu Houzhao did not find it strange after listening. Instead, he thought it was natural for Chen Ce to adopt Xiaohua.

He asked Liu Jin to give Xiaohua a New Year red envelope. Xiaohua was very sweet-mouthed and kept thanking him calling him Brother Zhu.

Zhu Houzhao was in a very good mood and waved his hand to give Xiaohua another red envelope.

Xiaohua said, "Wow! Brother Zhu is so nice! You are the best brother in the world! Brother Zhu, you look so imposing, you must be a big shot, right?"

"I think those scholars out there are so impressive. Before I met Brother Zhu, I thought they were very manly, but compared to Brother Zhu, they are nothing."

Zhu Houzhao said pretentiously: "What are those scholars? My knowledge is only slightly lower than your brother Chen's. There is no one in the world who is more knowledgeable than me."

Xiaohua looked full of admiration.

Zhu Houzhao was finally satisfied. In the past, no one would agree with him when he pretended to be cool, not Chen Ce, and certainly not Mrs. Wu.

This time there was finally a little audience member, and he excitedly took out another red envelope.

Chen Ce's face was gloomy. In just a short period of time, Zhu Houzhao was cheated out of three red envelopes by the little guy. He was indeed a talented person.

After Zhu Houzhao left, Chen Ce had a stern face.

Xiaohua is still young, and he doesn't want the little guy to become so greedy for money at such a young age.

But when Xiaohua stretched out her fair hands and handed three red envelopes to Chen Ce, Chen Ce was slightly stunned and asked, "What for?"

Xiaohua said, "Sister Wu said last night that you were sick, so this money is for your treatment."

Chen Ce was silent for a moment, then said to Xiao Hua, "Didn't your sister Wu tell you that I'm not short of money?"

Xiaohua shook her head. In her world, if one is sick but does not seek treatment, it is because one has no money.

During her wanderings, she saw too many dead people. The parents of those children did not seek medical treatment when their children were sick. Their parents always said that medical treatment would cost a lot of money and they had no money to pay for it.

As a result, many children who wandered along the way died.

So she thought that Chen Ce was sick but didn't seek treatment, which meant that he didn't have enough money to treat his illness.

"Gentlemen love fortune, in a proper way."

"Next time, don't try to be clever and cheat others out of their money."

Xiaohua said as a matter of course: "But this was given to me by Brother Zhu."

Chen Ce looked at her calmly and asked, "You really don't have any tricks to try to please him and get him to give you a red envelope?"

Xiaohua lowered her head, twirling the red envelope in her little hands, and after a while she said, "Yes, I have."

She is only four or five years old, but her mind is much more mature and intelligent than her peers.

She has her own way of survival, having been able to wander all the way from the southwest to Peking and still be alive today.

Because they have a lot of experience, they mature early. This is why old people often say that children from poor families grow up early.

Chen Ce did not continue to educate her, but just said: "Don't do this next time."

"Oh."

Many people came one after another today. Qin Hong came in the afternoon and was quite surprised to learn that Chen Ce had adopted a little beggar.

"Chun Jian, this child... find a way to send him away."

"I'll find her a good family."

Chen Ce asked in confusion: "Why? I am still capable of raising a child."

Qin Hong shook his head and said, "I know. I may not have your evil tricks or your intelligence, but I have seen a lot more than you."

"You don't have much affection for each other yet. When you become more and more affectionate, what will happen to the child when you part ways?"

What Qin Hong said made sense, and Chen Ce fell silent.

Being alone is the best thing for Chen Ce. He has not wanted to have too many emotional entanglements with anyone over the years, which is why he has been avoiding Madam Wu.

I just don’t want to cause pain to others when we’re apart.

"I know you are cold on the outside but warm on the inside. This child is indeed miserable. Don't worry, I will not treat her badly and will make sure everything is done for her."

Chen Ce was silent for a long time before he said, "Let's talk about it later."

"Ah."

Qin Hong had a simple meal at Chen Ce's place in the evening. When he just walked out of the yard, a loud burst of firecrackers suddenly rang out, almost scaring Qin Hong to sit down.

Several little kids from the neighborhood were grinning at Qin Hong with snot hanging from their noses. Qin Hong didn't know whether to laugh or cry. As he was old, he naturally wouldn't bother to argue with these little kids. He just shook his head and left.

Xiaohua took out some candies and shared them with the group of slug-nosed kids.

Seeing that Chen Ce was staring at her, she quickly ran to Mrs. Wu's yard and hid there.

Chen Ce shook his head, not knowing whether it was a good thing or a bad thing for him to adopt this little guy. This little guy was definitely not as well-behaved and obedient as he appeared to be.

She was well-behaved and obedient towards Chen Ce and Lady Wu, but when dealing with outsiders, she was shrewd and ruthless.

It had only been two days since she came to Huaihua Hutong, but the group of kids next door had already been bribed by her.

Chen Ce was sitting in the study reading a book.

Xiaohua came over with a small lantern. Under the light, her little face was as pink as jade. But she came to Chen Ce pitifully and apologized in a low voice, "I don't want to go to someone else's place."

Chen Ce said with a straight face: "I didn't say I was going to send you away."

Xiaohua said: "But that grandfather said he would find a good family for me, and you didn't refuse."

Chen Ce asked: "If you didn't refuse, does that mean you agreed?"

Xiaohua nodded and said, "If she didn't refuse, she agreed. That's how Fatty was sold by her parents in Ruzhou."

Chen Ce stared at her, thought for a moment, and said, "Don't lie in the future, or I'll send you away."

Xiaohua said hurriedly: "I didn't lie."

"Weren't you lying to me just now? You wanted to arouse my sympathy and made up a story on purpose. You were afraid that I would send you away."

"How old are you? Why do you always like to lie?"

Chen Ce pondered for a moment, then opened his mouth to test her.

As expected, Xiaohua seemed a little at a loss, and it was obvious that she felt guilty after her lie was exposed. "I, I will be obedient. Please don't chase me away, okay?"

"How much more have you lied to me?"

In addition to his identity and ancestral home, Chen Ce even believed that the little guy's experiences from the very beginning were all made up.

"I don't have any more. I really didn't lie to you. You said that lying is wrong. I remember it all."

Chen Ce said with a chuckle, half believing and half doubting, "I understand, go to bed."

(End of this chapter)