Period drama: Old Cao's carefree life

Chapter 60 is honest enough.
Tian Zao's eyes welled up with tears, and she looked at Cao Weida with a sob in her voice, "Brother Cao, why are you so good to us?"

"Let me tell you, I will definitely not become your concubine. Don't expect me to be moved and agree."

"."

When the first sentence was uttered, Cao Wei Da was about to offer some words of comfort, but the second sentence made him laugh in exasperation.

"What are you thinking about all day long with that little brain of yours?" Cao Weida 'fiercely' rubbed her head, turning it into a bird's nest.

Tian Zao resisted indignantly, but with her meager strength, how could she possibly fight back?

After kneading and rubbing for a while, Cao Weida finally released his grip with relief, and grumbled at Tian Zao's fierce, baring-toothed expression:

"Let me tell you, I'm spending money to train you, and when you grow up, you'll be doing things for me!"

“I will remember every single thing that has been done to raise you. If you can’t repay it in the future, I’ll tie you all up and send you to the mines to dig coal to pay off the debt!”

Tian Zao secretly pursed her lips. It's the same old excuse again. Can't they come up with something new?

"You might as well say that if you can't repay the debt, you'll help me become your concubine."

"Phew~~ You're dreaming."

Tian Zao immediately lost her composure and screamed, "Brother Cao, I'll fight you to the death!!"

"Oh, you little brat, you're serious! Let go, let go!"

After having a long talk with Tian Zao, Cao Weida left the courtyard and headed to Liutiao Hutong. When no one was around, he drew an inverted triangle in a corner, got up, and quietly left.

When Cao Weida and his entourage arrived at the entrance of Yandaixie Street, Duomen was already there, chatting with a bald man.

"Master Duo."

"Cao'er, you're finally back! You're supposed to be the groom today, why are you running around like this?" Duomen said with a laugh and a scolding tone. Just as he was about to introduce the man, the bald man suddenly knelt down on the ground, startling Cao Weida.

"No, no, brother, what's going on?" Cao Weida quickly dodged, looking at Duomen with a bewildered expression. "Master Duo, what's this?"

Before Duomen could explain, the bald man kneeling on the ground kowtowed twice: "Master Cao, my name is He Daqing, you saved my wife's life!"

"So it was you." So being mature and composed is a family trait, is it?

He stepped forward and helped He Daqing up. "Get up quickly. I'm a patrol officer. That's what I should do. Even without me, anyone in that situation would have helped."

Now, He Daqing's wife is still alive, and Jia Zhangshi's husband is still alive. I wonder if the courtyard house will become a place full of birds in the future. I'm quite looking forward to it.

"You are our family's savior, please let me kowtow a few more times!" He Daqing refused to get up and even shouted into the yard. Then, He Yuzhu, who looked like a fifteen or sixteen-year-old boy, was pulled down to kneel by He Daqing.

"Yuzhu, this is your mother's savior, quickly kowtow!"

"." sounds like an insult.
A strange feeling crossed my mind, but I knew that He Daqing didn't mean it that way.

He Yuzhu was an honest man. Without saying a word, he knelt down with a thud and kowtowed several times. The sound was so loud that Cao Weida was afraid that the blue bricks under his feet might crack.

Cao Wei Da felt a pang of sympathy just listening to that; no wonder he was called "Silly Pillar"—he was just too honest.
"No, no, no, take it easy, get up, get up quickly, Master Duo, please help me!"

We can't let He Yuzhu kowtow anymore. The father and son are already a bit slow on the uptake; if they keep kowtowing, they might break another one.

“Master He, you’ve already kowtowed, that’s enough. If you keep kowtowing, you’ll shorten Cao’er’s lifespan.” Duomen didn’t think there was anything wrong with He Daqing and his son kowtowing; he had kowtowed to him in the hospital as well.

Such a life-saving grace! How could I not kowtow a few times?

Upon hearing this, He Daqing quickly got up. Kneeling ten or eight more times would be no big deal for him, but he dared not let his benefactor shorten his lifespan.

Seeing that the father and son had gotten up, Duomen continued, "Chef He is the head chef of Fengzeyuan Restaurant, a genuine successor of the Tan family cuisine, and he also apprenticed under a master chef from Sichuan to learn Sichuan cuisine skills. His skills are truly exceptional."

"If you ask around near our overpass, Master He will definitely be the first person you ask."

"As soon as I approached him and mentioned it, Master He immediately agreed and said he would absolutely not charge any service fee."

Upon hearing this, Cao Weida hurriedly shook his head, "That won't do. How can we not accept a fee for our hard work? We should still pay it."

"Master Cao, if you give me a tip, wouldn't that be a slap in the face for me, He Daqing!" He Daqing's attitude was resolute, almost shaking his neck off: "If outsiders find out, I, He Daqing, will have no face to stay in Beiping, no way!"

“If you won’t accept the fee, then I’ll give you a red envelope afterwards.” He Daqing was about to refuse when Cao Weida interrupted him:

"Today is a joyous occasion for me. If I don't contribute, wouldn't that be unlucky?" He Daqing was speechless. How could he possibly wish bad luck upon his benefactor?
"Alright, it's settled then." Cao Weida made the decision decisively without giving him a chance to refuse. He wasn't short of money these days, and he was never one to be stingy or take advantage of others.

"Alright, that's settled then. I'm going inside to change into some festive clothes."

He had only taken two steps when he suddenly stopped. "Master Duo, I almost forgot to ask, does the concubine want me to pick her up?"

Duomen laughed and scolded, "What are you taking on? It's not like you're getting married. Just wait in the yard. I knew you didn't know anything. I've already arranged everything. You don't have to do anything today. Just wait to enter the bridal chamber."

Cao Weida chuckled, "Well, that's why you need an elder. Don't worry, Master Duo, when you get married, I'll arrange it for you in the same way."

Duomen couldn't help but roll up his sleeves, ready to punch someone: "You little bastard, who are you cursing? Who do you think you are, your elder? Besides, if I were to get married, would you arrange it like a concubine for me? I think you deserve a beating! You stop right there, don't run away!"

not running?

Wouldn't that be stupid?

Cao Weida chuckled and ran into the house.

"Master Duo, you and Master Cao have such a good relationship." He Daqing smiled and handed him a cigarette, though he was still vaguely afraid.

If his wife really dies in childbirth, leaving him and the child behind, he doesn't know what he will do.

"I can only say this kid has a conscience. I, Duo, got lucky." Duomen chuckled, his mind drifting back to their first meeting.

Cao Weida, who had just come to Beiping from the countryside, was wearing patched-up country clothes and had messy hair, but he immediately attracted the attention of many people.

Cao Wei Da's eyes were bright and piercing, exuding a confidence that set him apart from the apathetic and indifferent people around him.

At that time, the boy's eyes were darting around, full of curiosity, showing no trace of the awe that people from the countryside have.

He initially thought the young man was a thief looking for a target, so he went up to question him. Little did he know, fate was truly wondrous.
As time went by, people gradually started coming to the door.

The first one to arrive was none other than Little Ears.

Looking at Xiao Erduo sitting opposite him, constantly rubbing his kidneys, Cao Weida almost laughed.

"I'm telling you, take it easy. People who don't know better might think you've encountered a female demon and had your yang energy drained."

"Brother Cao, you're absolutely right, she's practically a vixen!" Little Ears said with a lewd grin, clearly still haunted by memories of last night.
"Brother Cao, it's not like I've never been to a brothel before. There aren't many places in the Eight Great Hutongs that I haven't been to, but none of them are as exciting as that woman Han Lu!"

"You have no idea, the way her back was swaying was so strong, I almost broke my back sitting on it!"

"Damn it, it drained all my yang energy for at least a month in one night!"

"I had heard that the madam of Xiaguangyuan was a former top courtesan from Tianjin, and many high-ranking officials and nobles lingered around her, finding her addictive. I didn't think much of it at first, but now I realize that I was just ignorant."

"If I were one of those high-ranking officials and nobles, I would also linger there."

"Alright, stop looking so lewd," Cao Weida laughed and scolded. "You need to be aware of what that woman is up to. Don't let your little head get too swayed and your big head get confused. 'Bitches are heartless and actors are ungrateful' is not just an empty saying."

"Brother Cao, don't worry. I haven't been in the underworld for nothing all these years. That woman served me so readily, how could I not know what she was up to?" Little Ears said sarcastically.

"Last night, this woman was subtly trying to find out your background. She really thought I didn't know anything about you."

Small ears have many disadvantages, but they also have quite a few advantages.

First, he is very loyal to his friends, which is both a weakness and a strength.

If it weren't for this advantage, Cao Wei Da might not have included him in his group.

Second, he is clear about his own position.

He knew his own limitations. Being a gang leader, collecting kickbacks, running a casino, or operating a black market was one thing, but anyone with power could easily manipulate him like a lapdog.

He knew perfectly well that Han Lu was only "taking care" of him because of Brother Cao; without Brother Cao, she wouldn't even give him a second glance.

"As long as you know it yourself," Cao Weida said, taking a sip of tea.

"I didn't invite many guests today, so you and Master Duo can help greet them."

(End of this chapter)