36. Do Not Provoke a Drunkard

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After work, Zhang Tan was about to leave when Luo Ming hurriedly arrived.

“You’re still here? Just the person I wanted to see. You got your salary email today, right?”

What’s this about? Something related to the salary?

“I received the email.”

“Well, here’s the thing…”

...

In the middle of their conversation, Liu Dawei rushed in, saw Luo Ming, and awkwardly stepped back out.

“I’ll send you the materials via WeChat. There’s plenty of time, so no rush.”

After speaking, Luo Ming quickly left to pick up his daughter from school. Tomorrow is the weekend, and he planned to take his wife and child on a beach vacation.

After Luo Ming left, Zhang Tan changed the water for the office’s pothos and lucky bamboo, locked the door, and left. Liu Dawen, who had come looking for him earlier, had already left; Zhang Tan didn’t know what it was about.

Outside the studio gate, someone was waiting—Jiang Rong.

“Come on, it’s payday. Let’s eat together.”

“No thanks, another treat?”

“You’re being stingy. I’m the one treating you.”

“Where’s He Chao?”

“He Chao has a girlfriend. Unlike us single dogs.”

After dinner, Jiang Rong tried to pay, but Zhang Tan quickly took the bill.

“Your salary isn’t even that much,” Zhang Tan said.

Jiang Rong came from a wealthy family and drove a Mercedes, but her salary was really low, even less than Zhang Tan’s basic pay.

“Shall we hit a bar?” Jiang Rong suggested eagerly as they left the restaurant. She was a fun-loving person, somewhat like Zhang Tan used to be.

“No thanks, I have things to do.”

Zhang Tan disliked bars—he’d once gotten drunk there and almost died. No wonder he didn’t like them.

Curious, Jiang Rong asked, “You just go to work and back home every day, like someone who’s settled down. Are you married? Got kids?”

Zhang Tan smiled, “I not only have kids at home but dozens of them. I have to take care of them every day, so no time to go out and play.”

Jiang Rong rolled her eyes and waved her hand. “Go home, you’re such a homebody.”

Zhang Tan laughed and said goodbye.

“Hey, you…”

Jiang Rong didn’t expect Zhang Tan to turn and leave without hesitation. Was she really that unappealing?

Back in the urban village, after parking his car, Zhang Tan walked to Little Red Horse Academy. Walking outside the school wall, he heard children giggling nearby. Looking around, he saw no one at first, but the laughter was clear, coming from inside the academy. Looking closely, two little kids stood by the base of the wall, hidden behind a row of tall phoenix trees.

The kids covered their mouths, trying not to be too loud but still clearly audible, probably because they were just too proud.

“What are you doing here? Aren’t you afraid of mosquito bites?” Zhang Tan asked. The kids before him were a short-haired boy named Xiao Bai and a lively girl with pigtails named Shen Liuliu.

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One side of the academy borders West Chang’an Street, where a row of tall, lush phoenix trees is planted. The kids stood beneath the trees, and with the dim light, it was hard to spot such small children.

“Uncle.”

“Good Uncle Ren.”

Upon being discovered, the two kids jumped up excitedly.

Children playing hide-and-seek always get thrilled the moment they are found.

Zhang Tan told them to hurry back and not to hang around under the trees at night because of mosquitoes.

“Uncle, look, those silly people,” Xiao Bai whispered, pointing behind Zhang Tan.

He turned to see three young men staggering and shouting loudly. Approaching, Zhang Tan caught a strong smell of alcohol.

No need to guess—they had just come out of a bar and were clearly drunk.

This street often had drunks coming out of the bars at night.

“Hurry back! If they hear you call them silly, they’ll get mad.”

“They can’t catch me. Running away is my best skill.”

“Then I’ll come in and catch you. Let’s see if you can escape.”

Zhang Tan turned into Little Red Horse Academy, just in time to see Xiao Bai dragging Shen Liuliu and dashing into the building.

They were really fast.

Old Li chuckled, “Xiao Bai often hides under the trees to watch drunks.”

Zhang Tan said, “She’s brave, not afraid that drunk people might cause trouble. Drunks will hit anyone, even kids.”

Old Li nodded, “I’ll watch her better from now on, won’t let her do that anymore.”

“Besides, it’s not safe under the trees at night—too many mosquitoes.”

“True, summer has lots of mosquitoes, especially under the trees. I’ll keep an eye on Xiao Bai since she’s the ringleader. If she’s watched, the others will stay back too. Before you came, Xiao Mi and Meng Chengcheng were here, but when Teacher Xiao Liu called, they left. Only Xiao Bai and Shen Liuliu stayed. Liuliu is quite mischievous; she might be even more troublesome than Xiao Bai in the future.”

Shen Liuliu was indeed quite mischievous.

Zhang Tan only teased Xiao Bai, with no intention of catching her, and returned home. Just as he stepped in, there was a knock. Opening the door, it was Xiao Bai.

“Uncle, I’m fast, right?” Xiao Bai proudly asked. The uncle who tried to catch her only managed to eat her dust.

“Yeah, pretty fast.”

“Gander, gander, gander! When I run, I’m as fast as a snake!”

Zhang Tan had looked it up online—“snake” was what “suolaoer” meant.

“Come in and have a seat.”

“Okay.”

Just as she took off her shoes to come in, she suddenly became cautious and asked, “Uncle, did you drink?”

“No.”

“Then I’m coming in! Uncle, here, for you.”

Xiao Bai changed into slippers and handed Zhang Tan a glass jar filled with candied fruit.

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“So sweet,” Zhang Tan said, picking one up. “Do you like it?”

“Yeah.” Xiao Bai nodded, popping one into her mouth. The sweetness made her eyes squint as if smiling. Her smile was adorable and sweet, her eyes shaped like crescent moons. If you hadn’t seen her get angry, you’d think she was just a sweet little girl, radiating gentle coolness.

“Thank you, Uncle.”

“No need to be so thrifty. If you want to eat more, just help yourself. I still have some and will fill you another jar later.”

These candied fruits were a return gift from Zhang Tan. Last time, Xiao Bai gave him half a jar of salted boiled peanuts. After finishing them, he filled half a jar with candied fruit and gave it back.

The candied fruit was very sweet. Zhang Tan poured a glass of water and asked, “Do you want some water?”

Xiao Bai nodded and asked if she could go to the kitchen to drink.

“Sure. Is your water in the kitchen?”

Xiao Bai ran to the kitchen, stood on a small stool, and turned on the tap to drink.

“Wait, don’t drink that.”

Zhang Tan hurriedly pulled Xiao Bai down and said, “Don’t drink that. It’s untreated water. Kids will get stomachaches if they drink it.”

“That’s how I drink water at home,” Xiao Bai said.

At home, she had no fancy rules.

Zhang Tan turned off the tap, took her out of the kitchen, opened the fridge, and grabbed a small bear-shaped drink. He opened it and handed it to her.

“Drink this.”

He wanted to tell her not to drink straight from the tap anymore, but stopped himself. Maybe her home conditions were like this, and it would be useless to tell her. He’d have to talk to her aunt.

“Again, a little bear!” Xiao Bai joyfully said, hugging the drink.

“All kids like little bear drinks.”

Xiao Bai sipped through the straw, smacking her lips, squinting her big eyes, and kept saying how tasty it was.

After several sips, Xiao Bai staggered, smiled, and clung to Zhang Tan’s leg, shouting, “I’m drunk! I’m such a silly goose~~~”

Zhang Tan was speechless.

“Ugh, ugh, ugh~~~”

“What are you doing?”

“Drunk people vomit. Stinky!”

Zhang Tan: -_-||

“You just puked all over my foot.”

Xiao Bai bounced up and down, lively and bright-eyed, then sat on the small stool and said, “Uncle, I’m just teasing you, gander, gander, gander.”

Zhang Tan laughed, “You’re a kid pretending to be drunk. Let me tell you, don’t mess with those drunks on the street. They hit people—even kids. You have to be careful.”

Hearing this, Xiao Bai’s little face tensed up as she nodded, “Got it! My uncle is just as grumpy.”