Chapter 18: Laughing So Hard It Looked Like the Big Bad Wolf’s Face

“Hmph! He’s Black Wind, not some ‘Red Red’!”

With a haughty little huff, a small boy in shimmering sapphire brocade robes and a jade crown marched forward, chin high.

Xiao Tangbao blinked her big eyes. “Pretty… sister.”

Congratulations, congratulations—she’d improved again.
Four words this time!
Though she did pause halfway through.

The boy froze at the word “sister,” his delicate face instantly darkening.

“Dare you!” he snapped, voice sharp as a blade.

Despite his young age, there was an undeniable aura about him—something regal, born of privilege, like royalty who’d never known anything but obedience.

Wang Zhong hurriedly stepped in. “Master, calm down. The child’s just a little one—doesn’t know any better.”

The little tycoon scowled, sneering at Xiao Tangbao like she was beneath notice.
As if even *bothering* to argue with a toddler was beneath him.

With the condescension of a king granting mercy, he declared:
“Throw her out. No more strangers allowed inside!”

His tiny voice carried the weight of absolute authority—no room for debate.

Xiao Tangbao frowned.
This little brother was *so* unlovable!
She couldn’t get in, how could she ever see Red Red?

She pouted, lips trembling.
She hadn’t meant to be mean—she’d just thought he looked so serious, all stiff and grown-up, like a miniature nobleman.
It made her want to ruffle his hair and tease him a little.
After all, she *knew* he was a boy.
She would *never* admit she had a bit of mischief in her bones.

Suxiaohu wasn’t having it.
His little sister? Not getting bullied by some spoiled brat!

“You wanna fight?!” Suxiaohu rolled up his sleeves, puffing out his chest.
“Try messin’ with my sister—I’ll knock your teeth into next week!”

He waved a tiny fist in defiance, completely forgetting they were on *someone else’s* turf.

The little lord’s face turned darker than thunderclouds.

“Guards!”

“Master!”

Two black-clad men materialized from nowhere, like shadows given form.

“Get them out!”

“Yes, Master!”

The two burly enforcers advanced with grim intent, looming toward Suxiaohu like storm clouds.

Suxiaohu’s face paled. His little hands trembled.
But he stood firm, shielding Xiao Tangbao with his body—no step back.

Xiao Tangbao panicked.
Whoever dared hurt her brother… she’d—
Well, she was too small to do anything.
Her fists clenched helplessly.

“Uncle!”

She turned pleading eyes toward Wang Zhong, her big, dewy gaze full of silent desperation.

Wang Zhong felt a pang in his chest.
If he didn’t help her now, he’d be the worst kind of villain.

“Master,” he said quickly, bowing low, “forgive the child. She’s just a country girl—doesn’t understand manners.”

Then, sensing resistance, he added carefully:
“You don’t remember what your grandfather said before we left?”

The boy froze. A flicker of doubt crossed his face.
A long silence. Then—

“Hmph.”

He turned on his heel and stalked away, robes flaring.

Wang Zhong exhaled slowly, watching the boy’s retreating back.
Inside, he sighed.

But Xiao Tangbao wasn’t done.
She stuck her tongue out at the disappearing figure—then reached into her basket and pulled out a tiny red fruit.

“Red Red, here’s a treat.”

Wang Zhong turned just in time to see the fruit disappear into the mouth of the massive black horse.

His breath caught.

“That fruit—”

Before he could finish, the red berry was gone.

He blinked.
Had he seen right?

That couldn’t be… the *Zhu Guo*.
No way.
Impossible.

The Zhu Guo was legendary—rare beyond imagination.
How could it possibly be in the hands of some village girl?

But… maybe there was something special about this child after all.

“Little miss,” Wang Zhong smiled warmly, that unsettling grin of a wolf pretending to be a kindly uncle, “the pavilion’s ready with sweet pastries. Would you like to go?”

***

When Xiao Tangbao arrived, her basket held only a handful of green grass and one small red fruit.

When she left, it was stuffed with soft, fragrant, honey-sweet cakes.

Her little pocket was filled with premium pine nut candies.

Even she had to admit—she’d basically been mooching off someone’s generosity.

Ah well.
It was all thanks to her *irresistible charm*, really.

(And no, she absolutely *wasn’t* thinking about bringing some back for Mama, Papa, and the little cousins.)

“Sweetheart, where’d you get these?” Grandma Su asked, stunned.

“Uncle gave them,” Xiao Tangbao replied sweetly.

“Uncle?” Grandma Su blinked.
Which uncle?
There wasn’t a single uncle in Great Willow Village who could afford *this*.

She turned to Suxiaohu.
“Xiaohu, where did you take your sister? Who gave her these?”

Her tone sharpened—curious, then cautious.

“Mama, she said she wanted to feed the big horse… so we went to the big house by the village gate…”

Suxiaohu explained quickly.

Grandma Su nodded slowly.
Of course.
Only someone with real wealth could produce such delicacies.
Not that money was the issue—no shop in town could make *this* kind of pastry.

Her brow furrowed. A shadow passed over her eyes.

“Mama, candy!” Xiao Tangbao pulled out a pine nut candy and shoved it straight into Grandma Su’s mouth.

Good things deserved sharing.

Grandma Su’s frown melted. A soft smile spread across her face.

“No, sweetheart, keep it for yourself.”

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Nothing a little daughter’s sweet words can’t fix.

“Mama, eat!” Xiao Tangbao insisted, stubborn as a mule.

“Nope, cry cry…”

She even pulled out her secret weapon—tears.

Crying was her ultimate trump card.
She’d once reduced the troublemaking Qian Yuemei to tears with just one sniffle.

Grandma Su sighed, defeated.
She popped the candy into her mouth.

The rich, buttery sweetness exploded on her tongue—familiar, nostalgic, heart-stopping.

Her eyes welled up.

Memories long buried rose like dust-covered scrolls, unfolding before her mind’s eye…

Once upon a time, she’d eaten pine nut candy whenever she wanted.
She’d handed them out freely, without a second thought.

“Mama, don’t cry,” Xiao Tangbao gasped, alarmed.
Did one little candy really make her mama cry?

She reached up with her soft little hand, gently wiping the tear from Grandma Su’s cheek.

Grandma Su dabbed her eyes with her handkerchief.
“I’m not crying. Just wind in my eyes.”

Xiao Tangbao: …
That excuse was *so* old.
Even if she was little, Mom couldn’t just *lie* like that.

“What’s wrong?” Grandpa Su came in from the fields, spotting his wife’s red-rimmed eyes.

“Nothing, dear,” Grandma Su said quickly. “Tangbao, go play with your father. I’ll cook dinner.”

She didn’t want to talk.

Grandpa Su glanced at her, then let it go.
But his eyes lit up when he saw his precious daughter.

“Daughter,” he asked with a grin, “missed Daddy?”

“Missed Daddy,” Xiao Tangbao replied automatically.

Suerhu dropped his hoe and grinned, stepping forward.
“Sis, missed your big brother?”

“Missed哥哥.”

(Truthfully? Not really.
Just routine.
But Suerhu was happy anyway.)