Raising Orphans, Not Assassins

Xiao Lian left the blacksmith's shop and looked up at the sun, feeling a bit troubled. She wiped the sweat from her face and thought about how she still needed to take care of Xiao Fu later. Her lips pouted involuntarily.

Xiao Fu didn't have the demeanor of a young lady; she was too lively. Xiao Lian sighed softly and walked towards the orphanage. As soon as she entered the courtyard, she heard Xiao Fu's crying and Chen Ye's soothing voice.

"Xiao Fu, don't cry. Want to see the director make a funny face for you?"

"Bleh, bleh, bleh..." {ED: I did not wake up today thinking that I’d have so much problem over dubbing the sound of a child stopping their crying. Anyone have anything better to suggest?}

Xiao Lian entered the room and saw Chen Ye with his hands by his ears, flapping them while making funny faces.

On a small bed sat a baby with pink skin and sparse black hair. She had a pair of big, bright eyes and a faint smile at the corners of her mouth. Watching Chen Ye make funny faces, she giggled non-stop.

Chen Ye, hearing the sound behind him, turned around and saw Xiao Lian. He looked relieved and said, "Xiao Lian, you're finally back."

Xiao Fu, seeing Chen Ye turn away, pouted and started to make a low whining sound as if she was about to cry again.

Hearing the whining, Chen Ye gritted his teeth, "This little demon."

He turned back quickly, changing his expression to a smile.

"Bleh, bleh, bleh..."

Chen Ye made a few more funny faces, and Xiao Fu finally stopped whining and started laughing again.

Seeing Chen Ye playing with the child, Xiao Lian couldn't help but smile.

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Her eyes filled with admiration as she looked at Chen Ye. After a month of living together, Xiao Lian had realized that even though Chen Ye was very young, he had a lot of patience and treated all the children with kindness.

Whether it was the older children or Xiao Fu, he treated them all equally, as if they were his own.

During this month at the orphanage, Chen Ye was always cheerful and upbeat. According to Chen Ye, this place was full of positive energy. Moreover, Chen Ye was very good to her as well.

Thinking about this, a peculiar glint appeared in Xiao Lian's lively eyes, and a faint blush crept across her pretty cheeks. {ED: Author, you are walking on very thin ice here. Very thin ice.}

While teasing Xiao Fu, Chen Ye lowered his voice and said, "Quick, Xiao Lian, switch back."

"This little troublemaker, she's doing it on purpose. I can't take it anymore."

Hearing this, Xiao Lian froze and locked eyes with Xiao Fu. Xiao Fu, seeing Xiao Lian, blinked her big, bright eyes and stretched out her arms, indicating she wanted to be held.

Xiao Lian put the newly bought cloth on the table, hurriedly ran out of the room, and said in a flustered tone, "Director, you keep coaxing her for a while."

"I... I need to go wash clothes."

"Xiao Lian, one must keep their promises..." Chen Ye's sorrowful voice trailed behind her.

"Ha ha ha..."

Xiao Fu seemed to find something amusing, laughing non-stop.

Xiao Lian left the room and went into the courtyard. She saw Da Ming sitting in the study, earnestly reading the illustrated edition of "Water Margin." After reading it once with Da Ming, Chen Ye had given him the "Water Margin."

Da Ming loved it and could spend hours sitting on the stool, engrossed in the book.

"Da Ming, give me you and the director's clothes." Xiao Lian stood outside the study and called out to Da Ming.

Da Ming paused his reading, a silly smile spreading across his face, and he ran out of the study, heading to his and Chen Ye's room to fetch the dirty clothes. He handed them to Xiao Lian.

Xiao Lian picked up a wooden basin, put all the clothes in it, and left the courtyard.

In the southern part of Yuhang County, there is a tributary of the Qiantang River where the locals often go to wash their clothes. Under the scorching sun, Xiao Lian made her way to the riverbank, her forehead already covered in glistening sweat. Although the weather was hot, Xiao Lian preferred washing clothes over taking care of Xiao Fu.

Reaching the riverbank, the sound of the flowing water was soothing, bringing a refreshing feeling just by listening. Xiao Lian found a spot under the shade of a tree, put down the wooden basin, and rolled up her sleeves, dipping her fair hands into the cool river water.

She scooped up a handful of water and gently splashed it on her face, instantly dispelling much of the heat.

"Haaah..."

Xiao Lian closed her eyes in comfort, feeling much cooler.

She bent down, soaked the clothes in the flowing water until they were thoroughly wet, and then placed them in the basin. She took out a bamboo tube and poured some white granular powder from it.

This white powder was what the director called laundry detergent. Its effectiveness was many times better than soapberry. The director always brought out some strange and wonderful things, each time astonishing Xiao Lian.

The director was indeed a peculiar person.

Despite having the ability to easily earn a large amount of silver with his skills, he chose to run an orphanage. As she washed the clothes, Xiao Lian's thoughts wandered.

Time flowed by like the river.

Soon, the clothes in the basin were almost completely washed. There were also a few white bubbles on the surface of the river. Xiao Lian soaked the clothes in the river once more.

Suddenly, she felt as though someone was watching her.

Xiao Lian tilted her head slightly and noticed that, at some point, a man had appeared in the shade of a nearby tree. He was wearing a purple silk robe, with a jade belt around his waist and holding a folding fan. His figure was tall and slender, exuding a certain elegance. His features were handsome, but unfortunately, there was a large mole on his face, about the size of a copper coin. {ED: Damn, that sounds almost as bad as me.}

This mole completely ruined his otherwise good looks. The man ended up looking rather unattractive.

Xiao Lian glanced up at him, noticing his intense and somewhat sinister gaze fixed on her. Under that kind of scrutiny, Xiao Lian felt as though centipedes were crawling over her, making her extremely uncomfortable.

A flash of anger crossed Xiao Lian's face. She glared at the man coldly before resuming her washing. If he continued to stare, she planned to move to another spot. It was extremely rude to keep staring at someone like that.

As Xiao Lian focused on her washing, the man's voice suddenly reached her ears.

"Miss, do you have a betrothed?" She looked up and was startled.

The man, who had just been standing in the shade, was now right beside her. His eyes were fervent, and his Adam's apple bobbed slightly as he stared at Xiao Lian without blinking.

Xiao Lian didn't respond, but a flicker of anger passed through her eyes. She picked up her basin and walked away without looking back.

The man, staring at Xiao Lian's retreating figure, licked his lips.

"A true beauty, pure and untouched..." {ED: She is 13 btw…}

A smile spread across the man's face. With a swift movement, he appeared three meters away, catching up to Xiao Lian in an instant. He extended his folding fan, gently tapping Xiao Lian with it.

As she hurried along with her basin, Xiao Lian suddenly felt a numbing sensation and couldn't move.

The man, who had been behind her, was now in front of her, his face showing a sinister smile, and his fan lightly tapping the palm of his left hand.

He bowed respectfully and said, "Miss, upon seeing your natural beauty and grace, I couldn't help but be captivated."

"I earnestly request that you come to my residence, so we might have a pleasant conversation..."