CHAPTER 33: THE 33RD

Lan Tian slowly relaxed her body, leaning against Mo Junhua. She was still young, of no benefit to anyone, unable to do much, let alone catch the eye of Mo Junhua.

In her past life, the two had lived together for decades, but Mo Junhua had never held her like this. Lan Tian guessed it was probably just because she was a cute child that everyone adored and spoiled.

After he joined the army, they would no longer have any interaction. As time passed, who would remember a village girl? In the future, one would be in the military, and the other in a village; their paths simply divergent, their life encounters different. It was quite possible they would never meet again in this lifetime.

Thinking this, Lan Tian felt relieved. With a touch of mischief, she wondered if she wanted to ruin his chances of meeting his true love? But then she shuddered at the thought of Bai Lianhua, and decided it was best to treat each other as strangers and not to engage in meaningless actions.

Knowing they were going to the market today, she was too excited last night to settle down for Cultivation and simply went to bed instead. As a result, she only fell asleep in the late night.

All sorts of distracting and chaotic thoughts tired her out, and the swaying of the ox cart made her even sleepier. Her eyelids drooped, and she slumped against Mo Junhua’s arm.

Although Mo Junhua was driving the cart, he kept a peripheral eye on the child. Seeing her fall asleep, he slowly adjusted her position, letting Lan Tian lie in his arms with her head rested on his arm, his hand curving around to hold her waist, and her leg resting on top of his.

Looking down, he saw the child sleeping trustingly against him, sweetly and without the daytime wariness.

Mo Junhua was pleased, and when he saw saliva at the corner of her mouth, he reached out to wipe it. Careful not to hurt her, he kept glancing at her face, but accidentally poked his finger into her mouth.

Catching a glimpse of her uncomfortable turn of head, Mo Junhua snapped back to reality. His fingertip felt as if burned, and he quickly withdrew it.

He stared straight ahead at the road, anxiously glancing at the child from the corner of his eye. Seeing her frown slightly and smack her lips before falling asleep again,

The child didn’t wake, and Mo Junhua breathed a sigh of relief, no longer daring to wipe her drool, afraid of waking her.

After calming down, he looked at his finger and inexplicably licked it. Then Mo Junhua was stunned as if struck by lightning, taking a long while to regain his senses, unable to believe he had done something so preposterous.

The child was so young, still just a kid... Mo Junhua stared at the face not larger than his palm. Indeed, she was just a child, and yet he had just...

"Damn it!" Mo Junhua cursed softly, filled with an indescribable annoyance. He felt as if he had been possessed, knowing he shouldn’t, yet his gaze lingered on the child, dazedly reaching the market this way.

Unbeknownst to anyone, Lan Tian was on someone’s mind this morning.

The group was experienced in market days. They left one person to watch over the goods, while the others roamed the market in search of a spot to set up shop.

Lan Tian was still half-asleep when Mo Junhua without calling on her, passed her to Grandma Sun, told his mother to keep an eye on the ox cart, and disappeared into the crowd, his figure seemingly eager to flee.

Zhao Li gave him a look and thought Mo Junhua seemed a bit odd, but she didn’t dwell on it and went off to find a spot.

The market bustled with shouting vendors, noisy chatter, and loud discussions, causing Lan Tian to sleep fitfully. Grandma Sun, seeing this, decided it was best to wake her.

"Are we here?" Lan Tian, bleary-eyed, rubbed her eyes and hopped down, her body sluggish and unwilling to move, snuggling up to Grandma Sun. She looked around, not spotting Zhao Li, "Where’s auntie?"

"She went to find a spot. We arrived late and all the good places were taken. If we were any later, we couldn’t even get into the market and would have to set up outside. Inside is crowded; hold onto Grandma’s hand and don’t let go," Grandma Sun instructed while looking warily at the busy market.

"Okay, Grandma," Lan Tian responded with a sweet smile.

Taohua Road had also napped, waking up before Lan Tian as they neared the market. Climbing to the top of the goods, she looked around, and upon seeing Lan Tian, felt a burst of irritation, stomping her foot in vexation.

The adults were nearby, so she didn’t go to Lan Tian’s discomfort. She glared at her with resentful eyes, but unfortunately, the person in question was oblivious.

"Lili, have you found a spot?" Not long after, Zhao Li returned and Grandma Sun asked her.

"I found one. It’s not big, just south by the Chinese parasol trees, next to a noodle shop, only two stalls away."

Zhao Li glanced toward the other cart. The person who went to find a spot hadn’t returned, and neither had the Mo Family’s boy. It wouldn’t do just to wait here. She discussed with Wang Guiyu.

"Sister-in-law, that spot is just right for our two families. Why don’t we go there first and claim it? I’ll ask someone next to us to hold it. We should hurry over before someone else takes it. Grandma, you wait here for Hua Zi; when he comes back, he can find us there."

Grandma Sun knew the place, and Wang Guiyu felt it was a good plan. Zhao Li let the person in the other cart know, agreeing to meet up at the market entrance after it was over and she led the ox cart, along with Wang Guiyu and Chuntao, towards the spot. Lan Tian waited with Grandma Sun for Mo Junhua.