"Hey, look at that beauty," slurred one of the n inside the inn, leering at Bing Shi as he took a stumbling step closer to where she was seated with Stinky Bun.
Another man, equally drunk but more audacious, snickered, "What’s she doing in a place like this? Looking for so fun, eh?"
One of the intoxicated n decided he was brave—or foolish—enough to approach Bing Shi. "Hey there, beautiful. Why don’t you ditch these boys and co have a drink with real n?"
In response, Bing Shi clung to Stinky Bun in a humorous show of exaggerated fear, "Never! I will never ditch my boys!" It was the first ti anyone had ever dared to make a move on her while her husband was sitting right next to her, and she found it hilarious.
Stinky Bun slid off his mommy. He stood there, glaring up at them, "Mommy, mommy!" Stop scaring Mommy!
The boy mimicked the expression his father showed whenever he tried to scare soone away. His chubby cheeks puffed out, and his little eyebrows furrowed as if trying to muster all the scariness a toddler could summon.
But the result was so endearing that it would make anyone want to scoop him up and give him a hug rather than run away in fear.
The n paused, glancing down at the small boy with a big presence, casting a giant-sized glare at them.
After a mont of stunned silence, they burst into raucous laughter. "Look at this! We’ve got a little knight in shining armor here!" one of them sneered.
"What’s the matter, kid? Lost your way to the playground?" another leaned down, his words slurred from the alcohol.
Scrunching his nose from the heavy odour, Stinky Bun’s small fist shot out, landing a punch straight at the nose of one of the n who had leaned down to his level.
"..." Xiao Pu rubbed his temples before leaping to the air and landing a kick at the man’s head. These pre programd systems were simple minded, treating the master of this space as any regular guy.
Using the man’s shoulder as a springboard, XiaoPu launched himself at another. One of the n lunged at him, aiming to knock him off his feet. But Xiao Pu nimbly dodged, frustrating the man further.
Stinky Bun flashed behind the man and headbutted him in the back, causing the man to groan in pain.
"..." The barmaid had seen Ru Quan and his sons co in before. They would often handle rowdy patrons who either harassed her or wrecked the furniture.
Stinky Bun waddled over to the unconscious man, his small hands rummaging through the pockets. He pulled out a small money pouch and ran to his mommy to show off what daddy had taught him, "Mommy, mommy!" Mommy, look!
Suddenly, Stinky Bun felt himself being lifted into the air, his feet no longer touching the ground, "Daddy?"
"..." Ru Quan carried his son, casually stepping over the unconscious n as if they were rely part of the floor, "Why did you steal their money?"
Stinky Bun reached his hands toward mommy as if wanting to be carried by her, "Daddy, daddy!" Whoever makes mommy cry has to pay!
Ru Quan nodded in approval, "That’s my boy," he said, giving both XiaoPu and Stinky Bun a highfive.
XiaoPu had larned his lesson and that was to kick whoever ass dared to ss with his family.
"..." Bing Shi walked beside Ru Quan, taking away their son from his arms. Her husband had tried hard to make this space as true-to-life as possible, but so interactions had to be scripted. She even felt bad for the systems that had ended up as cannon fodders.
"We will sleep in another inn today," Ru Quan said while his wife helped Stinky Bun count the coins inside the pouch.
Stinky Bun looked at his daddy, eyebrows furrowed, "Daddy, daddy?" Why? This one has roaches and rats!
His toddler logic made no room for a possibility that an inn without pests could also be a good thing.
XiaoPu wanted to knock Stinky Bun’s head, ’Little one, just listen to your daddy, please!’
· · ─────── · ⊱❈⊰· ─────── · ·
Strolling past various food stalls and shops lining the street, Stinky Bun kept tugging on his mom’s sleeve, asking if they had enough money to buy so toys and snacks.
Bing Shi nodded, "What would you like?"
Stinky Bun wriggled out of Bing Shi’s arms and practically danced over to the stall, his eyes scanning the selection of skewers, fried pastries, and stead buns. Finally, his gaze settled on a tray of twisted potatoes coated with sprinkles of salt.
Bing Shi decided to go all out and buy one of each item on display.
· · ────── · ⊱❈⊰· ────── · ·
Climbing into the rustic carriage that Ru Quan had rented, Bing Shi opened the bags and started distributing the snacks.
While the carriage rolled through the forest, the family shared bites of the food as they looked forward to the inn, known for its private hot springs – except for the boy that wanted to stay back at the old inn.
The boy grumbled while nibbling on the potato chip twist, "Mommy, mommy." Stinky bun wants to stay at the old inn and show mommy the big roaches.
Bing Shi looked at Ru Quan, then back at Stinky Bun. "You like that old inn that much?"
Stinky Bun nodded, "Mommy, mommy." Daddy falls asleep as soon as he hits the bed, and Stinky Bun gets to stay up and play with Xiao Pu for the whole night!
Ru Quan covered the little snitch’s mouth, "It’s not as bad as it sounds."
Bing Shi gave Ru Quan a mock stern look, "You really love to offload your dad duties onto our oldest son, huh?"
Finally, they arrived at the secluded inn, greeted by the calming scent of pine and the inviting warmth of steam rising from the hot springs.
Once they were settled, the family changed into their bathing attire and headed for the hot springs.
Bing Shi slipped into a loose-fitting, ankle-length robe adorned with delicate floral patterns. The garnt wrapped around her elegantly and was cinched at the waist with a simple fabric belt.
Ru Quan wore a similar robe but in a solid, darker color. The top was a bit loose in a relaxing manner. showing his toned torso.
Xiao Pu opted for a robe very similar to his father’s, except his was fastened more neatly.
Stinky Bun wriggled out of his child-sized robe with playful motifs. Leaving it abandoned on the floor, he ran around but naked, "Mommy, mommy." Stinky Bun wants the sa robe as Daddy and Xiao Pu.
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