Ch 343: Tanghulu: That Sweet And Sour Treat Enjoyed By Young And Old

“Miracle? Let’s see. After all, miracles and magic aren’t free. Why are you asking?”

“Nothing, just that you might encounter a surprise tonight.”

“Ah?”

“It’s nothing. Let’s eat. This servant is starving.”

“Oh, oh.”

Watching Heine walk past Bal with a smug look, Bal’s confusion reached the sky, but it was done, time to eat first!

After eating, the group put the cutlery in the kitchen sink, put on their clothes, and set off.

“Aren’t you coming together?”

Bal looked at Heine and Heitham. Heitham was about to speak when Heine got ahead of her.

“This servant needs to go back and bring someone, you go ahead, this servant will come later.”

“Okay, don’t be late.”

“Mmm, don’t worry.”

Bal and his group went out the gate. Phia had already put the guitar and drums into the extradimensional space, so they could just take them out when they went on stage.

As soon as they left the Main Gate, Bal picked up Philia.

“Come, let Daddy hold Philia.”

“Wow, lift me high!”

Philia was held by Bal, she looked very happy. Xiao Jiu was very quiet in Philia’s arms, she had a scarf around her neck and a small knitted hat on her head, which Xiaoyue had prepared for Xiao Jiu.

Because Bal was holding Philia, Snowdrift, who should have been on his shoulder, was now on Phia’s shoulder. The two Fairy Birds were also wearing small scarves and hats. With their chubby bodies, they looked even cuter.

“Xiaoyue, did you notify Xiaoguang and Mrs. Zeril?”

Phia, walking halfway, suddenly remembered Xiaoguang and the Zeril family. This year, she hadn’t yet performed her magic for Mrs. Zeril’s husband and son.

“Notified.”

“What did Mrs. Zeril say?”

“They don’t plan to attend the party this year. They want to have a good rest.”

“What about Xiaoguang?”

“She’s with Mrs. Zeril and them.”

“Alright, remind me to say hello to them when we go back.”

“Mmm, I know.”

The group arrived at the familiar Fighting Arena. Many vendors were taking this opportunity to set up stalls to make their last money of the year.

“Philia, is there anything you want to eat?”

Bal asked Philia, because he noticed that Philia’s eyes were fixed on a certain direction.

“Daddy, Philia wants to eat that!”

Following Philia’s finger, Bal looked over there. It was a vendor selling snacks. This vendor was special; he didn’t have a stall, but held something like a broom, with many candied fruits stuck on it.

Bal became interested in the candied fruit, so he carried Philia over there.

“Hello, what is this?”

“Candied Hawthorns, want some? 5 copper coins a string.”

“Let’s have 6 strings.”

Bal put Philia down. He took out his pouch to pay. After the vendor received the money, he let Bal choose 6 strings of Candied Hawthorns. Bal took one and gave it to Philia, who examined it carefully before taking a bite.

“So sweet! A little sour, it’s the taste of hawthorn!”

Hearing “sweet,” Xiao Jiu in Philia’s arms became restless. She stretched her neck to take a bite. Philia, of course, wasn’t stingy. She put the candied hawthorn in front of Xiao Jiu, and Xiao Jiu bit one before Philia pulled the stick.

“Delicious? Xiao Jiu.”

After Xiao Jiu swallowed, she nodded and stretched out her paw indicating she wanted more. Seeing this, Bal gave his portion to Philia.

“Philia, give this to Xiao Jiu.”

Looking at the candied hawthorn Bal offered, Philia was a little troubled. She frowned at Bal.

“Daddy isn’t eating?”

“Haha, Daddy will just grab Nia and Mother’s then.”

“Hmm… but…”

“Alright, just kidding. Daddy will buy another string later. You take this for Xiao Jiu first.”

“Okay!”

After receiving the candied hawthorn, Philia beckoned to Bal.

“Daddy, squat down.”

“Hmm? What’s wrong?”

Bal squatted down. Philia, holding Xiao Jiu and the candied hawthorn, walked in front of Bal and kissed him on the face.

“Daddy is the best!”

Seeing Philia so happy, Bal’s heart melted.

“She’s an angel!”

Later, Bal bought a few more strings of Candied Hawthorns. After buying his own portion, he also bought a second portion for Philia and Xiao Jiu. To avoid the Fairy Birds having the same situation as Xiao Jiu, Bal also prepared a string for Moony and Snowdrift.

After buying the Candied Hawthorns, Bal handed them out.

“Oh, Older Brother, you’re thoughtful, you know I love hawthorn.”

After eating a piece, Nia gave Bal a thumbs up.

“Not bad.”

Phia’s tone was flat, but her upturned corners and wagging tail betrayed her happiness.

“Chirp! Chirp chirp!”

“It’s fine if you like it.”

The Fairy Birds chirped, rubbing their heads against Bal’s face to express their gratitude.

“Thank you, Master.”

Xiaoyue was surprised to receive the Candied Hawthorns, but she didn’t refuse, and immediately started eating.

“Grey, how does it feel?”

“It’s really good, next time we can try making it ourselves.”

“Haha, I’ll be waiting then.”

Nia suddenly squeezed between the two. She stared at Bal, and after eating a Candied Hawthorn, she said to Bal.

“Don’t even think about it, no matter what Grey makes, I get to eat it first!”

“Greedy Fox.”

“Hee hee hee.”

“Alright, no more messing around, let’s go inside.”

“Mmm!”

The group entered the Fighting Arena, eating Candied Hawthorns, and found a seat up front. Bal stood beside the seat, looking around.

“Looking for someone?”

Phia looked up and asked Bal.

“Heine and the others. I wonder where they are.”

————

At this time, Heine and her group.

“Queen Heine, is everything alright?”

A woman with a hooded head timidly followed Heine and Heitham towards the party venue.

“Don’t worry, they’ll be pleasantly surprised. Trust me, the villa is by the Sea!”

“Why do I feel like this is unreliable?”

Heitham complained about Heine, but Heine didn’t care.

“Oh, Heitham, just forgive this servant.”

“Hmph, you bad woman.”

“How about this, from now on we’ll have three rules. If your work hours are overtime, you’ll just make this servant work overtime, how about that?”

“Okay, you said it.”

“Mmm! Hey, what’s that?”

Heine pointed at the Candied Hawthorns vendor and asked the two beside her. Heitham and the other woman both shook their heads.

“Looks like this servant has to go herself!”

Heine walked to the vendor and pointed at the Candied Hawthorns and asked.

“Excuse me, what is this?”

“Candied Hawthorns, 5 copper coins a string, want some?”

“Give this servant three strings.”

“Okay.”

After paying, Heine took the three strings of Candied Hawthorns back to Heitham. She handed them out.

“Let’s try them, they look delicious.”

“Mmm.”

The three of them took a bite of their Candied Hawthorns, then their eyes shone with Light.

“Delicious!”

“Indeed!”

“Wow, there are such Delicacies!”

Not far away, the bell at the Main Gate of the venue rang. It was the countdown to the start.

“The party will begin in half an hour. Please enter as soon as possible.”

The three exchanged glances. They walked slowly into the Fighting Arena’s audience seats, holding their Candied Hawthorns. Heitham immediately saw Bal standing in the distance. She told Heine to leave with the woman beside her, and went to Bal.

“Mr. Buck, we’re here.”

“Oh, Heitham, where’s Heine?”

“She has something to do, she’ll be late.”

“Is it alright?”

“It’s nothing serious, please don’t worry, she’ll be here.”

“Alright then.”