“Ah, even though the salary is good, sweeping leaves is still a painful chore…” Xu Xian’en sighed as she shook her head, holding the broom.
“Xu Xian’en, I didn’t ask you to come here to shake your head.” The manager, old butler, appeared silently behind her, his old eyes slightly squinted.
Xu Xian’en looked at the manager, old butler, with teary eyes, then exerted herself to sweep with the bamboo broom. “Just September, and already so many leaves have fallen.” Manager Laoba’s eyes took on a distant look, but when he looked at her, there was a hint of teasing.
As if responding to his teasing, a gust of wind blew by, sending leaves fluttering down.
Xuxin’en stood in the courtyard, tears in her eyes as she looked around. “That’s because there are too many trees planted in the whole garden…”
“Ha ha.” Another burst of teasing laughter, and Manager Laoba turned to leave. “There are egg tarts and pudding in the kitchen; you can eat them after you’ve finished sweeping.”
Hearing there was something good to eat, Xuxin’en’s grievances vanished like mist, understanding that Manager Laoba was good to her, just that his words were sometimes harsh and his heart a bit dark.
She swept with great diligence, and by the time she finally finished, half an hour had passed. Xuxin’en rushed into the kitchen, worried that someone might have snatched her treats.
Upon entering the kitchen, she saw Manager Laoba sitting in a corner of the dining table reading a book, with a plate of treats beside him, generously filled with pudding and egg tarts.
“Still so impatient at your age.” He chuckled.
Xuxin’en forced a smile, “I’m just eager to eat the egg tarts.”
“When have you ever not been eager to eat? I’ve never seen you rush to do anything else.” Manager Laoba looked up from his book to give her a stern glance before diving back into his reading.
Xuxin’en, not minding Manager Laoba’s mockery, sat down and started devouring her black forest egg tarts and caramel pudding.
A sudden silence spread through the spacious room, until Xuxin’en felt like she was about to be suffocated by the oppressive atmosphere.
“Cough… cough cough!” She suddenly coughed, which also caught the attention of the old man who was reading.
