Mu Zhongqing picked for a long while, and finally selected three satisfactory boxes of rouge. After paying, he enthusiastically distributed the boxes to the women in his family.
Cai Wei received a blue and white porcelain box the size of her palm. Before she could open it, she already smelled the pungent fragrance inside. She pursed her lips, her face becoming somewhat stiff. However, seeing the expectant look in her dad’s eyes, she still forced herself to open the rouge box. The surprising discovery inside was the bright red blush, just like the vivid red used by primary school students during performances. Applying this would definitely result in a monkey-butt effect.
"Wei’er, do you like it?"
Mu Zhongqing looked at his daughter’s face, thinking that her white little face would certainly look even better if she applied the blush, looking flushed and cute!
"Um, I like it, I really like it, thank you, dad!"
Cai Wei lowered her head, looking ’seriously’ at the poor quality rouge in her hand, somewhat amused yet also deeply touched.
"What about Fei’er? Do you like it too?" Dad then turned to ask Fei’er.
Cai Fei seemed to genuinely like it, holding a box of rouge the same as her sister’s with joy in her eyes and a smile on her face.
"Thank you, dad. This is the first time I use rouge. Even Cai Ping doesn’t own such a good thing."
Hearing his daughters’ approval, a few strands of smiles appeared on Mu Zhongqing’s thin cheeks. He then devotedly looked at his wife.
"Lady Mei, do you like it?"
Lady Du chastised lightly, hiding the Empress’s Beauty Powder in her sleeve, her face slightly red, displaying the shyness of a maiden.
Upon seeing her parents’ interactions, Cai Wei felt regretful. Her parents, who had not seen each other for some time, must miss each other greatly. She regretted making a fuss about wanting to visit the night market, thereby delaying her parents’ time together!
"It’s getting late, let’s go home!" she suggested.
"Older sister, we have just arrived not long ago, why are we going back so soon?"
Wen’er and Wu’er hadn’t had their fill of fun and didn’t want to return. Wu’er even clung to dad’s leg, his foggy big eyes looking at dad pitifully.
Seeing his son’s gaze, Mu Zhongqing’s heart softened. He spoke up to plead for his daughter, "Wei’er, it’s still early, and everyone is in a good mood. Why don’t we walk around a bit more?"
"Dad’s health isn’t good, he has just taken medicine and should not overexert himself."
"It’s okay for dad, let’s walk around a little bit more!"
Seeing dad insisted on not going back, Cai Wei could only acquiesce. The whole family then continued to make their way towards the depths of the night market.
"Hoop Toss, Hoop Toss, One Copper Coin for one, whatever you manage to hoop is yours..."
Passing by a hoop-toss stall, Wu’er was suddenly drawn to a little turtle on display. The little turtle was only the size of a chicken egg and had retreated into its green shell, leaving a bald and smooth exterior in the array of prizes.
"Young Master, fancy a game of Hoop Toss? One Copper Coin for one, whatever you manage to hoop is yours."
The vendor caught sight of Wu’er gazing at the stall and squatted down to court his business.
Following Wu’er’s gaze, he noticed the tucked turtle and continued to tempt him, "Young Master, look, in such bitter cold, if that little bastard continues to stay out, it might freeze to death. Why don’t you bring it home?"
Wu’er glanced at the little turtle, then turned around, looked up silently at dad, waiting for his decision.
"Alright, give us twenty hoops."