Chapter 6: Neighborhood Chatter
Just then, Butcher Zhao walked over, reached out, and patted Zhao Yue’s head, saying in a loud voice, "Pay more attention when you’re studying. If you fail the lesson the Teacher tests you on tomorrow, you won’t be allowed to go out and play for a week."
"I know, Dad." Zhao Yue averted his gaze, looking quite wronged as he resumed his reading.
Zhao Zhitong watched with great amusement. When Butcher Zhao looked her way, she gave him a big smile.
Butcher Zhao, with his muscular build and the fact that he often slaughtered pigs, had an air of bloodthirstiness about him. When he wasn’t smiling, he looked somewhat fierce and intimidating. The village children were all afraid of him; upon seeing him, they would flee faster than rabbits.
Zhao Zhitong was the only child who wasn’t afraid of him. Not only was she unafraid, but she also often smiled sweetly at him. Butcher Zhao, in turn, grew quite fond of this little girl. "Little girl," he asked, "are you here to watch your brother study again?"
"Yes, Uncle, hello!" Zhao Zhitong grinned broadly, politely greeting Butcher Zhao.
Butcher Zhao found her sweet voice incredibly soothing, and his expression softened considerably. He chuckled, deliberately softening his voice, "What a girl."
"Uncle, my name is Zhao Zhitong. My daddy and mommy call me Tongtong, so Uncle can call me Tongtong too, okay?"
The four-and-a-half-year-old, doll-like child, with her soft, childish voice, expressed herself so clearly that Butcher Zhao was delighted. He compared her to his own son, who always managed to anger him, and he thought, If only my wife could give birth to such an adorable daughter!
Hearing his father speak so gently to the ’pest,’ Zhao Yue felt indignant and turned to glare fiercely at Zhao Zhitong.
Zhao Zhitong, who wasn’t even afraid of Butcher Zhao, certainly wouldn’t be scared by him. She immediately glared back, even sticking her tongue out at him.