How can someone travel through time and space and become a beggar?

Yesterday, Mrs. Luo took the little trinkets Mr. Luo had brought with him to visit her sister-in-law, and put on the pearl headpiece. Unexpectedly, the sister-in-law burst into tears when she saw the pearl, saying that she had one too, but Zhao Huazhang had lost it. Seeing her displeasure, Mrs. Luo returned and told Mr. Luo about it, asking him to find another one for her sister-in-law.

I don’t know how the concubine at home found out about this. She made a fuss for half the night last night and also wanted the pearls.

"That pearl is gone?" Boss Luo twirled the wine glass gently between his fingers. What a coincidence? Could it be that Zhao Huazhang gave it away as a gift? But the Dong family was of modest means, even impoverished. They probably wouldn't run into Zhao Huazhang. He knew Dong Xiaomao's character well enough to deceive him.

Dong Xiaomao shook his head. "No, it's not something we can touch in the first place."

"Then let's go to the beach next time." said Boss Luo.

Dong Xiaomao remembered his purpose and raised his glass, saying, "Boss Luo, thank you for taking care of me over the years. I was just a young boy back then, and if it weren't for you, I wouldn't know where I'd be working now."

"Why are you talking about that?" Boss Luo smiled. He had originally chosen this kid because he was smart. Although he was young, he had a fighting spirit.

Dong Xiaomao was suddenly at a loss for words, but thinking of his aging parents and young children at home, he heaved a sigh of relief and said, "Boss Luo, I'm here to resign today."

Boss Luo raised his head and frowned, "What's the matter? Is there something going on at home?"

Dong Xiaomao shook his head and said with a smile, "It's my sister. She wants to open a shop, but she's pregnant and it's inconvenient for her. So she wants me to help out and look after it."

Boss Luo's brows relaxed, and he smiled teasingly, "Then it will be Shopkeeper Dong from now on?"

"Boss Luo, please stop making fun of me. It's a small shop and I'm the clerk and the manager." Dong Xiaomao raised his glass and begged for mercy.

Boss Luo was happy for his favorite junior who had a better future. "Since it's a good thing, I won't keep you here. If you want to travel around in the future, there's still room for you."

"Thank you, Mr. Luo." Dong Xiaomao filled his glass with wine, stood up and drank it in one gulp.

"Sit down, sit down. Why drink so much in the middle of the day? Just have a little drink to relax." Boss Luo raised his hand and pressed it down. "Where is the shop? If you have any difficulties in the future, you can come to me."

"I was just about to go and see the shop." Dong Xiaomao scratched his head.

Boss Luo said with a smile, "You haven't even started yet, and you're already in a hurry to quit your job."

Dong Xiaomao laughed dryly a few times, "It's almost there."

"I own several shops that are not doing so well. You can go and see if there is a suitable one. Whether you want to rent or buy, go to Yunzhong Pavilion and talk to Lao Hu. We are a family and will not cheat you." Boss Luo made a good deal. If the other party really succeeds, he will have more friends and more help.

"Thank you very much, Boss Luo." Dong Xiaomao was very grateful and spent half the afternoon drinking with Boss Luo. The two of them talked about the things they had encountered along the way over the past few years, some of which were interesting, but also many dangerous.

The two chatted happily, and Boss Luo was a little tipsy and ready to find a place to sleep. Dong Xiaomao stood up to say goodbye, but after a few steps, he remembered the gifts for his nephews and turned back to ask. Boss Luo was about to find a place to rest, but after thinking about it, they went to the shop together and gave Dong Xiaomao a few directly. These things were cheap to buy.

Dong Xiaomao stopped by to check out Mr. Luo's shops and found something that met Xia Chu's requirements. He jotted down the address and, seeing it was getting late, hurried back. He first went to Demao Street but saw no one. Then he went to Wang's house, where they had already packed up. Dong Xiaohuan was tired and took a nap in the house, while the children were playing with two puppies.

"Uncle is back." Xia Tian was not very interested in the puppy and just watched from the side. So he noticed Dong Xiaomao immediately and smelled the odor of alcohol before he even got close.

"I'm back. Here, one for each of you and your brother." Dong Xiaomao took out the bracelets. Now, each of the children has one. It's obvious that they are from their family.

Xia Tian was surprised and thanked her. She didn't expect that she was really pregnant. Although Guan Xu ate a lot, she was thinner than Xia Chu. The baby was a little big, but fortunately it wouldn't fall off.

Dong Xiaomao found a place to sit down. He was really tired after walking all the way. "Son, it's time for us to go home."

Dong Dongdong snorted twice, without even looking at his father, and continued to play with scratching the puppy's nose with the grass.

Zhang Zhou went to the kitchen and poured a bowl of water, "Uncle, drink some water."

"Good boy." Dong Xiaomao took it with a smile. It tasted sweet, like honey water. "Huh? Sweet?"

"Last time, Dad drank some wine, and Mom said honey water can help with hangovers," Zhang Zhou explained.

Dong Xiaomao looked at him in surprise. This child was so careful and considerate.

After a short rest, Dong Xiaomao ignored Dong Dongdong's calls and left with the man on his shoulders. If they didn't leave soon, it would be dark and even the oxcart wouldn't be able to get through.

The next day, Dong Xiaomao came again and took his sister and others to see the shop.

This shop was a tea shop, surrounded by many restaurants and noodle shops. However, only the coarse tea was selling well, and the profit was too low, so Boss Luo was ready to give up. A tea shop naturally needed to brew tea for customers to taste on weekdays. There was a well in the backyard, a warehouse, a room for the night watchman to rest, and a kitchen.

Xia Chu looked at it and thought it was a perfect fit. Dong Xiaohuan was also satisfied. However, the shop had a good location, with a front yard and a backyard. Even at the price for acquaintances, it was too high for them. They couldn't afford to buy it, so they had to rent it first.

Dong Xiaomao started looking for help to clean up the shop and repaint it. He also dismantled the kitchen stove and rebuilt it, and went to the blacksmith shop to custom-make a large pot for making braised dishes.

Dong Dongdong couldn't see his father during the day, and knowing that he went to his aunt's house every day, he would sometimes beg to go. It wasn't a big deal; Dong Xiaomao would pick him up and drop him off directly at Wang's house. The children played well together, and Dong Dongdong loved playing with his brothers and sisters, and everyone gave in to him.

Li Xi asked Dong Xiaomao several times what he was up to lately, but Dong Xiaomao wouldn't tell her, and Dong's mother also avoided her. It wasn't for any other reason, but she was afraid she'd go crazy again and cause trouble in the shop. But there was no way to hide this; Dongdong was a talkative person, after all. She even forgot to avoid him when she spoke; she just remembered the word "shop."

A shop? Xiao Mao opened a shop? Li Xi was overjoyed. Could she then live in the city? Like those other ladies, fanning herself while strolling and drinking tea? No need to dig in the fields or on the hills? Wearing beautiful, gorgeous clothes and a hairpin adorned with beads. Li Xi couldn't stop smiling at the thought, and she walked around the room with her hands on her face.

Dong's mother passed by and gave him a disdainful look. What's wrong with him? "Dongdong, come here, grandma. Let's go out and play." My precious little grandson, don't let him be led astray.

Dong Xiaomao came back that day and found that Li Xi was very strange. He had a smile on his face and spoke with a choked voice, as if someone was choking him. He got goose bumps on his back. "What are you doing? What's wrong with you?"

"Oh, what's wrong with me?" Li Xi clasped her hands together and shook her shoulders coquettishly, "Isn't this bad?"

Dong Xiaomao frowned, feeling uncomfortable in his throat.