Tomb Raider: The Adventures of a Dumb Man

Chapter 1076 Fatty Xin'an 3

There were already a few tabby cats squatting at the entrance, looking around. They seemed to have calculated their time accurately, and their furry heads turned in unison towards the door.

It made a soft "meow" sound, as if welcoming.

There is a small hole in the window on the first floor through which the cats come in.

They will all go upstairs by themselves.

It doesn’t matter if the others are larger, they will climb up the wall, walk down the roof, and go from the third floor to the second floor.

very smart.

Niannian handed the remaining piece of sweet potato peel to the big orange cat closest to her.

This big orange cat might have eaten it.

The big orange dog came over and sniffed it, then licked it reservedly, then narrowed his eyes in satisfaction and made a purring sound in his throat.

The other cats also gathered around, and Niannian squatted down and patiently broke the sweet potato peels into pieces and shared them with them.

Cat, I bring you food every year.

Xin'an took off his heavy coat, looked at the furry group, and tidied up the balcony.

"It's snowing heavily. They'll probably be here tonight."

Xin'an said with a smile.

She walked to the corner of the balcony with familiarity, where several thick cotton mats had been laid out, with a clean bowl of water and eight small plates of dried fish and sausages next to them.

The cats were obviously familiar with this process, and after Nian Nian distributed the sweet potato peels, they paced over in twos and threes, each found a comfortable mat to lie down on, and began to lick their fur or take a nap.

Soon, a series of steady snoring sounds could be heard from the balcony.

This balcony was originally open, but since the cats came, it has been closed to allow them to spend the winter.

Xin'an walked into the kitchen and tied on an apron.

The snow outside the window fell silently, condensing into tiny ice flowers on the glass.

She turned on the stove and blue flames licked the bottom of the pot.

In the pot was the bone soup that had been stewed before leaving the house in the morning. At this moment, it was bubbling with tiny bubbles, and a rich aroma filled the air.

Xin'an went to prepare the hot pot ingredients, which was also simple. He just washed and sliced them, put them in the pot, added bone broth and tomatoes, and the aroma spread. Niannian came over on his own initiative.

Niannian had already washed her hands and was sitting quietly at the table.

She picked up the chopsticks, carefully blanched the meat first, and then started to eat in small bites.

Xin'an sat opposite and also picked up the bowl.

Under the warm yellow light, there were only the slight sounds of eating and the rustling of snow falling outside the window.

The heat from the food filled the glass windows and also filled the tranquility in this small world.

After dinner, Niannian took the initiative to clean up the dishes and put them in the sink.

Xin'an wiped the table and brought out a stack of books from the study that he had just bought from a used bookstore in the afternoon. Most of them were picture albums and natural science books.

Niannian's eyes lit up, and he immediately came over, picked up a thick book "Illustrated Guide to Chinese Birds", sat cross-legged in a corner of the sofa covered with a thick carpet, and started flipping through it.

She read very attentively, her fingers occasionally sliding lightly over the colorful bird feather patterns on the pages.

Xin'an made himself a cup of hot tea, curled up on the sofa next to him, and picked up a book.

There was only one floor lamp in the corner of the living room that was on, casting a soft light over them.

The tabby cats were well fed and found a more comfortable position in the warm room.

Some curled up at Nian Nian's feet, some occupied the armrests of the sofa, and one brave one jumped directly onto Xin'an's thighs and found a comfortable position to curl up.

Xin'an touched its warm back, which resulted in a louder snoring.

Nian Nian turned a page of the book, looked up at the heavy snow outside the window, then looked at Xin'an who was reading peacefully beside him and the cats sleeping around them, and a contented expression appeared on his little face.

She rubbed towards Xin'an and leaned her head gently on Xin'an's arm.

Xin'an put down the book, naturally stretched out his arms to hold her small shoulders, and rubbed his chin against her soft head.

"Are you sleepy?" Xin'an asked in a low voice.

Nian Nian shook her head and just snuggled up tighter, like a bird returning to its nest and finding the warmest branch.

She didn't need to speak, the snuggle itself was the best answer.

Xin'an didn't ask any more questions, but just tightened his arms, picked up the book again, and his fingertips unconsciously tapped Nian'an's shoulder.

The snow fell heavier and heavier, rustling onto the green tiles of the alley, and accumulated into a thick layer.

Hei Xiazi and Zhang Qilin walked on the snow back to their temporary residence with a small courtyard deep in the alley.

There was no main light in the room, only a dim incandescent bulb, the light barely illuminating the simple table and chairs and a hard bed.

It looks pitiful and can't be compared with Niannian's home.

The kettle on the stove was bubbling with steam. It was boiled by Hei Xia Zi before he went out.

"Oh, this weather is freezing to death for a blind man like me."

Hei Xia Zi rubbed his hands exaggeratedly, stamped the snow on his feet, and went to the stove to warm himself.

He took off his sunglasses and wiped the condensed water vapor on them with the corner of his clothes, but his eyes were always fixed on Zhang Qilin who walked into the room silently behind him.

A thin layer of snow also fell on Zhang Qilin's body. He closed the door gently, blocking out the sound of wind and snow outside.

He didn't rush to keep warm like Hei Xia Zi. He just stood at the door, quietly brushing the snow off his shoulders and hair. His movements were neat and tidy.

The dim light outlined his thin but tall figure. His face was still expressionless, but there seemed to be a hint of tenderness in his calm eyes?

Or is it some extremely rare sense of satisfaction?

So, the mutes like to be fed.

That’s not right. A blind man has also fed it. Why is it different?

Zhang Qilin: . . . . .

Hei Xia Zi looked at him with his mind pounding.

He poured a cup of hot water and handed it to Zhang Qilin: "Here, Dumb, Nuan Nuan. Tsk, why are you so mysterious today? Are you here to see the kids?"

He dragged over a creaky chair and sat down, crossing his legs, an uncontrollable smile on his face.

"Well done, you dumb man! You've made it! You even stole the snacks from a little girl's pocket!

He even tricked her into looking puffy on the face, like an angry dumpling.

I saw it all, even though I’m blind. How aggrieved that kid felt when he reached into his pocket at the end! "

Zhang Qilin took the cup of hot water, and the warmth passed through the rough enamel cup wall to his slightly cool palms.

He didn't look at Hei Xia Zi, but just lowered his head to look at the steam rising from the cup. His long eyelashes cast a small shadow under his eyes.

He did not refute Hei Xia Zi's teasing, but just pursed his lips almost imperceptibly.

In Hei Xia Zi's opinion, this subtle movement meant that he was guilty!

"Hey!" Hei Xia Zi laughed and slapped his thigh.

"You agreed, right? I knew it!

That child looks like you, so much!

That energy, there is no doubt about it! Is it your Zhang family's offspring?"

He moved closer and lowered his voice, "Do you know her? Her family..."

Zhang Qilin finally raised his eyes and glanced at Hei Xia Zi indifferently, his eyes calm and without any waves.

"Dededede!" Hei Xiazi immediately raised his hands in surrender.

“Blind man, I know the rules!

No questions, absolutely no questions!

Just think of it as, uh, meeting a friend you like by chance on the street?

Chief Zhang, you are doing a good deed every day, helping the little girl to lighten her burden?"

He spoke in a deliberately unctuous manner.

Zhang Qilin ignored his nonsense and walked to the window with a cup of water.

The taste is still in my mouth.

"blind."