Although there were not many firecrackers, the lanterns and Spring Festival couplets outside the shops, along with the occasional banners proclaiming "Big Spring Festival Sale," still reflected the proper atmosphere of the holiday.
Huang Tao, once again wearing the appearance of a greasy middle-aged man, walked along the somewhat noisy street. Beside her was a woman who looked around twenty-five or twenty-six, with fair skin, slightly messy hair, thick glasses, and an air of scholarly refinement.
Between them was a seven- or eight-year-old girl, looking thoroughly unwilling, as though she had only come along out of helplessness.
The trio looked utterly mismatched, yet for some reason, anyone who saw them immediately got the impression that they were a family of three.
"Little Huang, you're back! I heard from your mother ages ago that you found yourself a college girl. Good heavens, your daughter's already this big? Never heard that you held a wedding, though!"
When they reached the entrance to the residential complex, an old man playing chess downstairs waved at them with easy familiarity. Huang Tao looked a little embarrassed, but she still nodded and said:
"Well, Xiaokang still has school, so we didn't hold a wedding. We just got the certificate..."
"How can that do? You have to let the relatives and friends know, or what will the girl's family think of you..."
As a group of uncles and aunties began taking turns lecturing her, Huang Tao, who had long decided to use Beyonder Abilities as little as possible here, still secretly rubbed her hands together. In an instant, the sense of time within the complex courtyard was distorted, skipping straight past the lengthy lecture.
After bidding an awkward yet polite farewell to the overly enthusiastic uncles and aunties, Old Huang led the Steam Maiden and Huang Xiaona