"Buns for sale!!"
"Two coppers each, sir."
"Give me three buns and a bowl of rice porridge."
"Coming right up, sir."
The man buying breakfast was short, with his chest bared. He seemed a forthright fellow, and a large swath of tattoos covered his arm.
There were especially many people today, including women holding children and making a racket.
There were also burly men who looked rather fierce, brimming with the rough air of the streets.
The short man glanced at one of those men and did not dare approach.
After hesitating, he finally chose a Blue Robes Man whose expression looked peaceful and plopped down opposite him.
The short man looked the Blue Robes Man up and down as he set down his food.
He added some pickled vegetables to the plain porridge, then soaked his buns in it.
The man opposite him had gentle, refined features and an extraordinary bearing. He looked like a scholar.
Li Ping'an noticed his gaze and gave him a warm smile.
The short man did not respond, merely scoffing, seemingly quite disdainful of a pale-faced scholar like him.
Li Ping'an was not annoyed and simply acted as though he had seen nothing.
He raised his hand, dabbed it in some water, and drew a brush from his waist to write and sketch on the tabletop.
Although he felt he might not make it in time, he still had to try.
If the two sides really fought until something happened to one of them, it would be troublesome.
The short man bent over his porridge, then suddenly glanced at Li Ping'an with a puzzled expression.
What was he doing? Damn him.
He couldn't even forget his studies while eating. Couldn't he just eat a proper meal?
Li Ping'an took a deep breath, opened his