When everyone said this, they claimed to be muttering, but their voices were actually quite loud. They had no intention of avoiding Zhang Xiaohua.
Some even said, "Who says only girls can use that name? My aunt's second daughter has a little dog named Xiaohua."
"That's right. My uncle's second aunt's granddaughter has a kitten named Xiaohua too."
That only made the blue-clad, cap-wearing group burst into even louder laughter.
The few men in fitted outfits merely watched them. They neither joined in nor laughed along, wearing only mocking expressions. It was just impossible to tell whether their ridicule was aimed at Zhang Xiaohua or at the blue-clad men.
Zhang Xiaohua heard it all, and his face could not help burning as embarrassment welled up in his heart. He had used this name for more than ten years—how had he never heard there was so much to say about it? When he was little, he had played with all the other children at home, yet none of them had ever mocked his name. Now, having only just left home, even his name had become a problem. At this moment, Zhang Xiaohua did not know whether to blame his mother for giving him the wrong name or blame these blue-clad, cap-wearing men for being so worldly and knowledgeable.
Hearing the crowd's laughter, the skinny, bamboo-pole-like man at the head of the group seemed to feel that it was inappropriate. He turned and snapped, "Why are you all so unruly? A newcomer arrives, and you bully him like this? Get back to your rooms, quickly."
The men curled their lips and returned leisurely to their rooms, their faces full of sneers. It was as though a whole day's fatigue had vanished the moment they ran into Zhang Xiaohua. Seeing them leave, the