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It was that day again, when the two of them left home to where the market place was, to spread out a blanket to sit on before spreading out before them various small pieces of jade that was in the shape of various things from animals to flowers, to interesting pendants. It was how Jing Lin made his living and how he kept food on the table, food that was getting progressively more tasty the better that Bai Mei got at cooking. He'd taken some lessons in it though hadn't told his father where exactly he'd gone, to tell the man that he'd been going to the local brothel in the red light district to learn from the cook there wasn't a good idea. It was the truth but never the less it was also Bai Mei's secret.

The villagers here were... somewhat torn when it came to Jing Lin and Bai Mei, the pair of them were most certainly outcasts due to the all the rumors swirling around them. The rumors said that Jing Lin was a fox spirit in disguise, one that had caused the early death of his young, human wife. The fact that when not wearing his glasses he had fox eyes only seemed to make the rumors appear more and more truthful... and then there was Bai Mei who had just magically appeared one day from a lotus and set to following Jing Lin around, calling him father. That seemed to make things even worse as they were certain he was a little fox kit.

Oddly though, despite the rumors that went around about them the villagers were more then eager to come to the little shop they had set up in the market place to purchase the jade pieces that Jing Lin carved. It was likely due to the quality of the pieces, Jing Lin had steady hands and a creative streak a mile wide. It was likely due to what he could do and the fact that he sold his pieces at good prices that he was allowed to move around through town without to terribly much trouble despite his 'being a fox'.

Bai Mei was sitting cross legged next to his father, a rather beautiful egg that was yellow with various green markings on it, sat on his lap and he seemed to be leaning over it slightly as though he were trying to keep it warm with his own body heat. He wanted for the pretty thing to stay warm, to hatch, and for whatever was inside to be healthy. Given it was autumn now it the air was a little crisp, something that made him all that much more eager to care for the pretty egg himself, "I wonder what its going to be." He mused to his father for had to be the millionth time since they had sat down.

Jing Lin could only chuckle a little, always more at ease around his son then anyone else in the village, "I still say its likely a bird though there is a change of it being a reptile as well... though I would prefer bird." While he didn't mind reptiles from a distance he didn't think he wanted his son raising one of them as a pet since they could bite. A bird was more easily tamed and trained to be useful, he hoped against hope that Fate would smile upon them and allow the egg to hatch out a bird.

Jing Lin lifted a hand to adjust his glasses before he looked at the jade pendant that the young woman was looking over. He gave a smile, "Ahh, you have a good eye to find that one among all of the pieces on hand. Its a charm that brings good fortune to one who carries it." He told Lily, ever the good salesman though it wasn't a lie. The symbol on the pendant was one meant for better ones luck after all. He seemed to think about the price for a moment before he quoted the price that he would charge her for it, less then he would normally ask for since this woman seemed friendly enough. Were she one of those that looked down upon him the price would have been higher then he'd normally asked for, it was just how things worked.

He turned to look at the boy that she was holding onto and gave a little chuckle, finding it amusing to see how enthusiastic this one was, especially in comparison to Bai Mei who was sitting next to him so calmly. After giving the redhead a smile and a nod his attention was back on the woman, waiting to see if she had any interest in the pendant.

Bai Mei smiled at Jin Feng, "Wow! You have such pretty hair." He murmured, sounding quite surprised and in awe of how pretty this child was. He looked him over then down at the egg resting in his lap and then up again, "This is my egg, I won it from a game during the Dragon Boat Festival. Isn't it pretty? I'm trying to hatch it!" He sounded quite excited about the whole process, "We are trying to guess what might be growing inside."

Jing Lin took the offered coin from her before bowing before Lily, "Thank you, very much." He murmured, both for the purchase as well as her kind words. Any person he ran across that was kind and didn't seem to listen to the rumors swirling around his family was a person that he could find himself liking even if they only met for a moment in passing.

"If you ever wish for something to be made specially for you or your family please stop by again." He said, lifting his head up before turning to look over at Jin Feng at mention tat the egg might hatch into a huge lizard dragon and he gave an uncertain sound, "I am quite hoping that it will be nothing more then a small bird myself." Then again the egg was a large enough size that it wouldn't be a small bird... perhaps a regular sized, useful bird? A chicken could be nice as they would have eggs to eat.

Bai Mei gave a little laugh at his Father's words then nodded to Jin Feng, "Yes, its a real egg with something real inside. Its going to be a surprise though, a really cool one and I can't wait to see it!" He said, giving the egg's shell a gentle and affectionate petting, "Though bird of dragon I will be sure to take care of it either way and raise it to be a well behaved creature."

When it would appear that Jin Feng and Lilly were going to leave Bai Mei looked over at his father then back to the orange haired boy who was trying to jerk his arm away from her hold, "Could you perhaps stay for a moment more? Its no often I get to play with other kids my age." He asked of Lily in a hopeful manner, even just a few more minutes being able to talk with Jin Feng would be nice by him.

Jing Lin gave a shake of his head, "He is of no bother, in fact it is nice to see my son able to play with some of the village children." He told Lily in a reassuring manner, not wanting for her to think for even a moment that she or her son were under foot when it was in fact the complete opposite, "I must say that I rather enjoy the company of the two of you as well, conversation is always well received when it comes to us isn't that right Bai Mei?"

The yellow eyed boy nodded though his attention wholly on the boy he had already dubbed 'friend' in his mind as he listed to more suggestions with what it was that Jin Feng thought was inside of the egg. He had rather interesting ideas, saying that perhaps he was a flying dragon! That would be quite amazing really, "I am not sure what it might take to raise a dragon but I am willing to try." He said, nodding his head. He already liked the idea of it being a dragon because that was far more interesting then his father's guess at it being a chicken... everyone had chickens after all and no chicken egg he'd ever seen as as pretty as his egg was.

"I do like the idea of a fancy bird as well, would likely be a little easier to raise then a dragon I bet... and I don't have to worry about it wanting to eat anyone when it got bigger." He said, lifting a hand to help to smother his laughter at that thought. At least they wouldn't have to worry about the villagers being mean if they had a guard dragon!

Jing Lin gave a little shake of his head, "I have a bit of a reputation in town, it makes it a little difficult for him at times." He explained, it would seem as though the only friends he was able to make were those who were like him, those marked with that same lotus birthmark Jing Lin thought to himself before he turned to look over at his son for just a moment. That he seemed to be so happy he wasn't going to say anything even as the two boys started to plan on how they would train the dragon to eat 'dumb people'.

He made a mental note to tell his son later that he wasn't going to be feeding people, dumb or not, to his pet not matter what it was that came from the egg. His attention went back to Lily again, "Sorry, I was momentarily distracted, as I was saying due to my own reputation he has his troubles but he is able to make friends here and there. It is something I am most grateful for." He wasn't as good at making friends himself but he was always happy when Bai Mei found them.

Bai Mei was a bit oblivious to what his father was thinking, to swept up in the fun that he was having with Jin Feng, "Ohhh... that is a good idea!" He said, clapping his hands. He would love to teach his dragons to deal with the people that were mean to his Daddy! It would make him quite happy as well as make his pet quite useful in protecting their house. He found the idea of a pet that wanted to guard them and the house to be a good one.

His attention dropped to the egg and he smoothed his hands over the shell in a gentle manner, "I think that they can learn to talk." He murmured, then gave a bright smile, "That would be great! I would love to teach the bird to talk!" So he could either have a guard dragon or a talking bird? Either way sounded awesome, "Heh, your very smart, Jin Feng! You have the best ideas." He just hoped that one of his ideas was the right one about what was within the beautiful shell of the egg he held.

Bai Mei blinked a couple times when Jin Feng agreed with him when he commented that he was smart. He lifted one hand up to smother a little giggle that came from him, then smiled up at Jin Feng when he asked if Bai Mei was allowed to go outside to play, "Ahh... Hmm." He looked over at his Father in a curious manner.

Jin Feng seemed to be thinking on it for a long moment before giving a slow nod of his head, "If you want to play for a little bit with your friend and its alright with his mother I don't see why not, I can tend to the egg for a short time while I continue selling." He wasn't quite ready to close up shop but he didn't want to take this opportunity to get to play like a normal child did instead of being stuck all day with his father selling Jade. His attention then turned to looking at Jin Feng, "If I could ask you a favor, if the two of you do play if you could look out for Bai Mei for me?" He asked.

Bai Mei's cheeks instantly went a bright red and he ducked his head, "Father!" He squeaked out, utterly embarrassed by the fact that he was doing such a thing, asking a friend to be to look after him like he were in need of protecting like some sort of Lady.

Bai Mei peeked through his bangs up at his father and the over at Jin Feng and his mother before he waited to see if they would be allowed to play. It seemed that they were going to be allowed to do so? It would see so! How exciting he thought to himself as he ever so carefully handed the precious egg over to his father who tucked it away inside of his robes to keep it both safe and warm before he watched as his son was pulled away to play by the more enthusiastic boy, something that made the man in the glasses smile.

The white haired boy made no protest at all as he was tugged along by Jin Feng, rather enjoying his enthusiasm since it reminded Bai Mei a lot of Song Tzue when she was excited over things. When they were some distance away they first slowed down and then stopped, Jin Feng turning to ask him what he did for fun. The boy seemed to think on it for a moment before shyly answering with, "W-Well... I am learning how to cook." He wasn't sure if that would really sound like a lot of fun to another person but he rather enjoyed the task, both because making delicious food was fun and because in doing so he was able to help take good care of his Father.

"What about you, Jin Feng? What sorts of things do you do for fun? I bet they are more exciting things, huh?" He asked, giving a bright smile.

Jing Lin watched in the direction his son had gone off in before looking up at Lily and gave her a smile, "I am sure it will be alright." He reassured her, Bai Mei was a very well behaved boy so he could only hope that would help to keep the pair from getting into to much trouble.

Bai Mei gave a happy sound when it seemed that his new friend wasn't going to tease him over it, "Maybe I can make you something one day." He offered the other boy, only more then happy to make things for other people to try. What better way to get good at something then by doing it for others... he just hoped that Jin Feng was brave enough to eat experimental dishes that were prepared by the cook in training. He seemed to be the brave sort though he thought to himself as he looked the tiger boy over him from head to toe.

He listened as his new friend told him the things that he liked to do, "Tag and Hide and Seek are both fun... though I can't say that I have ever played War before, how does one play that?" He asked, giving a little squeak sound when suddenly the other boy was looking at him in a somewhat threatening manner when he explained how he liked to pick things up with show owners weren't looking, "W-What... do you mean? Pick... up? Ah! You mean..." Wait, did that mean that Jin Feng stole stuff? He seemed to think about it for a moment before giving a slow nod.

"I... I see, alright. So long as you told take anything from my Father then I have reason to tell anyone on you." After all he didn't really care as much about the other shop owners, the only one that mattered to Bai Mei was his Father Jing Lin. Aside from that... well the rest of them weren't really high on his list of favorite people since they didn't like Jing Lin. Anyone that wasn't nice to his Father ended up on the list of people that Bai Mei didn't much care for.