This was the first bad weather that Anna came to Petersburg. She pointed out that when she was about to go out, the cloudy sky began to rain heavily.
"Going out like this?" Karenin asked.
Anna looked at Karenin, who was holding the silver knife handle with his slender fingers, and his bones were clearly well-proportioned. When he asked this question, his eyes looked at her. Although it was a question, he seemed to know how she would answer.
"I'll take an umbrella," said Anna.
"For safety reasons, I hope you can take Anushka with you."
Karenin took a bite of bacon, his eyelashes drooping. Usually, if Karenin is saying something seriously, or when he wants to get a "yes" response from the other party, he will always look directly into the other party's eyes. So now, Anna knew that Karenin was just talking about it.
"You know, a poor boy can't afford to hire a maid. And two poor boys are obviously not suitable to compete for a job in a tailor's shop."
"If you insist," said Karenin, who seemed to have said this several times. As if convincing himself.
After Karenin went to work in the yamen, Anna dressed herself up again as a poor boy in Petersburg, and went to Mr. Goldman's tailor shop.
As before, the lanky talented tailor was not in the shop, but the strong boy was guarding the shop.
"Who are you looking for?"
The big black-haired man asked without addressing him, his eyes sized up Anna.
Anna noticed that the other party did not show contempt. You must know that in Petersburg, class is always everywhere.
"I'm looking for Mr. Goldman."
"What business do you want with him?" the man asked, a little curious.
"I want to be an apprentice here." Anna said, lowering her voice, but making her eyes look innocent and eager.
The tall guy smiled: "Oh, if that's the case, you'd better go back."
"Why? You don't look like Mr. Goldman." Anna approached the other party with her chin raised high, allowing herself to show the little pride of a young man.
"Of course I'm not. But I know Mr. Goldman won't take apprentices."
"Hi, don't waste your time here." The black-haired man kindly reminded.
Anna knew that this gentleman was a kind person, but she couldn't just give up, so she rolled her eyes and said, "Since you are not Mr. Goldman, I think it's better for him to decide this matter."
"Why don't you listen to advice!" The big man muttered, then waved his hands, "Okay, whatever you want."
Anna stood for a while, the rain outside was not light at all. Although she came over with an umbrella, she was still a little wet.
The cold made her rub her palms unconsciously, and then she heard a nasal voice.
"Come and have a cup of tea."
Anna looked back, and the black-haired man was inviting her to have a cup of tea.
Because she wanted to stay in this tailor shop, Anna did not refuse. She took the other party's tea, held it in her hand and asked, "My name is Pavel, what about you?"
"Just call me Prokhov." The man sniffed again.
"cold?"
"No, it's just a little allergic." Prokhov muttered, holding the small teacup in his big hand and drinking it down.
Because of the heavy rain, there was not much noise in the store. Originally, Prokhov didn't want to take care of this stubborn boy, but he couldn't bear to see him being pitifully frozen, so he made hot tea.
"Thank you, this tea is much warmer after drinking it." Anna thanked, because the hot water reached her stomach, so her whole body became warmer.
"It's not a big deal. Besides, if you want to say something that can warm your body, I think vodka is better. But Mr. Goldman has a bit of an aversion to alcohol, so now I can only drink this for you to keep out the cold."
Prokhov shrugged his shoulders. Although he is not a heavy drinker, he is an out-and-out Russian. Vodka is the favorite of Russians.
After drinking a few cups of tea, just like drinking a few glasses of wine, Anna clearly sensed that Prokhov was a little more kind to her, or that he was indeed too boring.
"Why do you come here as an apprentice?" He asked curiously.
"Maybe the same as you." Anna blinked and replied.
Mr. Prokhov narrowed his eyes first, then grinned, and said, "I don't think it can be the same."
"Oh, how should I put it?" Anna tilted her head and asked curiously, as if I wanted to hear your thoughts since you exposed her.
Prokhov was not induced this time. He cleared his teacup and muttered, "It won't be the same anyway."
"What's different."
After he finished speaking, a somewhat high-pitched and gloomy voice sounded.
It's Mr. Goldman.
The man had just entered the room, his black hair was wet and became strands, he frowned in disgust, put the umbrella into the umbrella tube beside them behind his back, and bent slightly , so that the rain on the umbrella will not drip everywhere.
Mr. Goldman maintained that posture for a while, then he turned around and stood up straight, his eyes glanced at Anna, the uninvited guest, and then he casually asked his buddy as he walked over.
"Is anyone here?"
The young man was wiping his black hair with a handkerchief, and his thin lips were squeezed tightly after asking the above sentence, as if he was afraid that others would see more of his inner self.
"After you left, the Duchess sent her maid over to ask. I followed what you said and told her that I could deliver it for her tomorrow. After that, there were no guests, except this little guy." Prokhov was serious at first. Really answered, and then used a teasing tone when talking about Anna.
"Little guy, I don't see any smallness," said Mr. Goldman softly, putting the handkerchief back in his pocket.
"I'm seventeen years old, sir. I'm not a kid." Anna said, trying her best to show the unique arrogance of a teenager, while maintaining a respectful attitude towards the other party.
She said eagerly: "Dear Mr. Goldman, I want to learn from you. I want to be a tailor."
Mr. Goldman was always looking at his buddy, but now he didn't turn around after hearing Anna's words. He just tilted his head, rolled his eyes occasionally, and looked at him sideways.
"I don't accept apprentices." The man said lightly, like an elegant Persian cat, he looked proud but not annoying.
Prokhov looked at the owner of his shop in surprise. When he wanted to become an apprentice, this gentleman had a lot of sarcasm and sarcasm at himself.
Anna thought for a while, and then asked tentatively, "Then I'll do odd jobs for you, for free?"
The rain still hit the ground hard.
The green-eyed Mr. Goldman pointed to the backyard: "Then move all the boxes over there."
Anna looked at what the other party was pointing at, and her scalp felt a little numb.
Prokhov wanted to say something, but was glared by Mr. Goldman. In the end he could only shut up.
"Okay." Anna said, wanting to roll up her sleeves to cheer herself up, but she thought of something, but in the end she didn't do that. She ran towards the pile of goods, and spent half an hour moving all the things in.
"Okay, sir." Anna wiped a trace of sweat from her face.
Mr. Goldman let out a "huh", then bent down and rummaged through a cardboard box, and took something.
"Move them back now," he said casually.
What!
Anna was shocked in her heart. She looked at the other party carefully, but she didn't see any playful look, so she looked at Mr. Prokhov again. When the latter met her eyes, he hurriedly lowered his head, pretending to be The job wanted to see the appearance of the account book, but he didn't read a word of it.
Prokhov actually didn't understand. You must know that your boss is a complete hypocrite. He never wastes time with someone he doesn't like and has no money.
Although full of resentment, Anna still responded, and spent another forty minutes moving the things back.
"Sir, it's ready." Anna tried not to sound angry.
That Mr. Goldman finally looked at her this time, and said, "Come over at six o'clock tomorrow morning. Another batch of fabrics needs to be sorted."
"Okay." Anna replied.
"Let's go then, I don't need you today." The man gestured to leave.
Anna opened her mouth, and stood for a while without knowing what to say.
Mr. Goldman looked back at her with a somewhat impatient expression, as if to say, "Why are you still here?"
Anna took a deep breath, and said in a low voice: "You can call me Pavel, sir, and see you tomorrow." After speaking, seeing the other party nodded in surprise, Anna walked to the umbrella tube, picked up her Umbrella said goodbye.
After she left for a while, there was a conversation in the small tailor shop. To be precise, the louder one was Prokhov, the shop assistant.
"Why are you embarrassing that child?" Prokhov couldn't bear it.
"Child? Although you grow old yourself, don't treat everyone as a child, Prokhov." Mr. Goldman snorted coldly, his dark pupils were very distinct, so when they stared at something intently , Sometimes it makes people shudder, "I said he is not young." He said softly.
The latter sentence seemed a bit vague, as if the tip of the tongue brushed against the tooth surface and hissed in the air.
Prokhov shivered, then touched his arm and said.
"You won't accept him anyway, so don't do it."
Prokhov grunted again seriously: "I'm not that old, I'm only twenty-three."
"Then don't put perverted eyes on others."
"I'm not a pervert." Prokhov said with some embarrassment.
"I won't believe it until you get out of here." Mr. Goldman neatly picked up the account book and walked into the backyard, looking a little cold and irritable.