Chapter 5

Jia Huan was one hundred and twenty percent sure that this incident was definitely caused by Ma Daopo.

Originally, Jia Huan was a firm materialist, but now, with the occurrence of reincarnation and time-space changes, he found it hard to stick to his materialist beliefs.

However, even though he knew who the culprit was, he currently had no way to deal with it and could only think of a long-term plan.

The feeling of being helpless was truly terrible.

After taking a few steps, Jia Huan felt his body swaying, his steps floating.

This wouldn't do; he needed to practice!

"Xiao Jixiang, is there anywhere nearby where we can run?"

Jia Huan asked.

Xiao Jixiang furrowed her caterpillar-like eyebrows, raised her index finger to her chin, and thought hard. Suddenly, her eyes lit up, and she said happily, "Yes, there's a long alley between our mansion and the Ningguo Mansion to the east. We can run there! I've raced with Xiao Chan and Xueyan there before! Third Master, do you want to play a running game with me?"

Jia Huan laughed heartily, "Sure, let's play!"

Xiao Jixiang jumped with joy but then became gloomy and shook her head, "No, Third Master, your body isn't ready yet."

Jia Huan was unhappy, "You actually say I'm not ready? Don't you know that men can't be said to be not ready?"

Xiao Jixiang didn't explain but looked ahead with fear in her eyes.

Jia Huan was surprised and followed her gaze. He raised his eyebrows slightly as he saw a woman walking towards him, dressed in very... elaborate attire. She looked to be in her early twenties, very beautiful, with a distinctive and rather bold presence.

Although this Jia Huan was not the same as the original, he had a vague idea of who this person was.

A pair of phoenix eyes, two willow-leaf eyebrows.

Slim figure, seductive posture.

Her face, though beautiful, exuded a hidden authority, and her lips, though unopened, seemed to smile before she spoke.

Who else could it be but the famous Feng Lazi, Wang Xifeng?

"Oh, Huan'er, are you feeling better?"

She looked down at Jia Huan with a smile that was not quite a smile, her eyes showing more disdain and disgust than joy or concern.

"You are...?"

Even though he had a guess, Jia Huan still feigned ignorance.

Wang Xifeng's expression changed, her willow-leaf eyebrows slightly raised, and her eyes filled with a stern look. Her voice was cold, "What's this, Third Master, planning to disown your relatives? Or do you not consider me, your second sister-in-law, important?"

"It's not that, Auntie, Third Master woke up last night and doesn't remember anything. He only recognizes Auntie, no one else."

Xiao Jixiang, plucking up her courage, defended in a low voice.

"Hmm?"

Wang Xifeng was taken aback, glanced at the timid Xiao Jixiang, frowned slightly, then looked at Jia Huan, questioning, "Huan'er, is what this girl says true?"

Jia Huan chuckled, "You are Auntie? What Xiao Jixiang said is true. I was unconscious for a long time and don't remember anything when I woke up. But I feel it's wrong, Auntie, you are such a divine figure, I shouldn't forget you even if I were unconscious for ten to fifteen days. I was ignorant before, but I will be more careful next time."

"Oh! Oh oh! Hahaha! Really! Now I truly believe you don't remember anything. If it were before, even ten lives wouldn't make you dare to mock me!"

Wang Xifeng laughed, her body shaking, but her narrowed eyes showed little joy, only a sharp, almost judgmental look.

It was incomprehensible.

Jia Huan, now only seven years old, with clear and bright eyes, looked at Wang Xifeng very seriously, "Auntie, I'm telling the truth. Even though I don't remember anything, I still know that Auntie is very beautiful!"

Wang Xifeng, looking into Jia Huan's clear, innocent eyes, felt a sense of relief, secretly laughing at herself for being too suspicious. This young boy couldn't possibly have such a deep mind to say such smooth words.

Seeing Jia Huan without his usual timid and fearful demeanor, with a clear and upright gaze and a dignified demeanor, and also being quite good-looking, she felt a bit more affection for him.

Old men love young girls, and naturally, young women love young boys.

However, because Jia Huan resembled his mother, and Zhao Yanniang was the woman Wang Xifeng disliked the most in the Jia family, she felt a bit less annoyance and a bit more affection towards him, balancing out to a tolerable level.

"Alright, you're quite the joker. Since your body is just recovering, don't stay out too long. Go back to your room quickly. I've been busy the past few days and haven't had time to visit you. I have some high-quality ginseng, and I'll have Ping'er send it to you later. When you're fully recovered, come to my place to play after school."

Saying this, she patted Jia Huan's head and was about to leave.

As she walked a few steps, Wang Xifeng felt something was off, as if two lamps were roasting her back, especially on her buttocks...

This feeling made her uncomfortable, even affecting her walk.

Wang Xifeng suddenly stopped and turned back, only to see Jia Huan looking at her with innocent eyes, their gazes meeting.

If Jia Huan had been looking at her buttocks just now, he should have been panicked and wouldn't have looked up so quickly.

Seeing Jia Huan's happy, silly smile, Wang Xifeng's lips twitched, "I forgot to remind you. Since you're better, don't forget to pay respects to the Old Lady, the Master, and the Mistress. If you forget the morning and evening greetings, be careful, the Master will skin you alive!"

Saying this, she didn't stay any longer and left with a graceful sway of her hips.

...

"Xiao Jixiang, why are you looking at me like that?"

Seeing the little boy with caterpillar-like eyebrows and large, disdainful eyes, Jia Huan laughed dryly and asked.

"Heavens, Third Master, how could you say such... such disgusting things?"

Xiao Jixiang, with wide, round eyes, asked in a stunned manner.

Jia Huan pouted, "She is very beautiful, why are you so afraid of her?"

Xiao Jixiang shivered, looked around cautiously, and then whispered to Jia Huan, "I'm telling you, Auntie is the most powerful person in our mansion, and even in the eastern mansion. Auntie is the one Zhao Yanniang fears the most, and Auntie doesn't like Zhao Yanniang either. So, Third Master, don't praise her anymore, especially not in front of Zhao Yanniang, or Zhao Yanniang will be so upset she'll die of frustration!"

Seeing Xiao Jixiang's serious and concerned expression, Jia Huan held back his laughter and nodded, "Alright, I'll remember! Shall we go running now?"

Xiao Jixiang looked at Jia Huan speechlessly, "Third Master! Didn't you hear what Auntie said? You need to pay respects to the Old Lady, the Master, and the Mistress."

Jia Huan, feeling a bit depressed, scratched his chin, "Do I have to do it every day?"

Xiao Jixiang sympathized, "Morning and evening greetings, of course, every day. Not just you, even Auntie has to go every day, and after paying respects, Auntie has to go to the Mistress to follow the rules, which is much harder than what you do.

But sometimes the Old Lady and the others might be busy and can't see you personally, so they'll send a maid to see you, and knowing your filial piety is enough. The Jia family values filial piety the most, so, Third Master, you should..."

Xiao Jixiang shrugged helplessly, pouted, and looked cute, especially appealing to older men...

Jia Huan, who had been quite sympathetic to Zhao Yanniang and his own miserable life, couldn't help but pinch Xiao Jixiang's cute, upturned nose, "Third Master is already so miserable, and you're still gloating?"

Feeling Jia Huan's affection, Xiao Jixiang's round face turned red, and she slapped his hand away, making a fierce face to scare Jia Huan.

However, this only made Jia Huan notice her pair of cute little fangs.

"Ha ha ha!"

Jia Huan laughed, ruffling Xiao Jixiang's hair, "Alright, alright, I was just teasing you. Now take me to pay respects to the Old Lady and the others, or I'll be in trouble."

Xiao Jixiang wrinkled her nose at Jia Huan, "How can you go like this? Third Master needs to wash up, comb your hair into a topknot, and change into formal clothes. Going with messy hair, you'll be beaten by the Master!"

"Topknot? Can I change my hairstyle?"

Jia Huan pleaded. He knew what a topknot looked like—two buns on either side of the head. If he also had two fire wheels under his feet, he would look like Nezha, the Third Prince, or Baoqiang with a white eye!

"Of course not! Third Master hasn't reached fifteen, so you can't tie your hair up. You can only have a topknot! Third Master, what's a topknot? I heard that Second Master is still wearing a belly band made by Xi Ren! Oh, what a pity for Third Master! Xiao Que also wanted to embroider a belly band with mandarin ducks for Third Master, but we don't have gold thread here..."

Seeing Xiao Jixiang's regretful expression, Jia Huan thanked all the gods and Buddhas.

Heavens! A belly band with mandarin ducks...?

He wasn't a pervert!

Jia Huan knew that in ancient times, the belly band was like a vest, used to keep children warm.

But in modern times, Jia Huan had only seen belly bands on TV.

And in the TV shows, they were mostly worn by courtesans, who would open their chests to reveal red belly bands, waving silk handkerchiefs and calling out, "Sir! Come, come, come and play!"

...

Jia Huan shivered, and the face of the courtesan in his mind suddenly turned into his own, with a lecherous smile, saying, "Come, sir! I'm the bottom!"

"Ugh..."

Jia Huan suddenly gagged, startling Xiao Jixiang. Zhao Yanniang had repeatedly instructed her to take care of Jia Huan. If anything happened to him, she would be held responsible.

Xiao Jixiang supported Jia Huan, asking anxiously, "Third Master, what's wrong?"

Jia Huan didn't want to mention the belly band again, so he changed the topic, "Jia Baoyu hasn't reached fifteen either, right? How can he tie his hair up and wear a crown?"

In Jia Huan's memory, Jia Baoyu had never been described with two "Nezha buns," but he had been described wearing a purple-gold crown. This made Jia Huan ask.

Xiao Jixiang pouted, "Third Master, that's Second Master! The Old Lady's favorite, the Mistress's darling. How can you compare? But as long as Third Master doesn't make a fuss and doesn't upset the Old Lady and the Mistress, tying your hair up is fine. No one usually cares about Third Master anyway."

...