Chapter 8

Dan Fei was a bit nervous.

He was quite good at archaeology, but he had always lacked understanding of women. To him, women were not only unrelated to antiques but were also fresh and constantly evolving.

Women not only liked to make things difficult for other women but also for men, often giving men some inexplicable problems. For example, in his time, there was an ultimate question—if a woman was having a difficult labor with twins, and the doctor said that saving the mother would mean the death of both children, saving the girl would mean the boy might not survive, and saving the boy would mean the death of the mother and the girl, and at this moment, your mother threatened to jump into the river to force you to save the boy, how would you choose?

Many men chose to jump into the river themselves.

Dan Fei had luckily avoided this question in his time, but he didn't expect to face it now.

Cui'er had been following the two of them. Since the young miss didn't get into the carriage, she naturally waited by the carriage. When she heard the young miss ask such a question, her jaw almost dropped.

This wasn't a topic for a young miss and a servant.

What was wrong with the cold and proud young miss today?

"Answer me," Cao Ning'er urged when she saw Dan Fei remain silent. She knew her question was a bit off, but for some reason, she wanted to hear the answer.

If an ordinary servant heard this question, the answer would certainly be—risking his life to protect the young miss.

If a cunning young master heard this question, he would definitely answer—I would rather die than let you be harmed; in my heart, you are more important than the entire universe...

Men believe what they see, women believe what they hear.

These words, which many men found disgusting, were precisely what women loved to hear.

Cao Ning'er didn't think further. Seeing Dan Fei still silent, she said with a mix of anger and amusement, "A big man, yet so indecisive."

"I think..." Dan Fei finally smiled, "I would turn and run."

What? Cao Ning'er almost fainted. She didn't expect Dan Fei to give her such an answer. Was this guy even a man?

Was it that... this young miss... Cao Ning'er was annoyed. In fact, no woman would be happy to hear such an answer. Before she could think more, Dan Fei said, "Because I know the young miss would definitely transfer those weapons to me."

Cao Ning'er chuckled, her annoyance long gone. She knew Dan Fei was referring to the earlier incident. "I put the deed in your hands because, as a woman, it wouldn't look good for me to tussle with them. Who knows if my brother would try to snatch it?"

Would lying there look any better? Dan Fei thought to himself.

Cao Ning'er saw what Dan Fei was thinking and said slowly, "With me here, my brother wouldn't dare to do anything openly."

That's really worrying, Dan Fei thought with a frown.

Cao Ning'er didn't notice Dan Fei's distress and mused, "As for Xiahou Heng, he's a scoundrel and wouldn't dare to openly confront the Cao family in Xuchang. You don't know, the Xiahou family, though loyal to the Imperial Chancellor, always wants to be above my father."

That's understandable.

Dan Fei, of course, knew the relationship between Cao Cao, Xiahou Yuan, and Cao Hong. Xiahou Yuan and Cao Hong's loyalty to Cao Cao was well-documented, but wasn't everyone fighting for fame and profit?

In his time, the struggles and conflicts among family members, even before and after the death of a wealthy person, were not uncommon. The times had changed, but human nature remained the same.

"Miss, why are you explaining these things to a servant?" Cui'er, tired from standing, couldn't help but grumble.

Cao Ning'er blushed and lightly scolded, "Mind your own business. Get in the carriage."

She got into the carriage, and the blush on her face gradually faded. Hearing Dan Fei outside, she said, "Miss, it's easy to dodge a direct attack but hard to guard against a hidden arrow. Those people know the deed is on me, they might try to snatch it. How about putting it in your carriage?"

"Then you want them to come and snatch it from me? Don't you have the courage?" Cao Ning'er pouted.

"It's not like that," Dan Fei felt this woman was smart when she wanted to be, but could also be unreasonable. "I mean, if I put the deed with the young miss, and if something happens, I can run and draw their attention."

Cao Ning'er held back a laugh, took the deed from Dan Fei through the window, and saw him pick up the incense burner. She softly said, "Put the incense burner in the carriage."

What did you do earlier?

I thought this incense burner had a star's destiny and needed to be popular.

Dan Fei immediately put the incense burner in the carriage and couldn't help but ask, "Miss, why are you carrying this incense burner?"

"Mind your own business!" Cui'er scolded from the carriage.

Cao Ning'er's lips moved, as if she wanted to say something, but finally just said, "Let's go."

The carriage driver whipped the horses, and the carriage slowly moved forward. Cao Ning'er, inside the carriage, watched Dan Fei walking beside it through the curtain, thinking, "I let you put the incense burner in the carriage, and you don't even thank me. You really have no manners." She laughed to herself, wondering why she cared whether he thanked her or not.

The carriage jolted, and Cao Ning'er's thoughts were in turmoil. Dan Fei, on the other hand, was deeply concerned. He thought, "The young miss said that with her here, Cao Fu wouldn't do anything, but what about when she's not around? I can't sleep in Cao Ning'er's room."

He tried to be low-key, but it seemed that as long as he was with this young miss, he had to be prepared to be cut down at any moment.

The journey was tense, but they arrived safely at the Cao family's pawnshop.

The Cao family's pawnshop was a large, independent building. Two guards stood like stone lions at the entrance. Seeing the young miss's carriage, one of them immediately came forward to welcome Cao Ning'er into the courtyard.

As soon as Cao Ning'er entered the pawnshop, an old man came out and smiled, "Young miss, please come in."

Cao Ning'er, without wasting words, said directly, "Mr. Liu, Uncle Three sent me to ask if there's any news on that matter."

Mr. Liu glanced at Dan Fei and lowered his voice, "Young miss, let's talk in private."

Cao Ning'er nodded and gestured for Dan Fei to wait outside the shop. She and Mr. Liu went inside, where Mr. Liu entered the wooden counter, took a key, opened an iron cabinet, and retrieved a small package from the top shelf, carefully opening it.

Dan Fei, outside, saw a few guards patrolling the courtyard. Mr. Liu was being so meticulous, and this place, though a pawnshop, had the security level of a modern safe. He thought, "The Cao family is vast and wealthy; they wouldn't care about ordinary gold and silver. What could be so important that Mr. Liu is treating it with such care?"

Cao Ning'er's figure blocked the view of the small package, and Dan Fei, lacking X-ray vision, saw her shake her head and then nod. He finally gave up on trying to see what it was. Soon, a guard rushed in and said to Mr. Liu, "Old Liu, someone wants to pawn something."

Mr. Liu frowned and waved his hand, "Let them wait. Don't let them disturb the young miss." He paused and then instructed, "Lu Feng, go and see what it is." As he spoke, he put the package back in the cabinet carefully.

A young man, of medium build and dark complexion, came out from the back and walked toward the entrance.

After Mr. Liu put the package away, Cao Ning'er suddenly said, "Mr. Liu, let Dan Fei go with you to see."

Mr. Liu was taken aback. The pawnshop was a new concept in Xuchang, and he had been trusted by Uncle Three to manage it. Over the years, he had trained a few excellent subordinates.

However, the pawnshop business was still very niche, and few people knew much about it. His protégé, Xiao Sanzi, had trained well, and Mr. Liu was confident in his abilities. But why did the young miss want Dan Fei to go along?

Being old, he naturally thought a lot. Mr. Liu hesitated, and Cao Ning'er smiled, "Mr. Liu, I'm not doubting you, but this is someone Uncle Three has chosen and wants to take as a disciple. I want to see his abilities."

Her voice was very low, and Dan Fei didn't hear it, but Mr. Liu was shocked, "What?" He had followed Uncle Three for many years and was just a subordinate, never a disciple. He had always regretted this and asked Uncle Three why he wouldn't take him as a disciple, but Uncle Three always avoided the question.

Dan Fei might not understand the significance of Uncle Three taking a disciple, but Mr. Liu knew very well what it meant. If this news spread, half of Xuchang would treat this person differently.

But that thin, weak young man, dressed as a servant, who looked even younger than Xiao Sanzi, why would Uncle Three favor him so much?

---

Hehe, the fifth alliance member has appeared in "Stealing Fragrance." I'll add an extra chapter tonight to thank Xie Yuan, the new alliance leader, and all the friends who have supported, voted, and collected the book. Mobile users can visit http://m.piaotia.net

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