Chapter 77: Teasing

At this point, Zhang Xiaohua already knew that braised pork wasn't the best thing in the world, and being able to eat it wasn't his lifelong dream. Martial arts had become his new "braised pork."

However, how to get this "braised pork" still required some thought. Looking at the four people's backs, Zhang Xiaohua couldn't help but mutter to himself.

The small courtyard was still quiet; those green-capped, lazy-pig-like people were probably still in dreamland. How could they even think of competing with the disciples of the Ethereal Sect? Do you have the strength? Although he had just arrived yesterday, Zhang Xiaohua himself felt it was hopeless. Maybe they knew they couldn't do it, so they just wanted to satisfy themselves with words.

However, looking at the small room he had slept in last night, Zhang Xiaohua felt quite a headache. How did Liu Er end up with such a roommate? Couldn't he find someone of a slightly higher caliber?

Pinching his nose, Zhang Xiaohua opened the window. Although it was already summer, there was still a cool breeze in the early morning. The foul smell in the room dissipated with the wind.

Only then did Zhang Xiaohua stroll in.

After finding a copper basin to wash his face, Zhang Xiaohua sat on the kang and drank some water.

At that moment, Ma Jing on the opposite side turned over, stretched deeply, and sat up, muttering, "Who wakes up from a great dream first, I know my own life."

"Clang," this time it wasn't Zhang Xiaohua who fell, but the cup fell on the kang. While Zhang Xiaohua was busy tidying up the bedding, he asked with a bitter smile, "Brother Ma, why are you so poetic?"

Ma Jing shook his head and said, "I dreamed it last night. How about it? Is your brother Ma's poetic talent good?"

Zhang Xiaohua flattered him repeatedly, "Your talent is great."

Breakfast was still in that hall, and the food for the two groups was still different. Zhang Xiaohua already knew the reason, so he wasn't surprised and ate with relish. The others couldn't do that, and they threw cold and hot remarks and strange words. The four people acted as if they hadn't heard, eating as deliciously as Zhang Xiaohua. The occasional murderous glances they shot at them were treated as extra side dishes. They quickly finished eating, patted their butts, and left, leaving behind a pile of resentful gazes.

After everyone had finished eating and left, Zhang Xiaohua patted his belly and left the dining hall. Looking at the leftover food on the table and thinking about how they ate, he couldn't help but wonder, "Is the work in the medicinal fields not heavy? How can they eat so little? Do they have the strength to work?"

Zhang Xiaohua returned to the room and saw Ma Jing finish tidying up and was about to go out. He quickly followed behind, but when they passed the outer gate, they were stopped by Tian Chongxi.

Tian Chongxi smiled at Zhang Xiaohua and said, "Xiaohua, you're new here, so don't rush to work. Wait here for a moment. I'll arrange things for them and then come to call you. Let me introduce you to the situation first."

Zhang Xiaohua was taken aback but quickly responded, "Okay, you go ahead, I'll wait here."

Seeing Zhang Xiaohua standing at the door, Tian Chongxi led Ma Jing and the four people in martial attire away.

Zhang Xiaohua didn't find anything strange, but Ma Jing secretly asked Tian Chongxi, "Brother Xi, couldn't I just take Zhang Xiaohua? Why do you have to do it yourself?"

Tian Chongxi said, "Although Zhang Xiaohua came from the Lotus Escort Agency, his background and other details haven't been clarified yet. Although it seems there's no problem, we still need to wait and see. The head manager said this last night. We just follow orders."

Ma Jing was taken aback and said with a sad face, "Why didn't you say so earlier? I talked a lot about our manor's secrets to him yesterday."

Tian Chongxi was taken aback, then laughed and said, "What secrets could you know? Once you know them, they're not secrets anymore. I don't even know the important secrets of our manor. How could you? Don't overthink it. Zhang Xiaohua should be fine, otherwise, Qiu Tong wouldn't have brought him back."

Ma Jing was relieved.

Speaking of Zhang Xiaohua, he stood at the outer gate, watching Tian Chongxi and the others walk away. Hearing footsteps behind him, he turned around to see Old Yu coming over. Zhang Xiaohua quickly bowed and greeted him. Old Yu walked over, patted his shoulder, and said with a smile, "Zhang Xiaohua, I heard you want to learn martial arts?"

Zhang Xiaohua's eyes lit up, and he said, "Yes, Old Yu."

Old Yu asked, "Yesterday, Qiu Tong said you have great strength, even lifting a 500-pound stone lock?"

Zhang Xiaohua shook his head and said, "Old Yu, I do have some strength. Yesterday, I lifted two stone locks, but I don't know how heavy they were."

Old Yu said, "Wanting to learn martial arts is good, but you've already passed the best age for learning. However, practicing martial arts for self-defense is still possible. Work hard, and I'll find someone to teach you. How about that?"

Zhang Xiaohua couldn't believe his ears and said with surprise, "Really, Old Yu, you're not kidding?"

Old Yu laughed and said, "Why would I kid you? You'll know in the future."

Zhang Xiaohua laughed and said, "Ha, that's great. I'll definitely practice better than my second brother."

Old Yu asked, "Your second brother joined the Lotus Escort Agency yesterday, right?"

Zhang Xiaohua said, "Yes, Wensan of the Lotus Escort Agency said he has great potential and will achieve something with practice."

Old Yu encouraged Zhang Xiaohua, "Yes, if your second brother can succeed, you can too. Work hard and bring glory to your family."

Zhang Xiaohua bowed again and said, "Thank you, Old Yu. I will."

Then, Old Yu left, but as he walked, he thought, "Zhang Xiaohua looks like an ordinary child. Having great strength isn't that unusual. Why does the young miss value him so much and let him practice martial arts?"

In fact, Old Yu didn't understand Ou Yan's thoughts. Ou Yan didn't particularly value Zhang Xiaohua. It was just that yesterday, Qiu Tong's affection for the house made her think of her older brother. She just mentioned it casually, moved by a slight sense of compassion. Besides, letting a small footman learn some martial arts was just a matter of a word for someone in her high position, especially for a child who had already passed the age for learning martial arts.

Zhang Xiaohua waited at the outer gate for about the time it takes to eat a meal before Tian Chongxi returned. He took Zhang Xiaohua for a tour, and indeed, as Ma Jing had said, the Huaxi Manor grew many strange plants, including grains, flowers, and herbs, each managed by different people. Tian Chongxi and his team were responsible for the herbs. Pointing to the distant medicinal fields, Tian Chongxi gave Zhang Xiaohua a rough introduction to the various herbs. Zhang Xiaohua had never seen them before, so he could only memorize them with difficulty. Fortunately, it was just planting, weeding, and watering, which weren't much different from farming. Zhang Xiaohua had done farm work for a long time at home, so he wasn't worried about these tasks.

In the following days, Tian Chongxi continued to take him around, not letting him do any work. Even when Tian Chongxi was busy with the medicinal fields and had no time to take Zhang Xiaohua, he didn't let Zhang Xiaohua do any work. Zhang Xiaohua found it strange, just watching people practice martial arts in the morning, wandering around during the day, sleeping under a tree when there was nothing to do, and listening to Ma Jing's nonsense at night. This little life was quite... boring.

Zhang Xiaohua had come to learn martial arts but was left here. Although the food was better than what he had eaten before, and the things he heard and saw were new, he still felt uncomfortable, not to mention the foot odor in the room every night.

At first, Zhang Xiaohua thought it was because he was new and didn't want to be impolite, but later he couldn't bear it anymore. He had to hint to Ma Jing that it would be best to wash his feet before sleeping. But Ma Jing still did as he pleased, which made Zhang Xiaohua very upset. In the end, Zhang Xiaohua had to sleep with the window open at night to get some fresh air. However, every night before going to bed, the window would be closed again in the morning, making the air in the room foul. It seemed that Ma Jing had been woken up by the cold and closed the window himself.

One afternoon, Ma Jing found Zhang Xiaohua mysteriously and whispered, "Xiaohua, do you think my feet are very smelly?"

Zhang Xiaohua said awkwardly, "Not too smelly, but a bit."

Ma Jing nodded and said, "I understand. From today on, you don't have to worry about it anymore."

"Really?" Zhang Xiaohua asked in disbelief, "You're going to start washing your feet?"

"No," Ma Jing shook his head and said, "I talked to Brother Xi about it. Brother Xi said you can move into his room."

"Really? Brother Xi said that?" Zhang Xiaohua asked.

"Yes, that's what Brother Xi said," Ma Jing nodded firmly.

Zhang Xiaohua said gratefully, "Brother Ma, you're a good person. Thank you."

Ma Jing chuckled, didn't say anything, and went out to the medicinal fields.

In the afternoon, Zhang Xiaohua packed his things, which were just a small bundle and a roll of bedding. In the small courtyard, the rooms weren't locked. In the evening, he put his things on the empty kang in Tian Chongxi's room.

Before dinner, Ma Jing and the others returned but didn't see Tian Chongxi. Zhang Xiaohua naturally didn't thank Tian Chongxi and followed Ma Jing and the others to the dining hall.

While they were eating, Tian Chongxi came in, covered in dust, seemingly not having washed yet. He sat down and started eating hurriedly. The person next to him asked softly, "Brother Xi, is the water not ready yet?"

Tian Chongxi, with food in his mouth, mumbled, "No, not yet. I have to go again."

Seeing him eat so hurriedly, Zhang Xiaohua didn't dare to approach immediately. When he was about to leave, Zhang Xiaohua stepped forward and said, "Brother Xi, thank you. I put my bedding on the kang."

Tian Chongxi was taken aback and asked, "Thank me for what? Where did you put the bedding?"

Zhang Xiaohua said strangely, "Brother Xi, didn't you tell me to stay in your room? I put my bedding on the empty kang."

Tian Chongxi's face darkened and said, "When did I tell you to stay in my room? Can you just enter someone else's room?"

Without waiting for Zhang Xiaohua to explain, he hurriedly left.