Chapter 106
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Chapter 106: Differences
Tian Chongxi saw Zhang Xiaohua’s ingratiating expression and couldn’t help but let a trace of a smile appear on his stern face. He said: “First, bring the bedding. As for where you’ll stay, it’s not up to me anymore.”
Zhang Xiaohua was puzzled again and asked: “Brother Xi, then who decides?”
Tian Chongxi ignored him, waved his hand, and said: “Come, follow me, and you’ll know when we get there.”
After speaking, he maintained his serious demeanor and pushed the door open, leaving the room.
Zhang Xiaohua, completely confused, had no choice but to carry the bedding and follow behind Tian Chongxi out of the room.
Tian Chongxi turned left upon exiting, heading in the direction of Ma Jing’s room. Zhang Xiaohua couldn’t help but feel a bit uneasy. Furthermore, Tian Chongxi actually stopped in front of Ma Jing’s room, causing Zhang Xiaohua’s heart to suddenly race. He inwardly complained: “You said I wouldn’t stay in this room, but it turns out you were tricking me.”
However, Zhang Xiaohua couldn’t see Tian Chongxi’s face, which at this moment had a slight smile, with the corners of his mouth turned up as if teasing. Only when Zhang Xiaohua’s heart jumped into his throat did he resume walking.
Poor Zhang Xiaohua had no idea he was being teased. He let out a long sigh of relief, inwardly thanking all the gods and buddhas, and then happily followed along. Tian Chongxi walked to the end of the row of houses before stopping. He lightly knocked on the door, and a very familiar voice came to Zhang Xiaohua from inside: “Who is it? Come in.”
It turned out to be He Tianshu’s room.
When it came to the people Zhang Xiaohua most wanted to see in Huanxi Villa, He Tianshu was definitely one of them. He had thought he would have to wait until after dinner to see him, but who knew he would meet him just after returning to the villa, and under such circumstances.
Zhang Xiaohua, carrying his bedding, followed Tian Chongxi into the room. Upon seeing the face he hadn’t seen for months, Zhang Xiaohua felt an urge to cry, a feeling he hadn’t even had when he woke up injured and saw Zhang Xiaohu.
Tian Chongxi looked at He Tianshu and said: “Captain He, I’ve brought Zhang Xiaohua.”
Zhang Xiaohua stood at the door, his lonely figure holding the bedding in his left hand, and timidly called out: “Captain He~”
It was as if he were a child who had been bullied, feeling wronged but not daring to tell his family. He swallowed his grievances like swallowing his own teeth. His eyes, however, held a plea for help, hoping his family would stand up for him.
He Tianshu looked at this foolish “disciple” he had trained, recalling his half-baked, incomplete martial arts. He thought of Zhang Xiaohua practicing persistently alone under the moonlight, night after night, and of him bravely facing a powerful martial artist to save his brother, daring to raise his small fists and exchanging his right hand for his brother’s life.
Although He Tianshu hadn’t witnessed this scene firsthand, he could easily imagine Zhang Xiaohua’s stubborn gaze, his determined steps, and even the horse stance he had personally taught him.
Yet, He Tianshu didn’t look at Zhang Xiaohua a second time. He retracted his gaze and, smiling, said to Tian Chongxi: “Alright, thank you. I’ll take over from here.”
Tian Chongxi nodded, didn’t say another word, turned to Zhang Xiaohua, patted him on the shoulder, and said: “Zhang Xiaohua, from now on, you’ll be under Captain He. Take care of yourself.”
Without waiting for Zhang Xiaohua to respond, he left.
Zhang Xiaohua still didn’t quite understand what was happening. He stood there dumbfounded, not knowing what to do next.
Fortunately, at this moment, He Tianshu walked over and gently asked: “Zhang Xiaohua, how is your injury?”
Zhang Xiaohua snapped back to reality, smiled, and said; “Captain He, it’s nothing serious now. I can move around a bit.”
Then, Zhang Xiaohua apologized: “Captain He, I’m sorry.”
He Tianshu was taken aback and asked: “Sorry? For what?”
Zhang Xiaohua, puzzled, said: “I got injured during the match, which naturally brought shame to you. However, you can punish me however you want, just please don’t expel me from the sect.”
He Tianshu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. He asked: “Who told you this?”
Zhang Xiaohua replied; “Isn’t that what the books say? Isn’t it true?”
He Tianshu was stunned and asked: “But you don’t know how to read, do you? Did someone tell you that?”
Zhang Xiaohua proudly lifted his small face and said: “Captain He, I can read now, and I can even write. I learned these things from books myself.”
He Tianshu was even more astonished; “In just a few months, you’ve learned to read and write? That’s impressive, you’re a good kid.”
Hearing He Tianshu’s praise, Zhang Xiaohua blushed and humbly said: “I haven’t learned much. I just went through the children’s primer <Shuowen Jiezi> once and read a few of their essential books.”
“What? The primer <Shuowen Jiezi>?” This time it was He Tianshu who was completely puzzled. “You said you’ve finished <Shuowen Jiezi>?”
Zhang Xiaohua, feeling embarrassed, said: “Captain He, I was wrong. I shouldn’t brag. I know this is just what the young children in Pingyang City learn. I won’t mention it again.”
With a loud thud, He Tianshu fell to the ground. He then sprang back up in a smooth motion, standing firmly in front of Zhang Xiaohua. Zhang Xiaohua’s eyes sparkled with admiration as he thought: “What an idol, what an idol! Such an elegant move. I wonder when I’ll be able to learn it.”
Poor He Tianshu patted his forehead and thought: “<Shuowen Jiezi> is an enlightenment book for children? Am I having a fever?”
Then He Tianshu asked, “Where is your primer? Let me take a look.”
At this moment, Zhang Xiaohua remembered and quickly said: “Oh, I left it in Ma Jing’s room. I’ll go get it right now.”
After saying that, he turned around and was about to run out.
He Tianshu immediately stopped him, saying: “No need, Zhang Xiaohua. We’ll talk about it later.”
Zhang Xiaohua obediently stopped in his tracks. He Tianshu said: “Whether you heard it from someone or read it yourself, don’t take it too seriously. Firstly, you are not my disciple. I only taught you some martial arts techniques, which are widely known in the martial world and not my exclusive skills. Since you are not formally my disciple, I can’t expel you from the sect. Secondly, you did very well this time. Even if I were your master, I definitely wouldn’t blame you.”
Zhang Xiaohua was overjoyed and said: “Really? Captain He, do you think I did well too? But I lost, I couldn’t even take one palm from him.”
He Tianshu patted his shoulder and said: “Silly Xiaohua, you’ve only been learning martial arts for a few days, while the other has been learning for years. What kind of martial arts are you learning, and what internal energy martial arts are they practicing? Although the Purple Sand Palm isn’t a profound internal energy martial art when compared to someone like you who hasn’t even seen the shadow of martial arts it’s like an adult facing a newborn child. There’s nothing to be ashamed of.”
“By the way, let me take a look at your injury.” He Tianshu said, pulling up Zhang Xiaohua’s right hand. “Put the bedding on the chair first.”
Zhang Xiaohua obediently placed his bedding on a nearby chair and let He Tianshu carefully examine his fingers. His right hand was still wrapped in medicinal cloth. He Tianshu didn’t remove the cloth but gently felt through it. As he carefully examined the bones in Zhang Xiaohua’s fingers and wrist, Zhang Xiaohua watched his changing expression and cheerfully said: “Captain He, it’s recovering well, right? The doctor at the escort agency said I shouldn’t practice martial arts for now and should wait a few more days. Oh, I can hardly wait to start practicing my horse stance again.”
Seeing Zhang Xiaohua’s excited expression, He Tianshu hesitated but then smiled and said: “Alright, in a few days, I’ll check your injury again, and we can practice martial arts together.”
Zhang Xiaohua, overjoyed, said: “Really, Captain He? You can teach me martial arts again? Aren’t you worried that I might forget it again?”
Hearing this, He Tianshu immediately realized something and, with a hint of regret, said: “Well… how about this? I’ll have Nie Xiao’er teach you for now. When you’ve learned enough, I’ll teach you myself.”
Zhang Xiaohua cheerfully responded: “In that case, I’ll make sure to learn well from Brother Xiao’er and strive not to embarrass Captain He in the next martial arts match.”
He Tianshu smiled a bit awkwardly and said: “Alright, I believe you can do it.”
Then He Tianshu added: “But before you start practicing, I need to arrange a place for you to stay.”
“Oh, didn’t Brother Xi say…” Zhang Xiaohua started to speak, but suddenly stopped, incredulously saying: “Captain He, could it be that the person Brother Xi mentioned who would arrange my stay is actually you?”
He Tianshu smiled and said: “Didn’t Tian Chongxi just say that he handed you over to me? Didn’t you hear him clearly? Or are you so confused that you don’t understand even this?”
Zhang Xiaohua grinned and said: “Sometimes I’m a bit muddled and sometimes I understand things. Of course, I know you’re in charge of arranging things for me. But I can’t quite believe it. I’m just a small servant from the villa, and you’ve been sent here by the Piaomiao Sect to plant herbs. We’re worlds apart, so how did I end up under your management? That’s what puzzles me.”
He Tianshu laughed and said: “How do you know you’re just a small servant in Huaxi Villa? You’re not here in the capacity of a mere servant, you came here representing the Lotus Escort Agency, not like those young servants in blue hats. You’re always mingling with them and seem to lack the awareness of being in the escort agency at all. Think about it, if you were just a simple servant, the villa owner might not have allowed me to teach you martial arts.”
Zhang Xiaohua finally understood and said: “Oh, I see now. No wonder the waist token I was given when I went out was different from Brother Ma’s and the others’. So that’s how it is.”
“Yes, that’s right.” He Tianshu nodded and said: ”When you first arrived, you were indeed taking Liu Er’s place. However, isn’t that a waste of your strength of over a thousand jin? The villa owner would never waste talent and let you do ordinary work. You were just there to get used to the environment. But plans can’t keep up with changes. Before we could make adjustments, something happened to you. I thought I’d never see you again, but then Third Master Qu from the escort agency spoke on your behalf to the villa owner, who, feeling pity for you, decided to place you back in my team. Do you understand?”
Zhang Xiaohua was overjoyed and said: “I understand now, Captain He. I’ll be sure to show my gratitude. By the way, I haven’t met the villa owner yet. She seems like such a kind person. I have to thank her properly in the future.”
He Tianshu smiled and ruffled Zhang Xiaohua’s head, saying: “Yes, you should thank the villa owner properly. She has indeed been very kind to you.”
“Alright, come with me. I’ll show you to your room first. I still need to go for a meal.”After saying that, He Tianshu picked up the bedding from the chair and started to leave, Zhang Xiaohua quickly tried to take it from him with his left hand, saying: “Captain He, let me carry it myself.”
He Tianshu, however, didn’t return the bedding, smiling as he said: “Your hand isn’t convenient. I’ll carry it for you, it’s just a couple of steps.”
Seeing He Tianshu’s insistence, Zhang Xiaohua decided not to argue further.
He Tianshu carried the bedding and led Zhang Xiaohua out, but instead of turning left as Zhang Xiaohua had expected, they turned right and stopped in front of the fifth room. He opened the door and went inside. The room was unoccupied but very clean. It was arranged exactly like the room Zhang Xiaohua had stayed in before. He Tianshu threw the bedding onto a bed and said to Zhang Xiaohua: “Zhang Xiaohua, from today on, this room is yours. For now, you don’t need to do any work. Just focus on recovering. If you feel restless, you can accompany Nie Xiao’er to the medicine herb fields and get a sense of things.”
Zhang Xiaohua looked at the empty room and asked in confusion; “Captain He, does this room have no other occupants? Is it just for me?”
He Tianshu smiled and said: “Yes, we have different arrangements compared to Tian Chongxi and the others. Everyone here has their own room, including Nie Xiao’er and the others. Would you prefer to share with them? Even if you did, they wouldn’t be happy about it. It’s best for you to live alone with peace of mind.”
Zhang Xiaohua scratched his head and replied: “It’s fine. I can stay alone. It’s just that I’ve never lived alone in a room since I was little, so it’s a bit unfamiliar to me.”
He Tianshu said; “Take your time to adjust. If you need anything or have any questions, you can ask me, Nie Xiao’er, or the others. You’re familiar with them, so if they tease you a bit, just ignore it. Haha.”
Then, he patted his belly and asked: “Zhang Xiaohua, it’s already past noon. Are you hungry? I’m starving. Why don’t we go eat together?”
Zhang Xiaohua cheerfully agreed: “Sure! I haven’t had a meal at the villa yet. I miss it very much. Captain He, let’s go together.”
With that, the two of them headed towards the dining hall.
As they entered the dining hall, the lunch crowd was winding down, and He Tianshu’s arrival didn’t attract much attention. However, Zhang Xiaohua, following him, caught everyone’s eye.
Some of the young servants in blue hats who had finished eating and were about to leave sat back down, seemingly waiting for something.
Zhang Xiaohua naturally walked towards the two tables of apprentices in blue hats, but he noticed that both tables were full with no empty seats. It seemed like he was facing the same awkward situation he had during his first meal. Was this another small trap set by the servants? The seat he used to occupy was Liu Er’s now, and since Liu Er had returned, that seat was taken. Those servants who finished their meal did not leave their seats, where was Zhang Xiaohua supposed to sit?
It seemed this was the reason for the apprentices in blue hats’ renewed seating arrangements.
It was a pity that Zhang Xiaohua, the joke in their eyes, was not at a loss like before. They saw Zhang Xiaohua take a few steps forward, then suddenly pat his forehead, change direction, and walk away. The servants in blue hats thought maybe Zhang Xiaohua was going to get a chair, but they remained firmly seated at their tables. It seemed that they were clinging to the “dining table” and were not leaving. There was no spare space, what’s the use of taking a chair?
However, when Zhang Xiaohua reached He Tianshu’s table, he didn’t search for a chair as the others expected. Instead, he boldly took a seat without hesitation. Everyone was taken aback for a moment and then snickered. After all, who didn’t know that the people from the Piaomiao Sect had always looked down on the blue-hat servants? Now, a new servant had just come in and audaciously sat down among them, wouldn’t he be kicked out right away?
The crowd, who had hoped to see Zhang Xiaohua embarrassed, did not expect to see someone being “kicked away like sand”. Their hearts were filled with anticipation and they waited, waiting for the wonderful moment when Zhang Xiaohua was kicked away.
As dozens of eyes were fixed on Zhang Xiaohua, Nie Xiao’er from the Piaomiao Sect raised his hand, and the servants in blue hats silently counted in their hearts: “One, two, three, slap~~~” They anticipated that Nie Xiao’er would slap Zhang Xiaohua to the ground. However, instead of the expected harsh treatment, Nie Xiao’er gently placed his hand on Zhang Xiaohua’s shoulder, his face beaming with a friendly smile. He said: “Little Brother, you’re finally back. How’s your injury? Have some chicken legs. I heard eating something nutritious helps with recovery.”
There was a cacophony of noises: “Cling clang, crackle, thump,” as the servants in blue hats reacted in shock. Glasses fell, eyes widened, jaws dropped, and there was a flurry of confusion, with a few even falling to the ground.
Once the crowd regained their composure and straightened their appearance, they reluctantly stood up, their expected excitement replaced by disappointment. They exited the dining hall, collectively gazing at the blazing sun and muttering: “How strange, the sun didn’t come up from the west?”
Subsequently, the servants in blue hats, like watching a traitor nearing his end, stared daggers at Zhang Xiaohua, who was happily enjoying his meal. After a few more resentful glances, they left in a huff, short of spitting on the ground in frustration.
It’s likely they wanted to spit, but feared getting fined by the villa’s enforcers. If they’re fined, it would be an issue since it’s not an official fine, and there would be no way to get reimbursed for it.
Zhang Xiaohua was oblivious to the petty grievances of the servants in blue hats and perhaps even indifferent. He was fully focused on the delicious food in front of him. Previously, he thought the work meals provided to the servants were quite good. However, after several months of dining on the carefully prepared meals provided by Yu Deyi, Zhang Xiaohua’s taste had become more refined. He no longer had the ignorance he had when he first arrived, realizing how naive he was back then. He had actually thought that He Tianshu and the others were getting less food. As the saying goes, “The discerning never tire of fine food.” Also, as another saying goes, “Ignorance is fearless”.