Chapter 72

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Chapter 72: Entering the Manor

Sitting in the carriage, Zhang Xiaohua gazed at the somewhat familiar scenery passing by. It felt like a dream, this was the third time he had traveled this road today. However, this time, his second brother, Zhang Xiaohu, was not with him. Instead, Qiu Tong sat beside him, and he couldn’t help but marvel at the mysterious twists of fate.

If it weren’t for that pickpocket stealing Qiu Tong’s money pouch this morning, if he hadn’t run fast enough to retrieve the emerald green purse, if he hadn’t met this sister Qiu Tong, he would probably be on a carriage back to Lu Town right now. After all, both the escort agency and the Piaomiao Sect didn’t want him, and he couldn’t delay his second brother’s future any longer. Thinking of Zhang Xiaohu, a slight smile appeared on Zhang Xiaohua’s lips. His second brother had intended to venture into Pingyang City to make a name for himself but was dragged into martial arts training by him. Yet, he turned out to have the aptitude that garnered praise from the martial arts masters, learning martial arts is just around the corner. Such is the way fate works.

Seeing Zhang Xiaohua’s blurry gaze, Qiu Tong asked with concern: “Xiaohua, are you tired? If you are, you should take a nap. You’ll need to be alert when you meet the young lady later.”

Zhang Xiaohua smiled and replied: “I’m fine, Sister Qiu Tong. My arms feel a bit sore and weak, but I’m not tired. At home, I would work in the fields from morning until night and never feel exhausted. So, of course, I’m not tired now.”

Qiu Tong looked at Zhang Xiaohua with affection and said: “Seeing you reminds me of my younger brother. But he’s a scholar and can’t bear hardships as you do. It’s heartbreaking to see someone as young as you having to work in the fields.”

Zhang Xiaohua shook his head nonchalantly and said: “Big Sister, if you haven’t worked in the fields, you wouldn’t know. In the countryside, if you don’t work the land and grow crops, there’s no food to eat. Every boy at a certain age has to work in the fields, it’s not just me. I’m used to it, and it’s no big deal.”

However, Qiu Tong, overwhelmed with a sense of maternal care, couldn’t help but see Zhang Xiaohua as a version of her own brother who had endured enough hardships in the countryside. Now that he was under her care, she felt a strong desire to ensure his well-being, her eyes filled with even more tenderness.

Suddenly, Zhang Xiaohua remembered something and asked: “By the way, Big Sister, you mentioned that the young lady wants to see me later. Who is she? Is there anything I should be aware of?”

Qiu Tong smiled and replied: “The young lady is the master of Huanxi Villa. She treats us all very well, so there’s nothing specific you need to worry about. Just be respectful and say some polite words. The young lady is kind-hearted and will surely take you in once she sees your strength, you little strong man.”

Upon hearing the words “take you in,” Zhang Xiaohua, who had initially felt relieved, began to feel anxious again. After all, he was just a young boy in his early teens. Although he had a mature mindset, the repeated rejections today had chipped away at his confidence. The initial naivety of venturing into the world had diminished, and so had his self-assurance. However, this was part of the process of growing up, finding balance amidst uncertainty, and being tempered by the harsh realities of life.

The carriage followed the same road they had taken in the morning. However, at a certain junction, it did not continue towards the main road leading to Piaomiao Manor but instead turned onto a smaller path to the right. The sides of this path were lined with houses, and as dusk settled, smoke from cooking fires rose, making Zhang Xiaohua feel as if he were back in Guo Village.

After a while, the carriage navigated through several narrow alleys and suddenly emerged into a large square. The square was surrounded by lush trees, and directly ahead was a gate larger than that of the Lotus Escort Agency. Flanked by two stone lions that appeared more imposing than those at the escort agency, the large red-lacquered gate was closed with no one standing guard. Above the gate was a black plaque with four characters inscribed on it. Zhang Xiaohua could only recognize the characters for “Villa,” so he assumed this must be Huanxi Villa.

Sure enough, Qiu Tong softly said to Zhang Xiaohua: “Xiaohua, this is our Huanxi Villa.”

Zhang Xiaohua’s heart stirred at this moment and he asked: “Big Sister Qiu Tong, our Huanxi Villa is so close to Piaomiao Manor. Do we have any relationship with them?”

Qiu Tong looked at Zhang Xiaohua and said: “I didn’t expect your thoughts to be so meticulous. I will tell you about this matter once you’ve truly settled in at the villa. But for now, I can’t discuss it.”

Hearing this, Zhang Xiaohua didn’t ask further. In his heart, he secretly complained: “What kind of relationship could there be? We’re so close. Hehe, are you trying to deceive me because I’m still a child?”

In fact, even Zhang Xiaohua himself hadn’t thought about it at this moment. How could he know so much based on Qiu Tong’s words? If it were his self from a year ago, would he have been able to deduce so much from subtle clues?

The carriage sped toward the gate of the villa but didn’t stop there. Instead, it turned left in front of the gate and continued along the high wall. After a while, it finally stopped beside a side gate. This ‘side gate’ was quite large, it could accommodate at least four carriages. There were guards at this gate who were familiar with Qiu Tong. After glancing at the contents of the carriage and asking about Zhang Xiaohua, they waved their hands and let the carriage enter.

Zhang Xiaohua thought he would get off the carriage after entering the villa’s gate. However, the carriage showed no intention of stopping. It continued inward for quite some time, passing through many fields, forests, and even ponds, before finally stopping in front of a round small gate.

Qiu Tong motioned for Zhang Xiaohua to alight from the carriage. Only after he got off did the carriage proceed directly.

Entering through the round gate, they found themselves in another world. In the courtyard, there was a large structure covered with green plants whose leaves resembled triangles, swaying in the wind. Below the structure were stone tables and benches. In one corner of the courtyard, there was a pond with a few red and green fish swimming inside. To the right of the courtyard were a dozen or so large houses, larger than Mr. Liu’s house in Baligou. On the left side was an open space with stone locks and weapons, likely a place for martial arts training. Ahead was another round gate, its destination unknown.

Qiutong led Zhang Xiaohua into the courtyard and pointed to the stone bench under the structure, saying: “Xiaohua, rest on the bench for now. I’ll go report to Young Lady and bring you to meet her later.”

Zhang Xiaohua nodded in agreement, placed his small bundle on the stone table, and sat down. Seeing him sit down, Qiu Tong smiled at him, then walked towards the round gate ahead, disappearing after a few turns.

Zhang Xiaohua sat on the bench waiting. After a while, Qiu Tong still hadn’t returned, and he grew somewhat impatient. He stood up, wandered around, glanced at the unknown plants on the structure, observed the small fish swimming in the pond, and finally walked over to the weapons area. He picked up a saber from the shelf and swung it a couple of times, then grabbed a spear and thrust it a few times. He also fiddled with several other weapons whose names he couldn’t recall.

Just as Zhang Xiaohua was enthusiastically playing with the weapons, he suddenly heard a cough, followed by a stern voice saying: “Put the weapons down, don’t move them blindly.”

Startled, Zhang Xiaohua quickly placed the hammer-like object he was holding back on the rack and turned around. He saw a tall, red-faced old man standing near the small gate. He appeared to be around fifty years old, with streaks of white in his hair and beard, exuding an imposing presence.

The old man strode over, asking sternly: “Whose child are you, and what are you doing here?”

As he approached closer, Zhang Xiaohua noticed that the old man’s left sleeve was tucked into his waist, revealing only his right arm, he was actually a one-armed old man.

Zhang Xiaohua hurriedly replied: “My name is Zhang Xiaohua. Big Sister Qiu Tong brought me here and said she wanted me to cultivate medicinal herbs.”

The old man’s anger flared up upon hearing this rather than subsiding. He stamped his foot and said: “What’s Qiu Tong up to, bringing a child here? How much strength does a child have, can he handle the work in the fields?”

Without waiting for Zhang Xiaohua to say anything else, the old man turned and strode through the small gate. He turned a few corners like Qiu Tong did and disappeared.

Left alone under the structure, Zhang Xiaohua stood there feeling bewildered. However, he dared not move recklessly this time and obediently sat down, counting the ants on the ground.

Meanwhile, Qiutong had left Zhang Xiaohua in the courtyard and entered through the inner gate. Passing through several courtyards, gardens, and winding corridors, she finally arrived at a sizable courtyard enclosed by red walls. If Zhang Xiaohua had followed behind Qiu Tong at this moment, he would likely have gotten lost amidst the intricate paths and been overwhelmed by the sights.

Directly opposite the courtyard was a grand hall adorned with intricate carvings on its doors and windows, displaying beautiful patterns. Though the sky was not yet fully dark, lamps were already lit inside the hall. Several tables and chairs were arranged within, along with ornate decorations. In one corner stood an incense burner, emitting a gentle smoke that filled the hall with a faint fragrance.

Inside the hall, Qiu Tong looked around but found no one. She checked the side rooms as well, still finding them empty. She had no choice but to leave and search elsewhere.

Shortly after, Qiu Tong accompanied a young woman in her twenties through the main entrance. The young woman was dressed in typical red martial attire often seen in the Jianghu, with a sword hanging from her waist. Her black hair was casually curled and draped over her shoulders, and her fair skin was as smooth as jade. Her phoenix-like eyes and delicate eyebrows gave her a spirited and heroic appearance, far from the usual fragility of women. She appeared to be the mistress of Huanxi Villa.

As they walked, the young woman asked: “What? You couldn’t find someone familiar to help? You shouldn’t have brought someone new if you weren’t sure of their background. How could you casually bring someone to the villa without knowing their details?”

Though her words sounded like a reprimand, they lacked any sharpness that would suggest anger. Qiu Tong smiled and replied: “My dear Young Lady, do you not trust Qiu Tong to handle things? Besides, Third Uncle Qu didn’t object. He knows what’s important. He wouldn’t have recommended him to me without being completely sure.”

Once inside the hall, Qiu Tong carefully poured a glass of water for her and continued: “Moreover, his second brother has joined Lotus Escort Agency. They will surely investigate his family background. Any anomalies will naturally be revealed. Besides, this young lad is really quite interesting.”