As early sumr arrived, the little one wore much thinner clothes, no longer dressed as a tightly bundled little tiger cub.
She wore a pink little lotus dress, looking just like an adorable little flower bud at first glance.
The stone table was a bit high for her.
She tiptoed, trying hard to lift herself higher, attempting to see the scrolls on the table clearly.
Master ng glanced at this little one who popped up from nowhere.
Chubby and fair, with a golden necklace hanging around her neck, and her hair tied in shiny little pigtails—clearly not from an ordinary background.
Yet, there was no adult looking after her, nor any servants following along.
Master ng hesitated for a mont and asked, "Which family are you from?"
Treasure Piggy replied in a babyish voice, "From your family."
Master ng: "..."
Master ng scrutinized the little one several tis before finally guessing her identity.
No matter his attitude towards Lu Yuan, he wouldn’t trouble a little child.
He thought the little one wanted to grab the food on the table, so he moved the fruit plate closer to her.
Unexpectedly, the little one moved the fruit plate aside, showing a serious expression as if it was botherso.
Master ng asked, "You want to see the portrait?"
Treasure Piggy nodded repeatedly.
Master ng called a servant from the courtyard to bring a small stool.
The little one stood on the stool, finally able to reach.
She not only looked at the people in the portrait but also the words on it, appearing serious as if she could understand them.
"Are these the guys you found to catch the embroidered ball for my mom?"
She pointed at the portrait on the table and asked Master ng.
Master ng was surprised at how much this little kid understood.
He said, "What, you’re here to plead for your dad?"
Treasure Piggy shook her head, "Not really, any dad will do; swapping for another is okay."
Master ng: "..."
Master ng asked again, "Aren’t you afraid your dad will hit you?"
Treasure Piggy replied confidently, "I’m mama’s little baby!"
Master ng’s gaze shifted, and he asked, "What does your mom like to eat?"
Treasure Piggy unhesitatingly replied, "Fried treats!"
Master ng said no more, lowering his gaze and continued to select eligible young talents for the marriage contest.
However, the little one didn’t intend to spare him, pointing at the portraits.
"Too ugly."
"Too fierce."
"Too cowardly."
...
Master ng looked speechlessly at the little one, "Jumping around, in the end, it’s only your dad left, right?"
Treasure Piggy blinked innocently.
Her little plan, seen through.
Plan failed!
Master ng snorted, ignoring the little one’s ddling in the selection.
Treasure Piggy sat on the stool. Before long, sleepiness crept in, yet she stubbornly refused to leave.
She bobbed her head like a pecking chick, her little head drooping, her small body rocking back and forth.
Several tis she nearly fell off the stool.
Instinctively, Master ng reached out, but quickly withdrew his hand just as it almost touched the little one.
He called a servant to have Treasure Piggy carried away.
Treasure Piggy refused to go.
She rubbed her sleepy eyes, gave a small yawn, and climbed uninvited into Master ng’s rattan chair. Squeezing herself by Master ng, she found a small spot and curled up, falling into a sweet slumber.
Her small sleeve was bulging, as if stuffed with sothing.
Master ng pulled it out for a look—turns out it was Lu Yuan’s portrait.
The little one refused to leave because she was planning to sneak her dad’s portrait into this group of young talents?
"Master."
ng Bo ca to collect the portraits, looking at the pile on the edge, "Are all these rejected ones?"
Master ng responded with a hum, intending to tuck Lu Yuan’s portrait back into the little one’s sleeve.
After a pause, he placed it in another pile of portraits.
ng Bo noticed that the portrait of the son-in-law was put in the accepted pile, and left without a word.
"Wait."
Master ng stopped him.
"Master, is there anything else you need?"
ng Bo turned around and asked.
Master ng handed him a token and personally wrote an invitation, giving him a few instructions.
After dark.
He arrived at a secluded courtyard three miles from the ng Family.
The courtyard was located in an old alley that had long been vacated; now, it was the only one with lights still on.
He knocked on the courtyard door, "Sir, it’s , Old ng. My master sent to visit."
Creak.
The courtyard door was opened.
ng Bo stepped in.
On his first visit, only hearing the door open but seeing no one, it frightened ng Bo, thinking he’d seen a ghost.
Later, he learned it was a chanism.
The gentleman living here was a reclusive sage who had once saved his master’s life; hence, the master always referred to him respectfully as sir.
Recently, the gentleman seed to have gone on a long trip.
He had co several tis only to return empty-handed.
Today, he didn’t have much hope either.
In the courtyard, two four-season begonias were planted, creating a serene and tranquil atmosphere.
He walked up the steps into the room where the gentleman received guests.
The furnishings inside were very simple; a table, a cushion, and a screen.
The gentleman sat behind the screen, rarely showing up.
ng Bo knelt on the cushion.
He carefully placed the token and the invitation on the table, looking at the screen courteously, "Sir, this is an invitation from my master. Our third young lady will throw the embroidered ball tomorrow to choose a husband. If the sir knows any unmarried young talents, they can use this invitation and the master’s token to participate in the contest at the ng Family."
"The master said, you are a righteous man, and your acquaintances must also be people of both virtue and talent. Naturally, this request is sowhat excessive. If sir feels offended, you can also——"
"Understood."
A raspy and unpleasant low voice ca from behind the screen.
ng Bo was used to the other’s voice.
It’s worth noting that the first ti he heard it, he was indeed startled.
It sounded like the voice box was destroyed; almost not a normal voice.
"I will keep an eye out."
Keep an eye out?
Does that an he agreed?
ng Bo was pleasantly surprised. Rembering sothing else, he added, "Ah, right, sir."
He placed a box of snacks on the table, "The master knows that the benefactor never accepts gifts. These are not considered gifts. They’re just so snacks made at ho. The third young lady loves them, so extra was made. If the benefactor doesn’t mind, you can taste one or two."
He expected the other to refuse as usual.
But surprisingly, the other rasped, "Thank you."
ng Bo was stunned.
He really accepted it?
The gentleman was unusually agreeable today.
"Sir, then I won’t disturb your rest any longer. Farewell."
He dared not linger, as the master specifically instructed.
"Tomorrow, what hour?"
The man suddenly asked.
ng Bo replied, "At the hour of the rooster."
After ng Bo left, the man stepped out from behind the screen.
He first glanced at Master ng’s handwritten invitation, then opened the food box, picked up an oily fried treat, removed the mask from his face, revealing a scarred visage, and began to savor it.
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