He turned away indifferently. Ding Xiangwei was puzzled by his attitude, seemingly disappointed by his cold indifference. By the time she turned back, the woman had cursed loudly and dragged her husband away.
Ding Xiangwei sighed and quickly caught up with Xu Wanzhi, following him silently. He stopped and gave a casual smile to Ding Xiangwei, who was walking with her head slightly lowered: “I heard that here, women pay for meals. Miss Ding, did you bring money?”
“I did.” Ding Xiangwei pulled out her purse and handed it to him. Xu Wanzhi didn’t take it, and she suddenly realized her hastiness, looking around at nearby food stalls and asking, “Master Xu, what would you like to eat?”
“Wontons,” he said, sitting at a nearby wonton stall. The owner enthusiastically came to greet them, and they each ordered a bowl of wontons. The owner quickly served them, with green cilantro floating on top.
Ding Xiangwei passed him chopsticks, smiling, “Please.”
He thanked her and began eating slowly. Exiled from the Qu family, he had been used to fine dining every day. This bowl of wontons was probably the most ordinary thing he’d eaten since coming to ancient times. The taste was primitive yet natural.
When the owner came to collect payment, he nodded repeatedly: “Thank you, young master and madam, was it to your liking?”
“
Mistaken for a married couple, Ding Xiangwei instinctively looked at Xu Wanzhi, her face slightly reddening. Xu Wanzhi, who had been called “husband” by Qu Xiaojue, found this sudden misunderstanding slightly uncomfortable and frowned.
Ding Xiangwei handed over the money, saying, “Very delicious.”
Xu Wanzhi nodded and walked out first. Ding Xiangwei followed awkwardly, softly explaining, “Master Xu, don’t misunderstand…”
“It’s nothing.”
He casually ended the topic. At noon, the heat was oppressive, and fewer people were on the street.
After their wives finished lunch, husbands would softly and carefully give a few instructions, then neatly leave.
Xu Wanzhi felt an inexplicable stirring watching this. Ding Xiangwei couldn’t help but smile lightly: “Most families support each other, with virtuous wives and husbands.”
That’s not my life!! A sudden angry roar erupted in his mind. He took a breath and turned away, saying, “Let’s go.”
The Three Hearts Sect was a sect with a courtyard-like location, with walls overgrown with weeds. Inside was a spacious small courtyard where these three masters and disciples lived when at home.
Ding Xiangwei helplessly rubbed her forehead and smiled bitterly: As expected, her master was not home again.
“Let me know if you need anything,” she told Xu Wanzhi as she led him to the back courtyard. The front hall was just for show.
The room was simple and clean, with minimal, elegant decorations. Xu Wanzhi sincerely thanked her: “Miss Ding, this is already very good.”
Ding Xiangwei, lacking experience in caring for male companions, heard his approval and said nothing more. She smiled and invited him to rest for a moment while she went to the kitchen to find washing water.
Receiving a set of brand new toiletries, Xu Wanzhi said, “I’ll just call you Xiangwei. Tell me the living rules here, and I can manage on my own later.”
He settled down to live here. While he was used to being taken care of at the Qu family, he realized that being self-reliant was the normal situation here.
Ding Xiangwei’s work was quite complex. Like all responsible and capable women, she woke up early.
Now that there were male dependents, she swept the courtyard daily and practiced sword for half an hour at the martial arts ground outside. Then she warmed up porridge and went to work as a tutor at a wealthy household.
One morning, he woke up to some noise. Ding Xiangwei was sweeping the courtyard with the sect’s sweeping technique. Seeing him awake, she smiled slightly: “Wanzhi, did I disturb you?”
Xu Wanzhi bowed seriously to her: “No, Xiangwei. I’ll do these tasks in the future. I can also cook porridge. I want to learn characters and herbal medicine from you. If you don’t mind, I also hope to practice martial arts with you.”
Ding Xiangwei tilted her head, looking at his sincere expression, and said worriedly: “But our Three Hearts Sect can only have two disciples!”
Though disappointed, Xu Wanzhi looked into her eyes and sincerely said: “Then let me do these household chores within my capabilities.”
“Hehe—” Ding Xiangwei smiled brightly: “I was joking. What you want to learn is not our sect’s martial arts. Master says that standing in people’s hearts is a form of giving. I’m happy you’re willing to accept.”
Thus, Xu Wanzhi gradually gave up his lazy sleeping habit. He started cleaning his living quarters early in the morning, drinking porridge he cooked himself, and even struggling through a set of martial arts movements, leaving him sweaty but truly happy.
Ding Xiangwei had tutoring in the morning. Xu Wanzhi, having a learning foundation, found a Thousand Character Classic and asked about the pronunciation and meaning of each character, then wrote the corresponding simplified characters himself. In the afternoon, when Ding Xiangwei went to gather herbs or visit the clinic, he would follow and help, learning about herbs. Many men were shy to speak in front of a female doctor, and while he initially felt awkward, he later became a specialized “medical female-to-male message relay.”
Though he couldn’t officially treat patients, he truly enjoyed the learning process.
He accepted the silver rewards from wealthy households’ husbands, thinking that since he was living at the Three Hearts Sect for free, he should contribute what he could.
Daily learning and gains, with a good friend like Ding Xiangwei to help and accompany him, gradually moving away from his previous isolated indifference and interacting with ordinary people, day by day, he felt fulfilled and at ease.
A group of distinctly dressed brokers knelt trembling in the solemn hall, waiting for a long time before the master who summoned them finally arrived. Heavy footsteps crossed from the side, stopping directly at the main seat. After sitting down, there was a moment of silence before speaking.
“Raise your heads, look at the portrait before you, and carefully think if you’ve seen the person in the painting.”
They had already heard from subordinates that a wealthy family was looking for someone, and now it seemed to be true. Several understood and didn’t dare to be negligent, staring at the young man in black with bound hair in the painting, looking again and again, before repeatedly kowtowing to express their ignorance.
Seeing their bewildered expressions, Qu Xiaojue couldn’t tell if she was disappointed or relieved, speaking in a cold voice: “Tell the truth. If anyone among you has moved against him, return him safely and I won’t pursue it. But if anyone dares to conceal information, the consequences will be beyond what you can bear!”
The brokers were terrified, kowtowing even more. One bolder responded: “Master, we truly don’t know… Anyone who saw such a man would have an impression…” Even with ten heads, they wouldn’t dare to kidnap a wealthy household’s husband!
Qu Xiaojue put down her cup, her cold tone intensifying: “None of you have seen him?”
The brokers answered in unison: “Master, you are wise. Though we do dishonorable business, we dare not lie.”
Qu Xiaojue scanned them, then commanded: “Then remember this face. If you see him one day, report immediately to the Qu family. There will be a great reward.”
“Yes, yes…” The brokers kowtowed, afraid of being too slow.
“Ten taels each.” She waved her hand, and they immediately kowtowed in gratitude. She weakly propped her elbow on the desk, rubbing her forehead.
