It was noon, with the sun hanging directly overhead. The horse gang was bustling with activity.
Those who needed to practice martial arts were practicing, those who needed to handle accounts were handling accounts, and those who needed to clean the stables were cleaning the stables.
Yet on such an ordinary day, two guests arrived.
Thud, thud, thud…
Footsteps echoed through the horse gang’s courtyard, but unlike the usual hurried footsteps of disciples rushing about, these were slower and calmer.
“Speaking of which, it’s rare for the horse gang to have distinguished guests.”
“So your arrival is truly long overdue, haha…”
Zhang Agui walked in front of Xiao Hua and Liu Yao, scratching his head with a laugh.
The two behind exchanged glances, then somewhat awkwardly chimed in.
“This… young sir, we actually came to…”
After hesitating for a moment, Liu Yao chose to speak up first to state her purpose.
But before she could finish her words, she was immediately interrupted by Zhang Agui.
“Oh! I haven’t introduced myself yet! Ah! This really doesn’t fit the proper etiquette for guests…” As if remembering something, Zhang Agui slapped his forehead and turned around.
“Ahem! You two can call me Agui. I’m an apprentice in the horse gang. At the same time, I’m also the future Caravan Guard responsible for driving the caravan.”
“Don’t mind that I’m just a small fry now, but to be honest with you, I can be considered the Know-it-all of our gang!”
“If there’s anything you want to know, I can give you a discount!”
“Oh! Of course, I’m a bit loose-lipped. If I offend you in any way, please forgive me.”
As he spoke, he playfully winked at Xiao Hua among the two.
It startled Xiao Hua, who immediately hid behind Liu Yao, only quietly peeking out her eyes.
“Heh heh… I can see that…” In response, Liu Yao could only exchange an awkward laugh with Zhang Agui.
Of course, the only thing she could see was this guy’s loose tongue!
‘My god, why did the two of us have to run into such a non-stop talker?!’
‘Hey! Xiao Hua, stand up for me!’
‘What happened to helping me out of awkward situations when we agreed?!’
Of course, all these words were spoken in the girl’s heart, completely unheard by the two beside her.
Xiao Hua quietly popped her head out, opening her big, bright eyes and staring straight at Zhang Agui.
Zhang Agui felt a chill from being stared at, but this young girl hiding behind the Young Hero kept silent, so he didn’t dare say much.
Actually, it wasn’t unreasonable for Xiao Hua to suddenly become so timid after entering the horse gang.
Leaving aside her personality, the main reason was:
‘Why does this guy keep glancing at me all the way?!’
‘Doesn’t he know the principle of not looking at what should not be seen?!’
‘And he only stares at me… Pervert!’
Xiao Hua glared at the frivolous youth ahead, but perhaps due to angle or line of sight, it had no effect on Zhang Agui; instead, it left him completely baffled.
After waiting for a while, just as Zhang Agui was about to speak, the shy-looking young girl finally spoke.
“Th-that…” Xiao Hua’s voice was low, but from her expression, it was clear she was trying to raise her tone. “I… I am a maid of the Wang Family…”
“My Young Lady heard that your gang leader has returned triumphantly and sent me to deliver gifts to congratulate…”
Hearing Xiao Hua’s words, Zhang Agui was momentarily stunned, then wore an odd expression as he looked at the two.
He opened his mouth, but not a single word came out.
Liu Yao noticed his oddity and asked with a slightly puzzled tone, “Brother Agui, is there something wrong?”
“Nothing wrong, it’s just… you came at a bad time.” Zhang Agui shook his head, somewhat helpless.
“Ah?” Hearing this, Xiao Hua was also stunned.
“Uh, my condolences…”
Liu Yao’s reaction was different; she patted Zhang Agui on the shoulder and said with a grave face.
“What?! Are you misunderstanding something?” Zhang Agui smiled helplessly and waved his hands to explain, “What I mean is, our gang leader just happened to go to the yamen this morning to discuss business.”
“So, your arrival now is, well, bad timing!”
He enunciated the last phrase word by word, afraid the two would misunderstand again.
The reactions of the two to this were completely different—
Liu Yao was first stunned, then wore an “I see” expression, then folded her arms and looked around to cover her embarrassment.
Xiao Hua blinked her eyes, looking confused. Then she frowned, and her little face instantly fell.
“Hey, hey, don’t cry! I didn’t say you can’t see him.”
Seeing Xiao Hua’s face collapse so quickly, Zhang Agui quickly waved his hands to comfort the little girl.
Unfortunately, as soon as she saw him move closer, she immediately shrank back behind Liu Yao.
Zhang Agui could only scratch his head and shift his gaze to Liu Yao, who was watching the show from the side.
“So, what else do you have to do next?”
“De…”
Before the girl could finish, Xiao Hua suddenly cut in.
“Wait, wait! I still have something to say!” After speaking, Xiao Hua glanced apologetically at Liu Yao, and upon receiving the girl’s helpless smile of understanding, she continued, “I’m not just sent by my Young Lady to congratulate Leader Li. Actually, our Elder Master also wishes to ask your gang leader if he could come for a talk.”
“And then… see! In this basket is a congratulatory gift specially prepared by my Young Lady.”
As she spoke, Xiao Hua lifted the basket hanging on her arm and handed it to Zhang Agui.
Looking at the basket extended to him, Zhang Agui let out a long sigh, then said:
“Your Young Lady is truly generous, but while I can pass on the message, I’m not qualified to accept this gift on behalf of the leader…”
“Ah?” Hearing this, Xiao Hua’s outstretched hand stiffened.
“But, I can take you to see our Second-in-command’s wife! She can make decisions. How about I take you to her?”
Upon hearing this, Xiao Hua’s eyes, which had dimmed, suddenly lit up.
But Liu Yao’s reaction was different. When she heard “Second-in-command,” the girl’s body stiffened.
She had been spacing out, unable to get a word in, but now she had only a bad premonition.
“May I ask, Brother Agui, who is your Second-in-command…”
“Oh, that?” Zhang Agui was dazed for a moment, then replied, “Actually, it’s quite funny. We’re called the horse gang, but our gang leader is surnamed Li.”
“And our Second-in-command is surnamed Ma instead. Isn’t that rare?”
“Oh, of course, our Second-in-command is Ma Debiao. As for his wife… uh, I don’t remember her name, I’ve called her Ma Sao since I was a child.”
“Of course, you can call her Madam Ma too, but it’s been a long time since I heard anyone call her that…”
As if a switch had been flipped, Zhang Agui’s mouth immediately started chattering, his words gushing like a river, leaving Xiao Hua dumbfounded.
She tugged at Master Lu in front of her and asked blankly:
“Young Master, what do you think?”
But when Xiao Hua looked up at the “young hero,” Liu Yao’s mouth was wide open, her face full of disbelief.
At that moment, what she thought was—
‘Damn!’
‘How could I have forgotten about Ma Sao?!’
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.