Chapter 140: Completely Convinced
Before this, although A-Feng had heard Owner Xiaxia and Mistress Lin mention Taoya, he had never actually met her.
Therefore, after he arrived, he was the youngest worker at the manor. Because of this, both Owner Xiaxia and Mistress Lin looked after him closely. Whenever there was delicious food, they would make sure he ate first, and Mistress Lin had even specially crafted a set of clothes for him—the very outfit he was wearing right now.
But now, two youths who looked to be around his age had appeared before his eyes.
One looked two or three years older than him, appearing to be seventeen or eighteen.
The other looked a year or two younger, appearing to be twelve or thirteen.
A-Feng guessed their ages in his heart, but he had no way of knowing that due to the ample nutrition of modern diets, Little Hu Liu and Hu Ming were actually a bit younger than his estimates. However, this didn’t stop A-Feng from feeling nervous.
Harboring a sliver of hope, he cupped his hands in a respectful salute. “Are you two young masters here to visit the manor for leisure?”
It would be wonderful if they were just here to play.
However, Hu Ming and Little Hu Liu’s responses caused A-Feng’s heart to drop with a heavy thud.
Hu Ming’s eyes widened. “Holy cow! Did your teacher teach you this too?”
His ancient speech was even better than his own! And he even knew how to salute!
As a fourth-grade elementary schooler, Hu Ming felt an identical sense of crisis. Normally, because he looked festive and adorable, he was the one at the very front during the discipleship ceremony, leading the entire class in saluting the teacher. Now, a handsome young guy had appeared, saluting even more properly than him and speaking with an ancient flair—exactly the vibe their teacher wanted!
Little Hu Liu was dealt an even greater blow. He had originally assumed he was Sister Xiaxia’s exclusive helper. After all, ever since she returned, he had frequently trailed behind her, helping her work and move cargo. Even the electric vehicle was purchased at the town because he accompanied her!
Yet now that the agritainment farmhouse was opening, Sister Xiaxia had hired someone else to help. If it were an adult, it would be fine; Little Hu Liu knew he was still young, and the villagers generally didn’t look to him for heavy or grueling labor. If she hired an adult, he could comfort himself by rationalizing that Sister Xiaxia was just looking out for him because of his youth, and once he became an adult, she would definitely think of him if she needed help again.
But to his surprise, Sister Xiaxia had found someone even younger than him!
With a long, gloomy face, Little Hu Liu asked, “What’s your name? Are you a relative of Sister Xiaxia? Or the child of her friend’s family?”
Hearing Jian Xingxia’s name, A-Feng didn’t dare be negligent. He spoke exactly as Mistress Lin had taught him, “I am Owner Xiaxia’s younger brother. You two young masters can just call me A-Feng.”
Mistress Lin had told him that Owner Xiaxia instructed that if anyone asked about A-Feng’s age or background, he should say he was her younger brother. After all, with an underage kid helping out at the manor, it was fine during the summer holidays, but once school started, someone would bound to ask questions. Claiming he was her younger brother would make it easy for the guests to understand—whenever a family opened a shop for business, didn’t their kids count as half a receptionist?
The moment A-Feng stated this, Hu Ming and Little Hu Liu exchanged a glance, feeling that they had utterly lost.
“Wow, you’re good! Staying in character like this! No wonder Sister Xiaxia wants to use you; this is way too immersive.”
Little Hu Liu recalled his part-time job at the milk tea shop, where he had messed up memorizing the name of the “QQ Bouncy Pearl Taro Ball Osmanthus Taro Hot Milk Tea” twice. If he were placed at the manor, he definitely wouldn’t remember things as firmly as A-Feng, who spoke to them completely seamlessly.
The two hopped off the vehicle and cupped their hands in a salute, mimicking A-Feng’s posture. “We lose, completely convinced. Brother, these supplies were sent by the villagers for Sister Xiaxia… Owner Xiaxia to use. Do you want to carry them inside yourself, or should we help you bring them in?”
A-Feng looked at the two of them and felt their temperaments were actually quite good.
But still—letting them carry the items inside was out of the question!
If there was only one position for a waiting lad at the manor, it absolutely had to be his! After his grandfather’s leg was treated with the medicine, it had improved immensely. Owner Xiaxia had even given him quite a bit of coarse salt, telling him to carefully exchange it for money or goods so he could hire a physician to have a proper look. Sister Xiaxia was so good to him, so A-Feng absolutely could not let his job slip up.
Delivering messages, running errands, carrying items… these were precisely a waiter’s duties. He insisted on handling it himself.
“Many thanks to you two young masters, but these items are not heavy. I can bring them inside myself.”
A-Feng scanned his face, opened the pedestrian gate next to the barrier, and ran out to grab the supplies. “I will convey your words to Owner Xiaxia. Please return, young masters!”
Hu Ming clicked his tongue in admiration. “My friend, you’re the real deal!”
Little Hu Liu also deeply felt the other party’s professionalism. “Then we’ll trouble you! If Sister… uh, the Owner needs anything else, Auntie Lu will sort some more out and send them up in a bit.”
A-Feng: “Many thanks, young masters. I shall report to the Owner the moment I return.”
The three teenage boys cupped their hands in mutual salutes and bid each other farewell.
A-Feng held a plastic bucket in each hand. He had never seen this kind of bucket before, but compared to the large wooden tubs commonly used at his home, it was far lighter. Carrying half a bucket of water along with shredded potatoes and carrots wasn’t considered heavy.
The chicken, duck, fish, and meat were even easier to carry. Packed in those translucent cellophane bags—small packages nestled inside three large cellophane bags. Grabbing the handles of the bags directly, he slung them over his back, hoisting everything at once.
After all, he was a highly capable worker who could carry over a dozen baskets and bamboo baskets, plus two sets of woven bamboo tables and chairs and a bunch of miscellaneous trinkets, to work at the manor all by himself! With fierce rivals before him, he absolutely could not let them look down on him.
However, after A-Feng departed while carrying the buckets and bearing the poultry and meat on his back, Hu Ming and Little Hu Liu stood rooted to the spot in utter speechlessness for a good long while before finally turning back.
Hu Ming: “A-Feng is seriously strong!”
Little Hu Liu: “Indeed. Ten chickens, ten ducks, eight fish… adding it all together makes dozens of catties!” And there were two buckets of shredded potatoes and radishes soaking in water!
The two exchanged a silent look—
Well, their casual, play-like style of “helping out” truly couldn’t compare to A-Feng. No wonder Sister Xiaxia chose A-Feng to help instead of them. Any lingering defiance in their hearts was now completely gone; they were thoroughly convinced.
Little Hu Liu rode the tricycle, carrying Hu Ming back to the village.
Meanwhile, A-Feng—who was carrying a massive amount of supplies—instantly let his rigid back slump the moment he turned the corner. He quickly placed the items on the clean roadside and split them into several trips to deliver everything to the old house’s kitchen.
He wanted to show off his capability, but these things were simply too heavy! He could only hold out until he turned the corner—a place where Hu Ming and Little Hu Liu couldn’t see—before he could no longer take the strain.
A-Feng secretly clenched his fists. I must work even harder! I must be even more diligent with my tasks!
