Chapter 27: The Proposal

"Hmph, you call me 'Uncle' with such sweet words, yet you still don't trust me. Do I look like some villain who would do you harm? You've even got a sword at your waist, while I am completely unarmed," Dong Yuefan complained with a hint of wounded pride, looking at the closed door.

Seeing Hong Xiaoduo smiling continuously, he joined in the laughter. "By the way, your martial arts skills must be quite impressive, right?" He assumed so; otherwise, how would someone her age dare to venture out into the world alone?

As for whether she actually possessed martial arts skills and, if so, how formidable they were, even Hong Xiaoduo wasn't entirely sure herself.

She replied somewhat hesitantly, "This... I'm not quite sure myself. However, I can hunt birds or small game like wild rabbits. I can probably handle ordinary thugs and ruffians; I haven't failed yet."

Seeing her like this, Dong Yuefan couldn't tell if she was being modest or telling the truth.

But no matter how curious he was, it wouldn't be appropriate to press for details.

Remembering the serious business he had with her this morning, he reached into his sleeve and pulled out a small paper packet, pushing it across the table. "I am a man of my word regarding the matter I promised to help you with."

A travel permit? Hong Xiaoduo quickly picked it up and opened it to find a small stack of slips inside.

The top one had her name written on it, with notations below regarding her origin and the purpose of her travels, stamped with the official seal of the Mopan Town County Magistrate's Office.

The ones beneath it belonged to the seven children.

She hadn't expected it to be done so quickly, nor had she expected that the person helping her overcome this difficulty was someone she had known for less than two days.

"Brother Dong, won't this cause you any trouble?" Hong Xiaoduo knew how vital these documents were in ancient times; if a forgery were discovered, the consequences would surely be dire.

Dong Yuefan poured himself a cup of tea, took a light sip, and smiled. "How should I put it? As long as you aren't a criminal involved in murder or arson, a wanted fugitive of the imperial court, and don't go breaking the law in the future, there won't be any trouble for me as long as the authorities aren't investigating you."

Hearing his casual and nonchalant tone, Hong Xiaoduo immediately felt a weight in her heart. "Brother Dong, we are merely passing acquaintances. I haven't even told you my true identity or where I come from. How can you be so willing to take such a risk for me? What if this affects your future?"

Dong Yuefan lightly raised an eyebrow upon hearing this. "To say something that others might find frivolous, I truly feel that you and I are very much alike in temperament. Generally speaking, beggars are dressed in rags, smell unpleasant, and are covered in lice. At your age, your family background seems decent; most people would simply avoid them out of disgust, perhaps give them a bit of spare change or some food as charity, and consider that being quite kind.

But you actually keep them by your side, buying them new clothes and providing food and shelter. That is truly rare and precious.

So, naturally, I wanted to help. As for the risk, my intuition tells me that such a thing won't happen.

Rest assured, the address on the permit is for a nearby village. A few years ago, a flood wiped out the entire village; very few survivors remained. Those who went elsewhere to seek relatives are mostly elderly people living in this town.

Therefore, even if you are inspected elsewhere because of the permit, as long as you remember what I said, there will be no problem.

Even if someone becomes suspicious, you haven't committed any serious crimes, so no one will come here to investigate. As for official inquiries, there is no need to worry; I didn't just make the permits for you, I also filed them.

I added you to the household registry of that village that no longer exists.

As for those seven, it's simpler. The records state they are orphans from various regions displaced by floods, whom you took in after finding them begging.

So, these permits are the real deal. You don't need to feel guilty when you encounter inspections out there."

"I'm not good at saying sweet words, so I will simply thank you, Brother Dong. Although I, Hong Xiaoduo, am just a woman with no connections or great abilities, I will remember this favor. If you ever need my help in the future, I will certainly assist you with all my heart and soul, even if it means risking my life," Hong Xiaoduo stood up and solemnly cupped her hands in a gesture of gratitude.

She wasn't very good at formal pleasantries; she simply used whatever words came to mind that felt appropriate.

However, Hong Xiaoduo already had other plans in mind. She would use the permits he made for the time being, and when she felt like it, she would figure out how to forge her own. She already understood the standard format and essential elements; as for the seal, carving one out of a radish wouldn't be difficult.

Most importantly, she wasn't sure if she would cause trouble in the future. He was helping her out of kindness; it wouldn't be right to implicate him.

Besides, wasn't there that old man from the Science Museum? If she got the chance, she could ask him if he could make a seamless, perfect permit for her to store in her space.

"It's nothing, it's nothing. So, may I ask what Miss Hong plans to do next?" Hearing her words of "martial arts brotherhood," Dong Yuefan wanted to laugh, but felt it might be disrespectful, so he suppressed it.

What were her plans? How should she answer that? While Hong Xiaoduo was considering, he added, "Of course, if it is inconvenient to say, just pretend I never asked."

"Actually, there isn't much that is inconvenient to say. I don't have specific plans yet. I'll just take them around for a while and try to find a stable way to settle them. I can only look after them for a time, not for a lifetime," Hong Xiaoduo said truthfully.

Indeed, she would eventually have to marry. What husband would want a wife bringing seven "baggage" children? Her attitude toward those seven children was such that she wouldn't let them be servants or maids.

Otherwise, Dong Yuefan felt he could help her "absorb" one or two of them to stay by his side as attendants.

But thinking of her attitude toward the children, he didn't even dare suggest such a thing.

With his family status, not only could he take in these seven children, but even seventeen would be no problem.

However, if he took them in as dependents, the elders in his family would never agree, and they would surely criticize him for acting recklessly.

The thought that even though he was an adult, there were still things he couldn't decide for himself, made him feel inexplicably stifled.

Thus, having been here for over three years, no matter how bored he was or how much he longed to return to the prosperous capital, he endured it without complaining to his mother or grandmother in his letters, hoping they would find a way to send him back sooner.

For a moment, Dong Yuefan truly wanted to quit being a legal advisor and just wander around with this Miss Hong. That seemed quite nice.

"Brother Dong, it's already this hour. Don't you have to report for duty at the magistrate's office?" Hong Xiaoduo asked curiously.

She also wanted to ask: what time does the office start and end work?

"It's fine, it's fine. Usually, if there are no urgent cases, I don't have to go. If they need me, they will send someone to invite me back," Dong Yuefan said nonchalantly.

*Ah?* So being a legal advisor was quite a free and powerful position. Hong Xiaoduo didn't think he was bragging.

"By the way, when do you plan to set off, and in which direction? A good friend of mine happens to be leaving in the next couple of days. If it's on the way, I can talk to him about giving you a lift. It would be more convenient to travel with him. You've met my good friend before," Dong Yuefan said, slightly raising his voice.

"Is the person Brother Dong is referring to the one who was with you at the bun shop yesterday?" Hong Xiaoduo asked.

"Yes, him. What do you think?" As he spoke, Dong Yuefan felt a bit uncertain because he hadn't mentioned this to his friend beforehand. If it truly was on the way and the lady wanted a ride, he would just have to swallow his pride and beg him later. Since they were good friends, it wouldn't be embarrassing.

Hong Xiaoduo thought back to the scene at the bun shop the previous afternoon. "Him..."

Dong Yuefan immediately pricked up his ears. Although the lady's voice wasn't very loud, he knew that the person next door had incredibly sharp hearing...

(End of Chapter)