Yan Jiaojiao certainly wouldn't mistreat Zhao Qi. She simply stuffed the money pouch into Zhao Qi's hand and stepped back. "Little Brother Zhao, you must accept this money. Consider it for Xu'er's food and clothing. The rest is for you to use. How about that?"
Zhao Qi knew that refusing further would be impolite, and he couldn't get entangled with an unmarried young lady. He could only nod vigorously. "Deal! I will definitely take good care of Young Master Dongfang."
Yan Jiaojiao smiled in response, confident that Zhao Qi would keep his word.
Meanwhile, Dongfang Xu had finished his tour and ran out, hugging Yan Jiaojiao's leg. He looked up at her with pleading eyes. "Sister, are you leaving?"
Dongfang Xu had always been intelligent. Yan Jiaojiao had recognized this from their first meeting and wasn't surprised by his perceptiveness. She decided not to hide anything. Squatting down to his level, she asked, "Xu'er, do you believe that I'm doing this for your own good?"
"Xu'er believes Sister," Dongfang Xu nodded his little head. In just one night, he had encountered countless new things that seemed to compensate for the long years in the dark room. His worldview was rapidly transforming.
"Then stay here obediently with Sister Rong'er. In a few days, Sister will definitely take you away from Kunyang City," Yan Jiaojiao said, gripping his small shoulders. "Promise Sister, don't think about that aunt and Mama Chen anymore. And don't go back to stripping the spiritual power balls. They are just using you..."
Yan Jiaojiao had a whole speech prepared to persuade Dongfang Xu. However, Dongfang Xu nodded without hesitation and replied, "Okay, Sister. I'll wait for you obediently and won't want to go back anymore."
"Huh?" Dongfang Xu agreed so quickly that Yan Jiaojiao was somewhat taken aback. He had been so agitated about going back last night.
Dongfang Xu said earnestly, "I know now. Xu'er was like a bound monkey. Everyone praised me only because I did what they wanted me to do. But I didn't actually want to do it, and they didn't care if I was suffering."
It turned out that seeing the monkey trainer and his monkey by the roadside had made Dongfang Xu see his own reflection.
Though he was only four or five years old, his innocent eyes held an inappropriate precociousness. He no longer wanted to be a bound "monkey" for others to toy with.
"I know now what true care and true happiness are. I don't want to go back," Dongfang Xu said, his round eyes watering, his voice filled with grievance. "Making those balls, Xu'er really hurt. My whole body hurt..."
Yan Jiaojiao couldn't help but embrace Dongfang Xu, stroking the back of his head with concern. "It won't happen again. You'll never have to make those balls again. Sister will make sure you live a happy and joyful life."
Dongfang Xu's voice came muffled from her embrace. "Sister, then they aren't Xu'er's father and aunt? Does Xu'er have no real family?"
Children always craved parental love. He had misplaced his inner desires onto the wrong people, and now he felt immense pain.
Yan Jiaojiao pulled him back slightly. "Sister promises you, I will do my best to find your birth parents, Xu'er. Perhaps we might even encounter them when we leave for Gunan Academy in a few days."
Dongfang Xu nodded, tears in his eyes.
"Even if we don't find them, Sister will always be your family, okay?"
Yan Jiaojiao smiled gently, like a spring breeze caressing flower petals, making Dongfang Xu's little heart flutter.
"Sister, are you telling the truth?"
"Of course," Yan Jiaojiao extended her pinky finger and hooked it. "Let's pinky swear, no changes for a hundred years."
Dongfang Xu's eyes gradually brightened, and he firmly linked his finger with Yan Jiaojiao's. "No changes for a hundred years!"
At this moment, Dongfang Xu didn't know that the vow made today would be etched into the depths of his soul, causing his heart to ache more than being torn apart when Yan Jiaojiao would later say to him with melancholy, "A hundred years have long passed..."
Convinced that young Dongfang Xu had come to terms with things, Yan Jiaojiao took out several introductory books on cultivation from her spiritual jade space and handed them to Dongfang Xu, instructing him to study them daily.
She knew that Dongfang Xu's true cultivation level no longer required these basics, but as he had cultivated on his own, reading proper books would always help his cultivation path to be more orthodox.
After arranging everything here, Yan Jiaojiao said goodbye to everyone, took the little black dog, and left Zhao Family Village. She boarded a carriage and returned to the Yan family.
It was just before noon, and Yan Zhengfeng had already entered Kunyang City and was on his way to the Yan residence.
Chen Wenyu, with Yan Ruxue in tow, was waiting at the entrance. Both were elaborately dressed, their opulent attire making them stand out in the crowd.
Yan Jiaojiao, returning dusty from her journey, bumped right into them.
Yan Zhengfeng had not yet returned to greet her, but Yan Jiaojiao had arrived first. Both their faces soured.
"You ill-bred brat! The master is about to return, and you're still running around! Aren't you afraid your father will break your legs!" Chen Wenyu started scolding immediately. "You've caused Liu'er to be unable to come and greet us. You unlucky omen, get back to your own courtyard and stay put, don't be an annoyance here."
Then, Chen Wenyu glanced at the little black dog in Yan Jiaojiao's arms, her disdain growing. "Where did you find this mongrel? It's really beneath you."
Dongfang Cangwu, who was being called a mongrel, was displeased and stared at Chen Wenyu with his dark eyes.
"What are you looking at? Be careful, I'll dig out your dog eyes!"
Chen Wenyu, displeased, stepped forward to scold the little black dog. However, for some reason, her foot slipped, and she stumbled to the ground in a rather undignified manner.
The servants standing behind her couldn't help but suppress laughter, but dared not. Their faces were flushed red and trembling.
Yan Ruxue quickly stepped forward to help Chen Wenyu up, while scanning the servants. They dared not make a sound.
Chen Wenyu stood up, rubbing her waist, and glared even more resentfully. "It's all because of you, you unlucky wild girl, bringing back an unlucky black dog. Bad luck plus bad luck!"
As soon as she finished speaking, Chen Wenyu felt a sharp pain in her waist. She could no longer curse and could only hold her waist, groaning in pain.
The little black dog, satisfied, closed its eyes again, nestled comfortably in Yan Jiaojiao's arms as if asleep.
Yan Jiaojiao naturally guessed that the incident was the little black dog's doing. Her companion was exceedingly arrogant and would not tolerate Chen Wenyu's public outbursts.
Yan Jiaojiao deliberately smiled and provoked Chen Wenyu. "Second Madam, you should take it easy. It won't be very presentable if the master sees you in this state when he returns."
Chen Wenyu glared fiercely at Yan Jiaojiao, but she did have some reservations and couldn't continue shouting in pain. However, the fierceness in her eyes indicated that she would not let this matter go.