After finishing his morning wash, Tu Laoda prepared to head to the butcher shop.
He said to Xuan Huaiqing, “Young Master, you should get some more sleep and go later when it’s light out.”
“No need. I’ll go with you,” Xuan Huaiqing replied. “I haven’t seen Uncle Zhang in a long time, so I’ll take the chance to visit him.”
—
The two arrived at the butcher shop, where the workers had all gathered and were eating breakfast.
Seeing Xuan Huaiqing, Zhang Yaoping and Uncle Luo looked at him curiously. They didn’t know him and assumed he was a new hire brought by Tu Laoda.
But his appearance was far too handsome. He didn’t look like someone who would slaughter pigs—more like a young master from some prominent family.
Yu Li, who was gnawing on a bun, glanced up at him, surprised to see him arrive so early.
Zhang Fu was startled and quickly stood up. “Xuan… Huai Ge’er, what brings you here?”
Xuan Huaiqing, with no airs about him, smiled warmly. “It’s been a while since I’ve seen you, Uncle Zhang. I happened to be in the county, so I thought I’d drop by to visit you.”
As he spoke, he couldn’t help but glance at Yu Li, who was seated nearby.
Tu Laoda introduced him to Uncle Luo and the others. “This is a child of a friend of mine from the provincial capital. He knows Old Zhang and came to the county for a couple of days to visit.”
Zhang Yaoping and Uncle Luo immediately understood.
So, he was from the provincial capital. If he could travel here for leisure and wasn’t preoccupied with making a living, then he likely really was a young master from some family.
Zhang Fu invited them to join for breakfast.
That morning’s breakfast at the butcher shop consisted of large buns and soy milk, a hearty and filling meal.
Xuan Huaiqing quickly blended in with everyone, sitting down to eat buns and chat. He also seized the opportunity to strike up a conversation with Yu Li.
“Miss Yu, are you comfortable here? Is it busy? Are you tired?” he asked with genuine curiosity.
Uncle Luo and Zhang Yaoping found Xuan Huaiqing’s words rather odd.
On the other hand, Zhang Fu and Tu Laoda understood what he meant—Young Master Xuan was concerned that his lifesaver might be mistreated here. Zhang Fu, in particular, grew quite anxious, worried that Young Master Xuan might think Yu Li had been wronged under his care.
Yu Li replied, “It’s pretty good here. Not too busy—I only work half a day, and it’s not tiring.”
For her, it truly wasn’t tiring.
Xuan Huaiqing studied her carefully, confirming that she wasn’t just brushing him off. Once he was certain she was sincere, his guilt eased somewhat.
Since there were many people around, he refrained from talking more with Yu Li and quickly dropped the subject.
After breakfast, the people in the butcher shop got busy with their work.
Zhang Fu wanted Xuan Huaiqing to leave. After all, slaughtering pigs was messy and bloody, not something fit for the eyes of a young general.
But Xuan Huaiqing didn’t mind. “Uncle Zhang, don’t underestimate me. I lived with my grandfather, too.”
Tu Laoda and Zhang Fu knew that the “grandfather” he spoke of was none other than General Xuan. When Xuan Huaiqing was fifteen, he had even been taken to the battlefield by the old general. He had witnessed scenes far more brutal and gory than slaughtering pigs, so these things wouldn’t faze him.
Thus, they stopped trying to persuade him.
Soon, Xuan Huaiqing saw how Yu Li slaughtered pigs.
He was stunned to see the pigs remain completely silent, not even letting out a squeal, as if the entire process was tranquil and serene.
But… wasn’t slaughtering pigs supposed to be different? Although he hadn’t witnessed it before, he knew the screams of pigs being slaughtered were usually so harrowing they could be heard from afar. It definitely wasn’t supposed to be this quiet.
Zhang Yaoping chuckled during a brief break and said to him, “How is it? Pretty amazing, right? But it’s nothing unusual. In front of Sister Yu, these pigs behave themselves—they won’t even make a sound.”
Then he leaned in mysteriously and added, “You know, our Sister Yu is no ordinary person. She’s a skilled and extraordinary talent, not someone you meet every day.”
Xuan Huaiqing’s heart skipped a beat, though he feigned curiosity. “How so?”
“Because whenever pigs see her, they either go weak in the legs or dare not make a sound. These are just animals—how could they have such awareness? This clearly proves that Sister Yu is no ordinary person. She must be one of those extraordinary talents from the storybooks, which is why she can subdue these pigs.”
Xuan Huaiqing: “…”
Honestly, he hadn’t expected such a thing. Tu Laoda had never mentioned it.
It did sound somewhat reasonable, though.
Zhang Yaoping continued, “Since you’re acquainted with my Seventh Uncle and Tu Laoda, I’ll tell you something else. I suspect Sister Yu is here to experience the life of slaughtering pigs. She must have a hidden identity and will definitely achieve great things in the future. She’s so extraordinary that even a saint would want to grant her an official title on the spot…”
Xuan Huaiqing: “…”
If he didn’t already know Yu Li’s identity, he might have believed him. Zhang Yaoping was really over-the-top.
After Yu Li and the others left to make deliveries and Zhang Yaoping went to the front of the shop to sell meat, only Xuan Huaiqing and Tu Laoda were left in the room. Xuan Huaiqing recounted everything Zhang Yaoping had just said to Tu Laoda.
Tu Laoda was speechless and replied, “From what Old Zhang says, Yaoping has loved listening to operas and storytelling since he was a kid. The more bizarre the story, the more he enjoys it. He probably heard some tale about extraordinary talents recently and applied it to Li Niang.”
Xuan Huaiqing, however, said, “Uncle Tu, what if it’s true?”
Tu Laoda was about to refute him when he suddenly remembered seeing Fu Wenxiao at the Fu family’s home last night. He hesitated for a moment, then let out an uncertain “Uh…”
He suspected that Fu Wenxiao wasn’t an ordinary person. If his suspicions were correct, then perhaps Yu Li’s identity wasn’t genuine either…
Could it be that Yu Li really had another identity?
Maybe she truly was some extraordinary figure who had come to the Yu family in Qingshi Village, concealing her identity to accomplish something great?
The two exchanged a look, unable to find the words.
This possibility… seemed plausible, didn’t it?
The world was vast and full of wonders. Extraordinary people had existed since ancient times. What if Yu Li wasn’t actually the daughter of the second branch of the Yu family in Qingshi Village, but a genuine talent? Otherwise, how could one explain the pigs going weak in the legs at her presence or the bandit camp collapsing under her hand?
—
When Yu Li returned from delivering goods, she noticed that Xuan Huaiqing and Tu Laoda were looking at her with a subtle expression.
She didn’t think much of it. After washing her hands, she changed into clean clothes and invited them to a room in the back courtyard for a conversation.
The door remained open, and Tu Laoda stood guard at the entrance to ensure no one came by.
Xuan Huaiqing temporarily set aside his chaotic speculations. He straightened up, performed a formal bow to Yu Li, and expressed his gratitude for saving his life. He also revealed his true identity.
“I’m from the capital. My grandfather is General Xuanwei, commander of the Southern Town Army…”
“The last time, I was tracking enemy spies into the mountains but accidentally slipped and fell into a trap. It was only thanks to Miss Yu passing by and helping me that I survived.”
At the end, Xuan Huaiqing spoke with guilt. “I didn’t mean to hide my identity from Miss Yu that day, but the situation was special, and I was afraid it might bring you trouble. I planned to reveal my identity to you once things were resolved.”
Yu Li waved it off, indicating she didn’t mind and hadn’t taken it to heart.
Xuan Huaiqing smiled and continued, “I can never repay such a life-saving favor. In the future, if Miss Yu needs anything, just let me know. As long as it’s within my ability, I will not hesitate.”
“Really?” Yu Li asked seriously.
Xuan Huaiqing nodded.
Yu Li thought for a moment before asking, “Can you speak on good terms with the magistrate of Shanping County?”
Hearing this, both Xuan Huaiqing and Tu Laoda at the door were puzzled.
Xuan Huaiqing replied tactfully, “It’s fine. I know Magistrate Zhang’s superior, Prefect Shi from the provincial capital.”
Yu Li blinked. She had never been to the provincial capital and didn’t know much about it. She only cared about one thing.
If Xuan Huaiqing could influence Magistrate Zhang, then it was simple.
Yu Li looked at him earnestly and said, “Young Master Xuan, can you ask Magistrate Zhang to clean up the dock area and reduce the exploitation of the common folk there?”
Xuan Huaiqing froze, not expecting her request to be this.
Tu Laoda, standing at the door, suddenly recalled when he first met Yu Li in the county town. She had been looking for work and had spoken about her experiences at the dock, comparing it to her current job slaughtering pigs, which she felt was much better.
In hindsight, the slaughtering job wasn’t even something he had introduced her to—it had been a chain of circumstances. He truly hadn’t intended for the young master’s lifesaver to end up slaughtering pigs.
“Of course,” Xuan Huaiqing replied without hesitation. “The matter at the dock is something I will discuss with Magistrate Zhang. It’s his duty to handle such things.”
As he spoke, he grew annoyed that Magistrate Zhang had neglected his responsibilities, allowing such exploitation to become so severe that even Yu Li had noticed. This clearly indicated how dire the situation was at the dock.
Although he knew that this wasn’t unique to Shanping County and that many places had similar issues, he still felt that Magistrate Zhang had failed in his duties.
After Yu Li saw that he had agreed, she had nothing further to say. She stood up, preparing to leave.
“Wait,” Xuan Huaiqing called after her. “Miss Yu, have you thought about changing to a different place or a different job?”
Yu Li looked at him, confused. “Change to where?”
Xuan Huaiqing hesitated and said, “Slaughtering pigs isn’t really suitable for a young lady, and you live in Qingshi Village, which is so far from the county town. Every day, you have to come over in the middle of the night… If you’re willing, I can introduce you to a lighter job.”
As he spoke, he mentally sifted through jobs that might be more appropriate for her.
“No need. This place is good enough,” Yu Li waved her hand, indicating she wasn’t planning to switch jobs for the time being.
Xuan Huaiqing opened his mouth to argue. “But…”
“However, if there’s a need for bandit suppression somewhere, you can call me,” Yu Li said, her eyes sparkling. “I think that would suit me.”
Xuan Huaiqing: “…”
Seeing her hopeful expression, Xuan Huaiqing found it hard to refuse and said, “If that’s really what you want, it can be arranged…”
“Then I’ll count on you, Young Master Xuan,” Yu Li said happily.
Xuan Huaiqing quickly replied, “You don’t need to call me Young Master Xuan. Just call me by my name.”
Yu Li glanced at him but didn’t respond.
Seeing this, Xuan Huaiqing sighed inwardly. Actually, it wasn’t such a bad thing that she didn’t fully know his identity. At least she wouldn’t act overly polite like Tu Laoda and the others, always calling him “Young Master Xuan.”
As they walked out together, Xuan Huaiqing recalled what Zhang Yaoping had said earlier. Glancing at Yu Li, he hesitated before speaking.
“Something on your mind?” Yu Li asked. It was hard not to notice him staring at her.
Xuan Huaiqing stopped in his tracks and suddenly asked, “Miss Yu, I noticed you seem to know martial arts. Is that correct?”
“Yes,” Yu Li answered frankly. “I do know a bit of martial arts.”
“Did someone teach you?” he asked.
Yu Li nodded. “Naturally.”
She had learned it at a training camp, so it was indeed taught by someone.
Xuan Huaiqing pressed on, “May I ask if the one who taught you was an extraordinary master?” Otherwise, how could they have trained her to be so skilled?
Yu Li blinked and unhesitatingly replied, “Yes.”
Her teacher was indeed an extraordinary figure—a genetically enhanced warrior with special abilities. How could that not count?
Both Xuan Huaiqing and Tu Laoda finally felt reassured.
“May I ask who this remarkable individual is?” Tu Laoda inquired.
“Her surname is Cai. We call her Teacher Cai. She’s taught many students,” Yu Li replied.
So, the extraordinary master’s surname was Cai.
After confirming that she had indeed been taught by a remarkable figure, the two no longer doubted her identity.
Unexpectedly, this master Cai had even trained many students. Could it be that all of those students were as skilled as Yu Li?
Xuan Huaiqing said, “Miss Yu, the court offers many privileges to extraordinary talents. If their abilities are confirmed, they may even be granted official positions.”
Yu Li was puzzled.
“Granted official positions? Is that what I think it means?” she asked, somewhat uncertain. She had heard that the Great Qing Dynasty didn’t allow women to hold official positions.