Chapter 27: The Proposal

"Hmph, calling me 'Uncle' with such sweet words, yet you still don't trust me. Do I look like the kind of villain who would harm you? You're the one wearing a sword at your waist, while I am completely unarmed." Watching the door being shut, Dong Yuefan complained with a touch of injury.

Seeing Hong Xiaoduo laughing, he chuckled along. "By the way, you must be quite skilled in martial arts, right?" He figured it had to be so; otherwise, how could someone of her age dare to venture out into the world alone?

As for whether she actually had any martial arts skills, or how good they might be, Hong Xiaoduo herself wasn't entirely clear.

She replied somewhat hesitantly, "Well, I’m not entirely sure myself. But catching birds or wild hares and other small game, and dealing with the occasional petty thief or thug—I’ve managed fine so far. I haven't missed my mark yet."

Seeing her response, Dong Yuefan couldn't tell if she was being humble or speaking the truth. However, no matter how curious he was, it wouldn't be appropriate to press for details.

He remembered the main reason he had come to see her this morning. He reached into his sleeve pocket, pulled out a small paper packet, and pushed it across the table. "The task I promised to help you with—I keep my word."

Travel permits? Hong Xiaoduo quickly picked them up and opened the packet to find a small stack of papers. The one on top bore her name, along with details about her origin and the purpose of her travels, all stamped with the official seal of the Mopan Town magistrate. Beneath that were seven more, one for each of the children.

She hadn't expected to have them so soon, and from 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 this era; if the forgery were discovered, the consequences would surely be dire.

Dong Yuefan poured himself a cup of tea, took a sip, and smiled. "Let's put it this way: as long as you aren't a murderer, an arsonist, a wanted fugitive of the imperial court, or someone who violates the law, there won't be any trouble for me."

Hearing his casual, lighthearted tone, Hong Xiaoduo felt the weight of the papers in her hand grow heavier. "Brother Dong, we are mere strangers. I haven't even told you my background or where I come from. Why are you so willing to help me with such a risky favor? What if it affects your future?"

Dong Yuefan raised an eyebrow slightly. "It might sound frivolous to others, but I truly find you quite agreeable, Miss Hong. Generally speaking, beggars are tattered, smelly, and infested with lice. A young woman of your age and apparent standing would usually avoid them or, at best, toss them a few coins or a bit of food. But you actually took them in, bought them new clothes, and shared your meals and lodging with them. That is rare and precious. So, I naturally wanted to help where I could. As for the risk, my intuition tells me that nothing bad will happen."

"Don't worry. The address on the permits is for a nearby village that was wiped out by a flood several years ago. Very few people survived, and those who did moved away to live with relatives; only a few elderly folks remain in this town. So, even if you are questioned about the permits while traveling elsewhere, as long as you remember what I told you, there will be no problems. Even if someone grows suspicious, you haven't committed any major crimes, so no one will come here to investigate. And you certainly don't need to worry about official inquiries—I didn't just make the permits for you; I also filed them in the records. I added you to the household registry of that now-defunct village. As for the seven children, it’s even simpler: the files state they are orphans from various regions displaced by floods, whom you adopted while begging. So, these permits are as genuine as they come. You have no need to feel guilty if you are checked."

"I’m not good with eloquent words, but I want to thank you, Brother Dong. Although I am just a woman with no great connections or influence, I have noted this favor. If there is ever anything I can do for you in the future, I will do my utmost, without hesitation, even if it means going through fire and water." Hong Xiaoduo stood up and gave a solemn, respectful salute.

She wasn't good at such formal rhetoric, so she just used the most appropriate phrases she could think of.

However, Hong Xiaoduo already had other plans in mind. She would use these permits for now, but when she had time, she would study them and make her own copies. She had already grasped the necessary format and key elements, and as for the seal, carving one out of a radish wouldn't be difficult. The main thing was that she wasn't sure if she would get into trouble later, and she didn't want to drag him down since he had been so kind. Besides, there was always that old man from the science museum—if she had the chance, she could ask him if he could create a seamless permit for her to keep in her personal space.

"You're very kind, very kind. Now, Miss Hong, what are your plans for the future?" Dong Yuefan wanted to laugh at her 'sworn-brother' style of speech, but he held it back, feeling it would be disrespectful.

What were her plans? How should she answer that? While Hong Xiaoduo was considering, he added, "Of course, if it's inconvenient to say, just pretend I didn't ask."

"Actually, there's nothing inconvenient about it. I don't have concrete plans yet. I’ll just take them around for a while and try to find a secure way to settle them down. I can only look after them for a while, not for their entire lives," Hong Xiaoduo said honestly.

It was true; eventually, she would have to marry, and what husband would want a wife who came with seven burdens? She refused to treat the children as servants, so she couldn't just keep them as laborers. Dong Yuefan had briefly considered that he could help her take one or two off her hands as pages, but seeing her attitude toward them, he dared not voice such a suggestion.

Given his family status, taking in these seven children wouldn't be a problem—not even if there were seventeen. But if he were to take them in as equals or family, the elders at home would never approve, and they would only accuse him of being reckless again. The thought of being an adult who still couldn't make his own decisions made him feel inexplicably stifled. He had been here for over three years, and no matter how bored he was or how much he longed for the bustling capital, he had refrained from complaining in his letters to his mother and grandmother, fearing they would try to force him back. For a fleeting moment, Dong Yuefan truly wished he could quit his job as a secretary and wander around with Miss Hong; that seemed quite nice.

"Brother Dong, it's already this time of day. Don't you have duties at the magistrate's office?" Hong Xiaoduo asked curiously. She wanted to know what their office hours were.

"It doesn't matter. Unless there's an urgent case, I don't need to go. If they need me, they'll send someone to fetch me," Dong Yuefan said with nonchalance.

*Aha?* So this secretary job was quite a comfortable and prestigious one. Hong Xiaoduo didn't feel he was bragging.

"By the way, when do you plan to leave, and in which direction are you heading? A good friend of mine is also leaving in the next couple of days. If it's on your way, I could speak to him about taking you along. It would be more convenient traveling with him. You've met my friend," Dong Yuefan said, raising his voice slightly.

"Do you mean the man who was with you at the bun shop yesterday?" Hong Xiaoduo asked.

"Yes, that's him. What do you think?" Dong Yuefan felt a bit uncertain as he said this, as he hadn't asked his friend yet. But if it was on the way and she wanted to join, he would just have to humble himself and beg his friend—it was no shame to ask a close friend for a favor.

Hong Xiaoduo recalled the man from the bun shop that previous afternoon, and that scene...

"Him..."

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