Seeing that big brother was unreliable, Xiao Qi looked to Xiu Yue.

Xiu Yue smiled: “Go on quickly, don’t keep the proprietress waiting.”

Xiao Qi nodded with difficulty and resignedly followed along.

He didn’t know what he was afraid of, yet he felt frightened.

This fear was different from the fear he felt when the proprietress counter-robbed him before.

Luo Sheng entered the room and sat down. Seeing the boy still dawdling at the door, she smiled: “Why aren’t you coming in?”

Xiao Qi steeled himself and walked in, looking completely uncomfortable.

“Were the scallion pancakes Xiu Gu made for you delicious?” Luo Sheng poured herself a cup of tea and asked leisurely.

“Delicious.” Xiao Qi suppressed the inexplicable tension in his heart and answered truthfully.

“What about the braised pork knuckle?”

“Delicious.”

“And the braised beef?”

“Also delicious.” Talking about these delicious foods, Xiao Qi gradually relaxed and began reflexively swallowing his saliva.

Luo Sheng gently blew on the tea leaves floating on the water’s surface and asked with a smile: “Xiao Qi has studied—what do you plan to do in the future?”

“Be a waiter at our tavern!” Xiao Qi replied with great vigor.

Luo Sheng shook her head: “Our tavern has enough waiters.”

“I can do odd jobs too—I can chop wood and grind beans!” Xiao Qi became a bit flustered.

Luo Sheng shook her head again: “There are already people chopping wood and grinding beans. Are you planning to take your big brother’s or Brother Lu’s job?”

Xiao Qi quickly waved his hands.

He couldn’t do something so heartless!

Besides, if he really did that, big brother and Brother Lu would beat him to death, and he couldn’t fight them off.

He absolutely couldn’t do something heartless that also endangered his life.

“Then what can you do?”

Xiao Qi was stunned by the question.

Yes, what could he do?

“I, I—” Meeting Luo Sheng’s calm gaze, the boy became anxious.

So what was the point of studying so much when he couldn’t even be a waiter?

Luo Sheng smiled: “The tavern still lacks an enforcer. I think your foundation is quite good. While studying, you can practice martial arts with Shi Yan. Once you’ve achieved some success, how about becoming an enforcer at the tavern?”

Xiao Qi nodded like a pecking chicken: “Good, I want to be an enforcer!”

So what was the point of studying anyway—why didn’t he just practice martial arts with Brother Shi directly and work hard to become an enforcer sooner?

The boy fell into deep thought.

“However—”

Hearing Luo Sheng say these two words, Xiao Qi snapped back to attention with a start, looking at her nervously.

The young lady across from him smiled like a flower, her tone gentle: “Xiao Qi, have you heard the saying that there’s no such thing as a free lunch? One shouldn’t be greedy for small advantages—fair exchange is the proper way.”

Xiao Qi nodded blankly.

“It’s good that you’ve heard it. I’m the tavern’s proprietress. I’m not lacking in silver and could immediately hire several enforcers. Why would I need to wait for you?”

Xiao Qi was stumped.

Yes, why would she need to wait for him?

Was he exceptionally gifted?

No way—he’d been at school for so many days and barely recognized ten characters…

Xiao Qi lowered his head in shame.

“Xiao Qi can make an exchange.”

Xiao Qi looked up and asked in confusion: “Exchange what?”

Luo Sheng lifted her chin and said calmly: “Take off your pants.”

The boy rushed to the doorway in an instant, hugging the door frame and looking at the young lady in terror—no, looking at the she-devil!

The she-devil still wore that gentle smile.

“Pro-proprietress, I only sell my labor, not my body!” the boy shouted while clinging to the door frame.

“I don’t need you to sell your body. I just want to take a look.”

“Even looking isn’t allowed!” The boy covered his groin with both hands, looking completely on guard.

Luo Sheng frowned with some impatience: “If you’re unwilling, I’ll hire an enforcer tomorrow.”

She wasn’t so overflowing with kindness—taking in these people back then was because of what Xiu Yue said about Xiao Qi being her nephew.

Otherwise, with all the things she had to plan, why would she keep several bandits of unknown background at the tavern?

To verify whether Xiao Qi was truly Bao’er, she couldn’t afford to take her time.

Besides, no matter how gradually she proceeded, she would still ultimately need to see Xiao Qi’s buttocks.

If she entrusted Sheng Sanlang or another man to do it, or even directly asked Du Feibiao, leaving aside having to explain to one more person, more importantly, she didn’t dare trust others’ judgment.

What if they deceived her? What if the location or shape had deviations?

Something so important related to the Prince Zhennan’s manor—of course she had to verify it with her own eyes.

Since she’d have to look sooner or later, naturally the sooner the better.

Meanwhile, Xiao Qi clung to the door frame, torn with indecision.

If he didn’t let the proprietress look, she would hire an enforcer, and he’d never again get to eat the delicious braised pork knuckle, roasted pig’s head… wuwuwu, he wouldn’t even get the golden, fragrant scallion pancakes anymore.

If he let the proprietress look—if she was just taking a look, it didn’t seem unacceptable.

“Have you decided?”

Xiao Qi blinked: “Really just one look?”

“Mm.”

“Then, then alright…” Xiao Qi’s face turned red as he reached to pull his belt.

“Turn around before taking them off.”

Hearing it was the back she wanted to see, Xiao Qi quickly turned around and swiftly pulled down his pants, as if afraid Luo Sheng would change her mind.

Why didn’t she say so earlier! What was showing his bare bottom? Before coming to the capital, he’d snuck down the mountain, stolen Auntie Wang’s old hen, and happened to take a bath in the pond—he’d been chased several miles by Auntie Wang with his bare bottom showing!

Xiao Qi stripped efficiently, and Luo Sheng looked carefully.

After quite a while, a voice came from behind: “Get dressed and go out.”

Xiao Qi pulled up his pants and looked back.

The young lady sat motionless, her expression appearing somewhat grave.

Grave?

Xiao Qi walked out, not feeling fortunate to have escaped the tiger’s den, but rather falling into confusion.

Was his bottom not good-looking, or too dark? Why did the proprietress look like she had deep grievances after seeing it?

Was she that disappointed?—the boy thought indignantly.

“Xiao Qi, why are you coming out of the main room?” Luosai Huzi saw Xiao Qi walking over with a confused expression and patted his shoulder.

They all lived in the side rooms—the main room was reserved for the proprietress to rest.

Xiao Qi mumbled: “The proprietress called me in.”

“What did the proprietress want you in the main room for?” This supposedly reliable big brother had no idea what had happened in the short time he’d been busy fighting over scallion pancakes.

Xiao Qi came back to his senses and said quietly: “The proprietress looked at my bottom—”

“What, the proprietress looked at your bottom?” Luosai Huzi’s voice rose.

“Big brother, keep your voice down!” The boy became anxious and quickly looked around.

“Brother Lu went to the woodshed, no one heard—” The rest of Luosai Huzi’s words got stuck in his throat as he stared wide-eyed ahead.

Xiao Qi looked in that direction.

Not far away, a young man in crimson robes stood quietly, looking expressionlessly at the two of them.

No, looking at Xiao Qi.

Beside him, Shi Yan’s forehead broke out in sweat as he laughed dryly: “Master, didn’t you need to use the privy—”

Hehehe, he heard nothing!

As for his master—his master definitely heard!

Shi Yan seemed to sense something and glanced toward the main room entrance.

On the stone steps outside, a young lady in plain-colored clothing stood silently, her expression indifferent.

The young guard silently added in his heart: Even if master heard, what could he do about Miss Luo…