Peaceful Jianghu

Chapter 124

Xiao Dao ate the knife and, while chewing, asked Xue Beifan, "Did you put that away properly?"

Xue Beifan was stunned for a moment, not quite understanding what Xiao Dao was talking about, but seeing the girl's bright eyes, he figured she probably had some trick up her sleeve, so he nodded in agreement.

Xiao Dao smiled and earnestly instructed, "It was very expensive to buy, so you must take good care of it and not let it run away, understand!"

"Oh..." Xue Beifan nodded, thinking to himself, "What? He's still alive."

Xiaoyue was drinking soup when she couldn't help but ask Xiaodao, "What is that?"

Xiao Dao leaned over and whispered a few words in her ear. Xiao Yue was surprised, "It can talk?"

"That's right!" Xiao Dao laughed smugly. "They're really hard to find."

Now that the main dishes had arrived, everyone ate a few bites to fill their stomachs, and feeling more at ease, they started chatting and laughing.

Hao Jinfeng asked Xiaodao, "Little sister, what treasure have you found this time? Will you show it to Brother Xue or to your older brother?"

Xiao Dao smiled mysteriously, as if keeping someone in suspense, "I'll show you in a bit."

Seeing her sly look, Xue Beifan knew she was up to something, so he laughed, "It's alright, let them see, but it's mine now!"

Xiao Dao glanced at Xue Beifan, knowing he was quick-witted, so she asked everyone to wait while she went inside.

A moment later, Xiao Dao ran out, carrying a birdcage with a cloth bag tightly covering it. It seemed to be the kind of birdcage that the old men used to walk their birds in the yard in the morning.

"Do you keep birds?" Madam Xue asked curiously. "What kind of birds?"

Xiao Dao carefully placed the bird beside Xue Beifan's hand. Before he could speak, Xue Beifan said, "It's a clever myna, chirping away so sweetly, it knows how to charm people."

Xiao Dao raised an eyebrow at him—thinking to himself that this guy was really clever.

"Is it a myna bird?" Hao Jinfeng asked, intrigued. "Let me imitate its beak so I can hear it."

Xiao Dao stopped Hao Jinfeng's outstretched hand, "Hey, big brother, don't startle it, this bird is very timid!"

"Is that so?" Hao Jinfeng said with some regret.

"It'll be fine once it's taken care of in a few days. We can't let it see anyone else these days!" Xiao Dao chuckled. "That's how myna birds are. You have to raise them from when they're little. They recognize who they belong to! Once they've decided who they belong to, you can't chase them away. If they've decided who they don't belong to, no amount of trickery will work."

Everyone nodded in agreement, including the myna bird.

Only Feng Wuyou sensed something else, because Xiao Dao glanced at her intentionally or unintentionally, his eyes carrying a hint of provocation.

Feng Wuyou sneered inwardly, thinking to herself, "You ignorant brat."

After Xiao Dao finished speaking, he picked up a chopstick and gently tapped the birdcage through the cloth curtain, "Cuckoo, cuckoo~"

As soon as he finished speaking, the myna bird actually mimicked the bird's speech, repeating "cuckoo cuckoo" a couple of times with a pure tone and very clear stuttering.

"Hey!" Hao Jinfeng perked up and came over, "Big brother."

Xiao Dao slapped him on the shoulder, "Why are you calling a bird 'brother'?"

Hao Jinfeng scratched his head, "Isn't this funny..."

Before he finished speaking, the bird called out "Big Brother, Big Brother" twice.

Hao Jinfeng was so happy that he clapped his hands and laughed.

Xue Beifan raised an eyebrow slightly—when did this girl get a myna bird? He then gently patted the cage, and a "fluttering" sound came from inside, as if the bird was startled.

Xiao Dao glared at him. "I told you not to scare it! This is your bird!"

Xue Beifan laughed, teasing the myna bird, "Crazy girl, crazy girl..."

Before the myna bird could even utter "girl" after letting out a "crazy" cry, Xiao Dao banged on the birdcage with chopsticks, causing a commotion inside. Xue Beifan quickly snatched the cage away, shouting, "Mine!"

Xiao Dao argued with him, saying that this silly bird was disobedient and should be killed, but Xue Beifan wouldn't allow it.

Wang Bibo stood aside, snacking and watching intently, Hao Jinfeng ate his meal seriously, and Chonghua carefully fed Xiaoyue... Everyone at the table was busy, except for Feng Wuyou and Madam Xue, who were absent-minded.

Feng Wuyou stared blankly at the spoon in her hand, while Madam Xue was preoccupied with her own thoughts.

After the meal, everyone went back to their rooms to rest.

Hao Jinfeng pestered Xiaodao, "Hey girl, can I keep this bird of yours for a couple of days?"

Xiao Dao seemed quite troubled, but Xue Beifan was generous, saying, "If you like it, then take it and raise it."

"Hang it outside the window! Don't open the curtains at night, you can only play with it tomorrow morning!" Xiao Dao carefully instructed, and Hao Jinfeng took it to heart. That night, he exclaimed that he was afraid of startling the birds, so he deliberately hung it far away.

Afterwards, everyone went back to their rooms. As soon as Xiaoyue sat down, Xiaodao leaned over and asked, "Xiaoyue, when did Chonghua say he would hold a wedding ceremony with you?"

Xiaoyue blushed and whispered, "It can't be that fast."

“Yes, yes.” Xiao Dao smiled smugly. “As long as you nod, he can start preparing immediately. I think Chonghua can’t wait.”

In the next room, Chonghua pulled Xue Beifan aside, "Hey, do you think it's a bit hasty for me to propose now? Will Xiaoyue think I'm frivolous?"

Xue Beifan rested his chin on his hand, staring blankly and shaking his head. "Xiaoyue is a very stubborn girl. Since she chose you, she's probably decided she'll never change her mind. She's already yours. You can decide when to propose."

Chonghua was restless. "Oh dear, no, I'd better get engaged as soon as possible and bring her back!"

Xue Beifan was both amused and exasperated. "Look at you, so impatient. Don't forget you're the owner of Chonghua Tower. How can you act like a lovesick fool?"

"So what if I'm willing to be a silly boy?" Chonghua got even more excited. "Don't even mention being a silly boy, I'd accept being a fool! Xiaoyue is so great!"

Xue Beifan's teeth chattered as he listened. He shook his head and stood up. "Alright, I'll go distract Xiaodao. You go and keep him company."